Snag goodies from Portobello Road and Flock at tomorrow’s one-day sale:
Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category
SALE ALERT: TRUNK SHOW AT ALIBIFeeling spendy? See you at the Liberty Hotel.Posted by Courtney Hollands on 3/7/2012 at 4:35PM | No Comments
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STUFF WE LOVE: ANN TAYLOR ‘SUNBURST’ NECKLACEThis necklace is so bright, you'll have to wear shades.Posted by Anne Vickman on 3/5/2012 at 6:27PM | No Comments
Neon is officially in this season. While I hadn’t really given the brights a second thought since I grew out of my badass L.A. Gear Flame sneakers in fourth grade, the season’s latest accessories in all shades of eye-searing hotness are really doing it for me. Feast your peepers on Ann Taylor’s acid yellow “Sunburst” necklace, which hits stores mid-month. Call it nostalgia (I definitely am), but adding a wee shock of neon yellow or pink in the form of a patent belt or statement bauble is definitely an easy way to get glowing without overdoing it. $78, Ann Taylor, Shops at the Prudential, Boston, 617-421-9097, anntaylor.com.
 Photograph courtesy of Ann Taylor |
SNAG A WEDDING GOWN ON THE CHEAPLocal designer donates 200 dresses for charity sale.Posted by Anne Vickman on 3/1/2012 at 1:58PM | No Comments
Brides Across America, a local charity that donates wedding gowns to military brides, and the fashion department at Lasell College have organized a wedding dress sale this weekend. Two hundred gowns have been donated to the school from a discontinued Boston designer, and on Saturday, fifteen New England brides chosen by the charity will receive a free dress, shoes, dry cleaning, and alterations from a Lasell fashion student. On Sunday, the remaining 185 dresses will go on sale to the public at the the Goodwill headquarters in Boston. Sizes and styles are limited, and prices will range from $100 to $300 — and as to be expected, all gowns are first come, first serve. If you’re looking for a good strategy, check out tips from Filene’s Basement’s Running of the Brides website. Lasell students and staffers will be on hand to answer questions and offer styling advice, and all proceeds will support Goodwill’s after-school initiatives. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, 1010 Harrison Ave., Boston, 617-445-1010, goodwillmass.org. |
TESTING: CAKESTYLEAnne Vickman pumps up her wardrobe with this personal styling service.Posted by Anne Vickman on 2/21/2012 at 1:32PM | No Comments
When CakeStyle launched in November, I had a hankering to to try out the Chicago-based personal styling service — weekday mornings generally find me gaping into my cluttered closet, attempting to mix and match outfits. If inspiration doesn’t strike within six minutes, I give up and grab the nearest dress. Pumped for some personalized fashion advice, I sent in my measurements and filled out a short questionnaire on the website about where I like to shop (J.Crew, H&M, TJ Maxx), what I currently wear on regular rotation (motorcycle boots), and my style goals (adding color to my neutral-heavy wardrobe). After providing my credit card info, all I had to do was wait for a big box of hand-picked goodies to show up in the mail, along with a video link where my personal stylist (Kait) would show me how to put a few different looks together. Afterward, I could keep whatever I wanted and send the rest back — shipping pre-paid. My shipment contained a selection of tops, bottoms, dresses, and accessories neatly packaged in tissue paper and velvet bags—it was like a designer-version of Christmas morning. Prices ranged from $26 (a Shimera Camisole and pair of Spanx tights) to $475 (a Tory Burch “Evelina” blazer). Most of the clothing was priced at over $100 per piece and included brands like Theory, Robert Rodriguez, Joie, and Citizens of Humanity. Accessories ranged from $28 to $215 and included earrings from Alexis Bittar and bangles by Marlyn Schiff. Most of the tops fit me perfectly, though the pants and denim were, unfortunately, off the mark — either too long or not quite fitted at the waist. While I drooled over both the Robert Rodriguez leather trim skirt ($365) and Valette Vega top ($148), ultimately I didn’t keep anything — a recent ski trip to the mountains all but depleted any extra spending cash I had lying around. But anyone who doesn’t have the time or energy to scour shops for clothing (check) and appreciates a little style advice (check) for no extra cost (check), should give this service a whirl. Check out the video that Kait put together:
Anne Vickman from CakeStyle on Vimeo. |
RAG & BONE OPEN ON NEWBURY TODAYPosted by bostonista on 2/17/2012 at 5:53PM | No Comments
Boston fashionistas, rejoice! Rag & Bone opened today at 111 Newbury Street. The four-level, 2,500-square-foot store (formerly Pierre Deux) houses the label’s effortlessly chic pieces, amid big windows and exposed brick. You’ll find the spring collection in stock, which includes bright eyelet sweaters and jeans ranging in hue from khaki to luminous yellow. “This is definitely our most colorful season yet with all these neon pops,” says Sean Lochner, Rag & Bone’s retail and operations manager. The shop hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. — Madeleine Coleman
(All photos by Renata Brito) |
FIRST LOOK AT CRUSH’S NEWBURY STOREPosted by Courtney Hollands on 2/10/2012 at 8:04PM | No Comments
Crush owners Rebecca Penner and Laura Macris have been nosing around the city for a few years, looking for the right location for a second store. They considered the Fenway area, the North End, the South End, even Wellesley, before landing on the almost 900-square-foot space at 264 Newbury Street (formerly Matsu). The bright new store boasts a rustic, custom-built wood cash register surround and jewelry case, as well as more natural light than the duo’s subterranean Beacon Hill flagship; vintage suitcases overflowing with purses and shirts dot the shop and chandeliers sparkle overhead. Both of Crush’s locations will carry pieces from Shoshanna, Alice & Olivia, and other lines, but each shop will have different designs. Labels exclusive to the Newbury outpost include Brandy Melville, Ladakh, Black Halo, Gold Hawk, and more. The boutique opens to the public Tuesday, a.k.a. Valentine’s Day — may we suggest a pink or red frock for the bash that night?
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THERE’S MUCH TO LOVE ON CHARLES STREETBut, not everyone feels that way.Posted by bostonista on 2/10/2012 at 2:44PM | 2 Comments
Picturesque, cobble-stoned Charles Street is home to bakeries, boutiques, nail salons, and gift shops — the strip has something for almost everyone. Except, perhaps, for designer Sara Campbell, who’s closing her storefront there this month. “There is no way to survive doing commerce in that neighborhood,” Campbell told Beacon Hill Patch, in an article that ran Monday. She cited “ruthless” parking enforcement officers and high rent among the causes of her Beacon Hill demise. (Campbell who owns shops in the South End, Wellesley, Concord, and Hingham, is also opening a location outside Chicago, according to the story.) I’m a sales associate at a small boutique on the drag, and as someone who lives and works in the part of Beacon Hill in question, I disagree. Charles Street is roaring. And I’m not the only one who feels that way. Campbell calls Charles Street a “rambling of assorted stuff” — but buyer and manager of Moxie, Kristen Caldon, says that’s just part of the charm. “Everything here is less mainstream. There are all different designers and brands that you can’t find in a department store.” And it’s true. Charles Street is Newbury without the commercialization. Susan Corcoran, co-owner of gift shop Black Ink, has been on Charles Street for 18 years. Her business has grown and she says the high rent pays off in the long run. “People come here because these stores are idiosyncratic, they are owner-operated. It’s a good thing,” she adds. The portrait painted by Cambpell is a mischaracterization. Of course we’re sad to see her store go, but with loads of exceptional boutiques in this neighborhood-shopping street, we’ll be back—and often. — Madeleine Coleman
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DANIELA CORTE GETS READY FOR SPRINGSee what the Boston-based designer has in store for the warmer months.Posted by Lisa Richov on 1/30/2012 at 10:43AM | No Comments
Daniela Corte opened the doors to her Newbury boutique in November — shoppers can now browse her perfectly tailored pencil skirts, silk blouses, and flattering swimwear in a bright, garden-level setting. Corte’s resort line is full of crisp whites and bright neons, and her playful swimwear collection is called “Fruit Salad” — think bold, fruit-covered suits. The white strapless splashed with pineapples is my favorite:
Spring will bring fresh new florals (“The explosion of colors makes me happy!” she says), soft pastel hues, and lots of shine. Look for color-blocking, prints, and sequins. Check out both collections — and the store, if you haven’t already — at three events next month: • Friday, February 10: Guys Night • Thursday, February 16: Fruit Cocktail Trunk Show • Friday, February 24
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STUFF WE LOVE: IVY PREPSTER TIESCapture that collegiate feel with locally made knit cravats.Posted by Charlotte Wilder on 1/25/2012 at 12:07PM | No Comments
That new brand Ivy Prepster is based in New England (Sudbury, to be exact) is no surprise — we practically invented preppy. Founder John Tesoro’s ties come in an array of different styles, from square-bottomed to pointy, polka-dotted to striped. He says that Ivy Prepster’s aesthetic is influenced in part by T. Hayashida’s “Take Ivy,” the iconic book on preppy culture from the ‘60s. The brand also draws inspiration from contemporary Japanese style.
I recently caught up with Tesoro at the Project New York trade show in Manhattan (why we Bostonians met in New York is anyone’s guess). He said the response to the ties has been great, especially among the college crowd. I took these photos of their booth at the show — the Fair Isle-esque blue ties (above) are my favorite. I also love the pocket squares stitched with adorable little labels:
You can snag Ivy Prepster ties at Sault New England, Drinkwater’s Cambridge, or Blue Dry Goods. |
HOLIDAY STOCKING STUFFER REVIEWTrying out rhinestone tweezers and the other loot Santa left behind.Posted by Lindsay Tucker on 1/16/2012 at 10:48AM | No Comments
It’s been two weeks since I returned from holiday break and I’m just now unpacking my car and shlepping loads of clean laundry and newly acquired Christmas loot into my teensy apartment. This year, I was gifted an unusually high number of beauty products—some stellar, some … not. Let’s take a look:
Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lip Collection: Featuring two lip colors (“Savvy” and “Confidence”) and two lip glosses (“Sass” and “Oomph”), this collection is ideal for transitioning from day to night. The glosses are a bit thinner and shimmery, where the colors have a thicker texture, reminiscent of oil paint. I use the more neutral “Savvy” by day, but for my evening endeavors I perk up with a little “Confidence” followed by a sweep of “Oomph.” Covet factor: 5
Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizer: This citrusy, vitamin-enriched formula has a pungent aroma (think Tang), and frankly is just too greasy for everyday use. A quick douse feels refreshing, but this lotion’s inability to seep in is a major flaw. Clammy hands and a slimy keyboard aren’t providing much “relief” right now. Covet factor: 0 MAC Iced Delights Eye Bag: This prize pack comes with a Graphblack Technakohl eye-liner, a Zoom Fast Black Lash mascara, a slightly mini, slanted shadow brush, and a brilliant eyeshadow duo featuring “Silverwear” (an iridescent silver lilac) and “Blue Spruce” (a smoky teal with copper shimmer specs). This baguette is a stellar deal at $45 — yes, in the name of journalism, I looked up how much my grandmother spent — and makes creating a high-drama, smokey-eye look (in seconds, no less) a breeze. Covet factor: 10
Michael O’Rourke’s Leave It In Weightless Tangle Tamer: So the packaging alone is enough to turn heads, but it’s what inside that truly impresses. Loaded with soy, wheat, and oat proteins, Tangle Tamer stays true to its word: After a shower, just a spritz or two leaves hair soft, supple, and smelling like a day spa — all day long. Covet factor: 7 |
