Love of Boutiques

Minnesota Spring has finally arrived and it brought shopper outside for the weekend. I ventured out to West End Shoppes in St. Louis Park to check out a couple of fabulous boutiques. A lot of people have the misconception about boutique shopping. They have the mindset that it is only for those with bookoo bucks.

One of my favorite boutiques at West End (and also located in St. Paul) is Primp. They call it primp because this boutique is a place that women come to get ready, feel pampered, and make themselves beautiful! It is a perfect name because there were several women buying complete looks and wearing them out of the boutique to meet up with girlfriends for lunch. Primp has a wonderful collection of color and styles that would appease most women's taste for fashion. And not to mention their accessories! Great mix of current trendy pieces along with styles that will never go away. Check out Primp's latest website: www.primpyourself.com

 

My second must see boutique is Apricot Lane. This boutique embodies all the characteristics that appeal to shoppers: great selection of apparel and accessories. Apricot Lane features celebrity-inspired fashions with the quality you would expect from designer labels. Merchandise comes in weekly so you know you will always find new and different items on your shopping trip. You will be amazed at the prices so here is their latest website you must see: www.apricotlanewestend.com


After my West End adventure I drove to 50th and France to stop in my ultimate boutique and of course see what new boutiques had moved into the neighborhood. There are so many great stores along with a really yummy yogurt shop and of course a cupcake bakery which is to die for (make sure you shop before you indulge in the sweets).

For the women who work hard and play harder you must see Drama Boutique! Not only are the clothes fabulous and priced reasonably well, Courtney, the boutique owner, is awesome. Her sense of style is spot on and she gives honest opinions while you try clothes on. Drama also works with three well-respected local apparel designers and seven local jewelry and accessory designers. Who doesn't want to support local designers?!

My finds at Drama today were a couple of tanks for layering (longer length), the Fluxus t-shirt in white and the Central Park West Vero Beach Pullover in hot coral (if that's a color). I believe every woman should stop in Drama because you will not be disappointed! Here is the website www.shopdrama.com

 

Hopefully, you will now rethink your thoughts on boutique shopping. They can be very budget friendly and they all come with amazing customer service! Stay tuned for more boutique shops from around the Twin Cities.

Alison

Figure Flattery

4 Dressing Lessons that Work for Everyone

Lesson 1: Proportion is all about balance
If you enlist in a loose tunic to cover your tummy, wear it with cigarette pants. Hiding your lower body issues with a full skirt? Team it with a fitted top or a tucked-in shirt. NEVER go big all over or you'll end up in muumuu territory! It is important to even out your frame: If you are wider at the top, try going wider below. Offset a large bust with bootcut pants, or broad shoulders with an A-line.

Lesson 2: Color can trick the eye
There is no need to rely solely on black for minimizing duty. Any deep shade--gray, denim, plum, evergreen, navy--will do. Dressing monochromatic head to toe is another way to look taller and slimmer. Want to indulge in the pervasive colored jeans trend but not feeling so hot about your thighs? Top vibrant denim with a thigh-length jacket or cardigan, plus a top in a matching subdued tone.

Lesson 3: Structure is forgiving
Think of tailored garments (shifts, A-lines, nipped jackets) as your body armor. Try a sharp shouldered blazer to manufacture va-va-voom hips. Darts and seaming provide definition wherever you need it.

Lesson 4: Diagonal lines make it all better
Thank diagonals and their slimming--and curve creating--superpowers, which can also be found in bias-cut seams, chevron prints, asymmetrical necklines and hemlines, and any other form of slanted lines. Ever wonder why no woman can go wrong in a wrap dress? The secret: The area where you place that downward sloping angle is going to appear narrower.

 

Stay tuned for more tips on figure flattery!

 

Alison