MEET CHLOE, THE NEWEST MONKETTE!

As the resident new girl, I thought I could use this week’s blog to introduce myself:

Hometown: Boston, MA.

Graduated from: Davidson College, and am so excited to be back in the south. A member of the women’s soccer team, I will always be a wildcat at heart!

Likes: The beach, Mad Men, sangria, Rihanna, my sheltie Gwen, baked brie, hot yoga, the September Issue of Vogue, and dark chocolate.

First Diva Style Moment: Age 6, I told my mother I flatly refused to be dressed in matching outfits with my 2 sisters. From then on, I dressed myself!

Favorite Designers: Where to begin…Chanel, Prada, DVF, Milly and Marc Jacobs would make any girl swoon! But I also am a huge fan of Rebecca Taylor, Alice + Olivia, Jeffery Campbell and Tibi.

On my Must-Have list for Fall: Army surplus jackets, patterned tights, floral dresses, over the knee boots, and anything camel colored.

Style secret: Have an open mind! Some of my favorite pieces come from unexpected places… My grandmother’s jewelry box, Ebay, or even men’s departments – the perfect place to find boyfriend jeans!

How I would wear some of Monkee’s fabulous fall items?

Mix & match! Start with Trina Turk’s ruffled black Miles jacket, and pair it with the Milly riding legging in almond ($235). Throw on a long white camisole and classic some Tory Burch flats, or more daring, a black and white striped t-shirt and Tory Burch’s Adrienne wedge booties. I would add some gold earrings, this drool-worthy Michael Kors watch and ta-dah! Two new chic, (and very Chanel) looks for fall!

I hope to see you soon!

xoxo, Chloe

I am absolutely, 100% obsessed with lacquered furniture! I have always loved lacquered furniture, but for some reason I am on a kick lately- I love it so much that I am finding things in my house to lacquer. And when I say things, I mean everything. If it’s standing still, it is getting lacquered. Chairs, mirrors, Norman – my 33 pound cat. Well, maybe not Norman, but I think you get the picture. I am obsessed and my attention is on lacquer. That, and the new Chanel inspired boxy jackets, little ‘blackquered’ dresses, patent capped toe flats! I am obsessed. Its so classic and really, has Chanel ever gone out of style?And, for that matter, has lacquer?I may not have known Coco as well as I think I do, but I’m sure she would love my lacquered mirrors and chairs and I know she’d love the new Fall arrivals at Monkee’s!Come stop in to see our new arrivals, but don’t stand still for too long….I may lacquer you!

Oh, and new Tory Revas came in today. Alex is almost as obsessed with them as she is with her FlatIron Kitchen Reuban! Tell us, what are you obsessing over!

Yours in Lacquered Fashion,
Sandy

Transitions, in fashion and in life, always come sooner than expected. Transitioning your kids from Pre-School to Kindergarten? New career? Upgraded phone?For the Monkee’s Girls, it seems like just yesterday we were unpacking fresh boxes of shoulder baring summer dresses and Tory Burch flip flops. Seems like forever since we donned a pair of tights and boots!

It’s been a busy summer with lots of trips to the ladies upstairs for our weekly pedis, a must so that we don’t put our toe baring sandals to shame! So there I was (post fresh pedi) with my ‘mango tango’ polish wet on my toes and in walks Chris, aka our best friend and sometimes (M-F) UPS man. Chris hauled it in, sweat and all, our first booties of the Fall 2010 fashion season. Despite the heat, his welcomed arrival marked the beginning of the end of summer fashion. Don’t get me wrong…Jack Rogers and his friends from Vince Camuto are still proudly displayed in solidarity next to the Yellow Box Flip Flops and the remaining Echo summer totes. But, the booties, a gorgeous pair of Tory Burch Adrienne Wedge Booties in soft black suede now perch amid Jack and Vince, waiting for their turn in the couture limelight!

Stubbornly, we’re not ready to shake the sand out of our beach bags yet, but the booties make us wanna curl up next to an outdoor fireplace while watching The Panthers kick The Patriots tail ends…well maybe, maybe not. Sorry, I digressed, but you get the picture. I’ve said it before Ladies…the fashion world is always telling us to stay ahead of the trend and shop for the next season’s styles before we have fully paraded this season’s best looks! How do we stay “en vogue” while still dressing for the present? In a world with eighteen fashion seasons, should we still be dressing for four?

 Well, frankly, I buy merchandise for my own seasons: Finter (Fall/Winter) and Sprummer (Spring/Summer). I truly believe in buy now and wear now. Versatility is critical in a Carolina Girl’s wardrobe. It stays hot here until October; wool coats are not necessary until January (maybe December if we’re lucky). And, honestly, if you wore these suede Tory Burch booties out the door today, we can bet that they’d be off your feet in a 95 degree heartbeat! But, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…there are just some things we have to bite the bullet and jump the gun on because if we don’t the boat will have sailed and the booties will be on it!

 So what to do when all you are seeing are fall fashions coated in all the latest Fall Colors (hint: Olive/Army Green is huge for Fall and Trina nailed it with the romper in the video)? Layer it ladies! Pair your summer tanks with a lightweight scarf in any of the fun Fall colors.  Still too warm for jeans and boots? Pair it your tank and scarf with your new denim skirt from It Jeans and a fab pair of Tory sandals.  Everyone loved all of the Spring/Summer neutral colored sandals. Well, there was a method to that madness. Neutral color sandals transition perfectly into your Fall wardrobe. When it’s gets a bit cooler, take the same ensemble and pair it with your Frye Boots (arriving soon!), add a draped cardi and call it a day. And when you are really ready to step out, take this ensemble, pair it with some fun tights and your new Adrienne Booties and you are ready for Fall! The best fashion advice is to find pieces that you love and work them into any season. One last piece of advice… never pass up a cute pair of suede booties! 

Yours in fashion, and her new Adrienne Booties,

Sandy

Hello Darlings! Long time, no talk!

We have been tremendously busy getting our new ‘mini-boutique’ ready! Hammers, nails, dry wall, paint, chandeliers…it’s coming along fast! We expect to be open sometime next week – this will be a simple, soft opening. Our big Grand Opening will be in March – stay tuned to your Monkee Mail for updates!

So, we’ve had a lot of inquiries…”What’s the new store going to look like? What are you going to carry up there? How is it going to be different than the flagship store, Monkee’s of Lake Norman?”

So many questions – we love it! Okay, here’s a quick run down…the store is tiny!!! It’s only 300 sq.ft. – yikes! We’ve had to get creative with the space. You will find some similarities in the appearance, but the best way to find out what it looks like is to stop by! Monkee’s on Main will offer a lot of accessories such as jewelry and handbags which make for perfect gifts for yourself or someone special. Monkee’s on Main will also offer clothing and shoes, but it will be a much smaller and perhaps more casual selection than the flagship store. The selection will vary at bit between the two boutiques and some designers are exclusive to each store respectively. It’s our own little “Mini-Me” minus Austin Powers!

So, Ladies, if you are heading to downtown Davidson, stroll on over and say ‘hello’. But remember, if you are searching for the perfect head to toe ensemble, you will definitely want to come see us at the flagship store, Monkee’s of Lake Norman!

Yours in Fashion and lately, a Construction Hat!

Sandy

I love a SALE… it’s my favorite 4-Letter word. SALE… let me write it again… SALE! What girl doesn’t like a SALE? I mean, really! Have you ever met someone that said… ‘thanks for the discount, but I’ll buy it at full price instead.’ When I see the word SALE, I feel an incredible sense of urgency. Like I am running with the bulls, although in my reality I am running with my best girlfriends to our favorite stores. Now, I’ll be the first to say that there have been times that I come out empty-handed from a SALE. It’s a part of my initial expectations. Why? Well, my shoe size is an 8; 8.5 in a platform, 3″+ heel. Two of the most popular women’s shoe sizes! My clothing varies, but let’s just say that it’s rarely present on a sale rack. So, why run to the SALE. Why experience heart palpitations at the mere though of saving money on items that no longer exist in my size???? Because more often that not, I can come across an amazing birthday present or a one-of-a-kind find Christmas gift. And, my girlfriends all seem to have the best shoe sizes – the shoe sizes that are always on sale! Together, we have a blast – it’s as though the bulls entered the china shop if you know what I mean. It goes something like this… ‘I found your size in the brown boot you wanted… heads up… catch!’ The exhilaration of finding your favorite dress, the boot you have been pining for over the last couple months, the handbag that makes you jump with excitement like Buddy when he sees his first squirrel of the day. Run, don’t walk… it’s a SALE after all! And, the last SALE I went to, I walked out with two new pairs of boots. Size 8, baby! Woohoo!!

PS- We have some awesome size 8 and 8.5 shoes on sale… See Below!

PSS-We host parties all the time. Gather your best girlfriends and shop after hours. Special discounts, gift cards for the hostess, food, drinks, it’s too much fun! Give us a jingle to schedule yours!

Hello Darlings!I am so sorry for the last couple of goofs with our ‘Page Six’ Blog. Nonetheless, we are back from a small hiatus. Okay…so we have 7 days until the jolly ol’ Saint Nick squeezes his way through chimneys to deliver this year’s must haves.From what I understand, Transformers and the robotic hamster are the two hot items on every child’s list. Fortunately, the little ones on my list are too young to appreciate these must-haves…unfortunately, if they were on their list, I would have likely missed the boat. Don’t get me wrong, I am not the biggest procrastinator. However,by my family’s standards, I am the Queen!They have their shopping done months in advance. I will say their good habits have rubbed off on me to some degree. Particularly as it relates to my own Christmas list. What’s on it?Well, none other than Tory Burch Thora flip flops!Yes, it’s 28 degrees outside and all I want for Christmas are bare feet wrapped in two small straps of leather with a rubber sole. I earned it!I have been nice!Over the years, I have learned that procrastination as it relates to fashion and the adult ‘must have’, Tory Burch apparel, is not a good thing. I have been down that road before with not such good results. I am usually a ‘buy now, wear now’ kind of girl. I have waited and played the card of chance. I have told myself ‘they will be there in the Spring’, ‘who buys these things this early’. Well ladies, a lot of women did and by the time I figured this out, my boat had sailed. So, I urge you ladies.Make sure the jolly ol’ Saint Nick has Thora Flip Flops in hand as he sails down the chimney.And, if you need the Monkee’s elves to point your gift givers in the direction of the Thora flip flops, don’t procrastinate, just give us a call!

Yours In Thora Flip Flops! PS-They make great stocking stuffers!

Hello Darlings…are you ready for a spooktacular weekend? Honestly, I have had as much Halloween as I can stand…after inhaling a bag of candy corn and zippity-do-da-daying around my house on an entirely too big sugar high,I encountered my first ‘ring and run’ event of the season. Not too fun when it’s 11pm and you are wondering who is lurking in the night. The Boogie Man surfaced in the form of a 10 year old enjoying the teacher workday. I wish the candy corn was a prank too…my jeans are a bit tighter this morning. Oh, and another thing about Halloween…can we actually have a Fall season filled with ghouls and goblins minus the Christmas decorations? Target has their Santa Claus costumes and tree decorations right next to the Halloween candy displays (minus 1 bag of candy corn). Perhaps Ol’ Bulls-Eye thought someone wanted to dress up as the Jolly Fella for tomorrow night’s festivities…perhaps not. Ok, I digressed…oopsie! Darlings, you must stop by and treat yourself to a new pair of Sofft Shoes! We have carried the line for three seasons now and always sell out. These shoes and boots are padded up for all day support and honestly, they are adorable. Check out the Bergamo Boots…too cute with a pair of jeans and your favorite snuggly sweater! And the Samantha Pump in Chocolate Brown…it has a hidden platform, mega padding…it’ts a corporate woman’s dream come true. Ladies, don’t wait long, we sold five pairs out of the box yesterday! This is no trick…so treat yourself now in time for the holidays…yes, they are right around the corner!

Yours in Fashion,

Sandy

PS:These treats don’t make your jeans feel too tight, but in the event that you are in the mood for some candy corn, stop by the store…the second bag I confiscated from Target arrived early this morning.

So there I was…reading my favorite guilty pleasure aka ‘US Weekly’ and catching up on the celeb gossip that draws me like a moth to a flame…when suddenly, I came to the page with Patrick Swayze. So young, so sad, so unfortunate. I chose to reflect on ‘That Time of My Life’. Oh, the Joy’s of the 80’s! For me, the 80’s represented a time of bad hair, braces and blemishes! As for style, I had a passionate love for the Forenza sweater. Everyone had at least one and the goal was to create a rainbow collection of colors-one for everyday of the week. Well, I had to wear uniforms during the majority of my trek through the Eighties! Despite that, I still had a Forenza wanna be from Belk which was banned to the inner dwellings of my very empty closet. My authentic Forenza was carefully tucked away in it’s own drawer-nice, neat and entirely overworn! My hair style was typical 80’s…it was my own ‘Big Bang Theory’ if you know what I mean. I alone kept AquaNet in business. My love for shoes did not exist at that time – not sure why my passion for ornamenting my tootsies didn’t surface until the Nineties. Nonetheless, I was a bit thrilled when I went to market last year and saw the 80’s had made a come back! Good news – it’s much more polised and wearable than ever before. Gone are the sloppy backward jeans hanging off men’s bumpers (thanks Kris Kross) and out with the cheap, rubber bracelets circa 1986 per Madonna! In with the leggings, brightly hued tights, and flowy tops which all started in the 80’s. Think 80’s with a tailored approach to fashion. And, I know what you’re thinking…are skinny jeans still in style? Yes, Ladies…hop on board…this boat has not left the dock! We have grown to love our skinnies…that’s all we wear now. James Jeans offers our best fit by far…higher waist so as to prevent from the dreadful ‘overhang’ that for whatever reason is enhanced the older we get (thanks, Sonoma Cutrer). And, our number one style for the season…James Jeans Denim Leggings! We’ve re-ordered 4 times already and are coming up on our 5th time soon! Don’t be afraid of the skinnies…come on in and play…’You’ll Have the Time of Your Life’!

Hi Darlings…we hope everyone is enjoying the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ aka Back to School Week! We had a blast at the back to school party at the store! If you missed it, no worries…there are many more parties to come! We are busy writing shoes orders and a big thank you to all of you who voted for your favorites…it made writing the orders much easier. Now, we’re onto writing our Stuart Weitzman orders – woohoo! We have our favorites, but check out the pics below and let us know what you think!

XOXO,

The Monkee’s Girls

 

Hello Darlings!We had a ‘large’ time in the City last week and managed to make it out with only one appearance at our favorite local pub, McSorely’s! Shoes, shoes, shoes and more shoes…that’s what we detailed in the Big Apple! The designers Spring 2010 collection looked fantastic. We loved what we saw…flats, kitten heels, mid-wedges, high wedges, platforms, stilettos…it all really looked fabulous. Ornamentation is big…we saw lots of stud detailing and we don’t mean the boy kind. Metallics are still important, but we did not see quite as much as in years past. Wooden heels, particularly in the form of clogs, were consistent from each designer. What we liked the most was the simplicity of color – we saw so many shades of brown in the form of beige, camel, coconut, chocolate, nude…you get the picture. These shoes will go with anything in your wardrobe and the versatility is so refreshing! Of course, Spring would not be our favorite season without fun colors- check out the Tory Burch Emmy below…which colors should we order? Help us out and tell us your favorites from all of the pictures below-tell us at check out and you will earn an additional 15% off all SALE merchandise starting August 14th. And, we still have our Spring/Summer 2009 shoes and clothing on SALE at 50% – 75% off. Don’t miss out on the savings! Check back with our “Page 6″ regulary…we post updates on new arrivals, special events, market trips and oh yes, the occasional party scene with Monkee’s On the Move! See you soon!

PS – check out the pictures of us with Donald Pliner! We have more pictures to come from our trip to see Stuart Weitzman – check back with Page 6 soon!