Posts tagged Milly
Black Friday Countdown: 1 DAY!
Nov 28th
Well tomorrow is the big day! I’m happy to say my prep has gone amazingly well, but still smoothing out some of the details. I’ve been scoping out the stores and stalking (admittedly) the STA Facebook pages for all of the newly consigned pieces. I’ve got my heart set on some great items, and tomorrow’s my big chance!
We’ve got limited time.
The opportunity to get 50% off everything in the store only lasts from 7am to 10am!
So here’s the schedule for tomorrow:
6:00 am: Wake up
6:30 am: Grab the girls and head to Newbury St.
6:50 am: Outside STA 176 Newbury and eat a quick, energizing breakfast (yogurt?)
7:00 am: STA spree!
7:55 am: Walk to STA 219 Newbury St.
8:00 am: Shopping spree at STA 219 Newbury
8:45 am: Starbucks break (crossing fingers for no line)
9:00 am: Spree at STA 324 Newbury St.
10:00 am: Celebratory wrap-up brunch with the girls
I’ll definitely be heading back to STA on Saturday morning for free mimosas and 30%-50% off.
Black Friday’s like our birthdays, it’s a weekend-long event.
As expected, I’ve got my eye on my wish list items at each store. While they might have already sold, I have faith that they’ll come in again. Hey it’s the holiday season … wishes do come true.
176 Newbury: Burberry scarves spotted, Michael Kors essential wristlet, and helloooo Louis
219 Newbury: Stunning holiday dresses, calling dibs! Burberry scarf second spotting, Milly cross body, and statement necklaces galore.
324 Newbury: I see you, Tory Burch flats. Cocktail rings, check! And a gorgeous Jcrew flower necklace.
I may more excited on Black Friday Eve than Christmas Eve … STA knows my style better than Santa anyways.
This Fall: Lush Textures and Sleek Silhouettes
Sep 27th
To embrace the fall is to embrace everything warm and sumptuous, from thick, lavish fabrics to simmering Crock-Pots. This year it’s all about the balance between sleek and luscious, with top trends ranging from sheer details to menswear for women. So break out the rich colors and get ready to sink into fall.
The signature prints of fall get away from summertime florals and dive right into thick houndstooth and collegiate plaid. This fall is all about taking these more traditional patterns and channeling them in menswear-inspired garments (like the below right photo from L.A.M.B.). From full structured suits to box-pleated miniskirts, the masculine elements are gaining momentum and giving feminine garments a more stylish edge. Try this trend by accenting masculine pieces with feminine details, such as a sparkly statement necklace or a tie-bow blouse (like below photo on the left from Rachel Zoe).
If you’re more of the sleek and silky school of thought, then now is your chance to shine. Leather and sheer details flooded the runways, with sheer sleeves and leather skirts becoming staples for fall. If you choose the more exposed sheer option, you can take this trend from bold to bolder depending on your trend comfort (like the below right photo from Milly). Go dramatic by choosing a dress with a full sheer overlay (shown below left by Jill Stuart), or try out the trend with sheer cut-out details to take your LBD to the next level.
If you choose to go the leather route, you can also try it out with details - such as leather trim on a jacket - or go with individual leather pieces - such as a peplum top or a skirt (shown below left from 10 Crosby by Derek Lam). For a more dramatic take on the trend, go with a leather minidress or full suit (shown below right from Rachel Zoe), accented with a statement necklace, earrings or double cuffs.
So curl up for a quiet night in a cozy sweater or turn up the volume with a leather minidress, fall is here!
~Ashley, FashioniSTA
March Madness: Round 1 Winners
Mar 21st
Round 1 was a tough first battle, with our Sweet Sixteen Trends competing against each other to be the top spring trend of 2012. From the celebrity endorsements to the accessibility to women everywhere, these trends broke out the big guns to make it out of the gate. Check out how each game turned out:
1. Top Knots vs. Crop Tops
The Knot trumps the Crop when women everywhere realize that only celebrities and people with personal trainers on speed dial can actually wear crop tops.
2. Peplum vs. Marni for H&M
The hottest silhouette goes up against a designer with a cult following now at lower prices (which is still all relative). It was a pretty dead-heat battle until Peplum whipped out its ability to flatter anyone’s midsection. Game over, Marni.
3. Neons vs. Art Deco jewelry
Right out of the gate the Neons powerhouse slams down Art Deco jewelry’s effort. Even with the backing of Rachel Zoe, since no one has the time to search for Art Deco jewelry – and it hasn’t made it to H&M just yet – it proves to be no match for the rising publicity and street cred that Neons has gained.
4. Day clutches vs. Shorts/Menswear
The nighttime-gone-day accessory (Day clutches) goes up against the daytime-gone-night trend (Shorts/Menswear). This is a decent competition, what with celebrity endorsements on both sides. Ultimately, Day Clutches squeak by as a winner as soon as we (as in all womenkind) realized that our legs weren’t quite shorts-ready just yet.
5. Celebrity nail polish lines vs. Jennifer Lawrence
Yes, Celebrity nail polish lines have the backing of The Hunger Games and Nicki Minaj, but adding the over-exposed Kardashians to the mix makes this trend just a little more annoying. And with Jennifer Lawrence’s runway choices for her red carpet premieres and her growing superstardom, the girl on fire reigns supreme.
6. Hi-low hemlines vs. Pleats
A great battle with a deadlock outcome. These truly brilliant competitors form an alliance to create a superpower spring trend – Pleated Hi-Low skirts and dresses. Now they’ve set their sights on knocking out Peplum to form an alliance with Neons.
7. Mint vs. Mixing & Matching
The starring pastel of the spring (Mint) against a trend that stylized breaking major fashion rules (Mixing & Matching) was a tough battle from the start. But the infiltration of downtown divas throughout the world has made Mixing & Matching a new style art, which left Mint in the dust.
8. Fashion Star vs. Graphic prints
Graphic prints hit the runway with legitimate backers, such as Milly and Erdem, and a solid cause to modernize the classic spring floral. However, the star power and accessibility of a television show proved too powerful by helping three retailers sell out (within hours) new items by no-name designers. That’s the definition of winning.
Stay tuned to see who wins the round 2 match-up!
Spring Trends 2012: Bold, Bright and Graphic
Mar 5th
Spring isn’t coming quietly this year, so prepare for the bold entrance of the season! From prints to pastels, the palette of the season is definitely all about mixing colors and textures for truly statement-worthy ensembles. So grab your loudest and proudest pieces and take on the warmer weather in style!
Bright colors are a signature sign that sunshine is on its way, and we’re soaking up all the chromaticity that we can. Going bold can mean just a pop of color against a monochromatic outfit, whether it’s a bright scarf against all black or pairing a camel-colored ensemble with a bright blue handbag. Making the trend personal is easy with a signature color, whether it’s an affinity for raspberry (which would be very STA of you) or a love of robin’s egg blue. Pick a unique color and work it into your wardrobe whenever you can, with accessories, nail polish, or articles of clothing.
You can also take this signature color, or any other shade that catches your eye, and hop on the colorblocking bandwagon while you’re at it. The trend that lit up last summer has returned, giving us more opportunity to lighten our days by pairing complementary brights in unexpected, killer combinations. Whether you’re pairing teal with deep purple for a cool color palette or warming it up by mixing orange and yellow, this is an easy trend to try, all you need is a little confidence!
Nanette Lepore
The bold factor doesn’t have to stop at solid colors either, this spring we’re seeing a dramatic take on prints as well. Art deco prints are popping up on everything from dresses to pants. These angular shapes create drama to even the simplest shift dress, turning any ensemble into a nod to mod. Accessorize with equally angular jewelry for a statement ensemble, or try a silk scarf in a complementary pattern to mix prints in a modern way.
Milly
If you’re not into stark prints, graphic florals have also hit it big. This futuristic spin on the classic spring floral palette brings a vintage motif into the present using black with brights to highlight bold patterns. Designers have been also using watercolor techniques and elongated patterns to create fluid floral designs that are a cross between classic flowery shapes and bold, contemporary art. Whichever trend you choose to try, go boldly into spring!
Prabal Gurung
Altuzarra
Putting the ‘Fashion’ in ‘Fashion Hunters’ with Tara and Ambria!
Oct 19th
Craving the pieces you’ve seen on Bravo’s ‘Fashion Hunters’? So are we! To get you in the style spirit, we’ve outlined our take on the best part of the fall season (the fashion, of course), and how you can get in on the haute couture fun for less.
Summer merchandise is colorful and fun, but fall and winter is where our meaty, pricy pieces start to come in. Cashmere sweaters, wool coats, buttery leather boots…it’s that time of year again and this time we are going to be consigning all fall while our show airs. We are anticipating people will be excited to bring their gems for us to sell at this fabulous, soon-to-be-nationally-recognized store.
Some of our favorite items in the store now are a great mix of timeless and trendy. We love sexy staples like classic little black dresses, as well as sparkly pieces like this Chloe wave-printed, multicolor skirt (shown below), which we have priced at $149. It’s such a great statement piece that all you need is a black top and a neutral shoe and you’ve got a dazzling fall ensemble. We also can’t get enough of the interesting outerwear that comes through our doors. This M Missoni coat (shown right) is $329 and is a great classic alternative to a regular, black coat! These silver pumps (shown right) from Sergio Rossi ($219 at STA) are the perfect pop of metallic that will go with any outfit. But when it comes to shoes, no one can resist those absolute couture stunners that we see on our shelves, like the rose-gold grommetted Stella McCartneys that we recently had in the store. Cooler weather doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to be boring, we say bring on the sparkle and the shiny details!
While we love these couture and high-end designer pieces, we also love getting our ‘middle-of-the-road’ designer labels that are a huge component of our business engine. Labels like Diane Von Furstenberg, Theory, Tory Burch, Milly and Paul & Joe have been rolling right in. Ambria is clearly a DVF fan, wearing a printed dress (shown below) by the designer ($119 at STA), and pairing it with gold heels and hoops, of course. This is a great dress option for spring, summer or fall, it’s all about how you accessorize it!
We also love separates that these designers put out, especially for fall. We always have a bunch of individual pieces in the store that you can mix and match to maximize your outfit choices. It’s important to think outside the box with this as well, try out putting unexpected pieces together, you might be pleasantly surprised! Tara paired this A.L.C. soft denim blazer with leather lapels (shown below, $199 at STA) with this plaid-printed Rugby Ralph Lauren skirt (shown below, $39 at STA) for a modern take on conservative pieces. You can do this with as well with other plaid details and blazers, or you could try out mixing a traditional pencil skirt with a printed blazer, obviously found on the racks of Second Time Around. Same idea, great new look!
So if you come on down to New York City, or live here and just don’t find yourself with a reason to go to Nolita, let us give you one – our Mott St. location! It’s fresh, it’s packed with amazing merchandise and pretty soon you will be watching it on Tuesday nights at 10:30 p.m.! Couture kisses to all!
~Tara and Ambria, fashioniSTAs and Bravo’s Fashion Hunters
Treasure Hunting in the Portsmouth Store!
Jun 22nd
Looking for a fashion experience where you can score everything from couture to casual? Then you shoulddefinitely look to take advantage of the Portsmouth sale! Over the past few months, this location has become a magnet for high-end items. They just had four Oscar de la Renta gowns (an example is featured on the right), some even donned by celebrities while strutting down the red carpet! Of course they all sold immediately, but the treasures don’t stop there. They also have had tons of high-end shoes: Prada, Gucci, Lanvin, Louboutin. You name it they have it! (And good news for you size 11 girls, there are shoes in that size too!)
For you contemporary gals, Diane von Furstenberg, Milly, Miu Miu, Lilly Pulitzer, Tory Burch and Anna Sui also live at this Second Time Around. Whether you’re looking for a work-appropriate Right now you can find a great pair of Miu Miu shoes, the perfect DVF printed wrap dress (left), and an Anna Sui dress that is sure to add the right element of unique to your wardrobe. Want even more one-of-a-kind pieces that you can’t get anywhere else? This location is one that houses Dharma Imports direct from the designer, a line that features gorgeous textiles from India and Thailand. From strapless sundresses to printed knit shirts, this line is the perfect way to add color and exotic texture to your closet.
One of the great things about this store is that it helps you piece together the perfect ensemble. They’ve got you covered, whether you’re looking to update your wardrobe with a key summertime piece, or you need an outfit for an upcoming family event, or you simply have nothing to wear for the warmer weather. In addition to designer-themed racks, this STA has set up stylized racks like “Flirty Florals,” “The Perfect Print” and “Ruched and Ruffled.” This helps anyone navigate the new store with ease, letting people shop their favorite trends quickly & easily!
Should you be up for a day of shopping and lunching (think Real Housewives meets Portsmouth, without the obnoxious drama), this STA location is right in the middle of everything you’d want. You can work up quite an appetite scoping out the latest and greatest fashion finds, and you can swing by The Works Bakery Café for an understated yet deserved lunch, Radici for Italian dining, or Sake Japanese Restaurant for your sushi fix. Or for the pizza lover, you can swing by Flatbread, which serves up slices fit for anyone, whether you’re organic, gluten-free, vegan or the original pizza aficionado.
Meet the Manager – Molly Shea 
Molly is a 25-year-old stylista who moved to Portsmouth NH right after graduating college with a fine arts degree. She started working at STA about 3 years ago, and before she knew it, she had moved up to store manager. The stylist in her means the mannequins are always dressed to impress, and the consignor in her means she cleans out her closet on a regular basis (to of course make room for all the STA deals she brings home!).
Fave designer: Marc Jacobs, of course. I also love All Saints and Elizabeth & James
Personal style: Generally in head to toe black. I occasionally add a pop of grey, or chartreuse if I am really feeling racy! I am attracted to anything flowy, asymmetrical, oversized, and always, always in multiple layers!
After-work/weekend hotspot: Brazo!! A fabulous Latin restaurant in town, that makes the best watermelon martinis around, and a few of people who work there are regular shoppers and consignors with us as well!
Latest fashion splurge: I have my eye on a pain of 4-inch Lanvin copper cutout sandals right now! I will be over 6 feet in them, but just to own them would be well worth the splurge!
Best STA deal ever: My Marc Jacobs classic quilted Stam purse for $99! Or my reversible Escada floral cardigan that was only $30! I will never ever get rid of that one!