I Love My Dog..........

Believe it or not I used to be terrified of dogs and never grew up with a dog. When my husband and I got married we bought a house a year later and he kept saying “this house is missing a dog”. He on the other hand always grew up with dogs. I found it disgusting and annoying when I saw dogs licking people in the face or jumping on them. Never mind the hair it would collect in my new home! I am such a clean freak and the idea of going through potty training and teething would surely put me right over the edge. I entertained the idea, but always said it couldn’t be a big dog because that would be too overwhelming for me for the first dog. He on the other hand said it couldn’t be small of a dog, because that wouldn’t be “a real dog”. I also knew this “dog’’ couldn’t be a dark, long haired shedding machine - where I would see it all over my house! A year went by of being in our new home and it happened. It sorta fell right into my lap, someone here at work was breeding puggles. I had never heard of a puggle, but knew it was a mix between a pug and beagle. I was thinking of getting a pug because I always thought they were so stinkn’ ugly, which made them cute. So I took the plundge to check out this litter. Wow, it was an immediate love! So now I can’t picture my life without a dog and have no idea how I managed all these years. With that said, I will do anything for my little guy. It has changed me in such positive ways. I don’t sweat the little things anymore. Everything can be fixed, cleaned or replaced. My house doesn’t have to be picked up every second of the day, I can put things off and enjoy the day by walking my dog or playing in the yard. I have bought him all of his favorite treats and toys and I was thinking, how cute would it would be to dress my dog? He’s about 30 lbs. now and he’s done growing. I know my husband will kill me, but how about creating matching outfits from our catalogs for our dogs? I know what you’re thinking, she’s lost her mind :-)

Fall Drama

I'm a theater geek. Correction. Musical theater geek. If it's been on the Broadway stage in the past 20 years I'm pretty sure that I can sing you at least 2 songs from it, although it's more likely that I know ALL of the songs from it, will get overexcited and try to re-enact it for you complete with choreography. I can't help myself, I love drama. Now, in my personal life, I love drama of different sort. While I've been know to tell the occasional (ok, daily) highly animated story from my life, I generally do not like a lot of drama in my everyday existence. I like my bills paid on time , harmony with my friends and family and a general undercurrent of peace through things. However, sometimes that gets boring! So, I've learned to sprinkle the drama in my wardrobe. I'm a big fan of a great pair of oversized sunglasses, gigantic cocktail rings and bold statement necklaces. I also like to play around with shapes and proportions like a good high-waist trouser or a mini dress( not too mini- I'm not 16 anymore). When the weather gets cooler I really love to play around with colorful opaque tights. I mean what a great way to add dramatic flair to an otherwise conservative outfit! This fall I plan on running wild with this trend...patterned tights under cropped pants with brightly colored flats and a boyfriend sweater, dark opaques under boldly patterned mini dresses with boots, bright opaques under otherwise conservative pencil skirts. I can't wait to put on one of these outfits, throw on my oversized sunglasses, put up my jazz hands and rock out to a show tune. And yes ladies, "jazz hands" are an accessory.

Where do you have your breakfast?

Time to appreciate a good old classic movie :)
Who also likes Audrey Hepburn's style?

Scarlett O'Hara

I was chatting with my product manager the other day about movies, and I was telling her how much I love the movie "Gone with the Wind." I've probably watched it for more than 10 times since I was 10, and I am just so fascinated by the story and especially Scarlett O'Hara's styles.

"I wish I was born in that generation so that I could dress like Scarlett, and meet guys who dress like Rhett Butler," I said.

"The style is timeless, isn't it?" our product manager said.

"Timeless? You mean people are not gonna think I'm crazy if I wear that green dress on a first date?" I replied.

"Probably not that green dress... how about the hat?" she said.

Yes, this is the hat! A real Scarlett O'Hara style hat.

Back in the dating scene......

After being out of the scene for 8 years it has been quite an adjustment.

Between the dating websites and the texting it’s like being part of a whole new world. The hardest adjustment for me has been what to wear. I feel many other girls out there must be experiencing this same issue. How do you look good and show off your assets without being too over the top? I have found I have one staple first date outfit. You can’t go wrong with a great fitting pair of jeans and a cute top. Then for the 2nd date if that comes to be I love to rock a cute dress and show off the stems. Another issue has been how to make these outfits work appropriate and be able to rock them out for after work cocktails. Cardigans and my denim jacket have definitely been key for transforming my outfits from day to night. One more challenge with this whole dating scene is keeping outfits new and fresh. I don’t ever remember guys in the past being more into my wardrobe then me but let me tell you ladies that past few guys have been more into my wardrobe then I ever expected. This puts some serious pressure on when you are trying to come up with the perfect dating outfit. How do you continue to keep your looks fresh without going into the poor house? Being a typical girl I love designer labels but have come to the realization that I just can’t keep up with those price tags. So to get the looks for less I have tried brands such as Chadwick’s to mix in some new cute looks. I have posted pics of my favorite looks from Chadwicks.

To my fellow single ladies – good luck out there! And if you have any dating tips please feel free to share…..

Motorcycle Jacket…VROOOM!!!!

Even in the Summer I dress in layers! Since this summer has not been as hot (or as sunny) as I would like, I find that I am always looking for that perfect little jacket to just throw on over my dresses, tanks, and tees! I still want to dress like it is summer in cute dresses, but no matter where I go I am freezing! Whether in the office, out to dinner, or at the movie theater, the air conditioning is on full blast regardless of the weather outside! That’s where my favorite go-to jacket comes in…the Motorcycle Jacket. I am in absolute LOVE with this trend! I have loved it for the past year- but recently I am seeing it everywhere. I already own 2 faux leather ones in black and in chocolate- but my favorite for the summer is the Chadwicks Denim Motorcycle Jacket (and it is currently on sale for $29.99). It is fitted and so flattering and works great over any outfit. I literally take it everywhere with me, just in case I get a little chill. It totally makes your outfit – and it is so much fun to add a little rocker feel to the ensemble! Not to mention it is a great update to your Denim Jacket. It’s trendy but not too over the top and adds just the right amount of fashion. Flip through any magazine and you are bound to find some version of the Motorcycle Jacket. I also hear there might just be a leather version in the Chadwicks assortment for Fall/Winter- stay on the lookout- I know I will be buying one!!

Married to a Co-Worker

I work with my wife. That statement always seems to elicit responses from people. ‘How does that work out?’, ‘At least you are on opposite floors, right?’, ‘Do you ever get stressed out with each other?’ are just a sampling of what people want to know about the situation.

It works out well for us- we know each other’s work stories (ever try to explain work stories to non-coworkers??), we can take a 5 minute break to vent or grab lunch- and saving on gas by commuting together is pretty nice, too! To tell you the truth, it would probably be weird if we didn’t work together! In fact, it must run in the family as my parents work together too.

What do you think? Could you work at the same place with your spouse?

The Perfect Man (with a wrench)

It was a day after I had the day off and quite a busy day with a catalog releasing, so I stayed a little later to finish up and then I headed out to drive home (which is a pretty good commute away). When I started to back up, I heard the car making what sounded to me like a very expensive sound. Don’t you hate when that happens?

So I pulled over and nervously got out of the car to see what made the noise-a tire that was flatter than a pancake. Much better, I thought, than an engine or transmission freaking out! I breathed a sigh of relief and went into damage control mode-time for a call to roadside assistance. Before I got to make the call, I ran into one of the guys that I work with, though, and he offered to change the flat. He also gave me quite a lesson in tire changing. Then I was off.

Because it was so late, I couldn’t get the tire fixed until the next day. And then, wonder of wonders, I walked into the tire place and saw my old mechanic, whom I haven’t been able to locate since his auto place closed down. It was like a reunion with a soulmate. The discovery even took some of the sting out of having to buy, not one, but two new tires, (apparently tires should be replaced in pairs).

Anyway, the whole thing made me wonder three things: how many women can change a tire by themselves and why didn’t they teach that in school, and do other woman feel like finding a good mechanic is worth as much as finding the perfect guy?

AEL

The Secret Credit Card

Every girl needs her secret credit card, it’s part of being a woman. When I got married and it was time to combine finances, I wasn’t about to give up my last little slice of freedom! He knows it exists and he knows I use it, but it’s what I use it on that shall remain a mystery. If I’m walking by a store and see the perfect must-have dress in the window, of course I’m going to get it. To cover my tracks, I also buy my husband a gift or insist I’m still paying off his latest birthday gift…so the purchases just blend in together.

It’s a win-win situation for everyone. I get to continue shopping for everything I want and keep him happy at the same time. You just have to be very careful not to overdo it or he’ll catch on! Coming home with 5 full bags of clothes and shoe boxes can be a dead giveaway. Hide them in your trunk for a week or two and gradually bring them inside and hang them in your closet, or even wait until he’s not home….he’ll never catch on.

Whatever you do, never give up your one guilty-pleasure credit card!

A Guilty Pleasure

To be honest, I don't watch a lot of television. Between work, the gym and my friends I just don't have time to follow a lot of shows. And to be honest, there really isn't a lot out there to watch. But, like everyone else, I have a few guilty pleasures. One of them is The Fashion Show on Bravo. Last night's finale part 1 was the best episode of the season, fashion wise.

Of the four finalist, my favorite was Daniella's. I have loved most of her clothes through the whole season but her collection was fantastic. Her look was very modern and I thought it was amazing that she actually made all of her own accessories. I think her best piece was a black and nude evening gown. It was simple, elegant and sophistcated.

The next best designer in my opinion was Anna. Her clothes were fun, flirty and could work on any woman. Her workmanship was fantastic and I love the way she uses prints. My biggest disappointment with her collection was the fact that she used ideas that we had already seen from her during the season instead of coming up with fresh, new ideas.

James-Paul's collection really surprised me. To be honest, most of the time I didn't understand his point of view. I was truly amazed that he actually made it into the finale. Most of the time I was looking at the television, shaking my head and saying to myself, "You have to be kidding." Last night, I finally got it. While he may never be a mainstream designer, you could actually see his vision in his final collection. My favorite piece was an outfit that included what could best be described as a hood.

Reco, Reco, Reco, what happened? All through the season, Reco always had what can best be described as an ego the size of New York. And most of the time it was justified. The clothing that he made was exquisite. His eye for detail and the way to fit a woman's body was fantastic. Somehow, last night, with the exception of one or two noticable pieces, he seemed to have lost his edge. His two best pieces were a beautiful, turquoise coat and a stunning red evening gown. His worse two? They had to be the feather dress and the wedding gown.

All in all, this was a awesome show and a great season one for The Fashion Show. If you get the chance, watch the reruns. If not, check the photos of their collections. http://www.bravotv.com/the-fashion-show/photos They are a lot of fun.

Destination Vacation

I love getting in my car and just driving, with no particular destination in mind. It gives me a sense of freedom that I don't get from anything else. With today's gas prices though, I've had to put more thought into my occasional excursions. I've decided to visit Bar Harbor, Maine in a few weeks. I've driven as far north as Portland, so this will be virgin territory for me. I'm struggling with what to pack - don't want to bring more than one suitcase, and with this crazy summer weather, I don't know if I should bring the planned shorts and bathing suit or fall back to jeans and sweatshirts (any recommendations would be appreciated!!). I've also researched restaurants and there seem to be quite a few good ones. The one I really want though has great seafood, is inexpensive, and is frequented by more locals than tourists. If such a place exists, what's it called? If you can think of any spots that I absolutely "must see", let me know and I'll do my best to check them out. I'll report back on any recommendations and maybe some other spots I've discovered on my own when I get back! Stay tuned...

Flats that HEEL!

As we all know, flats are in style especially for the summer season and I am ecstatic about it. I was always the girl that was wearing heels on every occasion except of course the gym, and you would never find me in flats. I always felt a little boyish if I wasn’t wearing heels, but now I am way over that!! I am totally obsessed with flats and I keep buying more and more! And the best part about them is that they not only look adorable but they are so comfy too. I use to be the queen of blisters with band-aids all over my feet when my motto was fashion over function, but now I can say I am band-aid free and still trendy!!

By: Coco

Generations of Stylin' Italians

Everyone knows that Italian women want things their way and they want it now! So, you know you have found a great brand when it can cater to 3 generations of Italian women. My sister and I, who are in our twenties, are always out grabbing a new outfit for a night out or a pair of pants to wear to work the next day! Our main concern is current fashion at a low price. My mom, who is in her fifties, likes to buy more classic pieces of clothing that she can wear different ways so it never looks exactly the same twice. She doesn’t mind spending a little more to get that look. My nana, who is in her eighties, is always a little chilly and does not like to show off her arms because they are “too flabby”. She likes clothes she can layer and especially three-quarter length sleeves that cover up her arms (to keep her warm AND hide the “flabbiness”).

It’s great for my whole family that I work for Chadwick’s. Every time we get a catalog in the mail, we sit down during our family dinner (typical Italians, I know) and they all go through and pick out what they want. Most recently, my sister liked the Ruffle Front Bodysuit so she can wear it to work with a high waisted pencil skirt and high heels. My mom liked the Sleeveless Pleated Shirt because she thought she could wear it all summer, and then throw it under a cardigan or sweater into the fall for a more preppy look. My nana liked the Tribal Beaded Tee because it isn’t too low cut and it has those three-quarter length sleeves she loves so much! What did I want, you ask? A little bit of everything, the list is just too long to post here…but you can get a pretty good idea if you look at everything on the site…

By LB

What's In A Name

As I’m sure many of you know, searching for a car is all-consuming! This is my first real car search (my last car had a great 10-year run). While searching Craig’s List I came across this hot, HOT pink Mini Cooper. My inner Barbie-doll loving 6 year old cannot resist a fabulous pink car! And the best part? This car has an equally fabulous name. His name is Fabio and he is talked about dearly as a beloved baby, referred throughout the post as ‘he’ and ‘him’. I’ll admit, the girls at work and I got a good laugh out of this cute pink car and his lifelike description. But then I was thinking, people would probably laugh at me too if they knew the characters that lived in my closet. Just as Fabio seemed to be someone’s baby, my clothes are my children! And yes, they have names!

My favorite, most distinctive pieces are named affectionately and when I say their names my friends know who I’m talking about. There’s Batman, my favorite black batwing top, Betsey a pink eyelet sundress, Coco a glam fur cape… and the list goes on, including shoes & even one particular statement-making necklace. So I guess it’s safe to say I’m slightly obsessed with my clothes. And when you’re making a big purchase like a car, or even investing in a great designer bag, you should love it enough that it inspires a name.

The Tall Ships Sail to Boston

Boston’s history stretches beyond the land to the sea. Bostonians welcome crews and cadets from all over the world to their harbor on a continual basis as part of the Sail Massachusetts Visiting Ship Program and are gearing up to greet the return of the Tall Ship fleet for Sail Boston 2009! Sail Boston 2009 is an official port of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge. These ships are just breath taking. A must for everyone to see.

Sneak Peak!

It's beginning to get really busy around here! We are preparing for a preview of our next catalog. There are about 60 or so items that will be pushed lived to the website and will be available for purchase next week. And there are some great styles coming for the fall season, let me tell you! I love checking out the first books of a new season to see all the new looks. Here is a sneak peak at one of them. Make sure to stay tuned to see the rest!

My very 1st blog!

As I sit here typing, numerous job jackets and papers scattered around me, I feel like I am back in high school preparing for a presentation.  Wondering what everyone will think of what I have to say.  For a few days I pondered what I would blog about and then it hit me – why not write about how this is my very first blog entry.  I must admit that I feel both excited and anxious at the same time.  This is definitely out of my comfort zone.  I usually am very confident in my work environment, so to have a new project that requires me to step out of my comfort zone is a bit scary, but also a little thrilling.   I hope that my experience will encourage those of you who are first time bloggers or occasional bloggers to become more involved too.  We can learn and have fun together.  As I become more accustomed to the blogging experience, my goal is to be able to provide you with insight into my day-to-day happenings as well as my fashion hits and misses (believe me, there are plenty of misses).  Who knows I might just be the next super star blogger.  

I Have to share my bargain!

This is a bargain I had to share with all of you! I had already bought this scoop tank dress/swim cover up in red earlier in the season. Now as the season has already peaked it has been marked down to $9.99. I had to buy 2 more. It is just perfect. I know you think for $9.99 it would be paper thin but it is not. It's great! I work all day in my garden on the weekends and like to jump in the pool to cool off. I hate wearing pants or shorts with a damp bathing suit so this cover up is perfect. I put my suit on first thing in the morning and throw the tank dress over it. I play in the dirt and pull a few weeds and then go for a swim. If I have to run out to pick up the kids or run into the grocery store I am all set. Throw the tank dress over my suit and I am fully covered. It is like wearing a regular casual dress. When it is 90 degrees and sticky out it is great to throw on after a shower. I love it and I just had to share it with you!

My cat loves when I buy new shoes.

I order a lot of clothing online and I always look forward to receiving my packages in the mail. But in my house, there is also someone else that loves it when I receive a package, especially shoes, and that is my cat Zell. He loves checking out boxes of all shapes and sizes and he has to try them all out as a bed. He can curl up into the smallest box and take a nap and he is not a small cat. I think at the last visit to the vet he weighed in at around 14 lbs. but you wouldn't believe what he can cram himself into to snooze in. Oh what a life...

Happy Birthday America!!

Enjoy the sweet summer :)

STYLE DIVA ADVICE

I love to shop. But most importantly I like to get good quality items at a low price. Now as we know good quality and low price do not always go hand in hand. I can recommend shoes, bags, clothes, make-up and skin care that are high end... and I can also tell you about the deep discounts. How to shop for the bargain... and not to be outsmarted by the many misconceptions.

Tip # 1 Do not ever go into a off-price retailer looking for something specific. You will not find it. Always go in with an open mind, and look for the fabulous pieces on your mental list( see tip 2) to help build your wardrobe

Tip# 2 Always carry a mental list of key items you are looking to either replenish or first time purchase in order to resuscitate your wardrobe.

Tip# 3 When make-up shopping bring your cosmetic bag with your current make-up rotation in order to avoid duplication( you are rotating your colors for the season aren't you?)

Tip# 4 If you are over 25 years of age, use an anti-aging face cream. And the ingredients are what you pay for ladies, so please do not try to do it on the cheap.

Tip # 5 Familiarize yourself with the specialties within each company. For instance you know Forever 31 has great jewelery for low cost but you also know it may last just one wear( did you catch the 31 not 21?)

Tip#6 Weigh your pros and cons... are you looking for an investment piece? Go ahead and get the Gucci bag, it's timeless... looking to save some money and still look great? Try chadwicks for a change of pace, their quality is good and the brand is value driven.

Tip# 7 Lastly, do not spend money you do not have. Be smart, shop strategically. Remember keep your list mentally stored and don't believe the hype.

'90s Fashion

After my boss was back from Paris, my workload was strangely increased by 40% (don’t you wish that’s a salary increase?).

So one of my new tasks is to compile detailed history of CHADWICKS. Yes, everyone has a past, and it is the past that brings us to where we are today (and yes, I like to make summary out of everything). Compiling Chadwicks history is actually a lot more fun than expected. For example, I learned that Chadwicks was actually called Chadwick’s of Boston before. Chadwicks was the first women’s apparel catalog in this country. Another thing I found is that I actually like some of the clothes on those '90s catalogs!!

<1989>

<2009>

Check out this “lavished-with-lace Clues" in the above picture (the black dress on the left hand side). Isn’t the dress gorgeous? There is almost zero difference between the “Clues” from the '90s and a strap dress from 2009.

So my conclusion from this new task is: buying timelessly stylish clothes is an investment (no, I am not going to say this to my boss).

Click here to check out more Chadwicks '90s fashion.