[Fall]ing: For Leather and Lace...oh, and also mesh and french terry

This past week, Laura, Rebecca and I bustled about Coterie, D&A and Sole Commerce perusing the Fall 2010 collections and taking note of what you'll see in-store and on the streets this Fall. Attending my first buying show was an amazing experience. Between catching a sneak peak at Fall and writing our orders for July, August and September and meeting some of my favorite designers, I can honestly say that my job is far too much fun. 

While I don't want to ruin the surprise, here's what I can report back:

Year after year we hang onto the ways the cultural zeitgeist inspires the way the world speaks, behaves, and most importantly for us, dresses. In a post-economic downturn era where the Democratic Party has gained the upper-hand, the workplace has become more casual, logos are disappearing from handbags and wallets, and flannel, leather and french terry have taken over the Fall fashion. Get excited now to cozy up with comfortable, yet fashion-forward, pieces.

For both work and play, Boston tends to clean up nicely. Bostonians love dress pants, button downs and pearls the way Los Angelistas love sandals and maxi dresses, and that's why Fall's juxtaposition of leather, ponte, french terry and flannel with lace, mesh and fine silks will fit our fine little city like a [leather] glove.

Last year, zippers exposed on heavy black fabrics represented a sense of rebellion in the fashion world. This coming Fall, however, the sharpness of these edgy looks has been softened. Leather jackets have soft curves, ponte leggings feature rich leather and suede paneling, florals are big and blossoming and french terry sweaters with lace and mesh detail bring us from Kurt Cobain to 90210.

Prints are all the rage as florals, tribals, and plaids clean up with softer cuts and details, but remain tough with leather edging. Even cardigans are cool for Fall... while drapey-ness remains, equestrian detailing sophisticates ultra casual cuts. For dresses, mesh, sequins and raw edge silks feminize edgier leather and ponte bodies.  

We caught up with friends, and the looks, at Alice + Olivia, Paul & Joe Sister, Rory Beca, Karen Zambo, Amanda Uprichard, Parker, BB Dakota and many more, and also introduced ourselve to some new lines that'll hit CB this Summer. Soon enough our favorite lines will hang between new additions. We can't wait to get our first deliveries from Pavionne, Sine, Parameter, Ramona LaRue, Rails and JJ Winters. It should prove to be a very exciting Autumn at Crush Boutique. 

...In fact, I don't think I've ever been more excited for Fall...

So what were our favorite trends?

Well, while I'm dying for the perfect pair of ponte and leather equestrian riding pants, tribal beaded dresses and bow detailed winter coats, Rebecca's crushing on plaid, oversized silk tops and 80s inspired leather jackets... and Laura? Well, look out for Laura... because come July, (when our Fall deliveries will start) she'll be the one blinding the neighborhood with an unannounced number of intensely sparkly sequined dresses... Sunglasses, please? 

Brianne

Ignoring Phil: A Healthy Dose of Crushinism

Crushinism: (crush-n-ism) noun. 
A dedicated, religious-like belief to treating yourself and indulging in your [Crush]. Popular among young women in the Greater Boston Area, Crushinism is the brainchild of fashionistas and feminists.

Well folks, Punxsutawney Phil did it again last week. That little critter predicted not one, not two, but six more weeks of winter...Ten bucks says he's actually blind, and the shadow thing is a cover-up for keeping us bundled up through Fashion Week.... you know, with the general idea being that we'll fall harder for the Fall collections if we're freezing while perusing the look books. If this is in fact the case, little Phil deserves Anna Wintour's job...

Since it's not likely though that the illusive goddess of Vogue is leaving her post any time soon, I'm not going to start listening to Phil just yet. In fact, I'm going to embrace the Spring deliveries that are sliding onto the hangers at Crush. Forget the winter clothes, ladies, my new strategy is winterizing my new Spring clothes... I can't wait any longer.

So in honor of Phil and his undesirabe visions, here are some simple ways to winterize my favorite spring pieces on the racks at Crush...

So don't pine away for Spring, get into the swing now. Phil opinions need not interfere... he's a man, what does he know about Spring dresses? He doesn't understand how hard it is to wait for skirts and silks and sandals! And after all, my faithful fashionistas, it's the dreariest of days when we need the brightest of treats, and clothes, well clothes my friends, were meant to be worn and loved... every season.

Here's to new Spring clothes and February buying shows!

Brianne



P.S. Stay tuned for Crush Boutique's live tweeting from Coterie, D&A, and Sole Commerce February 20th-23rd... <3

The modern woman keeps sweaters in her stove and scarves in her bicycle basket

Carrie Bradshaw, a girl after our own hearts, didn't know anything about kitchens...she kept sweaters in her stove. While this may not be the best use of an electrical appliance that could catch fire at any time, you've got to give her this: she recognized her hatred for cooking and her undesirable amount of closet space. Then, given these things, Bradshaw merchandised her clothing accordingly. 

Being subterranean doesn't make for the easiest retail location. Baby carriages are a challenge, puppies have been known to slide down those icy bricks, and each day I pray that Mike, our dear UPS man, won't plummet cardboard box over tea kettle down the stairs, but being underground does have its benefits. For instance, it challenges us to harness the charm of our space by finding ways to spruce up our cozy little cavern.

And so recently when I coerced Rebecca and Laura into a furniture store whilst looking for a cupcake tree, and we stumbled upon a gorgeous piece of furniture [an antiqued iron bicycle!] we just had to have it. You see, there's really nothing Rebecca loves more than a new bicycle... it was a sign from the visual merchandising gods that it was time for us to revamp! We instantly got in touch with our inner domestic goddesses and picked out all new furniture, paint swatches and decorating accessories.

You may be wondering, how does one merchandise with a bicycle, a gardening cart and zebra striped trunks? I'll respond by saying this: I don't know anything about riding antiqued iron bicycles, I keep Love Quotes Scarves and Daftbirds on mine...

xoxo.
Brianne