National Picnic

Eco friendly & 100% cotton, this burgundy fine corduroy dress just came in! Made by National Picnic, a local manufacturer of women's contemporary dresses, this piece is just as cozy as it looks. National Picnic is an awesome brand described by many as "accidentally sexy". Everything from the material to the cut is perfect for looking cute on a casual day. Made by local designer Betsy Cook, this dress is sure to fly off the racks so come try it on for yourself soon!

Name That Organization!

Here at Arcadia we like to have fun, that's why we created a new blog segment called Name That Organization! Every month we will be featuring a different organization dedicated to helping make their community a better place. Maybe we'll inspire you, who knows? 

There's going to be a short quiz followed by a brief description of the particular organization and why we love them!

Name That Organization!  

October edition 

     1. What organization started in 1995 as a grassroots company run solely by volunteers and quickly grew into the nation's largest community-based organization?

a. Women in Need
b. Boys & Girls club
c. Career Wardrobe
d. Habitat for Humanity

     2. What organization was started by a group of Philadelphia women looking to make a positive difference in the lives of other women entering the workplace?

a. Center for Economic and Workforce Development
b. Career Wardrobe
c. Street Project
d. Women in Need

     3. What organization makes its mission to empower women in transition by providing programs that inspire the confidence necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and pursue a productive career?
Note: This organization has helped nearly 75,000 women!

a. Heart of America Foundations
b. Women in Need
c. Ronald McDonald House
d. Career Wardrobe

 ..So did you figure it out yet? The answer to all of the above is Career Wardrobe! Besides for all of the facts above, Career Wardrobe provides professional work attire, networking tools, and various opportunities to women in the the community looking to transition into the workforce. The wide array of programs offered are designed to increase levels of self-confidence, professionalism, and preparedness for work. Each appointment is used as an opportunity to educate women about the importance of professional appearance, personal responsibility, and business etiquette. To top it all off, Career Wardrobe is having its 3rd Annual Tea & Fashion Show this Sunday November 3rd at the Bellevue. The annual event welcomes women from all generations to support Career Wardrobe while enjoying an afternoon including tea and a designer fashion show. Arcadia will be participating in the fashion show and we wanted to show you a sneak peek of some of the looks to be featured at the show. Above are two lovely models transitioned into the workforce with the help of Career Boutique. Come see Isis, Mel, and more great looks while celebrating for a wonderful cause. 

Cozy Clothes

These Alternative Apparel leggings are so cozy! They are perfect for laying under a tunic dress or just lounging around the house with a hoodie. Soft and flattering in Modal Spandex Jersey, they also come in black.

It is hard for me to get motivated to leave the house after the sun goes down! This cozy crisp weather makes me just want to snuggle up with the blanket and drink hot apple cider :) Have a great weekend, see you soon! Betsy

Halloween Happy Hour

What do you do when the magic of Halloween has faded away? Those days when you ran back from school, put on your brand new costume, lugged a pillowcase full of candy through the streets of your neighborhood, and spent the rest of the night marveling in the beauty of all your treats sitting in one big pile? Yeah, they're all gone now. And honestly, most of us have long lost the desire to eat our weight in candy. Some for health reasons, others for aesthetics. Regardless, Halloween remains to be one of the biggest holidays in America, it's practically impossible to miss. Stores overflow with candy aisles and costumes while your extremely spirited (and sometimes crazy) neighbors set up a graveyard right on their front lawn. It's all so redundant, is Halloween overrated? Well, it doesn't have to be. Now you're older, more sophisticated, and hopefully realize there are more exciting holidays on the calendar. Nevertheless, Halloween is among us and I've compiled a cool list of things you can do to celebrate the end of fall while still maintaining a touch of spirit.

Fondue is always a good idea, especially in this festive pumpkin bowl

 Syringe shots make everything fun

 Invite friends and throw back with some Pumpkin Ale

The more spirit the better (please tell me you got that)

Whether out collecting candy or inside getting reasonably tipsy off of syringe shots and pumpkin beer, I hope you enjoy your Halloween however you choose to spend it.

Until next time,

Lyssia

Fair Trade Fashion

Two sparks of faith in humanity in one week? It can't be. Earlier this week we blogged about Alternative Apparel & their determination to use sustainable fabrics as well as focus on good working conditions and fair trade for producers. Today, I will attempt to maintain those good vibrations by writing about Made By, an awesome company with values similar to those of Alternative Apparel. Made By is a company dedicated to practice fair trade as a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development; they also acknowledge the virtues of Alpaca, the noble fiber, for its softness, thermal insulation, and range of natural shades. On a cold day in Philly, much like today, anyone and everyone wishes to have a pair of chunky alpaca fur gloves to keep their frozen fingers from falling off. Besides for the fingerless foldover mittens, right now at the store we have a great selection of Made By sweaters and scarves. You'll notice a similar chunky warmth throughout the various styles so you can be assured you're getting a genuine Made By piece. The cherry on top? Each tag has a picture and short bio of the person who knit it for you, now you'll know exactly who to thank for your newfound warmth on a cold winter day.

In honor of Nelida Paricahuna Pacori (pictured above), the knitter of this beautiful pair of gloves, here's a Andean Proverb:

"Llaqtakunaq atipayninwan, teqrimuyuta kuyuchisunchis."
When the villages work together, we will turn this world around

It takes more than one person to change the world, together we can make a difference.

Until next time,

Lyssia

Inspiration Station: Rock Chic Edition

In need of some quality fashion inspiration? Look no further.

Welcome to our new blog segment called Inspiration Station. Every other week, one of us will be putting together an outfit from the store and providing you with that much needed inspiration for the upcoming week. This week we're focusing on Rock Chic. Living in Philadelphia, there are always concerts and events going on around the city. As a music lover, you'll need just the right outfit for that upcoming concert because nobody wants to look like a tourist in their own town. Here we have an Alternative Apparel semi-faded tee perfect for not looking too garish. Paired with some dark wash jeans, you'll get that laid back concert connoisseur vibe going. Flats are always a good idea for concerts because odds are you won't be sitting in your seat for very long. Also, a lot of concerts don't even have seating, all the more reason to wear flats! This pair of blush Dolce Vitas with a metal tip will keep your toes from getting stepped on all night. Since it's nearing November the weather is inevitably cooling down. No more tanks & shorts like you may have worn to Made in America at the end of August. This cute yet functional BB Dakota jacket has just the right amount of studs to add a bit of an edge to your casual style. Much like the studs on your jacket, you'll have studs on your wrist with some cool bracelets we paired up. In order to avoid going overboard on studs, keep it to a minimum with one or two statement pieces. Adding some hardware jewelry will make you blend right in; a key necklace, a crystal on a chain, and a coin ring will do the job. Once again, its chilly so this braided scarf is perfect for staying warm, especially at an outdoor concert. Last but certainly not least is a trusty bag by your side for your wallet, cell phone, a bottle of water, and keys. This black leather Collina Strada purse is great since it has both magnets and a zipper. Nothing will fall out and you won't have to worry about pickpockets.

Well, that wraps up our first edition of Inspiration Station, hope your inspiration meter is satisfied. Now go throw on that VIP pass and enjoy the show!

Until next time,

Lyssia

Giveaway Alert! Warning: Extreme Social Media Anxiety May Occur

Is it true? Is it for real? Am I awake right now? Is this really happening? We have one answer to quench all your thirsty questions about our recent instagram post. YES. We, at Arcadia, have decided to give away a beautifully unique Iosselliani ring, retail price valued at $312. What's the catch, you ask? The rules are simple:

1. Follow us on instagram @arcadia_boutique
2. Repost (regram) your favorite one of our pics with #ArcadiaBoutique
3. Tag us in the picture!
4. Do this all before October 31st at midnight & keep an eye out for a winner announced on November 1st, hopefully it's you!

Good luck & we hope to see you in the store claiming your prize soon!

-Arcadia Team