Layers to keep you warm

These beautiful arm warmers from Erica Tanov arrived in the store last week, and I immediately bought two pairs. It had never occurred to me that I might want arm warmers until the moment I first saw these, but I love them and think that maybe I actually need one more pair-- especially since one of the pairs I bought is a gift for my mother. Now she can wear her 3/4 sleeve coat when it is actually cold outside! I like the way they can peek out from under a sweater and make it seem like you are wearing a second awesome sweater underneath without adding any bulk. Also, this picture doesn't do the sparkle justice... So come in and see for yourself!

Another new arrival: great tights and leggings from French Curve...

Congratulations...

to Bayh and Matt on their engagement! These rings make me want to get engaged, too...

sterling silver ring with rose cut diamonds

14kt gold with one rose cut diamond

top: 14kt gold band with scattered diamonds

bottom: platinum band

Hard to pick a favorite... (but it's the silver/diamond ring for me!)

Grown up and sophisticated

A customer came in today and fell in love with Jitterbug Perfume. It is one of the staples among our collection of fragrances (which also includes Kai and Sage Oils). When she asked me how I would describe it, I said that it is grown up and sophisticated, that it has the gravitas of Chanel No. 5 without feeling old fashioned or too heavy: a modern interpretation of smells that conjure vintage photographs, french movies, and first dates.

Since that was a pretty qualitative description, I also looked it up to discover the following:

Those are scents that remind me of sitting at my grandmother's dressing table, just tall enough to see the glimmer of crystal bottles, the glint of metal lipstick cylinders, the luscious lure of her gilded compact, and the irresistible pot of delectable cold cream that lived in the far corner.

Every year, my grandparents drove to our house for Thanksgiving. My grandmother would pack all of her oils and potions—the things that I thought made her quintessentially grown up and sophisticated—into an avocado green cosmetics case that matched her luggage. I ALWAYS carried that case in from the car, and she always let me pop it open and poke through it. As a result, classic perfume and the smells of autumn combine to conjure many of my favorite memories.

When that customer held out her wrist for my opinion, it was as if I was sitting at my grandmother's vanity with the atomizer poised before me. After she purchased the Jitterbug Perfume, I picked up the tester, dabbed a bit on the back of my hand, and have been engrossed in lovely memories ever since.

Blue

These cashmere pop-top gloves from Carolina Amato arrived in the store a couple of days ago, and it reminded me of this gorgeous car:

I love the car's exterior, but I also love the tones and textures of the interior. Also in that family:

Prairie Underground's Long Cloak Hoodie

Shabd's stormy silk scarf

Let me introduce you

to some of the new designers in the store this fall:

The lovely and delightful, and very local, Megan Noonan dropped off pieces from her inaugural collection for Marijn Bennet. I'm particularly taken by the braided scarves in alpaca and wool. Warm necklaces in fetching colors are an original take on a winter staple.

Hikaru Noguchi, is a new gem for us. Japanese by origin, she produces her collection of knit accessories in the UK from the finest Scottish, English and Australian wool. The styles reference vintage knitwear, while updating colors to a thoroughly modern mix. I call it friendly, soft, warm... and definitely cool.



Another new find is Mercy Studio, by a design duo out of Toronto. The rich fabrics, attention to detail and romantic silhouettes drew me in immediately. In the end, though, there is something unique and artful about the collection that I haven't come across before, and that won me over. The digitally printed silk charmeuse, in deep navy with bronzy gold, blue, white and brown is pure luxury, and the washed stars on woven wool are sophisticated delight. Not to mention the gold brocade coat...

This is just a tease, come see what else is on the racks and on the shelves.