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!

Things I Love... from my daughter's room

Here is a new feature I'm working on called "Things I Love..." I'll put just a few things that are inspiring me right now, either at home, or out in the marketplace, for adults or kids...anything that makes me smile! My first list is "Things I Love...from my daughter's room." Enjoy! :)

Left to right:
Adorable & durable Marimekko bibs I found for $7 each (50% off!) at the amazing Marimekko store in Huron Village in Cambridge, MA!  Go now, they are having a big clearance sale!

My daughter loves Dreamland by Putumayo CD that her grandparents from Florida sent for her B'day! She loves dancing to the tribal beats and international lullabies almost every day! Listen to the clips online, you'll love it!

We love playing with her musical instruments! Especially the tambourine & maracas, given to her by relatives and friends for gifts! She has a great sense of rhythm!

Carter's fleece footie pajamas! We have about 5 of these...ideal for keeping baby snuggly & warm this winter!

My daughter loves Sesame Street...and who doesn't??! And now she has Ernie, Bert, Elmo & Big Bird dolls to snuggle with and play with while watching them on TV. I love the 'old skool' episodes we found from the '70s on DVD even better than the newer ones. She's especially fond of Bert...a girl after my own heart!

Cute & girly fashions from Target! I love the bright patterns, stripes & polkadots for girls... she looks so adorable marching around in her new stylish outfits!

Stella & Dot's 2012 Spring Collection here Jan 9th!

Stella & Dot's Spring 2012 line arrives January 9th!! Visit my site to purchase online! Contact me to host a spring collection trunk show in January! www.stelladot.com/melissarush

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! :)

VIDEO: Missoni for Target - Designer Home Decor & Fashion on a Budget!

UPDATE: September 13th - Missoni has arrived...but I was (almost) too late! Due to some early morning appointments, I didn't arrive at my local Target until about 12:30, and did I miss the boat! The shelves were nearly empty, the cupboards were practically bare, nary a sweater or scarf in sight! And,the store associates told me that the Target.com site crashed! (I would later read about the great "Missoni Tuesday" crash on all the news sites and see on TV...crazy! The site remained down until the next morning...and almost every item had the sign "SOLD OUT" blazoned below it. We'll see if Missoni decides to keep up with demand and provide more zig zag for the masses...or just keep it exclusive?)


Luckily, I was able to find the fun zig zag print tote bag I wanted...and I got my hands on a scarf and some dishes. It was quite the scene...a ghost town of Missoni! Other "late to the show" shoppers like me, had the same sad look of... did I really miss it? A few of us found a few stray pieces of clothing or pair of shoes (only size 6 or 11 were left!) Oh well, it was great to be part of such a feeding frenzy... and at least I have my cute new fall tote.
********


Hello budget-conscious fashionistas!
I can't tell you how excited I am for the Missoni Home and Fashion line to arrive at Target on September 13th! I will be there in line when the doors open to gather up all the best signature Missoni zig-zag looks for my home & my body! ;) Did you know they even have some looks for kids and babies!? My daughter will be rocking a Missoni onesie for sure! Enjoy these preview images and this video highlight of the Missoni Must Haves!


I promise not to go overboard...just a cardigan, a scarf, and maybe a bag...not worn together of course! :) And for home, I'm loving the pillows and the throws.  The top designers in fashion world have all been flocking to Target to create capsule collections for the masses...and we Thank you!
;) mel

 Here is a sneak peek of the Missoni Home line...enjoy!

Video: Stella & Dot's gorgeous, new Fall Collection is here!!

Hello fashionistas!
Stella & Dot's gorgeous fall jewelry collection is finally here! You will not believe your eyes...(or ears, neck or wrists)! Blythe and the design team have really outdone themselves this year...bringing you glamorous styles in lush tones of gold, green, & brown...and silver, chrome & purple!

Whether you love BIG & bold, or delicate & dainty... Stella & Dot's new collection has something for everyone! Are you ready? Click here to SHOP ONLINE in my store right now!

Check out this Sneak Peak video!



I will be debuting the Fall Collection at Trunk Shows this summer! Click here to set up an appointment to host your very own Trunk Show!  Hostesses can receive FREE JEWELRY on all qualifying trunk show orders! What a great way to get together -- a Girl's Night out with your best girl friends, co-workers & relatives - while shopping for the latest jewelry fashions!
Here are some of the highlights of the collection...my personal favorites!

The Marchesa necklace

Contessa Jade necklace 

Amelia Drop earrings

Juliette Gem Drop earrings

Camilla Jade ring

After The Rain bracelet

After The Rain brooch - green/gold

Femme Fatale necklace

Petra bracelet

Now that you've seen a Sneak Peek of the Fall Collection, join me for a....

Style Makes Me Happy Hour!

Be one of the first fashionistas to shop the new Stella & Dot Fall Collection! Catch up with your girlfriends, sip a sparkly drink, and try on this celebrity-coveted line! Bring a friend - all are welcome!

Location & Time TBD… Stay tuned!

In addition to the new fall collection…Enjoy our fabulous “Steals & Splurges” on SALE now!

(50% of the line is under $50!)

Want a sneak peek or can’t make it in person, but still want to order?

Shop my online store TODAY! www.stelladot.com/melissarush

Girl on a (Fashion) Budget!

I love Piperlime's "Girl on a Budget" page! It is so nice that retail shops have finally realized that the everyday woman, stay-at-home mom, fashionable student or girl on a budget wants to look cute & sassy at a fraction of the cost!  Enjoy these summer looks! I sure do!

I LOVE this chic day-to-night Hazel feather printed dress for $99, cute Tinley Road wedge sandals  for $39.99, super chic Melie Bianco pink clutch for $48, Marc Jacobs laptop bag for $98, perfect Hive & Honey lurex striped knit dress for $49, sassy Michael Stars fedora for $38 and every day Tinley Road sequined tank top for $29! Pack all of this all in your overnight bag for a quick weekend getaway to the beach...Miami, anyone?



Tinley Road sequined top



Tinley Road wedge sandals

Melie Bianco pink clutch

Hive & Honey lurex striped knit dress

Marc Jacobs striped laptop bag

Michael Stars fedora

Reality TV "IT girl" & fashion stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe has some great "Rachel Zoe's Picks" as well...many that are in a discounted price range...great news for all of us bargain hunters out there!

Have a fashionable Summer!
:) Mel