By Emma Childs

Hyannis is a unique village that is filled to the brim with glorious local options and on this crisp winter day, my mother and I took advantage of all it as to offer. We strolled Hyannis Main Street to enjoy the scenery, shop, and indulge in some delicious local eats.

I wore my killer Amour Vert sweatshirt from Shift Eco Boutique. Not only is it super comfortable, it is cozy and perfect for this season.

I also wore my killer new Sam Edelman boots from Puritan Cape Cod. These bad-boys are durable and the zipper accent makes them chic and on trend.

For lunch we went to the The Green Lotus Cafe. This vegetarian restaurant has so many intriguing options that it was tough to choose, but we decided upon the carrot coconut soup and the winter kale salad to split. Not only were are plates empty, when we were done, we were filled and fueled to carry on with our day.

We made sure to check out on of our all time favorite local spots, Red Fish Blue Fish. This wacky and lovable shop has everything from silly bottle openers to handcrafted jewelry. Red Fish Blue Fish has everything you could ever need, whether a good laugh or a meaningful birthday gift for a beloved friend.

We made our way down to Shift Eco Boutique and was able to admire these shimmering Artecnica Paper Stars. Not only are these perfect as decorations in any room, they are crafted out of recycled paper.

We ended our day with full bellies, exercised legs, and a view of  a beautiful Hyannis sunset. Cape Cod has so many unique local spots and I urge you to take one special day to appreciate all the gifts Hyannis has to offer.

By Emma Childs

The Little Black Dress is one of the pieces that has stood the test of time.  Coco Chanel brought it into the fashion world and with Vogue’s declaration of it as a uniform for all women, it has stayed on trend and always in style. And then with the release of the iconic movie Breakfast at Tiffanys in 1961, Audrey Hepburn sports several simple yet stately dresses that oozed sophistication of the screen and caused women all over to buy some dresses of their own.

I almost guarantee if you take a peek into anyone woman’s wardrobe, you will find at least one Little Black Dress. Fondly refereed to as the LBD, women all over the globe agree that they’re staples in any wardrobe! It is considered a “must-have” in all closets due to its easy, chic appearance.  My advice when buying one is to keep it simple and versatile, because it then makes it easy to dress it up or dress it down.

I went out to local shops and found some basic LBD’s; one more dressy and the other more casual.

The dress pictured below was an awesome find at Francis Frances Design Studio in Orleans and would be perfect dress for any nighttime fun. It is a perfect party dress for a little soiree or even a date night. The intricate panel down the front gave the dress more texture and jazzed it up. One could accessorize with a chunky necklace, a stack or bracelets, or leave it just the way it is and let it stand on its own!

This casual day dress was spotted at Mosees in Barnstable. The lightweight fabric makes this dress perfect for any daytime activities. The knot detail at the bust adds to the dress and makes it look oh-so easy going.  Really any footwear would go with this dress; heels to look feminine; boots to pull it into the upcoming seasons; or flats to class it up. This dress is a great example of navigating the balance between simple but still exciting. It is basic but not boring due to the little exciting elements added.

These two dresses are different but have one common thread; they are both sophisticated. It is the magic of the LBD! So I encourage you to look around at local boutiques to find some staples of your own for your wardrobe.

By Emma Childs

Fall is just around the corner and that means changing leaves, apple cider, and…the return of school. For some this is an exciting time and they can enjoy getting back into a routine but for others, it is one giant meltdown. But one way to avoid as much damage to ones mental state as possible, is to be prepared. With these essentials it will help ease the transition from summer to school! Here is a list of some school staples all found at local Cape Cod shops.

Statement necklaces– After the initial weekly rotation of clothes planned out to every detail, I usually run out of ideas and have to scramble the night before or the morning of to pull  an outfit together. With a statement necklace it makes it super easy to add something to any outfit and make it look chic with the addition of one simple accessory! A simple dress, a graphic tee shirt, a big chunky sweater… while wearing a statement necklace you will look sophisticated and like you planned out what your wearing-even if you had to throw it on as you run out of the door after slamming snooze 5 times.

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Sturdy bags– These are key to be able to lug all your books around school and of course, still look fashionable. And it is also helpful to have smaller zip-up bags to store inside that can hold anything you want- pencils, beauty supplies, candy, etc.

​Sweaters-High School buildings are known for having random and temperamental heating and cooling systems, so layering is key! Light cardigans are great pieces because they can help transition summer pieces into easy fall wear! Have a favorite summer sun dress? Throw a soft cardigan over it to make it instantly seasonally appropriate!

Leggings– When I think of Autumn, one of the first items that comes to mind is leggings. These beauties are an awesome go-to outfit staple that can make you look cute yet still casual. But remember, leggings are not the same as pants so layering is key.

 

Wearable light jacket– Fall mornings are especially crisp so why not look cute and still be warm?

 

Denim– Denim jeans are the foundation of any wardrobe. A good pair of jeans is like a trusted old friend that can’t do you wrong! But buying new denim is always a great confidence boost and is great to do to get ready for going back to school. Find the best style for you and you will feel as if you made a new friend!

 Picking up any of these essentials will help put your mind at ease for the start of  yet another school year.