Dreamy print top from Velvet!

Velvet made a summer delivery last week.  Our favorite piece is this print top!  

Helena's Arlington SIDEWALK SALE is this Friday & Saturday!

Hi Friends!  Our first spring SIDEWALK SALE is this Friday & Saturday!  If the weather is rainy, we will have the sale inside!  Don't miss out!

New totes!

New totes and clutches in spring hues have arrived at Helena's!

Favorite Look: DL1961 denim and Splendid sweater.

My favorite outfit in this season of spring transition is a soft sweater and a great pair of jeans.  This spring the sweater I frequently pull from my closet (as Helena's staffers can attest) is the Micado sweater from Splendid.  This uber-soft cashmere blend pullover is bright, in a pretty textured knit.  And the statement color is what I love the most.  I almost alway wear this this with the DL1961 Florence jeans, an easy Frye oxford, and a favorite pair of Ronni Kappos earrings I got at Magpie in Somerville (also available here).

This Splendid sweater is at Helena's Belmont.  We have the Florence jeans in a few brilliant, versatile washes!  - Katherine

Weekly Line-We-Love: Ella Moss.

Ella Moss knocks our socks off.  Every season, every delivery. There's lots of oohs and aahhs when we open a box of new dresses and tops from this line. It's a staff favorite because there is always a special twist in print, and in the details.  And you?  You love it, too!

Words from the Ella Team:

"'I always loved getting dressed up,' says Pamella Protzel-Scott. Long before she became the designer and creative director behind Ella Moss, the Los Angeles native was cultivating her own unique sense of style. Her closet quickly become a makeshift atelier where friends would come to peruse her array of vintage, handmade and contemporary clothes. 

After high school, Pamella studied graphic design until realizing her true calling of clothing design. Trading printmaking for patternmaking, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in downtown LA, and in 2001 she co-founded Ella Moss. 

Since its inception in 2001, the Ella Moss collection has captured the laid-back sophistication of the brands Los Angeles roots while offering coveted must-haves for the modern girls dream closet. Pamella's inspiration draws largely from her extensive travels, one-of-a-kind vintage finds, art of all kinds and music. Feminine, sophisticated and fashion-forward, Ella Moss appeals to those who like to play with style and mix colors, patterns and textures to create a look that is uniquely hers. 

And she is, of course, the girl who knows how to dress up a tee and dress down a dress."

Our Favorite Pieces:

The tops and dresses from this line are to-die-for.  Print, texture, color...it's all there.  We always bring in peasant tops in cream, soft colors and prints.  T-shirts, and tanks with some special fabric or embellishment, and a few knock-out dresses. 

This season's picks: the Bella dress (shown above) in Azul, the Catalina strappy sundress, the Blossom floral top, and the Mazatlan tank.  

New Prairie Arrives for Spring!

We have new jackets and pants in from Prairie Underground! Our favorites: The La Fey Hoodie in Kiwi (shown) and Chambray!

Catalina dress from Ella Moss.

This pretty multi-print dress is so special.   Midi-length, feminine detail at the shoulder straps, and beautiful color!  The Catalina sundress won't last long!  Don't miss out!

Keeping it simple. Jeans & top at their best.

Helena's loves the comfort and ease of the jeans + t-shirt pairing.  This effortless look is an American classic.  There is however, a better way to wear it...look for detail in both top and denim.  The top should have color, texture, print, drape or embellishment.  A pretty scoopneck, a shibori print, a sassy message, or, as shown above: an amazing crochet texture in a soft feminine color.  And the jeans, first and foremost should fit. After that, they should be cuffed, or slouchy, distressed or printed.  Or a great American blue-wash.  Add one great accessory: your favorite necklace or scarf, and you are good to go!  Shown here: Velvet Galetta crochet tee in Ribbon, Joe's Jeans skinny ankle jeans,  ZAD feather necklace in silver.

Hello, Ms. Moss!

The detail on the tops in the newest delivery from Ella Moss is amazing!  Bold prints and special embellishments are everywhere.  We love this colorful flowy tank nad the beaded straps on the swing tank in black.

Weekly Line-We-Love: Velvet.

California line, Velvet by Graham & Spencer, has been a staple at the store for years.  A staple, but not a basic.  We love Velvet for its prints, mixed fabrics (the jersey + gauzy cotton tops are amazing), color and drape.  We love their novelty tops, which look brilliant with denim.  Any denim: skinny, boyfriend, distressed wash.  The Velvet line looks easy, effortless, and special.

Li'l History: 
Velvet by Graham & Spencer debuted in 1997 with a motivation to create fashion forward tee shirts that embodied the laid-back luxe of LA style.  As the line says: "Today it has evolved into full collections recognized for their meticulously crafted, clean elevated staples. Helmed by Creative Directors Jenny Graham & Toni Spencer, the collections are created using only the finest fabrics and are manufactured primarily in the United States."

From Jenny Graham & Toni Spencer:
"LA born-and-raised, it only makes sense that we manufacture the Velvet by Graham & Spencer collection of tees right here in the City of Angels. We place a premium on finding the finest materials available and we highly value the top quality workmanship that can only be found here in small LA production facilities. The results are the timeless, long-lasting basics that you’ve come to expect from Velvet by Graham & Spencer. Above all else, it’s important we’re producing our tees in a fair, safe environment; look out for the MADE IN USA tags on our tees: that’s our calling card that they are made here with love."

The Spring Line:

Bengal print, dot print, gorgeous white lace 3/4 length top, and linen stripe...all these are our spring favorites.  All having amazing detail and versatility in your spring to summer wardrobe (and beyond). Our favorite staple piece has been the crossover Adora top which looks great paired with a patterned skirt or under a jacket!

Get your spring to summer dresses!

Are spring and summer wedding, engagement parties and showers on your calendar for the upcoming months?  Get your dresses now.  We have a beautiful collection of dresses from Maggy London, Leota, Yumi London, Louie et Lucie, and London Times.  This ivory dress is from Maggy London, shown hear with a ballet cardy from Wooden Ship and a wrap belt from Ada Collection.

Spring sweaters with color and pattern!

We all had a long, hard winter.  Make it all better by putting away all (and I mean all) your winter sweaters.  Refresh your wardrobe, and your soul with color, whimsy, print and lightness of fabric.  This rooster sweater from Yumi is a staff favorite!  

We are closed on Sunday for the Easter holiday.

In observation of the Easter holiday, we will be closed at Helena's on Sunday, April 5th.  Enjoy the holiday weekend!  

Crisp, casual looks from Ecru.

New York line, Ecru, is known for the amazing fit on their pants.  We carry their core classic fit ankle pant, and bootleg pant every season, and have customers who have those pants in every color.  (If you don't have a pair, it's a serious wardrobe must-have).  But we love Ecru's specialty line for spring for the fresh, versatile pieces it brings to the store.  This classic-fit white jacket is a refresher to your blue-denim jean jacket.  It's bright, cheerful and goes with everything.  These cropped jacquard pants in navy are so pretty.  They look great with a pump, or with a strappy flat sandal in a bright hue.  Come see the our spring Ecru at both locations!