Shopchantal Stylefile

Sienna Miller bundled up for the Season

It’s that time of year again… winter is sneaking up on us quickly and before we know it, it will be on our doorsteps.

Now is the time to start thinking about how you will be “cold weather ready“.  Here are are a few tips to help you get through the season while still looking chic and stylish.

Underlayers are key in the Northeast.  You should never under estimate the extra layer of simple long sleeve tees and turtlenecks.  Splendid is a shop favorite which is why we keep stocked up starting in September and don’t stop until March. An easy cotton/modal blend underlayer can also add a pop of color under a loose woven knit or under the new selection of cropped sweaters.

Sweaters. The obvious cashmere, wool, angora and mohair sweaters, vests and wraps.  Autumn Cashmere, Edun, Joie, Oonagh and more. And let’s not forget cotton fleece and sweatshirts from our other favorites- Kain Label, Monrow and LNA. 

Tights and Leggings. We can’t live without the Fleece Lined Tights from Plush. Each year they come up with another great color or style and they are true must-haves.  This year we are loving the addition of the leg warmers from them – Simple, easy ways to layer your legs for those cold walks to the coffee shop. We also love Commando’s opaque tights for layering too.

Warm Accessories. Scarves from Me & Kashmiere are a done deal – all year long.  We love the all wrapped up under our coat collars for a gorgeous pop of color.  Carolina Amato and Autumn Cashmere have upped the gloves this year with the classic pop-top and fingerless options. They also both did scarves with Autumn Cashmere stealing our hearts with the new neck warmers and tube scarves - Genius!  And don’t forget your skull cap or snood. A hat is a must. I wear one everyday – even indoors sometimes and always will. The snoods are my fav- slouchy and cute with my long hair.

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It’s long been thought that Summer is the time to have fun with color, but now Fall is following suite. This season designers have embraced the color wheel and the combinations are so complementary.

We love the mix of military green with the softness of lilac as with this Rebecca Taylor Ostrich Cami and Elizabeth and James Band Jacket. The raw edges of this jacket are a pefect juxtaposition to the soft, fly aways of the cami- don’t you think!

And you must admit, the use of purples and greens and greys doesn’t sound very pretty, but EDUN proves you wrong with this gorgeous silk, asymmetrical hem dress in those exact colors. We love it paired back to the Joie Coachella “must have” boot of the season (Yes, the color is called “mud”).

For a softer version, check out Shoshanna’s Snow Leopard Dress. Animal prints are taking on the new hues as well and this one is stunning – edgy, fun and really wearable. The charcoal and blush tones are perfect for next spring too!

Rebecca Taylor Shirt Dress

We also are loving a softer palettes of beige and taupe like this Rebecca Taylor Shirt dress topped off with an bold accessory or top in a punch of red or mixed with an eggplant purple.  Very chic.

Me & Kashmiere Ombre Scarf

And don’t forget, a cashmere scarf from Me & Kashmiere in a seasonal color and print goes a long way to show your style.

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It’s been some time since I’ve been able to get to updating the blog. My apologies to all.  The reason is that we’ve been working tirelessing for weeks on our new location at 229 Commercial Street in Portland Maine.

Our new space has wood floors, exposed brick walls and huge ceiling beams and has a bit more of a warehouse feel than our past location.  We are now completely open on Commercial Street (less a few unpacked boxes) and our selection of designers is as amazing as ever. 

We’ve added some great new designers to the new space including Treesje and Botkier handbags, now featured on our handbag wall. More styles are arriving daily and the wall should be filled with Fall 2010 bags in no time.

A try-on seating section is close by to our new shoe displays with shoe cabinets close at hand so we can check styles and sizes quickly and easily from Joie, Pour La Victoire and  Cynthia Vincent.

Next to the handbag wall is our set of jewely cases complete with a mirror and shelving making it super easy to try on necklaces, earrings and bracelets from Streets Ahead, Gorjana, GemmaRedux, Alex and Ani and our newest ring designer, Tre.

Floating shelving makes viewing our Splendid tees and Me & Kashmiere scarves a pleasure.  For Fall and Winter, you will find these shelves stocked with gorgeous Autumn Cashmere and sweater pieces from Joie, Edun and Rebecca Taylor.

Our new cable hanging rod system makes our collection of contemporary designers like Shoshanna, Elizabeth & James, Nanette Lepore, Son of John, Monrow and so many more really easy to see and pair up with our amazing pieces of denim.

Just beyond the beautiful hanging collections is our glass cube wall filled with your favorite denim designers including Genetic, [Blank], DL1961, Current/Elliott, Rock & Republic, PRVCY premium and more to come soon.

We hope you will come visit our new space and see what’s new for collections including our expanded shoe and handbag designers.

229 Commecial Street (former Decorum space) is next door to Barbour and McKenzieTribe and across the street from Sushi Sapporo.  207.347.4427 www.shopchantal.com

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The combinination of classic black paired with fresh white is always welcome at chantal./shopchantal.com and it is our first addition to our new Lookbook category focusing on Trend Alerts for Spring/Summer 2010.

And for Spring/Summer 2010 our love continues to grow for Black and White with the new ways to mix it up  from our newest designer collections.

The blazer is a piece you absolutely have to have in your wardrobe- whether you prefer black to white or vice versa doesn’t even matter.  It is the essential piece to have and wear for Spring/Summer 2010. We love the versions from Elizabeth and James and the also from Monrow.  Or try a little crop jacket from Shoshanna if you like the shorter style. Layered over a white tee or a black dress this is the ultimate black/white combo.

Stripes in black and white are the epitomy of chic and this BCBGMAXAZRIA dress not only includes the stripes but a paperbag style skirt as well.  This is the ultimate easy dress.  Stripes in any form are always a fun way to make an outfit your very own. Whether it is a stripe tee or a tank dress, you can always make stripes an easy layering pattern.

Loving tank tops all year round is not a crime especially if it’s this version from BCBGMAXAZRIA.  Available in clean, crisp white or edgy black this tank has printed and draped necklaces. Layered with leggings or black denim and a jacket or long sweater, this tank is the perfect dress it up, dress it down piece.

Whether you like a graphic print, animal print or are are fan of the florals, you will find all them all available in some form or another in a black and white.  The easiest way to wear black and white – accessories.  Shoes, handbags and scarves can all be worked into your Spring update of this fabulous new trend.

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2009 was an interesting year for everyone and we are excited that we can still bring you new and fresh designers and  looks on our site and in the store for the new year.

We’ve already introduced you to Mike & Chris and also to Monrow.  Amazing designers, amazing prices.  We think you will love what they have to offer to your wardrobe.  That is why we are carrying them in the first place.  And new Denim Designers: [BLANK] Denim, Malibu Denim and PRVCY Premium are giving us just one more reason to buy more jeans.

Although BCBGMAXAZRIA needs to no introduction, we wanted to give a warm welcome anyway and give you a little history behind Max Azria and his every growing empire – which by the way, includes us and most importantly, you.

BCBG is an acronym for the French term Bon Chic, Bon Genre meaning Good Style, Good Attitude– 2 things we aspire to be and to have – all for the benefit of our customers.  

How could we not include a designer with our same fashion/lifestyle beliefs, right!  The spirit of BCBGMAXAZRIA is the basis for the Maz Azria brand and has made them an international stylehouse.  Tunisian born, Paris- raised, Los Angeles – based – This is Max Azria.  An international designer who has redefined the contemporary category by offering world-inspired pieces that are right on trend – and in the forefront of the trends- and all at affordable prices.

Our first introduction to you at shopchantal.com and at chantal.  has had an amazing response. The Necklace T-shirt Tank is available in Black and in White and is great under a blazer or over a long sleeve tee.  The Bandage Mini is a Herve Leger-inspired piece currently available in Azalea but we’ve ordered it in black and many other colors for the coming seasons. BTW, Max Azria purchased the Herve Leger house in 1998 and in 2007 began incorporating the inspiration under his design direction (Herve Leger by Max Azria) making the couture house accessible at a contempory collection level.

We also have 2 new BCBGMAXAXRIA collections in store now that will be up on shopchantal.com in the coming days. You won’t believe how great the pieces are and how easy they are to incorporate into your wardrobe. And you must try the bandage skirt- you won’t believe how absolutely fabulous it makes you look and feel.

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We love it when this happens!  We pair together some great designers for the website and then…. boom, the same look graces the cover of one of the hottest shopping magazines in the country.

We couldn’t have asked for a better “fashion nod”!

Carrie Underwood, an “it” girl not only in the music scene, but in the fashion scene, wears the Rebecca Taylor sequined jacket over a Kain Label tank for the Lucky December cover shoot. Thank you Lucky and thank you Carrie!

We’ve always loved the feminine fits and details of Rebecca Taylor and mixing her with the sexy, slouchy tee style of Kain Label just seemed like the perfect mix for a fresh, new take on dressing for the holidays.  Or for just a night out for drinks and a concert.  There are lots of those going on right now.

We have a fabulous new selection of Rebecca Taylor looks at shopchantal and in store at chantal.  In addition to the tank worn by Carrie, we have a huge mix of Kain Label pocket tees, v-necks, Long sleeved tees and the most recent addition to their line, a racer back tank.  The colors include heather grey, teal, black and white (of course) and the newest holiday color: Spicy Orange- trust us, it is super cool and really wearable.

Stop in and shop these and our other new designers, Monrow, Mike & Chris and BCBG.

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We couldn’t be more excited about our new find, MONROW, an LA based contemporary line of knits and t-shirts.  Known best for their original collection of graphic t-shirts that sported the images and names of supermodels:  Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, and Naomi Campbell, MONROW’s prints and “fabric burn outs” have become cult favorites amongst celebrities like Halle Barry, Rachel Bilson, and Jessica Simpson.

Rachel Bilson in MONROW

Designers, Michelle Wenke and Megan George began the line from a sort of “grass roots” approach.  They met at OTIS College of Art & Design.  After graduating, George began her own line, ”George”, and Wenke became a stylist.  However, when their paths crossed again the two started MONROW out of Wenke’s kitchen and the two began promoting the line, themselves.  

Their first collection in 2007 gained them an abundant amount of press & exposure with the “Kate” tee, inspired by Kate Moss.  Currently, their collections are inspired by a palette of colors (7-9) that set the tone for the rest of the design process:  deciding on fabrics, what prints to use, and most importantly, the fit.

The tone for their Fall 2009 collection is inspired by their own personal taste that just so happens to match up perfectly with the trends of the moment:  dark & vampy jewel tones with a mix of leopard that create an almost Gothic appeal.  We can’t wait to get share the items from the first box that arrives at chantal. & www.shopchantal.com:  tee’s with an impeccable fit that are also fashion forward and knits that can be worn in numerous ways in silhouettes that hit on the pulse of the moment:  blazers & edgy jackets.

If you have come to know us well, you know we are dreaming up looks for our next lookbook series that will showcase the ease and every day appeal of our newest addition, MONROW. 

Stop in the store to see this latest addition.  We think you will be inspired and refreshed by this new line.

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