Fashion: Bold & Beautiful for Spring 2012!

Spring has finally Sprung here in the Northeast! All the shops are bursting with the hottest spring looks! It's the perfect time to start picking up a few bright & bold pieces to jumpstart your winter wardrobe and give you a sunny boost. I love a Pop of Color in a flirty tunic to go over leggings, a funky maxi dress, brightly colored purse or shoes...and of course, lots of bold & beautiful jewelry too spice up your style.

SEXY SPRING JEWELRY:
I am loving Stella & Dot's Spring Collection with it's beautiful silver statement necklaces, bold gold looks, and splashes of turquoise, coral and navy stones seen all over earrings, rings and necklaces. Pictured above are the multi-colored Serenity Necklace, silver Stevie Necklace and gold Bianca Tassel Necklace. Now you can rock these Spring Looks by visiting my online store today! www.stelladot.com/melissarush

The Medina Bib Necklace (pictured above) is the perfect piece to add to your wardrobe for a casual, yet eye-catching new spring look. I love it so much, I wear mine a few times a week!

The Amalfi Collection is rich with gold necklaces & earrings, a splash of turquoise & jade green... reminiscent of an elegant holiday on the Italian island of Capri that you will love all spring & summer. The Capri Chandelier earrings in turquoise (or coral & red) are a must-have to your wardrobe.

The Savanna Collection is inspired by the African safari...with both silver & gold looks, accented by rich coral and navy tones. My faves are the Bahari Necklace (pictured above)... and the Campari Necklace with luscious coral beads.

NAUTICAL NAVY and WHITE:

I have always been a fan of the classic Nautical Look...the essential navy blue & white stripe Parisian sailor top worn over some crisp, white cropped pants and a pair of bright red espadrilles. I lived in this look last summer on our trip to Martha's Vineyard, and love a pop of Coral, Green, Red or Yellow in my stripes as well.  I have seen some cute striped dresses in cotton at stores like Old Navy, Express, as well as adorable handbags, hats & shoes to complement your wardrobe as well.  I love stripes of any kind...thick or thin, diagonal or horizontal.  There is a stripe to suit most every body type (especially for the pregnant ladies!), just be sure the fit is good and flattering for your shape. 

COLOR BLOCKING:
The trend this year is Color Blocking, a fun look on dresses & tops with splashes of coordinating colors that work great on every body type!  I love this look which is a more refined version of those daring & bold '80s looks... and easy to find at reasonable prices at Express, H&M and many other retailers. Great for kids and maternity wear as well!

“From Tommy Hilfiger to Marc Jacobs, designers have released their Spring 2012 collections with designs that have striking, bold color block patterns. Not only is this style flattering to all body forms, but color blocking is very versatile when it comes to pairing. Dark oranges, reds, pastel colors, violets and indigos are going to be big this year, so stock up on clothes with these hues as they will be in style all year long.” -International Business Times

Source: au.ibtimes.com 

Spring Fashion for the Kids!

Spring is almost here! It's time to start stocking up on new spring clothes for your ever-growing little ones (and for yourself too!).  As children grow so fast, clothing can get really expensive. So, I have scouted out the best places to buy cute but affordable clothing...and remember to always look for the best sales, hunt through the bargain racks & use all of your coupons. Why pay full price?! Here are my favorite stores for kids fashions:

Target
Target is by far my favorite place to shop for my daughter's clothing. Not only are the pieces affordable, but the style is so adorable, modern and cool! I always check the new crop of clothes, but be sure to hunt in the discount racks where items are often 50% off. I just got a bunch of cute & colorful sweatshirts & sweatpants, leggings with funky tunics and two adorable bathing suits! And, they always have guest designers each season like Missoni, and Gwen Stefani's Harajuki Mini collection (image at left) which is so whimsical and cute. These tend to be a little higher priced, but one or 2 pieces are fun to add to your child's wardrobe. This season has a lot of Nautical-inspired stripes & sailor looks, which I love!

Carter's
Carter's is the classic American children's clothing store. Most major department stores tend to carry Carter's as well, such as Kohl's, Macy's and Toys R Us, so many of daughter's first clothes were Carter's, especially when she was an infant/newborn. I find the quality lasts and I usually buy the sets which are a great value. Some of the outfits and dresses can be pricey, especially the bathing suits and party dresses, so I always use my coupons when shopping at Carter's. Be sure to register for their email offers and use their frequent shopper punch card too. It's best to shop at Carter's when there is a major sale. We have even been to Carter's outlets up in Vermont...where you can be sure to get a great deal. Cute Easter fashions in store now.

H&M
H&M is great place to find fun, fashionable & affordable kids clothes. They have some really cute looks, including Hello Kitty for girls and sell sets of t-shrits and leggings too. The only issue is not every H&M store has a Kids Department, so be sure to call or check the website first. I usually have to go to the Boston Downtown Crossing H&M for kids & maternity clothes, as the Dedham Legacy Place store near my house only has Women's. Love the Nautical stripes in red, white & blue.

Gap
I never buy "full price" at the Gap...let's face it, the kid's clothes are quite pricey. As much as I love most of their designs, I just can't bring myself to spend $30 for a size 2T embellished t-shirt for my daughter...sorry folks! Luckily, the Gap has a great sale rack, so be sure to check back often...you can usually find a few cute things in there. And when they have sales or coupons, that is your time to head back to the Gap. I just got an email flyer that Diane Von Furstenburg has created a children's line at the Gap. It is quite pricey, but really adorable...so I may splurge on one cute spring party dress for my daughter...or wait for it for go on sale. :)

Old Navy
Old Navy is great kid's clothes. I have had great luck finding my daughter some fun outfits, dresses and shoes. Very reasonably priced and always cute. They have Hello Kitty, Disney and other popular character items too. Recently, I haven't found a big a selection for toddlers (2T and up), so it's touch and go. I look forward to seeing what they have coming this spring. The Easter looks (pictured above) are adorable!

Kohl's

Kohl's has a great children's section, and carries their own line of clothing called Jumping Beans which I like a lot. They sell t-shirts, leggings, skirts, etc. ala carte, so you can create your own outfits which I like a lot. They are priced really low, like at Target, so I tend to get a lot from Kohl's and Target.  The great thing about Kohl's, is that there is ALWAYS a sale and you can always use your store coupons if you have a Kohl's charge. The best time to shop at Kohl's when they are doing their special $10 cash back with every $50 spent...you can really make out "like a bandit" at Kohl's when all of the stars are aligned. :) Happy Shopping!

It's Black Friday! Shop H&M for Holiday Style!

Hello fashionistas!
Today is "Black Friday" -- known to all budget-conscienscious shoppers across America as the biggest holiday shopping day of the year! It's a bit crazy, the thought of hitting the malls and big box stores with thousands of holiday shoppers looking for a bargain, but I can honestly say, I went last year and saved a bundle on Christmas gifts.  I'm not fanatical, so don't go out at midnight, or even 6 am... instead, I keep it sane and plan on hitting the stores around 8 or 9 in the morning (after a Vanilla Latte & bagel) and see what I can accomplish in one day. If I am lucky...I can finish my holiday shopping in 3 hours (dreaming big here!) and spend the rest of my holiday season enjoying evenings at home by the fire and out at fabulous parties with my family and friends, not worrying about shopping!

One word of advice... The key to "Black Friday" is having a Game Plan.Before I head out, I make sure I have all of my coupons and circulars, and visit the stores' websites to get a sense of what I want to buy for each person on my list. Otherwise, you get to the store and just feel overwhelmed & can really waste your time.  I find the best stores to hit are one-stop shopping stores like Macy's or Kohl's with their departments dedicated to housewares, bath, kitchen, men's, women's, kids and accessories. That way, if you hit your stride, you could complete your entire shopping list at one store! They other key to my game plan is trying to go to one mall or collection of stores...such as Legacy Place in Dedham, The Wrentham Outlets, or The Walpole Mall, then you only have to park your car once. Some of the stores that are really promoting their "Black Friday" specials are Target, Toys R Us, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble and H&M.

One of the stores I'm definitely going to hit on Black Friday is H&M, as they have unbeatable prices for their cutting edge fashion. I have a fashionable sister & sister-in-laws to shop for... not to mention, I have quite a few holiday parties that I need to "look cute for" myself! So, if you love to look stylish on a budget, then H&M is definitely the place for you! No matter your style, body type or age, there are great looks at H&M for everyone (even babies, kids, maternity & men).  I have found many basics like black t-shirts and cardigans, neutral A-line skirts and solid jersey dresses...whereas other times I've chosen to go more bold with a floral printed kimono-style blouse or wildly patterned tunic dress for that modern, edgy look (see image at left).

One of my favorite things about H&M is their accessories. Where else could you buy a chunky, gold "statement necklace," dangling tassel earrings or feather headband for under $8? They have great scarves, hats and sunglasses too. I always say, when you are looking jazz up your wardrobe for a holiday party or just a night out with the girls... go for some new, eye-catching accessories for just a few dollars...and they make great birthday or Christmas gifts! I have included some of my "Top Holiday Looks from H&M" below.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season! 'Tis the season to be safe, thankful, happy & enjoy this special time with your loved ones and friends. 

Peace & Joy,
Mel :)

Enjoy this fun video shot in Tokyo of Japanese model and DJ... Elli-Rose Van Cliffe. She's got a cool vibe & fashion sense..not to mention an awesome job! :)

Spring Fashions are HERE!

hey ladies!
spring is ALMOST here!! Every month I get Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP email newsletter...and I love all of the dresses and jackets she has in here...i live in babydoll dresses, as you know! she shows how great it is mixing florals with stripes and military jackets...tres chic! (although she is bone-thin and i hate her. Eat something, girl!) lol

To accessorize these Hot, Spring Looks... Remember to get visit my online Stella & Dot store! Let me know if you are ready to book a Spring Trunk Show for you and all your gal pals! I have dates in March & April open!! I can do Wine & Cheese any night of the week... Mimosas & muffins any weekend! Big Sale going on right now too! Woot! And FREE jewelry for the hostess :) www.stelladot.com/melissarush

ciao bella!
mel

PS: H&M has a lot of these looks right now for cheap! www.hm.com And I love the new stuff at Banana Republic www.bananarepublic.com and Ann Taylor too www.anntaylor.com !

HERE is the text from GOOP!

Spring Fashion:
I just indulged in a teeny bit of spring shopping (ah, the joy that spring could be around the corner!) and I think I may have found the best store EVER...It’s called Hirshleifer’s and it’s in Manhasset, Long Island of all places, and it’s been a Long Island girls’ secret for far too long. The girls at this family owned shop are incredible buyers and stylists — everything from Chanel to Boy, Brunello Cucinelli to Acne. It is so worth a trip out there, I can’t even tell you. If not, you can visit their online shop from wherever you may be. They have an exceptionally good menswear selection too. I thought I would get our girl Annie, a stylist at Elle Magazine, to come help us put together a few ideas for spring outfits. As ever, we goop girls need things that are comfortable, chic and versatile that will go from a meeting to a school run/ballet practice to dinner with ease. See below.
Love,
Gwyneth

Military:
“Classic military shapes and colors were made totally wearable this season, and the key is all in the details. Balmain showed us how to make blazers sexy with slick, skinny leather pants and shredded T’s. If you’re not bold enough to make this statement, soften this look with flirty chiffon tops and tailored blazers, epaulets and other military-inspired details.”



Graphic Prints:
“Forget what everyone told you about mixing prints – more is more this spring! And we don’t mean just plain black and white. All-over prints, stripes, textured zig-zags, tie-dye and embellished fabrics were remixed and refined by designers showing the playful side of fashion.”


Solid:
“Hands down, our most coveted, most transitional must-have for spring is the dress. Put it in a rich royal sapphire color with classic details that DVF does so well – a fitted waist, tiered bottom and flirty cut - and you have a piece that will take you effortlessly from day to night. Gwyneth shows us how to wear it 3 different ways. With a nude heel, throw on a cardigan or make it wintery with opaque tights and a bootie.”

Florals:
“Colorful, romantic florals are blooming everywhere for spring. Stella McCartney made them modern and effortless with mini-knife pleats to create a textural, voluminous silhouette. Mix delicate, micro-flowers with leather to give the sweetness some edge.”

The LWD:
“The little white dress, in all its incarnations, is the perfect piece to pack for all your summer getaways. It showed up in many different forms across the runways, from lacy and vintage-inspired, to crisp cotton frocks that look like they just walked off the tennis court. Balance the innocence of a simple dress with a chic, oversized cape or anorak in tan and camel.”

Annie Ladino is a New York-based stylist, fashion editor, and current contributor to Elle Magazine, where she is working on a book about fashion icons and their personal style. She got her start as a stylist's assistant at just 19 years old, when she moved to New York City to attend F.I.T. She went on to work hand in hand with Joe Zee, the Creative Director of Elle, on dressing celebrities on more than 30 cover shoots. Her work has also appeared in Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, Vogue China, Purple Magazine, and men.style.com. Annie lives in the East Village, downtown Manhattan where she spends her time watching old French films, practicing yoga and reading astrology charts for her friends.