It's a Wrap

We're past the point of no return. Those 80-degree days are behind us now -- and if they resurface, it's only a fluke. So we might as well just embrace cooler temperatures and cozy clothes.

Which brings us to the Lovestory wrap skirt from Anabelfuzz. We simply must have one. It's just the thing to pair with woolly tights and high boots, and the textiles are irresistible. Plus, at under $50 for most styles, it's a bargain for handmade.

This line of sustainable clothing and homegoods for children and adults is the brainchild of Bangor native and Bar Harbor resident Kirsten Hardy. And her choice of textiles is irresistible.

Why are you waiting? Go get yourself one — and wrap yourself in fall style.

Anabelfuzz skirts are available here.

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Sweater Girl

If you are chilly, here, take this sweater.

Though we're digging this season's men's styles from L.L. Bean Signature a little more than the women's line, we cannot resist this thin, heathered, pearl gray mohair cardigan. It's the perfect, stylish layer for a day like today — something we'll wear all the time. And since it's from L.L. Bean, it won't show it.

Maybe we're warming up to this fall's styles, after all.

For more information, click here.

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Dressed for Success

It's not easy being elegant while you're gigantically pregnant. That being said, the dress that Jessi Sader of FX Dressed designed for The Maven to wear to last weekend's black-tie affair was just that (as was the setting — the Bar Harbor Club is, quite possibly, the best formal wedding venue we've ever seen, and we've seen a lot of them).

Regular readers of Maine Maven know that we're huge fans of Jessi's designs, so it's no surprise that we turned to her in this time of need (have you seen the maternity formalwear out there? Horrifying.) That being said, this dress is a must for ladies of all shapes and sizes — trust us on this one. The Maven chose a floor-length riff on FX Dressed's traditional wrap dress and paired it with one of Jessi's new feathered headbands.

One of our friends liked the idea so much, she's having Jessi make her bridesmaid dresses — an excellent choice. So, if you're in the market for something custom and elegant (not to mention ridiculously affordable), give Jessi a call. You'll be glad you did. And so will your date.

For information, visit www.fxdressed.com

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Trip the Light Fantastic

Editor's note: We're giving away a gorgeous tote designed by Erin Flett for AU. To learn how to enter, click here.


When Katy Perry kissed a girl, we hated it. Well, actually we just hated the song. But when she wore this glowing dress to the Met Costume Gala last week, we didn't just like it, we loved it.

See, the dress was designed by CuteCircuit, a London-based company that fuses fashion and technology in a striking way — Perry's dress was made of silk chiffon and thousands of LED lights that changed colors as she moved.

The coolest part? CuteCircuit is headed by Caribou native and University of Maine alumnus (and friend of the Mavens — all of us) Ryan Genz, and his partner, Francesca Rosella. Ryan always had a flair for the dramatic — he wore a silver puffy jacket before anyone else dared to, and nail polish way before Adam Lambert thought of it. But he also had an artistic eye and a solid grasp of new media. It's great to see him find a way to combine all of his talents in one creative outlet.

And if the best-dressed lists that Perry hit last week are any indication, the future looks bright. As in, 3,000 LED bulbs bright.

To learn more, visit www.cutecircuit.com.

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(Maternity) Clothes-Minded

If you knew The Maven back in her ShopGirl days, you'd know she's a crazy bargain-hunter (and if you didn't, all you need to know is that Kristen wrote a shopping column for years). So this whole maternity clothes thing has really thrown all of us for a loop.

First, we had no idea how much stuff we'd need — three seasons of oversize fun! Second, we had no idea how much money we'd need. And these things never truly go on sale. Fortunately, a dear friend sent us a giant box of her gorgeous maternity clothes, but we still need a few warm-weather staples to get us through June.

The other day, The Maven was trolling the Web for shorts (because who doesn't want to see a beached whale with pasty-white legs?) and figured, why not try the Gap? Well, here's why: cotton khaki shorts for $54.50. Seriously? For shorts? That don't even make you look skinny? Ugh.

Yes, there are other options — in Bangor, we have Motherhood, Old Navy and the maternity section at Burlington Coat Factory, which offers a surprisingly stylish (and inexpensive) array of clothes. There are not one, but two locations of The Growing Place, a consignment shop for all things mama- and baby-related. Unfortunately, neither location seems to ever have anything Maven-size. And since we only have 7 1/2 weeks to go, we're not about to break the bank on warm-weather clothes. So we were pretty psyched about the opportunity to check out Maternity Fair in Biddeford last weekend.

This shop shares a storefront with sister store Baby Furniture Fair, which carries wonderful, clean, gently used cribs, gear and toys. But really, let's talk clothes. And let us just throw this out there: Most places that claim to sell "quality used maternity clothing" are selling pilly sweaters, pants that have taken too many turns in the washing machine and dresses from the late '90s. Not so at Maternity Fair. Yes, there were a few things we wouldn't be caught dead in, but it was so nice to see stacks and racks of brand-name clothing that looked new (in fact, some of it still had the store tags).

When you walk through the door, the store's owner, Janet, immediately introduces herself and makes it a point to make your visit great. She was incredibly helpful as The Maven amassed a pile of great clothes, offering advice about fit and — of course — asking about the baby (and what mom-to-be doesn't love to talk about the baby?). We walked out of there with two pairs of capris from the Gap (both of which looked brand-new), a babydoll top from Motherhood that was, in fact, brand-new, the prettiest shirt ever from Old Navy, and third pair of capris from Motherhood. We debated a pair of khaki Bermudas from Gap, but they weren't exactly flattering.

The entire bill came to $60 — shockingly low, especially when you compare that to $54.50 for one pair of shorts online. Not bad at all. So for all you Maine mamas-to-be — and for all you crazy bargain-hunters — Maternity Fair is a must.

Maternity Fair is located at 288 Main St. in Biddeford. For more information, visit the website.

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Project Runway

How's this for fierce?

Season 8 of "Project Runway" is rapidly approaching, and the show's organizers would really, really like to see some Maine talent apply for the competition. We all know there are amazing fashion designers in Maine (for a list of our faves, click here). And there are probably a dozen that we've never even heard of.

So why not show Tim and Heidi what you've got? Time is of the essence — the deadline is April 22. If you're over 21, you can apply online at http://www.bunim-murray.com/prcasting or e-mail prcasting@bunim-murray.com.

Tell 'em The Maven sent you. And be fierce.

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Studio Audience

As regular readers of Maine Maven know, we're wild about FX Dressed, the clothing line designed and handmade by Orono's own Jessi Sader, and her shop, Studio.

Jessi has expanded to offer her clothing throughout Maine (for a list of retailers, click here), and her fall line will be carried in stores throughout the Northeast.

This Saturday, Jessi will teach you how to turn your old stuff into something new and fabulous at her "Upcycle Your Wardrobe" workshop. She should know — she got into the whole business making refashioned vintage duds, and she still incorporates recycled textiles whenever possible. The workshop begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Studio, 24 Main St., Orono.

Can't make it? Why not treat yourself to a new tunic or T from the Jessi's spring line? Our favorite is the feather print pictured above (image courtesy of Bella Luna), but all of the new fabrics are stunning.
Wear them and you'll attract your own Studio audience...

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The Mad Men of Maine

You're obsessed with "Mad Men," and we can't blame you. The outfits. The drinking before noon. The Don Draper. What's not to love?

This weekend, Portland fashion designer Meredith Alex of MADGirl will unleash her own MAD Men on the world. As part of the Marion Grace CD release soiree at Port City Music Hall, Meredith has planned "madman unleashed": a runway show full of eco-friendly streetwear for guys. Though we haven't seen the line yet — Meredith is saving the whole thing for the show — we're guessing it will be as wild (yet wearable) as her couture women's clothes.

We love to see men's fashions highlighted in Maine — a rare occurrence. And though we're pretty sure there won't be any Jon Hamm sightings, there will be plenty of eye candy. So join the MADness. You'll be glad you did.

The event starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at Port City Music Hall. Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets.

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Bean There, Worn That

Well, the L.L. Bean Signature line has finally arrived. And it certainly has designer Alex Carleton's signature all over it. Carleton, who lives in Cape Elizabeth, heads up the Rogues Gallery line and previously worked for Abercrombie & Fitch and Ralph Lauren. All three of these (with the possible exception of Neversleep, the Rogues spinoff sold at Urban Outfitters) have a distinctly traditional vibe with slim, modern lines that keep things from feeling too stuffy or preppy.

Overall, we're pretty impressed with L.L. Bean Signature. It's a smart departure for Bean, and because many of the styles are inspired by clothing from the retailer's archive, it has an authentic vintage feel without the vintage moth holes or mildew smell. That being said, many of the pieces remind us of clothes we already own or have considered buying at thrift shops. And though we'll have to wait to try on the pants, we can tell by looking at them that the waistlines are a little too high for our taste.


But that's really the worst we can say. The dresses, slim skirts and fine-gauge sweaters remind us of Jackie O on the Cape, and the jaunty little scarves are adorable. Portland jeweler Portia Clark also gets a nod — check out her pearls in the accessories section. The wrap dress, poplin skirt, white sateen pencil skirt and dobby stripe Oxford are on our short list.

For men, The Maven would be happy to see Jason in any of these clothes — they're more stylish than what you'd normally find at L.L. Bean, but not quite hipster, which works for us. There are combinations that remind us of Abercrombie for grownups, but that's not a bad thing.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the whole line at www.llbeansignature.com and let us know what you think.

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More Signature Style

Our recent post about Alex Carleton's new L.L. Bean Signature line sparked a bit of a debate. Some readers love the classic styles and fitted lines. Others think what they've seen so far is unremarkable.

Regardless of how how you feel about it, today marks the debut of two new pre-launch pieces: a waxed canvas take on the classic Maine Hunting Shoe (aka the L.L. Bean Boot), and a nubby cotton sweater for women.

There are only 100 pairs of the boot available, so if you want them, you need to act fast. The sweater, with its wooden buttons and kangaroo pocket, has a bit of an '80s throwback feel, only the cut is way more flattering. At least, it is on Maggie Rizer. For more information or to order, click here.

Love 'em or loathe 'em, they're here to stay, and starting in March, we'll get to see the whole line. Until then, tell us: what do you think of L.L. Bean Signature?

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Meet Mini ME

Editor's note: We have some exciting news. Here at The Maven, we're having a baby! This means we're obsessed with everything for the little one. So, without further ado, we'd like to introduce Mini ME Mondays, which will highlight the best Maine shopping, products, services, activities and more for the under-18 set and their parents. Since we're new to this, we'd love any suggestions you may have (e-mail us at kristen@mainemaven.com). And we know parents are full of advice and opinions, so please share them by posting comments here or on our Facebook page.  Thanks!

Being pregnant is a lot like getting married — the price of everything seems to quadruple. When you're engaged, a dress that should cost $300, tops, suddenly skyrockets to thousands of dollars. When you're pregnant, places like Gap and Motherhood somehow think it's OK to charge $50 and up for ugly, polyester, elastic-waist pants. A Pea in the Pod is better, but $148 for an acrylic sweater? Really? And the normal-looking stuff rarely goes on sale.

Nobody would ever be caught dead in this crap if they weren't expecting, but what's a pregnant gal to do?

Find alternatives. This isn't that easy to do in Maine, especially in the Bangor area. During her annual trip to New York, The Maven stocked up on basics at Gap Maternity and Destination Maternity. In Bangor, Target and Old Navy are the standbys, with an occasional stop at Motherhood. Jason splurged on a pair of designer maternity jeans from Nordstrom as a gift, which are worn an average of two to three times a week — one word of advice to first-timers: if you invest in only one thing while you're pregnant, make it a pair of designer maternity jeans. You're going to pay $70-$80 at Gap anyway, so just bite the bullet and get the Sevens, Citizens or Juicys.

However, after a little — OK, a lot — of searching, we've found a few great local options. One of them is right outside our door. Jessi Sader, who owns Studio in Orono, creates the most adorable dresses and tunics for her FX Dressed line (see the Orla Kiely-esque tank dress above). They're designed for non-pregnant gals, but the stretchy fabrics and long cuts make them perfect for moms-to-be — pair them with leggings or jeans and you're good to go. Plus, the price point is right on: $28-$32 for a handmade top or casual dress (she even does custom). Special-occasion dresses cost well under $100. For a list of where to find Jessi's designs throughout Maine, click here.

In Bangor, we like The Growing Place, a maternity consignment shop with two locations: one on Hammond Street, the other on outer Broadway. The selection tends to be better for women who wear larger sizes, but expect to find name brands, mostly in great condition, for a fraction of retail. Plus, they sell children's furniture, toys, clothing and nursery items.

We haven't done too much exploring in southern Maine (although we're totally in love with the baby goods and Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags at Blanche & Mimi), but friends tell us Maternity Fair in Biddeford, another consignment shop, is wonderful. We'll hit it on our next trip to see The Maven's family.

So, moms: any suggestions? Tell us your favorite spots for maternity gear in Maine (or non-maternity gear that will fit a growing belly). Inquiring — and stylish — moms-to-be want to know.




   

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L.L. Bean Signature: First Glimpse

If you're anything like us, you're dying to see the new L.L. Bean Signature collection, designed by Alex Carleton of Rogues Gallery. The line launches in March, but sometimes, impatience pays off. Two pieces, both totes, are available now for pre-launch sale.

We prefer the leather tote to what looks like a giant, stonewashed denim Bean bag, but we're even more excited about the lobster-buoy-print wrap dress — which looks better than it sounds — and Oxford shirt dress in the slideshow on the Web site (see for yourself at www.llbeansignature.com). And are those skinny L.L. Bean jeans? Really?

Carleton might just usher in a whole new era for L.L. Bean — one inspired by the past but tailored for today. We can't wait.

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To Haiti, With Friendship

Here's what we love about Twitter: It allows us to know what our "friends" are doing pretty much all the time. Even if we've never met these people in real life, there's still a connection — in Maine and around the world.

Twitter was the place where many people turned for up-to-the-minute information about the Haitian earthquake. So we were pretty psyched to see that our Twitter friend Gabe Schmand, the guy behind the Glenburn-based silkscreening and design studio My Friend Moomba, had created these Help Haiti T-shirts.

Not only do they look good — they have a cool, almost vintage look to them — they do good, too. Gabe will donate 100 percent of the profits (excluding shipping and handling) from sales of the T-shirt to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund for Haiti. That means $13 of the $15 price will be a straight donation.

Way to go, Moomba. We're proud to call you our friend. And as the T-shirts say, "A friend is a friend" — whether in Maine or in Haiti.

To order a T-shirt, visit My Friend Moomba's Web site. Oh, and while you're at it, you can follow Gabe at www.twitter.com/myfriendmoomba.

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Pinecone + Chickadee: Whooo's who

You've wanted an owl since you first read "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," but really, that could get messy. At the very least, it would be a little fowl.

Thanks to Pinecone + Chickadee, the Portland-based silkscreening studio of Amy Teh and her hubby, Noah DeFilippis, you can have your owl — and wear it, too. This original design is screenprinted with water-based inks on an American Apparel T-shirt (so order a size bigger than usual, kids).

Teh and DeFilippis moved here from Brooklyn after the birth of their son, and New York's loss is Maine's gain. Their work has a distinctive, whimsical look (how cute are those T-shirts?) Portlanders may recognize their graphic design work from Buy Local posters or from one of the many retailers they supply.

So go ahead, wear your art on your sleeve — and have fun. It's a real hoot.

For more information on Pinecone + Chickadee, click here to visit the Web site.

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A Chic Sneak Peek

Here at Maine Maven, we've been waiting with bated breath to see L.L. Bean's Signature Collection by Alex Carleton.

As it turns out, it was worth the wait. Though Carleton (of Rogues Gallery fame) debuted the line last week at Manhattan's Hosfelt Gallery, the vibe was pure Maine. We couldn't make it to the launch party, but we've seen pictures and they are fabulous.

The bearded Carleton looked like a cross between Ray LaMontagne and Christian Bale in a buffalo-check flannel shirt, preppy tie, brown tweed jacket and dark-rinse jeans. The menu was perfect — Maine lobster rolls, Geary's and oyster shooters served from a raw bar set up in an Old Town Canoe.

But enough about the ambiance. Let's talk clothes. The line is, in a word, classic. For women, think Jackie O or your classy cousin Julie. For men, imagine if that guy you made out with in Kennebunkport had a sense of humor and voted for someone other than Bush.

Yes, there are plaids and barn jackets, denim skirts and oversize totes, but they're streamlined and modern. The dresses are feminine and flattering. The menswear is tailored but unstuffy. Carleton has taken iconic looks from Bean's archives and transformed them — without losing any authenticity in the translation. As the New York party blog Guest of a Guest put it, "The clothing is preppy and polished and will be giving J. Crew a run for their (sic) money."

We can't wait until it hits the store in 2010, but for now, here are a few photos to tide us over. Enjoy!

Images courtesy LaForce-Stevens.

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In The Hood

Remember those old milk ads that said, "You can feel good about Hood"?

We're not wild about milk, but the saying could also apply to Brook There's fall 2009 line. Right about now, as we contemplate another sub-50 morning, we want to curl up in one of these hoodies by Portland designer Brook DeLorme. She is all about sustainable fabrics, and her designs — many of which can be made to order — are completely wearable.

DeLorme just opened a Brook There boutique/studio on Wharf Street in Portland, but you can also find her work online — right now, she's having a very good sample store in her Etsy shop, and you can see the entire fall line here.

When you see it, you'll get that warm, fuzzy feeling.

Photo by the talented Meredith Perdue.

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Signature Style

We weren't exactly surprised to hear that L.L. Bean will launch a signature line, designed by Alex Carleton of the Portland-based Rogues Gallery label.

When our Heritage tote arrived in the mail this spring, The Maven actually said, "This looks like something you'd buy at Rogues." Frankly, we never expected people to stop us in the street and ask where we got an L.L. Bean canvas bag, but it happens all the time.

Whether Carleton was at work behind the scenes or not, one thing is for certain: the fashion quotient at Bean's has gone WAY up over the last year. Remember those adorable flats? The cute Wellies? The sweaters that don't look like the small is actually a mislabeled extra-large?

Now that this partnership is official, we have great expectations for L.L. Bean Signature. Carleton, who designed for Abercrombie & Fitch and Ralph Lauren before moving to Maine, has said he'll dig deep into the archives and retool vintage looks for contemporary living (read: better tailoring, slimMer lines, great fabrics). It won't be a huge departure from the retailer's traditional look, but enough of one that you'll notice.

The best part? L.L. Bean Signature will be sold at the same price point as everything else at Bean's.

Now that the cat's out of the canvas bag, we can't wait until the line debuts in 2010.

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Frock On

Our pet peeve? When people sneer or raise an eyebrow to hear "Maine" and "fashion" in the same sentence. To them, there's really only one thing to say:

What the frock?

Perhaps these people need to trade in their Coach bags for one of Ponomo's gorgeous leather satchels. They might want to detour to Rogues Gallery on their way to J. Crew. And why not skip the Michael Stars T and buy something original from Local Ink (pictured)?

 

These Maine designers — along with pinecone + chickadee, Ferdinand, Alicia Allen Jewelry, Never Sleep by Rogues founder/designer Jay Carroll, Golden Apple, Jen Burrall Designs, Milo in Maine and Sophronia Design — will show their lines at Frock 'n Roll, a fundraiser for the Portland Music Foundation that highlights the best of of the local fashion and music scene.

Among the night's musical highlights are Spencer and the School Spirit Mafia, Darien Brahms, Isobell, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Samuel James, Todd the Rocket, j.hjort, The Hot Tarts and The Baltic Sea.

 

Wanna Frock 'n Roll all night? Mark your calendar — Frock 'n Roll starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St. in Portland. The show is 18 and up. Tickets cost $10 and are available at Bull Moose Music or online at Brown Paper Tickets. For a full list of musician and designer bios, visit the Frock 'n Roll blog.

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It's A Wrap

It would appear we've skipped summer entirely and headed straight to fall.

There's so much about the above sentence that's wrong. What's even worse, we put our cool-weather clothing in storage months ago. In other words, we're freezing.

But if there's one thing that warms our chilly little hearts, it's these jersey throw-over wraps from Studio in Orono. Made by Alternative Apparel, these soft, cotton cardigans drape like a dream. Don't let the photo (from Alternative Apparel) fool you — they're super-flattering, especially when you don't pair them with rolled-up stonewashed denim shorts.

Our favorite is the brown slubbed fabric, which is a nice departure from black, but Studio has a bunch to choose from. However, if this weather keeps up, they'll go fast.

Studio is located at 24 Main St. in Orono. For information, call 866-3900.

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Weather Or Not

It's raining. It's pouring. This weather sure is boring.

You thought you'd go to the fireworks this weekend. Maybe light a few sparklers. Go sailing. Head to camp. Sit out on the deck and have a barbecue. But instead, you're stuck inside, searching in vain for the perfect raincoat.

The search is over, and we wish we could say the same for the rain.

Though we've loved the company's waterproof Raincoat Cotton totes for some time, we had no idea Au Inc. (Accessories Unlimited) of Westbrook makes actual raincoats out of the same fabric. Of course, they're absolutely adorable. The coats aren't available on Au's Web site, but can be found at dll Rainwear. The pictured style costs $125 and is also available in pink — click here to order. And these coats have also been spotted at Au's Freeport store (58 Main St., 207.865.7020).

We can't guarantee they'll make the weather any better, but we will say this: They'll be a bright spot in yet another gray, dreary day.

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