Hammer- I mean Harem- Pants

I just want to settle a little fashion debacle in Spring O9's trends... Harem or Hammer pants are COOL folks... I fully intend on getting my hands on a pair... they're everywhere! and just look so deliciously comfortable, I really can't see how you could go wrong. Come on ladies, it's a cross between men's pants (ya know, roomier) and leggings... why stop it if they feel so right?!?!

This idea just sparked in my head as I was watching MC Hammer bust a move with Ellen DeGeneres. I saw harem pants all over Spain last winter, and all over Scandinavia this past Summer... I'm just giving everyone a heads-up, they're coming, and they're awesome. I've seen them on every body shape. They're almost like a modern day gaucho- wear them dressed up, or down. Both are cute and comfortable.

I don't have any lined up in the store yet (haven't found much out there YET!) but my eyes are open. Maybe I'll get some feedback on them before I stock 30 pairs in 12 different colors ;)

Here's a few site's that back me up on this debate:
http://style.la-mimi.com/fashion-trends/harem-pants-trend/
http://www.fashionmagazine.com/blogs/fashion/styled-west/2009/01/14/style-resolution/
(see number 3)
http://uk.fashion.popsugar.com/2663308

Anyways- the store's really coming together :) I can't wait to show it to you!!

the NEWSPAPER!

A few weeks ago I was hooked up with Erin Dwyer, a writer for the Telegraph Journal, Saint John's local newspaper. She writes a weekly column in 'The City' section of the paper and wanted to write a little somethin' on the store! So of course, free press for me!, I said yes :) I was a little nervous and caught of guard when she called, but the article turned out great! I'm even pretty thrilled with the picture that came along with it, which was much bigger than I anticipated and in color!!

Here's the article:
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/605419

... I'm still on the search for store fixtures! What a pain in the butt. Putting more orders in for Spring too! The store is going to look great, but no sooner than April 1. 2 weeks from tomorrow! AHHHHH!!!

Mannequins, painted ceilings and harwood flooring... oh and clothes!

Just a quick update with the store-

Whew, so things are STILL crazy and getting crazier. BUT the good news is: the store is lookin' pretty dannnng sweet if I do say so myself. I'm down to a good size list of things to get accomplished before opening, but it's no longer overwhelming which is a slight relief.

So the floors are officially done, now its the trim, the countertop and a few odds and ends. And last minute we decided to have the ceiling painted, so that's another big project. The contractor and all of his workers should be out by the end of the week/early next week! Then it's cleaning, and more cleaning and a mad dash to get everything in, arranged and perfect.

OH! and the logo's all done, oh it's so good! Dawn at INK Graphic Design has done such a fabulous job, I'm lovin' everything she comes up with! Here's a peek at my logo:

Cool, huh?

T-minus one month to opening!

SO! I figured I'd fill you in on my slowly-getting-more-awesome-never-ending-project- store!! Whooo! It used to be a men's clothing store, titled 'Nagles' for all you SJ'ers. It's on the second level of Brunswick Square, a shopping center in the heart of uptown. It's a pretty awesome location considering that the majority of the stores in the mall are individually owned and operated. So I fit right in!

Previously it was covered in hunter green, sail boats, and more green. yuuuuck! Would defiantly not work for a fashionable woman's clothing store. Here's a picture of the before shot:

Now, we're going through a ton of rennovations. I already have the space painted (not by me of course... ugh that would've been a disaster area!) and it turned out completely different than I imagined, BUT it's so growing on me and coming together. Today I (yes me, the first handy work I've done in ages...) painted the stockroom, it turned out cool, I'm very proud, but it's not well done, so not that proud. Mom doesn't trust me to hang up my fun wallpaper on the backwall, so we're going to get that accomplished this week as well. Now the space is getting its floors redone to a really cool hardwood, tres rustic look to it. And the contracter, after patiently waiting, should be done in 2 weeks! Then it's madness until opening on April 1st! Here's a picture mid-way through the fun! Oh and that's me :)

I'm getting so excited about decorating the store, but man, it's a lot of work! The walls (you can't really tell in the picture above) but are a mauve-ish, taupe-ish, grey-ish color. And the wallpaper is SO cool! It's just against the backwall, just to make a little statement. It's a WEIRD color, sometimes its taupe, then its silver, but it all blends really well! Here's a little swatch of the wallpaper:
Now it's all about finding fun stuff to put in the store. I have some here and there, and my poor car's trunk is almost full! Oh man! I have so much more to do!

My first buying trip and the start of something beautiful...

I've been meaning to start this for a few weeks now, and as I procrastinate it, I get more and more ideas to post!

So just a quick update tonight- got home late last night from visiting Toronto on Monday, and Montreal on Tuesday for a buying trip. It was the first real experience I've had in the buying world, and oh my goodness, this is FUN! It was like an enormous shopping spree! And I'm so convinced that things are going to turn out amazing after seeing the lines in person. Monday was NUTS. Mom (the experienced one!) and I woke up at the crack of dawn on Monday and visited five different agencies and saw tons of lines... I booked a lot of Spring merchandise, to open the store with, and also pre-booked Fall already. Hard to believe that the fashion world is already for next Fall when we're still digging ourselves out of this crazy snow here in NB... ugh! Spring is around the corner though, which means so is opening date :)

One line that I'm so thrilled to carry and I really think you're going to love is Noa Noa. It's straight from Denmark and there are only a few places in Canada that carry it, including me :) Check out noanoa.com I just got my first box delivered to the house from them and it's aaaamazing stuff! Can't wait to show it to you...

Another post soon- about the progress on the store (some pictures too)!