LA Lady, Blue Jean Baby...

Cameron Diaz is our favorite dresser this week, because when it comes to denim it's not always about trends or washes, it's about having a second layer of skin that flatters our curves and lifts our spirits. We have them hemmed, wash them inside out, struggle for hours in fitting room after fitting room in search of the perfect pair and somehow, it's all worth it. We remind ourselves that cost-per-wear is our best friend... we'll wear some dresses just once before the seasons have changed, but a good pair of denim will last us for years... and can handle the growing pains we meet along the way.

The editors at People Magazine are on the same page, and recently named Diaz among their best dressed. She took the crown for denim, and her stylist reported, "Cameron is the ultimate denim girl-- it's what she feels the most herself in." We agree, so as we slide our skinnies into boots, uncuff our boyfriend jeans, and pick up our freshly hemmed newbies for fall at Clevergreen, we're taking a note from our favorite girl-next-door, and planning denim looks that she pioneered and continues to rock.

Our picks for fall: Raven Denim trousers, black and grey J Brand skinnies, and sliced and destroyed Red Engines. Pair with silk blouses, drapey cardigans and racerback tanks.

Rule of thumb: If you're donning a voluminous top, wear more tapered bottoms. Too much fabric looks frumpy, so balance tops and bottoms. Example: Trousers should meet with tailored tops, but skinny jeans can handle more material on top. To avoid looking like a ragamuffin, destroyed denim becomes sophisticated and stylish with a dressier tops, like the Central Park West piece pictured here, or the polka dot top our Denim Diva wore.

xoxo.

Brianne & Kara

Fashion Week(s)

First and foremost, we'd like to dedicate this blog to Vicky Savio. Vicky has been a longtime friend of Laura and Rebecca, as well as the Julep ladies. I've been fortunate enough to have gotten to know Vicky over the past few months. She's very sweet, but perhaps our favorite thing about her, is how diligent she is when it comes to reading the Crush blog. It's flattering, and actually a bit of an honor, to have friends who care so much about Crush and who have taken such a vested interest in the daily goings on of the store. I'd even go so far as to call Vicky one of our biggest fans. Thanks Vicky, and thank you to all of our girlfriends who love Crush just as much as we do, we certainly wouldn't have this much fun without you.

On a somewhat less sappy note, Nicole Richie had her second baby this week, and we'd like to make it clear that while we've very happy for her, that has nothing to do with why we're picking up her line. No, I'm not talking about the one for Pea in the Pod.... we're picking up House of Harlow. The jewelry line, named for her daughter, is cooly bohemian, in a sexy vintage rocker kind of way.

House of Harlow 1960 isn't the only treat L & R brought us back though... other new lines joining the racks at Crush Boutique: Marc Bernstein, Kettle Black, Karen Zambos, B-low the Belt, and... (my beloved) Matt & Nat.

Marc Bernstein is easily described in in the following slang sentence: "His designs are really sick." Frankly, they are... these rope-like triple wrap bracelets are made from sterling silver or 18K gold and leather. We love motorcycle inspired accessories this fall, and these pieces have Rebecca glowing. Bernstein's line was created after he was asked to design pirate-inspired accessories for a French Vogue shoot. Now, what's more fashion forward than that? We love, just LOVE.

Kettle Black apparel is sexy in a very masculinity inspired way... we're talking easy button downs, flannel, plaid, motorcycle jackets... all the pieces that somehow sex up our denim this fall. It feels kind of like that 1980s too cool for school highschool crush that we all had... or you know, would have had if we'd been in high school then.

Karen Zambos: where do I start? Crush has an affinity for all things vintage... I blame (and love) Marisa Perry for that. In two words: VINTAGE COUTURE. You know that princess feeling you get when you put on a glamorous 1940s dress in a thrift store, or maybe a tiara?... imagine that, only it's now available all the time at Crush and isn't just for special occasions.

I'm now going to point out the obvious: B-low the Belt, is a (wait for it) ... belt line. It's not just any belt line though, it's lambskin and snakeskin and everything's made in LA. We love lines that are made in the USA, and we know that many of you do too. We can't wait for our first shipment.

If I've kept your attention this long, I'd like to say a word for Matt & Nat. We Crushettes are not vegetarian, but we really love vegan accessories. Matt & Nat balances design and social responsibility, something that we think really sets them apart from other luxury handbag lines.

That was Laura and Rebecca's week. While the girls were jaunting around Manhattan at Coterie, Kara and I held down the fort, and had our own personal Fashion Week, smack in the middle of New York's and Boston's. We used our time to put up a new press clippings bulletin board, pull together a denim looks spread in honor of Cameron Diaz (who was recently named Best Dressed: Denim, by People Magazine), photograph all of our new merchandise and fall in love with the new Priorities blazers-- maybe one of them is already hanging in my closet, maybe.

Stay tuned for the Denim Looks blog later this evening.

xoxo.

B

Meet Kara: A Crush Story about Fall and Falling for New Loves

Fall is in full gear and we're finally getting the chance to bundle up in the fall shipments that started arriving over a month ago. There's nothing we love more than fall clothes, but this year has been especially exciting.

In addition to new jeans, sweaters and scarves, we're obsessing over the newest addition to the Crush family, Kara Aberizk. Kara joined the Crush team just two short weeks ago, but she's donning Ettika bracelets and updating the online store like a card carrying Crushette. We LOVE: her new Elizabeth and James boots, the fact that she (like us) needs her Starbucks intravenously, her Item of the Day picks and the way she plays dress up with us like it's her job... you know, since it is.

Fortunately for us, Kara loves apple cider as much as the next girl and has been busy helping us plan our next big fall event. In the meantime: she and Laura will be serving up mimosas Sunday afternoon from 12pm-6pm at Crush. Beacon Hill doesn't need another brunch, and we certainly can't cook, but there's nothing more fun than a champagne event at 131 Charles. Plus, we like to spend our Sundays trying on clothes and catching up with our girlfriends and this is definitely the most fun way to do that.

In other news, we're just about to burst over:
1. Our new outdoor mannequin.
2. Those black J Brands, yes we're still dying over how flattering they are.
3. The excitement of a new www.shopcrushboutique.com! Our web developer is working tirelessly, and we can't wait for the finished project.
4. New press! Lucky for November, Improperazzi pictures from Fashionably Late, and credits in local Boston magazines and the big fashion publications are causing us to beg the question: where's the Crush reality television series?
5. You! Summer's over, but autumn days at Crush are alive with the regular customers who spent summer weekends sailing and sunning. A few tourists linger on, and we love to meet new faces and make new friends, but hardcore shopping missions have returned and right now everyone wants: new skinnies, dresses that swing from work to play, ethnic inspired and eco-friendly sweaters and jewelry, LA Made long sleeved tees in every color for layering, and our absolute favorite accessory trend: sassy, bejeweled, feathered, Blair Waldorf inspired headbands.

See you Sunday!
<3

Lucky You!

Check out our current Lucky Break and enjoy 20% off your online purchase at Crush through the month of September. Just enter "Break0909" at checkout and save, save, save. 

Browse all of our fabulous new Fall merchandise at www.shopcrushboutique.com.