Holiday Gold Rush

Golden Gifts by Rebecca Lankford and ila&i

Drumroll Please....

Just as most people wait in eager anticipation for Christmas morning; all year I wait...and wait...and wait... for Pantone to announce their color of the year. Every December a hue is announced by the (only) authority in color, Pantone, setting the tone for fashion, home décor, and overall vibe for the coming year.




This year's color of 2014 is....Radiant Orchid! A fuschia-esque color with undertones of muted purple and pink. Not only will this color be splashed and painted across the world for the next 12 months, but Radiant Orchid is sure to bring a fresh creativity and innovation to the design industry, that has been lacking. In honor of this announcement I have compiled a handful of coming- products that embody this new it color, Radiant Orchid. (Oh, and remember you can pre-order anything seen below at 970.728.1513)

What Would Jack Sparrow Do?

It is a widely accepted truth that Johnny Depp might be the coolest person ever.  As an actor, Johnny Depp is the man who single-handedly made it okay for grown women to fantasize about pirates, broke our hearts in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and somehow played the character of Edward Scissorhands in a believable and authentic way.  Johnny Depp makes face paint and dress-up seem totally legit.  Men want to be him, women want to be with him, and both men and women wish they could be and look as cool as he does.  Depp's style is a thing of mystery.  His utter lack of rhyme or reason in fashion, including the scattering of seemingly unrelated tattoos lining his arms, adds up to a cohesive and eclectic style that is all his own.  

Where am I going with this?  In a nutshell: Johnny Depp is the coolest person ever and has great style.  We have a scarf here at Scarpe that he has been spotted wearing refer to the photo above for evidence).  If you want to be the coolest person ever and have great style like Johnny Depp you should come on in or check out our website and take a look at this scarf and its siblings.  The item to which I refer: the Love Basic scarf in Charcoal/Milk by Grisal.  100% cashmere.  Muted stripes.  Subtle fringe. It's lightweight enough for summer music festivals and cozy enough for the winter.  It is classy enough to accent a fancy dress, but also rough enough to layer with other scarves if you are in the mood to look like Steven Tyler.  And though I would label this one the winner, partially because of celeb endorsements and partially because it is simply sublime, the other scarves by Grisal are all of the same ilk and definitely worth taking a look at.  Who knows who they'll pop up on next.  

The Monsoons Are Here (Finally)!

Nothing puts a damper on style like a good rainstorm.  Or one everyday.  It makes things even harder when you live in a region that dishes out daily apocalyptic thunderstorms with no rhyme or reason, leaving you wondering every morning as you gaze at a bluebird sky whether you should dress for what might happen, or what is happening.

   Because most of us in temperamental climates do not want to go to work looking like Paddington Bear each day, despite the relative guarantee we will remain dry no matter what, we are always looking for functional rainwear that doesn't look a thing like, well, functional rainwear.  And we have finally found a solution.  Well, to be accurate, Elizabeth Roberts has created a solution.  Which we found.  It is called L'Elegance; not your usual name for a raincoat.  But this raincoat is so not a raincoat you'll want to wear it all the time.  Inspired by the Arms and Armor collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, this coat truly does marry fashion and function, and itself acts as armor against the elements.  Windproof, waterproof and dirt repellent, it will keep you warm and dry during bad weather.  Boasting a cowl neck hood, ruched sleeves and impeccable tailoring, it will keep you stylish and sleek any time you wear it.  This coat truly redefines the concept of versatile and innovative fashion, so snag yours in time for the storms and continue to wear it...forever.   

To Denim Or Not To Denim?

With all the cuts, washes, styles and brands out there it seems like it would be impossible to get sick of denim.  And we're not saying we are.  Or that you are.  However sometimes it's nice to switch it up a little bit, especially during these hot and dry summer months when days upon days of denim and a tank top can start to feel rather overplayed.  Summer dressing is a particular conundrum to those who do not favor shorts, skirts or sundresses.  If you want to spice up your basics a little AG has just the solution for you: the Stilt.  We've got them in white, olive and grey and they fit like your favorite pair of skinnies only better.  The material is sublime; light and soft, almost velvety to the touch, with just the right amount of stretch.  They are equally at ease dressed up or casual and flattering on all different bodies.  We definitely think the Stilt is this summer's most versatile alternative to denim and they will transition beautifully into the fall.  And for under $200 you can't beat that!

No fireworks? No problem.

Although there won't be any fireworks this July Fourth in Telluride, there will still be plenty of barbecues, beer and good old-fashioned American debauchery.  It's hard to strike a balance between Independence Day spirit and American-as-apple-pie cliche, but we have some suggestions that will help you strike a great balance between patriotism and fashion this fourth.  It doesn't get much more American then red, white and blue, and with extra reason to ramp up the celebration of what this country stands for

this year  (goodbye DOMA!) we think you should go for it and dress for freedom.  A little tip to keep it tasteful and not borderline cheesy: play up two of the color trio and use the third sparingly.  Nautical stripes are always a safe way to be casual and stylish, and with mixed patterns all the rage again this summer, mixing blue and white stripes with, say blue and white stars is a creative and cute choice.  Or why not think a little outside the box and wear expected colors in an unexpected pattern?  We are loving Autumn Cashmere's dip-dye cardigan in blue and white, and it looks amazing with everything from jeans to pencil skirts.  Pair this cardigan with a simple white tank, a pair of white or chambray shorts or white skinny jeans.  Even better: wrap it over your shoulders to accent to a little white sundress, especially if you want to keep things a little more formal.  Then add a splash of red to  your blue and white with some red ballet flats or sandals, or even simply a bold red lip and/or a brick-toned mani/pedi.  This holiday have fun with the stars, stripes and red, white and blue and above all else remember what it all stands for!

Bluegrass is here!

Bluegrass: a little bit country, a little bit rock, and sometimes a little bit wet and muddy.  To avoid looking like a music festival cliché, combine different elements to create a unique boho chic look, and remember to prepare for unpredictable elements, such as weather and throngs of hippies, when you get dressed.  A great way to start is with relaxed yet fitted denim on the bottom. We are loving shorts from Mother right now, and relaxed skinnies from AG in lighter washes.  Printed denim is all the rage this season, and there is no better time to debut a pair than a music fest - just make sure you keep the rest simple.  Pair your denim with an embellished billowy top or throw on a simple tee or tank and pile on bracelets in different textures and materials and add or multiple pendants and rings for an eclectic effect.  A plaid shirt is a cute way to add an extra layer.  Be sure to bring a scarf to ward off Telluride's gale force summer breeze, and bring a straw cowboy hat or a fedora to protect your face from the sun.  Lastly, make sure your footwear is up to the task, not only of looking great, but also for standing for long periods of time, walking, and dust dust DUST.  Stilettos will not do well at the Bluegrass festival, and depending on how far you might venture into the aforementioned throng of hippies, sandals might not be the best choice either.  Short cowboy boots are perfect for Bluegrass and will keep your feet safe and dry, and often look better as they get more beat up.  Wellies might also come in handy if the afternoon brings a thunderstorm or two but don't fret if it rains; should you be forced to reach for the rain boots, Wellies will instantly call to mind Kate Moss's iconic and groundbreaking look at Glastonbury not too long ago, the look that re-defined rubber rain boots as a rock festival staple.  My vote will always be the classic dark green Hunters in knee length, but the bright yellow short ones are making a play for my heart.  Stop by Scarpe before the tents are set up and we'll help you pick the perfect look to carry you through a whole weekend of great music, great food and great fashion at this year's 40th Annual Bluegrass Festival!

For this year's lineup, go to: http://www.bluegrass.com/telluride/lineup.html

Smells Like Teen Spirit

If I could pick a soundtrack for the best years of my life it would be full of Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Jane's Addiction, Radiohead and maybe a little bit of Aerosmith just for some good old classic rock n' roll.  Similarly, if you were to compile a list of fashion must haves for me, both then and now, distressed jeans, plaid shirts, Converse All Stars and boy shirts would probably do it.  Maybe some red lipstick for special occasions. 

I'm a 90s child.  A grunge baby.  An angsty teen turned angsty adult.  And while my style has been refined, streamlined, adapted for the world of being a grown up, the core of my fashion sense still lays somewhere back in middle and high school, back in 90s NYC, sitting on stoops or trying to get into CBGBs with a fake ID.  To this day, Kurt Cobain is my number one fashion icon.  The stripes, the huge sunglasses, the not-quite-bell-bottom jeans and that stringy two-toned blond hair. 

Although I try to march to the beat of my own drummer, I have often been confronted with situations where plaid shirts and boyfriend jeans would appear juvenile, a touch unprofessional, and even downright inappropriate.  I have spent most of my post-grunge years resigned to the fact that the 90s are over and the clothes that are my very favorites must be relegated to weekends and nights.  So imagine my pure delight when I woke up one morning and...well...the 90s were back!!!  Not the real 90s.  The neo 90s.  The modern 90s.  With designers like Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang at the helm, the 90s have gotten a 2013 makeover.

 

Once again, plaid and stripes rule, denim is a little bit more relaxed, and bending the rules (and sometimes your gender) is once again considered stylish.  The runways are filled with examples of the new 90s, where new takes on both punk and grunge combine with braided hair and bright red lipstick for a delightfully fresh take on what was an enormously important era in the world of music and fashion. 

One of the biggest improvements in grunge dressing these days, what really sets it apart and makes it more mature and more timeless, is tailoring.  No longer is distressed denim actually falling apart.  No longer is the perfect plaid flannel perpetually six sizes too big and, therefore, perpetually sloppy. You can dress androgynously without people actually wondering what sex you are.  Designers are making clothes that look exactly how I, for one, wanted them to look in the 90s, but could never quite find.  When I look at Mother's Slacker Fray jeans (pictured), I am reminded of the too-big jeans my friends and I used to punch extra holes in our belts to wear because they had the perfect flare at the cuff and the perfect amount of wear and tear around the knees.  Mother's Slackers are the jeans of my high school dreams.  They look effortless and cheeky and like they fit perfectly because you're so cool that there isn't an item of clothing on earth that wouldn't fit you perfectly. Back then we would labor away to get our jeans to look lived in, tough, destroyed, careless, and now (insert squeals of delight) you can just buy them!  So go dig up some Chuck Taylors and a goth inspired necklace, ditch the blow-dryer for a day or two (you can do it, I believe in you) and get ready to just be oh-so-cool again without even hardly trying. 

Balloons!

As May draws to a close, Telluride will once again welcome a colorful flock of hot air balloons to town for the annual Balloon Festival.  The sky above town will be transformed with an array of bright colors and bold patterns, and it is truly a sight to behold to watch the balloons launch against the backdrop of the San Juans.  Much like fashion, hot air balloons are functional art.  And also much like fashion, hot air balloons are a celebration of movement and design.  While most women would be loathe to welcome comparisons to a hot air balloon, we think they provide fabulous inspiration for dressing as long as size and shape are taken out of the equation.  Think intense colors, and lots of them, whimsical patterns, and the sensation of floating in the wind.  Stiff and structured cuts have no place in balloon-land; the idea is to go with the flow.  We have the perfect light, airy blouses to pay homage to the balloons and to usher in summer, such as Vince's Deep Placket Blouse in Citron and Graham and Spencer's Watercolor Blouse.

Pair either of these with a pair of jeans or shorts and flutter effortlessly down the street, letting the breeze carry you wherever it may.

Back in Black (and White)

Isn’t it nice when things are easy?  Isn’t it even nicer when looking good is easy?This season, as new styles hit the runways and the streets, we are all confronted with the same delightful dilemma that every new season brings: what trends to try, and which to leave by the wayside.  As summer rolls in, so too do endless style options, and many of them are none too forgiving for those of us whose mantra for getting dressed tends towards “crisp and simple.”  We are seeing mismatched patterns, bright florals, and bold colors to name a few, none of which are easy if your taste is more towards a neutral and matching palette.  Gone, it would seem, are the glory days of stark minimalism, where all you needed to be on trend for summer was a wisp of a sheath dress in a barely-there fabric and a pair of nude sandals.  However, one trend we are seeing for summer might well be simplicity’s saving grace: good old black and white.  It’s everywhere, even on nails (white nail polish, to be exact).  Black and white can be worn both casual or formal,  and harkens back to old movies and effortless Hollywood elegance.  All it really takes is a relaxed white top, a pair of skinny black jeans and some dark, oversize shades and you have the perfect outfit for all things summer.  Our new arrivals from Vince, Velvet and Graham and Spencer will make finding the perfect white top a breeze. To complete the look try one of our favorites: Genetic’s Shane Cigarette Skinny in Noir.  

Design Your Own TOMS!

     Doubtless we have all heard shoes referred to as “works of art”, and nothing could be a more accurate way of describing the event we’re hosting this July here at the store.  Scarpe is teaming up with Toms and local artists to invite you to come in and create your own Toms.  Not only is this an opportunity for you and your kids to design a one-of-a-kind pair of comfortable and versatile Toms to wear around town, it is also a great way to help less fortunate children in other parts of the world through Toms "One-for-One initiative".  For those not familiar with Toms, the founding philosophy of the company is quite simple: for every one pair of Toms shoes purchased, a pair will be donated to a child who doesn’t have shoes.  Research has shown that access to simple necessities such as shoes helps children be healthier, assists in providing access to education, and instills more confidence in children. 

     Toms are both fashionable and functional, and are available in many different prints and styles all at reasonable prices.  Few footwear brands have been able to strike the perfect balance between casual and chic in quite the same way Toms has.  Because of this, Toms are a ubiquitous presence on the feet of celebrities and civilians alike.  On July 11th, whether you’re looking for a new shoe to walk the dog in or a truly original eye-catcher to wear to the festivals, you can help a child in need while adding some excitement to your closet.  You will be able to talk to the artists in the store to ensure that your creation is exactly how you envision it, and if you have kids this event is a unique opportunity for them to exercise their imaginations in a way that will last.  Pre-order a pair of grey or white canvas Toms by June 15th for you and your family and get ready for a day of fun fashion, art, and creativity.  We will have additional activities for kids, such as face-painting and cotton candy, as well as refreshments for grown-ups.  To order a pair and RSVP for the event, please send an email with your size and how many pairs you would like to order to customerservice@shopscarpe.com.  We hope to see you there!

Shopping In The Sun!

It’s Memorial Day Weekend and we all know what that means…SALE TIME!  More importantly it means it’s time for Scarpe’s Memorial Day Sidewalk Sale.  Come in and enjoy savings of 50 – 60% off denim by designers such as Seven, AG, Rock & Republic and J Brand; shoes by Frye, Steve Madden and Donald Pliner, and a selection of basic and colorful summer staples by some of our favorite designers!  

Festival time is a great time to dress outside the box and try out a trend like jewel tone pants or gladiator sandals, or just a good excuse to update your basics with some new pieces.  Join us this weekend and we’ll help you satisfy your summer shopping cravings without breaking the bank!  From today til Monday night we will be setting up outside so you can enjoy the sun and fresh air while shopping, and then work your way inside where the savings continue.  In addition to mens and womens clothes we will also have gently used baby clothing on sale for $5 - $10 per item, and a rack devoted to last winter’s classic and formal looks from designers such as Halston, Erin Featherston, Hartford and Paul and Joe Sister.  Come by and find a fabulous new outfit to wear to the films this weekend or a timeless piece to save for a special occasion in the future!  Either way, it’s a win-win!