Show the world just how fashionable and environmentally conscientious you are.  Right now at The Meeting Place, we have a lovely assortment of one-of-a-kind rings made from Tagua.  Tagua is an extremely hard nut that comes from the Ivory Nut Palm in the South American rain forests.

The remarkable thing about it is that it can be carved and polished  just like ivory, making it a botanical alternative to elephant ivory.  Not only is this resource renewable and sustainable, it provides a natural harvesting opportunity for South American farmers, which boosts the local economies and encourages the preservation of rain forests, where the Tagua Nut Palm grows.

No two Tagua rings are alike.  Because our rings are entirely handmade from the Tagua nut, there will be variations in size, shape, and color to make each ring both beautiful and unique.  And at only $19 each, Tagua rings from The Meeting Place are an affordable and fun conversation piece that you wear.

Most women automatically think of a dress or gown when they have a formal event on the horizon, but we’ve helped many women create elegant ensembles from couture designer separates.  Separates offer women the ultimate in flexibility for their body types and fashion preferences.

Match a classic sleeveless top with long pants, or an open shouldered top with a knee length skirt.  Add on a long sleeved shrug for evening, if you like.  Stick with classic black or add some sparkle.  For a more traditional look wear a long skirt with a dramatic collared shirt.  Or throw all these ideas out the window and invent a completely new combination!  The choice is all yours.

The East Room carries separates by Joseph Ribkoff, Karen Kane, Tadashi, Alex Evenings and many more top designers.

Over the years, Marianne knit over one hundred pairs of socks for family and friends. She then decided to turn her hobby into a business and in the year 2000 Solmate Socks was born. Her colorful and complex patterns are knit in the USA at a family owned knitting mill, hand finished and then “mismatched with care.”

The company is run in a small town in central Vermont, where the Socklady is surrounded and inspired by the woods, brook, gardens and hills of the countryside. Every season The Meeting Place checks out her new color palette and selects a variety of Solemate socks that we’re sure will tickle your fancy.

“A woman needs simple, stylish clothes, because life is complicated.  As a wife, mother, and professional I need to know my clothes are polished enough for work and relaxed enough for weekends, are easy to maintain, can travel with ease, and have the integrity to last a long time, not just a season or two.”   -Karen Kane

Ever since she was a little girl in Santa Barbara, California, Karen knew that a career in fashion was in her future, so no one was surprised when she received a degree in fashion design after graduating from high school.

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In the late 1970s she met Lonnie, the man who was to become her husband and business partner.  In 1979 he became both when the two married and started Karen Kane, Inc. in their garage.  Today, over twenty-five years later, the garage just isn’t big enough and the business is now housed in a 150,00 foot facility in Los Angeles.  Karen Kane, Inc. has over 150 employees and distributes its designs around the globe.

We’re very happy to report that every season, fabulous new designs from Karen Kane, Inc. make their way into The Meeting Place and Boutique 15.

]]> http://www.merralee.com/blog/2010/08/meet-the-designer-karen-kane/feed/ 0 http://www.merralee.com/blog/2010/08/taking-command-this-fall-wild-style/ http://www.merralee.com/blog/2010/08/taking-command-this-fall-wild-style/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:33:16 +0000 Bev http://www.merralee.com/blog/?p=1273 Two fashion influences that are trending strong are sure to keep this season’s fashions anything but boring:

Military, or what the powers that be are calling “Utility Chic”:  Burnished metals, dog tags, camouflage, shearling, and distressed leathers will be marching into coats, boots, handbags, jewelry, belts and apparel.  This means stylings will be a touch more casual with opportunities to pair casual with dressy.

Animal Prints: We’ve already seen these pop up in spring/summer  wardrobes, but the trend continues into the cooler temperatures with zebra, leopard, and cheetah prints and textures  clawing their way into scarves, hats, coats, apparel, handbags and even jewelry.

We love Daymor because its designs have a contemporary feel without feeling trendy.  The designer knows how to make original modern fashions feel elegant and classic.  The fabrics and styles are chosen to flatter a variety of figures, and Daymor Couture looks as good on the body as it does on the hanger—actually, even better.

This couture collection includes a variety of cocktail dresses, gowns, and suits available in petites, missy, and plus sizes. Several styles come with matching jackets or shawls so they easily move from day to night.

A new season means new styles and colors from Naot.  And as the Midwest headquarters for Naot footwear, The Meeting Place’s shelves are lined with the largest selection in the Chicago area.  But before we get carried away with the fashion, let’s not forget that first and foremost comes quality in the design and structure of Naot shoes. So yes, your new shoes will have beauty, but they also have a brain.

Liberty

Dynamic

We’re very excited to see that Naot has expanded it’s Impulse collection.  This is the same tall footbed as the Flirt and Treasure styles, our best selling summer shoes.   This collection appeals to a whole new customer for Naot.  A younger group that didn’t look twice at Naot before.  And now you can now stay just as flirty all winter long with the Mover and Liberty clog, the Admire and Amor Mary Jane, and even the Dynamic boot.

The Avant-Garde collection is no slouch when it comes to high fashion and boasts several new styles as well, including the Talent boot and Tarot shoe (both pictured at the top of article) and the Attitude and Valiant Mary Janes. All feature a modest heel and leather detailings in a variety of colors, such as Queen’s Wine Nubuk and Flame Shimmer Leather (shown to the left).

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Naot’s lower heeled, orthotic-friendly collections, Koru and Shell, are also looking good for fall and winter, with five boot styles between them and twenty-one shoe styles!  Our fall arrivals have already started coming in, so stop by The Meeting Place to see them in person and try them on.  If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, we’re always happy to place a priority special order for you.

Scarves

Hats continue to be popular with lots of knits, but we’re seeing more embellishments with vintage detailing, such as big flowers.  Knitwear is popular for the hands too, with lots of knit mittens and gloves, including fingerless gloves to keep those texting fingers accessible!

Layering is still a huge trend, and now that cooler temperatures are coming, our legs get in on that action with leggings, tights, and long socks.  New textures and materials make their way into this year’s choices with ribbing, color, lace, and interesting materials, like denim and corduroy looks.

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“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to share my passion for design and style. Creative expression has always been respected and treasured as a priceless heirloom in my family. It is with that in mind, that I have poured my creative spirit and love for design and style into this new lifestyle collection. This new collection is a creative expression that comes from my heart. I have taken my love for color and design and created this new line especially for you. From my home to yours”

-Marie Osmond

The Lifestyle collection includes cute, trendy jewelry and stunning fabric purses, bags, and accessories to let you express your unique sense of style wherever you go.

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Marie Osmond endeared herself to an entire generation as a child and as a teenager. That bond with her audience not only continued, but grew stronger through the years as Marie’s career blossomed into hit records, network television shows, Broadway musicals, movies of the week, world-wide concert tours, a top ten New York Times best selling author, television commercials, lecture tours and her extremely successful Marie Osmond Collector Dolls. With all her successes and over 45 years in the entertainment industry, Marie’s legion of fans now spans generations.

Thursday, August 5

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us at a totally awesome celebration of the 80s and meet Nicki Elson, author of 1980s novel Three Daves. Nicki will read fashion excerpts from her book, and our models will show you all the 80s styles that are making a raging comeback.

Each guest will get a coupon to pay only 80% on one item at The Meeting Place, Boutique 15 or She She. We’ll have lots of 80s tunes and refreshments, so pull out your shoulder pads, tease up that hair and come on out to party like it’s 1989!

Three Daves is an angst-ridden romp through a 1980s college campus with Jennifer Whitney, a good girl who’s desperately trying to stay that way.  Her story is told through her relationships with three very different guys:  David, the sensitive loner; Dave, the ridiculously gorgeous punker; and Big D, the nearly perfect fraternity guy.  Which one will be the one?

Nicki will stick around for the party to sign your copies of Three Daves. You can pre-purchase your copy at She She, 17 S. Third St. or on-line directly from the publisher.  A limited number of copies will be available for purchase at the event. For more 80s fun, visit www.nickielson.com