Re-fashioning Tie-Dying into Chic and Sophisticated Apparel

Tie-dying has always been a fun activity to turn an old white t-shirt into a colorful canvas as an art project, rather than a fashionable piece to adorn in public. This has changed with Moon Tide Dyers garments founded and created by Maura Cronin and Abbie Chambers.  Maura and Abbie re-fashion tie-dying apparel that takes the busy and fashionable gal of all ages from the yoga studio to lunch with friends.  All garments use a soft 4-way stretch jersey fabric that are designed, sampled, and made in a local factory in New Bedford, MA.

Come feel and try on some ultra chic Moon Tide piece this Friday, March 21st, at the Moon Tide Dyers Trunk Show at Fire Opal from 1 – 6 PM.   Shop, support, and enjoy local!

Fire Opal
282 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA
http://www.fire-opal.com
617-739-9066

For the Love of Beauty

Elegance comes from being beautiful inside as outside.
Coco Chanel

Whether we revel in beauty products or go au naturel, we all have used some sort of product – plum lipstick or scented oil shampoo – on our natural canvas to enhance our beauty, femininity, and confidence.  Many of these products are readily available online or at big retail chains, but ultra special ones like the pure freshness of Italian Fa deodorant or the rainbow collection of Zoya natural nail polishes are usually found at independent stores such as Beauty & Style.

For over 20 years, Vicki White and Susan Fox have had an unwavering determination and passion, first working at local beauty stores and finally at their own boutique, Beauty & Style, with the goal of empowering women to feel more beautiful, confident, and elegant despite the rise of the likes of Sephora, Birchbox, and Dermastore.com.  A nice selection of beauty products from haircare to nail polishes from around the world can be found in this understated, independent store that is tucked away at the crossroads of Coolidge Corner and JFK Crossings.

When you feel like you need a little something to enhance your natural self, stop by Beauty & Style to explore the secrets that this store has to offer. Vicki and Susan will make your trip and experience worthwhile. You might find yourself selecting the perfect nail color for the season, testing out mineral makeup, or touching one of the oldest and best rubber-cushion hair brushes, the Mason Pearson.

Beauty & Style
326 Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02446
http://www.beautyandstylebrookline.com
(617) 734-2111

What inspired you to open your store?

We love makeup and beauty products, and we wanted to run our own business. It was a natural step for us since we knew the industry inside out to take the leap of faith to open Beauty & Style.

What do you like best about owning a store?

We love new products and how they make people feel. A lipstick can brighten someone’s day and a shade of polish can enhance their style. When we look at a magazine and see something great, we want to be the first to have it in store. More importantly, we love that our customers become our friends.

Do you like this location?

We both grew up here and graduated from Brookline High School. This is our community – we want to be a part of and support it.

What makes your store unique?

We are one of the oldest mom and pop beauty supply stores with products from around the world. We constantly update our store to provide the latest in beauty products to our customers. People from all over the world come through our store.

How do you balance everything as business women?

We do the best that we can as working moms. Sometimes we feel like hamsters in a cage that keeps on going. We are constantly thinking about the business.

What inspires you?

Making individuals feel and look good inspires us. It is the one thing that drives us every day. We just love beauty products. Smelling and touching these products can transform you; that’s enough to inspire anyone.

What would you advise other women?

Being a business owner is not for everyone. You must have the passion and perseverance to weather the ups and downs of a business.

What’s your favorite product?

We love skincare and makeup, and we explore different lines all the time.

What products would you recommend for this year?

We recommend products based on a customer’s preference, skin and hair conditions, and their expected results from the products. Generally, we would advise everyone to wear SPF year-round. The ultraviolet rays can really damage your skin.

What are your favorite local shops?

We love our community, and we try to support the merchants in this neighborhood.

Rock Your Confidence and Style with Vintage Chic

 

Self-expression in the form of embracing the latest social trends such as fashion and music often limits us from truly being unique and different. Hilken Mancini is the epitome of individuality through her life’s passion as a punk rocker, thrift shopper, co-founder of Punk Rock Aerobics, purveyor of vintage chic clothing, and founder of Girls Rock Campaign. She fronted the Boston-based rock band, Fuzzy, in the 1990’s and developed an interest in thrifting for great finds at affordable prices during her free time while on tour. With a collection of fashionable treasure troves combined with the need to earn some cash, an opportunity arose for her to sell some of her finds in a small area of a men’s only thrift store, Gumshoe, before becoming the owner of the entire store renamed 40 South. Getting dropped from her record label, she decided to create an anti-exercise class, Punk Rock Aerobics, which led her to become passionate about rock camp. With this interest, Hilken traveled to Oregon during the summers to teach girls music at a rock camp where it serendipitously led her to find her business partner and founder, Nora Allen-Wiles, of Girls Rock Campaign Boston.

                  Hilken Mancini, Owner of 40 South and Founder of Girls Rock Campaign 

Today, you will find Hilken inspiring and embracing self-expression through fashion at her carefully edited vintage boutique and music through the Girls Rock Campaign Boston both of which are located at 40 South Street in Jamaica Plain. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming display of rusted metal security shield on the windows with a big number 40 above the door. Once you walk in, you will find a hidden gem of fashion forward to classic pieces. In the back room is where the magic takes place with Girls Rock Campaign.

Want to learn how to rock some confidence and style? Venture to Jamaica Plain to unearth some vintage and modern clothing and accessories at an affordable price, while supporting an economical and ecological lifestyle. At the same time, check out how their kick-ass non-profit, Girls Rock Campaign, that “empowers girls to believe in themselves by providing a supportive community that fosters self-expression, confidence, and collaboration through musical education and performance.” If you never had a chance to express yourself musically, the same organization runs Ladies Rock Camp Boston. Learn more about what inspires Hilken below.

40 South
40 South Street
617-522-5066
www.fortysouthst.com

What inspired you to open your store? 

I was in a band called Fuzzy in the early 1990’s and I toured a lot. When you’re in a band, you don’t have a lot of money. You would get $10 to $15 for dinner and free time to go thrifting. I became inspired with the idea of discovering new things.

This specific store was a men’s only vintage store that was never opened. The owner was my next-door neighbor, Otto, who became my friend. Otto gave me an opportunity to put a rack of women’s stuff on the side and he showed me the way around the business. I would continue my discovery of stuff, clean them up, and put them on the rack. Eventually, the neighbor moved on to work with higher-end apparel.

What do you like best about owning a store?

Being completely independent. I also love clothing. When I find a vintage Pendleton dress, I get a high and endorphins are released. I love connecting people with the stuff and this is fun. When I had an important concert, I wanted to connect with the audience with the pieces that I found. I do have an Etsy store, but I like to connect with people more.

Where do you source your clothes? 

The sourcing of the business is the hardest part. All vintage stores such as Oona’s and Artifaktori have their own ways of finding their inventory. I go thrifting, hunting for things anywhere, including from people who passed away.

What makes your store unique?

I think every vintage store is unique. It’s because it’s mine and I find it and I put it out there. It’s my taste, my style, and my eye. When you have a store, you order pocket books from manufacturers, and it is your style but you did not make the piece. I find one piece for the store. Every person who has a vintage store has their own uniqueness in the way they source and find their items.

How do you balance everything as a business woman?

I make it work even with a boyfriend, dog, a business, and an organization. I don’t have kids and this is my baby. I made that decision. 40 South is my first born and Girls Rock is my second born. I’m obsessed with both my store and organization, and think about them all the time. If I were to have a kid, I would have to give up one of my babies.

What inspires you?

People. I like helping people and I want them to look and feel good. That’s why I’m not good with e-commerce given the disconnect. I have an Etsy store, but there’s no connection with my customers there. Similarly with online, someone can buy my piece and I wouldn’t know who they are. E-commerce is cool, but it is unhumane. Women like to be nurtured, and I help them get there through my store and camp. Not having kids is probably why I nurture them.

What would you advise other women? 

I would tell girls and women not to compare themselves to anyone else. If you are looking to be like others and fit in, you have to remember that you have to be yourself and do it your own way.

How would you describe your store?

It is kind of trashy rock’n roll that has become classier throughout the years. Each piece is handpicked with a diverse collection of men and women’s clothing and accessories. My prices aren’t high because of that. I’m not a high-end vintage boutique. Since I come from a DIY and rock’n roll aesthetics, I will always find something and make it work with what I have.

I have to keep the store fresh and up to style, and I’m always adding something new. Unlike unorganized thrift shops where clothes and household supplies were donated, I carefully curate, inspect, purchase, and clean the items before displaying the pieces in color-coded or styled specific sections of the store.

What is Girls Rock Campaign? 

I was doing punk rock aerobics in Portland, Oregon in 2000 at the original punk rock organization. While in Oregon, I met Nora, originally from Somerville, while smoking cigarettes, and we became smoking buds. Both Nora and I bonded. The second summer of the camp, we went out to lunch and said that someday we would do girls rock in Boston.  Several years passed and nothing ever unraveled from that conversation.  When I turned 40, my best friend, now Nora’s girlfriend, asked me now that I’m 40, where do I want to be. I said that I wished I could start a girl’s rock camp at which point I cried.  I told myself that I’m going to call that girl, Nora, and maybe she will move back to Boston and start a rock camp for girls with me. Both Nora and I were thinking of starting the camp, but we were scared to talk about it. On my 40^th birthday, we did it.

                  Nora Allen-Wiles, Founder and Executive Director of Girls Rock Campaign

Cold Weather Accessories

The perfect way to stay chic and warm this winter is to accessorize with beautiful hats, scarves, and gloves. Before you go online to make a purchase, check out some wonderful accessories at your local independent stores. What better way to keep your shopping neighborhoods vibrant while also looking gorgeous in your winter attire. Shop small and support local this season (and every day)! Check out where you can find some great items at these local Boston shops.

LIT Boutique

223, 236 Newbury Street Boston, MA

Tech gloves ($16) to text and call without getting your fingers cold.

Mittens to fingerless gloves with fleece lining ($33)

Long sleeve fingerless gloves ($24)

Bow beanies ($30)

Sparkle beanies ($36 – $39)

Indoor knit ugg-style boots are only $18

Beautiful print scarves (price varies)

Core de Vie

40 Charles Street, Boston, MA

Smart phone touchable gloves ($32)

Flower head warmers ($25.50) and Flower fingerless gloves ($33)

Wish

49 Charles Street, Boston, MA

Knit rabbit earmuff ($54)

Classic knit rabbit loop ($92) and mittens (price varies from $50 ~ $150)

Zinnia

1300 Massachusets Ave, Cambridge, MA

Fingerless faux fur gloves ($29)

Alpaca and acrylic scarf ($34.99)

MDF

19 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

Striped scarf ($140)

Scarf made in England ($130)

Green, white, and blue print scarf ($190)

Genuine leather bag made in Italy ($575)

Fall Fashion Trends at Local Boston Boutiques

With the colder weather, it’s time to bring out the boots and layer up in cozy sweaters, scarves, and coats.  We explored these local Boston boutiques to see what we would uncover for this fall.

The Tannery

400 Boylston Street

Boston, MA

Kids Hunter rain boots are perfect for rain and snow to keep the little toes dry.

For the ladies, there’s a wide selection of Hunter boots on sale around $50.

The Tannery also has cute leather boots that would be perfect with your skinnies or leggings.

Betsey Jenny

114 Newbury Street

Boston, MA

 

Pick up a chunky sweater and textured scarf from this Newbury Street boutique. Tweed Cardigan $253

Colorful and textured scarves ranging from $48 to $143.

Pinkyotto

156 Newbury Street

Boston, MA

 

A little blue dress ($208) with tights and boots make a killer cute outfit. Add a long necklace ($78) and you have a great ensemble.

This black dress with white scallop embroidery ($208) would be great with tights or skinnies. Long necklace is $48.

 

Colorful cardigans ( $118) add a burst of color to the darker and colder days.

  

Add an owl necklace ($28) to any outfit for a little bling.

Halloween Costumes at Boston’s Best Local Stores

Halloween is creeping up fast. The vampires, cowboys, and fairies come out on this spooky day to celebrate All Hallows’ Evening. Whether you go trick-or-treating with the kids, attend a costume party, or hand out candy, it is time to dig into your trunk or visit some stores for fun or spooky costumes.  Our pop culture provides great inspiration for dressing up. You can’t go wrong dressing like a minion in Despicable Me or Leonardo DiCaprio in the Great Gatsby. Alternatively, bring out your creative and clever side by creating 50 Shades of Grey, jelly bean, or one-night-stand costumes.

If you don’t have anything in your closet or trunk for this hobgoblin day, support local by visiting one of your neighborhood costume stores for some ideas. In Boston, we have a handful of wonderful costume shops. Here are a few spectacular stores that we love. Come November, you can search all these local stores on our app.

Dorothy’s Boutique
190 Mass Ave
Boston, MA 02115
617-262-9255
dorothysboutique.biz

M – F: 10 A.M. – 7 P.M.
Sun: 12 – 6 P.M.

Dorothy’s Boutique located near the South End and Back Bay has nearly every cartoon, TV show, or movie character that you can think of. If you want to be Captain Kirk from Star Trek, a beer bottle, or a sexy movie character, Dorothy has it all. The line does get long if you wait till the last moment. So stop by this weekend to find something sweet or macabre.

Great Eastern Trading Company
49 River St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-5279

M: 12 –7 P.M.
T: 12 – 7 P.M.
W: 12 – 7 P.M.
Th: 12 – 7 P.M.
Friday 12:00–7:00 pm
S: 12 – 7 P.M.
Su: 1 – 5 P.M.

This great costume store in Central Square is filled with a fantastic collection of colorful pieces for the fun-filled, creative individual.  You can be whatever you want at Great Eastern Trading Company. Pick out a dress, a wig, or a mask to create a Venetian masquerade princess. Dress up in the funkiest and colorful wig, tights, and wings for a modern and surreal fairy.

The Garment District
200 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-5230
garmentdistrict.com

Sat: 9 A.M. – 8 P.M.
Sun – F: 11 A.M. – 8 P.M.

This place has been around forever! It has the best selection of anything and everything. You will discover items to help you look like a rapper or a 1950’s pinup doll. One of the best things about The Garment District is that you can find everyday and vintage clothes at the right price. Trust me (or maybe not), my college day outfits came from here.

 

Party Favors
1356 Beacon St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 566-3330
partyfavorsbrookline.com

M – F: 9:30 A.M. – 7 P.M.
S: 9:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.
Sun: 12 – 5 P.M.

Party Favor Halloween Store
1333 Beacon St.
Brookline, MA 02446
617-566-0800
Extended hours from October 15th through the 31st

M, T, W: 10- 7 P.M.
Th, F, S: 10- 8 P.M.
Sun: 12 – 6 P.M.

Craving cupcakes while looking for a costume? Party Favors has its bakery and gift shop on one side of Beacon, and the pop-up costume shop across the street. You can find a wide selection of ready-made costumes in packages for those who want something scary or fun without the fuss.

If you still don’t have an idea what you want to be after visiting these shops, here are our suggestions below for this phantabulous day.

Neal Caffrey from White Collar – An amazing fedora, skinny tie, and a fitted suit

Minions from Despicable Me – Overalls, yellow shirt and beanie, googles

Star Trek – V-neck color shirt with a black turtle neck or t-shirt underneath and slant your eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil

The Hobbit – a cape, white button-down, vest, and flip flop

Gatsby from the The Great Gatsby – A tuxedo with slick hair

Daisy from the Great Gatsby – A flapper dress with a sparkly headband

A bag of jelly beans – Fill a clear trash bag with color balloons and tie it around your neck (Real Simple)

50 Shades of Grey – A plethora of grey paint chips from your local hardware store and tape them to your shirt (courtesy of Huffington Post)

One night stand – A cutout cardboard or wood table with your head through it and a sign that says one night stand (Pinterest)

Smartphone costume – Black or white shirt with a circular button and square screen image glued or taped

Oktoberfest costume – Beer stein Gretel costume

Happy Halloween!

Fire Opal – A Gallery of American-Made Treasures

Inspired. Artisan. Dream.

From non-profit managers to local business owners, Sue Stein and her husband, Steve Murakishi, have been pursuing their passion to bring an artisan gallery of the best American-made jewelry, clothing, pottery, and home decor to two vibrant communities — Brookline and Jamaica Plain — since 1984.  While both stores offer similar handcrafted products, they have different personalities and collections to reflect their respective communities. Sue carefully curates a selection of beautiful clothing and jewelry for the Brookline location, which emanates charm and sophistication as you walk into the store. Steve brings out an eclectic and fun vibe in the hipster chic Jamaica Plain store that carries a wide selection of home decor from modern metal artwork to classic baroque mirrors as well as a plethora of wedding bands and fun jewelry.

We quickly and completely fell in love with these stores and their pieces after learning about how each one is created by the artist and selected by Sue or Steve. We hope you will stop in to say hi and admire old-fashion artisan crafts that have been redefined for the modern woman and man.

What inspired you to open your store?

“Fire Opal has been around 29 years. I previously worked in non-profit management and a gallery years ago. I discovered this world of jewelry and working with artists and loved it immediately. When this store was for sale, I thought it was a great fit and I decided to buy it.”

What are your most popular products?

“We focus a lot on clothing and jewelry, and everything is made in the US from over 200 local artists. It’s sort of a small American craft gallery. Clothing and engagement rings have really grown over the past few years. We choose every single piece based on colors, texture, how tailored it is to the body, and the versatility of the piece. When picking jewelry, we’re really picking a body of work that can go together really well. Because of this, the store is about 40% jewelry and 40% clothing.”

What do you think differentiates you from big box retailers and online stores, like Etsy?

“Etsy is not curated, so you have to weed through everything to find the interesting pieces. We find the real interesting pieces and bring them all here. What is so important with jewelry is the sizing and the quality, and you can’t tell that over the internet. You are also often stuck with the purchases you make even if something is wrong, whereas we just send it back to the artist to fix the issue.”

How would your existing customers describe your store?

“A lot of our customers like being able to come in, whether it’s for a gift or something for themselves. They’ll be able to find a large selection, all of great quality, and without having to go to the mall. The store is eclectic, but in a well curated way.”

What motivates you everyday?

“The challenge to keep a small business going, and keep a vibrant community around it.”

What are your favorite local shops?

“The Pod in Brookline Village and Tiny Hanger around the corner. I love shopping when on vacation, and I think a lot of our customers are that way. They hear about the store from friends or family, and then come back every year when they’re visiting.”

Brookline Location

The Brookline location offers a large selection of modern jewelry that stands out among the rest because of its elegant, yet practical appeal for all women.

Coolidge Corner
320 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 739-9066

http://www.fire-opal.com/

JP Location

The Jamaica Plain location radiates a funkier vibe than its sister store in Brookline.  Like its culturally diverse and vibrant neighborhood, the store is a blend of different unique items that are hipster chic with a larger selection at different price points.

638 Centre Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 524-0262
http://www.fire-opal.com/

 

Boston Sidewalk Sales

Looking for a great way to find some new pieces without emptying your wallet? Head to these summer sidewalk sales and check out the great finds and prices! Watch for more to come this fall as you transition your way back to cold weather gear.  Follow Savione on Twitter @mysavione to stay up to date on all city happenings.

Coolidge Corner Sidewalk Sale
Coolidge Corner- Brookline, MA
July 27- 28, 2013
10 AM – 4 PM
Including: Arcade Optical, Brookline Booksmith, Cause to Paws, Eureka! Puzzles, Fire Opal,
Magic Beans, Mattei Gallery, Mint Julep, Muddy River Gallery, PriKidz, Simons Shoes,The Studio,
The Pear Tree, and Tiny Hanger
For more information visit: http://www.coolidgecorner.info/

Old Fashioned Sidewalk Sale
Downtown Newburyport- Newburyport, MA
August 1- 3, 2013
9 AM – 9 PM
Including: Alpine Shop, Beach Plum Too, Buttermilk Baking Company, Clay’s, Denise’s Flower Shop,
Dingo Creative, Essencia Beauty Lounge, French Lessons Boutique, Ganesh Imports,
Headlines Boutique, Ireland on the Square, Ivy Lane, J.L. Coombs, Number One Sponge Company,
Partridge in a Pear Tree, Pawsitively Best Friends, Port Candle, Richdale, Roca’s, Sweetheaven Studio,
The Black Dog, and The Dragon’s Nest
For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/k9rbdo8

Xylem’s Sidewalk Sale
Kendall Square- 287 Third Street, Cambridge, MA
July 23- 28, 2013
10 AM- 7 PM
Including: Fun gifts, toys, knick knacks, books, kitchen tools, clothing,
stationary, home decor, and accessories
For more information visit: http://tinyurl.com/lvbqzcp

A Dream Closet – Vintage Jewelry and Modern Boutique

Vintage. Chic. Worldly.

Inspired by her mom’s antique jewelry store in Edgartown, MA, Leaf Shea opened her Brookline boutique 19 years ago.  At first glance, it appears like a vintage consignment store, but this cozy and super eclectic shop is filled with unique treasures from around the world such as Moroccan belts, Turkish stoned jewelry, Swedish organic silver jewelry, and all new chic apparel. It’s a girl’s dream closet with pieces that are guaranteed to solicit compliments each and every time. The local shop is tucked away in Coolidge Corner waiting to be uncovered by the adventurous modern vintage fashionista.  If you are looking for something special for you or a friend, stop by Vintage and explore a world of treasure at this Brookline boutique.

1382b Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 739-3265

https://vintagejewelryboston.com

About Leaf Shea

What inspired you to open your store?

“Well my mother had a business and I worked all my teen years. I was working in the film business in Los Angeles and I hated the way people treated each other, so when my mother asked if I wanted to open up this store, I took the opportunity. When I first opened, I started carrying a lot of antique jewelry, and then began carrying clothing. Traveling influenced me a lot because I’ve been all over Europe, all through Mexico, and I love the different trends from all over the world.”

What do you like best about owning a store?

“I like the flexibility, with having a family and everything. It’s not like I’m trying to make a lot of money, I just love the people and the community. Coolidge Corner is great because you can walk down the street and know people. If it weren’t for the community, this store wouldn’t be here.”

What makes your store unique?

“I think that we just make people feel really comfortable. We help put together outfits, blending modern looks with antique jewelry. I mean a lot of people get compliments on the things they buy here. We’re not pushy; we let them shop at their leisure. It’s kinda like a big closet, with a great big jewelry box to put outfits together. ”

How would describe your store?

“We blend the new and old together. With new boutique clothing and antique vintage jewelry.We also carry lines from all over the world, like Sweden, Turkey, and India.”

What are your favorite local shops?

” Brookline Brooksmith. I like that it’s a real old-fashioned bookstore. It’s comfy and cozy, and doesn’t have the sterility of big stores like Barnes & Noble.”

Spring 2013 Color Watch

The first day of Spring is almost a week away, and there is still time to shop for some great pieces to freshen up your look!  This Spring, the trends are all about a combination of bold and bright tones with more muted hues.  To guide your shopping endeavors, here are the Pantone colors of the season:

Ever wonder how the season’s colors are chosen, and how designers know what shades to feature in their up and coming pieces?  Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute talks about fashion colors in this short video clip:

Want  more bold colors in your life?  Pantone lets you embrace the season’s hottest colors through more than just fashion with these colorful home products.  What’s your favorite hue?

Mugs