summer inspiration

My parents are in town.  They love to travel and have a house in Florida and North Carolina, but come see me (here in LA) or my sister, Blue (in Ireland) whenever they can.  We grew up near sunshine and the water.  My brother lives in Florida, so he's lucky enough to see them more than myself or Blue.  This photo is the epitome of them having a good summer, circa early 70's. Check out the hat and skirt my mom has on.  XO, M.E. 

Easy breezy 'CHASE' dresses / skirts...now in!

I name all of my designs after friends. This new style, I decided to name it after a dog instead, nicknamed Chase (after Chase Avenue, where she was found). My boyfriend and I found her the other day on the street - tied up with a leash, abandoned for hours. She is staying with me for awhile --- she's easygoing, smiles, not super complicated, and versatile enough to get along with my sassy boxer. She stays cool even when things are tough...she knows that it will all work out. Not just work out, but be better than before. So --- introducing Chase. Versatile enough to be a skirt, one shoulder dress, tank dress, even halter. Add a fab obi belt and glam it up. $98 in silk. Lots of fun colors and prints to chose from. XO, M.E.

Chase...a day after she was found.  She doesn't have

a microchip.  But she has a smile on her face.

And the dress that I named after her...

One Shoulder

Tube style...add an obi

As a skirt / beach coverup

As a halter...cinch it with an obi

100% silk...in lots of colors

blowing in the ocean breeze, a few blocks from 

the ocean.  

Flower Part...part 2

Ahh! Photos from inside and outside of the boutique. Inside from ME & Blue. Outside, flowers from Big Red Sun. Enjoy.

The Janna sundress...just in!

I just got in these new sun dresses, named after my friend Janna.  She's practically family as she is the niece of my mom's best friend, Linda.  Janna always looks great.  Super sassy hair, heels, and beautiful skin with a splash of freckles.  I imagine she'll wear this dress over jeans  (her signature look) and wedge jeans.  I keep convincing her to show her legs.  Maybe she will after she sees this new style.  $75.  Assorted colors and prints.  XO, M.E. 

trend spotting...fabric prints

I design my own line of clothing.  But I'm really a vintage girl at heart.  I love the process of buying vintage clothing.  I have been trying to figure out what makes me buy certain things....hmm.  So as I was out last week, I took some images.  I'm usually drawn towards colors and prints, then towards the feel of the fabric.  Lately, I've been drawn towards certain prints...they all seem to have a graphic element (plaid/crosshatch/lines), then a floral element (fun!)!!!!  All I can think about is the dress that I got at Lerner's back in the early 80's.  Here are some prints that I have been inspired by.  XO, M.E.

more production...

I'm recutting the Julianna (1 shoulder long sleeve), Goddess (one shoulder, shorter!), Candice (hello! my uniform) dresses, and developing new patterns.  I was out and about downtown today.  Summer in LA is so hot.  Taco trucks are everywhere, and I need to be armed with plenty of quarters when parking my car on the street.  The choices of trim and fabric can be a bit overwhelming, but I know the ME & Blue customer...she likes things fun, flattering, and made with her lifestyle in mind.  Here are some glimpses of trim and fabric as I shopped today. New styles arrive new week.  XO, M.E. 

Philly girls in Venice...

Today 2 fun loving girls came in.  Grown women, really...but having a blast.  They were on vacation from Philly, where I lived for 11 years and had the first ME & Blue.  They cruised up on their bikes and parked them outside of the boutique.  One girl looked so familiar.  In this town, familiar means that they're famous and don't want to recognized.  As we started to talk, I realized that she was a former customer of mine from Philly who happened to stumble upon the store during her vacation.   Joy and Kate had a blast shopping today and totally made me smile.  I'm an east coaster at heart, so I love the energy and smarts of these Philly girls who engineered a great vacation for themselves.  They are staying in a cool guest house here in Venice and riding their bikes around to check out the Venice scene.  I hope to see them again before they leave.  They totally made my day!

The Ann Marie a-line skirt at ME & Blue ... reinventing the everyday uniform!

In Philly, ME & Blue was known as the store with the cool a-line skirts.  I even got a "Best of Philly" award one year from Philadelphia Magazine for them.  Every spring, new colors and fabrics arrived.  It paid my bills.   Now in LA,  I've re-invented the a-line, only slightly.  It now has a slimmer cut, a fun hem, and is named after one of my best customers in Philly, Ann Marie.   She always looks fabulous.  As a Producer for NPR's "Fresh Air", she is the epitome of classy and cool chic.  She walks to work from a former candy store turned row home in historic Philadelphia, to her cool job.  To top it off, she has a handsome hubby, and a little girl named Amelia.  She's smart, always has a smile on her face, and personifies how I want you to feel wearing this skirt.   It's time to stop our daily uniform of tees and jeans.  Throw on the new Ann Marie a-line and cute t-shirt instead.  Available at the new ME & Blue in Venice, CA starting 7/11/09.  $78 in a range of cute colors and prints.  Photos shown are styles in production...more to come!  XO

Leggings....now at ME & Blue.

Back in the late '80's, I discovered leggings (yes, that's me in 1987 -- on the right.  In the leggings and bubble skirt and crazy thrift store hat...on the left, my friend Debbie wore the bike short --- a variation of the leggings).  I'm talking the leggings that I found at the 'Units' stores, the 'Multiples' stores, and the ones that I made by cutting off the feet of old hose.  I was so into the trend that one semester I was introduced to a guy who had seen me around campus and said..."You're the girl who always wears leggings outside of the Communications Building."  This wasn't a compliment.  I was obsessed.  And then the trend died.   And then the trend came back a few years ago.  My rule is to move forward, don't repeat the past, and feel good along the way.  Fast forward.  2009 - the new ME & Blue in Venice, CA.  I'm designing my own line,  and my customers are asking me, "What do I wear under these fun sheer tops & dresses?"  Uhhh.  Leggings.  Now available at ME & Blue.  Made in the USA.  Seamless, flattering and only $30.  I'll never wear them, but my customers who didn't abuse the trend back in the day will.  I'll gladly outfit them!  XO, M.E.