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!

Do you have an expecting mother on your list this year?  Perhaps a new ‘babe’ in the family?

Well, we have the PERFECT gift for both new mama and new baby- swaddling essentials from Aden + Anais.

Generation after generation, muslin cotton wraps have been the preferred choice of mothers looking to swaddle and comfort their newborn baby.  It is widely believed that swaddling helps to mimic the cozy feeling babies experience in the womb and, thus, helps babies settle faster and sleep longer.  Here at Meringue, we always keep an eye out for new products to help our customers, many of whom are mommies or mommies-to-be.  When we discovered the ‘Swaddle Packs’ from Aden + Anais, we knew this was a product we wanted to get in our customers hands right away (a product that is designed to help new babes sleep will also help the mamas get their much-needed rest too)!  Available in a variety of ‘boy’, ‘girl’ and unisex prints, these 100% cotton muslin wraps are totally breathable (to prevent overheating) and oversized to make swaddling easy (they even give you instructions as to how to properly swaddle).  They are also multi-functional and can double as a stroller, nursing or changing table cover.

In addition to their original Swaddle 4-Pack, Aden + Anais’ founder, Raegan Moya-Jones also authored a book, Swaddle Love, that highlights the numerous benefits and techniques of swaddling.  We also stock their various other products- the bamboo swaddle packs, the dream blanket, the slumber sleep sack, the comfort security blankets, the dribble burp cloths and the double-layer cozy swaddle.  Not all are featured on our website, but will be soon (*however, they are fully stocked in both locations right now!).  In the meantime, click here to browse the entire Aden + Anais online selection and here to read the story of Aden + Anais.

I know I’ve said it before, but, of course I’ll remind you again– free holiday gift wrap with your in-store purchases + for every $100 you spend in-store, we’ll give you a $25 off coupon to use in January!

Happy shopping!

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.

I am a huge football fan and one of my favorite fall activities is celebrating with family and friends on gameday.  Whether it is braving the elements, tailgating and cheering for the home team or making food and having everyone over to watch the game on the big screen- fall football is fun!  You know what else is fun?  Shopping for cozy pants, sweaters, scarves and jackets to wear to the games.  Click here to browse our newest fall pieces from Joie, Bailey 44, Patterson J. Kincaid and more.

Maybe football isn’t your thing- how about a pretty new party dress to wear to homecoming?  Click here to shop our entire selection of new and sale dresses.

Happy fall!

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!

It is HOT, HOT, HOT out there ladies and we’ve been doing our best to get outside and soak up that sun.  The one downside?  The sun can do a real number on our skin we try so hard to take good care of.  Bummer.  Thankfully, the geniuses at Bliss (New York’s hottest Spa and Skincare experts) are here to save the day.  To keep our face wrinkle and sun-damage free, we load up on their Sunban Face- a SPF 30+ oil-free sunblock that contains vitamins A & E to help protect our skin and fight free radicals.  For a post-sun shower, I like to use the Minty Soap ‘n Scrub- a cooling body wash that scrubs away dead skin and leaves me feeling ultra refreshed.  And because I want a deep-dark tan without the negative side effects, I love the Scrub and Color Set.  Use the scrub in the shower to get your skin clean and even and follow it with their spray on self-tanner.  Seriously, you’ll have a perfect ‘Jennifer Aniston’ tan in no time.  Click here to shop all of our fabulous Bliss products.  Happy sunning!

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.