Ella's

Trina Turk now in store!

2011-08-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

We have Trina Turk's new fall line: Red trench coats, tweed jackets, dresses, purses, striped tops and cute skirts. Fall 2011 feels like Mary Tyler Moore meets airline stewardess (in all the right ways) with great tailoring and fabrics you can't stop touching.

Also, check out what's new from Graham and Spencer, Plenty and Lucca Couture.

LA DOLCE VITA!

2011-07-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

Ella's is currently inspired by La Dolce Vita! With the advent of this year's Traverse City Film Festival we have been pondering stylish films - and this one has caught our fancy. We admire the aesthetics of the film, especially as they pertain to the history of fashion, but also the more esoteric commentary found within.

Fellini adeptly addresses glamour, celebrity and critiques a wide cross section of Italian society. We were fascinated by his exposure of the ironies found within the church, celebrity and contemporary Italian life.

What we love about this film:
Black Dresses + Slim Black Suits + Paparazzi + Camera Equipment + Rome + Italian Style + Laughter + Rock 'N Roll + Late Night Swims + Dark Sunglasses + Tiny Sportscars + Skinny Ties + Bare Shoulders + Parties + Dancing + Discussing Taboo Subjects (sex and religion anyone?) + Black and White

We have transformed our window and the store around this film - thinking of its classic style and glamour. Swing by Ella's to pick up a pair of vintage Dior sunglasses, a black dress or a skinny tie for the film festival.
We LOVED seeing both Heather Hartl and Amy Northway yesterday, both in head-to-toe black and looking like they just walked off of the La Dolce Vita set!

Frederico Fellini, 1959. Starring Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg

Here is the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHL2jTCjQLY

Meet Christina!

2011-07-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Ella's summer intern this year is Christina Alsup. Christina is a fashion merchandising major at Central Michigan University and will complete her final semester in the fall. She has big plans for immediately post graduation - to travel to Greece and to India. But when she's ready to settle down, she will choose a warm location and begin her journey toward eventually owning her very own store. What she thinks about Ella's? Um, Duh. She loves it! "I get to interact with so many fascinating people and be a personal stylist for many of them. It's rewarding and fun. And, the appreciation from our customers we all get in return for our hardwork and ideas comes back tenfold. I was once told by one of my favorite customers, Carol Greilick, 'I will never be rich when I die, but I will surely be stylish!'"

Christina's style inspirations are:

- Elsa Schiaparelli

- Marc Jacobs

- Tilda Swinton

- Birds

- Leather Accesories

- Bohemians

- Androgynous and Boy Looks

- French Gypsy Aunt

- Ellen Page

- Underwater Photography (fabric and color with a whole new life and meaning)

"I have to choose my Aunt Catherine as a style inspiration. She is my genetic hero. She is the reason I love everything art and fashion. My family has always followed paths like engineering, the medical professions, academic careers, business, finance etc., except for Catherine and I. We are the artists. The way Catherine lives, moves and carries herself is magical. She is a traveling artist who lives where she pleases and gets a new job every two weeks solely for the purpose of creating art. I have very fond memories of her doing her morning interpretive dance excercises in a black leotard, heels, with a cigarette in her mouth. She is responsible for adding more spunk to the world than anyone I know, but I have always looked at her like she was my favorite piece of art that has ever been created."

Christina is also drawn to the more romantic ideas within fashion: "I feel sexiest when I celebrate my body with subtly sexy and feminine fabrics/silhouettes. I always picture a woman on a open grassy or flowery hill with long, naturally wavy hair in a sheer flowy dress that is being carried by the wind."

All Sorts of Surprises in store for the Traverse City Film Festival...

2011-07-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Ella's Voted the Best Women's Boutique in Northern Michigan

2011-06-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

Traverse the Magazine's recently featured Ella's in their "Red Hot Best of Northern Michigan" Issue. More than eight thousand people voted on favorites from "redhead girl" to "secluded swimming spot" along with some more standard categories. We are grateful to all of you for voting us "Best Women's Boutique. Thanks from all of us at Ella's!

Ella's Presents: Hannah Brammer

2011-06-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

Ella's is excited to welcome back Hannah Brammer! This summer (as last) Hannah will be sharing her styling skills, along with her extraordinary sense of fashion. Hannah has just completed her undergraduate vocal studies at Manhattan School of Music and will be starting her masters degree in opera performance at Indiana University in the Autumn. Hannah brings to a cheerful energy and a fashion sense that is classy and playful- the perfect combination for Summer.

Hannah's Style inspirations?
Glad you asked.

Cowboys
Laura Ingalls Wilder
1970's Secretaries
Superheroes
Elizabeth Taylor
Opera
Anything Leather
Anything Fur
Julianne Moore
Vivian Leigh
Star Wars

See? Classy and playful.
Now if we could just convince her to sing for us.

Ella's Dress Featured in The Fresh Exchange Blog!

2011-05-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

Megan Gilger of The Fresh Exchange recently featured the Flying Tomato green eyelet dress in her blog. Megan, a regular at Ella's is the authoress of the most beautiful blog ever created- so check it out! http://thefreshexchange.blogspot.com/2011/05/pin-love.html

L'Inspiration

2011-05-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Everyone at Ella's is currently contemplating their style inspirations. What inspires the way you dress/decorate/live? A few days ago we posted some of Brianne Russell's off-beat style inspirations. Today it is Grant's Turn. Grant, who has been styling at Ella's since November, has a few odd influences of his own...

Grant's style inspirations:

The Monkeys
60's Mod
Devendra Banhart
The Paintings of Jaques Louis David
French New Wave Films
British Colonialism
Louis Garrell
Bob Dylan
Ivy League
Tribal Style
Jaques Cousteau
The French Revolution

What about you? Ella's would love to know what inspires you!

Wyatt is a star!

2011-05-10T14:38:00.000-07:00

"Wyatt Dorman, 6, helps his mother, Ella's Fashion and Furnishings owner Wendy Dorman, clean the windows outside the Front Street store."

Featured in the Traverse City Record-Eagle
http://record-eagle.com/

Packing For a trip with Kirstin

2011-05-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

Headed for a weekend away? We recently quizzed Ella's stylist Kirstin Munro Steibel about what she would pack. Here is her list:

One pair good jeans
Bad-ass Boots
Belt
Polka dot sneakers
Two black tees
Two lightweight tops that can work for daytime or evening...
(Velvet's whisper weight cotton is perfect!)
Black leather jacket
All-season scarf
Lighweight sweater for layering
Bad hair day / sun protective hat
Favorite earrings
Leather wrist cuff and big silver chain bracelet (goes with everything?)
Over the knee socks
One versatile skirt
Sunglasses for protection and anonymity

Kirstin's packing style? She puts everything together - all at once. 10 minutes, one small rolling bag, and she's out the door. We admire her speed.

Kirstin's preferred destinations: Sweden, Ann Arbor, London, European music festivals, seedy New York clubs, isolated Norwegian fishing villages, Detroit.

Grant's Pick- The Talented Mr. Ripley

2011-05-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

This Film has Great Style! It is elegant and sophisticated- yet exceedingly practical. Most of the costumes could be worn today, with ease, and still look great. That is a feat for a period film. Simple Summer pieces, pea coats, dresses, tuxedos- this film is inspiration for classic style!

Ella's Welcomes Breanne!

2011-05-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

Ella's is excited to welcome a new stylist!
Breanne Russell will be joining us next week and adding a fresh and edgy energy to Ella's. She is an accomplished tailor with excellent organizational skills (which we are looking forward to seeing in action!)

Her style inspirations are:
Mr. Rogers
Lumberjacks
the Black Panthers
Twiggy
Vagabonds
Eccentric Grandmothers
and
Cher

Currently playing at Ella's: ZAZ

2011-05-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

We are currently enjoying her vintage french sound. check her out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvNkh9vJGSk

Fran's Pick- Joshua Then and Now

2011-05-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

This Film is Fran's pick for "favorite stylish film". She loves the Sophisticated 1930's Italian style. While it seems that no one else at Ella's has even heard of this film, we will trust her that it is a hidden style gem. For more info and reviews check out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089383/

It's Our Birthday!

2011-04-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Come Celebrate with Us on Thursday April 21st from 7-9 pm

Enjoy 20% off Full Priced Merchandise Thursday - Saturday!

Party on Wayne! Party on Garth!

Currently Playing At Ella's:

2011-03-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

JANELLE MONAE!

we love her funky sound- and if you spot us dancing around the store a bit- this is why.

Spring Suggestions for Men:

2011-03-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Everyone has a few things they swear they will never wear. Once upon a time I swore I would never, ever wear a flannel shirt. How wrong I was. Now I adore flannel! Basically I am saying- don’t make fashion judgments too hastily. In another regrettable era- I declared that Denim shirts where “possibly the worst idea for a shirt ever”. Not so. Perhaps I am caught up in some kind of trending fever- but I think that denim shirts are pretty cool right now. But not just that- right now the shirt triumvirate of choice is Denim-Gingham-Chambray. It would appear that the entire world has gone crazy for these three- The big men’s show in Vegas- Project- featured them non-stop. You can totally get away with these- at work, at the beach, with a suit- even with a tuxedo (see Ella’s window right now!)

Here’s how to do them right:

+ They have to fit well- the idea of a slim fitting dress shirt may be intimidating- but the shirt has got to fit your body- close but comfortable. If it is too baggy find one that fits in the shoulders and have a tailor put in back darts. This will help it look great even when tucked in.

+ Your pants must fit well also- try a slim-fitting jean (may we suggest the AG Protégé?) a pair of grey trousers or some slim-fitting navy shorts. Again the key is a good fit. This spring try rolling them up a bit at the ankle to show off your cool socks or expensive shoes.

+ Accessorize- these shirts will look great with a tie! I recommend a dark knit tie, but a vintage preppy tie or bowtie will always look great as well. If you can- add a tie clip (or bar)- they are currently the must-have accessories for every gentleman. Suspenders, Lace-up oxfords or wing tips, a blazer- perhaps even a straw fedora- all of these complement the denim-chambray-gingham trio to perfection.

As always, if you need some help figuring out what to wear or how to wear it- stop on in to Ella’s and we would be happy to help you get creative.

-Grant

(photos courtesy of themidweststyle.com)

STRIPES! oh, my!

2011-03-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Our store is currently awash with playful nautical stripes!

Guess what's about to happen to your wardrobe...

2011-02-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

Jeans are flaring once again! We just recieved a shipment of Joe's in black- the perfect shape for spring and summer!

Quoted:

2011-01-16T10:43:00.000-08:00

"It is probable that democracy will end, that the bourgeoisie will collapse and that the monarchy will be restored.... then men's clothes can have a renaissance. the elaborate, elegant clothes of the court...can return... and the common people will develop colorful native dress again."
- Salvador Dali (Oct. 1963)

Winter Trend: Fur

2011-01-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

Wendy and Bonny just returned from New York, where they have been scouting out new designers and vintage finds for spring. They would love to tell you all about the newest trends and exciting things on the horizon- so stay tuned!

What style struck them the most? Fur. Everyone is wearing it- especially fur hats!

"Fur hats are all the rage in NYC and I'm seeing them on the streets in TC too. They have been gaining in popularity over the last few years, but this year they are especially hot both faux and real."

So for this Winter (and next)- be thinking "Dr. Zhivago".
Everone in New York/Paris/Chicago already is!

-Ella's

Out With The Old...

2011-01-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

In With The New!
Right now we have some mad crazy sales going on- with non-consignment merchandise 30-50% off. We also have new clothing in from Velvet and new handmade skirts from Neashasha (more on that to come!)

Be sure to follow our blog for regular updates! A very special thanks to Kristy Kurjan for being the very first follower! We try not to play favorites but she must be our most dedicated fan.

New Shoes 30% Off!

2010-12-29T12:25:00.000-08:00

New Year's Sale!

2010-12-29T12:07:00.000-08:00

December 28th-31st

To celebrate the New Year Ella's is offering 40% off all clothing and accessories (excluding consigned items) as well as 30% off of new shoes!

Hope your new year rocks even more than the last!

-Ella

This Just In!

2010-12-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

The Sonja Party Dress

by Trina Turk

Upcoming Events!

2010-12-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

+ Ladies Night
   Coctails, 20% off, and Free Massages!
   December 9th
   5-9pm

+ Men's Night
   Great Beer, 20% off, and Live Music!
   December 16th
   5-9pm

Ella Adores: Ikat

2010-11-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

the pre-columbian pattern of which we are all so fond-especially in bright hues.

Ella presents: looks from previous seasons

2010-11-16T11:46:00.000-08:00

Ella Adores: TheTurban

2010-11-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.thedebonaire.com/2010/11/turban-love.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDebonaire+%28The+Debonaire%29