Since its inception in 2001, we have been HUGE fans of the line Joie.  Originally, Joie gained popularity from its signature cargo pants.  Today, it is well-known for making amazing tops, blouses, dresses and sweaters in addition to the cute and comfy pants that put them on the fashion map.  Joie’s core concept is simple-  “Casual, Comfortable and Luxurious.”   Sounds good to me…

“The JOIE collection is understatedly chic.  Constantly inspired by Southern California, its casual yet sophisticated way of life is translated directly into Joie designs.  The Joie girl enjoys wearing casual, comfortable clothes accented by luxurious fabrics and authentic details inspired by her travel throughout the world.  Both modern and timeless in its appeal, the JOIE aesthetic draws its influence from vintage creations while successfully maintaining a fresh approach to fashion.”  (from Joie.com)

Sound familiar?  When I read that I had a total ‘AHA’ moment.  No wonder I my closet is filled with key pieces from Joie– I am a ‘Joie Girl’- comfort, travel, luxury.  ‘Nuff said.  This week, we received several new Resort styles from our beloved Joie and Soft Joie (sooo super cute- makes me excited for Spring to hurry up and get here!).  Wait- you haven’t heard of ‘Soft Joie’?  Its their incredibly ’soft’ line of cotton and knit separates that, once you feel the fabric, you’ll want to live in.  Click here to preview all of our online pieces from Soft Joie and here to check out Joie.  Want the latest and greatest? Stop into either store location today.  (Sorry pics of the newest deliveries will be online soon, promise.)

From one Joie Girl to another- happy shopping!

Grey days make me wanna lounge.  Watching a movie or reading a good book in jammies with a mug of hot cocoa sounds like the perfect way to spend a gloomy day in.  And who makes the best, comfy yet cute, PJs?  Why, P.J. Salvage of course!  The company’s philosophy is ’Fashion + Comfort 24/7′ - my thoughts exactly.  P.J. Salvage uses the softest, most luxurious fabrics to make their little bit of fun/ little bit of sexy pajama line.  Celebrity fans include: Gwen Stefani, Jack Osbourne and Felicity Huffman and their styles have been featured on hit shows such as ‘Ugly Betty’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’.  My personal fave?  Their pink + ivory Zebra Niteshirt.  At home, I throw that on with my Uggs and just chill out in total comfort.  Click here to shop Meringue’s entire selection of P.J. Salvage.

Caitlyn Mini-Dress by Black Halo

I can’t believe it– we’ve hit late October and that means the holiday season is upon us!  So much to look forward to- spending time with friends + family, snow (maybe?!), holiday shopping and, of course, holiday PARTIES!  Time to pick up a few new dressy pieces to don this holiday season.  On of our favorite ‘dress up’ lines here @ Meringue is the always stunning, Black Halo.   

 Black Halo is a line well-loved by both real-world women and celebritites like Kelly Ripa, Blake Lively, Lisa Rinna, Mariah Carey and Kim Kardashian (just to name a few). 

Meet the designer and the philosophy behind the line:  (from BlackHalo.com)

Core Philosophy:  Black Halo is designed to summon natural inner beauty and confidence that is both liberating and empowering to women when worn.

Laurel Berman has elevated the Black Halo brand to a level in contemporary clothing that can be considered iconic.  Berman created a brand that is now synonomous with beauty and modern-day style.

Through the wildly popular “Jackie-O” dress, Laurel dramatically transformed the way women dress today with the simplicity of a single piece.  With flawless construction, impeccable tailoring and an aesthetic that both references and reinvents classic glamour and sex appeal.  Ever growing and evolving, Laurel consistently presents unique silhouettes and draping techniques- never ceasing to surprise with innovation through unexpected sources of inspiration.

Born in Spokane, now based in Los Angeles, Laurels’s unassuming allure and relaxed confidence translate into each of her designs with an effortlessly sexy spirit.  Studying at the San Francisco Academy of Fashion and working in many capacities for various brands within the industry provided her the foundation needed to create and execute her vision but; the real direction and inspiration of her line is derived from the natural instincts and intagibles of her creative mind.

The Meringue girls and our regulars love this line.  We can’t wait for the holiday stuff to arrive!  (Any day now!)  Click here to view Meringue Boutique’s selection of Black Halo.

Ok, I’ve finally accepted it.  Summer is gone and Fall is upon us.  I’ve said ’see ya next year’ to my sundresses and sandals and said ‘HE-LLO!’ to boots, cords and all things cashmere. My latest obsession?  The Loop Scarf fromvkoo, a newer sweater line from NYC designed by Vivian Koo and sister-line to Inhabit (Jessica Biel+ Charlize Theron are both huge fans).  This scarf is so yummy, I want to wear it every day.  I can’t decide which color I like more:  heather grey or bark? Each one is so versatile, I may just have to snag both!  Click here to shop all vkoo.  Also, just in:  cashmere and cashmere blends from Michael Stars, T- Los Angeles and Splendid.  In both stores now, coming online very soon!

Guess fall isn’t so bad after all….

Looking for a way to spice up your basic fall wardrobe?  Try Moto Leggings and Jeggings- everything you love about your super-comfy cotton and denim leggings, with motorcycle-inspired details to add some style and edge.  Think zippers, knee-patches and a nice, tight fit…. getting the picture?  They look great with t-shirts, sweaters and any top that you would wear with your plain old leggings, just with some edgy flare.  Some of our faves include the Daryl Moto Pant in Black from Rock & Republic, and the Moto Legging in Black, Denim or Army Green from Rockstar Sushi.  Grab a pair today and you’ll feel hot and sassy (like Rhianna, who is a big fan of this style)  in no time.  Now all you need is a Harley and a cute boy to ride around on it with ;).

We are very pleased to announce that we now carry King Baby Studio (and its sister line, Queen Baby) here @ Meringue.  The Santa-Monica based line, founded and designed by Michael Binder, consists of chunky pieces that unite sterling silver with precious gemstones and leather.  The jewelry is very, very rocker-chic– King and Queen Baby are very popular with everyone from celebrities to rockstars to bikers to stylists and have a huge following.  Celebrity fans include: Rhianna, Usher, Jeremy Piven, LL Cool J, Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Paris Hilton, Jenna Jameson, Adrien Brody and Adam Lambert (and the list goes on and on).  Two rings from Queen Baby were featured in the Maroon 5 “Misery” video and more pieces were worn in Buckcherry’s “All Night Long” video.  Recently, Mr. Justin Timberlake was spotted a out and about sporting a King Baby bracelet.  All pieces are handcrafted and made in the USA.  They also make great gifts- make that special someone feel like a King or Queen! Available in both our Salem and Lake Oswego locations RIGHT NOW and coming online very very soon!

Meet SOLD Denim Lab, a new brand of denim now carried @ Meringue Boutique.  This line already has a huge celebrity following, like ScarJo and Cammie pictured above, and is priced well below other major denim labels (like $80-$100 retail!).  The fit is amazing and the denim is super-soft, stretchy and comfy.  Our customers are loving the pull-on legging (no zipper!) as a great summer jean that will easily transition into fall.  Stop by either store today to try them on for yourself.  Not local to our area?  Don’t worry, they’ll be online soon!

Suri Cruise and Katie Holmes were spotted recently having a ‘girls day’ and they didn’t forget to bring little Suri’s favorite accessory- her luxe blanket from Little Giraffe.  Little Giraffe is a line with a reputation for being super-soft, luxurious, comfortable and stylish.  They have a HUGE celebrity following (including Brad & Angie, Halle Berry, Nicole Richie, and Salma Hayek) and are among Meringue Boutique’s most popular baby gifts.  Click here to shop the entire Little Giraffe Collection.

By now we’ve all seen Sex and the City II and ogled all of the beautiful moroccan-inspired clothing and accessories compiled by the ingenious Ms. Patricia Field.  And PerezHilton.com reports that Angelina Jolie has signed on to portray Cleopatra in an upcoming movie based on the life of the Egyptian Queen.  Are we seeing a trend here?

The answer is YES.  Moroccan/ Bohemian- chic is all the rage right now.  From embellished tops, to gold jewelry, to gladiator sandals and beyond- this summer is all about hippie-chic with a sophisticated twist.  We love this trend for many reasons, especially the fact that it can be embraced by women of any age.  While some trends (i.e. neon, shredded leggings, etc.) seem to be reserved for the young (and young @ heart of course)- this one is timeless and age appropriate whether you are 20 or 70.

This trend was discussed recently on one of our new favorite websites: pdxneatsheet.com and Meringue Boutique was featured in the article Sex and the Rose City Inspired Fashion Finds.  Click here to read the article and see all of the Moroccan-chic pieces Meringue Boutique has for your summer wardrobe!

Check out Halle Berry sporting her ‘LIV GRN’ tee from Signorelli-

Want this shirt too?  Click here to view our entire collection from Signorelli.