COVET + LOU GIVEAWAY

I'M SO LUCKY TO HAVE MADE SUCH LASTING relationships with the shops and designers I've worked with over the years, and one of my favorite shops is Covet + Lou. I was introduced to them right before Harrison was born and they've got such a great selection of women's, home, and children's items. Styled here is the Sally Corduroy Jacket from Mara Hoffman, the Henri Maison bag from Clare Vivier, and the High Glove shoe from Martiniano. Harrison even got a little birthday present: the Pointy Peak Hat from Misha and Puff and a Sunshine Sailor Shirt from Maison Labiche.

In celebration, I'm hosting a giveaway for Covet + Lou for $100 shop credit. To enter, like the corresponding Instagram post, follow @melissasonico and @covetandlou on Instagram, and tag as many friends as you like in separate comments. For an additional chance to win, sign up for the Covet + Lou newsletter 

Contest ends Saturday, 11/18. Good luck!

Photos by Yvette Goltiao.

TOWN CLOTHES

I’VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF STYLING SOME PIECES from the last couple of seasons of Los Angeles-based label Town Clothes’ line, and I have to say each season has gotten better than the last. I finally got to interview Krista for her FW17 collection, so read on below! I’m wearing a top from SS17 and the beautiful Lily is wearing a dress from FW17.

 How did you get started in design?

Eer since I was a young kid, about 6 or 8, I have had a fascination with fashion. From cutting up old Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar magazines to make collage boards, drawing my own “fashion collections", making paper doll clothes and sewing clothes for my dolls.

I never paid attention to what actual fashion designers were doing until I started college. The only two designers I knew of and cared about growing up were Rei Kawakubo and Vivienne Westwood (growing up listening to punk those two designers are very obvious avenues to explore.) Once I got to college I started learning so much about all types of design and my appreciation and interest piqued tenfold.

What are your design inspirations?

I have come to realize that I have to be close to the ocean and the desert to thrive and feel inspired in my work, and living in LA is great for that. Also the I am most inspired when watching good live music. If I go to a show I can sometimes scheme an entire collection in my head, using the music as my guide. I also find my inspiration at museums and while traveling.

What is your mission statement for Town Clothes ?

I want consumers, myself included, to put their money where their politics are. I think the fashion industry is very detrimental to the environment and to society, so I want Town Clothes to represent change within the industry. I notice many of my peers feel this way too, and it’s inspiring/exciting. Getting people to gravitate towards the slow fashion movement, and to a less throwaway society is going to be hard but my mission is to not loose focus on this sentiment.

What other creative outlets do you have?

I am in a band, called Vial with my close friends and that really helps me explore a whole other side of my creative self. We haven’t had time to play as much as we are all very busy, but I know if we call it quits I will need to find another band cause it’s so fun and important to my well being! 

Describe a typical day at work and also a day off.

I wake up around 7am, take my dog out and have a cup of coffee. Then I take a shower and head to my studio in the garment district. I’ll usually draw for about an hour while listening to music. After that I’ll answer any emails, ship out pending orders and then I’ll map out my day depending on what time of year it is. I try to get all production-related things done in the beginning of the day because that’s when my brain works best. And then if I need to run errands or place orders for supplies/fabrics, I’ll do that after lunch. But really my day to day at work is so different depending on where we are in the season/fashion calendar.

On a typical day off, I will sleep in till 8am and putz around the house with my dog. Then I’ll try to wake my husband up and we usually either go to the beach, desert or mountains, or hang out with our family or try to clean our perpetually messy house because we both work so much. Whatever we end up doing, our dog Matilda—aka my soul dog—is always in tow.

What's next for your line?

I will be at this year’s Echo Park Craft Fair coming up in December; it’s always fun being a part of that beautiful event. Right now I am working on a collaboration with my friend and old business partner Sheila Imandoust. I’m really excited about it and it’s set to launch in May 2018.Overall, I am looking forward to evolving as a designer and as a small business!

REDECORATING WITH BLUE CASH EVERYDAY

YOU MIGHT ALREADY KNOW THAT I'VE been in the long process of redoing my son Harrison's room to be toddler-friendly, using Montessori methods that allow for almost everything to be accessible to him. It's been slow going to find all the right pieces at the right prices, but the process was made much easier with my Blue Cash Everyday Card's new Pay It Plan It feature. With Pay It or Plan It, I now have more control over my monthly statements. I can choose to pay off small items immediately with “Pay It” or over time with “Plan It” depending on my budget, which is always changing. Using Plan It, I can pay off the larger items a little bit at a time to avoid a big monthly bill, and with the Blue Cash Everyday Card I'm earning cash back at the same time on every purchase.

It's been so helpful in taking some financial pressure off redecorating Harrison's room, which he loves spending time in, as you can see! Check back soon for more on the redecoration. Click here for more info on the Pay It or Plan It feature for Blue Cash Everyday card members! Terms apply.

I teamed up with Amex as a blogger ambassador for Blue Cash Everyday

MARIA STANLEY FW 17

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF CONNECTING with Los Angeles designer Maria Stanley through a mutual friend, and I was so excited to style some pieces from her and then actually get to meet her just a week ago at the Line Hotel for Garmentory's LA Market. She's super sweet in addition to being a super talented designer. I'm in love with her versatile textiles and prints, which are sometimes outside of my usual wardrobe, but they somehow work seamlessly with pieces I already own-- I think because of the color palette and wearable silhouettes. Also, I think I'm just getting a bit more adventurous. Everything from Maria is just really flattering. 

Read on to find out more about Maria Stanley below!
Photos by Sisilia Piring and Karlee Valdez

How did you get started in design?
Deep down it was always something that I wanted to do. I was an introverted and creative child, and was happiest left to to be by myself creating. I started making my own clothes as a teenager, which lead me to dreaming of fashion school. I moved 2 months out of high school from small town Minnesota to Los Angeles to make my dreams come true. I studied at FIDM, interned for a few designers, and landed my first assistant job right out of college. I worked under a couple corporate companies for a few years until I was offered the opportunity of a life time, the senior designer position of Harlyn, a new brand at the age of 23. I worked with the creative director who gave me a ton of creative freedom (perhaps even a little too much), I ran a small team and kicked some serious booty, pumping out a 30 piece collection every month. I did this for 5 years, until I decided it was time to take the leap to being my own boss while I still had the energy, and launched my namesake collection for Spring 2016.

What are your design inspirations? 
My inspirations com from all over the place. A Victorian blouse I bought in high school, a Georgia O’Keeffe book my boyfriend bought me for Christmas, the colors from a photo I took looking out from a roof top in Paris. At the root of it, I have loved and admired vintage clothing for as long as I can remember, and I have my mom to thank for that. She had the most beautiful wardrobe that she used to let me play dress up with. I love that she didn’t get rid of things from when she was young, it’s like she saved them for me because she knew I would appreciate them some day. 

How does the place you live in influence your design aesthetic? 
I live and work out of Silverlake, the cutest little artsy community in Los Angeles, which in itself is inspiring. But I think my biggest take out of living in Los Angeles for 11 years is the extremely talented women I’m surrounded by daily. I feel so lucky to be inspired by and supported by such a beautiful inside and out group of lady friends.

What is your mission statement for Maria Stanley? 
My greatest dream is for ladies who wear my clothes to love and wear them for a very long time. For my design process to always be genuine, to design things I want to wear and for the women around me. To make clothing as ethically and sustainably as possible. To support small and growing businesses such as myself.

What other creative outlets do you have? 
I don’t get to do it as often as I would like, but I absolutely love to paint. Someday when I have more studio space, I’d like to designate an area just for painting. Just for me to make a mess out of and not have to worry about cleaning up.

Describe a typical day at work and also a day off. 
I usually wake up around 8 am, take my little pup pup on a walk, and pour myself a cup of cold brew with a splash of almond milk. Emails always take up a big chunk of my mornings. Then, depending on the day, I run errands… factory visits, fabric approvals, sample or pattern making meetings. On more exciting creative days I get to do some sketching, go hunting for inspiration, or do photo shoots. I usually end my day doing my favorite thing in the world, making dinner with my boyfriend and chatting with him about the day on the couch.

On a rare full day off, I try my best to sleep in, or at least lay in bed for as long as I possibly can. I love taking walks around the neighborhood, going to a barre class, flea markets, cafe hangs with my love and friends. I love getting out of the madness of LA whenever possible. Even just a day trip to Joshua Tree to clear my brain. The desert is such a magical and special place for me.

What's next for your line?
The SS18 collection is inspired by a trip I took earlier this year to Paris and Amsterdam with my love, it’s by far my most romantic collection, but also my most wearable. I’ve been wearing the samples non-stop, so that’s always a good sign. You can view a sneak peek of the collection here.

I also have a trip to India in the works, which is where half my collection is made. I haven’t been yet, and I’m dying for the chance to get to work with the artisans there on my FW18 collection. We do everything primarily though email now, and doing it in person will be a collaborative experience that I am beyond excited for!

FOUND COMPANY x MURRAY AND FINN

HAVING WORKED WITH Found Company previously and being a big fan of children’s shop Murray & Finn, I was so excited when they asked me to help host a giveaway for both of their shops along with a few other great mama bloggers. They’ve both got the best selection of clothing and accessories for mamas and kids! 

Im wearing the Boyd pants from Ilana Kohn and Harrison’s sweater is Misha and Puff! 

The prize is $100 shop credit to both their stores, and here’s how to enter: 

1) Like the post on Instagram

2) Follow these IG accounts: @murrayandfinn  @foundcompany and @melissasonico

3) Tag friends in separate comments for extra entries! 

4) Also, comment below in this blog post with what you’d use your shop credit on for another entry!

Ends Friday. Good luck!