LA Made Jacket is Easy-Casual

LA Made is full of little surprises this fall. They upped-the-ante on their jacket and sweater designs, while still offering tried-and-true basics. This little jacket is the definition of easy-style. Think if it as the post-modern sweatshirt...comfortable, versatile, and cozy, yet with some serious modern structure and detail. We have it in this pewter grey. Another one of our favorites (not pictured) is the charcoal and green striped tie-waist cardigan. It has little cable knit in the mix...not to be missed.

Soft Knits with Bold Designs

A wooden ships bouquet of scarves, hats, and gloves has arrived. And the charm is almost too much to bear! I'm a big fan of the fingerless mitten which fits like a cuff with a thumb-hole. These are a mom's dream...imagine wiping a nose, feeding a parking meter, or adjusting a little person's barrette without having to take off a mitten! And for those of you with extra cold digits, there is a version with a flip-top to have the option to cover-up.

Brrrr...It's Cold Outside!

I happily felt an ever-so-fresh chill in the air when I was in NY last week. And today confirmed the end to that possibility of a September "extension of summer". What I'm sayin' is, it's cold outside. Last year, we, at the store, saw you scanning the racks for the winter coat of your dreams. And since we pride ourselves in being "listeners" at Helena's, we have a great selection of coats and jackets this season. Some of my favs are the Tulle Vintage coat, in fuchsia (shown), royal blue, and classic black. Also stylish is the Fillmore hooded black coat, and the Fillmore convertible crop jacket. And as Kensie continues to wow me, they recently delivered a funnel neck coat which could be the coat to end all coats. Come in and cozy up.

Two Girls Working it in NYC

Jessica and I spent most of this week in NY at the Coterie show for spring 2009. In addition to living it up with our friends at Velvet, XCVI, Orla Kiely, and Johnny Was, we walked the floors at the shows and saw a lovely preview for spring. We know, we know, fall has just begun. And we (like you) are loving the fashions that are hitting our store now. But as we enjoy all the knits in purple, fuchsia and grey, we are also looking at the new trends for next season. We saw lots of subtle color and embellishment, say, a buttery yellow voile top with pale grey embroidery. Coral, poppy, and orange are other strong colors, as well as a continuation of the plums and violets we are seeing for fall. Many of you will be happy to hear that we reconnected with the denim line Level 99. We pulled in some fantastic lines as well, including Tee Party, Testament, and Hazel. And the great news in tops and dresses is that we are expanding our Sweet Pea collection to the entire store (we have had Sweet Pea maternity for a few seasons). For now, you all focus on the present...the crisp fall air, and the prospect of a cozy new sweater, and the perfect fall coat. We'll happily gaze into the future for you, and plan the pieces in your spring wardrobe.

These Boots Are Made For Walking..

No really, these are! Tetra launch and Plaza peak boots from Merrell are a great complement to Your fall wardrobe. Both styles are waterproof and designed for maximum comfort. So practical you could wear them everyday. We just adore the strap and button detail on the Tetra Launch in cherry brown. These boots epitomize what we are all about, looking great and being comfortable. Feeling particularly cheeky? Pair them up with some uber cute tights or socks from E.G. Smith. We just got in oodles of new colors.

Sophisticated Fall Fashion From Fillmore

Check out these great new styles from Fillmore. The Tweed vest is a great statement piece that can be paired with jeans, trousers, or a thin skirt and high boots for a fabulous fall silhouette. The convertible wool jacket is pure genius. It has a military flair, but is made with thick soft cashmere wool for snuggly warmth. The best part: the bottom of this little number zips off to turn this into an edgy super cropped jacket. We have the convertible crop in a rich chocolate brown.

Helena's 50% Off SALE!

For those of you in the mood for some savings, check out our abundant end of summer sale. It's a little bit hidden, but we do indeed have a generous rack of summer apparel at 50% off (including the Three Dot wrap dress shown here). Because we have so much fantastic fall clothing arriving, we have moved our sale into the alcove in our dressing rooms. Ask Jessica, Jenn, or Betsy (shout out to our newly hired sister!) and they would be happy to help you.