My Style is Golden

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Boutique-hopping in Denver

Kristin Golden Image Consulting has named April as the first annual "boutique awareness month," and in honor of that, I thought I would give you my recommendations on the top boutiques in Denver. These boutiques range from inexpensive to designer, so there's something for everyone!

1) Goldyn Boutique - They have a great selection of designer items and have a great styling team there to help you with sizes and selections! This isn't your store if you're looking to find something for under $50 - but when you need (or want) something a little more designer or a little better quality, this is the first place I would check!
Check them out at: 2040 West 30th Avenue Denver, CO 80211 or call (720) 489-0580.

2) Blush - This is a fun boutique in LoDo that does carry some designer brands but mixes it up with some more inexpensive pieces. Definitely worth checking out!
Check them out at 1411 Larimer St Denver, CO 80202 or call (303) 399-7779.

3) Delish Demure - This eclectic boutique in Greenwood Village is just that - eclectic. They have something for almost everyone and their prices range from affordable to "investment" price.
Check them out at 8000 E Belleview Ave # D10 Greenwood Vlg, CO 80111 or call (303) 740-1100.

**I have to make a retraction - after an unpleasant shopping experience today, I must say that Delish Demure is no longer a boutique that makes the top of my list. While they do carry some nice brands and some cute items, the salespeople are extremely rude and do not have much consideration for the customers who are in there who don't show an obvious interest in spending a ton of money. Their prices are a bit higher than I remember as well. I don't like to have to make retractions like this - especially when it comes to local businesses but I firmly believe that the salespeople at Delish Demure are there strictly to take your money and they will treat you differently if they don't think that you have the money to spend. I would much rather shop at Goldyn or A-line for some investment pieces, rather than wasting my time with a horrible sales team at Delish Demure.**

4) Pink's Straight from LA - This boutique is located in Denver, on University near Bonnie Brae Ice Cream. It's a great stop for anyone looking to pick up some "trendy" pieces without spending a bunch. You can find fun and flirty pieces for under $50. I would recommend this to anyone looking for vacation attire, trendy "of the moment" clothes, or something that they don't mind letting go of in a year or two. One hesitation - it tends to cater to smaller sizes. While they do carry a good size range, many of their brands run a bit small. Still, it's worth a stop in!
Check them out at 745 South University Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80209 or call (720) 570-2486.

5) Inspyre Boutique - This is another one of those fabulously inexpensive boutiques that carries a wide array of trendy pieces for under $50. If you are looking for a fun sundress to launch off your summer wardrobe or a cute new wardrobe for vacation, this place is worth checking out.
Check them out at 2021 West 32nd Avenue, Denver, CO 80211 or call (303) 718-2645.

6) The Garment District - Once again, this is a shop that might require a few extra dollars but they do carry brands that will last for a good amount of time and they are great at helping you find your best fit!
Check them out at 2595 S. Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Co 80222 or call (303) 757-3371.

7) PJ's Boutique - This boutique is a fun little store down on Pearl Street in Denver. They carry a good selection of items and brands that cater to just about any budget. A big plus - the staff is super friendly and the location is great if you are looking for something else to do after you hit up the shop!
Check them out at 1509 South Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210 or call (303) 777-8912.

8) The Blue Jean's Bar - It's not the most inexpensive place in Denver to get jeans BUT, if you are having a hard time finding jeans that fit, than this is a great stop. They carry a large number of brands and their staff is pretty knowledgable for the most part. Aside from denim, they carry some fun shoes and accessories, as well as some pretty cute clothes. I'd rate it at an average price range - but it's a store you will want to visit at least once!
Check them out at 250 Fillmore Street, Denver, CO 80206 or call (720) 542-3756.

9) Roxy Boutique - This boutique has now expanded to two Denver locations. While it originally started as a boutique in Vail (and then Beaver Creek), they have brought their product down to Cherry Creek North and LoDo. Some pieces are marked up a bit too high but they do have the greatest selection of Michael Stars that I have ever seen (which is great if you are looking for some good quality basics).
Check out either one of their Denver locations at:
2549 Welton Street, Denver, CO 80202 or call them at (720) 381-6420 OR 2628 E. 3rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80206 or call them at (303) 316-7774.

10) A-Line Boutique - This is a beautiful boutique located in Greenwood Village. While the styles are a little more fashion-foward and the price point is a bit higher, you can find some great "investment pieces" at this store. I love their selection and their staff is so friendly and helpful. (Just don't expect to walk out with multiple pieces without spending a couple hundred dollars).
Check them out at 5375 Landmark Pl # 107 Greenwood Vlg, CO 80111 or call (303) 773-8200.

11) The Crazy Merchant - As I have written about them before, they are a great place to go to get your fix of "Fashion Jewelry." They are known for they're beading and "crafty" jewelry but they also have some really great "off the shelf" pieces at great prices. One of the best things - if you can't find something you like, they'll make it for you!

Check them out at 1700 West Belleview Avenue Littleton, CO 80120 or call them at (303) 761-6100.

Happy Boutique hopping! Don't forget, for this month, you can purchase four hours of boutique shopping for $250!

Call 720-207-4912 to find out more information about Kristin Golden Image Consulting's "Boutique Awareness Month" and our boutique shopping specials.

Xo, Kristin @ Kristin Golden Image Consulting

www.kristingolden.com

Monday, April 16, 2012

Don't cut yourself short - literally!

DENIM LENGTH

I have been out and about lately and one thing that has been standing out to me so clearly (that doesn't usually bother me) is that men and women are wearing their pants too short!

I know that this is Denver - when it rains or snows, you don't want pants dragging in the water. But what difference is an inch or even half of an inch going to make? When it snows, you need your boots!

Having said that, I will state my golden rule:

DENIM SHOULD NOT HIT HIGHER THAN 1/2" ABOVE THE GROUND. (Trousers can hit up to 1" above the ground).

Sometimes people don't know - they don't think about it. Sometimes it's a pain in the butt to get things tailored so you get them hemmed to a "universal length" - one that "works" with both flats and heels. Generally, this doesn't end up working in your favor. Pants that work for heels rarely work with flats too!

You do have a couple of options. My first suggestion is always to buy two pairs of similar jeans - get one pair hemmed for heels and one hemmed for flats. If that is too hard on your budget, then you can invest in hemming tape (tape that will allow you to alter the length of your pant depending on your shoe - although it does take some technique).

When your pant hem is too high, you lose height. Height is the one of the best thing we have working for us. We want our legs to appear longer because long legs give the illusion of height. The taller you look, the more streamlined and leaner you look.

You can't change the way you were made - 4'9 or 6' tall - it doesn't matter. You don't have to actually have the height, you can add the illusion of height without adding an inch - just make sure your pants are long enough.

A few good suggestions: Invest in a pair of universal heels - a pair that isn't too high (can be business appropriate), yet is high enough to look good with skirts and dresses. Invest in a good pair of flats - ones with good structure and a neutral color. Get everything hemmed - make sure it works with your body. When in doubt, go longer (just not dragging on the ground). Finally, find a good jean manufacturer that fits YOUR body (no saggy butt, muffin top, gapping at the waist, pulling through the thighs, showing the whole world your behind when you sit down... none of that), just a good brand of denim - and then buy at least two pairs. Trust me, the investment will be well worth it!

Check out some of these brands:

Happy Spring and happy hemming!

Xo, Kristin @ Kristin Golden Image Consulting

www.kristingolden.com

Monday, April 2, 2012

Jewelry Shopping at The Crazy Merchant

Thanks to my job, I get the pleasure of visiting some off-the-map boutiques, really fun stores, and learn about some great new brands and designers.

One of the stores that I have most recently visited is The Crazy Merchant in Littleton, CO.

A good friend of mine suggested that I check it out, knowing that I love jewelry and I love using accessories as a way of building and creating a style. One of my first suggestions to clients (after cleaning up their wardrobe and establishing the basics) is to start to add jewelry (and other accessories) to their look. I've found that many women are uncomfortable wearing jewelry, so finding good places to purchase unique jewelry with a wide variety is an important find for me!

I am a firm believer that jewelry really can make or break an outfit. Give me a plain white tee or solid tank top and a fun necklace and I will show you an outfit.... As far as I'm concerned, with a few exceptions, no outfit is complete without jewelry.

So, I ventured out to The Crazy Merchant to see what it was all about. I can find a way to shop just about anywhere, so I didn't think that would be a problem. I was actually more hesitant about the fact that they do beading classes and have walls full of jewelry strands TO MAKE your own jewelry . I'm pretty creative and I like jewelry - but when it comes to shopping, I don't like things to feel "crafty." I had this preconceived idea that anything I found in that store was going to look like something I made in 3rd grade art class.

I was wrong.

I walked into this giant store that is full of radiant color and it wasn't like I expected. There were stands full of pre-made jewelry, great sterling silver bracelets (I LOVE bracelets), fun LA-brand tees, and of course, there were rows of beads and other items that could be used to make a necklace or bracelet.

The thing that surprised me the most was that the works of art that people were making looked NOTHING like what I made in art class. They were beautiful statement necklaces - some made with real freshwater pearls, with Swarvoski crystals, vintage pendants and so much more. They even had a stand that had pictures of great jewelry from magazines (such as US weekly, Glamour, and Life and Style) that they demonstrated how to make. Those rare, one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrities wear can be made at The Crazy Merchant. While it may be inspired by the (expensive) jewelry found in those publications, it doesn't look like an imitation piece - it ends up looking elegant and fresh.

Even though it shows you how to make these pieces, I still was a bit reserved about having to make everything. I was informed that you can have their designers make it for you. You can also bring them an idea and they can make it come to life. If you have old pendants or charms that you want to modernize, they can help with that. They have people who are specifically employed just to design great pieces of jewelry and to make a "map" of how they made those pieces, just in case you want to make your own.

Aside from the fun jewelry, they also have a great "community space." The more I learned about this store, the more I began to like it. They are very community and charity driven. 10% of every purchase goes to charity - and the purchaser gets to pick which charity (from a list of about 40 different charities). They also have an open space that anyone in the community can rent (for free!) for get-togethers, charity functions, girls' nights and much more.

The staff and the inventory at this unique store was pleasantly unexpected and the experience was very enjoyable. As a stylist, I very much recommend this store for anyone looking to build their jewelry wardrobe or just expand and update their look by adding accessories.

If you are interested in growing your accessories wardrobe but feel like like you're lost in a foreign country whenever you step into a jewelry store, call ahead and ask to speak to Meredith (or any of the jewelry stylists) and they will be more than happy to help you find pieces (either to build or to purchase) that will satisfy your wardrobe needs!

Below: Some of the beautiful necklaces that are already pre-made/designed that you can purchase right off the stand:

Below: Some examples of jewelry pieces featured in magazines for high price-tags and directions on how to make it for (much) less at The Crazy Merchant:

Below: Some of my favorite creations in the store: Cuffed bracelets made from magazine pages (these are all pre made by women in Indonesia and a portion of the proceeds go to helping their local economy) that look so cute, fashionable, and very unique.

Below: Some of the fun pendants that you can purchase to add to any chain. Buy one chain and you can have multiple necklaces, just by changing the pendant: