A Little Visit with Wooden Ships Knit Designer

The handknit line wooden ships arrived last week. This line is the product of Colombian-born designer Paola Buendia. She describes the inspiration for her line, "I wanted accessories that fit my lifestyle - comfortable, casual, eclectic. Each piece we sell is so special and unique. Our hand knits and crochets have such detail - every item is truly a labor of love." Today, Paola, her husband, and her three young sons live in Bali where they design and manufacture their collection.

Easy Elegant Dresses

A well fitting dress, one that falls nicely from bust to hip to knee, is not always easy to find. But we, at Helena's have found them for you. Some of our favorite fall dresses come from Three Dot, Velvet, and Voile (shown here).

And if there is a baby in your belly (or not...c'mon the Maternity section looks so good, we're all shopping it) you must look at the dresses from Jules & Jim and Olian. Both these Canadian lines have silhouettes that can't be beat.

Oh Glorious Day...

We are thrilled.

Our first order of Velvet came in yesterday and we are in full swoon mode. Velvet, by designers Jennifer Spencer and Tori Graham, has all the comfort of your favorite T shirt but with beautiful style. And we love them all.

The Junette,( pictured in red) is a soft feminine and flirty little dress, that can be worn on it's own, or paired with leggings. We have Junette in a deep steel color. One of my favorites is the Algelina top, (shown here in gray). This is a flattering top that clings and pulls away in all the right places(and we all know where those are!). We have lovely Algelina in a cheerful red.

We also have a few unbelievably soft comfy sweaters in the palest most delicate gray.

Jenn and I have been taking turns trying them on, and are looking forward to our next shipment already.

J-41 Shoes: Adventure On

New falls styles from J-41 are here and we couldn't be happier! We have been wearing our Journey shoes all summer long. I wear mine almost every day. J-41's are made with cushiony footbeds for superior comfort. Engineered by Jeep(yes JEEP!) the outsoles are made with partially recycled materials. I am having a hard time trying to decide which ones to get first. The Madrid is your all around versatile black shoe, totally vegan, with a sophisticated crisscross top. The Sevilla is a real stunner, sleek and shiny with silver detailing and an adjustable back strap.

And back by popular demand, the Continental Clog, the perfect shoe to slide on and you are out the door. A great marriage of style and function.

Jenn's Pick of the Week

Fall is my favorite fashion season, and I am loving this brand new red cord jacket from Tulle. Its the quintessential fall jacket, with its bright, eye-catching color and its soft, comfy feel. I can just picture it paired perfectly with a pair of super dark denim jeans, cute flats, and a bold bag, like this one from Orla Kiely. We love Orla's quirky yet classic color combination in this navy and red, and the graphic "Giant Stem" print, is sure to turn some heads.

ESPE is Back at Helena's

We cannot keep these wonderful Espe bags and wallets in stock. We just received a huge order and already they are flying off the shelves. Made with faux leather and graced with whimsical birds, butterflies, flowers and even cats, these colorful accessories are sure to put a smile on your face. They make fantastic gifts. I am in love with the Lula (butterfly) wallets that come in an array of rich colors.

Helena's Fashion Beat: Hot Colors for Fall

Historically, fall collections are defined by earthy colors, and neutrals. This fall has a more “fall-harvest-fiesta” feel with rich jewel-toned hues starting off the season. Designers are putting forward vibrant turquoise-teals, rich royal-toned purples, dark pinks, and a gorgeous mustard that pairs well with jeans (think of the gold color in the out-stitching of your jeans.) The elegant palette of gray and black are standing firm, and charcoal is again very present but with a more metallic undertone. These tones, and a beautiful cream color, look especially great in cozy knit sweaters. One fashion trend for fall that we love is high contrast prints. Black on red, black on purple, charcoal on ivory…it’s all good. We’ll see some heart-stopping pieces from Kensie this fall that exemplify this better than any other line.

New Yummy Drifter

So new fall pieces are arriving!!! Ohh...it feels good to start lining the racks with new fashions. And our good friend Drifter has paid us a visit. This shirt, called Automatic, is drapey, chic and has all the attitude we expect from these designers.

Keep visiting...there will be frequent deliveries!!

Helena's Wins BEST OF BOSTON 2008!!

Helena's is delighted to announce that Boston Magazine has named us the "Best of Boston" for Maternity Clothing. Catch our write-up in the August issue. Here's what the editors have to say:

"Refreshing chic silhouettes from Olian, Ripe, Paper Denim and Inca Mama are enough to recommend Helena's. So are the racks of nonmaternity styles, which include tees by Johnny Was and trapeze tops by Tulle that can be repurposed by those with baby bumps (instantly dressing up, say, a pair of Gap Maternity stretch pants.) What puts Helena's over the top, however, is its location, flanked by the like-minded businesses Wild Child and Isis Maternity. In one fell swoop, moms-to-be can purchase a come-hither cocktail dress, sign up for a prenatal yoga class, and test-drive the stroller of the moment."