Economy of Style
A notebook on evolving trends, fashion sense and cents

An Exciting, Colorful Night Out at Lilly Pulitzer in St. Louis

It’s an exciting time to be a fashion enthusiast in St. Louis because there’s so much happening here. And, last Thursday, I got to cohost a VIP party at the newly opened Lilly Pulitzer store in Plaza Frontenac Mall. It was such a cheerful and colorful night that I had to return with some highlights. Thanks so much to everyone who came out. I had a blast partying and shopping with you all.

I had the pleasure of cohosting the evening affair with fellow bloggers, Elena and Danielle. We share a love for Lilly and enjoyed showing off our favorite Lilly styles.

What we’re wearing (L to R):

Lilly Pulitzer Dee Dee Dress | Lilly Pulitzer Tiki Wrap Romper | Lilly Pulitzer Allair Maxi

 

Guests of the event enjoyed food and drinks from Bricktop’s St. Louis. Everything was a hit, especially the cocktails!

DJ Chris Brown kept the mood festive with his wide selection of music mixes. And, he looked dapper in his Lilly men’s tie from the limited edition Guac Out collection. This new collection features pieces for the entire family.

Every single Lilly print is hand painted. So, we were really excited to offer a giveaway of a canvas featuring a one-of-a-kind Lilly print that night. Congrats to the winner of this fabulous prize!

Keep on scrolling for more photo highlights from the event.

Lilly Pulitzer

Thanks again to everyone who came out. And, a special thank you to the Lilly Pulitzer team for having me!

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Honey’s Child Boutique Triumphs with Crazy Sexy Curves

Popular Honey’s Child Boutique owner and fashion stylist Letitia McPherson Young held her first solo fashion event last Sunday at the stunning ANEW Rooftop in Grand Center. The event, titled Crazy Sexy Curves, offered guests a creative and interactive fashion experience that went down without a hitch.

I caught up with Letitia before the event to get some insights into what motivates her work in this industry, and she had this to say:

 “I’ve worked really hard to ensure that plus size women are not shunned, but that they have a place in this industry. I see myself constantly raising the bar higher and higher. Honey’s Child has been around almost 6 years as every year we’ve gotten better and better!”

Crazy Sexy Curves aimed to offer a unique fashion experience to the St. Louis scene. Here’s what Letitia had to say about the approach she chose for the event:

“This event will definitely push the envelope of fashion shows in St Louis. We are ripping UP the runway and giving our guests an opportunity to be participants! Sometimes it’s hard to really see pieces when someone is swiftly strutting down the runway. But with our event you will experience fashion on a different level. Having the opportunity to see the details in hair, makeup and fashion is going to be groundbreaking for our area!”

Honey's Child Boutique

As an extra special treat, the event was hosted by Marie Denee aka The Curvy Fashionista, one of the most influential voices in the plus size fashion arena.

It was an honor to meet and hang out with Marie Denee, a special perk VIP guests enjoyed. Of course, I was especially curious to hear how Marie felt about being in St. Louis for an event like this one. Here’s what she had to say:

“It’s cool to be in St. Louis because I get to see a different pocket of the plus size fashion scene and how it’s grown over the years. I’m always excited to see how each city does things in its own way. That’s always refreshing because everyone brings their own spin to things. And, it’s so important to continue to have events, no matter how big or small, because they all matter.”

Crazy Sexy Curves achieved its goal. The live look books presented the latest looks in plus size swimwear, poolside glam, and resort wear. Models represented the range of Honey’s Child Boutique’s shoppers, and more importantly, they showed that it is possible to be sexy at any size. Crazy Sexy Curves was a not-to-be-missed experience of a high calibre I hadn’t seen in St. Louis until now. Browse the slideshows below for highlights from the event.

Honey’s Child Boutique Swimwear

Honey’s Child Boutique Resort Wear

Shop Honey’s Child Boutique online here.

Disclosure: I attended Crazy Sexy Curves as press. As always, all of the images and ideas are my own.

Why I’m Adding Spa Days to My Beauty Routine

On Wednesday, I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. And, my skin? It was radiant, y’all! What happened? I had a spa night at the Aveda Salon & Spa at The Chase Park Plaza the night before. That experience was so transformative that I’m adding spa days to my beauty and skincare routine.

Chase Park Plaza Preston

Earlier this week, a few of my blogger friends and I were treated to a spa night at the Aveda Salon & Spa. I had been looking forward to the event―Martinis & Masks―for weeks because every event I’ve attended at The Chase Park Plaza was memorable. This one topped them all. I arrived early at the spa to mingle and enjoy the specialty martinis courtesy of The Preston.

My next stop was my favorite, and it was filled with surprises. I went into a treatment room to receive the Perfecting Plant Peel facial. As a brown girl, I’m terrified by the term “peel” because I already have hyper-pigmentation as well as severely sensitive skin. This particular procedure also promised results comparable to that of a 30% glycolic peel. So, I expected some stinging or burning. What I got instead, though, was a calming, soothing, and very relaxing facial (and upper body massage).

Thirty minutes later, I emerged with glowing skin and a new, calm energy. Aroma therapy is a huge part of the Aveda experience, and I could feel my entire energy shift during the facial. I was a relaxed and chill Psyche by the time I got to the foot soak and hand massage. Can you tell?

Before heading back out into the real world, I opted for some finishing makeup. A gal needs her brows filled to move around in the world, right? How did I not know that Aveda has an entire line of makeup though? At first glance, there don’t seem to be sufficient brown girl colors, but I had a successful foundation match (coffee/12).

Now that I’ve been reminded of the transformative and transporting power of a spa experience, I’m pretty sure that I’ll become a regular at the Aveda Salon & Spa. A spa experience like this one will certainly support my 2017 goal of doing everything I can to improve my overall health this year.

Disclosure: All services were provided free of charge by the Chase Park Plaza during the blogger event. As always, all of the opinions and ideas are my own.

Fashioning Fun on Game Day

Is it just me, or does it seem like as soon as one major sports season ends, another one begins? Lucky me, I’m not really into the games, but my husband loves them ALL. He’s not giving up his love of sports, so I’ve decided to try to get into it. So, on game days, I tap into my reliable ingredients to make any occasion fun—fashion, color, and Frontera wine.

On major game days, we often have people stop by, and that’s enough reason to get casual-stay-at-home glam. And, to be honest, simply having to get dressed for game days makes ’em more fun. You know what I mean?

Frontera Wine

To toast the occasion (and whatever teams are playing), I keep my all-time favorite wine in stock—the Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon. This particular wine is a perfect pairing for impromptu game viewing parties. It’s always a crowd-pleaser in my house too.

As a vegan, I used to feel guilty about serving vegan-only foods at my house. But, I soon realized that my guests always enjoy the foods. So, I like to offer fun vegan foods that are sure to satisfy even the meat lovers. On game days, Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are a favorite. It’s like the guilt-free and even more tasty version of Buffalo wings.

They’re super easy to make too. I simply dip cauliflower florets in a mixture of flour, water, and spices before baking at a super high temperature until they start browning. I, then, add a light coat of buffalo sauce, and return to the oven to crisp.

Good wine and good food to celebrate what we can hope is a good game. Salud!

Need even more incentive to get into game day? Enter the Frontera Wines Game Day Sweepstakes to win a brand new HD TV. Games, reality shows, and pretty much everything will look good on that. Get in it to win it!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

High-Fashion Hats and the Women who Made Them

This post is sponsored by Saint Louis Art Museum.

One of the things I love about living in St. Louis is the wonderful opportunities to engage in diverse cultural experiences. And, last Tuesday, I was reminded of that when I attended press night for the Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade exhibit at the Saint Lois Art Museum. This exhibition, which runs through May 7, is a celebration of high-fashion hats and the women who masterfully created them.

Press night brought together a varied crowd of St. Louisians, including some of my blogger friends, for an after-hours look at this new St. Louis art exhibit. Could there be a better way to explore art?

I was most excited, though, by the reason we were there—the artwork. We essentially got a peek inside the world of high-fashion hats, seen through the eyes of Edgar Degas and a few other Impressionist artists. From the hands that created the exquisite hats to the women who wore them, the pieces in the exhibit offer a dynamic and colorful portrayal.

Degas Saint Louis Art Museum

I was first introduced to the work of Degas via his piece on the aerialist Miss La La. So, I entered this exhibition with a keen eye, looking particularly at the ways Degas chose to present the strength and perhaps vulnerabilities of women.

I was thrilled that this exhibition also features period hats that flaunt the exquisite skills of milliners. The details alone—ribbon, straw, bird carcasses, feathers, and other materials—confirm that milliners are artists in their own right.

Fellow fashion lovers will certainly enjoy this exhibition. Fellow creators will enjoy this exhibition. If you are reading this post, you’d enjoy this exhibition.

For more information: Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade

Thanks to Elizabeth Wiseman for the photographs.