It’s here—we’re in that stretch of winter that seems to last a lifetime. Slippers are a must, you’re starting to see Lifetime and Hallmark movies two—maybe three—times now (er, is that just me?), and lets face it: You don’t feel like moving from the couch. That’s OK! It only happens once a year right? Right…
In honor of staying indoors, I suggest you don a cozy robe, pour a glass of wine and crank up your favorite tunes for a well-earned day at the (home) spa with these fabulous products we’ve selected to fit your body’s every need.
(Clockwise from left)
Bracing Silver Birch Thermal Muscle Soak. A capful of this soothing, rustic-scented soak is sure to help you unwind after a long day. $28 by Molton Brown
Bodywash Infused Body Buffer. A scrubber made of nourishing lemongrass, sea kelp extract and olive oil sloughs away dead skin for a silky smooth finish. $10 by Spongelle
Rose Petal Pedicure Soak. Your pre-polish routine just got an upgrade—soak your feet in this luxe blend of sea salt, milk, roses and tapioca. $12.50 by Carol’s Daughter
Purifying Cleansing Gel. A quick rub of this blend of rosemary and tangerine oxygenates the skin like a breath of fresh air. $50 by Tammy Fender
Myrrhea Anti-Frizz Silkening Shampoo. Let your locks soak up five minutes of intense nourishment from this blend of avocado oil and other frizz-fighting extracts. $30 by Rene Furterer
Makeover Ridge Filler. This pink-hued polish not only conceals imperfections, but moonlights as a nail treatment that pumps protein, vitamins and moisture into your nails. $18 by DERMELECT
Honey Scrub. This decadent, sweetly scented scrub renews skin’s moisture by turning to a luxe, moisturizing oil on contact. $105 by Natura Bisse
Photo credit: wkowtv.com
If you had a chance to catch Wake up Wisconsin Monday morning on WKOW, you might have seen little ole’ me talking about holiday fashion with Barbara Vaughn. Barbara and I headed to The Purple Goose in Verona to chat about a few quick and inexpensive updates for holiday dressing.
Here are a few of my tips:
1. Stand out with statement jewelry. Give new life to those detailed dresses that have been in your closet for years by adding a statement necklace or glamorous earrings. Just be sure the necklace doesn’t compete with any detailing.
- (Shown above: Dress courtesy of The Purple Goose; Necklace courtesy of Anthropologie)
2. Add a cardigan and a scarf. Thought you could never get more use out of those cotton dresses? Think again! A cardigan over the top provides a colorful twist, and a scarf with a hint of sparkle is the perfect icing on your (style) cake. Click here for instructions on tying the scarf as shown in the segment.
- (Dress and cardigan courtesy of The Purple Goose; Scarf courtesy of Cornblooms, Hilldale)
3. Belt it! Even those shapeless bags in the back of your closet can look refreshed and refined! Sling a belt across your hips or try a thicker, waist belt for an hourglass figure.
- (Belt courtesy of Cornblooms, Hilldale; Dress courtesy of J. LaMore)
4. Try some tights. No matter what dress you’ve planned on wearing for your outings, chances are you’ll want a little leg coverage to prepare for chilly weather. Throw out those nude pantyhose and choose colored tights for a chic accessory. If this season’s trendy lace, patterns or colors aren’t your style, there’s nothing wrong with basic, opaque black tights.
- (Tights courtesy of Cornblooms, Hilldale)
Some require a quick walk outside or breath of fresh air. Others just need to vent their frustration on someone close by. But for me? I relieve my stress by painting my nails. There’s something about slathering on a new coat of polish on my fingernails that soothes my soul. Especially when I’m utilizing one of the hottest colors of the season—purple!
Try my method for stress relief with any of these pretty purple selections, and you’re sure to surface energized—and more importantly—stylish!
Enjoy!
Left to right:
“Angora Cardi.” $8 by essie; essie.com
“Bruised.” $18 by rescue beauty lounge; rescuebeauty.com
“Vintage Merlot.” $7 by Honeybee Gardens; honeybeegardens.com
“Deliciously Dark.” $3.50 by Rimmel London; Wal-Mart
“Black Cherry.” $8 by BORGHESE; Walgreens
Upon seeing the Sarah B. Fine Stationery booth at our Madison Women’s Expo a few weeks back, I was reminded of a great gift-wrapping idea I got from the shop’s two owners—Jan and Renee—that I thought would be a great addition to my latest obsession with scarves. This is scarf-tying with a holiday gift-giving twist!
It’s called the Bobo scarf (shown at left), and it not only serves as just that—a scarf—but also an elegant gift-wrapping option! When I first saw it, I could hardly believe that those stylishly wrapped gifts were easy to do at home…until I watched the following video. Check it out for yourself! This scarf is wrapping paper’s NEW, glamorous eco-friendly cousin.
And rumor has it Sarah B. is getting tons of new colors and styles in for the holiday season—one in every color for every lucky lady on your list!
Sarah B. Fine Stationery is located in Hilldale, Madison; (608) 233-5100. The mother-daughter owners also write a blog: http://swankystationery.blogspot.com
Industry Icon: Halley Jones
Owner, The Purple Goose
By Chelsea Roehl
“Fashion is a right, not a privilege.” This quote completely epitomizes the philosophy behind Verona’s (and now downtown Madison’s) best kept secret—The Purple Goose!
What a fun shopping stop! Once a house, now a great place to shop, The Purple Goose in Verona is quaint, stylish women and children’s boutique. Owner Halley Jones says the shop was originally created just for children then later, she transitioned into clothes for kids, moms and all-around fashionable females alike.
When you walk in, you’ll find trendy, brightly pattered clothes, adorable hats, scarves and jewelry hanging from every fixture. The eye is constantly wandering and finding new treasures.
My favorite part about the shop is that every item in the store is under $99. Jones wanted to give her customers affordable fashion—hence, the “fashion is a right” quote. Along with being affordable, all items are current and trendy. If you are looking for the perfect gift (for yourself or otherwise!), you are going to find it at the Purple Goose.
Also, it’s worth noting that Jones just launched her new, user-friendly Web site, AND opened a second location downtown Madison right across from Marigold Kitchen at 117 S. Pinckney St., sharing space with Studio Quest! Jones has been a busy woman these past few months.
Tip: If you visit, make sure you check out the “Last One” rack located near the kid’s play area. The rack is filled with items that were immediate hot sellers and there are only one left of each item!
Chelsea’s top picks at The Purple Goose:
1. “Live Free” tees by Little Bay, $38
2. Blue cocktail dress, $70
3. Rose gold plated belt bracelets, $30 for a set of 2
The Purple Goose | 400 W. Verona Ave., Verona; (608) 845-2368 or shopthepurplegoose.com
Chelsea is a fashion intern at BRAVA, and can be reached at chelsea@bravaenterprises.com.
If you’ve gotten your hands on BRAVA Magazine’s December issue, then I hope you were able to peruse the fashion feature, “Puttin’ on the Glitz.” The BRAVA crew headed to the glamorous Mansion Hill Inn in downtown Madison for of playing dress up—in the most glamorous sense of the word, including statement jewelry, gorgeous gowns and my personal favorite: high heels. Below, you’ll find an exclusive photo that wasn’t included in the spread. Thanks to our model, Amy Strohfeldt.
And an aside—if you haven’t been to the Mansion Hill Inn since its recent renovation, it’s a must-see, especially if you have special guests coming into town for the holidays. The Inn is impeccably clean with gorgeous architecture. We had such an excellent time there, as did our models. Thank you Mansion Hill!
On Amy: Dress by Carmen Marc Valvo Collection, $640, necklace by R.J. Graziano, $68; Woldenberg’s. “Opal” heels by Steve Madden Luxe, $70; DSW Shoe Warehouse.
"Elizabeth ruffle cocktail dress" by Milly, $360
Also, I’m proud to report that the purchase of one of the dresses used in our December fashion spread (shown at left) directly benefits VH1’s Save the Music Campaign! Madison’s own Twigs has partnered with VH1 to donate 5 percent of the proceeds from various items available at shoptwigs.com (and in the store) to the Save the Music Foundation.
Popular brands featured for the foundation at shoptwigs.com include Shaesby, Milly, Ben Amun, Archive, Gerard Yosca and so many more.
In a statement on their Web site, the Twigs crew says, “VH1 Save the Music Foundation has made a positive difference in the lives of millions of children and we at shoptwigs.com are proud to be part of their ongoing effort to ensure children everywhere have the opportunity of expression through music.”
What a feel-good idea! We were honored to showcase this dress in our December issue. For a peek at the Twigs VH1 Save the Music catalog, click here, or click on the dress to purchase it directly. Just be sure to enter the promotion code: SAVETHEMUSIC at the checkout, and you’ll also receive free shipping and a VH1 Save the Music T-shirt (while supplies last).
Thanks to…
DSW Shoe Warehouse | Greenway Station, Middleton; (608) 831-7766
Elevation Salon and Spa | 302 E. Washington Ave., Madison; (608) 661-3636
i du hair | 21 N. Butler St., Madison; (608) 630-0766
Jazzman | 340 State St., Madison; (608) 256-2062
Mansion Hill Inn | 424 N. Pinckney St., Madison; (608) 255-0172
Twigs | 1925 Monroe St., Madison; (608) 255-4363
Woldenberg’s | Greenway Station, Middleton; (608) 829-2002
If you didn’t have a chance to head to the Madison Women’s Expo on Saturday, November 21, you missed the annual event’s first-ever fashion show! Myself, along with Diana Henry, emceed the event and I was able to provide our audience with a few styling tips for the holiday season—thank you to Diana for being such a fantastic on-stage personality!
And thanks to the audience…I received a lot of great feedback, and many women asked me again how to tie scarves. Here are links to a few posts I did a while back. They’re a great help for tying up all types of scarves for the chilly winter days to come.
I also wanted to make sure we gave kudos to three other models who I wasn’t able to include in my previous post about the expo…
Carol Holiday
AGE: 43
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP AT: New York & Company
OCCUPATION: Resource Development Assistant, United Way of Dane County
HOMETOWN: Germantown
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Debra Schneiderwind
AGE: 41
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP AT: Kohl’s, Boston Store
OCCUPATION: Dental Laboratory Technician (for local Prosthodontist)
HOMETOWN: Mount Horeb
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Kate Whitson
AGE: 32
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP AT: Patricia Shoppe, H&M, Lady Moxie and New York & Co.
OCCUPATION: Commercial Real Estate Agent and Pilates Instructor.
HOMETOWN: Madison
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All the models did an absolutely fantastic job! Thanks again to Greenway Station for providing the incredibly stylish clothes, to Kristi Moe of Wisconsin Fashion Week for coordinating the runway show and Rosalee Eichstedt for styling the gorgeous clothes each model wore!
Stay tuned for photos of the Expo Style Show.
Industry Icon: Amy Strohfeldt
Designer/ Creator, Sprouts Images
By Chelsea Roehl
You’ll see Amy Strohfeldt as one of our models for BRAVA’s December fashion feature. I was very intrigued with the necklace she had on at the photo shoot and was surprised to find out it was one of her own creations! By the end of the day I was wearing my own one-of-a-kind necklace that I purchased from Amy.
Luckily, she was kind enough to allow me to pick her brain about her new business.
BRAVA: What was your inspiration to develop this business?
Amy: It’s been an evolution. Ideas for pictures and necklaces came to me faster then I could create them. I chose “Sprouts” because I wanted it to be something that represented new growth and a new beginning. My creative view of the world has always been the same—I appreciate line, texture and shape. I see beauty in simplicity.
BRAVA: What personal goals you have for your business?
Amy: I look forward to creating and sharing a product with people that inspires them in their own lives. All of my designs have a skeleton key, which I feel represents unlocking of a vision…when they are personalized with a charm it offers more meaning. Each piece is handmade, unique and speaks to the person that wears it. I want to share the idea of faith, hope, courage, love—whatever speaks to the heart. Beyond offering these items to people, I personally would love to see this business grow for the opportunities it would give me to express myself creatively and provide for my two kids.
BRAVA: Where do you find the pieces to use for the jewelry?
Amy: I find the keys in antique stores, and the leather, wire, chain and charms are found from suppliers, and the stones have come from different sources. I keep open to the idea of adding new stones or perhaps crystals. Currently I am using turquoise and opals. Stones that look natural and earthy are what I look for.
BRAVA: Where can we find and purchase your items?
Amy: I am working to develop my website, www.sproutsimages.com, and should have that up and running by the end of November. I am also selling my work in two stores in the Madison area. Driftless Studio on State Street and Sergenian’s in Hilldale. My goal is to be in 10 stores by the holidays!
Chelsea’s top pick: Vintage Key Inspirational Necklace, $39
Sprouts Images |Madison; (608) 438-2411 or sproutsimages@yahoo.com
Chelsea is a fashion intern at BRAVA, and can be reached at chelsea@bravaenterprises.com.
The weekend we’ve been preparing all year for is here! The Madison Women’s Expo is THIS WEEKEND at Exhibition Hall at Alliant Energy Center. If you haven’t already gotten your FREE ticket, go to MadisonWomensExpo.com and get one today!
One quick thing I wanted to mention about the Expo is something unique to this year’s event—we’ve collaborated with Kristi Moe of Wisconsin Fashion Week and Greenway Station to bring you a glamorous showcase of winter fashions—Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Yours truly will be on stage giving tips throughout the process. You’ll find out how to layer, how to tie a scarf, how to accessorize—the whole shebang! Diana Henry of WKOW-27 will be onstage as well emceeing the event.
Backstage? We’ve got the Wisconsin Fashion Week team, including Rosalee Eichstedt, head stylist, and founder of Wisconsin Fashion Week, Kristi Moe. On the hair and makeup team, we’ve got professional stylists from the Ultimate Spa Salon…I’ve already heard inklings of the plan for hair and makeup, and ladies—it’s going to be good!
Alas, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the real stars of the fashion show—our models! Back in October, BRAVA and Wisconsin Fashion Week teamed up for a model casting call at Claddagh Irish Pub in Greenway Station. Women of all ages lined up and anxiously awaited their turn to strut their stuff—many of which were BRAVA readers. It’s so great to get our readers involved like this! Here’s a little bit about each of the models you’ll see Saturday on stage!
Marcia Teale
AGE: 61
FAVORITE STORES TO SHOP: CJ Banks and Boston Store
OCCUPATION: Retired teacher
HOMETOWN: Albany, Wis.
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Pam McIntyre
AGE: 64
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: JC Penney (they have a great petite section!)
OCCUPATION: Retired elementary school teacher
HOMETOWN: Belleville, Wis.
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Sudha Quamme
AGE: 35
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: J.Crew
OCCUPATION: Clinical Research Physician at UW Hospital
HOMETOWN: Freeport on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas
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Amanda Roberts
AGE: 30
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Local specialty stores
OCCUPATION: Personal trainer, fitness instructor, model and special education teacher
HOMETOWN: I currently reside in Mt. Horeb but I grew up in the Fox Cities
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Margertha Mclean
AGE: 25
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Cache
OCCUPATION: Grad Student
HOMETOWN: Columbus, Ohio
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Jen Engel
AGE: 34
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Marshalls
OCCUPATION: Go Red for Women National Spokeswoman
HOMETOWN: Sun Prairie
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Carol Maas
AGE: 64
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Kohl’s
OCCUPATION: Radiologic Technologist for Dean Clinic Waunakee
HOMETOWN: Waunakee, Wis.
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Vanika Mock
AGE: 38
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Boston Store
OCCUPATION: Realtor/broker associate with Keller Williams Realty
HOMETOWN: Chicago
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Elaine Strom
AGE: 58
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Kohl’s
OCCUPATION: An educational Consultant for DPI (David Paul Issac)
HOMETOWN: Deforest, WI
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Laurie Fieldhouse
AGE: 49
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: JCPenney
OCCUPATION: Works for an embroidery/silk screen shop part-time and is also a water aerobic instructor
HOMETOWN: Richland Center, Wis.
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Mary Sue Perez
AGE: 44
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Savers
OCCUPATION: Teaches water aerobics for seniors at the Princeton Club and has been an actor/commercial voice-over for more than 20 years working with places such as American TV and Piggly Wiggly
HOMETOWN: Allenton, Wis.
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Brandie Delarosa
AGE: 34
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Zara
OCCUPATION: Account Manager, Pharmaceutical Software
HOMETOWN: Rockford, Illinois
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Allison Jorgenson (not pictured!)
AGE: 27
FAVORITE STORE TO SHOP: Banana Republic
OCCUPATION: Technical Recruiter
HOMETOWN: Madison, Wis.
For more information, check out the Madison Women’s Expo website and print your free entry ticket today!
Also, don’t miss Wisconsin Fashion Week’s event FRIDAY NIGHT—Fashion Friday’s! Visit WisconsinFashionWeek.com for more information.
I’ve finally had a few days to think and ingest my whole opera experience, and I must say, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The singing was certainly unlike anything I’ve ever heard live—of course, I’ve heard it on TV and movies, but live is a whole other ballgame. The actors were certainly cast for their immense talents, and I felt honored to be able to hear them belt their lungs out. I will say that it was a bit easy to start day dreaming as I wasn’t able to understand the French (if only they’d been speaking Spanish…I might have caught a word here or there!), but unlike many other theaters, the Overture had that handy little screen with the words on top. Though at times I had a hard time keeping up, it was all the perfect balance of old fashioned opera glory and new-age technology.
The costumes and scale of it all was breathtaking. As I mentioned, to be able to go on the set and touch and feel each piece, and then see it put to work on stage was an amazing experience. Additionally, to be able to actually meet and chat with the show’s director (and Madison native) Candace Evans was a thrill, and that just goes to show, once again, the true hospitality and down-to-earth nature of our community—something I have come to love about this town. And, I loved seeing Maestro John DeMain up there furiously conducting the orchestra. When his arms went up for the first time that night, I swear the music must have been coursing through his veins and he was conducting with all his might!
Last thing I’m going to touch on for my wrap-up is just the overall feel of the evening. The night had all the components of a big city show, like those I’ve seen in Chicago or NYC, including glamorous fashions, elaborate sets and overall professional presentation, but in an odd way, the entire thing felt like such a small world with many familiar faces. It had all the components of little ol’ Madison that I love, and I was so proud that our city was able to bring such a high caliber performance to the community. The Madison Opera has so much to be proud of!
Speaking of, I’d like to take a moment to send a heartfelt thank you to the Madison Opera for inviting Sarah and I on this opportunity. I would absolutely do this again, in a heartbeat!
