A. Line Has a Doozy of a Winter Sale!

 

Yesterday, I had a little lunch date in the Denver Tech Center to catch up with my friend Mayra, who also happens to be the head buyer and go-to gal over at A. Line Boutique in Greenwood Village, Landmark.  If you haven’t been there yet, they have been around for five years, you are totally missing out!  It is a gorgeous store, very hospitable (they offer you drinks and snack for your kiddos while you shop), and the customer service is like that of a 5 star resort!  You mean they say, “hello” when you walk in the door?  Yup!  They also have a brand new in-house tailor there everyday, in store for expert fitting.  This boutique carries some of the best lines in fashion including Rag & Bone, one of their top sellers and one of my personal favorites.  You can also expect to see pieces from 3.1 Philip Lim, ooh la la, A.L.C. (another favorite of mine), Helmut Lang, L’Agence, handbags by Jerome Dreyfuss and awesome colored, printed, coated and unexpected denim by J. Brand and Current Elliott!  New for Spring, expect to see Issa, the London line made famous by the Duchess Kate Middleton!  Can’t wait!

BUT….what I REALLY want to share with you is… their massive winter sale that started TODAY!!!  It runs through early February and you just can’t not go to this if you say you like clothes…  I mean…30-70% off!  Here were a few stand out pieces in my book!

A. Line Boutique in Greenwood Village is Re-Launching!

Well hello again readers!
I really must stop doing posts in twosies. Sigh…oh well…I JUST HAD to share this invitation with you all- hot from my inbox!
One of my favorite boutiques in Denver, A. Line Boutique off Belleview and I-25, (next door to the Landmark theater) is relaunching and having a BIG shabang THIS Saturday, October 6th! I am bummed that I can’t make it to this one…but it is definitely worth sharing with you all, and please share this with your girlfriends, bring your date! Hit the movies before or dinner after- it’s all right there in Landmark for your convenience!
What I love most about A. Line is the girls who work there. Mayra Sanchez and Sarah Clausen are two of the most approachable, honest, well dressed, nicest girl-next-door type shop girls you’ll ever meet! Always smiling and both living life to the fullest outside of fashion, traveling, fishing, remodeling homes, you can count on them for an honest opinion when the mirror just isn’t speaking to you. Not to mention the buying! I am loving the wearability factor of everything on the racks. It may have a designer tag, but there are price points to suit any gal’s budget or style. The quality is out of this world and you can bet that you will find a perfect pair of denim here. They also have a keen eye for what’s going to be hot next and have a very thorough lookbook that they are constantly curating by pulling images from current glossies.

So about this party. PLEASE GO and report back on how much fun you had! Highlights= FREE sushi from Hapa and cocktails! Also, the FIRST 25 guests to arrive receive a $45 gift certificate to Grand Salon AND a $50 gift certificate to A. Line!!! WHAT?! Sort of wishing I could go right about now, but date night calls! Husband is so sweet and bought tickets for us to see Colorado Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty! What a guy! So go and get those awesome freebies and let me know what YOU LOVE about A.Line!

Invitation below:

Xo,
Glo

Da Loot-a from Djuna: Dress for Success Sale Recap

You can probably tell by now, third posting in one day, that I am digging my way out of blog post pile up. A couple weeks ago was the Dress for Success sale at Djuna Furniture, that I had warned you to check out by posting on here.
I did not take my own advice: I forgot my own bag, did not wear or bring a pair of heels, and I wore a silk dress that could not have been any hotter. Regardless of my what I wore to the sale, I am happy to report that I came out of the sale with several items that completely made up for my sweaty neck I endured while battling the throngs of women and the lack of pumping A/C.

The details and little extras that went into the sale event this year as opposed to what I saw last year at their headquarters was drastic. Refreshing mixed drinks were flowing, thanks to sponsor Little Black Dress Vodka, and there was a beautiful spread of food, even though I was too busy shopping to taste. The turn out was incredible and the VIP night was reported to have raised quite a bit of dough!

The Djuna atmosphere

I had planned on picking up quite a few finds and after hours of deliberation, trying on, surveying opinions, I ended up getting a great scarf for $5, a pair of Elizabeth & James ankle boots for $75 (original retail price was $395!!!), two pairs of Current/Elliott jeans, a baggy boyfriend pair and a classic bootcut, for $30 each (the boyfriend pair is online at Nordstrom for $206!!!) a long eggplant jersey dress by L.A. designer, Rachel Pally, (a similar version on her site is selling for $229), a beaded top that had a tag on it for $75, but I got for $15, and a pair of leather sandals by Matt Bernson for $5 which had a sticker price of #170!!! Let’s just say the total came out less, WAY LESS, than the retail price of what those Elizabeth & James boots were going for. Most of the items I scooped up were from the lovely ladies at A.Line Boutique, which was recently named as the best boutique in Colorado by Elle Magazine!!!! Woopty Woot!!! (Everything except the jeans and the scarf were A.Line pieces).

After my retail high, the ladies from A.Line and I headed across the street for a late dinner and drinks at Charcoal in the Golden Triangle. We had a perfect patio seat and really enjoyed the mussels. What a night!
Did you go? What did you scoop up? Also, I had never been in Djuna before this event, and I would definitely make a trip in here if you are in the market for interior decor! I love those white porcelain heads!

A Dress for Success Event That is SURE to Give You Your BEST Sale Story Yet!

…at least it did for me when I went to it last year…

Dress for Success, if you don’t know already, is a great organization that, quoting from their website, is a “Non-profit organization that provides interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women in over 75 cities worldwide.” Denver is one of those cities. If you’ve ever had the please of working with, or meeting any of the Dress for Success Denver staff or volunteer members, you know just how passionate and caring these folks are.

This is the third year that they host a very, VERY good sale event called, “Bring Your Own Shopping Bag Sale.” This year, the event will be held at very chic venue, a furniture design company called Djuna, located at 899 N. Broadway, Denver, CO 80203 (on the corner of 9th & Broadway), on Saturday, June 23rd, 2012, from 9 am- 3 pm. I have pedaled past this gorgeous store and gawked in the windows at their really beautiful furniture well above my IKEA budget, when I used to live downtown. Those familiar with the area, they are a block away from yummy Tony’s Market.

Last Year the event was held at the Dress for Success offices off Colfax and Humboldt…

Having gone to the BYOB sale last year, I can confidently give you advice on how best to shop this sale. Just to give you a teaser, I scored a khaki See by Chloe trench dress, (see photo above) that was donated from A. Line Boutique. I also scored a pair of Rag and Bone oxfords that I had been eying full price in A. Line Boutique and then, as fate would have it, popped up at the Dress for Success sale last June, in my size! I also scored the long, navy blue pleated skirt I am wearing in the profile picture on the Fashion Folio Facebook page!

Trying on…

I am telling you, you can expect amazing things at this sale! I am so so excited to see what’s in store this year! Donations are coming from equally generous people at some our favorite boutiques! Expect A. Line clothing to make a come back this year, as well as Bella Bridesmaids, Garbarini, also a donor from last year, Lovely, Marie James Dress Boutique and Two Sole Sisters. Don’t let the words “Bridesmaids” and “Dresses” scare you off, if you are attending a formal event in the coming year, why not shop for a beautiful gown now? Or, get crafty with it and pull a DIY challenge on something you see. You can’t afford to miss this event. All of the proceeds go towards purchasing plus size suits for the organization, since this area of donations is sorely lacking. So, for a wonderful cause, you too might find something to give you reason to take, and wear, years later!

Advice:

1. Come at 9 am the day of the event. The good stuff goes FAST, and sizes are extremely limited, if not at all, because they are donations. There may be only one piece of an item.
2. I always wear a nude bra and thing to these sorts of events so you can really see how dresses will fit, no matter the cut, length, drape, etc.
3. Bring a pair of heels in case you are trying on dress pants or dresses. This will help elongate your lines (There could be terrible lighting and mirrors, so give yourself the best chance to look as best you can with the resources at hand.)
4. Bring a large tote or canvas carryall bag for your purchases; and your heels to try on with.
5. Bring your checkbook or cash. They will possibly have ways to pay via a credit or debit card, but always be prepared. The last thing you want to encounter as an armful of great clothing that you have to leave behind because they don’t take plastic.

Bonus… Come with an open mind and bring a friend to help you if you are unsure how to style something, or just need a confidence boost from a pal.

Hope to see you ALL there! Come back and comment with all the great things you scored! By the way, I want to say I scored all of the items mentioned above, plus some I know I am forgetting, all for about $150. Just to give you an idea of scoring greatness. Also another warm thank you to the other sponsors of this fine event who include: Pop Chips, Curves, Little Black Dress Vodka and Kind Healthy Snacks.

Photos above from The Dress for Success BYOB Sale from June 2011, courtesy of Dress for Success

My So Called “Burb-Life”

So I’ll admit it, I lost a little blogging steam as of late. If you haven’t noticed the massive dry spells between postings. Oh you did? Well then you know or could at least tell I have been low on inspiration. Well, not exactly, but my move from downtown to Aurora, Colorado has nothing to do with it really. In fact just the opposite.
For those of you Coloradans, would you even consider Aurora a suburb? I mean, it’s like half the State, and it’s more multicultural and ethnically diverse than Denver; honestly. I researched the demographics before our home search. Anyway, I am finding that I have really taken to this home ownership thing, like a fish to water! My inspiration now involves home decor, and filling empty rooms and learning to use tools, well I just ended up hammering the screws in because I had no idea how to use the drill, and nesting, nesting, shopping and nesting.
Last Friday I stopped at a local french bakery, Daniel’s of Paris, for pastries for family guests. Yes, seriously, there is a french bakery, actually going on 20 years this year, just down the street from me! I also repaired a pair of BCBG boots last week at a local shoe repair. Yes, a fabulous shoe repair shop less than a mile from the new digs. He did a fabulous job and it cost me $10.80. I have also, proudly, already received a free coffee, after ten punches on my frequency card at a local coffee shop, Bean Tree Coffee, which brews up local Coda coffee. What?! They have all these things in Aurora and I am not stranded on an SUV filled, culture lacking, baby breeding island?! Nope…I am livin’ life in a new zip, and having a ball!
You see, you can maintain the same lifestyle, or whatever lifestyle you wish to have, wherever you plant roots. What you do with your days, where you shop, events you wish to attend, shows you choose to see, lattes you ingest, what you wish to open your eyes to and discover in your own back yard is really, well, up to you, er, me in this case. All of the hesitancy and resistance I had felt prior to finalizing the closing on this house has vanished. Poof! In it’s place, I have found creative projects around the house to keep busy with, and found that deep cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing grout between tiles is actually quite therapeutic.
So, have my priorities shifted? Most definitely. Do I still have my old habits and haunts? Well, yes, as they say, old habits do die hard. You know what else? I am still Glo Bug, and I am still in love with the city of Denver, but I have discovered that a new piece of me has a new love for my new hood, and there’s room in my heart for both!
I still attend University downtown two days a week to get my Market and Tattered Cover fixes in, but my Ross, TJ Maxx and Home Goods fixes are actually better met in Aurora, where I can actually find parking and be able to load up a mirror or a rug if I wanted. (Not so doable on a bike.)
I also have a love- STILL- for thrifting, finding treasure and let me tell you folks- Mississippi is loaded with them- can’t wait to thrift hop! I am LOVING our new neighbors and have already been acquainted with them on Christmas Day, for a glass of wine, on New Years’ Day for an open house with the whole street, and upcoming we have a progressive dinner planned for six homes (where you do a course at each home and travel to the next. We volunteered dessert.)
I also recently visited my momma. She lives in Keenesburg, Colorado, about 20 minutes north of Brighton, and believe it or not there are 2 AMAZING antique shops up there! I found special pieces for the home. (I have a thing for hand embroidered tea towels which I use for drying dishes.)
So, here are a few pics I snapped of the things in my world lately. Whether they are inspiring to you or not, they are what have had me away from blogging; that, and the five classes I now have on my plate this semester, plus work, and being a new wife and trying to be a better sister/friend/student and figuring out how to balance it all. These are also the things that have me smiling.
Guilty pleasures I have also been relishing in is It’s a Brad Brad World on Bravo, and divulging in daily reads on fun sites like: The Coveteur, The Glow, Elizabeth Street, Refinery 29, Alice + Olivia, and Tory Burch.

1. My birdie printed Milly dress from A. Line Boutique in Landmark- minutes from my new casa! I’ve worn it twice already and feel so ladylike every time I do!

2. These quirky little brass mice/robot salt and pepper shakers from the antique shop in Keenesburg. Not sure I’ll actually use them to spice food, but they look at home chilling on the ledge of my splash back. What do you think- mice or robot? My momma hates them…

3. An awesome antique buffet table that perfectly fit my dining room! It was spray painting black and gold- perfect for moi- and found in Keenesburg at one of the shops for $139. True story.

4. These awesome Marni-esque silk pillow covers from West Elm. They were on sale for $14.99 on Christmas Eve.

5. A sweet, sweet, little porcelain Cinderella nighty-night light found at the antique shop in Keenesburg for $15 buckaroonies.

6. My enormous walk in closet, the left side is mine, is somewhat organized, but not really. It’s like the last thing I need to really organize.

7. Baby fashion. These little sports are from Zara online- I die.

8. My love of patterns and color is apparent in this well lit, easily maneuverable closet.

9. My husband does his own laundry. This is him hanging his damp shirt and NOT drying it. Sooo goooood….and he looks hot in this sweater.

10. I was on a mission to find new jeans this year. Well, this has been on my “to-do” list since last year, but I actually found two pairs this year, and ON SALE at a boutique in Cherry Creek North called Alicia. They both fit amazing! Tory Burch skinnies, and Habitual flares and my favorite Hudson’s. All great fits for a curvy bootie.

11. A perfect pillow for our cozy bed. Pillow from Wordshop in the Highlands (no longer there.)

12. Clutches. A girl can never have too many. and my mother in law took notice and recently gifted me a great black beaded one.

13. THE PERFECT pair of lamps for our night stands! A llitle brass, a little edge, perfectly modern. Found at Homegoods.

14. Finally a perfect spot for this little jewelry tree.

15. Classic toys never go out of style. I love my old toys! Now that I have my own house, I finally picked up my old, salvaged toys from my momma’s house, including this Fisher Price vacuum. My nieces loved it too.

A Landmark Boutique with A Line-Up-of-a-Sale

Happy New Year everyone!
I have been a busy, busy blogger bee…and I apologize for the long hiatus…
After an intense winter semester, I did not finish my strongest sadly, and a nail biting wait to hear about a big move, and then finally ending 2011 with a big bang, my husband and I closed on our first home, I am finally, back to the blog!
It has been a whirlwind holiday season and I received only one of my wishlist items, a pair of snazzy Sorel snow boots, but something so unbelievably perfect and wonderful, a home! My husband and I could not wait to move and as soon as we got the keys we had a truck booked and were elbow deep in soapy water at the new abode! Husband has been this incredible handy man I never knew I married, spackling and cocking and hooking up a washing machine- yes, I can finally do laundry in my place! He’s amazing….I have finally busted out some of my wedding gifts and even made a beef pot pie from scratch tonight! A little dry, but pretty good my first go around.
So, starting of 2012, I have a HUGE sale to report to you all! Now is THE time to hit sales and score deals…keep your eyes peeled and you can get great discounts on past season items, which still work nicely into your winter wardrobe well into March here in Colroado.
I stopped in one of my favorite boutiques recently, A-Line in Landmark in DTC and stumbled upon a sale! Mayra and Sarah are the nicest shop managers you will ever come across, pinky swear, not to mention fashion literate! These two have styling, trends and lines down pat, and they can show you how to piece any look or item together proper. If they can’t verbalize it, check out their handy dandy look book on their cash wrap which I couldn’t stop flipping through. I tried on a few things myself, and even took a special something home! Hello birdie printed Milly dress…
As they say, timing is EVERYTHING! Starting tomorrow, January 10th, through January 30th, they are having a winter sale! Half the store will be priced 40-70% off! Tomorrow night, from 5-7 pm, stop in to kick the sale off right and enjoy a happy hour complete with hors d’oeuvres, champagne and wine.
You can expect to find leopard print skinny jeans from Current Elliot, and a leopard printed dress from Rebecca Taylor. Jewelry from DaniJo, handbags from Jerome Dreyfuss, as well as other amazing pieces from Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Haute Hippie, and a few pieces from Isabel Marant (they no longer carry this line.)
Here’s a taste of what you can expect to see at A.Line, and don’t forget the sales starts tomorrow, so grab a gal pal and head over there straight after work before the good stuff gets gone…

Killer boots!

Hello perfect hell in the perfect shade of blush that will go with everything...

Um...so good...you can never have too many little jackets in Colorado.

Bazooka Bubble gum pink pants- a Definite DO!

A sexy hitch hiker boot- YES

And lastly, a touch of animal print in a perfect little handbag...Major YES!

Attend a Fashion’s Night Out Party for a Chance to Win an Exclusive Piece by Maya Brenner!

Okay, so most of my Fashion Folio regular readers are already on the up and up with what’s going on tonight. For the rest of you, it’s Fashion’s Night Out, or most commonly referred to as FNO!!! This fanciful Thursday to launch New York Fashion Week has been going on in New York for about three years now, and I had the privilege of seeing the mayhem go down first hand last September, as blogged about here. Since then, retailers and cities across the U.S. have been joining in on the fun, and this year, I am happy to say that Denver finally caught the fashion fever that comes with FNO! It’s not too late to find a fete! So put on your best party clothes and get to hoppin’ and shoppin’ the town! Here’s a run down of my best picks for Denver FNO for easy mapping purposes! Oh, and the best part is, if you attend one or all of these festivities, you have a chance at winning a stunning gold charm necklace by Maya Brenner from the boutique Goldyn in LoHi, and yes, Vanessa Barcus of Goldyn is hosting a party tonight as well, and I’ll be there! The necklace is worth $145, and all you have to do is go to an FNO event tonight, in any city, to any store, boutique, shop or wherever FNO trouble is going down. Snap a pic of the best street style fashion scenery there and comment here with your photo and your experience of FNO. One, VERY lucky winner will be chosen this week, so get your rear in gear and grab your cam. Time is a tickin’ most parties are starting tonight at 6 pm!!! Do you need any more reasons to go out tonight? Free drinks, snacks, giveaways…

First Stop:
Park Meadows Mall, Centennial, Colorado off County Line and I-25
The entire mall is participating in the Fashion’s Night Out. The first 200 party goers to show up to Guest Services get a goody bag! There will be a style contest judged by Georgie Benjou, the Fashion Editor of 303 Magazine, style closets to shop through set up throughout the mall, giveaways at stores and more! For a full list of events and info click here. I’ll most likely be posted up in or around Nordstrom, my ol’ stompin’ ground!

Second & Last Stop for Me:
Goldyn Clothing Boutique, 2040 W. 30th Ave. Denver, CO 80211
This is truly going to be the best fashion fodder to take in, as the shop always attracts the most cutting edge fashionistas in town.
“Stop by Goldyn for the latest fall arrivals from Helmut Lang, Vince, J Brand, Current/Elliott, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, See by Chloe and more. Preview what’s in store from Goldyn for The Sweet Life fashion show, benefiting the Volunteers of America Brandon Center; receive 20% off your purchases at Goldyn that evening when you buy an exclusive discounted ticket to The Sweet Life fashion show. Complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and cupcakes by Happy Cakes! Giveaways, including custom wrap bracelets, tote bags and more.” You can always count on Vanessa to have the best DJ in town spinning jams.

Other Notable Stops:
If you’re in Boulder, head to Common Era Boutique! Colorado Fashion Week will be kicking off with this event on the north side. If you’re in the Washington Park hood, head to South Gaylord Street, an adorable little mock Soho area where most all boutiques and retailers will be participating in the FNO entertainment tonight! This would be a great little stop. If you’re in the Denver Technology Center hood, better known as DTC, head to one of the BEST boutiques in town, A.Line, for a Helmut Lang Fall 2011 Trunk Show kick off party, completed by apps, wine and prosecco courtesy of Pizza Republica! Neiman Marcus in the Cherry Creek Mall might also be a pit stop along the way for me where there will be a “Fall Trends Fashion Presentation” at 6:45 pm. Also, can’t wait to see who turns out for this part, “challenge guest celebrities to a Ping Pong Match as we salute The Diplomats Ball to benefit The Institute of international Education.” Neiman’s are also doing complimentary beauty event make-overs, and serving sweets by Lola’s Sugar Rush, sips and snacks by Epicurian, Popchips & Pinkberry, and if that isn’t enough, or maybe too much, just find a chair and people watch while listening to music by Mirage Entertainment!

Big THANKS to Vanessa Barcus at Goldyn for donating this beautiful piece for a giveaway.

Give Me Some Some a’ Dat UMS (Underground Music Showcase)

This weekend was one of those perfect two days when you feel semi-single, and partially in the new, fuzzy-love-dating phase. Friday night my love and I rode our cruisers over to 17th to have a delish Italian meal at Olivea. It isn’t often we splurge on such an extravagant restaurant so we pulled out all the stops and even ordered a bottle of pinot grigio, Borgo, which was super duper and reminded us of our honeymoon in Rome and Florence. We started off with the flat bread with lamb sausage and goat cheese, I had an arugula salad with beets and then we had the cavatelli with chicken sausage and the duck meatballs in a corn grit sause- AMAZING! We polished it off with dessert, don’t worry!
Today, my hubby went up to Vail to play in a soccer tournament, (go team Americas!), so I had the whole day to do what I wanted. I started off by grabbing coffee at Caffe Sonora on Colfax, and then heading over to an annual sale at the Dress fo Success headquarters on High St. and Colfax. Clothes were donated by A Line, Violet, Zoe and Eve boutiques. The money they raised today will be used towards purchasing suits, mostly plus sizes which are hard to come by, for their main target demographic they serve throughout the year. You will NOT believe what I scored at this sale!
I found a pair of Rag and Bone spectator lace up flats, which will be perfect for fall semester, a khaki, See by Chloe smock jumper dress, a navy, floor length, pleated Escada skirt, a mauve, pencil skirt from Komarov, and a perfectly tailored, a-line, cream silk Lela Rose skirt with ribbon trim! I happily made out a check to Dress for Success, an organization that I could feel good about handing hard earned dough over to, AND it all totaled just three digits. I’m not joshing you- the Escada skirt was from Neiman’s and it was on the $5 blowout rack! It was a size 14, but it sits low on my hips and is even more perfect that it’s twice my size. All items wer brand new and had the tags still!
Next on the agenda was the 41st annual Cherry Creek North annual sidewalk sale. Red ballons, and kiddies selling lemondae marked summer sales galore in this trendy shopping are just north of the mall. I stuck to my favorite stops, Little Me’s, a children’s boutique, and Garbarini across the street. I found some adorable gift at Little Me’s, adorable karate pants from Little Seed (an organic cotton line by Soleil Moon Frye a.k.a. “Punky Brewster”), and onezies with funky phrases like, “I only date models,” from Urban-Bratz. I just peeped over at Garbarini for a few minutes. I did spot gold lame leggings by BCBG for $9, but didn’t have the patience to wait in line. Just as I had it in my mind that I had enough shopping for one day, I was driving away and spotted an alley garage sale. I scored ten pieces of clothing for $10! A dollar an item, I can’t even remember the last time I found that! Most of it was Forever 21 and two vintage dresses, but I can always take the to Buffalo exchange if they don’t work.
I came home and cleaned house and organized my other half’s two closets, and then I was off to the 11th annual, Underground Music Showcase in my new Escada skirt, a Panama hat I found on sale at J. Crew a couple weeks ago, gray sandals with a low heel from Forever 21, and a necklace from friends, Zoobi Designs in Canada. I started off at the Hi Dive where I listened to the very talented Le Divorce, and was even lucky enough to score a free album! Next, I was in the parking lot of the Goodwill on Broadway with a sea of peeps listening to, my favorite of the night, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake. I popped back over to the Hi Dive to listen to Bad Weather California, which my barista from Novo Coffee is the drummer for. They were fantastic, but I needed some air. I darted across the street to Delite where Chavez y Chavez were spinning amazing tunes. The best part was that I was able to order a vodka tonic, finally, and there was room to dance! My feet couldn’t take anymore at about eleven, so I missed out on the headliner show, The Black Heart Procession, at the Mayan and cruised on home. A pit stop at Burger King hit the spot, and after a few DVR’d shows, I’m ready for beddy-bye…and for my husband to come home. Check out UMS tomorrow to experience it for yourself and vist the Cherry Creek North sidewalk sale- it’s sooo worth at least a stroll and a window shop!