Congratulations Marci! Please email me with your dress size and address! And thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway! And a HUGE thanks to Shabby Apple for being so generous!

About a year ago a friend of mine told me about Shabby Apple… and oh my goodness I was in DRESS HEAVEN! By a mile, Shabby apple has the BEST selection of stylish, modest dresses! I cannot tell you how excited I am that we are hosting a SHABBY APPLE Dress Giveaway!

One lucky winner will get to choose one of the following four dresses to add to their wardrobe!

Anchors Away, Barefoot in the Park, Tuxedo 3, 90 Words Per Minute

Here are the Rules:

Check out all of the Women’s Dresses on Shabby Apple and leave us a comment telling us:

1.) Your very favorite Shabby Apple dress

2.) Which of the four dresses listed that you would like to win

*All comments must be received by midnight on Wednesday*

The winner will be announced on Thursday!

Good Luck!

Congratulations Julie and Leah! Please email me your address along with what size you would like! And thanks so much to everyone who entered, and to DownEast for such an awesome giveaway!

And yes, I know the layout of this post is all funky, but I can’t seem to fix it… sorry!

Hey guys! We are having another DownEast Giveaway! YAY! All you have to do is go on over to DownEast Basics 28 day style guide and pick out your favorite item! Then leave a comment by Wednesday February 17th by midnight telling us which item you wish to win. Then on Thursday TWO winners will be announced. That’s right, TWO winners!!!

And a quick review on the He Loves Me Dress, I LOVE it! And the inside is lined with a silky fabric which is awesome for a couple reasons. One, it makes it so you don’t have to wear a slip. And two, it’s great because it makes it so the dress isn’t see through. (Which happens pretty often with white dresses!)

I also got the Heart Throb shorts because I was in desperate need of a new pair of shorts. And they are great! I am short, so they are pretty long on me (they are more of a short capri) but that is great news for those of you who are tall! I love the wash on them, and they are super comfy!

Okay, I know it’s not Spring yet… but these are a few things I couldn’t help but post anyways!

He Loves Me Dress , $34.99 @ DownEast Basics

Fab Chiffon Flower Bobby Pins, $1.50 @ Forever 21

Perfect Fit Cascade Tee, $29.50 @ JCrew

Frosted Flowers Cardigan, $34.99 @ DownEast Basics

Floral Fixation Headband, $2.50 @ Forever 21

Scalloped Leaflet Cardigan, $19.80 @ Forever 21

Fergie ‘Kappa’ Sandal, $69.95 @ Nordstrom

Still Life Skirt, $29.99 @ DownEast Basics

Hey! So here are all the outfits! Please vote for your favorite! And yes, rally all your friends to vote for your favorite outfit as well! (via facebook, twitter, blogs etc) Be careful that you are voting for the right outfit! The outfit number is labeled BELOW the outfit!

Outfit number ONE by Ema G.

Outfit TWO by Mandee G.

Outfit THREE by Katie G.

Outfit FOUR by Jes C.

Outfit FIVE by Emily H.

Outfit SIX by Genivieve C.

Outfit SEVEN by Jessica M.

Outfit EIGHT by Ashlin W.

Outfit NINE by Evelyn J.

Outfit TEN by Julie S.

Outfit ELEVEN by Jessica O.

Outfit TWELVE by Stacy A.

Outfit THIRTEEN by Gena P.

Outfit FOURTEEN by Summer C.

Outfit FIFTEEN by Leilani V.

Outfit SIXTEEN by Alissa H.

Outfit SEVENTEEN by Jenny

Outfit EIGHTEEN by Carrie G.

Outfit NINETEEN by Marylin C.

Outfit TWENTY by Bonnie D.

Outfit TWENTY ONE by Tina C.

Outfit TWENTY TWO by Mary P.

Outfit TWENTY THREE by Christa B.

Outfit TWENTY FOUR by Nic R.

Outfit TWENTY FIVE by Jenny G.

Outfit TWENTY SIX by Chelsea F.

Woohoo! Another giveaway! So, we are going to do another FUN giveaway like the one from here. So… You get to pick the DownEast item that you would like to win (out of the three pictured below) and make an outfit including that item, email it to me by Thursday January 28th, and on Monday February 1st,  the voting polls will be up! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! If you don’t have Photoshop or another program to make your outfit with, use polyvore (simple, easy and free to use), or email me the links! Whoever’s outfit gets the most votes, wins the item they chose! (And yes, you can use whatever means you want to get votes, posting your outfit on Facebook, blog, or wherever else! But it will only allow one vote per computer!) Good Luck Ladies!

I am lucky enough to own all three of these items and I love them all, I’m wearing the longitude cardigan right now and it is so comfy! I got it on Monday and think I have worn it around the house everyday since! And this lost in love dress… well I LOVE it! I think the cut, the fabrics and the color choices are amazing! I obviously chose the navy color… because for some reason I am really into navy. And this adorable tulle flower headband… I got it in black, and again, have worn it several times since getting it, and it’s only been a week! So ladies, do your magic. Make me an outfit!

(In the picture of me above I am also wearing tights from We Love Colors (I’m just now realizing I probably should have worn a different color…)and my shoes are Crocs!)

Both of these fun dresses are only $25.00. That is a great deal!!!!!!!

DownEast Basics ‘Lost in Love Dress’

DownEast Basics ‘Keep it Real Dress’

This weekend only (January 15-18th) DownEast is giving an additional 50% off their clearance items! Wahoo!!! (Including the Timeless Trench Coat!) So… I would definitely recommend heading to their site first thing in the morning, to score some awesome deals!

UPDATE: Use code FIFTYN2 at checkout to recieve the additional 50% off!!!

So, if you’re like me, what you need for the holidays is the perfect piece to add to your wardrobe. Something that works with what you already have. Something that is easy to wear, but looks festive and put together.
Seriously, DownEast Basics’ Reunited Top is the answer to all of our prayers. I have had my eye on this top for a while, and am so glad that I have it.  I have the top in black, and all of these outfit ideas are built around the black top.

I think you need one.
Need proof? You need this top if you fit into any of these categories:
clockwise starting at the top left
1. you have a satiny or sparkly number that would be perfect for a Holiday party, if only you had the right top to make it more modest/winter appropriate/formal/etc. (wear the sparkly top underneath the Reunited Top with some skinny jeans or black cigarette pants and bright heels)
2. you’ve been working up the guts to try a fun headpiece and want to keep the rest of the outfit on the simple side. (I love this cute headband, and with the Reunited Top, your favorite patterned skirt, cute black heels, and some red lipstick…you’ll have the headpiece trend mastered)
3. you have a fun dress that you want to give new life to. (Look in your closet, say you have something that you used to just LOVE, but you’ve worn it to a bunch of events and it’s feeling a little overdone.  Wear it underneath the Reunited Top and you’ve got yourself an entirely different look.)
4. you have a statement necklace that you adore, but struggle with how to make it look statement-ish without being ostentatious. (I struggle with this all the time.  I’m not an everyday jewelry wearer, so when I wear something, I want to make a statement.  A bold statement, but not a LOUD statement.  Here’s my solution: pair your favorite necklace with the Reunited Top, a pencil skirt, and some heels.  The top is fancy enough to hold it’s own against the necklace, and it has the perfect neckline to put your favorite necklace on display)
5. you have a dang cute pair of heels that you want to build an outfit around, but keep the heels as the star of the show. (go in your closet and find your favorite black skirt, a camisole to layer underneath the Reunited Top, put on some bright colored tights, and kick up those heels!)

And for me… (Natalie) this sweater is just beautiful and perfect for any holiday occasion, or any occasion for that matter. I am so happy with it. The only thing that I wish was a little different… on the DownEast site it says this is 3/4 sleeves, on me… it’s more like 7/8 sleeves, so I would order a size smaller than normal if you want the sleeves to be fitted. But seriously, I think this cardigan is perfect (even if the sleeves are long on me). I wore it to my husbands work party last night, and was glad I did!

But enough about us… what do you want from DownEast for Christmas?!!?! Go on over to their site and pick out one item that is on your wishlist… leave a comment telling us what it is and we will announce the winner on Tuesday morning! Merry Christmas!

Hey guys! Just thought I would post some great holiday dresses today!

Calvin Klein Tie Sleeve Sheath Dress $58.90

Perfect Form Dress $38.99

Formal Flower Dress $44.99

Taylor Ruffle Jersey Sheath Dress $78.90

Congratulations Brittany and Jennifer! Please email me with your addresses and jean size! And thanks to everyone who participated! It was a lot of fun to look at all of your outfits! And a big thanks to DownEast Basics for such a great giveaway! Winning Outfits:

This week we thought we would have some fun and do our giveaway a little different than our norm.  Want to win some cute jeans? Here’s how:

1. Pick out your favorite pair of DownEast Basics jeans.

2. Put together your ideal outfit using the jeans you selected using: any tops, shoes, or accessories from any brand you want (including DownEast Basics of course).

3. Put together a style board with your complete outfit and email it to me. OR email me (natalie@sensiblystyled.com) the links to the items you want posted into your outfit and I will put together a style board for you. Also, don’t forget to include with your email a link to your personal blog that will be posted next to your outfit… if you so choose.

4. All outfits submitted by Tuesday November 3rd at midnight will be posted to Sensibly Styled by Thursday November 5th and a poll will be taken to determine the winner, which means you (Sensibly Styled readers) get to be the judge! The two outfits with the most votes will win their choice of jeans from DownEast Basics.

We are really excited for this giveaway and hope that you will all participate! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Andrea, we are so excited about DownEast Basics new denim line and are excited to talk to you about it!

The excitement surrounding the new denim line has been far beyond our anticipation. This is great news because it means more styles in the future. We have the best fans and customer base ever! So thank you everyone for your feedback and requests! Keep them coming – we are listening!

What made DownEast Basics decide to come out with a denim line? And why now?

We have discussed trying denim for a couple of years. I decided to start with denim skirts to see if the fabric, washes and quality would meet our expectations and target pricing that all DownEast fans have come to love. All of our denim skirts were very successful, so we discussed the idea of denim further and started with these four styles. It is very exciting for us to see such brand loyalty from our customers. There is nothing more rewarding than when I hear about women wearing the new denim styles with such pride and excitement! Also, it was always so frustrating when styling the photo shoots to use other brand name denim, even though it was carried in our DownEast Outfitters stores. We are striving to sell everything you see in the catalog, so denim has put us one big step closer to achieving that goal. We have welcomed customer feedback and I am trying to make sure we offer many different fit options for different body types. So far the most popular style is the Rock Star Jean.

I read on your blog that you have five more styles coming out in your holiday line. We are SO excited to see them! Will they only be available for a limited time?

The holiday denim line will hopefully hit stores for Thanksgiving weekend. The styles include: The True Love Boyfriend Jean, which is a slouchy low-rise boot fit jean, and the Double Take Jean, which will be a hit with everyone who likes the Rock Star Jean. It’s a great boot fit jean with stylish washes, wide waistband and similar pocket detail. Also, the Tall & Trim Trouser Jean is a great dark rinse jean that is super flattering. Every woman should own a pair of these jeans. There are also two skinny jeans – the Must Have Matchstick Jean and Miss Slim Skinny Jean – that have back pocket embellishments and look amazing tucked into your favorite boots. We also have our Matchstick Cords coming in for the holidays in two great colors. They are a skinny cut but boast a tried and true comfort I can’t seem to get enough of. We plan to evaluate the demand of all the denim styles and will re-order the most popular styles, but right now we plan to always offer denim as part of the DownEast Basics line going forward.

Will we be seeing men’s jeans anytime soon (or petite, tall, maternity and plus size)?

We are adding an extra long length in the holiday denim styles which is a 36” inseam. Right now we do not have plans to offer men’s denim, maternity or plus, but as our customer base grows we will evaluate how to meet its buying needs.

What’s next for DownEast Basics?

I am anxious for the debut of the Holiday line. Catalogs should hit homes by the second week of November. There are some amazing pieces that will make great gifts, for yourself and others. Some of my favorites are the Classic Cord Coat, Perfect Form Dress (quite possibly the most perfect party dress ever made), First Lady Skirt, and Graceful Drifts Top. We also have a fun camisole/pj pants gift set that comes packaged with ribbon and an adorable To/From gift tag! The pj pants come in fabulous prints while the price and quality live up to the DownEast Basics name. I have my fingers crossed this will be the start of an ongoing sleepwear category. Our Fall 2 jewelry was a major hit, so we are expanding our offering of jewelry including some rings that I cannot wait to wear. You will see a much larger selection of all accessories going forward including scarves, belts, bags and even shoes in 2010. Speaking of 2010, our swim line has shaped up very nicely and will arrive in stores in early February! We have more styles and prints that you will love to wear in the sun, sand and sea.

Overall, you can count on many more styles that will help women of all ages get even more gorgeous and feel even more fabulous than ever.  After all, fashion should be fun. Take a ride on the DownEast Basics fun bus! ALL ABOARD!

Thank you Andrea! And as always, it is fun to hear from you!

First and foremost… isn’t my daughter Jane SO cute? hehe. Okay, well I just wanted to write a quick review on these cute straight up skinny jeans from DownEast Basics.

I got these jeans about a week ago, and I love them! They have a lot of stretch to them which make them super comfy. I wasn’t in love with the color of the jeans in the picture. However, when I received them in the mail, I was pleasantly surprised! The color (to me, anyways…) is a lot more of a deep blue. I still have to get them hemmed but other than that, they are perfect!

P.S. these shoes I am wearing are from Ocean Minded and I love them! If you are looking for some cute sandals… I definitely recommend them! They are comfy and cute… what more can you ask for? (oh yeah, AND I’m pretty sure Rae from ANTM was wearing them when she got booted from the show… which make them even cooler! haha)

This coat is SO cute! And the neckline makes it perfect to wear a scarf with!

At DownEast Basics for $39.99

I’m loving this sweater. I really want it!!!

At DownEast Basics for $39.99

The ladies over at What’s your virtue? sent me a set of their Lip Bliss lip gloss line to review… and let me tell you. they. rock. hard. I was going to wait a few days to post the giveaway so I could try all the lip glosses. Well, I loved them so much I wore a different color about every two hours yesterday because I just couldn’t wait to try them all! All of them feel very refreshing on my lips, as well as very moisturizing (Which I have felt is a down fall of most lip glosses… they usually make my lips feel dry after wards). I really like all of them, the only one that didn’t go with my very pail skin tone was the ‘generosity’ (however, it was still a very pretty shade, just not for me!) But other than that my favs were the ‘kindness’ and ’simplicity’ tying for first place. And ‘curiosity’ in a close second. Their tag line is this: What’s your virtue? And they came up with this lip line because they  “want to remind all women of the simple and virtuous things in life. What better place to start than on your lips?” Amen!

Hello ladies! We have a fun giveaway today! The lovely gals over at What’s your virtue are offering up a set of 6 lip glosses for the lucky winner (a $72.00 value… woot!). I can’t imagine a better accessory for your outfits this fall! All you have to do is leave a comment by Friday the 25th at midnight! So easy! And if you don’t win… no worries! They are also offering 15% off, all you have to do is enter the code natalie15 at check out. ENJOY!

Thank you Sara, Amy and Molly!

This top is perfect if you are trying to hide an early pregnancy OR hide extra belly fat from a pregnancy. (We get a lot of e-mails regarding both.)

Find it at DownEast Basics for $24.99.

I haven’t seen anything like this one. Very unique.

Find it at DownEast Basics for $36.99.

Okay seriously. These dresses are IDENTICAL! They even have the same name. “Connect The Dots” Crazy? YES! The one on the left is from Fred Flare for $54.00 and the one on the right (that also comes in yellow) is from DownEast Basics for $34.99! $20 difference for the EXACT SAME DRESS! What do you guys think? Is this just crazy or what?

Congratulations Emily W! We will contact you for your shipping information.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY! HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE MORE GIVEAWAYS IN THE FUTURE!!! AND A BIG THANKS TO DOWNEAST BASICS FOR DOING THIS WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY!!!

Hello ladies! Welcome to our first ever giveaway! Thanks to DownEast Basics, Ashley and I each got a dress to try for ourselves. And let me tell you, we love them! I wore mine to church yesterday and I got so many compliments… I was even able to nurse my baby in it, AND… it’s super light weight which makes it a perfect dress for sunny days!

(Okay, so don’t make fun, Zach and I were having fun with our photo shoot this time. Hence my “model pose” and my super goofy picture I’m sharing with you guys. Zach was egging me on… I promise. P.S. Ashley is (the super cute blonde) on the left. And I (Natalie) am on the right.)

Alright, HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

Leave a comment before Wednesday at 11:59pm.

THAT’S IT!!! We will announce the winner on Thursday! Then we will contact the winner for shipping information and DownEast Basics will send you your very own dress! YEYAH!

UPDATE: Ashley’s thoughts on the dress: I just love this bright, fun dress!! (Yellow and ruffles are two of my favorite things to wear!)  You are sure to stand out in this one!!
Also, this dress is not very tight, so everyone should feel comfortable and cute wearing it!

Our reader Jill S. wrote:

Hi girls!  I have a serious fashion problem for you.  I have 2 boys, ages 1 and 3, that I’m home with but I also work part time with developmentally delayed infants and toddlers.  So I spend the majority of my time on the floor playing with toys, either with my own kids or someone else’s.  Problem #1, I’m cheap.  Problem #2, I have no style.  Problem #3, I’m not tiny.  I am 5′8″ and wear size 10-12.  My hips aren’t small but my boobies are.  :) Problem #4, I live in Mesa, AZ (suburb of Phoenix) and it’s 113 today.  It’s over 100 degrees pretty much all the time.  It’s too hot to layer, it’s too hot for cute little cardigans (even with short sleeves) and it’s too hot for jeans (at least until October).  So I beseech you, hook me up with cheap, modest, comfortable, very stylish and grown-up looking outfits that wont make me sweat anymore than I already do on a daily basis!  I want to look good when I take my kids to the museum.  I want to look professional when I go to client’s homes, even if I’m going to just play with their kids.  I have got to get out of my shorts and t-shirt mode.  (And dont even get me started on accessories…  Do flip flops count as accessories?)
I know you’ll do me proud, so I thank you in advance!

Alright Jill!

Well I do not live in Arizona and don’t have multiple children to care for, but I do understand where your coming from! I have a 14 month old and am constantly chasing him around. I love to take him on bike rides, walks and trips to the park.. and yes even here in Vancouver it gets hot and sweaty! Yes, layering can be cute, but it is just not practical during the hot weather! Everything I posted is light and airy and requires NO LAYERING!  I tried to keep the prices low, and I made sure to make selections that are available in your size!

I tried to choose tops that are simple but not boring. I too have a small chest, so I love (and own!) the sophomore top from DownEast. It emphasizes the chest area… and we need all the emphasis we can get! I also chose the poplin shirt at old navy because the drawstring right below the chest also helps us out. Placing a belt there does the same thing as well on any top.

Now I don’t know about you but I’m not a big fan of wearing necklaces in the summer. They look great, but when it is already hot and sweaty I don’t love having anything extra against my skin. (That’s just me, some people may not mind.) For this reason, I posted a few pairs of darling earrings that will add style to any outfit!  I recommend pairing the tops with the skirts or a pair of khaki shorts. The skirts are nice and airy so they will be your best option.  As for the shorts, the pair that I used from J CREW are called the ’stretch summerweight burmuda shorts’ that sounds good doesn’t it? Stretch is a must when your chasing around kids! The khaki will dress up your outfits a bit (without overdoing it.) The sandals are super cute and practical since they are brown and go with just about anything. They will add much more to your wardrobe then any pair of  flip flops would. Hope this helps.. and have fun shopping!!!

Love, Ashley

Tops:

Ruffled Slub Top at Old Navy for $14.50.

Poplin Empire Top at Old Navy for $14.99.

Sophomore Top at DownEast Basics for $19.99.

Sonnet Top at DownEast Basics for $24.99.

Ruched Scoop-Neck Top at Old Navy for $14.50.

Bottoms:

Embroidered Skirt at Old Navy for $26.50.

Cabana Skirt at DownEast Basics for $24.99.

Stretch Summerweight Bermuda Shorts ON SALE at J Crew for $29.99.

Shoes:

Mossimo Wanda Flat Sandals at Target for $14.99.

Accessories:

Wild Daisy Disc Earrings at Forever 21 for $5.80.

Mia Dangling Bead Earrings at Forever 21 for $4.80.

Cicely Earrings at Alloy for $12.90.

Woven Jean Belt at Wetseal for $7.50. (Shown in brown and white.)

I.love.this.skirt! Brand new at Downeast Basics for $29.99.

I want it, and I want to wear it with these shoes from Wetseal.

 (on sale for $10.00.)

Hi ladies! I LOVE your site…so many great ideas, and awesome advice for those of us trying to look good.

One issue I almost always have is that layers tend to slide off around my boobs, exposing my bra strap, etc. That’s obviously not the look I’m going for!  If I get my layers in a larger size, I lose any shape I had. Do I need to just stick with tshirts underneath, (and if so, can you suggest some?) or do you know some magic solution with safety pins that can save me?

Thanks for any help. Keep up the amazing site!

Brittney (Below… pictures sent in by Brittney. Below that… our solution)

Brittney! I’m so glad you wrote us this email. I totally have the same problem. An easy fix to the problem is buying “sleeveless” tops instead of “tank” tops. The three tops that I am showing here are all slightly different, but all of them will keep your bra straps covered! The only way anyone will see anything is if your top layer totally falls off one of your shoulders. So… ditch the tank tops… and get some sleeveless blouses to wear for your layering outfits! I hope this helps! Also, if you are looking for simple tees to wear underneath, I would check out DownEast’s Wonder Tee, and Shade’s Classic Cap Sleeve.

Peace. Natalie

Ruffle Blouse at Charlotte Russe for $16.99

Crochet Satin Tank at Charlott Russe for $19.99

Striped Tie Top at Charlotte Russe for $16.99

Hey ladies! We are excited to introduce you to Andrea, the product development director for DownEast Basics! Did you know they now have a blog? I know, pretty sweet! We hope you enjoy the interview! (By the way, we are very proud to bring you the first look into DownEast Basics late fall line!!!)

1. Hi Andrea!  We are crazy about DownEast Basics over here at Sensibly Styled!  So many of your pieces are definitely basics, but I love seeing all the fun new blouses, dresses, skirts, and now jeans!  What piece from the new fall line was your favorite to develop?
Tough choice, but I will go with the Short Story Cardigan and all the cardigans for that matter!  It has been exciting to add new categories to our product offering.  We really try to make shopping for and wearing a modern, stylish wardrobe easy for the customer and their budget, so these categories create more complete outfits in the process.

2. How do you determine the colors for each season’s line?  What colors are in for the upcoming fall season?
I follow all trend reports from runway shows and Pantone (universal color method used in the fashion industry) to determine color stories for our product lines.  The prominent colors for Fall 2009 are Rapture Rose, Warm Olive, and Majolica Blue.  I can’t seem to get enough of the Rose and Olive combinations so they are prominent in the Early and Late Fall line.
SENSIBLY STYLED EXCLUSIVE! HERE ARE SOME NEVER BEFORE SEEN SHOTS OF DOWNEAST BASICS LATE FALL LINE!

3. I love that you have a maternity line, a plus line, a girl’s line and a men’s line.  Will we see more items in those lines in the future?
Right now all these categories do not carry the same demand as our women’s line so we continue to evaluate them every season.  We have grown the fashion styles in our Girls line in the Early Fall and Late Fall seasons, which I am very excited about, so I hope it is well received so we can continue to grow and develop that category.
4. When designing your pieces, what are the modesty standards that you have set for yourselves?  How do you find the balance between staying current to trends and staying true to those standards?
I will typically not design something that I would not wear or would not feel comfortable wearing.  I think we can all relate to a time when we try and wear clothing that may not be modest and we end up not even enjoying the event or situation at all because we are constantly tugging at the clothing or looking down to see what others may be able to see.  My goal is to create pieces that will rid women of this worry so they can spend more time enjoying life and those around them.  I want all women that wear DownEast Basics to feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful.  It has become very easy for me to design trendy, modern, and stylish clothes that are still modest and flattering!  I am confident that this is a large part of the success of DownEast Basics.
5. I loved looking through the fall catalog online!  Tell us about the on location photo shoot.
The Early Fall 2009 photo shoot was one of my favorites so far.  We actually shot in British Columbia and surrounding islands in the Pacific Northwest.  The models were so beautiful and extremely talented along with our photographer Gabor Jurina.  I am so lucky to work with such amazing people who work so hard to make DownEast Basics extraordinary so women can really enjoy their shopping experience whether they are in our stores or shopping our catalog & online.
6. Could you give us a brief history lesson on DownEast Basics? How, and why did you guys come about?
DownEast was founded in 1991 as a retailer of off-price clothing (e.g., buying and reselling customer returns/liquidation clothing from top retail brands).  In 2005 we added our own private label brand, DownEast Basics.  The line has become incredibly popular with our customer base, which is growing quickly. Since the inception of the line, our top priorities have been to provide stylish, high-quality clothing at very affordable prices – a mission we remain true to today. We also just covered this in a recent blog post on DownEast by Design – you can get additional details here
7. Are we going to see more stores in the future? I know I would sure love one here in CO… and Emily in CA… and Ashley in WA… (So… there will be at least 3 new stores… right?)
You will see more DownEast Basics stores opening!  DownEast Basics is growing faster than we can keep up!  I always encourage people to stay connected to store openings through our Facebook page and we will also highlight them on the blog as well.  The owners all stay closely tuned into the Facebook page and all store location requests, so let us know what city and mall you think would be a good fit and you never know!
8. Andrea, we would love to hear how you got into fashion, and why DownEast became the perfect fit for you.
I have always had a passion for fashion so to say.  I started working at Maurice’s while I was in high school and ever since I have loved the retail apparel world.  I started working for DownEast as an employee in their Laramie, Wyoming store while I was going to school there.  After being manager there for a couple years and receiving a bachelors degree in Fashion Merchandising/Clothing & Textiles, my family was moving back to the Salt Lake area where DownEast is based and they offered me a corporate position there.  As their longest employee I can say first hand that DownEast and the owners are amazing people to work for.  It is a great company with a fun and unique company culture.  I have been given wonderful career opportunities with DownEast as a woman & mother.  It has been extremely rewarding to work in so many different areas of DownEast over the last 12 ½ years.  When the whole modest/long t-shirt craze erupted 3-4 years ago I wanted to get DownEast involved.  We looked into buying some off-price goods that would work with our product mix in our DownEast Outfitters stores.  The pricing just did not make sense, so we set out to make our own.  I worked closely with Jonathan Freedman (DownEast founder) and from there the Basics line started and has grown to what it is today.

9. What is something that sets DownEast Basics apart from other retailers?
I think our combination of modern, trendy style, high quality, and amazing prices sets us apart from our competitors.  It has been said that DownEast Basics is like Anthropologie at Target prices.  I spend countless hours on fabric choice and construction approvals to make sure all items meet our quality standards.  In most cases we have been able to match the exact fabric weight of high end/boutique styles, but our price to the customer is far less than what they expect to pay.  I love when a customer tells me something they love from the Basics line looks like it should be so much more expensive than it is.  I want women to feel like they are getting a huge value when they shop our product line while at the same time enjoying fresh new silhouettes and trendy fashion.
10. Last but not least… could you share with us some of the things that you use for inspiration when coming up with a new line?
I find myself inspired by all the amazing women in my life from all around the world and of all ages when I choose my designs.  Certain women come to mind when I think about designs I think they would wear or absolutely love!  I think this is why the Basics line always ends up so well rounded.  I really try and offer something for everyone.  It is so fun to hear everyone’s favorite pieces from the collection because I feel gratification when the answer is different from everyone.  That is the fun thing about fashion and how it allows us to express our uniqueness.  So-thank you to all the women in my life and for your inspiration and joy that you bring me as I continue to live my dream job!

Wow guys, isn’t Andrea amazing? So take a minute and go on over to their blog and check it out!

Here’s an email from our reader Emily (I swear it’s not from me Emily, although I would love to see Wicked):

“Next month I’m going to see Wicked for my birthday.  I’m so excited and I would like to get something new (I’ll take any excuse to buy a new outfit)!  Wicked is well known for it’s bright green color and with that being my favorite color I would love to find a cute green dress or something else to wear.  Any ideas?”

Okay, Emily, when I first saw this email I was like, “what?  How am I going to find a cute green dress?”  But actually, this has been my favorite outfit to put together so far.  Having the specific constraint of a green dress made it pretty easy to narrow things down.  I’ve got a couple options for you, and then, just because I can, I’ll throw in my vote.

options 1 and 2:

1. Leading Lady Dress, DownEast Basics, $29.99 (very comfortable, very cute, and a perfect addition to your wardrobe.  This is definitely something you’ll be able to wear often.)

2. Dressy Jersey Cinched Dress, J.Crew, $78.00 (so pretty, I love the waist and tie.  You’ll need to wear something underneath, and a classic tee from DownEast is always a great option, as would be a camisole underneath with a cardigan on top.

shoes: Steve Madden Passta Platform, $62.82  or Steve Madden Witney T-strap Slingback, $99.95 (both styles are from Endless.com.  I couldn’t decide, so I just showed both options.  Sometimes it’s hard to make a decision when I’m play shopping for someone else.)

necklace: Mirrored Disk Necklace, Charlotte Russe, $6.99 (looks pretty darn close to the expensive one the J.Crew girl is wearing.  I’d buy a few and layer them at different lengths.)

options 3 and 4:

3. Pleated Cowl Neck Dress, Nordstrom, $91.90 (I love the cute stand-up cowl neck and the 60’s mod-ish detail in the back.  So cute.)  Put it with these great patterned heels from Endless.com for $45.73.  Top off the look with this fantastic head piece.  I remember putting this etsy.com seller in my favorites a while back, then I saw that Anthropologie had picked up her Fascinator piece.  They don’t carry it any longer, but I was excited to see someone’s handmade company doing well.  You’ll look hip and stylish and I think it will add to the fun and fancy of the night.  For accessories I would just add a fun cocktail ring, and you’re all set!

4. Lastly, my favorite look, Caranday Dress, Anthropologie, $178.00 (this dress would just be so much fun for a special night out.  It’s 35.5″ long, so it might be a little short.  Even if it’s not, I’ve put with it a slip from Vintage Hem.  It’s the Effie’s Dessert style in vanilla, for $60.00).  Then the cardigan to wear over it is from J.Crew for $49.99.  The necklace ($38.00) and earrings ($18.00) are both from Anthropologie.  To finish it off, you have three shoe choices.  The Slingback ($43.42), the Peep-Toe Slingback ($49.76), or my pick, the Espadrille ($79.95).

You’ve got a very hard and very fun decision ahead of you.  Options one and two are more casual and less expensive.  But you did say this was a special occasion worthy of spending a little money…so…options three and four are a little less casual, more festive, and…more expensive.

Have a great birthday Emily, and I hope you enjoy the show!

Love, Emily

Our reader Kim:
Okay, major dilemma!  Just found your blog from Cardigan Empire and I just signed up to do family pics next week (7/23) with Blue Lily.  In addition to that, we’re going to my husband’s 20 year reunion next weekend as well.    Unfortunately, I don’t have a CLUE what to wear.  I’m 5′5″ and size 14.  I don’t want to spend a ton of money, but I want to look great of course.  I know it’s short notice but ANY help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kim

Emily’s outfit:

Okay, so there are some options here, so use your imagination to visualize the outfits.  I’ve created a core group of items that can work for the family picture and your husband’s reunion coming up.  Bonus!  Most of the items are either on sale or pretty inexpensive, or both.

Wear the cardigan over the blouse, and then wrapped around with the belt on top (like the “successful” outfit by the gorgeous Reachel Bagley.  Darn right, that outfit’s successful!  She looks amazing.)  The shoes would look killer with any of the jeans or skirts.

For the family picture: the core group A-F with either white wide-leg jeans (G) or straight-leg denim (H).

For the reunion: the same core group with either a more casual brown corduroy skirt (I) or a sleeker white sateen pencil skirt (J).

My vote?  Totally the white jeans and the white skirt.  I love white in the summertime and think it would look so fresh and breezy for a family picture and for lookin’ white hot at a high school reunion.  Gold accessories along with white?  Even better.  (And a savings tip: if you bought the shoes, white jeans and/or patterned blouse…you would qualify for free shipping.  And if you bought the white cardigan and the belt, you’d be about $5 away from free shipping from Target.)

a. 3/4 Sleeve Open Cardigan, Target, $27.99 (Hopefully at your local store)

b. BCBGirls “Polands” Brown Sandals, Piperlime, $89.99 (they’re on sale!)

c. Sparkle Disc Dangle Earrings, Forever 21, $5.80

g. White Flare Leg Jeans, Gap, $29.99 (on sale and in your size!)

h. Zipper Straight Leg Jeans, Gap, $69.50

Natalie’s Outfit:
Looks like I missed the memo… (that you don’t want to spend too much money… oops!) However, a lot of my items are on sale… But here is a pretty outfit for your liking. Family photo is everything except the ring and the jacket. And for the reunion you could wear all of this except the cuff (doesn’t make sense to wear it under the jacket, plus would look kinda weird with the ring at the same time!) Hope you like it!

A Frenchie Slicker at JCrew on sale for $89.99

B Multi Bead at Fossil for $38.00

C Flower Filigree Ring at Charlotte Russe for $4.00

D Trimmed Trousers from Anthropologie for $88.00

E Sanfrann at Steve Madden on sale for $34.98

F Perfect-Fit Corsage Scoopneck Tee at JCrew on sale for $19.99

G Textured Cuff at Charlotte Russe for $4.00

Ashley’s Outfit:

Since it is still summer I wanted to make sure to use plenty of color! The gold belt will look best worn over the shirt around the waist… and by the way, the belt is my favorite part- it adds a touch of BLING that this outfit needed. I geared this outfit more towards the reunion, but it would look great in a family picture as well! I tried to keep the items from stores that you (hopefully) have access to.

The shoes may be more then what you would want to spend.. but I just put them there for an idea. I think you could wear this outfit with any pair of cream (preferably) or white sandals. (This is Natalie, hey, I’m sorry Ashley’s outfit is pixelated (sp?)! My photo-shop wasn’t cooperating!)

Eyelet-Sleeve Top on sale at Old Navy for $17.99

Merona Two Tone Satchel on sale at Target for $14.98

Faux-Leather Fashion Belt at Old Navy for $14.50

Bernardo Madonna at Piperlime for $109.00

Elisa Flower Bangle at Forever 21 for $6.80

I really like the “tuxedoness” of this dress! (And yes, I made up that word)

At DownEast Basics for $29.99.

Can I have this dress? It’s so fun and flirty! AND it comes in yellow!

At DownEast Basics for $34.99.

Did you guys know that DownEast has plus size wonder tees that they are majorly marked down!? Tons of colors to choose from… you better run over to their site and fill up your shopping carts! These are awesome tees to have on hand, they work wonderfully under,well, everything!

At DownEast for ONLY $5.00!

Pretty in pink!

Find it at DownEast Basics for $19.99.

Doesn’t come with the belt, but I can’t picture the dress without it.
Available in XS-XXL.

Find it at DownEast Basics for $32.99. (Belt, $14.99)

This is my FAVORITE downeast top right now. Looks like it has a very flattering fit. I want it in yellow. Find it for $19.99 at DownEast Basics.