Life as a Buyer

I have been lucky to experience the life of a buyer twice now, my first time was in New York (which just happens to be my favorite city and that was an opportunity of a lifetime, one I will never forget) and recently I went to market in Atlanta.  The Gift & Home show was at AmericasMart and I loved it! AmericasMart Atlanta connects buyers with top brands from around the world. It is here where you discover the latest products and trends at the nation’s #1 product destination!

The life of a buyer is a tough one as there is an enormous amount of product to see and by the end of the day your feet feel as though they might fall off and you have to get up and do it all over again the next day.  However, I being a newbie just soaked it all up and it gave me the itch for more. I have always loved fashion, accessories and home goods and this show did not disappoint. Every where you looked it was something to see inevitably creating a sensory overload with three buildings that offer up to 18 floors with each floor showcasing more pretty things to touch and feel. From funny sayings on plaques to rugs and pillows to delicate romantic jewelry, there is really something for everyone at this show.

This life might be harder than expected as people perceive it as just shopping all day but it can be mentally and physically draining, BUT sign me up as this just feeds this girl's passion!

Resort Wear

Living in Florida you are destined to have some resort apparel in your wardrobe. Tommy Bahama, Escapada, Lilly Pulitzer, Katherine Way, and J McClaughlin are just a few of the designers that specialize in resort wear. All of these designers offer fun prints in comfortable materials, it is just a no brainer for those living in humid climates. Dresses are the lightest and easiest to wear and Tommy Bahama offers a great selection. Sign up for their online outlet and get great deals every few months, you will find dresses that were sold previously in their stores at 50-60% off! Comfortability and stylish are key when it comes to casual weekend attire. If you like color and fun prints, check these brands out. Definitely sign up for the online outlet and Tommy Bahama will email you for a limited opportunity at amazing deals!

Escapada

Tommy Bahama

Loving Language

Working at a boutique introduces you to a whole world of brands, all unique and with their own special niches. Language is a clothing line out of Los Angeles that can be found in boutiques all over the world. "Language has become a fresh spin on the t-shirt landscape, revamped and reinvented. Using unique fabrication and adornments, combined with dyes, handiwork, and personal touches gathered from worldwide travels and treasured vintage finds. Each season of language tells a new, exotic story." I had the great opportunity to meet one of the designers, Denise, she was so sweet and of course had amazing style! Language is a gorgeous brand that can be dressed up or worn on a casual day out. With their flowy and looser style, the tops can be worn by any body type or age. Check the website for a boutique near you, I promise you won't be disappointed. 

Denise 

Femininity

As I mentioned previously I recently attended Coterie in NYC and what an experience it was.  One of the booths that drew us in featured femininity at its finest. Bl^nk is a line out of London and is a husband and wife team. Diana trained at the Royal College of Art and Julien is originally an architect. Their website describes it as delicately crafted accessories, exquisite party wear and crafted complementary daywear pieces all subtly displays the -b l ^ n k - "dreamscape". It's base inspiration is drawn from 1920's Hollywood heydays (think the Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald) but merges it with contemporary wit and finally adds a dose of realism to aim at the perfect balance between wearability and desire.  When I asked Julien what bl^nk meant he said "the clothes speak for themselves, it is not about the designer".  What a statement! The designer may be quiet and modest but her designs speak a thousand words. Delicate silks, intriquite beading, and romantic embroidery make this collection stand out. Lux Boutique in Naples will be carrying the line this winter as well as Anthropologie.  Some of the collection is below, stunning, right?!?!

Market Finds

I apologize for my long hiatus from blogging. I have been going through a lot of personal issues lately however I have been reinvigorated of my love for fashion.

I was lucky enough to recently attend Coterie in NYC for the boutique I work at on the weekends. Coterie or market you could say is a very large (trade)show of all designers and their merchandise. There were actually three shows at this particular market but Coterie was by far the largest. It was so awesome to not only see all the brands you recognize but all of these really cool brands you have never seen or heard of before.

I will talk specifically about a couple of brands we carry at the store and my experience at the show with them in future blogs but here I want to give an overview of the common trends that I saw.

At market for those who have never been, you walk down the many aisles of booths and then stop at those that seem interesting to you. The rep for the line will then go through their collection and each delivery. So you are looking at collections that will ship at the end of each month, some months you may not want to see as you have more than enough stock coming in. Then once they start pulling that delivery for you to look at, you then have color or print options to choose from or you can choose the piece as is. The designers only make so many samples to show and of course I am sure they have their favorites.

Now that I have given you a small picture of what goes on I will let you in on those trends. I saw tie-dye in collections from many designers. This is one fabric that is timeless and will always be around.  I saw many tops with cut out shoulders, they call them the cold shoulder. This trend is not for me but those 80's lovers I am sure will be all over it. There were tops with a draped bottom (pictured below), this could be a great way to hide those trouble areas. A huge trend that we saw was the short kimono which is really just an open blousy top that can be dressed up or dressed down and is great for all ages. Pair it with a tank top and jeans and you are ready for a day hanging with friends. Change to a skirt and add some great accessories and you are ready for drinks on the town. Lastly, I saw quite a bit of tribal patterns and fringe. There was fringe on everything from tops to accessories. This can be a bit tricky but if styled properly can be very chic.

Tie-Dye Everywhere!

Draped Bottom Top

If you ever have the chance to go to market and you are a lover of fashion, I highly recommend it. They take place in many states but NYC offers a great environment so go there if possible.  I really would love to be a buyer or a rep for a clothing designer, maybe in my next life.

Crazy For Dots

I am crazy for polka dots! Dresses, purses, pants, tops......you name it I love it! I don't know what it is about them but I find them irresistible. I am also seeing them all over lately. Anthropologie has THE cutest dress out right now. I just received an email today from Tory Burch and she is featuring polka dots, she has a different take on them with a basket weave texture.  I feel like it is one print that will never go out of style. What are your thoughts on polka dots? Do you have a favorite piece that has polka dots? Can't wait to see your pics!

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Boutique Lovin'

A few years ago I went to New Orleans with my husband and we had the opportunity to visit many of the places that were recommended to us by friends. If you have never been it is a great place to visit at least once, amazing food there! The highlight of the trip was being invited to a crawfish boil, so delish and lots of fun! We went for a long weekend and one of the days we didn't have much on the schedule so we headed to a local park, from there we decided to walk down Magazine Street (not realizing how long this street actually is) to take in the sites and this is where I came upon the most adorable little building. The sign on the building (that looked like a cute little house) said Fairy and I knew I just had to check it out. It turned out to be an awesome store that has since sparked my current obsession of boutiques. There were so many amazing pieces that I just wanted to take the whole store with me but I settled with a top and the cutest shorts that I have ever owned. The owner was awesome and had the coolest dog (that kept my husband entertained). Before leaving, the owner gave me her website and I have continued to buy from her through her website as well as her posts on social media.

I now work at a boutique part time and I love seeing the unique pieces that we have to offer. We have something for women of every age.  We also have the best accessories at a great price point. My jewelry collection has expanded exponentially since working there.

I look up boutiques whenever we are visiting out of town areas as it is always part of my "site seeing" now. I am sure it drives my husband crazy but I am grateful that he lets me visit them.

Visit www.shopluxboutique.com for the boutique I work at (also best boutique in Naples, Florida) and visit www.fairynola.com for the best boutique in New Orleans.

Lux Boutique 

Floral Pants, Yay Or Nay

Everyone knows trends change every season. I always wonder who "these" people are that choose the "it" color or the latest "fad". How much fun would it be to be a part of that group?! I recently asked my husband for his opinion on a pair of floral pants that I was eyeing and his response was he was not a fan. I do have to preface that he is very conservative and his wardrobe mostly consists of jeans and colored polos from Tommy Bahamas.  I always try to get him out of his comfort zone and show him different patterns or colors and I get the same answer every time, no way. So I ask myself, why do I ask him for his opinion?  I have decided that it is because we all tend to doubt our choices at one time or another and we look for validation from others. I too tend to be on the conservative side however I am trying to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Hopefully, others will like it and if not, it is ok as it is my taste and style.

By the way, the floral pants I chose are monocramatic so they are not too much out of my "zone". They are definitely floral and more so in person than they appear here.

So what do you think of floral pants, yay or nay? 

Fashionably Fit

Fitness and exercise is a need to in life and not always a want to. Some people truly love it and really live for it. I on the other hand do it a few times a week (I really should more) and enjoy it only after I am done with the workout.  I like to think of myself as having style however not quite so much when it comes to fitness attire. I see so many girls in their cute cropped pants and lululemon tops and then there is me in shorts. I do own a couple pairs of those cute pants however they see more of the drawer space than they see my legs. I just get way too hot and would rather have less clothing on than more.

I work at a boutique on Saturdays and one day I walked in for my shift and saw these super cute workout tanks and I knew that they had to become a part of my wardrobe.

I used to love to watch What Not To Wear, I spent many a Friday night watching people's closets get torn up. Then after that painful experience, you would see them being restyled to their new fashionable selves. One thing I distinctly remember the hosts throwing away a lot of were graphic tees so when I came across these tanks I was a little hesitant at first but then thought, "but these are way too cute!"

Definitely wearing something fun helps make the workout a little bit more enjoyable! These tank tops and many more can be found at Lux Boutique - www.shopluxboutique.com. My personal favorite is the one that says - meet me at the bar - of course they meant the barbell but isn't the thought of the wine bar way more fun!

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Stylish Yet Comfortable

I am a marketing person by trade however I am really am not much of a writer. The most I ever have to write is a brief blog post for work or a press release so when I decided to pursue my own personal blog, well, it took some time as I just wasn't sure this was the route I should go. Here I am attempting this thing they call blogging.

My goal is to talk fashion as that is really what my passion is. I read so many fashion blogs and by read I mean I look at their outfit pictures and then most times shop online for those pieces I have fallen in love with and decided I must have. I am definitely a marketing person's dream as I am an impulse shopper and really could find something I like any where!

My style is stylish yet comfortable, hence the name of my blog. I have some pieces in my closet that are amazing however if I am not comfortable and have to spend most of the day fussing with my outfit, I just won't wear it again.

Some of my most favorite pieces in my closet are from the fashion bloggers that I follow so I hope to one day do that for others. Stay tuned for outfit pictures and stylish tips as I travel this fashion journey.

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