Your Wear-Everything Piece

I subscribe to ideeli.com, a website and email newsletter that offers shoppers tempting deals on brands from Gucci and Missoni to smaller indie handbag, jewelry and clothing lines. The other day I spied a deal on Leigh and Luca scarves. Leigh and Luca are Australian-born entrepreneur Gillian Leigh and European designer Susann Luca, and their scarves are hand-woven on antique looms and made out of silks, cottons and cashmeres.

But you don’t have to go through a website to buy them (ideeli is invitation-only and their sales are limited-time) Leigh and Luca is sold locally, believe it or not, at Gatherings on Regent Street. Owner Terry Hoard sells the exquisite purple/orange flocked cotton scarf shown in the image. It’s no doubt a statement piece and you’d be able to wear it year-round. It retails for $165.

Gatherings, 2134 Regent St. 236-9497.

New Brands to the Madison Market

Even though we’re not as big as say, Chicago, Madison retailers have their collective fingers on the pulse of what is HOT in the retail scene. And you know what? We can get a selection of the same trendy, fashion-forward brands that are found in bigger cities—right here.

Context and Bop, two of the city’s premier shopping destinations, have introduced some new brands to their stores.
Men’s clothier Context has started carrying shirting line Bureau. “Inspired by effortless American elegance, casual simplicity and overall refined style, Bureau is a new addition to American menswear … Inspired by the off-duty lifestyle of our 35th president, John F. Kennedy, as well as the casually refined style of dress and mentality of the American youth in the early 1960s,” according to press materials. Co-owner Ryan Huber tells me that the shirts have been flying out of stock already and the quality of the shirt is tough to beat. Prices range from $141 for a white linen shirt to $253 for a captain’s jacket.
Context, 113 King St. 250-0113. contextclothing.com

Bop’s got fresh new lines Twelfth St., Anlo Jeans, Tocca, Rich & Skinny and Brette Sandler. I’ve seen many of these lines featured in major fashion mags like Lucky. Check out Twelfth St.’s sassy cocktail dresses and drapey tops; Rich & Skinny’s shockingly bright denim and denim capris in colors like emerald green and fuschia; and Brette Sandler’s sexy swimwear.
Bop, 222 W. Gorham St. 255-2570. shopbop.com

Three Madison area retailers will be carrying this spring’s hottest bag: the Envirosax reusuable tote bag. Gatherings, Pop Deluxe and Iconi will all have this of-the-moment bag that was featured in a recent issue of InStyle. Waterproof and durable, I had the opportunity to feature one of the totes in our April issue. But what’s great is that these bags come in tons of cool designs and are super fashionable (and non gender specific, so guys can use them too).
Shoppers can buy single bags (prices range from $8.50–$9.95) and packs of five bags ($37.50 at Pop Deluxe).
Pop Deluxe, 310 State St. 256-1966. popdeluxe.net
Gatherings, 2134 Regent St. 236-9497. gatheringshomeandgarden.com
Iconi, 534 W. Washington Ave. 441-0077.

On to something old that’s made new: Three Orange Doors has started carrying vintage china pendants. Fashioned out of vintage china (some is handpainted), these beautiful necklaces will certainly make a wardrobe statement. Owner Gail Paraskevas is very crafty and can even make a necklace from your own vintage china. She also does custom photo charms as well.
Three Orange Doors, 2789 Fitchrona Rd. 848-3336. 3orangedoors.com