Azalea Boutique

Bololicious

A Jenni Witt Story

One of my first jobs was Store Manager at The Bead Shop in Palo Alto in the mid-90s.  I remember looking at this dusty wall of colored woven leather rope, tarnished conchos and rusty bolo tips and saying to the owner, “Janice, it’s time.  We have to mark down the bolo ties.”  And she was like, “But… they used to sell so well!  We used to sell yards of this stuff…” And I had to show her how when I moved the end of the leather over, there was a dark spot where the sun had faded around it and ruined the yardage.

It was 1995, the year the Bolos died.  And now they have been resurrected!  Sexily!  And questionably, as gay lego men.

Acne

Left: All For The Mountain

Right: Fortune Favors The Brave

Peek below to see our FAVE pieces!

xox

A.P.C. Denim is back in stock! We just received a huge shipment in all styles and most sizes. Give us a call to secure your pair or, order them online HERE.

In honor of the new “Maria” style of J  Brand that we are all OBSESSED with (hello comfortable legging-like hand feel, flattering high-rise and perfect wear-with-flats ankle length) we wanted to take the time to highlight some of our favorite stylish “Marias” through the years.

Natalie Wood as Maria in West Side Story

Maria Sharapova - Tennis player/Hardbody. In January of 2010 she signed a $70 million endorsement deal with Nike, the highest amount ever for a female athlete. Get it girl!

Maria Callas- Scandalous Greek opera singer, she also acted in Pasolini’s Medea.

Who’s your favorite Maria?

XOX

To get the year started off right, we’re sharing an interview from I X ASHLEY with Anna Korte from A.K. Vintage.

Anna, a Portland based jewelry designer, ensures that all of her pieces are handmade from vintage, local, and sustainable materials in Portland, OR.  Since 2002, her collection has drawn inspiration from nature’s geometry, literature, history, and the styles of eras past. (source)

Q & A

X: How would you describe the AK aesthetic?
AK: AK Vintage has a clean architectural aesthetic. But, the style and vibe is mixed- I think it’s about one part ancient civilization and one part modern.

X: What is the concept behind the line?
AK: It’s design-minded first, sustainability second and affordability third. In other words- AK offers a stand-out but, on-trend look while using authentic vintage metals and recycled leather with an approachable price tag.

X: What sets you apart from other jewelry lines?
AK: It really doesn’t look like anything else out there!

X: Who or what is you greatest design inspiration at the moment?
AK: I’m super into interiors. And, at the moment, I’m getting lost in inspiration within this book called ‘Handcrafted Modern’ by Leslie Williamson. It. Is. So. Good.

X: What is your personal favorite piece from your current line?
AK: I love the Patterns in the Sand necklace! I’ve been wearing it with EVERYTHING!

X: When can we look forward to seeing new unique pieces from AK?
AK: The next AK collection launches in February 2011!

X: Any exciting projects or collaborations currently happening?
AK: I’ve been dabbling in fiber art for the past year on the side. I’ve installed several of these works in public and private spaces. They’re large, geometrical and abstract installations that are made with string and nails. And, I LOVE creating them!! My friend Emily Baker of Sword+Fern, a gorgeous and magical treasure shop here in Portland, just posted about my work on her blog. Check it out here.

X: Any advice for young aspiring designers?
AK: Don’t hesitate, just do it! There’s this great quote I read early on that brought me relief and really helped me make my first leap toward my dreams as a working designer. It’s by Martin Luther King- ‘You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step’.

(interview sourced from I X ASHLEY)

XOX

As I type this post, with NYE mere days away, I am realizing that I am in DIRE need of a manicure (Hello, cuticles!).  I think I’m playing it understated on the outfit front this year so my nails have to be outta this universe.  I’m thinking glitterxdiscoxsparkles galore… Here are a few of our fave ideas!

This gold has hexagon shaped glitters, and you can glop it on the tips for a french manicure that looks like you dipped your fingers in a bowl of solid gold nuggets, or you can do like this – one coat over a dark background to emulate the night sky!

I love these Deborah Lippmann shades, too because they have a richness to them that makes them more sophisticated than your usual box o’ crayon colors.  Reminds me of Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface or Daryl Hannah in Splash!

Moon Manicure is so perfect for nighttime festivities.  See this twist on the lunar nail trend sourced from a vintage Cosmo feature:

I’m loving this look! You can swap out the Robin Red pictured here for black and gold or navy with silver… Wait, SILVER AND GOLD. So fab.

source

Ready to put these ideas to the test? Call us at 415-861-9888 and book an appointment for the Z Beauty Lounge. We have a HUGE selection of polishes that will have you looking so 2011.

XOX

With 2010’s hot Ombre hairstyles (see Rachel Bilson), dip-dyed JBrands, and Chanel’s runway we can’t help but hop on the Fade-to-Black train. There’s something so sexy about mixed metals and Ombre earrings are the perfect way to incorporate them into your wardrobe.  Get your Ombre inspiration here and on your ears at Azalea!

Chanel

Iosselliani Long Fringe Skull Earrings | $198