Posts Tagged ‘Masai’

SANTA SAVINGS. . . week one!

Posted in Sales, tagged , , , on 5 December 2021| Leave a Comment »

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SUSTAINABLE SWEATERS, SIENNA AND CHIEF SEALTH

Posted in Features, tagged , , , , , , on 11 September 2021| 4 Comments »

Quote of the Week:

Here we have one of the many profound Sugar Boo quotes that Shelly has beautifully “flowered” the floor of our window with. Intrigued? Stop by and take a look!

AS FOR THE SWEATER. . .

Be still my heart! Where do I begin? Well. . . first off, it’s a sweater!! Who doesn’t love a sweater? After working nearly 16 years at Sound Styles, I can say without question that there are more beautiful sweaters in the store right now than at any other time I can remember. Certainly you have noticed that sweaters are soft on the skin and seem to hug us with comfort. But, have you ever noticed that they are also soft on the eyes of both the wearer and the beholder making us appear friendlier and more approachable. Not only do they keep you warm both inside and out but they, more than any other garment in our wardrobe, remind us of long ago special times. I still clearly see the sweater I was wearing on the Oregon Coast beach walk with my best friend holding one hand of my first born child and me the other.

Secondly, this particular sweater is brown or sienna (burnt that is) as the title of this post suggests. I’m thrilled to the brim that brown is out of the fashion exile that it has been in for what seemed forever. To me brown is the “comfort food” of color. While I don’t want to call it a baked potato, its resurrection deserves more than a dollop of sour cream. It’s a neutral that can give its competitors like black, navy and grey a run for their color “money.” I’ve read that there is a current appetite for minimalism, sustainability and natural beauty and brown is the epitome of all those.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO SUSTAINABILITY. . .

Rather a big word being bandied about a lot these days. And I think the quote above from Seattle’s namesake, Chief Sealth, embodies the essence of its meaning. To sustain means to nourish, not just the body of us but also the environment of us and in the end our planet earth. This means that not only do the designers and creators of fashion but also the consumers of fashion need to be aware of what contributes to our environment and what detracts from its “wellness.” We at Sound Styles are becoming more astute to the vendors that we carry and how they approach this philosophy and practice the art of being sustainable.

Karen Kane proudly embraced the concept and is using fabrics that practice what they preach and are having them made into beautiful garments right here in America. Masai from Copenhagen is proud of their viscose fabric that is grown with particular concern for the environment and leaves the planet in a better place. Glyder is one of our newest brands of active apparel and they vow: “we are in the process of researching and developing new fabrics made from recycled and organic materials, and plan to greatly expand our range of products made with these Earth-conscious practices.” 

In the end, Chief Sealth, a hundred of wisdoms ago had it “right on.”

“Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”

Please ask us about what our vendors are doing to help nourish this planet earth. We are just beginning this journey but will do the best we can to become more and more aware and informed.

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Fall Clothes

Posted in Features, tagged , , , , on 17 August 2021| 4 Comments »

Quote of the Week:

And this week’s quote comes from so very many of you, our beautiful customers. How many times have I heard those words spoken just in the past couple of weeks? Too many to count and I count myself right in there with the rest of you. I too love fall clothes.

There are a few mumblers and grumblers out there. You know…. about not wanting to “go there yet!” Well, they don’t have to go anywhere yet as the fall clothes are in the store and summer is still “out there.” So, rest easy, and take it at your own pace.

But, seriously, dear friends?

I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t look forward to the fun that is fall fashion. And, believe it or not, we are selling sweaters and down coats and fall dresses in the midst of summer’s heat. The one certainty in the Pacific Northwest is that fall will definitely make its appearance, as opposed to spring which can be fickle.

Two words: Sweater Weather! Is there anything better than a size-too-big cable knit sweater over your favorite jeans when it’s 50 degrees out? I think not!

From the blessing of boots to silky scarves, from the wale of corduroy to the warp of wool, the clothes I get to wear from mid-September through the end of November include my most loved pieces. Long live the boots + jeans + sweater ensemble and all of its wonderful variations. Have you noticed in fashion layouts that the sweater vest is making a revival? Pair it over a collared blouse or mock turtleneck and voila! Then there’s my favorite word: Over-sized! Everything from a jean jacket to a tunic top to a dress from Europe is now “fashionably” over-sized. What a relief. Comfort and fashion in one garment.

As for me, my heart races each time I enter the front doors of our store and see styles, colors, textures, patterns and layers just waiting my attention. The biggest question is “will I take home a paycheck this month?”

Let’s see…. I’ve already bought one Masai orange down coat and one Masai winter white sweater and one FDJ patterned turtleneck to go under my new rich brown Necessities hoody. Oops! Almost forgot the Renuar heathery, wheat colored soft turtleneck sweater dress. Maybe I should be asking Jenny for more work days in which to wear all my new belongings.

Then again, I’ll just take Shelly’s advice and dress for coffee at the Café Louvre. By all means, don’t forget to accessorize your new outfit with a pumpkin spice latté. In your weekend wanderings find a great location where you and your favorite outfit will photograph amazingly against a colorful fall backdrop.

As I began with a quote. . . so shall I end.

“As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see”. ~ Vincent Van Gogh

Julie’s humble offering:

As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have days enough to wear all the multitude of textured, colorful layers that I can think to combine.

Alas! Big Sigh!

Please come by and discover all the store has to offer in new selections for the fast approaching autumn season.

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Dolce Far Niente

Posted in Features, tagged , , on 19 July 2021| 3 Comments »

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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An homage to J. Peterman

Posted in Features, tagged , , on 17 April 2021| 2 Comments »

Details:

Her name is Sahara. You know … a name that comes from parents who like to remember where they were vacationing when baby was ‘made.’

In the blink of an eye, Sahara can tell you who she would like to be stranded with on that imaginary isle, how to make the all-American apple pie and the ten best novels of the past year. 

Her most favorite season is Fall when the jackets and sweaters come out of the closet.

Her least favorite season is Summer because it’s not ‘figure flattering.’

And yet, entré vous into the store today, wearing her latest purchase of this bold sleeveless dress, looking so very lovely, so very polished and so very confident. . . comes Sahara.

They say aging is for sissies.

Don’t believe them.

Turn up the colors and your mood with this gorgeous dress in a hand-drawn palm print. The soft viscose feels wonderful, while the diagonal cut hugs your body and creates a feminine shape. Hem is longer and rounded at the back. Slip into a pair of flat sandals or light colored sneakers for an effortlessly feminine look.

100% viscose. Machine wash, delicate.

(Psst! Come on Cynthia… you know you’ve been admiring the dress for days now. It belongs in your closet!)

Cynthia . . .a girl’s name of Greek origin meaning “moon goddess” or, woman from Kynthos”.

Ooh la la! What goddess from Kynthos wouldn’t want to be seen in that dress?

Okay! Okay! Enough already!

I’m done!

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