Falling in love... with some AWESOME new arrivals!

I'm not the biggest Valentines Day fan there ever was. Maybe it's because when I was 17, my first serious boyfriend gave me a pair of khaki overalls for valentines day.... I wish I was kidding, but I'm not. So ever since then I "eh" at the thought of getting excited for the red-hearted, hallmark-driven 14th of February. Well Cupid must be determined to make me reconsider, because here we are, two weeks before the day o' love, and in walk the most spectacular are-you-seriously-giving-this-up designer consignment accessories we've had in a long, long time. A Chanel handbag, several pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes (booties, wedges, and heels!), Oscar de la Renta boots, Jimmy Choo boots (and they're so super sexy it makes me want to take them out to some swanky retaurant I can't afford just so I can stare at them from across the table.... please don't judge me,) a Ferragamo handbag, Gucci heels, Manolo Blahnik heels, and Louis Vuitton heels, to name a few. Do you see what I mean?! So while I'm not rushing out to buy Valentines cards, I did feel the need to decorate these delicious delicacies with sparkly hearts. Hey, it just didn't seem right to not show my love!

p.s. - what's the worst/funniest/most memorable gift YOU ever got for Valentines day?

All I want for Christmas is...

On Saturday I texted Stephanie to see how the day was going. Her response: an email that should've been wrapped with a shiny bow: pictures and descriptions of newly arrived inventory that I'm certain had her drooling all over the keyboard! Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Armani, Badgley Mischka, and more. Her personal favorite: a brand-spankin-new pair of Givenchy heels. I saw them with my own eyes on Monday: 4 inch heels with triple mary-jane straps that decorate an ankle with carefully crafted perfection; the glassy, smooth, nobody's-ever-taken-a-step-in-me soles are deliciously caramel in color and so shiny I could see my reflection in them... and this is a SHOE! Anyways, enough about what we'd love to see under our Christmas trees. Take a peek... what's your favorite?

Feet on the Ground, Head in the Clouds

Imaginary friends, a plastic playhouse becomes our own castle, brides, queens, mothers, astronauts, doctors, veterinarians, cowgirls. From our tender, toddler minds could grow the most astounding adventures. A treasure chest of costumes and dress-up clothes could carry us a world away in the blink of an eye. As we grow older we learn how to balance our ever-present imaginations with the responsibilities of our daily lives. And maybe fashion is an outlet for the oft-denied imagination, teaming with don't-you-want-tos. Some outfits make us feel capable, daring. Others make us feel protected and hidden. Our wardrobes are our grown-up treasure chests. If we let them, they can carry us away, even for just a moment...

Boutique Girl: Heather (pictures by Carrie)

On Heather:

Dress: Karen Millen $140
Handbag: Louis Vuitton $488
Boots: Nine West $49
Scarf: Pashmina $28
Earrings: $21
Bracelet: $7

It's a High-End Handbag Reunion

Now that I am only in the store a couple of days a week I realize how fast the turnover of inventory is. The Boutique feels like a whole new store every time I walk in. One shop tendency that continues to hold true is the waves and patterns of inventory that comes in. One day we might have every consignor bring in at least one piece of "Free People," or Anthropologie labels, or maybe it's a day of boots. The long and the short of it: Birds of a feather tend to flock together, even in things unfeathered.

I decided to come into town yesterday to take pictures at all three of our stores. Stephanie had called me the day before about a F*A*N*T*A*S*T*I*C Chanel quilted handbag that arrived on Tuesday, and I just had to see it for myself. It was all I hoped and dreamed, by the way. But I digress. Next to the most-perfect-Chanel-bag-ever was a candy apple red ankle-wristlet... also from the fine people at Chanel. I managed to close my mouth and tear my eyes away from the quilted sisters to stumble upon not one... not two... but three Louis Vuitton handbags. A couple of classics for the tradition LV fans (a speedy, in particular) and an oh-so-cute slouchy-denim number that puts the polish on any ensemble.

Since I was determined to pop into all 3 stores I didn't have time to style the bags, only to let them shine in all their glory - which they did and did well. BUT I couldn't help but take a picture of this adorable Marc Jacobs yellow floral handbag against Stephanie's yellow floral Maxi dress and also of a classic Burberry handbag against Carter's striped cardigan.


Oh Chanel! No such thing as too big... or too small

I had to do a close-up!

"I don't get it... ohh!!" So. Freakin'. Cute.

I did a double take when I saw them in the case!

Louis Vuitton: for the more classic fans

Another classic Louis Vuitton model

A more daring rendition!

Marc Jacobs: just perfect for summer!

Burberry Bliss: couldn't have styled for it any better!