Fashion rules, unsaid rules, common mistakes, and don'ts... some of us pretend they don't exist and others of us preach fashion rules like the word of the bible. Can I get an amen? Really though, fashion rules can be silly. Well, unless the fashion rule you're breaking has turned you into a convicted fashion felon... and if you wear a crop top with a big belly, you're definitely a felon.
One of the biggest fashion rules that we all try to abide by but don't know why is the 'No white after Labor Day' and before Memorial Day (or whenever) rule. Who made this rule anyway and what were they smoking? It seems as though historians can not quite agree on where this infamous rule came from. Some say the snobby elite, back in the 30's, created it so that they could mark claim over white clothing and keep the less wealthy from wearing such a pure and ritzy color when it wasn't 'in season'.
White Jeans are ready to wear at anytime, so cute! We have these currently in stock!
Regardless of the reason, this rule makes me want to jump up and down and stomp my feet in detest. White looks good on everyone. I say we cape diem, pull a Coco Chanel and make white a staple wardrobe color all year long. What are your thoughts? We do have to admit that white shoes look a bit out of place in the cooler months, like white keds, or white knee high boots. Yikes!
Work it Coco!
How about some other rules that we can probably all agree on, like if you're over the age of 40 you should throw out your mini skirts. The age limit is actually debatable, but 40 seems like a good number. Whether you have cellulite or not, it's just not appropriate. UNLESS you're in your local redneck bar, single, and looking for a good classy man to take home to mama.
Speaking of skirts, how about the unsaid rule 'No uggs with skirts or shorts', like we discussed in a previous post. This rule also has an age limit which is at about 12 years old. If you're older than 12 and you're caught breaking this rule, expect to be whispered about.
Britney you ruined it for everyone!
Here's one that half of us probably don't follow... the rule about leggings. Leggings (like the thin black or gray ones) are meant to be worn under a short dress, tunic, or long shirt. If your top does not cover your 'bottom' then you're breaking the leggings rule. We do have to admit that if you have a bangin' body and have a really nice pair of leggings you can probably get away with showing off your bottom in leggings. But most of us do not fall into this category. So please ladies, I beg you, cover up your girly bits that no one cares to see. Leave some things to the imagination. You may think black camouflages everything, but you may be very wrong.
Uh oh... This is when it stinks to be a celeb.
Anyone try to match their eyeshadow to their outfit each day? This is another one that drives many people nuts. It's commonly said that this is a no-no, which I agree. But, sometimes it can look cute like on St. Patrick's day or Halloween. If you're wearing a blue blouse please shy away from blue shadow. We may live in the south, and bigger may be better in some cases, but not this case. Don't pull a Mimi from the Drew Carey show. Stick to neutral tones with a little touch of color here and there, but keep it subtle.
If you commit this fashion crime, you deserve imprisonment!
Oh how about this one... don't mix black and brown. Although this rule may ring true for men, it's become a fuzzy line in women's fashion. For example, wearing a black dress with a brown high waisted belt is reveered as fashionable and cute. I guess it really all depends on the trends of the times. One thing that doesn't change, if you're a man and you wear a brown belt with black shoes, you need to do an 'about face' and march right back into your closet and switch one of the two out.
Let's end on a rule we all can probably agree on. It's not okay to allow your bra straps to show, period. It's no longer 1995. Wearing a black bra with a white tank top is not okay. And while we're at it, it's not sexy to let your thong hang out from the top of your pants. A bra is defined as an undergarment worn by women to support the breasts. Key word being, undergarment. They're meant to support and not be seen.
Amy Winehouse... such a trendsetter.
Did we forget a fashion rule? Let us know, and comment with your thoughts on each rule whether you agree or disagree. It's nice to have different points of view.
Until our next blog post... rock that white year-round Coco, if you're getting older sell your mini skirts at your annual yard sale to your crazy redneck neighbor, wear your uggs in the safety of your own home, cover up your girl bits when rocking some leggings, don't duplicate your rainbow blouse on your eyelids, pair black and brown wisely, anddddd... Victoria's secret is her bra, she wants it hidden and kept a secret, don't disrespect Victoria!
For those of us who have traveled outside of the South, we know that our 'must have' shoes are sometimes much different than the 'must haves' of northern ladies. Seeing as we are not from the north, we can't quite comment on what they wear up there but we sure do know what our shoe collection staples are on this side of the mason dixon line!
We do have a tip however for those who are traveling up north especially in the winter months. Do NOT bring heels. Seriously though, how do women survive up there without heels? Life must be so un-fabulous (yep, that's a word, we decided). Being the genius blond that I am, I traveled up to Jackson Hole, Wyoming one year to go skiing. I searched through my closet for shoes to pack and came across some knee high brown boots. The word 'boot' meant to me that they were perfect for the north. Who cares if they were 3" inch heels, they're called boots and that's all that matters. That turned out to be a big mistake. We went to dinner one night and I decided to slip on my cute brown boots. The second my foot hit the ice and snow covered pavement I ate it. Ate it meaning I fell on my rear end. I ended up having to be piggy backed carried to and from dinner. Perhaps I did it on purpose because who doesn't love a good piggy back ride!?
Anyway... this post is kind of catered to those of you who are not native to the South. We'll help you make sure your shoe closet is prepared for your new southern life. And for those of us who are Southern natives, please let us know if we're forgetting anything, because surely we will.
Have you ever heard someone say "Oh no I forgot my Rainbows at home!" or something along those lines and you're left asking yourself "What on Earth are rainbows?!" To decode, 'Rainbows' are a brand of flip flops that each and every one of us have in our closet to whip out on a daily basis in the summer months. To us southern girls, the word 'rainbows' is used in place of 'flip flops'. Much like the word 'kleenex' is used in place of the word 'tissue'. Are you wondering what these mysterious rainbows look like? Here you go:
Now, when it's cold outside we have a shoe we wear in place of our rainbows. They're closed toe comfy shoes, that some call 'boat shoes' but their real brand name is 'Sperry'. You will see many girls walking around in sperrys when they want to slip on something comfy and quick. You don't really have to tie them and you don't have to wear socks with them if that's your cup of tea. You can get them in tan, brown, white, and even a fun plaid pattern. These are probably the most popular style:
Let's mix it up a bit. Us southern girls love our flip flops whether they're rainbows or something more fancy. We like things with a bit of 'flare' in case you haven't noticed. Flip flops with studs or straps with a fun design, or even ones with funky patterns or in metallic, are must haves in our closets. Here's some we had in stock here at Blake & Brady that we fell in love with. These are such an easy way to dress up a basic outfit while still being comfortable.
Ready to go a bit further? For many of us short girls, and even taller girls, we like to take our flip flops up a notch. We rock ones with wedges or platforms, which causes them to no longer be 'flip flops' per say! They accentuate our short legs while allowing us to show off our cute pedicures. For some they're awkward to walk in, but for others they feel natural. Personally, I love them and wear them daily so that I'm not sniffing people's armpits all day, and when I have conversations I'm actually looking people in the eyes. Maybe I should add that I'm 5'0" tall and have quite a complex about my height. Perhaps I'm biased. Here's some great ones we have in the store:
Oh, 3"-4" in heels aren't that common up North? Well they sure are here! Whether you're 4'11" or 5'11", high heels are a must have down south. We love to flaunt what our mommas gave us and what better way to do it than to start from the ground up! Make sure you have a pair of high heels in your closet in all colors, patterns, and styles. They make any outfit fun and sometimes sexy. And don't worry, we only have about 2 or 3 days a year (maybe) that you can't wear these bad boys. They're fair game typically year round.
Let's end with something we all have in common no matter where we live... northern women and southern women both wear these next shoes and have for years. It's one type of shoe that we both consider staples in our closets and we'd be lost without them. Although, I'm sure our men wish they were never invented. Can you guess what we're referring to? UGGS of course! They're not as trendy as they use to be but we all love to throw them on when running to the grocery store when it's chilly out or just to sport around the house. We have to leave you with one tip though, a fashion 'don't' if you will. Do NOT under any circumstances where your uggs with a skirt or shorts unless you're below the age of 10. Now you can't say you didn't know, because we just told you!
What else do you think is a 'must have' in a Southern woman's shoe collection? Nude pumps? Knee high slouch boots? Leather black pumps? Gladiator heels? Or how about the new trend trying to take over, the open toe boot? pfft Yea right! (No offense to those who love them, actually maybe a little offense, there's no excuses for those).
If you pay attention to anything in this blog post, make sure it's the first two shoes mentioned. The rainbows and sperrys are definitely necessities for us southern girls. Happy Shopping!
Now that you've met our first two girls, it's time to meet our other two ladies in the Top 4 of our contest. Introducing Tracy Froedge and Patricia Merritt. These two have been working super hard to get as many 'likes' as they can and have been battling it out for 1st place since the contest began a few weeks ago! It's exciting to watch the race. Kind of like racing your sibling to the bathroom after a long roadtrip in the car. One of you is running as fast as you can with your legs pushed tightly together while the other is running while using the 'hand hold' method. Who is going to make it first without wetting their pants?!! Ahhhh the suspense!
Contestant #3: Tracy Froedge
* Introduce yourself, who are you and where are you from? Tell us about yourself!
Tracy Froedge, originally born in Maine but moved to South Carolina at the age of 14....has always lived in the Upstate. I have been married to Mike Froedge for 11 years and the proud mother of a son, Chase ,9 and a daughter, Ella age 7.
* How did you find out about our contest and why did you want to participate?
I saw the contest on the B&B Blog...I was not wild about having my picture on display as I hate to get my picture made...but some friends convinced me to go for it and a gift certificate to my FAVORITE store was the prize so that was a no brainer!!!!
* What's your favorite current fashion trend and why?
My favorite fashion trend is Ruching and flowing ruffles!!! It's so forgiving on a figure, especially mine after two children I tend to have my own ruching made of extra skin!!!!
So, in tops and dresses it can be very flattering.
* What makeup could you not live without?
I can't go without lipstick or gloss...I often kid a friend of mine that is a mortician that if he doesn't have my gloss on me when I die that I will haunt him.
* What's your TV guilty pleasure?
I LOVE Army Wives, followed by "Coming Home"..they air on Sunday nights and that's "my" time..everyone is asleep and I tend to stay up a little later since I'm off on Mondays....
* Which star's closet would you love to have?
I'd love to invade Carrie Underwood's closet...she always looks like a million bucks!!!! I'd also pick her to play me in a movie...
* How would you describe your style?
My style is based around comfort. I LOVE soft clothes...that's why I love B&B...so many items from there are made of soft fabrics...but are cute and carefree.
* What outfit of yours is your most favorite and why?
My favorite outfit is anything from Blake and Brady..no kidding!!! I love the clothes for the softness!!! I really like the outfit in the picture I entered. It's great with leggings or dressed down with flats for a more casual look...but once again, it's cotton and sooo soft!!!
* Describe the worst date you've ever been on
My worst date experience was with who is now my husband Mike. When we met, he had a job that had him traveling alot...he made numerous comments about always arriving at the airport with no one to greet him..he left his car there everytime. So I decided to show up at the airport in hopes he'd be surprised and maybe an impromptu dinner would happen...well, I was the one surprised....He had been up for over 24 hours straight and was so exhausted that he walked right past me and almost didn't recognize me when I finally called his name to get his attention!! Still, I walked him down thinking he'd at least want to grab a bite to eat..but he just looked at me and said 'Well I'll call you tomorrow...." I was beyond disappointed BUT ultimately I snagged the man of my dreams!!!!
* Tell us a fun fact about you that some may not know?
Most people know that I am a South Carolina fan but I truly LOVE college football !!!! Nothing is more exhilarating to me than hearing 2001 playing with 80,000 screaming fans!!!! I love the whole game experience..I'm also a huge fan of college basketball...while this March Madness contest has been fun..I have been glued to the tv for the month of March!!! I am overall a HUGE sports fan!!!
* Introduce yourself, who are you and where are you from? Tell us about yourself! My name is Patricia Merritt. I am originally from Myrtle Beach, SC but I am currently a sophomore at Clemson University. I am majoring in Ceramic and Materials Engineering and hope to get into research someday. I love Clemson, Clemson sports and really just everything about Clemson! I married my high school sweetheart on March 20, 2010. He is in the US Army and stationed in Washington DC. We have a Chocolate Lab named Tillman who is our world!
* How did you find out about our contest and why did you want to participate?
I found Blake & Brady through a friend a couple of months ago. I loved their super cute clothes and jewelry and always looked through the pictures and every here and there splurged (since I’m a poor college student and all!) and spoiled myself with a little something. When I heard about the contest, I was so excited to be able to win money towards clothes at the cutest boutique in town!!
* Which star's closet would you love to have?
Jessica Alba! I love her style! So cute!
* If a movie was done about your life, who would you want to play 'you'?
Jennifer Aniston, she’s a great actress and she would probably play my life perfectly!
* Who is your biggest celeb crush and why?
Brady Quinn, because he’s a hott, sexy football player, of course! ;)
* What outfit of yours is your most favorite and why?
Any cute sundress and my cowboy boots. Sundresses are so comfy and I feel so free wearing them! And my cowboy boots are simply amazing soo…put them together and I can’t go wrong!
* What makeup could you not live without?
Well, I don’t wear too much makeup on a regular basis, but I definitely could not live without my mascara, it’s definitely an everyday must have!!
* What's your TV guilty pleasure?
Definitely House Hunters! Or anything on HGTV for that matter… I could watch it for hours!
* Describe the worst date you've ever been on
Actually, the last date I went on before I met my husband… We were friends at work and he asked if I wanted to go to dinner with him one night…I thought, sure, we’ll go to dinner “as friends”. But, he had something different in mind. He refused to let me pay for my dinner and would not stop telling endless stories about his life and all the countless number of crazy adventures he had been on (which I would come to find out were mostly made up anyway). Well, needless to say…Bad night! Thanks goodness Dustin came along after that horrible date! ;)
* How would you describe your style?
Simple, not drastic at all…
If you're not already aware, our contest ends tomorrow (Wednesday) at 3:00pm at which point we'll announce our winner. You have a little over 24 hours to 'like' your favorite girl's picture and help her win lots of money to spend at Blake & Brady! Want to help your favorite girl get more 'likes'? Post the link to her picture on your facebook profile. Simple as that! If you need help in doing so, send us a message and we'll show you how!
Last week, although not officially announced, we debuted our new Spotlight series of blog posts! Every month we're going to start picking a person whom shops at our store, works at our store, or is a fan of our store to 'spotlight' on our blog! This means we'll be dedicating a blog post just to them. We're doing it in the form of an interview where we ask the chosen person a few questions, they answer, and we post it all on here!
We began last week with owner, Sissa, and had so much fun finding out more about her as a person and allowing y'all to find out more about the background of Blake & Brady. This week, we'll be doing four spotlights, in two separate blog posts. We'll be spotlighting our Top 4 contestants in our 'Blake & Brady March Madness' Contest. These four girls have worked very hard to make it to the Top 4 and we feel they are due some recognition. Also, if you do not know any of these girls personally, this is a great way for you to get to know them and perhaps vote for one of them (by clicking 'like' under their picture on our Facebook page) if you feel so inclined (which you should, they could use your 'like'!).
Today, we'll be introducing you to Lynley Oakes and Cat Ellenburg. Two very different girls but one huge thing in common... they're both brides to be! If you can contain yourself, wait until we introduce you to all four girls to make a decision on whose picture you want to 'like'! If you can't wait, then go ahead and go for it! Contest ends at 3:00pm on Wednesday!
* How did you find out about our contest and why did you want to participate? A friend of mine, Carly Gross, told me about the contest. I decided to participate because I would love to try to win some cute clothes for my honeymoon!
* What newer fashion trend would you never give a try and why not? I will never give the high waisted shorts a try. I just know they won't look right on my body type, and they look so old fashioned.
* What's your favorite current fashion trend and why? My favorite trend is definitely ruffles!! I love tops with ruffles, even my wedding dress has a ruffled bottom.
* If a movie was done about your life, who would you want to play 'you'? I would pick Hayden Panettiere to play me. I have had several people tell me I look like her and I think she's a great actress.
* What has been your biggest fashion 'oops'? My biggest fashion oops were my school uniforms years ago. I would always bring a change of clothes because I was too embarrassed to go out in public after school in them. They were collared shirts with shorts or skirts that came up so high they practically wrapped around my ribs!
* Who is your biggest celeb crush and why? I would have to say Kellan Lutz. Why? Because he's gorgeous and he's ripped! Not to mention his blue eyes.
* What makeup could you not live without? I can't live without foundation and mascara. I have bad skin so foundation is a must, and mascara really makes my eyes pop, even if its the only thing I'm wearing.
* How would you describe your style? I would describe my style as girly with a little edge. If I'm not wearing my favorite ripped jeans, then you can usually find me in a top with studs, black lace, or some sort of chain charm necklace.
* Introduce yourself, who are you and where are you from? Tell us about yourself!
My name is Catherine Ellenburg and I am from Anderson, South Carolina. I was born there and have lived there my entire life. I am currently in Grad School at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where I am in Sport Management so that I can become an Athletic Director. I am currently engaged to my best friend and love of my life- Parker Comfort. We met at Liberty and just got engaged on December 5, 2010. Our wedding date is July 30, 2011 and we are getting married in Anderson at my home church- Forest Hill Baptist.
* How did you find out about our contest and why did you want to participate?
I found out about the contest because I am an avid Blake and Brady fan and look every day at their new clothes coming in through facebook. I wanted to participate because I absolutely love the clothes at Blake and Brady and have been dying to get some honeymoon and bridal shower clothes but just am on a student’s budget. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to be able to wear something fabulous!
* Which Star's Closet would you love to have?
If I could have any star’s closet it would have to be Lauren Conrad. I love her effortless chic style. It’s a mixture of nice and casual which is my favorite thing to do. My current fashion trend is fun, flirty dresses. The new feminine look that has started to come back is one of my favorites and I’m in love with the entire Blake and Brady new flirty dresses look.
* If a movie was done about your life, who would you want to play 'you'?
I would most definitely want well, I would say Lauren Conrad but she’s not an actress so it would have to be- Kate Winslet. She started the trend, I believe, of white women who have curves to be proud of their curves. She is beautiful and classy and has re-invented her style into one that is tailored yet soft.
* What has been your biggest fashion 'oops'?
My biggest fashion oops would HAVE to be when I wanted a perm. Back in the ‘90’s everyone was getting a perm and I begged and begged my mother to let me do the same. Well, naturally wavy hair, a perm, and bangs do NOT mix well together. Thankfully that moment has passed.
* Describe your most favorite outfit and why?
I have two favorite outfits. One is my Lauren Conrad dress that my family got me for my birthday. It was when she had her Lauren Conrad Collection online before she closed it down. It’s just a simple piece but totally amazing. My other favorite outfit is for sure my summer go- to maxi dress. It’s a halter and has flowers on it. I love it because it is flattering on any one and it is so comfortable. It looks effortless but nice and most important makes me feel small even when I do not feel small (I am sure many can relate)
* What makeup could you not live without?
I could not live without mascara. My eye-lashes are blonde and I just do not like looking like I do not have eye-lashes. It also makes me look much younger without mascara and since I already do not totally look my age I appreciate the extra lift that my mascara gives me.
* What is your TV guilty pleasure?
It would probably be that I love all of the Housewives shows. I know there are so many popping up now that the original became a hit but each one has a new dynamic and I really do love watching all of them. I feel guilty because there are so many but I just can’t help myself.
* How would you describe your personal style? I would describe my style as a mix of classic and bohemian. I love mixing nice and casual pieces. I love dresses the most- nice dresses, casual dresses- any dress! I love looking put together but effortless at the same time. Flowing style dresses and shirts I really enjoy. At the same time I enjoy tailored looks. I like to mix a tailored jacket with a flowing skirt or oversized shirt. The mix of classic pieces with bohemian is the ability to have fun with my wardrobe and make my style my own.
Do you feel like you know two of our Top 4 a bit better? Tomorrow you'll learn more about our other two lovely ladies, Tracy and Patricia.
Do you want to be interviewed for our 'Spotlight' posts? Send us a message to blakeandbradyboutique@gmail.com explaining why you love Blake & Brady Boutique and we'll keep you in mind for our future posts!
Much like the Wizard of Oz, there's someone here who has been hiding behind the curtain helping run this crazy fashion sideshow know as Blake & Brady. Our Wizard isn't an old balding man with a raspy voice however, and it certainly isn't a man. Her name happens to be Sissa and you may have seen us mention her in previous blog posts. She's blond, vivacious, and bubbly, and we love her to pieces. Perhaps we're biased, but we have a feeling that if you knew her personally, you'd feel the same way.
Since the beginning of Blake & Brady, Sissa has worked behind the scenes with her co-owner and husband Chris. However, just last week Sissa made a huge change in her life. She quit her job of 9+ years in pharmaceutical sales to work full time at Blake & Brady. She's come out from behind the curtain to work at the store and help out with her quickly growing boutique. With the new upstairs expansion opening soon, she has much to do.
Because Sissa is taking on a much bigger role with the boutique (ya know, other than just being the owner, since that's no big deal right?), we thought it was time we introduce her to y'all, our growing clients turned friends.We sat down with Sissa today to find out her deepest darkest secrets for y'all. Like the fact that she accidentally locked herself out of her hotel room once in just her underwear, and the fact that she kissed George Clooney once in a bar, before he was super famous. Okay okay okay, that last fact totally isn't true, but wouldn't you be so jealous if it was!?
You're not from Anderson (which is the home of Blake & Brady), right?
Nope, I was raised in Alabama and Georgia but somehow fate or destiny brought me to the wonderful city of Anderson.
So, How did you actually end up here?
Let me try and make a long story short (Us girls say that and then it ends up being a long story because we just can't bear to leave out all the fun details! but I'll try my best to keep it short). Like I mentioned, I'm from Mobile, Alabama where I was born and mostly raised. It's a place I love and will always call home. When I was a sophomore in high school my mom and step dad, with me in tow, moved to Marietta, Georgia because of my stepdad's new job. After high school I ended up at University of Georgia where I was a cheerleader. Yep, I was one of those peppy girls with the big smiles at all times, hard to believe huh? *laughs*
Many years later, when I was almost 30 years old I was invited to attend a UGA game (I believe they were playing Tennessee). At this game, I was unknowingly set up with a man my age whose name was Chris. We hit things off but I wasn't quite sold on him yet. He was a bit of a nice guy, and we all know us girls like the bad boys. Eventually though, after about a year, Chris won me over. Fast forward to a few months or a year later. Chris helped me pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales. The job he found me just so happened to be in Anderson, South Carolina, where Chris was from. Eventually we settled into Anderson, together, got hitched, had a couple baby girls, and here we are today, loving every bit about our life together in the Electric City!
That's quite the love story! Now, why on Earth did you decide to open up a clothing boutique?
Well it was more Chris's doing than mine although I may have sparked the very intriguing idea. I've been enthralled by fashion my whole life but never dreamed I'd one day own my very own boutique. It all started with a simple conversation with Chris about how it would be great to open a franchise of a boutique we loved in Alabama, here in Anderson. Then we decided that it may be better to just open up our own unique boutique. We noticed that downtown Anderson had a need for a boutique for all to enjoy shopping at. From there, we decided to take the plunge. With a lot of hard work done by Chris, and my female touches, Blake & Brady became a reality about 3 years ago.
What are you most looking forward to with the future of Blake & Brady?
All the growth potential, most definitely! It is just incredible how much growth our store has experienced in the past year and it can only get better from here. We are shipping product to people all over the nation and even Canada! We hope Blake & Brady continues on this successful path so that one day our daughters, Blakely and Brady, can work at the store and maybe take over. How great would that be?!
Will y'all have an online store any time soon?
We'd like to have one eventually, yes. But for right now, we don't see a need for one. Facebook has been an incredible utility for us. Most of our sales come from fans of our page on there. For those of you who don't know, when we receive new items from UPS we immediately unpack them, price them and hang them up, and take a picture of them. We then email this picture out to our FastTrack Email List informing everyone about our new arrivals and letting them know when we'll post pictures of each new item individually on our Facebook page. About an hour or two after the email goes out, we post pictures as we just explained, of one of our employees wearing the new stuff we got, in a photo album on our page. Our friends can then comment under each picture to order or they can call us at the store. It's such a great system for us and it's fun to see all the enthusiasm that our friends exude when commenting on photos. We love to make our girls (and guys) happy!
How would you define your personal style?
I try and make sure I look fun and fashionable but comfort is also very important to me. I'm not quite a spring chicken anymore although I try my hardest to turn back time! I like flowy tops and dresses, that hide all my problem areas but accentuate my favorite parts. I feel those 'fun and flowy' tops match who I am as a person. I like to dress age and style appropriate. Many of the clothes I personally pick out for the store are chosen for women who are no longer in their 20's. Women who want to look cute and flirty, but appropriate. If I had the choice, I'd wear heels every day every where. But because I've had knee surgery, my poor leg just can't handle the heels so I tend to stick to flats these days.
What would you say is your biggest Fashion 'oops!'?
Funny you ask that. Just a year or two ago, while attending a Clemson football game, I decided to wear those pasty bra things. Ya know, they're not quite a bra but not just a sticker, but they do the trick. Well, the game was very hot and I ended up sweating in the wrong place. Needless to say my pasties (is that even the right word?) lost their stickyness and fell off into the blousy part of my top. How embarrassing! I ended up having to pull the suckers out of my shirt and hide them under the bleachers at the stadium. They were a great surprise for whoever cleans up after the games! Sorry about that! My advice to you, don't wear pasty bra things if you're going to be sweating or getting wet in any way, bad idea! Good heavens, i can't believe I just told you that story.
Which Celeb's style do you love?
Jennifer Aniston comes to mind. I couldn't pull off her style but I love it regardless. She's got that sleek yet conservative look going on. Without trying to be sexy, she just 'is' and that's rare in women these days. I also love Carrie Underwood's and Anne Hathaway's style. They dress conservative yet fun and classy all at the same time. I've yet to see an outfit on Carrie that didn't absolutely flatter her figure. She always look so perfectly put together.
What new fashion trend do you love and what can you live without?
I just love love love white jeans! Whether they're skinny, cropped, or bootleg, I love them. I think we should throw away the 'no white after labor day' rule. White is timeless and perfect for so many occasions. On another note, I'm not a big fan of parachute pants. They've been trying to make a come back for the past year and I'm just not jumping on that bandwagon. MC Hammer can keep his pants.
Give us some Fun Facts to finish up...
Many people don't know that we carry men's denim in our store. Men, once you go designer jeans, you'll never go back, that's a promise. Ladies, buy a pair for your man and see how quickly he falls in love.
What else, hmmm... I love to play tennis. When I'm not working or doing activities with my girls, I am playing tennis. It's my outlet and a great way to stay in shape of course.
Well there you have it y'all... everything you've ever wanted to know, or didn't want to know, about Mrs. Sissa Sullivan. Our Wizard of Blake & Brady.
Want to see Sissa in action? Here she is talking about her wonderful boutique and giving more information about the new 'Loft at Blake & Brady'! It took a while to get Sissa to sit down in front of the camera but once she gave in she did a great job! If the video doesn't work for any reason, Click Here for a larger version of the video if it will not expand below.
Fun facts are meant to be, well, fun! Like the fact that a hippo can open it's mouth wide enough to fit a four foot child inside. Next time little Tommy finger paints your walls with chocolate from his ice cream sundae, you know what animal to introduce him to at the zoo.
How about the fact that, like fingerprints, everyone's tongue has a unique print. Or, banging your head up against a wall burns 150 calories an hour. New exercise anyone? I wonder if Gold's Gym will read this blog and soon after start a head banging workout class. If so, we'd like credit for the idea and a small monthly deposit into our primary checking account from all money earned in these revolutionary head banging classes.
These are all interesting facts huh? Well we have some more for you. Facts about Blake & Brady and how they came to be! Don't you sometimes walk into a place of business and wonder "How did they come up with their name?" "Who runs this show anyway?" or in a boutique's case "Who decides what clothes they bring into inventory?". We have some answers for you straight from the horses mouths... errr... well the mouths of the people behind the name. Let's begin...
How and when did Blake & Brady get it's start?
The store made it's debut about two years ago in downtown Anderson. There was a need for a fun and fashionable clothing store downtown, so we filled that niche. Little did we know, we would eventually expand from just a simple local boutique in a small quaint town to one that ships nationwide and caters to women of so many ages.
Who is this Jennifer girl?
Jennifer was our first new hire at Blake & Brady and quickly grew from a basic employee to our store manager. She's one of the best decisions we ever made! She's in the store nearly every day we're open and is typically the one who answers the phones when you call. She is amazing at putting together outfits and serves as a personal shopper to all customers that walk through our doors. To top it all off, she models our clothing in the pictures we put on Facebook. Smart and pretty? She's got it all and we're lucky to have her.
So where did the name 'Blake & Brady' come from anyway?
Coming up with a name wasn't as easy as most would assume. We went through about 15 different options. In the World of boutiques, there are so many names that are overused. You know what names I'm talking about. We didn't want to be just another obscure clothing store with a name that blends in with everything else. We knew we wanted a unique name, and one that was family oriented. We thought about using our last name 'Sullivan' but it came off as a bit masculine, so that was thrown out. Then we thought about our daughters names which are Blakely and Brady. Saying 'Blakely & Brady' out loud over and over just didn't sound 'right', it didn't have that ring to it. It was about one syllable too long. Back to the drawing board we went.
But one day, Sissa was playing tennis when one of her girlfriends chimed in and said "What about just cutting it to 'Blake & Brady'? Genius! However, we had to run this past our oldest, Blakely, and make sure she was okay with her name being shortened a bit. Being the level-headed little girl that she is, she agreed that the name was fine and shortening it didn't bother her one bit.
So... there you have it folks! We arrived at our name 'Blake & Brady'! It's such a fun youthful and timeless name, that we hope everyone loves just as much as we do.
Now, where did you come up with this logo of yours?
An Anderson University student actually helped create our logo. We like to keep the community involved in our store, so having a logo created by a local student was perfect for us. The ampersand sign, the '&', was actually hand drawn which makes it very unique. Cool huh? We tried the logo in a few different color combinations and once we saw it in blue and brown, we knew it was perfect. Seeing our name in lights, aka on the awning of our store, was an exciting day!
What about product, how do you decide what to order?
Ordering product really is an art. It's difficult but fun all at the same time. We feel it's one of our biggest strengths, as a store. With Jennifer, Laurin, and Sissa combining all of their expertise and opinions, we're able to bring items into stock that many different age groups love. We have loyal customers ranging from high school girls to Mom's of high school girls! While shopping online for new fashion to bring into stock, we pay close attention to pricing. We make sure that we can provide our customers with affordable prices and that they'll be happy and comfortable with every purchase they make with us.
Do you only carry clothes?
No way! We try to cover the entire wardrobe. From shoes, to skirts, to tops, to earrings. We've got it! With so much new stuff coming in every day, it is exciting for our customers. We love having all the beautiful ladies coming by our store daily and helping them find what's best for their style and body. Also, with the great food and entertainment downtown, we love it when girls come park, shop and enjoy the whole downtown experience.
Tell us something that many of us may not know about the future of Blake & Brady.
Well how about the fact that we're expanding our store upstairs! Same building, same location, but it will be two floors soon instead of just one! We're hoping to open around the week of Easter if all goes according to plan. Once the upstairs is open we'll be able to bring in more inventory for all of our customers to oogle over! The new space is going to have a loft feel to it with tons of big windows letting in all the downtown charm. We're sure everyone will fall in love with the new space and all of it's contents!
How's that for some fun facts for y'all!? Did you learn something new? Blake & Brady has a strong reliable foundation built on fashion, fun, and family. This will always stay the same.
By the way, you fun lovers, if you can't get enough of us, become a fan on facebook (if you're not already), or follow us on Twitter, we'll tweet ya back! Click the cute buttons on the right side of our page to go to each page.
Now, get off our blog and go out and enjoy this beautiful weather! Or you can take your computer outside and read more of our blog at the same time. Perfection!
The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things, of shoes and dresses, and skinny jeans, of flowy tops and rings.... Wait a minuteeee That's not how 'The Walrus & The Carpenter' goes! But we certainly like the new version.
Like the walrus said... it's time to speak of what else, fashion, and SPRING BREAK! Time for teeny weeny bikinis, catching some much needed rays, and running around in your favorite new spring outfits. You know what's so awesome about this year's fashion?! It's flowy and blousey. If you haven't gotten your body into bikini season shape just yet, you're golden! Just throw on a baby doll frock and rock that boardwalk, girl! You know what else is great about this year's fashion? Many of the dresses and tunics can be worn as bathing suit cover ups OR you can dress them up with some chunky accessories, belt, and heels for a night on the town.
Here's a great example... This playful number can be thrown on, on your way out to the beach. It's more fun than just a simple ol'cover up and it's practical. OR you can throw a belt on (as seen below), a pair of your favorite wedges, and maybe pull your hair back into a scrunched beachy bun... and you're ready for a night out with the girls!
Packing light for the beach has never been easier since you can use the same outfits in so many different ways on one trip. Wait... who are we kidding, we're females, we never wear the same thing twice in the same week! Duhhhh.
Do you have a one shoulder dress or top you can't wait to wear on your spring break vacation? If so, be careful of awkward tan lines from laying on the beach or by the pool all day! If you're going to be rockin' a lot of one shoulders or even strapless tops, try wearing bathing suits that are strapless as well; like bandeau tops.
The best part of these one shoulder tops and dresses is that you get to be two people in one night! On one side you're sultry and sexy like Shakira, showing off a sun kissed shoulder. And on the other side, you're more covered up yet fun and flirty like hmmm what celeb actual covers up these days? Natalie Portman? Not to mention, you'll look super cool waving your left arm around while doing the electric slide on the dance floor at the beach bar. All the cool kids are doing it...
Here's one of our fav one shoulder tops that we sold out of super fast, but no worries, we've reordered and they'll be in soon! (We don't mean to brag but this babies are only $23!):
For those of you who do not get a spring break vacation... ya know us adults in the workforce, have no fear. You can still rock a bikini and a one shoulder top around the house. I'm sure your hubby would love it! He can thank us later for the idea. Cook some shrimp and crab for dinner, make a couple margaritas in the blender, turn on a space heater and a fan at the same time to get that 'tropical weather' feel in your home, throw on your favorite sarong, and viola! Spring Break at the *insert your last name here* house! Chug, chug, chug, chug! ...understand?
While we have you here, don't forget to 'like' your favorite picture in our contest on facebook! The four girls with the most 'likes' win some major cash to spend at our store and they could all use your help! Here's the two groups, you can vote for any one you want, or, heck with it, you can vote for all of them if you feel like it! Contest Group 1 (Blake) Contest Group 2 (Brady)
We have some pretty awesome new blogs coming up in the near future so keep reading and make sure you click 'follow our blog' over there on the right side of the page. Just scroll up a bit... a bit more... yep there it is! We can't wait to share with you. This is going to be an amazing spring AND summer here at B&B!
