All this warm weather is making me feel inspired!
Inspired to let loose and enjoy the outdoors..
to leave the jacket at home and let my shoulders feel the sunshine…
to throw open the curtains and add blooms back into my life…
and to ruin my new pedi by putting my toes in the sand.
What a beautiful 2 days it has been!
Every year we look forward to award season to see our favorite celebrities work the red carpet in their amazing gowns. As always, there are plenty of ” Don’ts” that make their appearance, but we like to focus on the the “Do’s”!
These Leading Ladies rocked the Red Carpet in all variations of Red!
Amber Riley in Badgley Mischka, Dianna Agron in Giles, Reese Witherspoon in Zac PosenStacy Keibler in Valentino
Viola Davis in Pucci and Angelina Jolie in Atelier VersaceEmma Stone in LanvinStacy Keibler in ValentinoEmma Stone in Lanvin
Michelle Williams took home a Golden Globe in this gorgeous Jason Wu navy dress that looks amazing on her. Who says you have to show skin in order to look beautiful?!
Michelle Williams in Jason Wu
Octavia Spencer definitely knows how to dress her body shape! Doesn’t she look stunning!?
Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Sohji
New “It” Girl, Rooney Mara, proves that black is definitely not a boring choice!
Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci
Always a woman of class, Diane Lane looks amazing. Can you believe she is almost 47?
Diane Lane in Reem Acra
In my mind, the Golden Globe’s are more like the precursor for the Oscars. So I really can’t wait to see what is going to appear on that red carpet!
Who needs resolutions? When it comes to taking on the new year in style, what you really need are just a few wardrobe additions. Taking into account the Spring 2012 runways and expected evolution of last year’s must-haves, we’ve come up with 10 pieces you’ve got to get your hands on. From 24-karat nail color to a modern twist on the pantsuit, read on for our top picks.
Tangerine is the official shade of the Spring 2012 season. (At least according to the experts at Pantone.) Try on a citrus-colored coat for major impact, or start small with an orange carryall or chiffon top.
Feminine peplums whittle your waist and accentuate your curves—what’s not to love?
Chanel never fails to set trends with their groundbreaking nail colors. For Pre-Fall 2012, they’re releasing a shimmering golden shade called Diwali—meaning gilded digits are gonna be huge in the coming year. In the time being, try this shade from Deborah Lippman.
LWDs have been sharing the sartorial spotlight with LBDs for several seasons now, a development sure to continue well into 2012. It’s definitely time to pick up your first—or add another to your closet.
Athletic accents and silhouettes were all over the spring runways. A mesh tank, tee or topper in a statement shade is an easy way to work the sporty look into your own wardrobe.
Popular neons are taking a backseat to rich pastels as we head into 2012. Slip into a double-breasted or boyfriend-style blazer in mint green, lemon or cotton-candy pink.
As we head into a new year, it’s time to streamline your routine. A sleek little clutch is perfect for carrying your essentials. And textural finishes like raffia or woven leather are particularly on-trend.
The classic Bianca Jagger-esque pantsuit is getting abbreviated. In pretty pale hues or bold florals, a tailored jacket and cropped shorts make a perfect pairing
Modernized with sleek straps and narrower heels, the stiletto’s comfier cousin is having a moment
When stocking your closet with new party dress options for 2012, look to the Roaring Twenties. Fringed, beaded and drop-waisted styles will have you channeling Daisy Buchanan in no time.
We sincerely hope everyone had a very Merry Holiday!
With the new year quickly approaching, we thought we would take a look at what is to come for Spring!
As we previously mentioned, we are so excited to have Alice + Olivia in our store
Designer Stacey Bendet tells us a little about her inspiration for the collection this 2012 spring season
Always a favorite! Trina Turk’s gorgeous “The Country Club Coquette” Spring 2012 collection is filled with beautiful and classic pieces that are true to the designers name
And of course Milly is always a trendsetter. We love the styling of her pieces on the runway
We love how Elle.com summarized !
We are always posting about clothing and shoes, but what about the fabulous jewelry to go with it?
“Jewelry takes people’s minds off your wrinkles!”
Sonja Henie
Though we have quite the selection of jewelry designers, there are two in particular that we just love. Each piece is original and is sure to make a statement with any outfit you choose.
W&M Jewelry is custom, handcrafted jewelry based in Louisville, Kentucky.
All pieces are constructed from the finest materials!
These necklaces are simply gorgeous and can dress up any outfit!
The simple chains can be paired with other necklaces and the jeweled bangles look wonderful stacked together!
We also love our local designer, Loren Hope!
Her pieces are fun, colorful, and just amazing!
Each necklace is so intricate in detail that pictures truly do not do them justice. You will just have to come in and see for yourself!
Don’t you just love these earrings! A treat for yourself, or the perfect gift for a loved one
Fun stud earrings are hard to find! We can’t keep these in stock. What a great find!
While we certainly love our shoes and clothing, we can help but lush over these fine pieces!
Milly!!!
We are so excited to have this amazing line in our store. What a fabulous addition! Resort wear has just hit our door and it is true to the Milly name, GORGEOUS.
We did a little research to educate ourselves on the talent that goes into each piece. Michelle Smith, founder and designer of Milly, certainly has the resume to back the designs she began 10 years ago!
The Milly by Michelle Smith collection has defined youthful, luxurious style since 2001. Designer Michelle Smith creates timeless silhouettes with smart, sexy, feminine flair that satisfies her ever-expanding customer base.
Born out of Smith’s lifelong love of fashion, Milly is an iconic brand known for exquisite prints and colors, luxurious fabrics and attention-to-detail. Sophisticated and glamorous, her collections embody modern sensibility with a vintage vibe.
Convinced from an early age that fashion design was her calling, Smith earned an art school scholarship to study fashion illustration, and later followed her passion to New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. With a keen interest in European fashion and luxury goods, Smith worked at the Hermes boutique in Manhattan to help pay for her studies. Upon graduation from FIT, she wrote to the President of Hermes requesting an internship at the Paris headquarters. Her request was granted, making Michelle Smith the first American Hermes employee sent to work in Paris by this legendary fashion house.
While in Paris, Smith continued her studies at the prestigious design school ESMOD while also interning at Louis Vuitton, Torrente and Christian Dior Haute Couture. After three years, Smith returned home to New York, intent on establishing her own design business, and Milly was born.
Milly is now recognized throughout the globe with a devoted following. Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham, Beyonce, and Thandie Newton are counted among Milly’s loyal fans. The collection is sold at the finest specialty and department stores worldwide, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harrods, and Takashimaya.
In Spring 2011, Milly marked its 10th anniversary with several exciting new endeavors; The opening of Milly’s flagship boutique on Madison Avenue, the debut of its handbag and fashion jewelry collections, and “Milly Minis”, clothing for young Milly aspirants aged 2-10.
www.millyny.com
Resortwear always comes in at a trickier time of the year. Of course it is fabulous for your holiday vacations, but how do you wear it when you get home? It is just too pretty to put away until warmer weather. Here we have a few ideas on how to incorporate these Resort pieces into your winter wardrobe.
Michelle Smith thinks of Resort as a “palate-cleansing sorbet course” before Spring. The vibrant scarlet and cyan shades in this collection were indeed refreshing, as was a long, dip-dyed “island” dress that satisfied the vacation aspect of Resort (there were cute swimsuits for that, too). After taking in the recent Picasso and Marie-Thérèse: L’amour fou exhibition at Gagosian, the Milly designer wondered what it would like to be an artist’s muse. So there were impressionist, painterly prints on A-line skirts and dresses. Other notable looks included a “kooky square-pattern” dress that appeared to be two separate pieces (a lightweight chain was sewn into the top half to achieve a nice drape), and a stretchy cargo trench dress with tortoise shell novelty buttons. There was nothing terribly groundbreaking here, but Smith has her whimsical customer nailed down.
The Sophia Circle Skirt Dress
How perfect is this to wear to a Holiday Party and then throw it on with little flats! Add some black tights and a great peacoat and you are out the door in cooler temperatures.
We love this teal Monica Ruffle Dress but certainly need something a bit warmer to snuggle into.
Pair with the Tory Burch Boot, a fun pair of tights and this great fur coat by Prairie. The light color provides a soft contrast to color and style of the outfit!
The Milly Landie Dress has so much class. We love it simply with a navy blazer and a great pump!
It is officially the Holiday Season! And time to start those Gift Lists…. This year at Monkee’s we have something for everyone. All ages, and all price points!
Good stocking stuffers are sometimes the hardest, so we have put a few ideas together for you!
We have loved sitting back and watching Lady Catherine ( Kate Middleton) take over the world of fashion. Her sophistication and grace have inspired designers worldwide to gear their collections towards lady-like and feminine silouettes and styles. And we have to say, we are a big fan.
Kate Middleton Makes Ladylike Fashions Cool Again
Candi Adams | September 12, 2011
Another New York Fashion Week has come to an end, and designers are waiting to see how their collections will be received by the public. This year’s designs have gone in a very different direction than they have in the past. Some of the more refined ladies and gentleman can breathe a sigh of relief that the age of grunge, just rolled out of bed and tired model is finally coming to an end. We can all thank one woman for her massive influence over this year’s fashion.
Kate Middleton has single handedly changed the world of fashion. Some may call it a retro look. Others will think it is a refreshing change. For the longest time, men and women alike went down this road of less clothing is more fashionable. Or the extremely ridiculous cut-outs that flashed just enough skin to make an onlooker blush.
Not anymore. Rachel Zoe says of the latest fashions, they are “returning to a time where things are more timeless and polished, not looking a mess.” Think Jackie Kennedy style. Very ladylike and very attractive. Jason Wu had the same impression with this year’s designs. “Now people are interested in looking ladylike. The duchess is part of that,” explains the designer. The reserved looks are a reflection of the changing times in this time of economic strife. The designs can be paired with various blouses and skirts to create an entire wardrobe without the hefty expense.
Kate Middleton Changed World Of Fashion
Those who like to push the bar a bit do not have to worry they are going to be dressing like their grandmothers did in 1950. Neiman Marcus fashion director, Ken Downing, quiets the fears of fashionistas everywhere. He says, “We are not necessarily going to see exact adaptations of what she is wearing.” Women can expect to see louder prints and a bit edgier cuts than the Duchess tends to wear. Downing explains, “Dressing up is the new cool, and dressing down is old school and attribute much of that to Kate.” Grandmas everywhere are probably attempting to jump for joy right now. They are cool again!
Full article Here
We thought it would be fun to put together a few things from Monkee’s that we would put on Kate if she were to walk through our door! (wishful thinking, right?)
The whole fashion world turns to premier show designers like Valentino, Lanvin, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin. As they should, they make gorgeous shoes and really set the fashion tone per season. As beautiful as they may be, it isn’t always realistic to fit these amazing styles in to one’s budget. So we present to you a few shoes that have embraced the beauty and style of these premier designers while keeping in the lines of a more affordable option.
A metallic flat makes a great "go-to" shoe!
Mary Jane's are a fabulous way to change up your working wardrobe!
Sequined Bow evening shoes are sure to make a statement!
Everyone needs a basic black patent pump!
Gray Suede boots are a must have for Fall!
As the days slowly approach winter… We want to ask you, Is your wardrobe ready? Have your boots moved to the front of your closet? The tights from the back of your sock drawer? Or your coats from the back room closet?
Well we are gearing up with several fabulous coats that we can not wait to throw on this year!
While she has always carried a limited number, Trina Turk debuted an entire coat collection this year! And it is fabulous!! We were lucky enough to receive a few!
Sequoia Coat!
Walker coat in Red
Park Avenue Coat in Green Houndstooth
How amazing are these!?!
For a bit of insight into Trina Turk’s inspiration for Fall
Check out her blog!
The glamour days of air travel–when PSA air hostesses wore pink and orange minis with matching caps, Braniff stewardesses were in head-to-toe Pucci, and futuristic architecture added to the jet set fabulousness of it all–inspired our Fall 1 collection and look book photo shoot at Los Angeles International Airport.
These ladies with their pale pumps and bouffant hairdos set the bar high for what to wear when traveling, and their stylish hair was a starting point for our look book hair.
the top (below)
