ellelauri: May 2016

Summers in Avalon

Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the summer and also means that ellelauri Avalon is officially open! We spoke with designer/founder, Liz Rymar, about her favorite places at the beach.

ellelauri: Why did you choose Avalon to open a store?

Liz: Avalon holds a special place in my heart. I grew up going with my family. The people are always so friendly and there is great shopping but I felt like something was missing. ellelauri fills the void for beach clothes that can easily transition from day to night. A lot of times you go right from the beach to dinner and cocktails and I wanted to create a store where you could buy one dress and wear it over your bathing suit to the beach and then with wedges and fun jewelry out at night.

ellelauri: What is your favorite place for cocktails?

Liz: The Windrift Hotel. There is a really cool bar up top which is great for cocktails after a day at the beach.

ellelauri: What is your favorite restaurant?

Liz: That's hard! The Sea Grill is great for fresh fish, they are located right across the street from the store. I also really like The Diving Horse. It is owned by the same people who own Pub & Kitchen in Philly.

ellelauri: On a Friday or Saturday night where can we find you?

Liz: The Princeton is really fun. So are Jack's, Buckets, and Whitebrier.

ellelauri: Do you have a go-to brunch spot?

Liz: Yes! The Reeds is amazing for brunch! It is a really cool hotel. For healthier options, there is Green Cuisine and Isabel's has really good salads.

ellelauri: What is your favorite beach activity?

Liz: Paddle boarding and I also love just laying out and relaxing.

ellelauri: Any recommendations for beach bag snacks?

Liz: Granola from Laura Ferro's nourish + nosh. You can buy it at the lululemon in Avalon.

ellelauri: What three items in your closet are constantly in your summer rotation?

Liz: A bikini, my Chanel espadrilles, and summer dresses from ellelauri.

ellelauri: What is your favorite part about summers in Avalon?

Liz: I just love being at the beach and hanging out with my family and friends.

ellelauri Avalon is located at 264 21st Street Avalon, NJ 08202

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!

Outdoor Dining- Rittenhouse Square

Now that the warm weather is finally here, we can sit outside to wine and dine. We can't think of a better place to enjoy the city's outdoor dining scene than Rittenhouse Square. Here are ellelauri's picks for Rittenhouse's best outdoor dining spots.

Parc
Parc is a French bistro right along the square. It is great for people watching. I absolutely love their mussels and white wine. I also love it because I can bring my Chihuahua, Rudy. -Liz

Continental Rooftop
Continental Rooftop has such good food, especially brunch. It's a different vibe than your typical outdoor dining experience because it is a roof deck. You also have the option to sit either inside or outside. -Amanda

Fitler Dining Room
Off the beaten path, Fitler Dining Room is a neighborhood bistro that serves great food and wine. I love being able to take my Bernese Mountain Dog, Mason, with me and FDR is super dog friendly. They always bring him a bowl of ice water! -Katherine

Twenty Manning
Twenty Manning has really good food and it is fun to sit outside there. I love the chop salad and their wild mushroom ravioli. -Katie

All of these restaurants are within walking distance to our Rittenhouse boutique.

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: