Here’s a list of what’s coming soon to the Valley retail landscape:

Francesca’s Collections, Chandler Fashion Center, open in March. Love this place!

LUSH, Chandler Fashion Center.

Vera Bradley, Chandler Fashion Center, open in June.

Madewell, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Spring 2012

Make Meaning, Scottsdale Quarter, March 8th.

The Art of Shaving, Chandler, open in March.

0 comments permalink |  11:12 AM |  2.16.2012 | 

Scottsdale Jean Co. is relocating this Thursday, February 9 to The SHOPS at Gainey Village. Moving their stash of men’s and women’s designer jeans, tops, casual wear and the Kiehl’s Skincare line south, owner Steven Koeppel said, “It was time for a new home for Scottsdale Jean Company…”

The new 8,000 sq. ft. store features an upscale design with a full sunglass shop, a customer lounge area and a children’s playroom. Scottsdale Jean Company is also unveiling a newly designed website, www.scottsdalejc.com, in the coming months that will closer emulate the in-store shopping experience.

0 comments permalink |  9:50 PM |  2.6.2012 | 

Set your alarms and grab your most comfortable shopping shoes for the spring styles unveiling at My Sister’s Closet and Well Suited Saturday, January 28 at 8:00 a.m. Both My Sister’s Closet and Well Suited will open their doors to more than 80,000 “Out with the Cold, In with the New” consigned designer and premium clothing, shoes, accessories and more. It’s the perfect time to spring clean your closet for a style makeover. Lines are typically out the door for the opening at all 12 locations in the Valley. Skip the lines and shop furiously from your keyboards beginning at 8:15. Pre-shop the sale at www.mysisterscloset.com.

Chloe Blue Heart Sunglasses

HERE ARE A FEW SNEAK PICS BELOW OF WHAT’S IN STORES TOMORROW AM!!!

0 comments permalink |  4:37 PM |  1.26.2012 | 

You may have seen Studio Joy Li at the Scottsdale Waterfront Mix Shops and thought it’s a pricey designer boutique from New York or Los Angeles. Though the design, craftsmanship and the storefront would rival any NYC or LA boutique, Studio Joy Li houses the local designer clothing of Joy Li.

The warm and friendly woman-owned boutique of Studio Joy Li houses the brilliant, wearable collection of designs by Joy Li, a veteran designer in the fashion industry working during her career for companies such as Liz Claiborne and Guess. The philosophy of design is described by the designer as “confident, comfortable” and is unconcerned with trends. Rather, she focuses on the customer and her lifestyle with an emphasis on the European contemporary color-palette, which centers on sophistication and neutrality allowing pieces from Studio Joy Li to mix-n-match almost effortlessly. Li says, “Our Scottsdale store is our testing lab,” meaning this first and current flagship boutique is where Li tests her merchandise for quality, listens to feedback from customers, responds to the market and runs her business with business partner Jean Bartolomei.

Studio Joy Li creates “styles that empower women to lead life with confidence and balance of mind, body and spirit.” With three lifestyle focuses of her collection including: Go, Lead, Be. “Go” includes styles that travel well. “Lead” incorporates styles that project confidence in a professional setting and “Be,” styles that work for chill weekend or personal time.

Li’s current collection photographed by Christos Sewell at the award-winning Desert House by Circle West Architect’s Peter Koliopoulos, is an exquisite expression of fashion meeting architecture. For Li, Desert House was the perfect setting for her latest designs, saying Desert House “speaks” with the layers of organic and modern textures from the house including rock, water and earth, like the interchangeable, contemporary and textural pieces found at Studio Joy Li. Koliopoulos said this of Li, “Joy’s design aesthetic moves beyond the mere symbols of fashion. Details express what the basic idea of the design requires for each relevant piece: belonging or separation, tension or lightness, friction or fragility…When I design building environments, I try and give them this kind of presence.”

Beyond a successful fashion designer in Arizona, it’s not often in our community of fashion professionals to hear of a business partnership. Li told us having a business partner and having a strong team is key to her success and growth. “Jean means what she says,” said Li of the integrity of her business partner. This overall company integrity and the agility of being a small business, has led to the steady growth and expansion of Studio Joy Li. Starting from just over 400 square feet with shelves, desk and merchandising sets designed and built by Li and her husband Glenn, the store now claims over 870 square feet with “a lot to see in a little space,” said Li. Surprisingly, Li’s team includes a growing infrastructure of local seamstresses, offering job opportunities for local women, keeping the entire production of some garments within Arizona.

For more information about Studio Joy Li or to shop online, please click here.

Studio Joy Li at The Mix Shops | 7144 E. Stetson Drive, Ste. 100 | Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | 480-970-1043

Photography by Christos Sewell

Article originally written by The Shoperone, Kira Brown, for Desert Living Today.

0 comments permalink |  10:54 AM |  12.22.2011 |