A New Years Inspiration Board!

In need of some New Years Eve inspiration? Be it black tie, dancing with the girls, or a quiet evening in with the boy, sequins and jewels add a little sparkle and make you look, and feel, both festive and fabulous.

We dolled up Brianne in some New Year's Eve looks from Shoshanna, Alice + Olivia, MM Couture, French Connection and Ali Ro and the result: the Crush Boutique version of a word splash.

Happy New Year!

xoxo.

Brianne, Laura, Rebecca and Kara

Another Auld Lang Syne...

In 2009, Crush drafted 50+ blog posts, held upwards of 20 events, tweeted almost 200 times, employed 4 girls, and helped a lot of women pick out a lot of dresses. There’s a lot to recap as we await the fireworks that will ring in 2010, but in an effort to make you all nostalgic, I’ll give it a go.

I’ll quick and dirty the beginning of the year, because this underground fashion lair wasn’t yet my home away from home... In January, the blogosphere helped to determine Laura’s birthday dress. In February, the lovely ladies of G2O Salon and Spa spruced up our friends and customers for their Valentine’s Day dates. March brought eco-friendly looks to CB and sent Laura and Rebecca to speak for the young ladies of Delta Gamma at Boston University. Then, in April, we celebrated our Second Anniversary! (Can you imagine what the party for year five will be like???) Next, Jess joined the team bringing a wave of west coast inspired summer styles along with her.

When I started in May, Laura and Rebecca were prepping for wedding season, The Sparkle II Charity Fashion Show, a Shop/Sip/Save event and rompers. While the girls hit the wedding scene, Jess, Emily and I held down the fort. We spent the summer playing sartorialists and concierges, taking in trends from the tourists and directing traffic to the patio at Alibi, the Esplanade for fireworks, Fashionably Lates at The Liberty, Sox games and the Boston Harbor Islands.

As the summer drew to an end, Jess prepared for Paris and Emily hung up her Crush shoes for a 9 to 5, but first, we held our own Fashionably Late for which Rebecca and Laura landed themselves on the Improperazzi page and were interviewed by NESN. All dolled up and so much to do, we watched our Crush models zip around the lobby at The Liberty, coated in stage lights and runway looks.

All good things must come to an end though, and summer did. The wedding season wrapped up just in time for Rebecca and Laura to head too Manhattan to buy for Spring (the pieces are just starting to arrive!), and place our first orders for shoes. They brought back boots, ballet flats and platform pumps, and with Kara onboard, we headed towards the Holidays.

Rebecca looooves Halloween, so at Crush, the Holidays start mid-October. Crush was decorated to the nines with pumpkins and skulls and candy galore. We threw a Halloween Party at the store that involved playing dress up with new clothes, as opposed to dressing up and some delicious apple cider from Wilson’s Farm in Lexington.

As the rest of the holidays approached, we pulled out the snowflakes and holly tissue paper and garnished gifts with cinnamon sticks and holly. The festivities at the store were bountiful, as was the fun, between our Finally Fridays with The Liberty Hotel and The Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll.

Wow, this is getting long… consider this an overdue Christmas letter. Ohhhhh, maybe next year we’ll send one of those!?

As we swing into 2010, here’s where we stand: Rebecca, who this year became our official online store photographer and maintained her position as lead light bulb changer, is preparing for a trip to New Orleans and longing for the days of silk blouses and sandals. Laura spent 2009 perfecting her internet marketing abilities and between http://www.shopcrushboutique.com/, our Google AdWords and learning Photoshop, she’s become a regular techie… but you know, with swanky clothes. Kara loves RAs and special orders more than anything, except maybe House of Harlow, and is expected to continue opening boxes of new merchandise like a kid on Christmas morning (too soon to bring up THAT holiday again?) Jess will return January 15^th and with her trends from Paris and LA ought to be trickling in. Me? Well, after I finish this post, I’m going to upload some photos of a snow covered Crush Boutique to Facebook and determine the appropriate bra to wear with the new Chelsea Flower top tomorrow...

Stay tuned for our upcoming resort post!

xoxo.

“Gossip Girl”

Everybody knows a little press and some mistletoe, help to make the season bright...

Nothing fills our hearts with holiday cheer more than holiday dresses... and the same can be said for Abby Bielagus and Tanya Pai of Boston Magazine. These cheery fashionistas and expert shoppers have listed two of the season's Crush favorites among their picks for Boston's Best Holiday Dresses.

The Audrey's Party Dress by Max & Cleo features a sweetheart neckline and a tiered A-line skirt that shakes like a bowl full of jelly when you spin around.

The vintage inspired Beth Bowley has all the class of a Princess Grace original in a cut that Charlotte York would envy.

I'm not sure there are enough words for the Alice + Olivia. You've seen it. I've blogged about it. We've all known it's THE perfect holiday dress and that our inner Leighton Meester would do just about anything to wear it on New Year's Eve. So wrap yourself in sequins and ribbon and give in to your subconscious Gossip Girl.

If you're like us, you've yet to finalize your New Years Eve plans, but are sure that you absolutely need, and by need I mean want, to shop for new party dresses with your girlfriends this weekend and while gabbing about the holiday parties and work deadlines you've been swallowed whole by this month... so, see you Sunday?

<3
Brianne

When it snows, ain't it thrilling?

It's that time of year again, the time when we're all ready to trade in our winter coats and brownstones for bathing suits and beach houses. And yet, we'll keep on trucking. From January and into February, we'll dress like Eskimos and snow shoe to work... gah.

Why so cheery then, you ask? Whelp, (and yes, I did in fact say whelp, that’s wasn’t a typo) it’s because if I lived anywhere else, I’d miss some things about the Hub in winter: 1) sweaters, 2) boots and 3) scarves/gloves. I can’t stand the cold. I hate it so much that I often put my towels, gloves, sweaters, pajamas, socks, etc. on the radiator until they soak up the warmth and coziness I so desire after my very long, tumultuous 3 ½ minute commute home from Crush.

In light of the cold, and my will to combat it in the most exciting of ways—with winter clothes, here are some picks to keep you and your loved ones toasty warm this holiday season:

LA Made Navy Keyhole Cashmere Sweater, $158
What else you’ll need: a long white tank, jeans, knee socks, brown boots and a lunch date with your best friend (right in the middle of the work day perhaps?).

Avoca Red/Cherise Scarf, $54
(Made with love and imported from Ireland!)

What else you’ll need: white t-shirt, cozy cardigan, gloves, denim leggings, Irish breakfast tea, errands and a long, chatty phone call with your mom.

Miz Mooz Kent Riding Boot in Black, $178
What else you’ll need: leggings, a tunic, an oversized sweater, gloves, a short winter jacket and the ice skates you’ll wear once these city-walking-inspired boots get you to the Commons.

525 America Grasshopper V-neck Sweater, $54
What else you’ll need: long white tank, black leggings, camel boots, Starbucks and the very last of your paid vacation days for 2009.

Bailey 44 Joan Jett Jacket, $180
What else you’ll need: black t-shirt, skinny jeans, black ankle boots or Converse All-Stars and a scratchy mix tape from your high school boyfriend.

So, finish up all that holiday shopping and head home to snuggle up in front of your non-working apartment fireplace... just in time for that blizzard we're about to brave!

Finally Fridays at the Liberty!

Join us again this Friday night for 150 calorie cocktails and a holiday themed trunk show from 6pm-8pm just outside Clink at The Liberty Bar.

Pink: Not just the color of your nose this winter...

Six months ago, InStyle told us that the LBD (little black dress) was now the LBD (little bright dress), and while, as a girl that loves color and works in a boutique I didn't need them to tell me that, I was pleased that they'd made this knowledge well known.

Trends move fast though and I'd like to make an amendment: The go to eye-popping, stop 'em dead in their tracks, holiday pretty, super sexy go to color is... (drumroll please) ... MAGENTA. Now, magenta's been working it's way up since the Nick Jr. people got together during my early years and named Blue's best friend after that bold pink color, but this is really it's year. Cerulean had it's turn, and gold and silver always get theirs, but this year: I'm choosing to campaign for a color that even the folks at Crayola get nervous over.

Ever since our grandmothers started burning their bras, pink's been a little bit of a outcast. Pink is for babies, pink for is prepsters, pink is for babies who will grow up to be prepsters... that's all I hear from some women. Has no one noticed that pink is HOT this year? Central Park West, Tracy Reese, Parker and Rory Beca have all done their part to show you that pink, can be one of the edgiest colors around. Pink is now for grown up girls too, and I for one refuse to let this revolution pass me by. Who's with me?

Take a deep, cleansing, courageous breath... and trust me when I am so forward as to say that pink, my friends, is the new black... And who knows more about the importance of the LBD than you?

Join me in this victory with pink, you'll look great... I pink-y swear.


















Visit www.shopcrushboutique.com to shop pink holiday looks!


P.S.
...a little known secret: the French Connection Potter dress arrived this afternoon in magenta.

Party like it's... 19[69].

I'll be the first to agree that Coco Chanel was the most influential female designer of the 20th century, but we so often forget to pay our respects to Mary Quant. By popularizing color block dresses, the mini skirt and florals, donning the signature Vidal Sassoon cut and sweeping through swinging sixties London with the likes of Twiggy and Patti Boyd, Quant made fashion as much fun as catching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan... well, maybe.

A half century later, we're still inspired by all things mod. I'm a sucker for beaded daisies, flashy prints, mini skirts, tunics with tights and above all, colors that warrant their own box of crayolas.

This week at Crush we won the vintage-inspired lottery, just in time for the Holidays. Yesterday, we were blessed with boxes upon boxes of Tracy Reese and Ali Ro, and this morning, dear old Mike bestowed upon us three magnificent Frock! by Tracy Reese pieces.

The sequined Ali Ro tank mini-dress in Midnight Navy and Caviar screams New Years Eve. It's truly a show stopper and the sheer underlay adds a flapper detail. Go simple on the gems and sleek on the hair.

The Velvet and Wool Ali Ro goes from day, with tights and boots, to night, with lacy tights and sky high pumps. The empire waist and huggy wool cling to the bodice, and not to mention the hips, in a way that's very Mad Men meets Sex and the City. A word to the wise, the Jones' and the Bradshaws' would wear it with strappy ankle booties for runway appeal.

The Tracy Reese beaded Plaster tee is silky and multi-seasonal, but very chic. Now with jeans and boots, later with navy skinnies and cork wedges. See you as the snow falls, and soon enough, on the shore!

The Embellished Brushstroke Print Chemise is the kind of silk dress you'll never take off. Rock with a chignon, textured nude tights, and nude patent pumps... let the dress keep the spotlight. The beading around the neck drives attention to your sparkling holiday smile.

And then there's the Frock! The magenta embroidered silk tunic has a scoop back and ruched sleeves. Black tights, over-the-knee boots, and super straight hair... Quant would be oh so proud.

The off-black Miranda dress is sweet enough for work and sharp enough for play. Camel boots or red-orange pumps and your favorite vintage clip on earrings. Haven't raided your Nana's jewelry box lately? Pick up a pair of Pistachio by Marisa Perry studs instead. You'll be the bell of your own 1964 Barbie ball.

Finally, there's the Tutti Fruitti print sweetheart neckline dress with peplum skirt. I honestly can't do it justice, so I'll say this: a precious print and a demure neckline juxtaposed with a fitted bodice and peplum skirt are sophisticated in the sexy grown-up way that we're always trying to be.

I'll close by saying this ladies: If I'd been a dancer on American Bandstand... well, you know.