Spring Things

Nothing cheers me more than knowing (or at least hoping!) that the weather will be warming up. I look forward to strolling the Square and walking along the lakefront path, not to mention hanging out at the Terrace. Yes, I love the warm weather and often think I would do just fine in a warmer climate like L.A.

But I do love the changing of seasons and it gives me something to look forward to—rotating my wardrobe to something less substantial than, say, a winter jacket and snow boots every day.

That’s why I’m excited about some more of the spring retail trends I’m seeing. We all think of spring as a time of growth and change. I think local retailers are hoping their sales will grow and change, too! Many I’ve spoken with have had slow sales as a result of the cold weather and slowing economy.

But if you are looking to treat yourself and have some tax return money, check out these trends to look for in the next couple of months—some of them cheap and chic!


Thymes’ Red Chérie Collection smells heavenly and evokes springtime with just a spritz or sniff of this fragrance. The press materials say the fragrance is a combo of “ripe red cherries, passion flower and jasmine. Sparked with subtle hints of Asian lychee and a tease of fruity musk …” Mmmm! I have tried the cologne spray and body exfoliant and they instantly perked me up because I love the scent of cherry. Pick up Thymes Red Chérie and Thymes products at Little Luxuries, Orange Tree Imports and Willow Creek.

Did you know that fashion influences home décor? It’s true—colors and styles that fashion designers roll out appear in modified versions in home furnishings as well. Maybe that’s why fashion designers Vera Wang, Kate Spade, Missoni and Versace (among countless others) have home decor lines. Take the mod look that was popular this fall. I saw reinterpretations of that in decorative accessories sold at Target.

Closer to home, interior designer Barry Avery incorporates the “Hollywood luxe” look beautifully in his décor and furnishings at his store Fontaine on East Johnson Street. This look will be here to stay for a while; writer Jennifer Garrett mentions it in her “Lucky Loos” piece in this month’s Habitat Handbook and local event planner Ginger Gant told me the opulent “Louis XIV look” is all the rage with interior decorators right now.

Gant attended a special event show in Atlanta and reports that “on the coasts they do very blingy … lots of crystal. It’s rich, encrusted ceiling chandeliers and fans. [It was] very ornate, very rich.” Pier One’s “Springy Thingy” catalog weaves hot spring trends in their stuff, too: bright pops of color, an international flair, even a mirrored “Hayworth Vanity” for the bedroom. In turn we’ll see clothing trends including metallics in clothing, shoes and handbags; safari and international-themed clothing; and vibrant, Crayola colors.

Where to find any of these of-the-moment trends, décor or otherwise? Your local retailer! I will mention one non-local retailer as well just because they DO make gorgeous things: J. Crew. The eponymous store that makes high fashion within (closer) reach is doing ruffled trenches, full skirts, bold prints and ornate jewelry for spring. Creative director Jenna Lyons states via press materials, “Vintage architecture and glamorous mid-century interiors were a big inspiration for our collection. We love the bold intensity of upholstered prints … the way bright, acidy yellows and quirky oranges played off warm woodsy neutrals.”


To go with your spring outfits pick up Sam Edelman shoes (found at Karen & Co.). These very affordable shoes offer lots of new and different styles like a gladiator sandal (shown is the "Gilda"), flats with a chain detail (shown is the "Carmen"), wedges and peep-toe metallic sandals—in shimmery metallics, vivacious prints and intense brights.

Check out now:
Anthropologie 702 N. Midvale Blvd. 318-9011. anthropologie.com
Bop 222 W. Gorham St. 255-2570. shopbop.com
Fontaine 811 E. Johnson St. 310-8002.
J LaMore 2701 Monroe St. 238-2119. jlamore.com
JC Madison2140 W. Greenview Dr. Ste. 1, Middleton. 1-877-475-7018. jcmadison.com
Karen & Co. 309 State St. 258-5500.
Little Luxuries 214 State St. 255-7372.
Orange Tree Imports 1721 Monroe St. 255-8211. orangetreeimports.com
Patricia Shoppe 137 W. Johnson St. 256-1111. patriciashoppe.com
Twigs 1925 Monroe St. 255-4363. shoptwigs.com
Willow Creek 6909 University Ave. 836-3911.

Spring Fling

I checked out Marie Claire this week and found some trends I’m looking forward to—and some I’m not. One was clothing in day-glo colors. To me the term “day-glo” always brings to mind Hypercolor T-shirts, leggings and eighties flashbacks. Luckily another trend I saw was wedges (good call) and patent leather. I love patent and am excited this glossy trend is still rocking. I plan on picking up at least one more pair of patent pumps and hopefully, a cute patent clutch.

Stylemaker Q&A

Jenny Condon, owner of JC Madison
2140 West Greenview Drive Ste. 1, Middleton. 824-9715. jcmadison.com

Condon opened JC Madison just over three years ago and her business is still doing very well—even after a name change (formerly called Allure) and a move to the Greenway Industrial Park this month (the shop was originally located in Greenway Station). The business specializes in high-end handbags and jewelry, and also carries a small clothing inventory.

Why did you move out of Greenway Station?
We were actually looking to get into a different space. We had a huge space [at Greenway] but such a small back area. We needed a bigger back area for shipping and the office and the website type of stuff. Our lease ended with Greenway and we took the opportunity to move quickly and move right away.
[Now] we have two thousand square feet but a huge warehouse space in the back, offices, a dressing room and bathroom. There is also a front showroom area.

How much of your business is from the web, and how much is from the storefront?
I’d say eighty/twenty. Eighty percent is website, twenty percent store. But moving out here, we don’t know what to anticipate so we’re going to work on events once we get settled in here.

Why do you think the website is doing so well?
Because we carry a lot of the brands of handbags, jewelry and accessories that are really wanted; not everyone can sell these bags online and not everyone can open an account with these brands online. (Ed’s note: handbag brands include Kooba, Botkier, Gustto and Isabella Fiore).
They [the brands] just don’t want to be oversaturated online. If everybody could sell them, then their bags wouldn’t do as well because they’d be everywhere. These brands want to promote their exclusivity. There are only a few of that one bag out there, not five hundred.

Where do you go to buy your merchandise?
I go to New York at least a few times a year. Our showrooms are there. I also go to a couple of the shows. I talk with the brands a lot on the phone and over e-mail.

What qualities do you look for in what you sell?
We look for unique and up-and-coming designers and ones that are in our “tier.” We’re kind of in that middle tier, like $500–$700 handbags. We’re in the basic designer category. Really high end is like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada.
I don’t like to get anything too low either because then you get into copies and lower quality. We look for really well designed handbags.

What new items will you be carrying this spring besides handbags?
We’re picking up a new jewelry line called Jules Smith I met her; she lives in the Virgin Islands and does really fun sterling silver and 14K gold-plated stuff over sterling silver. She does very fun things—hoops that are really funky, cuffs, lots of bangles; an anchor pendant. We’re picking up a lot of her jewelry. $70–$300

For sunglasses, we sell Mosley Tribes, or Oliver Peoples’ trendier brand. We sell tons of their sunglasses. Reese Witherspoon was seen wearing their “Aviatrix” aviators. We do really, really well with those. We have them exclusively online and they’re not opening up any other accounts. Aviatrix aviator sunglasses (shown in link above), $275.

What are the spring handbag trends?
We were just at the shows and just saw a lot of new, fun bags.
Everyone’s still doing patent.
Every single designer has a few large clutches, even for day. We’re ordering some light yellow bags in some smaller size bags and clutches.
I saw long chains on little bags, like a Chanel bag but with a long chain.
Nylon—which is really weird (laughs), but only one or two designers have done it but it’s going to be big. These bags have leather trim and they’re just some really amazing cool, fun and bright bags.
This is a huge trend—going with the whole green theme. People are doing [shopping bags] in a light leather and then you can pull it out of your handbag … A couple of them are more like a canvas bag and then a couple of other designers do leather.

Why do you think trends are lasting longer? For example, I know patent and large clutches have been popular for a while.
It does depend on the trend. If they’re difficult to make it to the mainstream, it probably won’t last.
Something like patent is timeless. A nice, white patent is really pretty and black patent will look really pretty with florals.

What clothing is being paired with these handbags you’ve talked about?
It’s still going to be very similar but not the same as last spring: tights, leggings, dresses, tunics and gladiator sandals.
When I was at the New York show every single girl had flat boots with leggings or tights. It was unbelievable. It’s nice because you can wear a flat boot but still look trendy and comfortable.

What new handbags are you going to pick up for yourself?
Isabella Fiore is coming out with a really awesome shoulder bag and baby bag. It has tattoo print on the leather and it says “free spirit” with a bird or flower. It’s really funky; it’s cool. Free Spirit Lulu tote, $395.
Rebecca Minkoff is doing the chain clutches like the Chanel ones. It’s a clutch with a long chain so you can wear it on your shoulder or messenger-style. Rachel Bilson was spotted with one. Clutch, $325.
Gustto is the brand with the nylon bag. They have a bright orange, pink or blue bag in a really neat shape with patent on the top. It’s a nylon shoulder bag. ~$400.

Sunglasses and jewelry are in stock now; spring looks start arriving in-store February 28, with some arriving later in March or April.