Gray Malin: Photos that speak summer

Sperry, Italian Riviera, Veuve Clicquot, Martha's Vineyard, Summer, Beaches: They all conjure up the essence of Gray Malin's art.

The often aerial photographer's work makes you feel like you could land in and live an endless summer.

He captures beaches, sun bathers, exotic animals, spectacular swimming pools, and scenes that mesmerize.

And he has partnered with Sperry shoes, creating ironically designed boat shoes, and Veuve Clicquot, depicting champagne visions for stunning brand imagery.

His newest images share Martha's Vineyard, check them out here:

 

Mr. Malin's Lifestyle Blog is well worth a visit; it includes lots of great "how to's" such as Tips & Tricks for Picture Hanging, How to Work from a Coffee Shop, and Top Ten Lists such as the best Rosés. See everything Gray Malin here: www.graymalin.com

Chestnut Hill

ellelauri Chestnut Hill is officially open!

Founder, Liz Rymar, fell in love with the quaint neighborhood and decided it was the perfect spot for ellelauri's newest pop-up shop. Chestnut Hill is known for its beautiful homes as well as its charming downtown area. Here are some of our favorite businesses in Chestnut Hill.

Shopping
ellelauri of course!

Food 
Cake is a cute bakery and bistro that serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch
Cin Cin has some of the best Chinese food we've ever had
Osaka is our go-to sushi spot
The Chestnut Hill Farmer's Market is great for fresh produce

Flowers
Robertson's makes the prettiest arrangements

Come visit ellelauri Chestnut Hill located at 8513 Germantown Ave.

Fall Activities

We can't get enough of fall; cozy sweaters, flannels, and a ton of fun activities. Here are some of our favorites:

Apple picking and Pumpkin carving 

What to wear: a cute flannel and denim

 

Going out for some fall inspired cocktails 

What to wear: a cozy sweater and leather leggings 

Walking through the leaves 

What to wear: Layer- start with a tank under a flannel and bring a sweater, this way you are prepared for all of fall's temperature changes throughout the day

Halloween

What to wear: A costume of course! 

Diner en Blanc

Diner en Blanc originated in France nearly 30 years ago and the tradition of high society picnics has traveled all the way from Paris to Philadelphia. Diner en Blanc takes place every summer in Philadelphia. The event channels the elegance and glamour of French society.

Here is how it works:

At the last minute, the secret location is revealed. Guests, dressed in white, travel to the public space to enjoy a night of friends, food, and fun. This includes a picnic, lighting sparklers, and dancing. Philadelphia provides a magical cityscape backdrop for the event.

Rules:

Guests must be members or sponsored by a member and there is a long waiting list to get in!

Participants arrive and depart by chartered transportation or organized public transportation.

Every group has a table leader and the groups are responsible for bringing their own tables, chairs, and food.

Guests must bring a table, chairs, white tablecloth, a picnic basket, food, cutlery, dishware, glassware, trash bags, and wine or champagne.

At the end of the night, participants take everything with them, including their trash, leaving their city’s public space clean and beautiful for the next day.

Participants must wear all white and be dressed elegantly.

 This year’s Diner en Blanc will take place on August 18^th and since the event takes place during the summer, and the dress code is elegant, it is best if women wear white dresses. Our Rittenhouse boutique is filled with white dresses perfect for the event. One of our stylists will happily help you choose the perfect outfit for such a magical evening.

HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT DURING THE DNC

The Democratic National Convention is this week in Philadelphia and it has brought thousands of people to the city along with super hot temperatures. We have put together some outfits for you to beat the heat in while enjoying all of the DNC festivities going on around the city.

This is such an exciting week for both Philadelphians and visitors to the city of brotherly love, so we have decided to celebrate with some great #DNCdeals at our flagship boutique in Rittenhouse Square.

Be sure to visit us at 114 S 19th Street Philadelphia! 

Meet Our Summer Intern

Summer is the season for denim shorts, breezy dresses, and interns! Meet our new summer intern, Zoe.

ellelauri: Zoe, where are you from and where do you go to school?

Zoe: I am originally from Philly. I am going to be a junior at Philadelphia University and I am a fashion merchandising major.

ellelauri: Why did you want to intern with us?

Zoe: Initially, the amazing window displays! I always love the clothes in the window so that's what drew me in to inquire about an internship. When I learned more about the brand and how Liz designs her own clothes and manages the boutiques, I knew I wanted to intern for ellelauri. It is my first retail industry experience and I am so excited to learn the ins and outs of the business.

ellelauri: What are your favorite pieces in the store right now?

Zoe: I love the breezy summer tops and dresses from Feel The Piece and Bella Dahl. I also really love all of the jewelry, especially the statement necklaces.

ellelauri: How would you describe your personal style?

Zoe: Classic. A lot of black and neutral colors. I'm tall so I like pairing something loose-fitting with something tighter so there is a balance.

ellelauri: Who is your style icon?

Zoe: This New York based blogger named Nicole Alyse.

ellelauri: Who is your favorite high fashion designer?

Zoe: It's a tie between Etro and Prada.

ellelauri: What is your favorite piece in your closet?

Zoe: A black wool jacket I got at a thrift store. It's classic but a little edgy.

ellelauri: If you could add one thing to your closet, what would it be?

Zoe: A pair of Gucci slip on loafers; the ones with the fur inside.

ellelauri: What are you listening to right now?

Zoe: I really like Drake's new album.

ellelauri: When you are not at ellelauri, what are you doing?

Zoe: Either cooking or watching fashion shows on YouTube.

2016 Billboard Awards

The Billboard Awards always have some fun fashion moments and this year was no different. Here are a few of our favorites.

We thought Kelly Rowland looked gorgeous!

Ciara showed a lot of skin but still managed to shine

Zendaya looked so pretty! 

Kate Beckinsale looked stunning in white

We loved Gwen Stefani's makeup

Everyone loves a comeback story and our girl Britney is back! 

Ritt Row Preview Party 2016

We had a great time at the Rittenhouse Row preview party last night. Many local businesses came together to celebrate Philadelphia's food, fashion, and music. The restaurants showcased some of their favorite dishes, including bite-size desserts and signature cocktails.

Models circulated the room showing off some beautiful looks from Philadelphia's best boutiques.

 

Rita modeled a fun, fringe dress and some gold jewelry from our Rittenhouse store.

 

The Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival takes place on Saturday, May 21st, 2016.

Met Gala 2016

The 2016 Met Gala theme was Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology. Celebrities creatively interpreted the technological theme and the fashion did not disappoint.

Here are our picks for best and worst dressed.

Best:

Claire Danes nailed the theme in a high-tech Zac Posen gown

Cindy Crawford looked stunning in a silver Balmain 

Gigi Hadid in Tommy Hilfiger and Zayn Malik in Versace won our vote for best dressed couple

Kendall and Kylie Jenner shined in Versace and Balmain

Poppy Delevingne looked beautiful in Marchesa

We loved Bella Hadid's black Givenchy dress

Worst:

We were not fans of Beyonce's latex Givenchy dress

Dakota Johnson's Gucci dress was a little too out of this world for us

Kim and Kanye's Balmain getups left us feeling ice cold 

Madonna's Givenchy creation left nothing to the imagination

Festival Style

It's officially festival season! Not only is music and art being celebrated but the festivals celebrate fashion as well. Here are some of our favorite festival looks:

White lace top, denim cut offs, and suede booties

Sweater with fringe detail, denim, and a cool hat

White denim, striped shirt, suede jacket, and a cool hat

Flannel shirt, denim cut-offs, and leather booties

Black denim cut-offs, crop top, suede fringe vest, and statement jewelry

See you at Coachella! 

Philadelphia Flower Show

The Philadelphia Flower Show was this past weekend and per usual, the exhibits were breathtaking. This year's theme, "Explore America" allowed us to discover the natural horticulture of the country's beloved parks. There was everything from desert blooms and coastal flora to the wildflowers that grow in meadows.

Not only were there gorgeous flowers everywhere you turned, there were waterfalls, interpretations of classic park architecture, a train garden in which model locomotives go through familiar American landscapes, and even a butterfly experience.

Flowers have always been a huge inspiration for ellelauri. In fact, one of our best selling dresses is a floral print. Our collection has great pieces inspired by the beauty of florals. To quote Claude Monet, "I must have flowers, always and always." We couldn't agree more.

To shop the collection, visit www.ellelauri.com or visit our Rittenhouse location. 

Oscars Survival Kit

The Oscars (also known as the best fashion night of the year) are this Sunday and we can’t wait to ooh and ahh over all of the beautiful gowns! Pale pinks, bold blues, sleek black and white, and glittering gold are just some of the things we are expecting to see this weekend.

Beautiful dresses, sky-high heels, hair and makeup, and of course diamonds all play an important role in any best-dressed look. But how do these gorgeous celebrities survive award season and party hopping while always looking flawless? We put together our own award season survival kit!

Makeup Bag

It is important to carry makeup with you in case you need a touchup, even if it is just powder and a lip-gloss! We love the cosmetic cases from LoloBag. Their cute designs come in a variety of colors and sizes. Put your makeup in, zip them up, and toss them in your tote!

Water Bottle

Hydration is key, especially when running from one event to another. We love the glass water bottles from bkr. The beautiful bottles come in three sizes and multiple colors. They are by far the most glamorous way to drink water.

Low Beams

Low Beams from Commando are perfect for dresses that you can’t wear a bra but still need a little extra coverage.

Hanky Panky

Your dress is so beautiful, why shouldn’t your under garments be beautiful too? We love the lace thongs from Hanky Panky. They come in many shades and colors including nude, which is great under a light-colored dress.

Scarf

Nights can get chilly, even in LA. A soft scarf is the perfect thing to toss in your bag. You can wear them around your neck or over your shoulders. Pick a color to compliment your dress!

Bracelet and Earrings

Could you imagine if your bracelet broke or one of the backs of your earrings fell off? To avoid an accessories catastrophe, throw extras in your bag!

Nail Polish

Over the past few years, the mani cam has given us the chance to see celebrities nails up close and personal but could you imagine if someone chipped a nail right before their fingers were supposed to walk the red carpet? Always carry an extra nail polish in your purse in case of an emergency. Our favorite is Essie.

Mints

A little too much garlic in the passed hor d’oeuvres? It’s always good to have a few mints with you!

Although most of us will not be attending the Oscars, our survival kit is perfect for any kind of party! Especially since wedding season is right around the corner!

All items in our survival kit are available at our ellelauri boutique. 
114 S 19^th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Pantone Color of the Year

Pantone's 2016 Color of the Year is Rose Quartz and Serenity. For the first time ever, the blending of these two shades make up the color of the year. 

Rose Quartz and Serenity symbolize a warm embrace and a soothing calmness. Fused together, these colors of compassion and relaxation are strong enough to challenge such a turbulent world yet soft enough to instill peace, which has always been the ultimate goal. 

Color has always been an important form of self expression, especially when it comes to fashion. These soft tones are welcoming and allow us to embrace the different perspectives of color usage.