HOP SING VIBES... with Breanna!

Silk embroidered tunic - Odd Molly, cutoff shorts - Free People • hand-rubbed vintage distressed boots - BedStÜ

I haven't known this stunning and ethereal beauty for long, but her "beyond-her-age fashion savvy" is what drew her into my world. At only 18 years old she exudes an honest, fluid and natural self-expression that many woman twice her age lack. In this day and age, so many young women are buying into cheap and disposable trendy fashions; Breanna has an appreciation for high quality and design that belies her age.  She chooses wisely and invests in truly special pieces when she can afford the opportunity.  

She is remarkable! 

- Lauren

Graphic tee by Chaser, denim cutoffs by Free People

Name: Breanna Burkizer

Place of birth: Glendale, Arizona
Age: 18

Describe your "signature look"...
My signature look would have to be messy hair, winged eyeliner, and red lipstick.

Who or what inspires you?
Surrealism, music, photography, and nature inspires me most to be who I am.

What makes you feel beautiful?

I feel most beautiful when I have my makeup the way I love it, and when I'm wearing things that make me feel confident and cute.

Name an item of clothing you can't live without...

I cannot live without cute summer dresses and denim shorts.

Backless maxi dress & bralette by Free People 

"...anything from Wildfox- so worth it because nothing makes you feel as cute and comfortable!" - Breanna

The biggest splurge in your closet…

The biggest splurge in my closet would have to be anything from Wildfox- but they are so worth it because nothing makes you feel as cute and comfortable!

The biggest waste of money in your closet...
The biggest waste would have to be these very unflattering sparkly jeans I bought in Chicago. I didn't really want them, but the sales associate pushed me into getting them.

Graphic tee by Chaser, checkered trousers by Free People

What's the most memorable piece of clothing you've worn, and what made it special?The most memorable piece of clothing I've worn is the dress I wore to my graduation.  It was so beautiful and vintage, I felt like a 40's pin up girl in it- which is one of my favorite looks.

      

Sheer Knit Graphic Top by WILDFOX ,Silk Jogger Pants by Chaser

What's your guilty pleasure/something you can't resist?

My guilty pleasure would have to be the amount of candy I have.  I actually bought a 4 pound tub of redvines for myself yesterday. Oops!

"The biggest surprise about being 18 is realizing that being 18 does not make you a grown up."
                  - Breanna

Delicate embroidered blouse by Timo

What is your beauty/skincare routine?
The most important part of my skin care routine would be making sure all my makeup is off at night. I use the clarisonic brush to get everything off, and then follow it up with toner and moisturizer.

What has been the biggest surprise about the age you are now?
The biggest surprise about being 18 is realizing that being 18 does not make you a grown up, unlike I always thought when I was younger.

Print henley shirt by Odd Molly, cotton cardi by Pure Handknits

"Everything you have ever done has brought you to the moment you are in right now." - Breanna

Please share the best advice you've ever received?
The best advice I've received is being told to truly live in the moment. To clear the noise in my head, look at everything that is around me, and take it all in and be completely aware, because you only get one life and if you aren't enjoying every second you'll end up regretting it.

Do you believe in destiny?

I do believe in destiny, I believe everything happens for a reason, and that everything you have ever done has brought you to the moment you are in right now. That is truly something to appreciate and recognize.

What's next for you?
What's next for me is to continue doing the things that I love and to immerse myself in everything that inspires me.  I know that will take me somewhere great.

Thank you Breanna, you inspire us! 

♥

Shopping? No. It's more like a ... Three Day Marathon!

It's fashion market season, and my mama and I are heading to Las Vegas, baby! Yep, I'm packing my most comfy market shoes, 'coz there is going to be some serious mileage put on my poor feet! For those who attend these events, it's a vast, voyeuristic, hard-hitting, music pounding, party atmosphere.  It's a brash, over-the-top, multi-venue, multi-price point, multi-categorized extravaganza staged for an audience of thousands of fashion industry insiders.  Whhhew!

By this time next week, I will have previewed countless samples of the latest and greatest the fashion world has created to "dazzle me, delight me, and officially write me". For those who don't know the the trade lingo, "writing" is the entire purpose of going to market. At market, I will thoughtfully write dozens of purchase orders, amounting to the entirety of Hop Sing's Autumn & Winter 2014 inventory. I'm often asked: how do I know what the trends will be that far ahead of the season? My answer is... I don't! I put on my best clairvoyant/poker face and bet on a win. Of course I look for the styles and colors that viscerally attract me. I'm true to myself, or at least I try really hard to be. Sales pitches by rep's about "best-sellers" and "favorites" rarely influence my decision. I'm most likely thinking of you, my dear customer.  I think of your style, and who among you would look amazing in the pieces I see. I see a Hop Sing fashion show in my head!

Confidently, we will trek the shows seeking emerging designers and sourcing independent labels- all the while competing for exclusivity alongside the buying teams for retailers like Modcloth, Polyvore & ShopBop and industry giants like Bergdorf's, Bloomingdales, Macy's, Neiman Marcus & Nordstrom's, as well as International and multi-national department chain stores and swanky high-end resort boutiques. Yes, we've squeezed and wiggled our way into a fancy-schmancy showroom or two, determined to write opening orders with a fair share of fine contemporary labels, unique and cult labels - the ones you expect to find at Hop Sing. The kind of labels who have hefty "buy-in" minimums, the kind of labels that many small boutiques are afraid to write, however, because of YOU, and your amazing sense of style and appreciation of quality, we are able to do this, and do it well. THANK YOU!

Pre-market, my email inbox overflows with sales pitches. One-liners such as: "Selling out super fast", "Appointments limited must book now". It's trade-show-a-rama!  It's a lot of work, and my feet already ache in anticipation, but we love what we do, and we love the women we're doing it for!  

Odd Molly Looking for some Chilly Weather

Hello readers. As you can tell by the title, some of our Odd Molly pieces are begging for some cool fall/winter weather? Is it too soon to ask? 

We were just too anxious here in Hop Sing to not do a post on these new arrivals. Gorgeous Odd Molly pieces (what else do you expect from the Molly?) ranging from hats, hand-warmers, and sweaters, OTBT shoes, Free People socks, Hop Sing's got it all. You can start to build your own fall wardrobe, continue to collect gorgeous pieces, or buy a gift for a friend! The Holiday season is coming soon! And Hop Sing's has got you covered.

Till next time. Have a good week Hop Singers! 

Summer to Fall Take 3

Hi fellow Hop Singers! Hope everyone is having a good day. It is so hot over here in California but my mom said it has been raining all day over there! I miss Arizona!

Here is some more inspiration for your fall transitions. 

How the style queen styled me :) (that's you Lauren):

For the summer look: Leopard Hat, Free People Pink Dress, FP Rosebud Socks, and Nicole Leopard shoes.

For the fall look: We added an Odd Molly embroidered skirt, FP beige sweater, and an Obi Belt. It's all about those layers! Plus you can never go wrong wearing Odd Molly.

Also, a fun way to wear your wedges now into fall is to put a cute pair of socks underneath! 

 That's all for today! Have a good rest of your day! 

Tales of inspiration...

I'm often asked where I find such interesting fashions for Hop Sing, and my reply has probably been slightly different everyday. I find it practically impossible to reply to this question with a parroted response. The selected designers and intricate details that quite truthfully draw me like a Marlin to the fishermans lure and usually land me with a thud onto the boat... the famous photo of the trophy catch now comes to mind. How can you explain to someone in a snapshot moment that this particular designer reeled you in with amazing bursts of color and luxe, couture sensibilities; simplified to create the perfect beachy-resort dress that can easily translate to dinner at that cool new Thai-fusion restaurant near your house in Scottsdale.... That's a mouthful of TMI and I'm quite sure the potential customer would most likely run, not walk, to the nearest exit... Thinking "that woman is insane!"  So, resisting the urge to blather on & on... I usually just say "I buy things I really love, or we try to find specialty designs or... " Whatever seems to be the quick and easy answer of the moment. But not today. 

 Today, I was asked the usual question... And when I looked up to see the woman querying, she was young, exotic, beautiful, and spoke with a French accent... Straight out of a Gauguin painting. Wait a minute! I'm in Prescott Arizona! This is not a woman who is asking me that question because she's confused by the prices or the labels or the prices.  She wanted to know who chose our collections, and she was most curious because it was, in her words: "So beautiful and different compared to all the other stores in town".  Of course I was beaming over her compliments, and so appreciated her excitement over the "island flavor" of many of our fashions.   I asked her where she was visiting from and she said "Mauritius". "Oh! You are an Islander!" I exclaimed.  She looked shocked that I'd ever heard of her home. For those who may not know of this exotic locale, it is located off of the continent of Africa between Madagascar and Australia. It's beautiful, tropical and perfectly resorty. She and her husband were considering moving here to Prescott, and she was thrilled to find our boutique here. Earlier in the day she had visited the Gateway Mall to see what kind of shopping was offered, and left disappointed. 

 It was at this moment that I realized just how deeply my past island lifestyle has influenced me as a buyer. How certain visions of sand between my toes lead me to choose a summer dress or drapey sweater... or a swanky outdoor "tasting" might be reeling through my mind as I'm considering this or that fabulous cocktail dress arriving at the party (oooohs & ahhhhhs in the background and all). My brain just creates these wearable scenarios to compliment the item in my hands, almost from the moment I see it. From jeans to gowns I have a vision of the woman who will wear these pieces and all the styling tweaks that will make her look perfect no matter where she plans to wear it. Casually or dressed up. It's my gift and my curse. I don't enjoy mediocrity or trendy. I love feminine, but tomboy, romantic but funky, retro yet modern... A yin and a yang. 

Fabrics are a whole 'nother story...  Because no matter how cute the design, bad fabric can kill the deal instantly! I've watched sales reps cringe when I go from "ohhhh love it", to "uggghhh the fabric".  In fact one of my favorite reps now warns me when she knows I probably won't like the fabric. It's pretty funny, especially when she tells me that the style has sold really strongly for her (to other buyers). That is a line we buyers hear often, and it never plays into my decision making. Mistakes are made sometimes, and buyers remorse can overcome me as I'm opening a box of "what the hell is this". But most of the time it's more like Christmas when the orders arrive. I find that even my items that haunt the sale racks are items that I loved for one reason or another; but didn't necessarily translate to my customer at this time and this place. Perhaps my resort background from living on the garden paradise known as Kauai for just over three decades,  can deceives me at times. After all how often will my new customers experience salty, white sand between their toes? 

I buy for the woman in each of us who longs to be carried away to that far off exotic place- whether it's yearning for a tropical holiday, dreaming of a homeland, or recalling a favorite memory...  So perhaps the shortest answer to the question of inspiration in Hop Sing is "you".

Colorful Winter Layers, look Swedish Boho Chic!!!

Odd Molly knows how to do Winter Bohemian Chic....

Mix and match luxurious components such as;
An awesome hat, either vintage style fur, felt or knitted...
Or wear your hair either twisted into Swedish knots, or a partial French Braid... my fave!

Layers of colored, textured gorgeousness... Sweaters, Ponchos, Scarves, Arm Warmers or Gloves... fringe or tassels always make it a bonus!!!

Denim.... No not Embellished... please!!!

Boots!!!

Love Vintage Looks & Fair Isle Patterns?

If you love the look of Fair Isle...

Hop Sing's got you covered this winter!!! Imagine a warm-hearted story confidently told in a Fair Isle knit. It tops leggings, jeans or a sassy skirt. Wear it with our Sumptuous Leather Nicole Boots for simple good looks...

It's a fashionable word, bohemian..."

Wikipedia say's "A bohemian is a person who lives an artistic lifestyle, placing freedom of self-expression above all other desires, including wealth, social conformity and status". The term originated in France during the 19th century due to the influx of gypsies believed to be traveling from Czech Republic’s, Bohemia. The term quickly became generalized, however, indicative of a lifestyle rather than a nationality.

In the United States, the Beat generation of the 1950s and the hippies of the ‘60s reflected the bohemian subculture in many ways.

Bohemian fashion is an artistic style of dress that many people enjoy wearing. The style varies from ethnic trends to vintage fashion, and can even include traditional hippie-style clothing. An element that most bohemian fashion wearers share is a desire to express themselves aesthetically.



The contemporary bohemian woman has been reinterpreted, restyled and reinvented. Today we visit a few Bohemian inspired looks currently available in Hop Sing!



This style is often typified by certain particular looks, such as flowing dresses, loose garments that accentuate the wearer’s figure while still providing comfort, and striking uses of color. The style is often seen as more than just one particular fashion trend, and has been popular among a number of people for over 100 years.



Many of todays top runway designers such as Anna Sui, Roberto Cavalli and Ralph Lauren feature varied interpretations of this free-spirited trend, pushing the envelope in color, cut and texture. We believe you can capture the spirit of the look for less with our beautiful pieces shown here by FreePeople, Ruby Love Joy, Cordelia, and many, many more in our current summer offerings.



Whether you’re a true-blue gypsy or merely a hippie at heart, there are countless ways to channel your inner wild spirit this season. Temper vibrant prints and slouchy silhouettes with structured, neutral pieces and transform yourself into the new bohemian!



"I`m a girl from a good family who was very well brought up. One day I turned my back on it all and became a bohemian. Brigitte Bardot"