We have a new home!

Okay, let’s explain.

First of all, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts for following us, for supporting us, for buying our wares, for collaborating with us, for inspiring us, and for coming here to listen to our random ramblings.

When Arlene and I first talked about our business idea, we envisioned it as a sort of fashion magazine where you could click on the pictures and buy things. We didn’t, don’t, know anything about publishing or journalism, but we’re smart, we know retail, and we know fashion. So when we both found ourselves unemployed in early 2008, we took a leap: we hopped a plane to New York, placed some orders, and got to work learning about the internet.

The business has always meant to have 3 basic components: product, advice, and eye candy. The perfect trifecta. But, to make a long story short, we’ve never felt that it quite came to that place of unison and cohesion. We actually never meant to be a store, that was just the click-on-the-pictures-and-buy-things component. And though it may sound naive, we truly believed that what we had was so different from that.

Arlene and I have always looked at our business as a sort of way of life, with assistance and information for all the stylish things that make everyday life a little brighter and more fulfilling — because, seriously, the perfect shoes, a thoughtfully hung photograph wall, or a good organization solution for all those necklaces and scarves really can make your day.

So it’s time for us to evolve. We’ve launched a “new” venture called Kit This — it’s our new baby and we couldn’t be more excited. We hope that you’ll come over and visit us. And maybe even get involved.

Hope to see you soon!

Love,

Brandon and Arlene

Y’all probably already know this by now, but I LOVE to shop. I take my shopping very seriously and one of my favorite places to while away the hours, rifling through all kinds of cool stuff, is the monthly Randolph Street Market. And this weekend is the opener of the summer season, which means that there’s even MORE merchandise than usual!

Furniture to Fendi, furs to fedoras, Randolph’s got it all. So if you’re in Chicago, stop by. And if you’re competitive about your shopping, you can pay a little extra and get a 2 hour head start (it’s worth it — I scored some very well-priced Chanel last time that I guarantee you wouldn’t have been there at noon).

Afraid of being overwhelmed by the awesome selection? Don’t be! We, along with a few of Chicago’s finest bloggers, will be marking our Editor’s Picks for you so you’ll already have a head start. Hope to see you there!

For more information and to purchase advanced tickets ($8 in advance, $10 at the door), visit RandolphStreetMarket.com.

love kneeland co!!  this visual resource is one for all you creatives out there that need some color, pattern, texure and/or embellished inspiration.  ms joanna williams travels, finds & inspires with her abundance of found vintage textiles (gorgeous bright colors all mixed & matched & beautiful) and one-of-a-kind reworked vintage jewelry.   this textile studio has me itching to get my hands on some textiles myself…possibly a screen printing class this summer??

some of joanna’s one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry can be found at anthropolgie stores

kneeland co inspiration found via jeana sohn

images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

That’s right, Rachel Comey has dipped her toe into the pool. And as usual, she’s gotten it exactly right.

I bought the teeth one piece in picture 2 and I am not lying when I tell you that it is hands-down the best one piece I have ever owned. I don’t know how she does it, but that Rachel Comey just knows how to make clothes. It would even be cute with a pair of boyfriend jeans. Hmm, I might have to do that…

So what are you waiting for? Get yours here or here or before it’s too late!

{image sources: header and first suit via Rachel Comey, teeth bikini via La Garconne, beach set via the shop, runway via Style.com; strawberry rosemary sangria via A Cozy Kitchen}

shoes, shoes, shoes HERE

my new love…the espadrille bootie (yep, that’s right! & super perfect for spring/summer ) HERE

since we’re still flip flopping over here in the midwest between upper 50’s and mid 70’s, here’s more on transitional wear!  The easiest (& comfiest) piece to switch up your sweaters, button ups, silks & satins for is a good old tee.  Easy to find (from Target to online)…go solid for those corporate days, colorful & graphic for every other time

stock up on your stripes and solids here, here & here

stripes & solids shown above 1 / 2 / 3

grab some graphics here, here & here

graphics above 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

For today’s installment of What We’re Wearing, we decided to tackle the challenge of transitional dressing (and also prove that denim can indeed be worn with denim). In Chicago, Spring is all about mastering the art of dressing for any temperature. It could start out to be 65 and sunny and be feeling (and looking like) snow by the end of the day. Or vice versa. You just never know. So, layers, jackets, and denim are all in frequent rotation for us during this craziest of seasons.

Arlene really gets it right with this denim and denim ensemble (that’s right, you can wear denim with denim!) The button-up is a perfect choice (she can roll the sleeves up or down as temp dictates), and the short sleeve jacket is sheer genius when you’re not sure of what the level of chill will be. She also gets it right with a pair of peep-toe ankle booties — toss a pair of socks in your bag (seriously) and thrown them on if you get cold.

And it’s all the perfect backdrop for her awesome collection of turquoise and coral bracelets (handed down to her from her parents — she still recalls the family road trip and the roadside jewelry stand where the pieces were originally purchased).

For me, I really wanted to wear this vintage YSL silk rose print dress I purchased a couple of months ago. I’ve been dying for the weather to get warm enough so that I could wear it. Weather wasn’t cooperating, so I layered it. Take that, Chicago Spring! I topped it with a thrifted jean jacket that we cut the sleeves off of for a photo shoot. The vest offers a nice little layer of warmth, and also makes the perfect canvas for my beloved deconstructed corsage from Chicago designer, Kristin Mariani of Red Shift.

And on a side note, Arlene and I honestly didn’t plan this — we just both happened to show up in outfits that feature both red and denim elements. We’re of the same mind, I tell you!

{On Arlene: Steven Alan button-up, Anagram by Gary Graham parka, Nobody boyfriend jeans, Rachel Comey Avenger peep-toes, vintage turquoise and coral bracelets.

On Brandon: vintage YSL rose print dress, Old Navy denim vest, Mayle boots, Red Shift deconstructed corsage.}

Thanks to Becky Hill for the awesome photography! Shot on location at one of our favorites spots, the Lill Street Art Center.

we’re styling up an americana shoot over at showpony next month and uber cool nyc co, wool and the gang immediately came to mind.  love their tomboy, easy chic style and best thing about wool and the gang…you can learn to knit this whole collection!  so, we’re doubly inspired over here…we’re inviting ms nathalie from wool and the gang, to come on out & teach us (and you!) how to whip up one of these beauties along with a little brunch & laughs.  fun knitting details coming….(and americana shoot!)

images via wool and the gang

of my own little {work} space at home.   once upon a time, i had a cute room then hello family, hello teenager, good-bye cute room.  and ever since our little visit with ms erin loechner of design for mankind, i’ve never been more inspired than now to carve out {or back } some of that space.  love ms erin loechner’s space…it’s unexpected, simple and filled with personality.  surfing around, an all-white-tucked-in vibe is also calling out to me.  and i know, having this fab workspace at home may require extra motivation to tackle the to-do list.  sorry, working in workout gear won’t do it for me, but hey a casual chic maxi would and presto….i’m ready for anything!

more inspired work spaces…here

and casual chic maxi’s here, here, here and here

images: 1 (so sorry don’t know where i came across this one) / 2 / my bad, this one too / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Friday saw the launch of Rue Magazine’s annual entertaining issue, with our picture* on the cover!

We’ve been fans of Rue since the beginning and have been trying to get our work featured in this awesome magazine ever since they launched. We can’t even begin to express how thrilled and honored we are to be included. And to have our shot on the cover? Well, it’s almost more than we can stand!

From a completely objective perspective, we think this issue is the very best one yet. A few highlights:

Spring entertaining ideas (and some yummy recipes):

Sherbet-colored shopping ideas:

A fabulous Raleigh-Durham pad with some over-sized, covetable artwork (and the cutest little dog ever):

And, of course, an over-the-top fashion story styled and produced by us:

Check out all these stories and much, much more in the latest issue at Ruemag.com. It’s a beauty from start to finish!

{photo credits: *cover and Refined Riot — photography by Erika Dufour, wardrobe styling and production by TwentyThirtyForty, prop and set styling by Kelly McKaig, hair by Chrisondra Boyd, make-up by Kerry Huesges, model: Bel from Ford Chicago, furniture from Revision Home Chicago; Sips & Snacks photography by Featherlove; Carolina Cool — interior design by Heather Garrett, photography by Emily Johnston-Anderson}