Posts tagged as Accessories

With over 20K followers, Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific wows us with her impeccable style and strong fashion sense. She is also a loyal fan of The ROPES bracelets - she includes the bright arm candy in many of her looks and even visited Maine this past fall. So, needless to say, we were thrilled to see that her first post of the new year included The ROPES Cape Elizabeth bracelet! Pair it with a preppy anchor sweater like Blair did, or add it to your otherwise neutral winter wardrobe. Either way, it just works. Get this bracelet here... and be sure to browse our large collection of ROPES bracelets too!

<3 Keriann

Introducing... the latest scarves for fall. Full of color, floral prints & plaid (of course!). Honestly, there isn’t a better time to score that perfect scarf; after all, a great scarf is a girl’s best friend once the temps drop (goodbye summer tan, I’ll miss you!). 

Here at Bliss, we take our scarves very seriously. We believe that a great scarf can transform a t-shirt & jeans into a special, eye-catching look. Not to mention it can easily travel everywhere with you - from an airplane shawl to a movie theater “blanket” to a stylish solution for the overzealous office air conditioner. No outing (or outfit!) is complete without a gorgeous scarf.

That said, let’s talk scarves. Epice scarves.

The two creative geniuses behind Epice (Bess Nielsen & Jan Machenhauer) launched this Danish line in 1999. Since then, their brand is known worldwide for their high-end materials (fine silks, cotton & wool) and their prints, patterns & color combinations. You really have to see these scarves firsthand to fully grasp how wonderful they are - they truly are wearable art.
 
So, as we shift into the fall season, let us help you find that ultimate accessory piece - a beautiful scarf! {Tell me: What’s your must-have accessory for fall?}

<3 Keriann

Just like you, we have a summer wish-list that just keeps growing & growing (especially with new treasures arriving daily)!  And with warmer temperatures on the horizon, we’re keeping our eye on the prize.  We’ve mapped out our favorite things for summer - whether it’s an essential (and super cute!) denim dress or the perfect pop-of-color accessory.  Take it from us, these items will add just the right amount of newness to your closet.

The Looker Crop by Mother
“Mother denim is a must-have for spring/summer!  My favorite right now?  The Looker Crop!"”
- Angie, owner of Bliss

Round Tortoise TOMS Sunglasses
“I don’t normally splurge on sunglasses, but I can’t help myself with these!  They’re cute, they come with a nice case AND they support a great cause.”
- Michelle, Portland store manager/buyer

Steven Alan Classic Shirt Dress
"It’s a summer staple - I’ll wear it with a skinny belt, floppy hat & big sunglasses!"
- Erin, Portsmouth store manager

AG Racerback Tank with Ruffle
“I would wear this tank with high-waisted denim shorts & a strappy sandal!”
- Althea, Portland assistant manager

Prairie Underground Draper Jean Dress
“This fitted denim dress & Saturdays at the Farmer’s Market - sounds like a winning combination to me!”
- Kim, sales associate

Colorful, eye-catching and unique to our way of life here on the coast of Maine - it’s The ROPES bracelets!  Available in 4 trendy styles (The Portland, The Kennebunk, The Scarborough and The Cape Elizabeth) these items are on high demand in both of our stores - and for good reason! 

The talent behind these highly sought-after bracelets is local Portland designer, Shana Aldrich Ready.  She’s a mom, wife and designer with some serious style up her sleeve (literally!).  And she’s giving Dish readers a closer look into her booming business.   

First of all, congratulations on all your success thus far with The ROPES.  We absolutely love all your designs - and our customers do too!  How did The ROPES get started?
I started making The ROPES by accident actually!  It was about a year and a half ago; we were in the middle of winter and I was playing around with some rope, twine, and string (basically whatever I could get my hands on around the house!).  As many of my close friends know, I’ve always had a love & talent for making friendship bracelets - dating back to my Maine summer camp days!  So I made my first two bracelets and began wearing them all the time.  It didn’t take long before my friends noticed the brightly colored bracelets on my wrists.  My sister-in-law (Tyler Karu Ready) started to REALLY push and encourage me to go around to local stores with my bracelets, and to my surprise, they were a hit!  I still can’t believe how popular they’ve become... and so quickly!

What part of the design process do you like most?
Definitely coming up with new designs & different color combinations!  When something stays the same it does not evolve.  I am constantly searching for 'the next' bracelet, colors and/ or ways to improve my designs.

Day 2 of our buying trip started much like every other day - with coffee!  We stumbled upon a quaint little cafe a few blocks from the show that kind of reminded us of Bard Coffee (only not quite as good, of course!), and we went there every morning for the rest of our trip.  With caffeine in our system, we headed towards the Javits Center for our first day at Coterie...

Nashelle

Our first stop was Nashelle’s booth, and I can’t think of a better way we could have started the show.  Her jewelry is so unique; every piece is handmade and it truly shows in her fine details & craftsmanship.  Everything looked stunning as usual, but there were a couple standouts.  The first one was her mini collection - basically she made some of her best-sellers in a smaller size (something I really appreciate since I can’t wear heavy, large earrings all day).  Practical and still super stylish - it’s a win-win combination!  The other standout was Nashelle’s charm necklaces.  With a wide variety of charms, there was something there for everyone.  (Stay tuned - there’s talk about having a charm necklace trunk show in our stores sometime soon!) 

Butter by Nadia

If you’ve ever been in our stores, you’ve seen our wrap dresses by Butter.  They are a crowd favorite... and for good reason.  Their design, fabric and overall look sets them apart, and you will continue to see this for fall.  Color blocking was a big theme at their booth, along with mid-length and maxi-length skirts.  We’re excited about the new three-quarter length wrap dresses as well - it’s the perfect dress for any occasion!  You’ll want to wear it everyday (and you can!).

It’s a busy time of year for us at Bliss.  New merchandise is rolling in for Spring - bright colors, fun dresses, and even shorts!  It’s as if our stores are getting a fresh makeover after a long winter; it’s exciting (and refreshing!) to say the least.  But for some of us, we’re already looking ahead to Fall... yes, Fall.  You see, just a couple weeks ago we headed down to New York City for Fall Coterie - the largest women’s contemporary clothing & accessories trade show in the fashion industry.  With over 1,200 vendors and 15,000 attendees, it’s a whirlwind of Fall collections, upcoming trends and a glimpse into what our stores will look like come September.

I know it’s hard to even think about skipping over the best time of year (spring/summer!), but trust me when I say that you won’t be disappointed when Fall rolls around.  Keep reading for a recap of our buying trip!

Disclaimer:  Each week I will be featuring an item in an "Obsession of the Week" post.  This is the first post of many to come & trust me when I say, this piece is truly worth obsessing over.  Read on... but don't say I didn't warn you.

While in New York City for the trade shows this past September, we came across the WILL Leather Goods booth.  Their leather goods, bags and accessories were too beautiful to pass by so we stopped & were introduced to the family-run business.  Impressed and excited, we left the booth with our first order placed.  All there was left to do was wait.

Our waiting ended yesterday... and in no way were we prepared for just how stunning each piece would be in person.  Yes, they had samples at the show (that's how we were reeled in!), but we learned at their booth that each piece would be one-of-a-kind.  Any and all expectations we had, has been exceeded with this first order.  

We ordered 4 Oaxacan Duffle bags - 2 for each of our stores.  Each bag is made with a hand woven, vegetable-dyed Oaxacan wool rug and high-end leathers creating a classic, and almost vintage feel.  With a detachable cross body and top handle, these bags are highly functional too.  It's the perfect weekender bag!  In all honesty though, it's the company's history that makes the product even sweeter - WILL Leather Goods started as a small leather belt stand in Venice, CA ("Billy's Belts") and today their goods are sold in Nordstrom's, Sak's Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Barney's New York, and countless boutiques around the world.  Even with their growth, they have maintained their American-based roots and continue to operate in Eugene, Oregon.  How awesome is that?!          

These bags are definitely a must-see... I'll let you decide if they're a must-have! 

<3 Keriann

It's always exciting when new shipments come in - and lately we've been getting something almost every day!  Since not everyone is willing to brave the arctic temperatures to shop, I'll give you a little preview of the awesome boots, clothes & accessories that are new to our sales floors.  They're fun, fresh and even bright - a sure way to beat those winter (and post-holiday) blues!

Harness Boot

In a cracked, distressed leather, the Wyatt Harness is our newest arrival from Frye.  Picture them paired with black skinnines and a chunky wool sweater... or a feminine frock for a hard/soft combo.  Whether you're looking for a shorter ankle boot or a mid-calf style, we have both options for you to incorporate into your winter wardrobe.  The best part - these will transition easily into spring too!

Mother May I?

Rules are often broken in the popular children's game Mother May I.  "Yes, you may take 3 giant steps forward"  usually means run forward as fast as you can.  Similarly Mother denim breaks a lot of rules (but in all the right ways!) that has put them leaps and bounds ahead in the denim scene.  With impressive washes & creative names like "Honkeytonk Cinderella" and "Maiden & the Unicorn," Mother denim makes you want to be a kid again.  3 new washes & cuts came in this week - one crop, one skinny and one slim boot.  With this many choices, it's hard to pick just one.

Leather Love

Recently, our stores seem to be over-flowing with belts - and that's definitely not a bad thing!  We just received a huge shipment from Motif 56 full of skinny braided belts and wide leather belts.  Wrap them around an oversized sweater to show off your waist or wear one to give your look a subtle update.  Either way, you can't go wrong with a Motif 56 belt.

The First Sign of Spring

CP Shades is a brand we all know and love.  Their American-made clothing is easy-to-wear, and though we sell the brand year-round, their early spring arrivals always have a way of brightening up our stores.  Crisp, white linen blouses, striped tunics, airy dresses and gorgeous mid-length pleated skirts are here... and we couldn't be more happy about it.  Wear them now or wear them later - these iconic CP Shades pieces make getting dressed every morning fun (and easy!).  

Hues from the Heart

Bright blues and vibrant reds were the theme in our recent Only Hearts shipment.  Six new styles of dresses are on our racks - a striped bateau dress (love the long-sleeves!), a tank dress with a cut-out back detail, a simple short-sleeve dress (great for the office!) and even a few printed dresses.  If you're looking to add a little cheer to your closet, these dresses are a great place to start.  After all, when it comes to Only Hearts, it's okay to wear your heart on your sleeve. 

I hope you've enjoyed this quick glimpse of what's new on our shelves.  And trust us, this is just the beginning.  If you ask me, it's a pretty fabulous start to a much-anticipated spring!  

<3 Keriann