Photo curtesy of Partisan.

In the February issue of BRAVA (on stands this week!) we powered up our laptops and went hunting for great online retailers who call Madison home. To our delight, we discovered that if you want to click your way to local stores, there are a plethora of great options! In addition to the three featured in our Live in Style section, here is a list of several more stores sure to satisfy your craving for the latest styles and beauty products!

_____

The Soap Opera
What it is: While you won’t have the same sensory experience on their website as you do walking into their State Street store, The Soap Opera’s website is still a convenient place to head for all the high-quality soaps and beauty accessories your nose will fall in love with.
What we love: Their selection of oils and soaps that can be customized with essential oils to match your mood or personality. 
Where to go: thesoapopera.com

_____

Twigs
What it is: Boasting a huge selection of both well-known and up-and-coming designers, Twigs carries ultra-chic clothing, handbags, jewelry and accessories that will set you apart from the crowd. Their online store has a wonderful, easy-to-use layout, and the selection is as wide an in their retail space on Monroe Street.
What we love: The beautiful, high-quality pieces that will make you feel like you belong on the runway.
Where to go: shoptwigs.com

_____

Here are the fabulous stores featured in our February issue:

Duluth Trading Co.
What it is: Whether you work hard in the garden or around the house, Duluth Trading Co.’s mission is to keep you comfortable all the while. Simple and casual but big on quality and design, they boast a large online shop along with a Mt. Horeb retail outlet.
What we love: The casual, long-lasting denim and comfy shirts you’ll want to live in.
Where to go: duluthtrading.com

Fair Indigo
What it is: From apparel for the whole family to jewelry, gifts and snuggly accessories, Fair Indigo offers one-stop shopping for a variety of fair trade goods at a very fair price.
What we love: With clothes that are cozy, colorful and always in style, look for simple dresses and tops perfect for layering each season.
Where to go: fairindigo.com

Partisan (pictured)
What it is: Specializing in American-made designer fashions, this recently opened e-retailer combines high-style goods with a high goal: to support American businesses and create jobs.
What we love: Shop for sleek denim, eye-catching dresses and a variety of chic accessories to top your look off just right.
Where to go: partisanstyle.com

_____

Handmade Heaven:
When you’re in the market for stylish apparel and accessories (for your wardrobe or your home), Etsy.com is one of the best places to find handmade, local goods online. From the home page hit the “Shop Local” link to search sellers based in Madison and you’ll be treated to a selection of uber-cute and vintage-inspired jewelry, clothes and home décor so huge, it’ll be hard to click away.

Guard leather against puddles:  When puddles hide around every corner, protect leather shoes from damage with a waterproofing spray. But be careful of the kind you pick, as petroleum-based sprays can dissolve the glue holding your shoes together. For smooth leather, look to a waterproofer made of animal oil or beeswax. It may take a bit more work to apply, but is often the best way to go to keep your shoes safe until spring.

Wash away salt: When sidewalk salt takes up residence on your shoes, wipe your footwear gently from end to end with a cleaner made of 1 part vinegar and 20 parts water. This handy trick can be used on purses, too, which often pick up salt when bumping against car doors and more.

Suede it ain’t so: If suede isn’t properly treated, tromping through salty, slushy conditions can stain (and eventually crack) the shoes. While suede sprays do exist, winterizing this style of shoe (as well as some leathers) is often best left to professionals, who can clean, moisturize and protect the shoes for winter wear. Head to any local shoe or repair shop and ask about their winterizing options, and your favorite boots and shoes will live to see another season.

Online Extra

Not your dad’s shoe covers: For that pair you want to give extra protection or want to wear out and about longer, overshoes are always an option. Brands such as Neos keep the wet snow out and warmth in, and are even less conspicuous when covering up a pair of boots.

Be a quick-change artist: Some shoes just aren’t winter-friendly, such as stilettos and finely made dress shoes, which often become cold, wet and damaged quickly. But for some events, fancy shoes are a must. Rather than suffering through the snow, head out in more protective footwear and then change into your nicer shoes once you arrive at your destination.

Nosheen Ajmal, modeling a glam look by Lashionista's in the December fashion shoot of BRAVA

The owner of Lashionista’s, Altenburg is the only lash extensionist in Madison to offer extensions by NovaLash. But for Altenburg, it’s been an unlikely journey getting here. A former union laborer who worked building roads and shoveling concrete, Altenburg decided to pave her own in path in 2008 by going to cosmetology school. And when a friend introduced her to lash extensions, the idea of specializing in the treatment, well, stuck like glue.

Not only does Lashionista’s specialize in the extensions, which come in a wide range of colors and looks, they also offer a variety of skin treatments to help tone, beautify, cleanse, repair or give a healthy boost to the skin. For more insight on her services Altenburg chatted with BRAVA about what it’s like to go under the glue gun and why you’ll be batting your eyes with confidence after getting lash extensions.

What is the lash extension process like?

You lay on a massage table—most clients sleep through it. The first treatment takes about two hours. The extensions are meticulously applied lash by lash with an award-winning, long-lasting, medical-grade lash extension adhesive. They are weightless, wonderful and truly transformative.  Plus you eliminate the need for mascara, curling your lashes, and some women even forgo eyeliner.

One of Altenberg's bridal looks

What can women expect afterward?

Busy women love them! It cuts a half hour out of the daily beauty routine. You wake up with beautiful curled black lashes. You can swim and exercise in them and there are NO smudges or clusters and bands of lashes lying on your cheek. And NovaLash, the brand I use has earned a reputation as ‘the healthiest’ professional eyelash extension system. Their continued use will result in more of your own natural lashes.

How much do lash extensions cost?

A new set is $175 and after that fills are $65. Maintenance is needed every three to four weeks. They are less than $800 a year, which is about a cup of coffee a day.

What’s the outlook for this new trend in cosmetic care?

I think this is a hot trend that is not going anywhere anytime soon. Women are busier than ever, and love the little conveniences, like eyelash extensions that make their day that much easier, and make them look great. I still get excited when a new client opens her eyes and is shocked at how beautiful her eyes are!

Lashionista’s is located at 110 Enterprise Dr., Ste. 105, Verona. For more info, visit lashionistas.com or call (608) 345-9956. By appointment only.

For a few more ideas, we’ve dug up some resources for you! It was almost two years ago when our intrepid former style editor, Mollie Shambeau (who still writes for us as she travels the world and keeps us laughing via her blog!), put together two tutorials offering four different options for working with several shapes of scarves. Find them here and here!

For examples on video, one of our amazing Madison Women’s Expo exhibitors, Wrapsody, has put together this tutorial, offering multiple ways to work with your scarves as well.

And that’s a wrap!

Mall of America Trend Specialist Sara Rogers

It’s that time of year once again—the 13th annual Madison Women’s Expo at Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. While the weekend will be chock-full of shopping, sipping, sampling and, of course, celebrity guests, it’s also a weekend full of style.

Be sure to catch a glimpse of the complete schedule of each day’s events and start planning your weekend! But first, download your $5 off admission coupon here.

We’ll see you at the show!

Head over to (shoo), one of Madison’s hautest boutiques for shoes, for an after-hours shopping event this Thursday, Nov. 3 from 6-8 p.m. Hosted by College Fashionista, a blog following the local college fashion scene, the event will offer the chance to chat with other shoe-nistas while enjoying mocktails, hors d’oeuvres, fabulous door prizes and a 15 percent discount on everything in the store. But make sure you dress to impress, as the shopper with the most unique shoes gets a $50 gift certificate to (shoo).

Whether you’re looking for that perfect pair of heels to complement your favorite outfit or funky new boots to wear all winter, it’s an event that’s sure to knock your socks off!

Visit (shoo) at 109 State St., Madison or call (608) 467-6325.

For our scenic backdrop we headed to the rooftop of the Madison Children’s Museum, which offered a great panorama of a few downtown office buildings. And yes, the fashion biz can be hard work (no, really!) but in this fun environment and with these great models, we were all smiles and had loads of fun putting this shoot together!

So before we say farewell to short sleeves and bare knees and get ready to pull out our tall boots (and keep them out), here’s a little peek behind the scenes of “Power Play,” our October fashion spread with professional attire inspiration.

Thank you again to the following who helped make this shoot a success…

Ann Taylor | West Towne Mall, Madison; (608) 833-4564
Boston Store | East and West Towne Malls, Madison; (608) 241-1111 and (608) 833-9066
Chauette | 7466 Hubbard Ave., Middleton; (608) 836-5366
Cornblooms | Hilldale, Madison; (608) 238-9282
Madison Children’s Museum | 100 N. Hamilton St., Madison; (608) 256-6445
Terese Zache Designs | Hilldale, Madison; (608) 310-4100
THORPS Salon | 1988 Atwood Ave., Madison; (608) 467-2222

Look for our November Readers’ Choice issue, hitting stands within a few days and featuring topics (including the focus of our fashion feature) chosen by you!

Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7-9 p.m.

Held at The Legend at Bergamont in Oregon and includes light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Purchase tickets for $25 online or call DAIS at (608) 251-1237. For more details visit their website.

Here in Madison, Renee Roeder-Earley has been crafting up artful hats for years and her work will be included in a trunk show this weekend at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art featuring handmade and stylish works of wearable art. While her work is definitely more down-to-earth than the jaw-dropping and often gravity-defying hats that are all the rage for British royalty, they are still head-turning ornaments that pack a stylish punch.

Photo courtesy of Zane Williams

For Roeder-Earley, the fascination with accessories started with a recycled blue jean hat, and her collection still exudes that charm and fun. Roeder-Earley took some time to chat with BRAVA about hats, pins and the upcoming trunk show at the MMOCA.

How did you get started making hats and pins?

I have always been drawn to hats and started making my own as a teenager in the ’70s. In 1993, I decided to enter an art fair with hats and I’ve been making hats full time ever since.

The pins grew out of hat making as embellishments. I had been putting wool flowers on hats for a few years, [and] had the idea to make them jewelry on their own.

How do you approach making hats?

I make hats almost every day. I may make up to six of a popular hat in different sizes for a big summer show. Most of my stock for an art fair are of only a few basic styles, but varied in fabric and embellishments so that no two are alike. For a fair, I also bring along a few hats that are more extravagant, and one or two for all-out fun.

Roeder-Earley wearing one of her creations

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from art, nature, historical costume and architecture. Many of my hats have a feel to them depending on what era I happen to be channeling; sometimes they have a timeless feel.

What do you think about when making new pieces?

[When] I come up with ideas, I try to shut out what is current and go with my gut feeling of what strikes me as interesting, fun and new.

What kinds of pieces will you be bringing to the trunk show?

I am really excited to show hats that are more artistic and sculptural than I usually allow myself to do. I have limited my palate to gray and black in order to focus on the shape. I hope people will see them as wearable sculpture.

Where can local women buy your pieces?

I sell mainly at art fairs. My pins are available at the MMOCA Museum Store, online at Artful Home and Etsy and my hats and pins can be found at The Century House.

See more of Roeder-Earley’s hats, as well as purses and scarves from other artisans, at the MMOCA Museum Store Urban Accessories Trunk Show Friday, Oct. 14 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Two events coming up next week will help you stock up on bargain finds for fall!

Stop by the Attic Angel Association Office Building (located at the corner of Old Sauk and Junction Road) for their second annual (and expanded) Classic Clothing Sale on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 5-8 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 13., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.for bargain finds galore! The sale will boast donated items for the bargain-conscious shopper looking to find deals for all aspects of life, from high-end business wear and formal attire to casual weekend ensembles and accessories. What’s more, proceeds from the sale will be used to benefit residents of Attic Angel Place, an retirement home providing living services for elderly residents. Check out Attic Angel’s website for more details.

Wednesday evening will also be a great time to grab a group of girls and head over to Hilldale Mall. On Oct. 12, 5-9 p.m., the mall will be hosting a fabulous, “Girls Night Out” shop-til-you-drop event!