Shopchantal Stylefile

All of us at shopchantal.com are always trying to improve our customer’s shopping experience.  After all, shopping on the Internet should be hassle free, enjoyable, and safe & secure!

Chantal and I are continuously trying to come up with creative new ideas that will inspire our customers, improve our selection, and make our website as efficient as it could possibly be.  Over the past few months (and the next couple to come), I (along with a group of students from The University of Southern Maine’s School of Business) have been conducting market research for shopchantal.com on the buying behavior of Internet shoppers. 

Part of our research includes conducting a consumer survey (this is where all of our customers, blog followers, facebook fans, and twitter followers come in) on individual purchasing behavior when shopping both on and off-line.  We would love it if you would participate in a quick survey, and as an incentive we are offering a 10% off coupon to all of those who complete the survey. 

How does it work?  Simply click on this sentence.  You will be redirected to our “online clothing retail” survey which is hosted by surveymonkey.com.  At the end of the survey, you will be asked to include your email so we can send your individual, discount code to you.

If you have any questions at any point, feel free to contact me:  selena@shopchantal.com

Thanks ahead for your help & we look forward to making even further improvements to our site from your answers to these questions!

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I love The Hills and it is fitting to write a blog about a character from the reality TV series considering the last season kicks off on April 6, 2009 at 10pm (EST).  As a huge fan of The Hills, I am also a huge fan of the style behind the show and obsessed to figure out which designers all the characters are wearing both on and off the show.

Lo Bosworth, whom I adore for her no-nonsense approach to dealing with drama and how she tells it how it is (no matter how rude she may come off), was photographed with LC wearing a KAIN Label Pocket Tank in Grey.  She pairs it appropriately back to a skinny, dark rinse jean that looks so effortlessly pulled together. 

We just received a new delivery of KAIN Label Tee’s that will be available for purchase early next week at shopchantal.com, and in this shipment we received Lo Bosworth’s pick — The Pocket Tank in Pink.  We suggest pairing this back to just about anything, but to get Lo’s street chic look we recommend pairing it back to the Earnest Sewn Harlan in One Rinse. 

Lo Bosworth in KAIN Label Pocket Tank

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Want to feel elegant and statuesque?  Then the Roman and Greek inspired trend is for you.  The beauty and originality that the draping process gives to a garment is unbeatable, and shopchantal.com has numerous pieces to fulfill your draping cravings!  Here are a few of our staff’s favs:

Print Origami Skirt

Known for his artistry, it is no surprise that Robert Rodriguez has supplied us with numerous draped offerings this season.  Our two favorites include:  The Print Origami Skirt and Kimono Dress

Odessa One Shoulder Top

Edun Uhuru Dress

To achieve this goddess-worthy look, without breaking the bank, Ella Moss and Edunhave created beautiful draped looks for under $200.  Our staff favorites include:  The Ella Moss Odessa One Shoulder Top and Edun Uhuru Dress

Our favorite thing about this trend is the perfect accessory to complement this look, the gladiator sandal!  Let’s face it, the look wouldn’t be complete without them.  Whether your looking for a heel or a flat, shopchantal.com has it all.  Our staff favorites include:  Pour La Victoire Blanche and Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Dinah Sandal

Twelfth Street Dinah Sandal

Pour La Victoire Blanche

Grecian Goddess Draping

Need a little more inspiration to feel confident about wearing this look?  Maybe a glimpse from the Spring/Summer 2009 runway shows will help inspire the goddess within you?  There are so many ways to wear this look and the options for wearing this trend are endless. 

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We’re pretty excited about our latest nomination and wanted to share it all with you. The Portland Phoenix, a local and northeast regional newspaper, has an annual “Best of Portland” edition of their publication. They give everyone a chance to vote for things like the best place for Buffalo Wings to your favorite place for Yoga or Pilates – coincidentally enough, those two go hand in hand. Eat wings, do pilates to burn off wings.

The categories for the “Best of Portland” include: Food & Drink, Shopping, Arts & Entertainment and City Life. We have our favorites and we sure once you start going through the categories, you will see many of yours.

This year we are sharing the news of our nomination. Why not, right? We are honored and proud that the people of Greater Portland consider us one of the best. Hope you get a chance to vote for chantal. Click here for a direct link or check out our homepage and/or our facebook page (if you are not already a fan on our facebook page, now is the perfect time!) or go direct to The Portland Phoenix to cast your vote for us. While you are there, check out the other great categories and nominees. Thanks and Best of Luck to everyone!

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The new Graham & Spencer pieces have just arrived, but are selling out fast!  All of us at shopchantal.com are coveting the Tie Dye Scarf, perfect paired back to a tee, a dress, and everything in between!  Another popular style from their most recent delivery is the Cloude Voile Pants which are on trend with the harem styles we are seeing popping up everywhere.  We are almost sold out at the moment, but have reordered this popular style to meet the high levels of demand set by our customers.

Graham & Spencer Tie Dye Scarf

Graham & Spencer Micro Sheer Tunic

Graham & Spencer Cloude Voile Pants

Check out the new summer styles from Graham & Spencer at www.shopchantal.com along with our other favorites:  Shoshanna, Joie, and Walter!

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All of us at shopchantal.com have been on the hunt to find a line dedicated to fun, comfortable, and stylish summer dresses.  

Beau Guard available Spring 09

With a company mission of “Reduce Recycle Renew” it is no surprise that the company’s focus is on sustainability, fair trade and labor, as well as organic raw materials.  And you can see in the designs, the end goal of offering consumers environmentally healthy clothing choices without sacrificing fashion was successfully accommplished.

Expect Beau Soleil at shopchantal.com this Spring.

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Mr. T, style icon?  We think so!  

Mr. T in layered, gold chains

Last year’s Givenchy runway show featured a dramatic, multi-layered chain necklace, very reminiscent of Mr. T’s signature look!  Now everywhere we turn, celebrities are mixing it up with layered chains!  Madonna and Jennifer Lopez sported the Givenchy look dressed up on the red carpet, while others prefer it with their favorite tee and jeans!  Either way looks great, and shopchantal.com is ”chaining-up” too with Rebecca Taylor’s edgy, yet feminine take on Mr. T’s revived and coveted look!

Givenchy Layered Chain Look

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Still unannounced, still a big mystery, and something all of us at shopchantal.com can’t wait to see this evening, what will the soon-to-be (5 hours to go) First Lady be wearing while she stands besides our new President as she walks into the Inaugural ball tonight?  She has had many sketches to choose from, and it would be any woman’s dream to have a dress sketched for them by designers like Michael Kors, Christian Lacroix, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, and Monique Lhuiller, but which will become “the one”? 

I have been up since 5am watching CNN and Good Morning America trying to figure out the million-dollar question, but have not had success!  However, if your interested in taking a look at Barack Obama’s tuxedo choice for the evening, I can help you with that.  Although the gown is still a mystery, I have my favorites:  one-shoulder styles from Michael Kors and Monique Lhuiller!

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All of us at shopchantal.com are continuously trying to improve our website to create an easier and more efficient way for our customers to find exactly what they are looking for!  We have just added a zoom feature to our website which enables our customers to simply scroll over a product to view the product’s details.  A new box will automatically appear to the right of the original image which allows you to move the “target” to your desired location on the product. 

New Zoom feature @ shopchantal.com

We will continue to add multiple images on most products (denim, dresses, handbags, and tops), but the new zoom feature creates a quick way to spot exactly what you are looking for without an additional click to look at the “larger image”.  Besides, we believe shopping should be fun and easy, not a chore! 

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KAIN Label’s signatures tees drape for an easy, sexy silhouette for a perfectly worn-in, high-end fit. Born and made in LA, Kain Label tees have fast become a fav of celebs and editors everywhere. 

Lots of press for the line and the designer has made this a hot label – and for good reason.

Brainchild of vintage store owner, Amanda Kain, this one-size fits all line of tees will get you the minute you try it on.  Why?  Because you will have felt from the moment it touches your skin, with its blend of 90% Modal and 10% silk, that you have already owned it forever.  It will fast become your “go to” tee whether it is with a great pair of jeans or a gorgeous, unexpected skirt styled up with a belt, shoes and handbag. 

A tightly edited line, KAIN Label consists of about 6 versions of your favorite classics and a few fashion pieces thrown in.  Available in 6 colors for Spring 09, shopchantal.com  will have a strong collection starting in February.

Don’t miss out on this line.  Trust us.

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Neon brights (yes, think 80′s) are popping up everywhere this year, and hot pink dominates!  Should you be craving this must-have shade, shopchantal.com has provided any easy way to access this Spring must-have!  Our “trends” page has recently been updated to reflect all the “in” styles of the upcoming season!  Below is a glimpse of some our favorite, electrifying pieces:

Shoshanna Bandeau Bikini

Twelfth Street Neon Fuchsia Dress

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The new vest is one piece we can’t seem to get enough of right now. Our fav so far is the new Splendid 1×1 Ruched Pocket Vest.

Splendid 1x1 in Black

The new take on the old classic vest is pretty extreme. It’s long. It’s slouchy. And it has pockets. This one just happens to be in the classic Splendid Modal/Pima Cotton blend making it even easier to wear with everything.

It’s the perfect piece for your warm weather vaca: layer over your graphic tank or bikini. We love it over seasonal pieces like sweaters and long sleeve button ups. We’ve paired it with our favorite dresses and tights, and even under blazers with denim.

The possibilities are endless.

Check out our new colors of the Splendid 1×1 Pocket Vest at shopchantal.com available in your favorite basic colors and some bold colors as well – just for fun.

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Pencey designer, Christina Minasian, says her wandering spirit informs every aspect of her life.

Pencey Cosmic Printed Tank available at shopchantal.com

Her career began while working as a window and interior stylist and then progressed to celebrity stylist.

True to form, Christina headed west to work more at perfecting her trendsetting style. Soon after her West Coast introduction, celebrity style mavens sought Minasian’s keen eye for design and expert skills.

Minasian is a consistently in-demand industry player among retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and celebrities.

A self-proclaimed observer, Minasian draws inspiration from everything around her which led to the debut of her ready-to-wear collection, Pencey.

Friends, family, and travel destinations around the globe – all inform her breezy, almost fickle style. “Sometimes I want to dress like a tomboy and other days I want to feel girly and pretty,” says Christina, who tempers her whimsical designs with tailored pieces to reflect her ‘boy meets girl’ sensibility.

We think Pencey is the perfect combination for shopchantal.com as well. Our mix of everyday pieces, stylish denim, tailored tops and flirty tops alike are what we are all about. We’ve always loved the idea of mixing masculine with feminine and to also have a closet that gives us the freedom to dress one way or the other on any given day. OR to dress both in an outfit that combines pieces from shopchantal.com.

Our pick: Current/Elliot skinny slouch jeans with the Pencey Blair tank in Ultraviolet, layered with a Me & Kashmiere Enya scarf and fabulous handbag from Foley + Corinna. Edgy, Sexy and very. . . sensible.

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Holiday Bonus Event going on NOW!

It’s time again to get your Holiday Bonus from shopchantal.com (also available in store at chantal.)

Buy yourself something or buy a gift for another and receive a gift card via email for yourself or you can give that away as a gift as well. So, really you can “receive and receive” or “give and receive” or “give and give” or “receive and give”! The options are in your favor either way because you’ll look great and feel great too!

Happy Holidays from us!

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