Brooklyn Flea Frenzy

Vintage furniture can be great statement pieces

This way to the Brooklyn Flea

Local artists use the BK Flea at The Piazza to display their masterpieces

Clothes, jewelry, food, furniture, you can find it all here

It's a picture perfect fall day; the birds are chirping, the trees are swaying, the leaves beneath your feet begin to crunch and there's not a single cloud in the sky. Please don't tell me you're planning on spending this beautiful day indoors. Looking for something to do? Do yourself a favor by visiting the Brooklyn Flea, now located at The Piazza in Northern Liberties (a 3 minute walk from our boutique!) 

What is the Brooklyn Flea you ask? In short it is Brooklyn's biggest and most popular vintage clothing & furniture market. It recently launched its first bazaar outside of New York City in the wonderful city of Brotherly Love which we call home. Local artists use the weekly marketplace to display and sell their work. Every Sunday, 12pm to 5pm (rain or shine) The Piazza is overflowing with delighted children, excited dogs, and a plethora of hipsters looking for the next statement piece of vintage for their city apartments. Do you feel as though you are none of the above? Fear not, there are all types of people ranging from families to vintage collectors strolling about the various vendors in search for shoes to armchairs and everything in between.

If vintage isn't much of your thing, it's still not a valid excuse to miss out on such a great opportunity. The Piazza is encompassed by local (and quite delicious) restaurants offering sushi, burgers, pizza, french toast, or just a cold beer to perfect the already radiant atmosphere. So slather on some sunscreen, grab a hat and Fido's leash, bring some cash and empty some room in your car for all the treasures you will undoubtedly find at the Brooklyn Flea, now located in Philly.

"I love going to flea markets especially when I am traveling, because I love seeing the stuff of other cultures, handicrafts and things with historical content." -Anna Sui

Until next time,

Lyssia

Salad in a Jar, Happiness in your Hands

Top to bottom: cucumbers, grapes, kale, pomegranate seeds, quinoa

Riddle me this: what do you do at work when your fast food routine gets old, your stomach grumbles loudly, and you discover an unnatural craving for fresh, delicious food without the all too familiar mess?

Let me introduce you to your new best friend & lifesaver, a mason jar! I've recently seen similar pictures on Pinterest, but then again, we all know the disappointing difference between Pinterest and real life. Who has time to make seven different salads, a variety of toppings, and healthy (yet delicious) dressings for each day of the week? If you raised your hand, I envy you. But for the rest of us, the reality is we don't realize lunch is a necessity until the morning before work. We're running around trying not to forget a phone here or a wallet there and finally come to the conclusion that fast food is the best food. Of course, that is until it tips the scale and breaks the zipper on your favorite new dress. 

Before we consider the possible options, let me introduce myself. My name is Lyssia & I'm the new intern at Arcadia Boutique. I'm a Drexel student currently on my first co-op, majoring in business and minoring in culinary arts. Culinary arts you say? Indeed, so naturally I am fascinated by new recipes and various ways to combine flavors. Confession: I'm a born and raised chocoholic so I try to balance my indulgences with healthy meals and lots of fruit. 

Last night I decided I would try something new for work today. I opened the fridge of my college apartment and found two large bags of kale I had bought on a whim last week. One of my roommates is also pretty health conscious so our pantry is overflowing with the superfood (and may I add, complete protein,) quinoa. It's gaining a lot of popularity and many restaurants toss it in their salads for added nutritional value. Quinoa is so simple and cooks just like rice, ready in 20 minutes or less. I cracked open a pomegranate, which are in season and among my favorite fruits, sliced some grapes and cucumbers, tossed them all in a wonderful mason jar (by layer) and there's my lunch! I also saw some adorable mini mason jars at Target and couldn't resist buying them, only to realize later that they're perfect for dressings. Some fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, a dash of salt and I was out of there with a filling lunch packed with protein, antioxidants, and vitamin C right in my hands!

Lesson learned: don't settle for greasy fast food when healthy options are extremely simple and mess free. This salad has endless possibilities (think sweet potatoes or corn, even chicken!) and gives you a reason to stock up on mason jars, which by the way have a million uses. So go chop, slice, create, and most importantly love what you eat.

Comment and let us know what varieties you've tried.

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well" -Virginia Woolf

Until next time,

Lyssia

Hattie Weselyk Jewelry

                                            About Hattie

 

"I come from a family of artists and have been encouraged from a young age to explore my creativity through several different artistic disciplines including ballet and sculpture. My knowledge in dance and sculpture and  eagerness to continue to grow and expand as an artist has blossomed into creating jewelry.  I strive to design jewelry that is as unique as the individual wearing it.." 

Every piece of jewelry is entirely artisan-made and one-of-a-kind, using  pure sterling and fine silver down to the clasps and earwires. All jewelry is made at the time of purchase- nothing is mass produced. 

Prairie Underground Press!

Stop by and check out all the great Prairie Underground pieces that are coming in for Fall!
See ya soon!!

Greylin Peplum Blazer

This Greylin peplum blazer can be worn casually and dressed up. The pleats are so flattering and give the blazer a feminine edge. Complete the look with High Class Skinny's by James Jeans and a statement necklace by Moon and Arrow :)

Red Carpet Daydreaming

Carey Mulligans wardrobe in the Great Gatsby is unbelievable I was in awe of all of the detail. When I was looking through pictures from New York Fashion week Badgley Mischka's Spring 2014 show had me wishing I had a fancy red carpet event to go to. The color story and beaded detail was absolutely stunning and reminded me a lot of the Daisy Buchanan wardrobe in the 2013 movie.

 

 

 

 

The  designers were inspired by Jacque Henri Lartigue's seaside photography

 

 

  Excuse me while I drool over all of these gowns! xox Betsy

Stewart and Brown Fall 2013

Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, partners in life and work, launched their ethical fashion brand in 2002 from Los Angeles, California. Inspired by their love and respect for nature and a passion for design, Karen and Howard were filled with a sense of purpose and determined to pioneer the sustainable fashion movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't wait for our Fall Stewart and Brown pieces to arrive! The great quality of each style I purchase blows me away. I always end up living in each piece, and it holds up amazingly considering the wear and tear I put on them. 

 I will keep you posted about when they arrive! xox Betsy

A Few Fall Favorites

It's like Christmas morning every day at Arcadia! New goods are arriving all the time, and each new package contains something new to covet. 

Some favorites so far:

Patsy Dress from Curator

Jackson Shirtdress from Greylin

Jaxson Boot from DV by Dolce Vita

Stop by Arcadia and check out all this and more!! 

xx Arielle

Dusen Dusen Fall 2013

Ellen Van Dusen was born in Washington, DC and raised by architect parents in a vibrant, creative home . As a child, she sponge-painted her own clothes with her mom; as a teenager, she altered and re-dyed thrift store discoveries; in college, through a self-directed major at Tufts University, she studied the psychology of design and the brain's reaction to visual stimuli. After graduating, she founded Dusen Dusen, a line of universally flattering basics driven by the prints she creates from scratch each season. Her inspiration is drawn from far-flung and unexpected places, like mid-century resort architecture, Italian industrial design, Scandinavian textiles, Google maps and handwriting, but all of her production is done in the USA.

We just received these three styles from her Fall 2013 Collection. Stop by and check them out!!

See ya soon!!