Spotted: Eye-Catching Bracelets

This month at BRAVA, we’re celebrating everything emerald with a Live in Style page featuring hot accessories in this season’s coolest color. And while out and about scouting colorful products, we came across these beauties. We love that their dazzle and how the design is a blend of casual and chic. They’re simple, classic and perfect for dressing up with a cocktail ensemble or adding a hint of glint to a laid-back look. Even better? They come in an array of hues to help you find your favorite color (or try something new).

Of course, we couldn’t keep our eyes off the emerald bracelet along with the similarly cool hues of navy and acqua. Plus, look at how they sparkle: Who can resist sparkles?

Color Groove bracelets by Brighton, $44 each; available at Plum Crazy, 425 W. Cottage Grove Rd., Cottage Grove; shopplumcrazy.com.

Sneak Peek: A Stop at Local Boutique, Change

The February issue of BRAVA is off to the presses and we will ship it next week. But we admit, we can’t wait to show you a few photos of our recent trip to Change, a trendy new boutique specializing in fair trade clothing and accessories on Madison’s east side.

Though the term “fair trade” may be commonplace in the realm of coffee, it’s still an up-and-coming concept in the fashion industry. But, socially conscious clothing is becoming more in demand all over the world, and locally Change is a great place to see just how stylish this movement has become.

Change stocks fair trade apparel and accessories from countries including Uganda, Bolivia and Cambodia. Shoppers can browse an array of ultra-chic clothing in a range styles–from casual to swanky–while sipping on complimentary fair trade (of course!) coffee.

Read more about the fashionable offerings of Change, and the story of its owner, Nikki Anderson, in the February issue of BRAVA magazine.

Change is located at 1252 Williamson St., Madison.

Berry Bold

Our January issue just hit the stands, but before we say farewell to 2012 for good we’re looking back at the lipstick trend highlighted in the style pages of December. It’s a warm look for the cold weather season: berry lip hues.

In case you’re wondering how to pull of these daring colors, here are a few tips: Try pairing dark crimson hues with fresh, light foundation and blush. Create a balanced glow (and avoid looking too colorful and colownish) by letting your lips take center stage and keeping your other features toned down.

Also, consider your skin tone when picking a berry hue. Dark, sheer shades work best for the fair skinned while medium to darker skin tones can get away with a richer, truer berry.

Left to right: Plum Couture lipstick by Estee Lauder, $25; Stay Mulberry by Estee Lauder, $25; Rare Orchid by Aveda, $16; Rebel Raspberry by Estee Lauder, $25; Stay Cranberry by Estee Lauder, $25.

The Perfect Pre-holiday Event

Tis the season of giving, and if you’re looking for a simple (and relaxing) way to give back this time of year, head to Rejuvenation Spa on Monday, Dec. 24. Receive any service on Christmas Eve day between 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization committed to ending hunger in 16 southwestern counties in Wisconsin.

If time doesn’t allow for a spa service on Christmas Eve, but you’d still like to help out, swing by Rejuvenation Spa anytime during the month of December and drop off non-perishable food items which will also be donated to Second Harvest.

On the Town: New eco-friendly threads arrive at Chauette

Think back to your last clothing shopping trip: the bags, the tags, the stickers, the receipts, the plastic hangers, the cardboard forms inside that fabulous new pair of kicks. There’s no denying it. Retail fashion creates a lot of not-so-eco-friendly trash. This fact has prompted many clothing corporations around the world to reevaluate how their material choices, production methods and packaging affect the environment.

Maureen floral top, available at Chauette

Not surprisingly, many clothing companies are turning to environmentally friendly materials to produce their wears and one such line–Amour Vert–recently arrived on shelves close to Madison. Chauette, a clothing boutique located in Middleton, is now carrying this fashionable line with chic options that range from causal to elegant.

Think shiny, flowy fabrics, ultra-hip striped shirts and simple, sleek dresses with an urban, trendy feel. These are clothes that will definitely make you feel ready to strut the town, while also bragging about how the clothes were made.

Amour Vert is an environmentally conscious corporation whose mission is to provide trendy, sustainable and high-quality clothing using organic material such as bamboo, cotton, silk, soy, hemp and wood pulp. The result is clothing you can feel good about, inside and out!

Check out Amour Vert clothing locally at Chauette at 7466 Hubbard Ave., Middleton or online at shopchauette.com.

Spotted: Baggage Claim

Hit a wall with gift ideas? In this month’s BRAVA we’ve put together a go-to gift guide chock full of fun ideas from local stores. But there were a few other finds around town we couldn’t pass up. Case in point? Know Hope bags.

Who couldn’t use sturdy, multi-purpose, and even stylish bags, right? Made from recycled coffee bean burlap sacks, Know Hope bags are a trendy accessory for the ethical consumer.

Know Hope is also a nonprofit organization that offers food and humanitarian aid to children locally and all over the world, so you can feel good about giving a gift that makes a difference. Find it locally at The Sow’s Ear in Verona.

Shoulder bag, $30, tote bag $35, by Know Hope. The Sow’s Ear, 125 S. Main St., Verona; (608) 848-2755 or knitandsip.com

Spotted: Easy-to-Love Jewelry

There’s so much to be excited about in December: the twinkle of lights bedazzling your neighborhood, the smell of gingerbread, and BRAVA‘s December issue landing in your mail box. As always, we’ve created a gift guide in our December issue full of ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list. But if some of your friends or loved ones have you stumped, here’s another one: hand-crafted jewelry by local artist Gretchen Olson.

This jewelry is perfect for art lovers and fashionistas alike. With bright hues and daring designs, these statement pieces are perfect for anyone looking to add a unique, artful touch to their wardrobe.

Even better, you can rest assured no one will be giving a gift like this. Olson’s pieces, made entirely from clay and silver, are hand-crafted originals and just one of several jewelry items available at Higher Fire Clay Studio. Stop in to pick up some of Olson’s work or, if you’re feeling crafty, fashion some clay jewelry yourself at Higher Fire’s open studio hours.

Check Higher Fire’s website for open studio and jewelry gallery hours.

Necklaces, $32 each, earrings, $22, by Gretchen Olson. Higher Fire, 2132 Regent St., Madison; (608) 233-3050.

De-stress in Time for the Holidays

Holiday stress creeping up on you?  Nip it in the bud with a little pre-holiday relaxation at Studio 262 Salon’s holiday open house on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 4 – 9 p.m.  Studio 262, located in Middleton’s Greenway Station, is offering up Aveda mini-services including stress relieving hand treatments, Aveda makeup touch ups and heavenly seated massages.

Not only do you get to indulge yourself in Studio 262’s beautifying and relaxing services at this event, but you also get 15 percent off all open stock Aveda products, which make a great gift (for others, or yourself).  You can also save when you buy pre-packaged holiday gift sets from the salon. The event includes a variety of door prizes and give-aways, along with beverages and appetizers for all attendees.

In the spirit of holiday giving, Aveda donates proceeds from this event to families in need in Nepal, so you can feel good about your self-pampering.

Studio 262 is located at 1620 Deming Way, Suite 104 in Middleton.

For more information, visit about Studio 262  online. For more about events in Greenway Station, visit greenwayshopping.com/events.

Indulge Yourself for a Great Cause

Can self indulgence and selflessness really go hand-in-hand?

That is certainly the case at SPArty for a Cause at Kneaded Relief Spa this Thursday, Nov. 8, from 6 – 9 p.m. Treat yourself to an assortment of mini-spa services provided by Kneaded Relief Spa staff while munching appetizers and sipping wine from Lillian’s Restaurant, all in support of a great cause. Proceeds from the event will benefit the National Kidney Foundation, in memory of Janelle Waterman, Kneaded Relief’s Spa Coordinator, who passed away in 2005 from a rare kidney disease.

In addition to luxurious pampering, the event offers a live silent auction, beginning at 7:30 p.m. So while you’re in between your massage and facial or you’re waiting for your nails to dry, you can bid on beauty products and other pampering services.

All are welcome at this event, but the spa services do require a reservation. To reserve your spot for this charitable event, call (608) 255-0070 or visit kneadedreliefdayspa.com for more information.

Score a Makeover, Courtesy of Local Pros!

Not loving your look lately? Whether you’re feeling uninspired by what’s hanging in your closet,  you’ve lost track of what’s trendy (and flattering), you’re feeling frumpy after having kids, or you’ve simply let your style fall by the wayside, BRAVA is offering a chance for you to get a head-to-toe makeover, courtesy of local experts.

To be considered, all you have to do is to send us a picture of yourself and a brief description of why you’d like a makeover. If selected, BRAVA will arrange for you to have your hair styled and makeup applied by local pros, plus a professional stylist will help dress you in an outfit that is up-to-date, flattering and perfectly you. But the best part? You’ll be featured in the fashion pages of BRAVA!

Contact Kristin at kristinj@bravaenterprises.com by Nov. 19 to be submitted for this exciting opportunity to find a new look, a new you, and provide a dose of fashion inspiration for our readers.

We can’t wait to see your submissions!