Fashion Scoop

New Cotton Wooden Ships Sweaters at Helena's!

2012-02-25T11:53:00.000-08:00

Beautiful new sweaters from Wooden Ships have arrived. This knit line, which has grown tremendously in the last few years features 3 collections: the grassy knit sweaters for spring transition and early fall, the cotton knits for spring and summer, and the luxe collection of thicker yarn sweaters for late fall and holiday. We carry this line throughout the year, but this spring cotton collection is particularly chic. We have the ballet cardy in lipstick (shown) at black. We have stiped hoody in the ink & bone shown here. And the Jesse tunic comes in two colors: dust storm and mist.

Our Lovely Little Belmont Addition!

2012-02-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

We are moving along in construction at our Belmont location! It looks dustier every time I am in there...but it's all good! New wall, new lighting, new counter! When the dust settles, I will post photos of our design progress. Look for a post with introductions to our new Belmont staffers. The Belmont Helena's will be open in early (to mid) March...and I guarantee you will not miss the opening date. We will be posting loud and proud!

Creamy whites for spring!

2012-02-23T07:08:00.000-08:00

We love creamy white tops paired with denim. Bring one of these pieces into your wardrobe to freshen your look for spring. From top: Sucre Soir scoopneck top (we also have this in blue), Kensie cropped open knit sweater; and Ali tunic from woodenships. All are layered over Last Tango tanks, which we have in LOTS of colors!

Big Beautiful Necklace from Bohm!

2012-02-22T07:48:00.000-08:00

Wow. This necklace from Bohm knocks my socks off. Fabulous.

Envi dresses at Helena's!

2012-02-22T07:41:00.000-08:00

Envi is designed and made in New York! This dress line features pretty, innovative prints in easy wearable styles. The drapeneck dress has a graphic marine colored print, and the vneck dress has a print in pink, orange and purple. These dresses have a great fit and easily transition from work to evening.

OXMO top: on trend for spring!

2012-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

This top from OXMO has key elements of spring trends tied into one pretty piece: slightly cropped, delicate sheer burnout, stripes, and lace panel. Wear it with the Randi from James Jeans.

Yumi dresses in gorgeous architectural prints.

2012-02-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

These Yumi dresses for spring have innovative prints with lots of vintage charm. Wear them as is, or belted, or throw on a cardy of little jacket for an added layer. And that postcard cardy you have been admiring in the front window? That is also from Yumi! Super sweet.

One of my favorite things...

2012-02-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

Since last fall, I have been utterly charmed by the terrariums created by Amanda Sawitsky. These miniature gardens of living plants have an "interior world" emotive quality with the addition of an animal figurine enclosed in the scene. (Seriously charming, right?) I have small versions and large versions and carefully choose others for friends. This lovely piece sits in my kitchen. Find Sawitsky's terrariums at Magpie in Davis Square. You will be charmed too!

Pretty Perforations from BB Dakota at Helena's.

2012-02-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

This spring is all about sheer tops, open knits, and delicate perforations. This laser-cut top from BB Dakota is an example of just how good those trends can be! The geometric cut pattern looks great over a black or white layering tank...although someone tried it on today over a bright yellow tank it is looked fantastic! The jade color on this scoopneck top is also a fresh shade for spring.

JWLA + Prairie Underground = LOVE.

2012-02-11T17:28:00.000-08:00

As Valentine's Day approaches, I am reminded that in love and in fashion, there are relationships that were meant-to-be. At Helena's, Nally and Millie printed skirts shine when matched with Three Dots tops. Tops from Velvet are divinely paired with Red Engine jeans, and woodenships sweaters are best partnered with Last Tango tanks. And then we get to the the embroidered knit line Johnny Was LA and Prairie Underground hoodies of all shapes and colors. Not only do they look fabulous together, but the feel is just right. Jessica and Dianne are often pairing their JWLA and Prairie pieces together in an easy and chic way. Here we see the Prairie Long Cloak hoody in Peacock (new color) over a JWLA embroidered tank dress in black. And the striped scarf is from Sucre Soir. So pretty.

In the window at Helena's...

2012-02-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

We had snow flurries today, but spring fashions are in the house at Helena's. This week we had huge spring deliveries from Kensie and Lole. As well as deliveries from the new lines Jack, Envi, Lofiel and Hourglass Lily. Jessica dresses the Franklin street window in some new pieces. From the top: Yellow sweater from Jack with belt by Ada, new print of the KeyPer crossbody bag with spring jewelry, Three Dots drapey cardy with Three Dots printed silk tank (gorgeous!), and XCVI jacket and skirt paired with a Lofiel print swing tank. Come in this weekend and see what's new!

James Jeans at Helena's!

2012-02-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

James Jeans have been replenished! We have (from left) the Randi pencil leg in Adore wash, the Reboot skinny bootcut in Lisbon and Nassau washes, and the Hunter high-rise straight leg in Seduction and Nassau washes. James is known for their super stretch demins and their fantastic fit!

Pretty new spring transition accessories!

2012-02-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

Refresh your accessories for spring with these pretty new scarves and bags. Emu Australia blessed us with a spring delivery of scarves (along sweaters and tees in coral, black and tan). The hombre stripe scarf come in three colorways: coral to cream, black to white, and this sumptuous lavender to grey (shown) for $49. The print scarf from Emu comes in silver, mocha or cream for $58. And Fossil spring bags came in this week too! The adorable Mason small flap bag is the perfect low-profile cross body bag. The Mason we have has tan perforated leather with grey top flap and bone pocket for $108. Also the Keep Per laminated bags are here in gorgeous spring prints. The grey/coral/gold graphic print is shown in the big tote ($128). We also have crossbody and shopper bags in a variety of prints in on-trend colors.

Our new website is lovely!

2012-02-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

Our new website is up and running. Thank you to our designer (and loyal customer) Sarah Trainor for her skill and dedication to the cause. Please visit our new site: ilovehelenas.com

BB Dakota arrives at Helena's!

2012-02-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

The sweet, simple, stylish and ever-well-priced line BB Dakota has arrived at Helena's! Here's just two of the sweet pieces to come in this first delivery. A coral striped sweater, and a lush sueded-poly trench in a deep navy blue!

Last weekend for the full-on SALE.

2012-02-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

This is the final weekend for our FULL ON WINTER SALE! Come in this Saturday and Sunday to find fall and winter styles marked 40-60% off!

Helena's is opening a new location in Belmont!

2012-02-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a second location in Belmont's Cushing Square! We love the friendly neighborhood customer following we have built in Arlington and look forward to creating the same warm and inviting environment in our Belmont shop. Please keep reading our blog for updates as we progress in construction in our new store. We will be located at 453 1/2 Common Street, near the famous Vicki Lee's! (Which we have been sampling now for weeks). Thank you for being loyal and dedicated Helena's shoppers. We look forward to serving you in Belmont in March 2012!

Oh Prairie...How I Love Thee.

2012-02-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

New Prairie Underground came in this week. I almost feel like I don't need to write anything since these pictures tell such a lovely story. But, here goes. The striped tunic at top is a sweater-ish knit and is extraordinary for many reasons, including the fact that Prairie never does stripes. The denim dress is my dream-come-true (Jessica will tell you I have a long-standing denim skirt/jacket/dress fetish). We have it in Silver wash which is a true denim blue. And the bottom coat is the Long Cloak Hoody Raincoat. If you are a hoody fanatic, come in and try on this beauty. We have it in black with a hot-pink lining. In other cloak news the Long Cloak hoody came in Peacock which is a brilliant teal/turquoise blue. Prairie news is always good news!

Spring Red Haute at Helena's.

2012-01-29T13:16:00.000-08:00

Red Haute has sent us a lovely collection of spring transition tops. This line excels at the denim friendly top that you go to again and again! We will expand our offering of this line in the later spring with great striped dresses!

Susana Monaco dresses are at Helena's!

2012-01-29T13:12:00.000-08:00

The chic and brilliantly designed Susana Monaco dress line is at Helena's. SM is known for their stretchy fabrics, and incredibly flattering styles that hold together like a dream. The perfect go-to dress for any occasion, casual to dressy. These are two of the four styles we have in store now. For more on Susana Monaco, go to their website, here.

Chic styles and brilliant color from Wooden Ships!

2012-01-24T17:43:00.000-08:00

Wooden Ships has fresh new designs in their signature "grassy knit" yarn for spring. The Ali tunic at left is scoopneck open knit tunic in a bright blue called Atlantic. The crocheted Ruana at right has a dolman sleeve and a boatneck. We have the Ruana in Watermelon and a navy blue called Marine. We also have an ever-so-soft knit poncho in a Gravel. Wear then with jeans and boots now and transition these sweaters to white denim and skirts in May!

Black lace for day to night from Velvet.

2012-01-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

Lace continues to be a huge and beautiful trend thru spring transition and into spring and summer. This top from Velvet is what I like to call a "big" lace print, which give you just enough skin showing thru. We have it in black as shown. Wear it with denim or a pencil skirt.

Chic new tops from Velvet arrive at Helena's.

2012-01-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

These lovely tops just arrived from Velvet. The Aubin is an embroidered top that we have in ash, as shown. The Bonita is a soft knit peasant blouse that you will want to wear everyday. We have the Bonita in white.

Our window will knock your socks off!

2012-01-13T11:26:00.000-08:00

There was a buzz of activity in the store this morning as everyone came in to try on the pieces in our window. Jessica has created a lovely spring layout! From the top: blue bird print top from Tulle, Effie's Heart print dress with Prairie Underground long cloak hoody, blue bird print dress from Tulle, poppy bird print top from Tulle, and (be still my heart) leather wristlets and snap purse in heart print from Fossil. How gorgeous is all this? If you love the bird print pieces from Tulle, come in soon to purchase. We tried to reorder this styles and they are already sold out from Tulle. See you this weekend!

Helena's Spring Transition: Aqua & Coral

2012-01-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

Every January, as we put the fall and winter styles on sale, a beautiful array of spring transition starts to trickle into the store. This season the colors are brilliant and fantastic. The most vivid colors for early spring are aqua and coral, but with an array of shade that go from copper to turquoise. Think of the blue green patina on copper and your head will be in the right place. From the top: print top from Sanctuary, crochet sweater from Hazel, laminated bags from Fossil, and a rich candle and accessory table.

Fresh nail color for spring transition!

2012-01-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

We may be calling the present season "winter", but the folks at the NY Intermezzo fashion show call this season "spring transition". So, while we are currently wearing cozy cashmere sweaters in deep winter hues or creamy winter whites, the boxes that are coming into Helena's are full of the colors for the spring to come. Let's take a moment to appreciate a frosty warm plum nail color that looks fresh in winter, and will take you into the spring brights. Margate Maroon (#450) is my new fav from No Miss cosmetics. Find it at Whole Foods for $7.99.

SALE: 40-60% off fall and winter fashions!

2012-01-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Our generous sales racks are now 40 to 60% off! Find sweaters, dresses, denim, cords, coats, skirts, and tops in beautiful styles on sale now. Come in and find your favorite pieces before they are gone! Here are the details:

All winter coats are 60% OFF
All cords are 40% OFF
Select denim is 40 % OFf
Three huge sales racks are 40-60% OFF

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year friends! We wish you a healthy, prosperous 2012 filled with adventure and opportunity. Thank you for all your love in 2011. It was a great year!

Holiday Weekend Hours.

2011-12-31T09:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve to all! We are open today until 4 PM today. If you are looking for a fabulous outfit for tonight, may we suggest a great (affordable) dress from Tulle, or pairing one of our great fitting skirts from Only Hearts or Red Engine with a pretty top from Hazel, Mystree, Sweet Pea or Last Tango. Looking for a house-warming gift for your party host? Everyone LOVES Volupsa candles. We have a variety of their fresh scents. Tomorrow we will be closed for New Years Day. Have a wonderful evening!

New Hazel sweaters are in!

2011-12-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

This week we received some pretty new sweaters from Hazel, including this lovely burnt orange cardigan. It looks great paired with denim and a deep blue layering tank...and as always a chic scarf finishes the look.

What's in the window at Helena's...

2011-12-31T09:01:00.000-08:00

From the top: woodenships sweater with Last Tango tank, Prairie Underground long cloak hoody over Prairie Denim dress and Bohm feather necklace, and finally Mystree long sweater over Last Tango tank with beaded belt. Great winter looks!

Two Fabulous Dresses for New Year's Eve...

2011-12-29T18:56:00.000-08:00

Looking for a chic dress for you New Year's event? We have lovely, new (and very well priced) dresses from Tulle. The black dress has a sheer swiss dot overlay and a sweet neckline. The white dress is a great just-above-the knee length. Wear it with a great necklace and a colorful shoe!

Beautiful New Fashions from Tulle at Helena's.

2011-12-28T07:42:00.000-08:00

The newest delivery from Tulle brings us sophisticated fashion for the New Year! The black dress with the sheer overlay is sweet and chic. The black blazer is a "must-have" for this season and can be worn over dresses, or with a skirt & top, or even with your favorite jeans. And our favorite? The butterfly dress! This dress has a great fit in a to-die-for print. Also (not pictured) a gorgeous creamy white lace dress, and a modern red and grey floral dress!

Post Holiday SALE! 40% off all coats and select fall and winter fashions.

2011-12-26T08:47:00.000-08:00

Our winter sale is on! All winter coats are 40% off, and our generous sale rack is 40% off, including this beautiful poncho sweater from Three Dots (with a silk-lined hood). So pretty. Come in this week and shop for chic fashions at 40% off!

Holiday Hours.

2011-12-23T18:40:00.000-08:00

We will be open on Christmas Eve from 9 to 4. Stop in and say hello to Dianne and Valerie who will happily help you with your holiday shopping. We will be closed Christmas Day.

Pink House Bracelets.

2011-12-23T14:21:00.000-08:00

We are also flush with colorful new bracelets from Pink House. These beaded bracelets are versatile and look great with lots of outfits!

More Voluspa Candles.

2011-12-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

More fragrant Voluspa candles arrived this week! We have two-wick and three-wick versions in a variety of fresh scents. Great for gifts and great for you!

espe wallets.

2011-12-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

Priced at $25 and $35, these wallets from espe make wonderful gifts. Come see our full assortment of colorful small and large wallets!

Marimekko Cambridge Host Holiday Event this Thursday.

2011-12-19T18:56:00.001-08:00

We LOVE Marimekko designs! This Thursday, all day (10AM to 8PM), Marimekko in Cambridge is hosting a holiday event! Read this email for details of catch up with them on Facebook.

Lovely, affordable jewelry at Helena's.

2011-12-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

So, we are kinda famous for our well-priced jewelry. Okay, "famous" may be dramatic, but you know what I mean. We have always had extremely affordable necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. The idea being, that you can easily add a colorful necklace to your clothing purchase without breaking the bank. This week, come in and shop our jewelry section of all your favorite ladies!

New Hanky Panky Boyshorts.

2011-12-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

Hanky Panky boyshorts are here! Comfy coverage from the best stretch-lace designers ever! We also have new colors in the signature thong and the low-rise thong.

Great Holiday Gifts!

2011-12-18T17:47:00.001-08:00

We have great gifts for all the women in your life! Wallets, cosmetic cases, keychains, coin purses, Voluspa candles, and lot and lots of jewelry? Some of our favorite picks? Scarves (both warm and fashion), a chic hat from Woodenships, or a colorful espe wallet. Come shop with us!

New Woodenships Arrives! We love this chevron sweater!

2011-12-09T19:38:00.000-08:00

This new delivery from woodenships is smashing! One of our favorite styles is the chevron sweater. In the black and grey tone the stripes are more striking and graphic, and in the aqua and grey stripe, it is softer. Both are wonderfully fresh for now and into the next season.

All Jeans 20% OFF & all Cords 30% OFF. Friday thru Sunday!

2011-12-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

At Helena's we are seriously picky about pants. What I mean is we are fixated on fit and quality. We feel that pants should enhance your outfit, but primarily have a fantastic, comfortable, and flattering fit. Our denim lines are: James Jeans, Red Engine Jeans, Worn, and Prairie Underground Denim (the above pic is the Carpenter jean from Prairie). We have cords this season from Red Engine, Worn and Christopher Blue. All denim and cord pants are on sale this Friday thru Sunday. Don't miss this opportunity to get some great jeans and cords for this season and beyond!

New Prairie Underground

2011-12-08T08:53:00.001-08:00

A new Prairie Underground order is in this week with some great new colors in the classic Prairie Hoodie. The Lovely color on top is called Beet and the one beneath is Tunnel. We love these new shades! The Prairie Hoodie is a little longer, and a little cozier than the Cloak style, with visible seaming and a gathering back.

Elly Preston Jewelry

2011-12-08T08:20:00.001-08:00

We have restocked our selection of Elly Preston (formerly The Purple Door) Jewelry. These beautiful feminine pieces are sure to please. The Jennifer Necklace has been a staple here at Helena's for years. This simple 5 petal design, made with semi precious stones is an ageless versatile necklace. At only $19.00 it is a steal!

Sanctuary is at Helena's!

2011-12-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

The ever-popular line Sanctuary has arrived. We have the cowl neck perforated top (above) in a slightly darker creamy white, called "Jute" for $66. And the pants? The Peace Pant from Sanctuary has a fantastic fit. We have them in a fresh sage green. So pretty.

Lovely Stripes from LaMade at Helena's.

2011-12-03T16:30:00.000-08:00

So, we gotta thing for tonal stripes...and slouchy drapenecks...and half-sleeves. Clearly this sweater from LaMade fits our style to a T. So pretty and easy. Top it with a little black velvet jacket for a chic holiday look for $79!

Heart of Arlington Holiday Shopping Event is TODAY!

2011-12-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

The Heart of Arlington is a collection of Arlington Center retail businesses! Today is the second annual holiday shopping event in the center. It's a great opportunity to get a deal at your favorite shops and visit a business you have never been to. Today we are offering 10% off every purchase of $100 or over, and entry into a raffle with every purchase of $50! Come celebrate with us! To see other participating business, click here.

After shopping with us, stroll up to to Derby Farms.

2011-12-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

Derby Farms in Arlington is hosting it's annual Women's Shopping Night this evening from 6:30 to 9 PM. Derby Farms is a gorgeous floral boutique and gift shop with a special collection of goods. Worth the trip! Click here for more details on tonight's event.

We love Alexandra Roberts Photography.

2011-11-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

The sweet and talented Alexandra Roberts photographed our little shop a few weeks back. To see the session at Helena's, click here.

Customer Appreciation Day-to-Night SALE is tomorrow!

2011-11-30T10:59:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! In celebration of our 6th holiday shopping season in Arlington, we are hosting a Customer Appreciation Day-to-Night SALE this Thursday, December 1st from 10AM to 8PM. Any single item in the store is 20% off! If you have been coveting a pair of Red Engine Cinder jeans, or a one of the new sumptuous Made By sweaters, here is your opportunity to treat yourself! If you have a LOT of favorites that you are purchasing, the highest price item will be 20% off. (Limit, one single discounted item per customer, and cannot be combined with other discounts.) Also, ALL sale items will be an additional 10% off...which include all winter coats (previously 25% off), and we have a generous sale rack with lots of fall and winter apparel!

525 America Long Cable Sweater...for the real weather ahead!

2011-11-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

This uber-cozy cardigan is endlessly useful in your wardrobe! Leave it open with a colorful top underneath, or button it off to the side and wear it with black leggings and boots!

The Cozy Shaggy Vest from Kensie.

2011-11-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

The celebrity furry vest trend is wonderfully translated to a chic everyday look in this vest from Kensie. This open vest has drapey sweater lapels and a chenille shaggy sides and back. Looks great with denim!

Our Winter Coat SALE continues!

2011-11-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

Our winter coat sale is ongoing, with all winter coats at 25% OFF! My favorite is the the burnt orange zip-up at the top!

Lots of colorful Fossil bags!

2011-11-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

Looking for holiday gifts for the women in your life? We LOVE this line of laminate Fossil bags. The new pieces in the bird print and floral print are particularly charming. We have crossbody, shopper, and tote bag styles. In the smaller bags we have wallets, wristlets, make-up bags, coin purses, and zip-bags.

Helena's Post Thanksgiving Weekend SALE!

2011-11-24T20:59:00.000-08:00

You have feasted and happily counted your blessings. Now, indulge in a bit of shopping! This Friday thru Sunday all winter coats are 25% OFF. This include stylish coats from Tulle, OXMO, and Young Essence. Also, all sweater and sweater dresses are 20% OFF storewide! And we have beautiful sweaters in store, like these, or maybe these. Also, we have an sale rack filled with fall and winter fashions marked 25% OFF. Come in this weekend and buy yourself something lovely!

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours.

2011-11-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

Helena's will be closing at 4 PM today. Tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day, we will be closed at well. We hope you have a wonderful holiday and eat lots and lots of delicious food.

Best to you all,

Jessica, Dianne, Valerie, Samantha and Katherine

Favorite tops from the Velvet collection.

2011-11-23T07:08:00.000-08:00

Velvet as a brand is all about effortless style in soft luxurious fabrics. These are some of our favorite styles from the fall-to-winter collection. The Merina (top pic) we have in a few jewel tone colors and a chic black with lurex gold stripes (gorgeous). If you are swooning over the cashmere sweater in the bottom photo, come in soon...there is only one left!

Black Nails? Garance Dore chimes in...

2011-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite sartorialist/ illustrator bloggers Garance Dore give her opinion on black nails for fall (click here to read). I, personally, love the glamour of dark painted nails, whether it be navy blue (a fav), inky purple, or the Vamp we all wore in the 90s. Pushing it all the way to true black is indeed a statement, but standing-up for the things you love is always a good thing.

4 Love and Liberty Arrives at Helena's!

2011-11-16T17:24:00.001-08:00

This line, a division of the Johnny Was Collection, is so special and lovely. The defining details: lace and crochet overlay, trimmings in silk and cotton voile, and a soft sophisticated color palette. The two pieces that arrived for a holiday delivery are beautiful. The top piece is a jersey cardy with a delicate hook and eye closure. It has a wee bit o' sparkle at one side of the neckline and silk panels on the back. We have it in granite, a medium grey for $133. The second piece is scoopneck a tunic with crochet lace detail. We have it in a creamy white ecru for $113.

Local Hem Blog Highlights XCVI.

2011-11-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

Our friends at the fashion blog and on-line retailer Local Hem, recently featured one of our best-selling lines, XCVI. To read about this innovative and casual LA design house, click here!

Chic ways to wear our favorite belts from Ada.

2011-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

Our friends at Ada LOVE to show the versatility of their accessories. These style guides show the Inca and the Wrap belts worn in a multitude of adorable ways. Click on these images to get a bigger better look!

Nally & Millie Layering Tees are Back!

2011-11-15T14:18:00.000-08:00

We always have these versatile layering tees. But, last month we had a HUGE run on them among faithful customers and sold out in every color. Today, the replenishments arrived. We have black, white, beige, chocolate, charcoal, purple and teal. They are as pretty as they are useful. But don't wait to get yours! Valerie was calling customers on a waiting list today....yes, they are that good.

Beautiful Alpaca sweaters from Made By...

2011-11-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

This sumptuous sweater line was first revealed to us at a small NY fashion show by our friends at True Collaborative Fashion. TCF are the folks who represent Prairie Underground, as well as Pendleton and other superbly innovative lines. Made By...is breathtaking, and created in natural alpaca colors. It's soft and fits wonderfully close to the body. My favorite is the first piece, "Granma's Love" shown here with the Prairie Underground Neo Country top. The second piece is a creamy white open cardy with mixed knits on the shawl collar and sleeve. The bottom piece is an open tie cardy in grey with a chic black pattern on the hem.

The Made By... concept is just at wonderful. As they write, "Our concept is to bring about a clothing line where we can practice respect and transparency to our Mother Earth also to our Artisans who make the clothes and raise standard of living for these talented individuals...At Made By... a profound gratitude for our Nature and our people frames our work. We are dedicated to practice fair trade. Made By... supports happy and healthy work environments free from forced labor. We choose Eco friendly and fair trade Alpaca yarns because it makes us part of an ancient and valuable heritage that holds the secret of preserving the equilibrium of our home planet, the Earth."

4 Day SALE! All XCVI is 20% off. All JWLA is 20-40% off today thru Sunday!

2011-11-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the holiday shopping season, we are having a four day sale on two of our favorite brands! This Thursday thru Sunday, all XCVI and Johnny Was LA will be discounted, storewide. XCVI jackets, skirts, pants, and tops will be 20% off. JWLA dresses and tops will be 20-40% off. There are beautiful pieces on the racks. Come shop early! These lines are customer favorites!

Happy Birthday Helena!

2011-11-10T06:14:00.000-08:00

Helena, the girl, is 8 years old today. Happy Birthday sister! Your love and enthusiasm for nature inspires me every day.

What's in the Window!

2011-11-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

So, as you may have guessed, Jessica is an art school grad. This is why the window is always a savory delight to the eyes. This week there is a mix of orange, light grey, charcoal and purple. At the top: Kensie light grey pullover sweater (one of my all-time favorites) at $78. Second pic: a menagerie of fall accessories, Fossil zip bags in bird prints, woodenships gloves, a Linaloos key wristlet and our great bracelets. Third pic: a beautiful Tulle coat in on-trend orange. Fourth pic: grey Mystree long sweater ($73) over a London Times striped sweater dress ($78) all pulled together with an Ada wrap belt (73).

Get your bright, pretty coat at Helena's.

2011-11-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

I know. It's super sweet. We love this tiered jacket from Young Essense. Come in now and try it on!

New Nally & Millie Reversible Skirts at Helena's!

2011-11-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

The prints on Nally & Millie reversible skirts just keep getting better and better. And we, at our adoring boutique, are not the only ones to notice. Designer and owner, Nally Park, recently won a design innovation award at Style Fashion Week in LA (click here to read more). These two skirts for fall are abundant with rich color and divine patterns. Here's the low-down: top look, Nally & Millie jagged stripe knee-length skirt ($78), "Tipper" colorblock top from Velvet ($83). Second look: Nally & Millie Mayan print long skirt ($89), Three Dot henley top in Neptune ($68). Of course, these skirts reverse to black!

The Freedom and Style of a Crossbody Bag.

2011-11-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, I purchased one of our Fossil crossbody bags with the hope of simplifying the contents of my enormous leather tote. Like many women, the size and shape of my pocketbook has evolved in my life from woman-of-the-workplace (slouchy satchel), to new mom (backpack diaper bag) to working mother of three children (tote bag receptacle for my belongings + all the things my kids don't want to carry: water bottle, library book, shin guards, work-in-progress drawing, etc). I need my large totes, including my lovely KeyPer print tote that I adore. But I am seriously tired of carrying it as my primary handbag.

I happily transferred my wallet, cellphone, keys, planner, and my mini-make-up bag to my new black and brown Vintage Reissue crossbody bag (shown above). I strapped this beauty across my torso, over my Prairie Underground hoody and moved effortlessly thru my Friday workday errands. When I was lugging boxes into the post-office and shopping for new store fixtures, I miraculously had both limbs at the ready. And to access anything in my bag, I simply turned a latch, lifted a leather flap and instantly located my wallet, or answered my cellphone. It was beautiful.

We have all the above bags in the store now. Come in, pick you favorite, try it on and take a gander in our mirror. The woman looking back at you will be smiling.

The Neo Country Top from Prairie Underground

2011-11-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

Prairie has a new top for Holiday! This knit top has the look of a chic bolero jacket over a tonal tank, with soft washed-silk panels on the shoulders. And the colors are fantastic. The Roobios is a warm rose with a cocoa tone, and Chambray is a silvery blue. Both look lovely with a pencil skirt from Only Hearts or Red Engine.

New Nomi Jacket from Prairie Underground!

2011-11-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

Can you say urban-chic? The "Nomi" is the new number that all the Prairie fans are talking about. It's constructed of a light-weight recycled fleece. I love the details at the pockets. This piece is a smashing and hip addition to your Prairie collection!

The Big New Totes from Fossil.

2011-11-03T19:48:00.001-07:00

When I ordered this collection in NY at the beginning of this month, I was giddy. First, the prints are glorious. The flower print is on a vibrant violet background. And the birds...seriously, there are not words. Fossil also re-designed all the shapes of the Key-Per collection, just to keep it fresh. This tote is really roomy and wonderful. We also have it in solid, quilted version. All this for $128.

Celebrations of Fall Trends: Sweater Dresses

2011-11-03T19:17:00.001-07:00

The sweater dress is a very "Helena's" look. It's easy, versatile, and works great layered with other pieces or worn alone. Nicole and Natalie are on-trend in their simply styled sweater dresses. Nicole's ankle boots are a great fit for her chunky-knit dress, but my favorite boot with a sweater dress is higher to the knee. Wear it with tights or leggings and a little jacket. Or add a print scarf. We have many, many new sweater dresses in from Nally and Millie, including the blue snake-skin print. The chocolate brown print is from Hazel, and the olive green dress is from Emu. This is a must-have look for fall to winter!

Celebrations of Fall Trends: Bold Stripes

2011-11-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Stripes have been working their sweet way into your wardrobe for two seasons. The trend began in soft and subtle ways...a tiny micro-stripe, or a tone on tone whisper of a print. But now, stripes are singing their song loud and proud! The bold and often broad stripes for fall are a stunning, chic and casual additions to your wardrobe. Kate Moss and Rihanna look smooth and effortless in their striped sweaters. (And ladies, no matter how you feel about Ms. Moss, that girl knows how to put together an outfit.) Our looks here are by (in order): Three Dots, Dex, and Kerisma. There are many, many more striped looks at Helena's including dresses, sweaters, t-shirts, and open cardys.

Velvet silk and jersey top. Lovely Holiday look.

2011-10-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

When I saw this top (called the Pura) in the Velvet NY showroom, it was sampled in this color, Vintage Berry. When I expressed my oohs and ahhs, the rep told me that all the buyers were swooning over this top. I remembered that adoration when this top arrived in the store this week. Oh, how pretty it is. The front is a supple washed silk, while the sleeves and back are a soft jersey. And the color is a silvery lavendar that is so sophisticated.

Kensie Shirtdress in Beautiful Print.

2011-10-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

Call it a water print or a woodgrain print...any way you see it, it's lovely and modern. This sheer shirtdress from Kensie has a grey underpinning and is just all around chic and wonderful.

Testament Poncho at Helena's.

2011-10-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

Looking for an easy new piece to keep you on-trend this season? This cowlneck poncho from Testament will get you there girl! It's also super cozy.

Helena's Has Your Favorites Fall Looks from Three Dots!

2011-10-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Our last two Three Dots deliveries have come in with a one-two punch! These beautiful separates have stylish possibilities for work, evening, and chic everyday wear. From the top: striped & belted cardy, pebble print crossover top, and (my fav) the scoopneck top with dotted sleeve...we have this in Ponderosa (a blue/ green).

Three Dots Wrap Dress: The Wonder Dress.

2011-10-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know which asset is more stunning about this dress, the print, which is a warm grey on black pebble (or lizard) print....or the cut which is a flattering crossover with pretty draping at the waist. Together they make one pretty fabulous dress. So Three Dots likes to style their models all leggy and glam (it works for them), but at Helena's we like this dress with black patterned tights (Spanx tights!) and a chic ankle boot. Or add a wide belt around the waist, or top it all off with a fitted black jacket. Or, of course, wear it to a holiday party with a pair of sleek black heels as shown. The bottom line is this dress is versatile...and so so pretty.

Celebrations of Fall Trends: Lace, Lace, Lace!

2011-10-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Celebrating fall trends is easy when you have pieces that look like these! Oh, how fantastic is lace? We have it in tops, dresses and divine skirts. Let's start with the photos at the top....(ahem) we don't have the runway looks from Jason Wu, or the red lace dress from the British line Erdem. However, we have lots of looks you can afford. The lace tunic/dress from Only Hearts has a turquoise blue underpinning that brings out the special floral print to the lace. As many of you know, Only Hearts began (and continues) as a lingerie line, so they do lace daywear particularly well. We have other skirts and dresses from Only Hearts with stunning lace detail. The final top is from Mystree and is paired here with an aqua Last Tango tank. This lace top come without an under-cami which provides versatility to wear it with any cami in your closet. I love the casual cut of this Mystree top. It has uber-soft cuffs and trim and feels like your favorite t-shirt. Wear it with jeans for a completely on-trend fall look!

Celebrations of Fall Trends: The Poncho.

2011-10-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the many stunning trends this season, we are highlighting a few each week! To start the festivities, I introduce, the poncho. It's dramatic, versatile, very flattering, and a lot of fun! It's a way to look modern and chic with very little effort. I have been wearing the burgundy double breasted poncho from Dex (at top) with skinny jeans and boots, and the outfit couldn't be easier or more comfortable. Come in and see our sweater knit ponchos and poncho tops. The second open-work knit number is from woodenships. Beautiful!

New Tulle at Helena's! As always, chic and well-priced.

2011-10-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

A sweet little collection arrived from Tulle on Friday, including these four pieces. (We sold one of the floral crossover dresses right out of the box!) The florals on the skirt and dress are following a "Dark Floral" trend for fall that features colorful floral prints on dark (black, charcoal, navy, hunter green) backgrounds. It's a lovely way to bring print in for fall!

Dex sweaters are divine!

2011-10-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

The Dex sweaters for fall are so chic it hurts! The top sweater coat is at Helena's in an on-trend burnt orange. The second cape sweater is at Helena's in the plum color shown. I am a bit obsessed with this second look, with it's double-breasted buttons and pockets.

Currently in our Franklin Street window...

2011-10-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Jessica brought a mix of green hues to our Frankin Street window! Olive, emerald, hunter, moss, deep green...it's all good.

We love the Silversands sweater dress from Emu.

2011-10-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through the Garnet Hill catalog last night and came upon the Silversands sweater dress from Emu. We have this pretty merino wool piece at Helena's and it's fantastically versatile and comfortable. It's currently in our window (top pic) with a french terry open cardy and a Kerisma loop scarf.

Voluspa Candles are at Helena's.

2011-10-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

The fall scents for Voluspa candles are in! We have 2-wick candles from the Maison Rouge and Maison Noir collections (shown) and 3-wick and mini single wick candles from the ever-popular Seasons collection. These are fantastic house-warming gifts, birthday or shower gifts. And if you are getting your holiday shopping in early, get these while they last. They are very popular this time of year!

Anatomy of a NY Buying Trip. Day Three: Hazel Apparel & Fossil Bags.

2011-10-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

For the final day of my NY spring buying trip I visited Latitude showroom which carries Hazel. Hazel is a line that mixes soft feminine details with modern trends. We have carried this line for years, but it's a new addition to the Latitude showroom. It was nice to connect with the new reps and pick favorite new pieces for holiday and spring. My last stop of the day was to the Fossil showroom on 5th Avenue. This big, stylized showroom was overflowing with activity, including a model casting for their upcoming catalog...seriously beautiful (and tall!) people everywhere. I settled in with Ashley, our rep, and worked through holiday and spring deliveries of the divine Key Per line of laminated print bags, and picked up some leather cross-body bags as well. My favorites are the compact black and tan crossbody bag pictured at top, and the foldover crossbody bag I am wearing in the middle pic. Whew!

Anatomy of a NY Buying Trip. Day Two: Velvet, Dex, Red Engine Jeans & Maggy London!

2011-10-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

Oh what a beautiful day in NY! Sunshine, a crisp fall breeze and lots of spring fashions to view. I started my day with coffee and an appointment with Finding Showrooms to view Velvet for spring. For next season from Velvet, I stress the word, "maxi". This knit line has amazing maxi dresses and maxi length skirts. So cute. Then I ventured to see Nia at Market showroom which features Dex. Our current inventory of Dex features beautiful, richly colored sweaters and sweater coats. For next season the winners are voluminous print tees like the ones pictured above. Lovely.

2011-10-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

I then skipped over to Blend Showroom to see Jenny and the collection of denim from Red Engine. New beauties for spring include colored denim crops, and the customer favorite Cinder jean in ocean blue. And my last stop of the day was to the showroom of Maggy London, our classic dress line. Spring features chic day dresses with lots of color and bold prints...and again a fantastic maxi dress!

Anatomy of a NY Buying Trip. Day One: woodenships and Tulle.

2011-10-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Helena's is filled (seriously filled) with brilliant fall fashions for you to enjoy! And I am forging ahead to buy for Spring 2012. I buy fashions 6 months ahead of time and our carefully selected clothes and accessories are shipped months later in the appropriate season. It keeps me on my toes. Today I began a buying trip to NY with a visit to the woodenships showroom. This sweater and accessory line produces colorful, innovative, wearable pieces for every season. (The stripe Nicki cardigan was the runaway hit of this September.) Noreen and her team showed me an amazing collection of knits for late fall into early spring. My favorites: the chevron print pullovers and the crocheted scoopneck. There is always something to look forward to at Helena's!

2011-10-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

I also met with the lovely Chloe in the Tulle showroom today! Tulle is a line that does beautiful tops, dresses and coats that are special additions to our store every season. For next season, I was looking for print dresses, lace pieces, and tops with a novelty flair. Spring Tulle has all that and more. My favorite garments are floral skirts and graphic print dresses. Two knock-out pieces: a black and white print maxi-dress, and bird-in-flight print top in two colors.

New Prairie Underground

2011-09-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a better way to end the month of September than with a brand new Prairie Underground order. For all of us Cloak Hoodie devotees the Long Cloak Hoodie in New Blue is just divine. The beloved falcon Dress is also back in stock, shown above in khaki, we have the Falcon in black, cool green and dusk...which despite it's name is a very pretty rose tinged color. One of the newest styles this season that we adore is the denim minimalist dress. This sexy structured denim dress is flattering and functional enough for everyday wear. As always, sizes are limited, shop early for best selection.

Fall Trend Alert: Polka Dots on Navy.

2011-09-26T18:28:00.001-07:00

We at Helena's have a special place in our hearts for micro polka dots. We had a few charming dot tops in for spring and we were delighted to see the trend expand to outerwear this fall. The pics of the lovely famous-girls wearing dots-on-navy are true representations of this pretty trend. See it at our store in this knock-out coat from Tulle. Double-breasted with a chic lapels and a feminine kick-out in the skirt. And...it's hard to see in this image, but the polka dots are ruby-red. Fantastic!

Breathtaking Lia Molly Sweaters Arrive Today!

2011-09-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

Your heart will skip a beat when you see the new Liamolly sweater for fall. Seema Sudan, creates this beautiful sweater line out of her New Orleans studio. We have the Hummingbird, which is a stunning red cowlneck tunic ($208), and the Sparrow, a lovely red and silver tie cardigan ($233). As always with this line, these are limited editions at Helena's! Visit Liamolly's website to see her entire glorious collection!

New Tulle: Peacock and Orange

2011-09-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

A new delivery of Tulle landed today and it is chock full of gorgeous hues for Fall.Tulle is a fantastic, trend driven and wonderfully affordable line. We have lovely textured sweaters in burnt orange and peacock. The star of the show is the classic vintage coat in a striking color they call indigo. I can't even express how much we I love this coat.This deep rich blue will turn many heads and is sure to sell out quick.

Get your Prairie Online from Helena's @ Local Hem!

2011-09-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

Some of our favorite Prairie Underground fashions are available from Helena's online at Local Hem. Visit this blog post from Local Hem blogger and head-honcho Colleen King. Read more by clicking here.

The Minimalist Denim dress from Prairie Underground.

2011-09-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

Along with cashmere sweaters, shrunken jean-jackets, ankle boots, and striped tees, I count "the denim dress" as one of my all-time fashion favorites. Prairie gave us the Denim Day dress for spring, and this new beauty for fall. This dress straddles that chic/casual line with graceful modernism. Seamed in all the right places, with a full zip up the back and an embellished zip at the shoulder. Wear it with tights or leggings. The lovely Minimalist, $193.

Prairie Underground Carpenter Jeans at Helena's!

2011-09-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

We are in love with the newest addition to our denim wall. The Prairie Underground Carpenter jean has all the modern stitching and design innovation we expect from Prairie, with a stream-line clean fit. When I ordered these jeans at the Designer & Agents show in NY, everyone on the show floor was talking about this new pant. We have them in this classic blue wash, $173.