As the thermometers soar past 90 degrees, there’s no denying that what we’ve been waiting for is finally here….. SUMMER!!

And what better way to kick it off than with a long weekend?? If you’re like us, you are counting down the days (5) till Memorial Day Weekend, which will be filled with family, friends, and cook-outs galore. But as much as I love the sun, sometimes all the heat makes me a little reluctant to get dressed — Nothing is worse than working up a sweat trying to wriggle into your skinny jeans.

So this weekend we are thinking of going a little Boho, dressing in breezy pieces with festive patterns and detail. All 3 tops featured below are from Milly, who we are proud to notice has really stepped outside her preppy box! Feminine and fun, each one of these tops will make you feel put together, with out feeling sticky, restricted, or like you’ve tried too hard. Paired with a chic pair of shorts and some fabulous sandals, and you will be sure to shut it down this weekend!

Available at Monkee’s of Lake Norman:

Tops: Milly, Khaki Shorts: Aryn K, Denim Shorts: IT Jeans, Pink Shorts: Lilly Pulitzer, Cut out heel: Sofft, Red sandal: Isola, Gladiator Sandal: Isola, Wedge Espadrille: Jack Rogers.

With the change of a season, there is always a sense of excitement — especially before summer. The weather’s heating up, school is out, and most importantly, it means out with the grey sweaters and black tights and IN with breezy, colorful tops and dresses!

Sometimes I get so excited about “sprucing up” my wardrobe with new items and trends that sometimes my wallet suffers… So here is a great rule of thumb that has helped me be a more savvy spender: before purchasing, always think about the cost per wear.

I promise it’s not that complicated, Math was never my strong suit.

Ok, have you ever looked at a price tag on a pair of jeans and thought “No Way José??” Well, think of it this way — If you find a pair of jeans that fit you like a glove, (the DL1961 ‘Angel’ for example)

… the price tag is $158.  However, how often do you wear your favorite jeans – once, twice a week? So then in a month you will have worn those jeans 8 times, bringing the price of those jeans down to $19.75 per wear. Now doesn’t that sound worth it? And just think, after a year of rockin those DL Jeans, the cost per wear (158/52) is down to $3 bucks, less than your Starbucks latte!

My favorite item to splurge on with this reasoning is sunglasses. For example, a  fabulous pair of Tom Ford’s Sabrina sunglasses (a Monkette Favorite):

… are $390.  But, let’s say this together, what is the cost per wear? In the sunny Carolinas, I know I reach for my sunglasses every time I get into the car. That means at 2 times a day of wearing my sunnies, after one month the cost per wear is $6.20, after a summer (3 months) in the sun, only $1.57!

On the flip side, if you are going out to party where something might get spilled on your fabulous ensemble, you can’t always plan on wearing that dress for years to come. So that’s where lines like Charlie Jade and Tulle come in! Their trendy pieces are the perfect addition to your wardrobe, for a price that won’t bother you if you only wear it twice.

One of my favorite dresses to come in this spring has been this Ikat dress from Charlie Jade… and it’s under $100! Get one summer’s wear out of it, and your money has been well spent.

Another trendy piece from Tulle is this military romper (in case you haven’t noticed, rompers are about 1/3 of our inventory this season!) and it’s only $59! The perfect amount of money to spend on a seasonal trend — wear it once a month and you will be less than $20 per wear… Sold!

So before you get overwheled with the next season of “must have” goodies for your closet, try this new method of shopping! Yes, Tom Ford Sunglasses are top of the line — but they are beautiful, well made, and end up being mere pennies when you rock them every day this summer…

Bonus? Looking just like Angelina Jolie.

Hi, my name is Chloe, and I am having a passionate love affair… with BCBG.  Below, see Max Azria, the man behind the magic.

Usually I write the Monkee’s of Lake Norman blog anonymously, the ‘voice of the Monkettes’ if you will, but with our BCBG Trunk Show just around the corner, I knew that I would have to come clean. How does one person get so attached to a clothing line? Here is my story.

It all started 4 years ago, when I spent my junior spring semester of college abroad in Paris. The city of light enchanted me with its history, architecture, mouth-watering food, and of course, unbelievable shopping. My teeny tiny apartment was right off  Boulevard Saint Germain, a huge street of cafes and incredible boutiques.

Upside? I arrived in January during “Soldes”, the semi annual city wide sales in every boutique, where almost everything was heartily marked down. Downside?It seemed that me and mon ami Sarah had “poor American college student” tatooed on our foreheads because no one would even look our direction, except an occasional sneer or eye roll. We’re talking so uncomfortable I didn’t make a single purchase.

…Until that fateful day we found BCBG.

As soon as we opened the door we were welcomed with the upbeat blaring of Euro dance music, and a chorus of perky “Bonjour!”s that might as well have been angels singing. One look around at the sea of cocktail dresses in every color, and I knew… I was home. It didn’t take long before I had an armload of sequins, feathers, and lace, and a girl who could’ve doubled as a runway model walked me back to the dressing room. As I tried on dress after dress she not only encouraged me to use my meager French, but she taught me some trivia (BCBG stands for ‘Bon Chic, Bon Genre’, meaning ‘Good Style, Good Taste’) and helped me pick out something fabulous for my first weekend in France.

And that was that. I was hooked. It was like a girl crush on an entire store — the sleek urban line had come to life, and completely won my heart. I frequented that particular BCBG boutique, as well as several others across Paris. They continue to be my favorite line for well constructed, edgier pieces, as well as the fabulous cocktail or holiday dress... always with a French touch!

With our Trunk Show just hours away, you can imagine my excitement…. our rep will be in the store, ready to take orders from the Spring, Summer, and Fall collections. So of course I’ve already perused/scoured the website with for some of my can’t-live-without-favorites, something for every occasion!

First up? Meet the Gia dress, a masterful work of the stripes trend.

Also, I am a sucker for surprise sexy backs, this dress nails it:

Fabulous neutral heels (Yeah, they do shoes too!!) that are part gladiator, part lace-up oxford… Sold.

I found a handful of fantastic pieces to color block with, not sure if I could decide… except to decide I need them all:

Scarlett Colorblock power skirt,

Chunky necklace,

And Tana top.

I would snatch up these tribal print hot pants in a SECOND if my legs were summer-ready. Sadly… they are not.

A chic little number for your summer sail/nautical themed party:

For the cocktail party of the summer/wedding where you NEED to look fabulous, meet the amazing Elba dress:

For a graduation, the sweet Elvita dress:

…with, again, a saucy suprise back:

For that summer rainstorm. This BCBG trench will be coming home with me tomorrow, no ifs, ands, or buts.

And last but not least, for that hot date, meet the Reine dress and enjoy your transformation to liquid gold Grecian goddess:

So I know I’ve proved that I’m painfully partial, but there is a lot to love in this line. Still don’t believe me? Come by the trunk show tomorrow and see for yourself!

Tuesday, May 10th, 12 pm – 7 pm.

And no, not of the snow or school supplies variety!

The next trend that hit the runways,  and now Monkee’s of Lake Norman is the crisp, chic, minimalist look of white on white….on white! Throw out all of your Mother’s rules about Labor Day, and start wearing your white now! 

Not convinced? Here are three more White on White looks that ROCKED the Spring 2011 runways:

As you can see, the white possibilities are endless! Whether your style is more boho or structured, there are so many chic pieces to choose from. Keep your make up simple and fresh, and minimal jewelry. Here are some of our favorite white pieces for spring! Easiest way to rock the trend? A crisp bright white dress!

Trina Turk Buckley Dress:

BCBG Martina Strapless Dress:

If you are up for a challenge (or just going for a more casual look) try layering all of your white together! We love the new white James Jeans Twiggy’s:

With the Milly backless Kelly blouse:

Layered with the closet staple Tory Burch Simone Cardigan:

While some of the models are wearing strappy black shoes, I would either stick to a pretty white sandal like the Emmy from Tory Burch:

Or a sleek and modern wedge! The bright metallic in this Michael by Michael Kors wedge will give your whiteout ensemble a futuristic feel:

So get the bleach ready, and eat with a bib!! The one rule to the all-white ensemble: no stains…

Since we have already established that the 70′s revival will be in full swing this spring, it’s time to talk about another trend that I personally am SO excited to try: Color blocking!!

What is color blocking exactly? Classic fashion rules tell us to always pair a solid with a pattern — striped tank with a pair of jeans, solid blouse with a floral skirt, you know the drill. BUT spring is looking better and brighter  than ever this year! All over the runways and fashion magazines we’ve seen a gorgeous bright color with…. another gorgeous bright color! Skeptical? These looks will change your mind:

One of the most successful Spring/Summer 2011 campaigns was from Gucci:

Celebrities fell so hard for the unusual and chic color combinations that they asked for the entire looks right off the runway! Check out Gucci head-to-toe on both Camilla Belle:

And Olivia Wilde:

So why try the trend?? Because ornate and overdone is out, and minimalist chic is the best way to give your wardrobe a makeover. Anyone can try this!! Just start with a beautiful solid color top, like this new Lydia Polo from Tory Burch:

Now resist all of your instincs to pair this with a patterned cardigan or basic blue jeans, and instead choose an equally rich and vibrant color skirt or pair of slacks. Just remember to keep the look clean and simple! Another great way to try the trend is to find an item that has already included the color blocking for you — like the FABULOUS shoes Gwyneth Paltrow rocked at the Grammy’s. Who knew shoes could be that cool??

What kept her look modern and young was that she paired these over the top booties with a simple black jumpsuit. And her Louboutins are not alone in this fun-loving trend, we are also DROOLING over these Brian Atwoods:

So what do you think girls? Hope you are as excited to embrace color blocking as we are this spring!

We are excited to see that almost half of our new arrivals are spring shoes… we have more footwear variety now than ever in Monkee’s of Lake Norman history!! (pat on back…)

One of our favorite shoes for spring and summer is the espadrille!! Originating in France, this shoe is known for its natural sole (usually rope) with an endless variety on top — open or closed toe, colorful patterns or solids, some that tie up the ankle! Espadrilles are a Monkette favorite both for their comfort, and for their versatility.

Out favorite Espa (for short) in so far is the Juniper, from Michael by Michael Kors… and at an amazing price point, these babies won’t even dent your wallet! we love the braided straps in a neutral metallic, subtle enough to go with everything, but just enough shine to add some oomph to your outfit.

And in case you need another reason to love the Juniper (we don’t!) we couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance to a similar (and much pricier) shoe from Stuart Weitzman that all the celebrities were clamoring for!

Spitting image, right?? Except we like the metallic in the Michael Kors even more! So let’s take a look at who couldn’t get enough of their espadrilles last summer — also a great way to get inspiration of what to wear these with (hint: everything!!)

Jennifer Aniston was rarely spotted without hers, rockin them with everything from casual shorts, to boyfriend pants, to a little white dress:

Emmy Rossum rocked hers with bright blue shorts and a trendy floral top:

But these shoes were even taken to the red carpet! Eva Mendes chose them as the perfect compliment to her flowing bohemian maxi dress… absolutely LOVE, can’t wait to Monkee See, Monkee do this look!

Monkette Chloe has had a thing for Army Jackets for a while… just check out her personal blog entry from September 12th 2010! For her, the best part was that it provided much -needed relief for her both outdated, and over worn jean jacket.

http://sassclassck.blogspot.com/2010/09/newest-obsession-army-jackets.html

So you can imagine her excitement that Utility Jackets are only growing in popularity for spring! Why? because you can forget all the tiresome layering it takes to keep warm, and just throw it on over your favorite sundress, a la adorable Reese Witherspoon:

and Kate Bosworth:

This works because it plays to one of the keys to fashion success: opposites! Solid and print, simple and ornate, volume and formfitting, or in this case, masculine and feminine. (Now we just need to find a fabulous fedora….)

Love trying trends but hate spending money every season? Good news! First, this trend has lasting power. As we mentioned before, these Army jackets first took off this fall, and are red hot through Fall 2011. Second? You can grab your own for under $100! We have two styles in already from Tulle, one of our favorite lines for a lower price point!

So out with the denim jackets and boyfriend blazers…. these utility jackets have got our ATTENTION!

With spring at our fingertips, it is finally time to think about retiring those leggings! We know everyone loves a good sundress, but today we’re talking about the often overlooked summer separate — shorts!

Obviously we would not spend a blog talking about your basic khaki shorts (snooze), but one of our sassiest new arrivals: these shorts from Karlie!!

As you can see, they are a beautiful blush color with a metallic jacquard print, and completely FABULOUS.  Love them as much as we do, but unsure of how to pull these bad boys off? We’re here to help!

Metallic shorts have been rocked on the runway for several seasons now, seen on models for both Chanel:

And Raoul:

It wasn’t long before the feminine take on the classic male separate caught on to A-List celebrities. And we’re not suprised! In a sea full of cocktail dresses, shimmery shorts are a sleek and sassy alternative! Even Beyonce and Gwyneth are on board:

Both fashion divas chose to balance their metallic shorts with a menswear inspired blazer. This is a fresh idea if you want to dress your shorts up, but not all of us have hundreds of red carpet appearances! While we can see wearing our blush Karlie shorts with a slouhy boyfriend blazer, we are also dying to try these shorts with just a crisp white tshirt and some nude Tory flats… So bring on the sun, we are ready to let these shorts shine!

As the weather starts to warm up, our store is FLOODED with new arrivals for spring! One of the most exciting parts of a change in season is the anticipation of what’s “new”. And isn’t it funny that most of our inspiration for what’s “new”, usually comes from the past?

For years now, we’ve relived the 80′s with leggings, neon colors, and bubble hem party dresses, but one of the biggest trends this spring? All about the 70′s! True to the relaxed, ‘go with the flow’ vibe of the 70′s, spring fashion will be less high maintenace,  but of course… still fabulous!

A trend is always a great starting point, a source of inspiration — not an excuse to bring out your bellbottoms and Peace, Love, and Happiness tshirts! So here are some of our favorite 70′s pieces that are still fashion forward:

crochet/macrame: we encourage you to give lace’s more casual sister a try! Think less about a hat like this 70′s hottie:

…. and try it out in this chic layering piece by BCBG! Perfect now with a long sleeve top and jeans, and a tank and shorts this spring!

bootcut jeans: Ok, we know you are attached to your skinnies, but give your lower leg some breathing room this spring! Bootcuts are also universally flattering, balancing out your widest part (= booty) with more material on the bottom. And just to clarify, Farrah is rocking bellbottoms:

While the hot cut this spring is a slightly slimmer bootcut. Our favorites are the new DL1961 Cindy. Instant bum lift? Yes please!

maxi skirts: uber comfortable, and way more low maintenance than a mini, this is the second year that maxi’s have been huge. Advantage? We have plenty of style icons to show us how to rock it! Check out how each of these girls make the longer hemline their own: 

Printed, ruffled, or pleated there is a maxi out there for everyone. Our favorite right now is this tiered number from Ella Moss– in one of the biggest colors lately, olive!

And if you’re more interested in trendy footwear, try the 70′s staple… clog! While a platform clog might have been fierce in the 70′s, this shoe might be just a liiiiitttle aggressive for most of us:

But if you’re still clog crazy (guilty) try this sleek spring version from Michael Kors… and the wedge makes them shockingly comfortable! We have these in a gorgeous camel leather:

So thank you to Farrah, Twiggy, Janice, and all the other 70′s diva’s paving the way for one of the most fun trends this spring!