I spotted Kate, shopgirl, fellow swapper and all-around rad chick, at Pinecone + Chickadee, sorting through some vintage pins including one of Princess Di and Prince Charles. Kate also makes awesome jewelry including the guitar string necklace she’s sporting.
Good GOD it’s hot in Maine. As we slave away in the grueling sun, on the hunt for chic Mainers trying to beat the heat, I was happy to see this lady appropriately dressed for sweltering conditions.
The little white dress is the summer’s equivalent to the LBD - every gal needs one. A simple ponytail, shades and a belt ties it all together. Now we’re off to jump into the ocean.
Take a dressing cue from this waitress at Andy’s: if you must wear all black to work, nothing adds a bit of panache better than a vintage Hermes scarf.
T-shirts. Cards. Potions. Soaps. Artwork. Candles. Dishtowels. Jewelry. Birdhouses. Panties. All made in Maine. Where can you find such locally made wonders? Lalo Boutique (142 High Street) of course.
If you haven’t been into Lalo yet, you’re missing out. Owner Melissa, a Topsham native, always wanted to open her own shop. With a background in retail and the desire to support the local economy, she finally dug in her heels and did it over one year ago. “At the time I was managing a local lobster pound and I told myself I couldn’t let fear stop me,” says Melissa.
Inside you’ll find everything from Loyal Citizen Clothing tees, pizza rocks from Creative Works System, handiwork from MECA students and even potions (I refrained from buying “Bite Me Baby”). Nothing is from outside this state. As she dashed around and showed us her product lines (in her Maine made leggings), she had a personal vignette about every seller - keeping it truly local.
Make sure to follow Lalo on twitter and check out her store for some inspired local finds. I’ll be back soon to buy this shirt.
Once in awhile, a clothing line gets its start from a class project. Or at least that’s how it happened for Elykssor Clothing. Kyle Poissonier, the line’s Creative Director, met up with us to discuss how a marketing major and two former football players formed their very own fashion line.
Originally from Skowhegan, Kyle met his business partners at Husson University in Bangor. After creating the line as a fake business proposal - he thought that it might just work. After figuring out the purpose, style and fit they were going after, they enlisted artists from Sacramento to Maine (including our very own Ryan Adams) to come up with creative designs.
Elykssor’s name is from “the elixir of life”. Many of the t-shirt slogans read “prolong life” to promote strong, healthy lifestyles. The line has also helped raise funds for charities, with proceeds going to organizations like the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Though Kyle is back in Maine, his partners are based in NYC where the line was originally launched. “Portland saved Elykssor,” says Kyle. “The response here has been great. I don’t know if the line would have survived if I didn’t come back to Maine.”
Next up for Elykssor are vintage-inspired garb which they’re expanding into more fashion pieces like dresses and jackets. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m an etsy devotee. I obsessively stalk items, search for something impossible to find and seek out new sellers. In my humble opinion, Maine has been blessed with the best etsy shops around. Enter Chic Origins.
Kat drove down from Raymond and into the city to meet up with us. With her in tow was a carpet bag filled with some upcoming goodies for the shop. I ooohed and aahed over suede booties, a deep green velvet chapeau and her acid washed jeans. I want, no, NEED this houndstooth 60’s jacket as well as this chunky elephant necklace.
Not even one year in business and sales are booming. Kat works out of a makeshift office/photo studio/stylist’s nook in her parent’s basement, which they obligingly gave up for her to set up shop. So what’s her secret for finding the goods? “Estate sales. Thrift shops. And just buying things I like!” It seems to be working just fine.
Be sure to swing by Chic Origin’s blog and facebook page. And can somebody buy these?!
If there’s one thing that always gets my attention on the streets, it’s a strong brow. (Thanks Brooke Shields). Bryan and I spotted this Siempre Mas shopkeeper hanging bags in front of the store. This former model was sporting three essential wardrobe pieces: black jeans, a plain white tee and a leather jacket. The pop of color around her neck (from Siempre Mas of course) was the plaid icing on the cake. Plus, she was my first flip-flop spotting of the season. Maybe Spring isn’t so far away after all.
Photos: Bryan Bruchman / Hillytown
We met up with Malaika Picard, another brain behind this weekend’s BIG THAW, at the new Otto’s to chat about recycling jeans. That’s not all we talked about of course, but Malaika’s line Hand-Me-Down Designs does give recycled denim, corduroy and clothes a new life.
Malaika recently took up sewing again after a very long break from it. It started with a simple jean bag with two usable back pockets. Friends and family swooned. She opened an etsy shop and hasn’t looked back.
Her line doesn’t just include bags but tissue holders, wallets, bifolds and mini keychains that are stuffed with fabric leftovers - she doesn’t waste a piece.
You’ll be able to check out Malaika’s designs in person this weekend at The Big Thaw. We’ll be there looking for stylish shoppers - so we hope you’ll all come out and support the amazing list of vendors and spend those tax returns.
What is it about the icon of our great state that looks so good? The rocky coastline? The unique shape? Either way, it looks even better in plaid. Bethany Hayes-Chute, the artist behind By Bethany, has been screen printing her own designs for two years. Her Maine tee’s have a rustic, sketched out feel and her New England tees are the newest hybrid (not on her site yet - but they’ll be at The Big Thaw!) All her shirt designs are hand-printed on apparel made in the U.S. So is her plaid state of Maine trying to get at something? “I wasn’t trying to say that everyone in Maine wears plaid - but I guess it is kinda true!” she says.
This art school aficionado (she’s gone to MECA, Pratt and Mass Art) doesn’t just stick to Maine garb. There’s also her creature shirts, jewelry, floral designs and New England tote bags (just $12) that round out her array of goods. You can buy her goods online or visit her table at The Big Thaw. You can bet her table of t’s will be perfectly folded thanks to Nate - he taught her to fold them the “Martha Stewart” way during our visit.
Only a real man can pull off a chunky knit cable sweater with anchors on it. We stopped to chat with Adam, co-owner of Moody Lord’s, while he was soaking up some sun and sharing a slice outside the shop. More urban than urbane, his fitted cap and oversized plaid shirt were an unexpected compliment to the preppy grandfather sweater. Where did he score such a sweet piece? Moody Lord’s of course.
I’ve spotted Betsy everywhere around Portland - from ordering bagels at One Fifty Ate to riding her bike across the Casco Bay Bridge. She’s one of those girls that knows how to straddle the line between cozy and stylish perfectly. Her swingy striped tunic was the perfect foreshadow for spring. A layer of tights, knee socks and short vintage boots kept the rest of her snug because let’s be honest, there’s still a nip in the air.
(Big congrats to Betsy who got engaged the day after we took this photo!)
Behind every good personal style blog is usually a patient photographer boyfriend, husband or roommate. It’s true - these men (or women) are often behind the camera but are sometimes as stylish as the blog’s daily centerfold. Such is the case with Terry, the photographer (and sometimes star) behind Sweet William. Like every good Maine man, his closet was filled with plaid shirts, a collection of underwear and socks, a few ties in case of an emergency and a bevy of cardigans for layering options. And as only a Portland man can do, he was able to give us a tour without ever putting down his Pabst.
Ashley isn’t the only fashionable one in her home. We’ve got a surprise for you! Be sure to check back Monday to learn all about Ashley’s other half and photographer behind her blog.
