holiday dressing

when you've made your last leftover turkey sandwich and put away the last of the pumpkin pie (and by "put away" we mean in your belly), it's time to buckle down and get serious about this holiday season. have you sent in all your rsvp's? have you waxed and polished? have you found something to wear? fear not, poole shop will help you with the latter. here's a look at some of our favorite picks for holiday dressing:

who needs a disco ball when you can sparkle on the dance floor in this little number from vanessa bruno? it's a dress; it's a tunic; it's perfect for sipping cocktails this season.

a little bit menswear, a little bit rocker chic, this winter white leather-trim cardigan from A.L.C. goes with everything holiday. we especially love it over a chic party dress!

save this firework-print dress from ulla johnson for new year's eve and watch the ball drop in style!

just in time for christmas--whether you're giving or getting--poole shop has new jewelry from deux filles [two girls]. the strands of pearls, leather and diamonds are meant to be mixed and matched and worn as bracelets or necklaces. we think more is more in this case, so grab a few strands, wrap yourself and go!

vacation time?

is it time for resort already? the magazines seem to think so. check out the november issue of elle featuring one of our favorites, A.L.C., in a piece on tropical evenings. now that we just brought our sweaters out of hibernation, we're ready to stow them away already and get cruising...

1 + 1 = 1

question: what do you get when you add one of this fall's must-have pieces [leather jacket] to a winter staple [the puffer]?

+

=

answer: the A.L.C. leather puffer...just in at poole shop!

six items or less

now that summer is (unofficially) over, it's time to focus on fall and all the new things you're coveting for your closet this year. while you may be tempted to go out and spend, spend, spend (there's something about a new season that brings out our inner shopaholic) we challenge you to take part in a phenomenon that is sweeping the country--wear six items or less for 30 days in a row. the rules are simple: choose six items from your closet; wear only those items for 30 days (accessories, shoes and undergarments don't count as part of your six, phew!). here are our suggestions for six items that will get you through:

dakota fanning

it's all about the current/elliott legging with its blend of comfort, style and adaptability.  go with a classic dark blue-grey or jump on the season's trend with a pair in army green (you could even sleep in them if you wanted to take the challenge to the extreme).

the grandpa cardigan is back for fall! pick one in a neutral color and wear it open, buttoned-up or belted. the possibilities are endless.

jennifer aniston

a closet classic--the little black dress. chose a dress in a classic shape that you can dress up for evening or down for daytime (hint: throw a grandpa cardigan over it and pair with distressed knee-high boots).

organic by john patrick

items 4 and 5: organic by john patrick long sleeve tunic and fitted tee shirt. choose basic colors like black, white or grey so you won't be sick of it by day 5 (you'll be sick of everything by day 30 anyway).

finally, embrace a great fall trend--the bubble skirt--so you still feel on-trend. it's another easy piece to dress up or down; remember accessorizing is key to not losing your mind during this little test in self-restraint. good luck!

poole's pick

it's day one of lolla-POOLE-ooza, and we're excited to bring you poole's pick of the day. last year the leather moto jacket was spotted everywhere from the streets of LA to the sidewalks of NYC, and a.l.c. debuted one of the most coveted styles out there. this year designer and stylist andrea lieberman brings a fresh look to her must have leather moto jacket--a true forever piece in your wardrobe. demand has been high, but poole shop was lucky enough to score one of these gems for lolla-POOLE-ooza. hurry in to try it on before your neighbor ends up with the jacket you always wanted...

lolla-POOLE-ooza

if you were around last august, perhaps you remember poole shop's busiest trunk show ever featuring current/elliott and meredith wendell. this year we decided to up the ante and bring you lolla-POOLE-ooza: a 4-day nonstop trunk show event featuring current/elliott, meredith wendell, organic by john patrick and a.l.c. whether you're getting the kids ready for school or going back to school yourself or just ready for a change in season, all your fall basics will be covered in this one-stop shopping bonanza!

the trunk show officially begins tuesday, august 24th, but if you're reading this we hear shipments have already started arriving at poole shop. stop in early for the best selection...you don't want to be left standing outside the fitting rooms.

sale picks

it's that time of year again...memorial day has marked the unofficial start of summer, and department stores and boutiques are ready to clear out spring merchandise to get ready for fall (and give you a deal in the meantime!). beginning tomorrow, poole shop spring merchandise will be 40% off, but as we were straightening the racks today before the ensuing madness, we came across a couple of items that left us wondering how did this make it to sale?

the karen walker stripe dress (above) has been a favorite of ours all season long. we're just waiting for it to find its proper home.

maybe we're just into stripes this season, but this stunning number from A.L.C. needs to find a good home as well. it's the perfect "patio dress" for summer cocktails or a wedding on the beach...

you've come a long way, baby

when did prom dresses become cool? we've noticed lately that the teenagers of today are much more in-the-know than we were in our prime, and they're passing over the allure of glitz and glam that prom offers for more subtle--and fashionable--prom dresses. you won't see these familiar shapes coming out of a limo in may:

say goodbye to the poofs, polka dots and crinoline of the 1980s and 90s and welcome in a new breed of prom dresses that includes this striking striped number from one of our favorites, a.l.c. (below). there is one thing, however, that our generation will have that the fashion-savvy teens of today will not--priceless pictures of funny hairdos, beaded dresses and shiny satin pumps dyed to match the color of your dress.

playing dress-up

it must be difficult being a celebrity these days. in addition to the incessant flash of the paparazzi invading your personal space, there's a whole generation of bloggers out there ready to criticize your every move. but we feel that while you're on camera, you should dress your best (especially if you're afforded the luxury of a stylist). below we've outlined some misses from television's most popular hosts, and offered our advice on how to turn them into hits.

1. catt sadler, host of e!'s "daily 10" has a flirty style that suits her personality, but sometimes her fashion sense steers a little too far in the direction of "floozy." a general rule of thumb is if you're fitted on top, have some volume on bottom. to re-interpret catt's style, we've put together a gold see by chloe top and leather phillip lim "ra-ra" skirt that creates a fun, flirty look without being too sexy for prime time television.

2. rachel ray is a fan of patterns, but sometimes the look is overwhelming on her frame: lame-o! to keep it simple and more flattering, a bold stripe print, like the sea dress pictured above, creates drama and interest while a tailored corduroy blazer from wren keeps the dress from overpowering her.

3. on the biggest loser, alison sweeny's look seems dated. while she's careful to accentuate the positive by belting her slim waist, she's also prone to wearing pieces that look like they've been hanging in her closet for years (especially the satin frocks she wears at the weigh ins). to bring her up to date, we suggest a chic asymmetrical-hem dress from clu that can easily be dressed up or down. the shoulder pad detail on the dress also works to draw the eye toward the waist when belted.

4. samantha harris has quite a burden on her shoulders to keep up with the glitz on dancing with the stars, but we think this is a case where "less is more" should come into play. the black A.L.C. dress pictured above has a simple silhouette that flows beautifully while on the body. paired with a dramatic necklace, it's all the glam a girl needs to set herself apart from the competition.

L.O.V.E. A.L.C.

come join the party! gwen stefani and jennifer lopez are huge fans (and clients!) of stylist andrea lieberman who launched her eponymous line, A.L.C., last spring. built around wearable pieces that can be worn dressed up or dressed down, we can't help but love this mother's fashion-forward style. the collection updates your old wardrobe essentials--little black dress, white blouse, wool trousers--in a sophisticated color palette (black, gray, khaki, navy) that works for everyone. stop by poole shop this wednesday - friday to check out the A.L.C. trunk show, and walk away with more than just a stylish tee shirt.