Our new catalog arrives this week, filled with amazing spring clothing styles and accessories from DownEast! The fashions are feminine and romantic, modern and fun, and are based on a stunning palette of colors. The catalog also introduces our first-ever swimsuit line and oh-so-bare sandals for the warm summer months ahead!

If you’re interested in fashion, you’ll also want to read this. It’s an interview with “yours truly” on the hot styles and trends for spring and summer. In it, I highlight some of the great new looks from DownEast!

All the best!

- Andrea

Q. What was your inspiration for the spring and summer lines – what impacted your creative process when deciding what patterns, materials and colors to use?

A. Some of the obvious trends from the spring and summer 2010 runway shows include neutral hues, knotting and draping, lavender, sheer fabrics, jeweled bibs and heavy necklaces, deconstructed menswear-inspired pieces, t-shirt dresses, ruffles, watercolor prints, and fall hues for spring.

Our spring and summer lines feature soft neutral colors with unexpected pops of color. I love to draw interesting and unexpected color combinations from sunsets on the ocean here in Santa Cruz. If you look closely there are always so many soft colors from the full spectrum combining to create a breathtaking picture. I defined our spring and summer lines as “Tropical Glamour.”

Q. What do you hope to accomplish trend-wise with the new spring and summer lines?

A. I hope women can escape from any fashion frustrations and feel more fabulous, confident and beautiful wearing DownEast Basics. Here are some key, trendy pieces to try:

· Neutral hues with pops of color: All of our layering basics offer perfect layering options and come in an awesome selection of colors, from soft hues to bold brights. I love how the pop of tangerine in our Still Life Skirt complements the neutral hues of the rest of this look.

· Draping & lavender: Our Top Tier Skirt in lavender offers a very flattering take on the draped skirt. The side-swept layers elongate the body, and the skirt’s soft lavender color allows it to be treated as a neutral to pair with almost any color of the season. Shown here with our Frosted Flowers Cardigan.

· Sheer fabrics: I love how sheer fabrics soften color and create dimension. The Corsage Top offers layers of soft white, sheer chiffon and appliquéd flower detail on the neckline. Also, our printed chiffon Centerpiece Dress (available at www.downeastbasics.com) is a perfect mix of soft and bold, all in a fabulous silhouette.

· Jeweled bibs and bold necklaces: Runways for spring consistently showcased bold necklaces as the key accessory.

· Deconstructed menswear-inspired pieces: Our True Love Boyfriend Jeans (available at www.downeastbasics.com) offer a men’s inspired destroyed denim, but are made to fit a woman’s curves.

· Ruffles: I am so glad this trend is sticking around for a few seasons because it is a fun, flirty, and feminine detail to add to any look. Find your favorite ruffles in some of our season’s signature pieces below: Bon Jour Top, Butterfly Kiss Dress, Made in the Shade Dress, & Intuition Top.

· T-shirt dresses: Jersey t-shirt dresses were spotted on the runways from a number of designers including BCBG Max Azria and DKNY. Try our Oceanfront Maxi Dress, Fresh Flowers Maxi Dress, and Rasta Ruffle Dress.

· Watercolor prints: Watercolor prints were spotted in Nicole Miller and BCBG spring collections. Our watercolor print Stroke of Art, Impressionist, and Spring Scene Skirts all pack a colorful punch and are so fun to wear.

· Fall hues for spring: Donna Karan mixed in a number of fall-inspired hues in fresh and fun spring designs. Our Tulip Tunic comes in a fall-inspired shade of yellow, but feels like spring with its cropped sleeves and tunic length that can be worn with crop jeans, leggings or over a swimsuit on the beach.

Q. DownEast had a lot of new categories for the first time in 2009, like its new denim line and accessories. What do you have planned for 2010 in these categories given their popularity?

A. We are so thrilled with the immediate success and excitement surrounding our DownEast Basics denim line, available at www.downeastbasics.com. We have established this category as a constant so you will find new styles, washes, cuts, and very popular embellished denim options! In spring and summer months, we are carrying longer shorts and crop jean styles based on our most popular fits.

Q. In what other new fashion categories will DownEast start offering products later in the year?

A. We plan to continue to build our accessory line, including a full line of jewelry, handbags, belts, headbands, and even shoes! This category has been the most fun to create and helps to complete looks at very affordable prices. It is silly to not stock up. Most accessories can be mixed and matched, layered, and used for multiple seasons.

DownEast Basics special occasion dresses will be offered online and in our retail stores late spring/early summer. We are excited about these stunning gowns and their unbelievable prices (all under $70). You will not believe your eyes!

We have seen a notable growth in our DownEast Basics GIRL line, so we are adding styles and accessories, including the Darling Denim skirt! This could be the beginning to a girls’ denim line!

Other categories we discuss and may possibly test at some point include maternity, plus, and activewear.

Q. What trends are you starting to see now that are likely to affect the line for that season?

A. Fall 2010 looks to continue a subtle 80’s inspiration, with some twists and turns that will create sophisticated mixes of structured blazers and vests partnered with slouchy pant styles. Exaggerated accessories, shoulders and bold prints partnered with neutrals are early trends and seem to be nature-inspired.

Looking for clothes that are stylish and look great without breaking the bank? “Frugal and Fabulous” blogger recommends DownEast Basics to women who want flattering and comfortable clothes for spring. In her recent blog posting, she shares her favorite new styles.

She loves the versatility and chic look of the Frosted Flower Cardigan:

“The frosted flower cardigan is so cute! It’s fun, flirty and totally fresh for spring! What better way to welcome warm weather than in a hot hue like this?! This cardi is the perfect pink and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it! How cute would this be to wear to an Easter brunch, a bridal/baby shower or to a garden party?! I just love the feminine detailing of the flowers (look really close and you can see they are individually stitched!)”

She embraces her love for fun patterns with the He Loves Me Dress:

“It’s very different from what I normally wear but I picked it because it has a very carefree feel to it. I love that I can dress it up with a cardigan and heels for work or dress it down with sandals for play. The colors keep it lighthearted and the dress itself has almost a 60’s mod undertone. It’s great because it’s easy to throw on and looks great with minimal accessorizing!”

Read the entire review and enter for your chance to win a new item by commenting on her blog here. Good luck!

Last week I had the chance to be in our booth at the MAGIC tradeshow in Vegas. It was really amazing to see store owners from all over the world become excited about DownEast Basics if they were seeing it for the first time, or to hear about how successful the product line has been for their boutique or store. There is something very gratifying about knowing you can find DownEast Basics in almost 40 stores in Italy alone. Our director of wholesale, Alliy Sahagun, and her wonderfully talented team of sales reps have done such a great job growing the wholesale customer base. It is unbelievable!

Also while in Vegas we wrapped up our summer catalog photo shoot. Here is a sneak peek at our highly anticipated release of special occasion dresses! All styles are under $60. Yes, it’s true. Yet another reason to love, live in, and lust for DownEast Basics.

Coming Soon - Our Special Occasion Dresses!

-Andrea

This time of year, spring’s warm weather seems to be the light at the end of winter’s frigid tunnel. With the change of weather comes new, fun styles and fashion.  The “Second Time Around” blogger is ready to throw out her winter clothes and replace them with beautiful colors, fun tops, flirty dresses and great accessories from DownEast Basics. In her post, she takes a look at a few of her new favorites and gives readers the chance to warm up their wardrobes.

In her latest review, she raves about the Butterfly Kiss Dress:

“I LOVE my Butterfly Kiss Dress! It is so soft and comfortable! The sleeves and neckline have flirty ruffles and really adds to the dress. I was a little worried the dress would be a little short, but it fit perfectly right below my knees. I love how I can wear boots, high heels, sandals, or flip flops with dress! It’s perfect for church, parties, weddings, or just a night on the town!”

She also loves the Union Square Top, but gives this advice:

“I was immediately smitten with the Union Square Top and just knew I had to have it! I love the style and the fabric is so soft, but when I received it…it was very big. In the picture I am holding it in the back so you can see how cute this shirt is. I had ordered a small but it was still really big. I tried to shrink it, but that didn’t work…so that’s another great thing about the top, it doesn’t shrink! I still absolutely love the top and would definitely recommend it, but I would suggest you purchase a size smaller than you normally do.”

Her next purchases? The Frosted Flowers Cardigan and Top Tier Skirt. Read the entire review and enter for a chance to win your own favorite item from the new arrivals. Read the posting here for details. Good luck!

Rachel DeMille models DownEast Basics Butterfly Kiss Dress

Our new February catalog is fun and flirtatious, and all about romance! It’s our first-ever catalog created for a specific month, and also the first to offer a 28-day style guide with amazing ensembles for each and every day! From lunch out with the girls to a romantic Valentine’s weekend getaway, we’ve put together the perfect outfit, just for you. I promise, you’ll want to hold on to this catalog.

The outdoor photography for the catalog took place at a stunning, bungalow-style complex on the California coast, complete with colorful stucco buildings that mirror the watercolor-inspired prints in our latest line. The setting definitely had the warm, Mediterranean vibe of Southern France!

The February catalog gave us another opportunity to work with Yulia, one of our favorite models from our most recent holiday shoot. Yulia is our February catalog’s cover girl and is featured in photos throughout. She is currently in photography for other leading fashion retailers, such as the Gap. Joining Yulia in the outdoor shots is Sarah, a blonde-haired beauty who is a fresh face for DownEast. You might recognize Sarah from the most current issue of Lucky magazine.

We’re proud of the studio photography for the catalog, as well, which creatively played off the 28-day style guide with a “calendar theme” backdrop. As you can see, the bright, beautiful clothes really “popped” against the white background.

Our studio shots also feature the return of Leanne, who in many ways is considered the “face” of DownEast. Leanne wasn’t able to model for our holiday shoot due to a boating injury, but she is fully recuperated now and we are so happy to have her back!

The February catalog has so many beautifully paired styles that give a hint of spring being just around the corner. And last but not least, it also provides a sneak peek of our 2010 Swim Line that is making its debut in March. I’m really looking forward to warmer weather and the season’s new, fun fashions!

All the best!

Candy

Every woman has her favorite “go to” items in her closet. The “Babes and Kids” blogger takes a look at a few of her new favorites and gives readers the chance to add some items to their closet with a new giveaway, sponsored by DownEast Basics. Her new favorites? The Sprinkles on Top and Double Take Jeans.

Dish on Favorite #1 -  Sprinkles on Top:

“I love the gathering around the neck line and around the bottom of the sleeve as well, it adds a nice feminine touch.  It’s the perfect shirt to dress up with a skirt or to wear casually with a pair of jeans.”

Dish on Favorite #2 - Double Take denim:

“I was pleasantly surprised to find more coverage in the back of the jean, without sacrificing the lowrise in the front. These are also lightweight and have spandex in them which gives them a nice stretch. Can you say comfortable? My new favorite jeans, hands down.”

Read the full review and enter for a chance to win your own favorite new DownEast top, accessory or denim from the new arrivals. Read the posting here for details. Good luck!

THIS JUST IN: Many of our brand new and much anticipated accessories are now available online! I have been dying to get my hands on these rings! I was thrilled they’d just arrived at our warehouse when I was in Salt Lake finishing up our March 2010 catalog shoot. So, I welcomed eight new rings to my jewelry collection. Starting at just $9.99, they offer a lot of bling for your buck. My personal favorites are the Rhinestone Tiger Ring, Gold Flower & Pearl Ring, and the Rhinestone Snake Ring (very similar to one I’ve spotted many times on Heidi Klum). Spice up your accessories in 2010 and shop now!

And here’s some more good news! I have a special offer for our Internet shoppers: This weekend, Jan. 15-18, DownEast will host an online clearance sale with an additional 50 percent off great clothing to keep you warm and stylish through the long winter!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of our amazing items that will be on clearance!

Matchstick Cords – Our popular lowrise, skinny fit, five-pocket cords in soft stretch corduroy. Made of a cotton/spandex, they’re available in berry and charcoal.

Spotlight Dress – Take your turn in the spotlight in our polka dot, ¾ sleeve with gathered detail on the neckline, belt and invisible pockets. It comes in grey and white, or black and white. I recommend wearing some fun red heels with the grey and white.

Over the Top Dress – Embrace the feminine ruffle trend in our flattering jersey knit dress with long sleeves and ruffle detail on the deep v-crossover neckline. It’s available in heather grey or red plum.

Timeless Trench Coat – This semi wrap style trench coat gives instant glamour to any outfit. It features a generous fold over collar with ruffle detail and belt. It comes in black or limestone. This is the perfect coat to wear now and into spring.

Those are just a few of the amazing deals available online this weekend only!

Also, I want to say “thank you” for making our Holiday line our most popular ever! We appreciate all of you who gave or asked for our clothing and accessories as gifts.

I’m so excited about our upcoming spring and summer lines! Here’s a sneak peek at the covers for our February and March catalogs. The February catalog offers a complete style guide for the month. Also, I’m sharing a great photo from our swim line that debuts in our March catalog. In the meantime, remember to drop by the DownEast web site sale this weekend, Jan. 15-18, for some of our best winter fashions at unbeatable prices!

Happy New Year!

Andrea

One of my favorite things is being out and about and actually seeing women wearing DownEast Basics clothing and accessories. I love knowing that our fun, fashionable and affordable styles are being worn “with style” by our very best models – our happy and loyal customers!

In fact, the most rewarding part of my job is hearing from fans of our clothing – learning about their shopping experiences with us, what DownEast styles they like most and what they hope to find in our next catalog.

With this in mind, I want to start sharing some of the great comments we get from shoppers right here on our blog. The following was emailed to us from “J Britnee”, and she included a very cute photo!

DownEast Basics Fan J. Britnee

“I LOVE DOWNEAST because of the great clothes and great, friendly people! The clothing manager, Mel, at my local store is amazing! I can just call and say ‘I’m coming in’ and she picks out outfits for me. I love the service and it keeps me coming back. Thanks for everything, DownEast!”

We pride ourselves on our fashion-conscious and friendly salespeople, and it’s always exciting to hear that our customers are getting great service!

Here is another comment and another cute photo, this one from “Chloe”, who is wearing one of our amazing DownEast coats:

DownEast Basics Customer Chloe

“I love shopping at DownEast! They have a ton of cute clothes in so many styles. I can always find what I’m looking for. Because of DownEast’s fantastic prices, I was able to get more than one outfit for my senior pictures!”

As we’ve mentioned before on this blog, we sincerely value our customers and listen to them closely to help us plan new offerings and clothing designs. So, we want to hear from you! Tell us what you like about DownEast and what you want to see in our future lines.

Leave a comment here or send us an email (we’d love it if you included a photo of yourself wearing our clothing) to ILovedowneast@downeastbasics.com. Who knows? You might be featured in an upcoming “DownEast by Design” blog!

- Andrea

In a new posting, “Sensibly Styled” blogger Natalie Olsen gives you 5 reasons why she thinks the DownEast Basics Reunited Top is a must-have for your holiday wardrobe.  She writes:

 “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 Wrap 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.”

Read her reasons and register for the giveaway by commenting on her blog before Tuesday!

Natalie Olsen models the Reunited Wrap on her way to a Christmas party.