We’ve always loved Ravinstyle, the interactive boutique featuring the profiles of stylish women from the real world (mostly models and fashion editors), who inspire shoppers by modeling outfits pulled from the site’s stash of independent designers. These days, we really love Ravinstyle, since the Ravinstyle team not only selected us to appear in their upcoming campaign (we’re not worthy!) but they also made us feel like superstars throughout. (What could be better than a “work day” spent getting your hair and makeup done, pulling together your dream outfit, and striking a pose?)

Ravinstyle’s M.O. is to ask its “models” to select clothing that reflects their own personal sense of style. While Meredith favors the muted classics paired with of-the-moment accessories, Cristina’s closet is all business, with an added dash of sass. Check out the feature on Meredith and Cristina, and browse for the items Store Adore’s two leading ladies loved so much. (Meredith’s already been seen wearing the Plume Feather Headband around the office.)

PS. Don’t forget that you can save $25 on a $100 purchase at Ravinstyle. Just enter “StoreAdore” at checkout. Click here for details.

Click here to view the full-size image.

The temperature in New York—where Store Adore offices grace the Madison Avenue sidewalk—has gone from “oh, winter is here” chilly, to “good God am I in the Arctic!?” frigid over the past few days. We need gloves! The Echo Bow Gloves (regularly $125, Store Adore price $100) that Cristina sported are elegant in a classic black leather, or with a swanky metallic twist. Both color options are adorned with an eye-catching bow detail, and the leather is treated with aloe that moisturizes you hands with every wear!

Cristina is known in the office for her fascinating scarves. Yes, the woman grew up with a super-stylish female force in the form of her mom, Rosalia, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us should have to live without the stunning color and pattern influences that go into Ms. Miller’s everyday ensemble! It’s no surprise to us that Cristina singled out this gorgeous and interesting Tolani Scarf ($85), or that the whole office snatched it up the second she did. Rich with color and an enticing zig-zag print, this single item will had a whole lot of pop to your winter blacks and browns.

We all know that great minds think alike, so naturally if those two minds both have flawless taste they will shop alike as well. The Cammie Hill Croc Day Tote caught two sets of eyes when our co-founders browsed the Ravinstyle stock. This one roomy tote carries as much as you dare to pack without looking duffle-ish or dowdy. The drool-worthy cherry red crocodile stamped leather doesn’t hurt either.

Click Here to read the whole article and view more of Meredith and Cristina’s Ravinstyle favorites!

Here at Store Adore we pride ourselves on all things fashion. But when I’m leaving the office and heading to happy hour, the last thing I want is to look like I was sitting in a cubicle all day (cause I wasn’t!). Green and Blue brings a touch of boutique chic to the otherwise offbeat café and bookstore-lined Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington DC. This tiny treasure stocks upbeat, work-appropriate classics that are great for layering on or trading out once the clock hits 6. In addition to the well-known brands, the shop also sells an ever-growing collection of co-owner Daniela Cermanova’s custom-made wearable designs sold under the house-exclusive label, Ela Ela Couture. Cermanova and her partner, Michaela Schwartz, stock the minimalist space with an equally streamlined inventory of go-with-everything colors on less than a dozen racks. How does Green and Blue maintain a small selection but a big following? Daniela tells us in this week’s Store Interview.

SA: What are your current bestsellers? What items have been flying off the shelves in your store?

G&B: The biggest bestseller this season is definitely Walter Military Style Jacket, which almost sold out few days after we received it.

SA: What trend are you most excited to see this season?

G&B: This season we are most excited about long sweater cardigans.

One we like the best is this Cynthia Steffe Cream Chunky Cardi.

SA: What trends are you happy to see go?

G&B: We are definitely happy to finally see baby doll dresses go, and excited to see waistlines and more refined shapes come back.

SA: If you could only chose three words to embody your store, what would it be?

G&B: Chic, classic, unique.

SA: How would you describe your core customer?

G&B: Our typical customer is a professional women in her thirties, who wants classic outfits but with a twist of style. She’s the kind of woman that can go seamlessly from office to happy hour or cocktail party.

SA: Your pride yourself on a small, intimately set store, what sets you apart from other bigger boutiques?

G&B: Next to selling other designers, we also design and make custom clothing and custom jewelry and offer our customers free alterations on items bought in our store.

SA: What are your favorite items that you offer?

G&B: One of a kind custom made bracelets, like this one.

SA: These days, everyone (even the most high end shopper) is looking for a deal. What is an example of something of great value that a shopper can find at your store?

G&B: Our handmade ELA ELA earrings cost only $24, but are made with sterling silver and high quality gem stones and Swarovski crystals.

If you are like us, you’ve been looking for a fashionable way to jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon along with everyone in Hollywood and Washington, DC. Envi, Newbury Street’s earth-chic boutique, is the style solution for the shopper who doesn’t typically hann out on the red carpet or in congress! Clothes are designed with organic fabrics and renewable resources, making Envi’s merch to-dye-for, naturally. How does Envi manage to stay sweet to Mother Nature and fashionistas alike? We found out, in this week’s Store Interview with Envi owner Ursula Stahl.

SA: You recently re-launched your website. What aspect of it are you most excited about?

Envi: While we love the design and aesthetic of the new shopenvi.com, the most important amenity of the site is the improved functionality. We strongly believe that ease of shopping is the single most important attribute to our customers, so that’s our priority!

SA: What are your current bestsellers? What items have been flying off the shelves in your store and on your site?

Envi: Our customers love Prairie Underground (and we do too!). The brand makes styled hoodies, like the Folka Hoodie ($208 at Envi) and coats that will change your perception of the casual staple. Trust me, you won’t restrict these organic cotton french terry hoodies to the gym or to bumming around!

SA: What item, trend or line are you most excited about this season?

Envi: Right now, we are in love with the delicious new cashmere and yak sweaters (like the Duffle Coat for $222), scarves and mittens from Stewart + Brown. The premium environmentally friendly knitwear is made from completely natural fibers from renewable free-range resources, and Stewart + Brown promises chemical-free processing. The texture is simply amazing—and these pieces actually make me excited for the cold winter months ahead. I will be warm and stylish!

SA: What trends are you happy to see go?

Envi: I’m just happy to transition into fall/winter fashion… we had a great summer collection this year, but fall brings on a whole new dimension of layering and accessorizing!

SA: What is the most “classic” item that someone can by at your store? If you had to pick your quintessential piece, what would it be?

Envi: Edun’s Lauren trench ($485) is an absolute classic.

As for a quintessential Envi piece, the Bahar Shahpar “woodsman coat” ($498) is my clear favorite. It is made from the most beautiful steel gray, organic wool… and perfectly tailored with an almost vintage feel.

SA: If you could only chose three words to embody your store, what would it be?

Envi: unique, modern, stylish

SA: What makes your site and store stand out from the competition?

Envi: In a time when consumers are increasingly concerned about their lifestyle choices (from organic foods to low-carbon programs), we provide the desirable opportunity for informed purchases in the realm of clothing. Eco-fashion is all about choosing clothing manufactured in an environmentally sound way—whether it’s through sustainable materials or biofriendly production—without sacrificing our ideals of style, comfort, and aesthetics. We give you the opportunity to feel good and look good and we like to describe it as “fashion-conscious clothing for an eco-conscious lifestyle”. In our minds, there is no reason why an eco-fashion website should be any less sophisticated than the go-to ecommerce destinations of conventional fabrics. We pride ourselves on customer service, same-day shipping and do everything we can to give our customers the best shopping experience possible.

SA: What is one item that you can find at your store that you can’t find anywhere else?

Envi: You cannot find most of our offerings at any other store in Boston. The department stores flirt with pieces from a few of the larger eco brands, but 90% of our collection is unique to Envi. Some of our favorite Boston exclusives include Kelly B., Ecoskin, and Raw Earth Wild Sky.

SA: These days, everyone (even the most high end shopper) is looking for a deal. What is an example of something of great value that a shopper can find at your store?

Envi: We just introduced “the weekly green”, an exclusive offer on a category of items or a designer that is announced to Envi subscribers on Tuesday mornings and will last for one week only. Also, customers who join our mailing list at shopenvi.com are offered a 10% discount on their first order!

SA: How would you describe your core customer?

E: She is stylish and aware!

Have you ever stared at a charm-strung chain, or set of bangles and said to yourself, “I would really love that piece, if only (insert design flaw here) was different?” At Jewelry by Cari, the online personalized jewelry mecca, that statement never enters a shopper’s mind. Choose your own chain, and string it through the charms of your preference. From dog tags to discs to crosses, hearts and stars to tourmaline charms to link chains and sparkly ball chains, the ensembles are endless. the coolest part is that you can stamp any item with your own message. How does Jewelry by Cari make personal style so… well, personal? Our questions were asked and answered in this store interview!

SA: What are your current bestsellers? What items have been flying off the proverbial shelves on your site?

JbC: Our personalized dog tags ($65) and discs are by far our most popular thing. People get meaningful word, names, initials or dates hand-stamped into the front and back of each tag. Mom’s and Grandmas love to get their children’s names or initials hand-stamped on the front and birth dates on the back. It’s super cute when couples get their initials with a + sign.

SA: What item or trend are you most excited about this season?

JbC: We’re excited about charms and got inspired us to add new fun and symbolic charms to our collection. We designed an angel wing, peace sign, owl, clover, doggy bone, awareness ribbon, anchor, baby bottle and many others. It’s such a great look to stack multiple charms on one chain or to attach them to a bracelet. We love it that people get creative and put together ensembles that are meaningful to them. (Shown: Charm Bracelet Chains, $65)

SA: What is the most “classic” item that someone can by on Jewelry by Cari? If you had to pick your quintessential piece, what would it be?

JbC: Our Open Circle ($125) is our most classic item. It’s the perfect size and weight and looks great by itself or with other charms. It can be plain or it can be hand-stamped with words or embellished with diamonds. Since we use a unique method to sculpt our designs, our circle looks like no other. It has been part of our collection for many years and continues to be a best-seller. The circle is timeless and stands for infinity, eternity, endless love, etc.

SA: If you could only chose three words to embody your brand, what would it be?

JbC: Handmade, Personal, Quality

SA: What is one item that you can find at Jewelry by Cari that you can’t find anywhere else?

Mesdames de Los Angeles, bienvenue à Catherine Malandrino Maison, the newly-opened concept store by French designer Catherine Malandrino.

Going beyond a simple brick-and-morter boutique, Catherine Malandrino Maison has been designed to give shoppers a glimpse into the life of the celebrated designer.

The globetrotting goddess of chic bohemian style has established residence for her west coast “home” in a charming, architectural two-story building across the street from Melrose Place. In addition to her two namesake collections (the Catherine Malandrino contemporary line and the designer Malandrino runway line), the shop sells the full range of Malandrino’s accessories (shoes, sunglasses and jewelry) as well as home décor, unique antique “objects,” fashion and art books (including Malandrino’s own recently published tome commemorating the tenth anniversary of the brand) and framed photographs (provided by The Celebrity Vault), all personally selected by the designer herself. The boutique is also one of few stores to sell Malandrino’s “Collectors” pieces, reissues of Catherine’s favorite designs from season’s past.

What better way than to welcome guests to her new Hollywood home (and a new President to the nation) than with Catherine’s iconic American Flag dress? Set against a glimmering wall of yellow mirrors reminiscent of California sunshine, the grand entryway currently features this recognizable frock, famously worn by Tinseltown royalty including Halle Berry, Madonna and Demi Moore. For a limited time, shoppers wanting to get the look for themselves can pick up one of the Limited Edition reissues of the dress (photo below), available at the store for $450. Perfect for those in the patriotic spirit following the election!

In an effort to create an environment where people not only want to shop, but also spend the day enjoying the beautiful space, Malandrino has partnered with The Little Next Door (one of LA’s most popular gourmet French restaurants) to offer a café within the boutique (due to open in 2 weeks). The menu includes everything from authentic French pastries (viennoiseries) to salads to fois gras torchons and a selection of tartines, all prepared with fresh organic produce from the local Farmer’s Market.

Next to the café, Catherine has curated a wall of her personal photographs, much as she would in her own home. Guests can share in Catherine’s world through pics of her family, friends and intimate moments captured at her fashion shows. Nous sommes toutes amies, n’est-ce pas?

No matter whether you stop by to pick up a Catherine Malandrino classic belted shirtdress or just to enjoy a café au lait, this is one boutique you will want to add to your regular shopping routine.

Catherine Malandrino Maison

651-653 North La Cienega Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90069

(310) 358-0895

It is every fashionista’s goal to have a signature style, but what about a signature scent? Smell is the strongest sense linked to memory, so to be unforgettable it seems like each one of us should be looking for a uniquely personal fragrance. But with the same cliche bottles being squirted around every department store entryway, how is anyone supposed to spray herself with individuality? Get a whiff of Scent Bar. While the company originated online (as LuckyScent), it opened Scent Bar. on Beverly Boulevard in 2005 to give Los Angeles residents a brick-and-mortar sniff of all that it has to offer. Visitors to the extensive online boutique might be hesitant to purchase a pricey perfume without a sniff, so the website offers samples of each fragrance on the site for a few dollars each. How do they manage to stock up on universally tantalizing scents, all the while dedicated to personalization and unique scent-style? They told us how in this Store Interview!

SA: What are your current bestsellers? What items have been flying off the proverbial shelves on your site and in your store?

SB: Tauer – Vetiver Dance (above, $100) is an intense vetiver from Swiss based perfumer; Monyette Paris ($45) is an always popular gardenia-vanilla scent; Escentric Molecules – Molecule 01 (above, $135) is a unisex, “barely there” sandalwood scent that will garner you loads of compliments; and Comme des Garcons – Avignon is very intense and sexy ($72).

SA: What fragrance or trend are you most excited about this season?

SB: We have an exclusive Leather-Gourmand fragrance being made for us by Indult, called Reve en Cuir. (Pre-order it now for $250.) It is quite incredible; a masterpiece. As for fragrance trends, A continued popularity is unisex and exotic scents, unusual and rare ingredients, and of course, Incense— hugely popular.

SA: What trends are you happy to see go?

SB: I wish we would see less celebrity scents… But I don’t think that is happening anytime soon!

SA: If you could only chose three words to embody your store, what would it be?

SB: Unrivaled, chic, accessible

SA: How would you describe your core customer?

SB: Informed, loves fragrance, brand savvy, responds favorably to the exclusivity of our brands and the ability to call on any of us for trusted recommendations.

SA: What makes your site stand out from the competition?

SB: I like to think our customer service is unparalleled: we respond to all phone calls and emails as efficiently as possible, and we ship online orders usually within the next business day. Last but not least, our customers appreciate our never-ending quest to provide the most exclusive collections in the U.S.

SA: What is the best way to purchase fragrance as a gift? What should you look for in selecting it for someone else?

SB: If you know what your recipient likes in a fragrance (ie floral, citrus or foody-sweet for example) then it is relatively easy (and fun!) to browse scents based on a specific type. If you have no idea on the type of fragrance, we like to always recommend our gift certificates—in fact, we have ‘deluxe’ gift certificates that are based on specific fragrance types (floral, exotics, masculine, etc) and the certificates are accompanied by samples—a great gift to receive!

With this season’s bright colors and bold statements, its important to make sure your jewelery stands up. In her Copley Square showroom, surrounded by wall panels in berry colors and glass cases filled with her designs, Lana Barakat is quick to help customers navigate the collections that make up her bold geometric jewelry line, Lazuli Jewelry. Lazuli’s Cubist group of brightly colored shapes is inspired by paint chips, with a palette that changes each season. These pieces, fashioned from sterling silver and resin, launched Barakat’s career, and made up the bulk of her inventory in the first Lazuli boutique, which was housed on Newbury Street. These days, her line has evolved to include new collections, including Organic, Copper and others. Here Lana talks all about her newly relaunched eshop, styles she’s getting ready for and trends she’s ready to leave behind.

SA: You recently re-launched your website. What features are you most excited about?

LJ: the entire site is easier to navigate and looks very sharp and clean. Best of all it features a way to view each piece up close and even on a model, so you can really get a feel for it. This is key not only when shopping for yourself, but also when buying gifts for others!

SA: I you could only chose one word to embody your store or brand, what would it be?

LJ: Bold

SA: If you could recommend one item from your store or brand to our shoppers this season, what would it be?

LJ: This is a hard one because there are so many great pieces but I would have to say something in Gold or copper depending on the customer’s style!

SA: If you could dress any celebrity, who would it be?

LJ: That’s a hard one too but I would love to see Nicole Kidman in our Gold Pebbles Collection. Above is the Pebbles Gold Ring made of crushed, handmade 18k gold vermeil ($85.00).

When a birthday, holiday, or thank-you occasion arises, Dancing Deer is a solid gift getting go-to. With assortments of cookies, brownies, cakes, and more all packaged for the occasion you select, these baked good are more than just delicious, they’re thoughtful too. Add a personal message or let the great taste do the talking! We were drooling—we mean dying—to know what yummy goods we can expect in the future from this gem of a site, and we are glad that we asked. Not only did Dancing Deer make a great store interview, but after hearing about all the irresistible products now available for order, we stocked our otherwise barren kitchen with all the bunt cakes our cabinets could fit!

SA: What products are you most excited about this season?

DD: We are really excited about launching our Boston Baked Brownie Cake at the end of the month. It’s a brand new line for us. As our brownies have risen to the top of our most-popular-items list, we decided to extend the line with an extra-large, party sized brownie (10 inches) covered in dark chocolate chunks and drizzled in caramel and white chocolate. If it does well, we hope to extend the line in ‘09. (Another delicious fall option, and a Store Adore favorite, is the Maple Pumpkin Cranberry Cake, above, $15.50)

SA: If you could only chose three words to embody Dancing Deer, what would it be?

DD: Honest, Yummy, Thoughtful

SA: How would you describe your core customer?

DD: Our core customer is someone who embodies many of the same principles as the Deers—passion for good food and all-natural, quality ingredients; nature; making environmentally-thoughtful choices; good aesthetics; and community.

SA: What makes your site stand out from the competition?

DD: The Dancing Deer website is a true reflection of who we are. We hope that when people visit the site, they immediately get a good sense of the brand, our product, and our mission.

SA: What is the most unusual customer experience you’ve had – any strange or unusual reasons for ordering cookies?

DD: Many of our cookie, cake and brownie gifts come in wooden shaker-style boxes. We get lots of pictures and letters from customers letting us know how long they’ve kept their Dancing Deer boxes and how they’ve been able to repurpose them. Most recently, a student transformed one of the boxes into a (working!) guitar for a school project. He sent us a picture. We couldn’t get over it, so we sent it out to all of our customers in one of our weekly newsletters. Today, creative recycling and reusing is reason for celebration! (For a gift that looks great, but doesn’t stop at the cute packaging, send your friends and family this Gingerbread House Kit, $19.95.)

Back in 1968, a laid-back beach town surf shack called South Moon Under opened to cater to the flip-flop-wearing, surfboard-toting beach bums who’d wander in seeking seaside supplies. In the 40 years that have followed, South Moon Under has grown, both in size (11 locations in the Mid-Atlantic region, and counting, plus a fantastic e-shop) and sophistication. Organized like mini department stores, the shops have stock that runs the gamut from contemporary apparel for men and women to chic table toppers, all with a decidedly (yet subtle) beachy vibe. We spoke to get the inside scoop.

PS. Don’t forget to take advantage of our exclusive Store Adore discount of 10 percent on all online purchases.

SA: What items have been flying off the proverbial shelves on your site and in your store?

SMU: The Nashelle Side Drill Initial Charm (regularly $58), Store Adore price $52), a pair of Scrunchy Boots from White Mountain (regularly $49, Store Adore price $44), and the Classic Short Ugg in brown (regularly $130, Store Adore price $117).

SA: What item or trend are you most excited about this season?

SMU: The rocker look with a feminine edge—try a great pair of motorcycle boots like these from Steve Madden (regularly $149, Store Adore price $134), layered necklaces (especially the Yochi Multi-Strand necklace with beads, regularly $110, Store Adore price $99), and ruffle tops like this MK2K cami (regularly $94, Store Adore price $85).

SA: What trends are you happy to see go?

SMU: Military.

SA: If you could only chose three words to embody your store, what would it be?

SMU: Fresh, fun and relaxed.

SA: How would you describe your core customers?

SMU: Fashion forward, career driven and socially active trend setters. (The stylish sophisticate South Moon Under caters to would L-O-V-E the Patent Carry All Bag by Urban Expressions (regularly, $56, Store Adore price $50)

SA: What makes your site/store stand out from the competition?

SMU: We have a variety of vendors, price points and new merchandise arriving daily.

SA: Everyone is trying to save money this season. What is the best bargain at your store?

SMU: BB Dakota Jackets and Coats, like the Abberville Zip-Up Metallic Jacket (regularly $72, Store Adore price $65).

Thanks to all of the great ladies and gents that came out last night in DC to help Store Adore and the other Media Mavens celebrate at The Park at Fourteenth.

The party was a rockin event sponsored by Washington’s many fashion bloggers, as well as a charity fund raiser for a local event called Blondes vs. Brunettes, where young women compete in a powder puff football game to raise funds for the National Capital Area Alzheimer’s Association.

For those of you who missed the event (judging by how packed the place was, we think most of our DC Store Adore-ers were there), you missed a great DJ spinning club and Top-40 style favorite tunes, plus a gratis buffet on the second level with dishes like jerk shrimp, mini crab cakes, and pasta. Most guests (see photos below, they were all fashionably attired) sipped wine or champagne while mingling, networking, and perusing Store Adore DC Shopping Maps or complimentary copies of The Washington Post’s new magazine, Fashion Washington.

Check out these great photos below:

Suzanne Seidman of Local Kicks and designer Allison Brooks of Queen Bee Jewelry.

Yours truly (left) with ANotSoCapitolIdea blogger and fellow Media Maven, Chandler Ramelli.

Local fashionista Rachel Cothran of Project Beltway and her roommate, Erin. Rachel’s dress was only $20 from Meeps!

Grace and Alexandra were too fashionable to pass by without a photo.

Most of the evening’s stylistas wore black … DC’s favorite color.

Yours truly and event coordinator for The Park (and former InTouch Weekly reporter!) Laura Carlson … we’re posing with Teddy, the mascot of the Washington Nationals baseball team. Laura is wearing a brand new dress from Intermix, where StoreAdore shoppers get $50 off purchases of $350 or more online with code ADORE at checkout.

Anna Stump and Ali Hines were excited to support local bloggers.

Even more stylish friends at the event.