Rockin' the Photo Booth

Hi Hop Sing readers! Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted. Miss you all. I miss the store so much! Since I've been gone Lauren has been doing some photo work. She has transformed a wall in the sale room into one spectacular photo booth! Here are a few snaps of some adorable Hop Sing shoppers rockin' their Hop Sing favorites. Take a peek! 

Come in and build your Hop Sing look and become a model for a day! See you soon! 

Have a good day! 

xo

Yes, Hop Sing loves quintessential Free People!!

A little back story about Free People...

Back in the 1970's, a young man named Dick Hayne planted a seed in the maze of streets and trees that make up West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He opened a store and called it Free People. Free People nurtured the young people who lived there and shopped there, who looked for a little of their own freedom in the clothes they wore.

In time, his wife Meg came on to tend Urban's private label division, which supported product exclusive to Urban Outfitters. Demand was almost immediate and to meet this overwhelming need, she and Dick decided to create a wholesale line. It was very well-received, so much so that Dick separated the businesses. For a while, the wholesale line took on many personalities: Bulldog, Ecote, Cooperative, Anthropologie, and then in 1984 a new life was breathed into the name Free People.

Dick realized that it was really Free People that invoked images, those of femininity, courage, and spirit. It was time to get back to the original roots.

Free People shed its junior image and evolved into a more mature, contemporary brand. This allowed women to appreciate the line of clothing that catered to their intelligence, creativity and individuality, while keeping with its great quality and affordability.

Designed to reach a woman who is smart, creative, confident and comfortable in all aspects of her being, free and adventurous, sweet to tough to tomboy to romantic. A woman who likes to keep busy and push life to its limits, with traveling and hanging out and everything in between!

Ooooh! Hop Sing just loves Free People!

More ...USA made, less...

Fresh off of a major buying trip, I'm eager to share the truth of fashion's current behind-the-scenes dilemma with all of you:

In a market inundated with "Made in CHINA" disposable fashions, it becomes more and more difficult to source, "Made in the USA" brands, but we maintain a passionate devotion, and a patriotic responsibility to do so. We are so blessed to have you, our loyal customers here in Prescott- who appreciate the efforts we go to in supporting "Made in the USA" brands, by in turn, supporting US! On any given day, we stock more than 20 brands of clothing, jewelry, gifts, accessories, and personal care products that are made right here in the USA. I believe that as Americans, each one of us has a responsibility to support these manufacturers, and keep our money at HOME rather than sending it to China. Many retailers make the argument that Made in the USA is "too expensive" or "consumers don't care", but our thriving business is proof that they do! I challenge you to hold other retailers to this principal. Check labels before you buy! Ask questions! Let shop owners know how important it is to you! We're all in this together.

A recent article in the New York Times really hit home for me:

"Before jeggings, back when there were letters, before texts and tweets, when there was time... before speed cameras, when you could speed... before graffiti management companies, when cities had souls, we managed. Before homogenization, when there was mystery, when the original had value, before digital, when there was vinyl, before Made in China, we had the impression we were doing all right. Before apps... when there were attention-spans, before “I’ve got five bars,” when bars were for boozing, before ring-tone selection, when the phone rang... when love was all you needed..."

It's so true! Granted, this quip plays to the hippie in me... I am a child of the 60's, but my boutique reflects this post-modern bar of excellence; It defines the type of buyer I am. I'm guided by the quality and preconditioning of fabrics, (a key point of consideration while sourcing Hop Sing's fashions) which result in the most glorious-to-the-touch fabrics, a vital component which many of you have come to expect in our boutique. Of course, one of the realities of fashion today, is that American manufacturers have been pushed out by their overseas counterparts- the result of which is those old world touches and heirloom quality details we love: smocking, applique, embroidery, crocheting, etc., being rarely ever "Made in the USA". At Hop Sing, we've found alternative brands that support fair wages, ethical working conditions, and produce excellent quality goods at market rate. It's a matter of doing our homework and looking deeper. The great Vivenne Westwood had this to say about educating ourselves as consumers:

"We are so conformist... nobody is thinking. We're all just sucking up stuff. We've been trained to be consumers and we are all consuming far too much. I'm a fashion designer and people think 'what do I know', but I'm talking about all this disposable crap. I'm saying, buy less, choose well, make it last! Everybody looks like clones, and the only people you notice are my age. I don't notice anybody unless they look great, and every now and again they do- and they're usually 70."

What does quality mean to you? For me it means supporting fellow Americans, supporting family-owned, supporting heirloom brands and practices. It means keeping my money domestic- paying for the roads we drive on, the soccer uniforms our kids wear, the bread baked around the corner, and the agriculture produced in American soil. I'm proud to say that we strive every day to select the best quality, ethical designs that the up-scale marketplace has to offer. We vow to continue supporting those labels proudly produced right here in the USA, and we have YOU to thank for it.

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS!

Frequently asked question..."why so expensive?"

Love at first.... fit!!!

Adriano Goldschmied has killed my old jeans!

Here's what I know about... AG Jeans!

I love jeans. They're by far the most versatile item in my closet, and my personal favorite too. Shhh... don't tell the shoes! But my AG Jeans have blown every other pair out of the water. I could list the dozen or so brands left pouting on the shelf since the AG's moved in, but I'll save them the embarrassment. AG has everything I'm after... fit, lift, comfort, and they are without a doubt, the softest, most beautifully flattering denim I've ever owned. Unless it's a serious crisis-of-a-laundry-day, I don't see myself wearing any other brand any time soon.

But that's just scratching the surface of these amazing jeans and the company behind them. I can feel good in them for so many reasons, not least of which is the moral and ecological commitment I'm making just by wearing them.

Love at first.... fit!!!

Love at first.... fit!!!

Adriano Goldschmied has killed my old jeans!

Here's what I know about... AG Jeans!

I love jeans. They're by far the most versatile item in my closet, and my personal favorite too. Shhh... don't tell the shoes! But my AG Jeans have blown every other pair out of the water. I could list the dozen or so brands left pouting on the shelf since the AG's moved in, but I'll save them the embarrassment. AG has everything I'm after... fit, lift, comfort, and they are without a doubt, the softest, most beautifully flattering denim I've ever owned. Unless it's a serious crisis-of-a-laundry-day, I don't see myself wearing any other brand any time soon.

But that's just scratching the surface of these amazing jeans and the company behind them. I can feel good in them for so many reasons, not least of which is the moral and ecological commitment I'm making just by wearing them.

Ok, ready for a little shop talk? Here's what I know about AG Jeans:

Did you know that in Los Angeles County, a woman stitching a pair of jeans earns as much as $15 an hour? While in China, her counterpart pulls in 68 cents to 88 cents. Los Angeles— the largest clothing manufacturing hub in the nation, and mecca for high-end denim manufacturing— is no stranger to the tumultuous forces of globalization. With China, Mexico, and even tiny Mauritius nipping at their heels, domestic manufacturers have been left little choice but to take their business overseas in effort to compete with an ever-increasing demand for lower manufacturing costs. The innocent casualty of all this? QUALITY.

Premium denim has been a rare hold-out in the crumbling domestic apparel market. Why? The big "Q" of course... In Los Angeles, experienced sewing contractors are absolute masters of their trade. They know how to make lifting darted back pockets— giving the appearance of a lifted derriere. Local laundries are also adept at expertly shading jeans so that legs appear longer and thinner, and at hand-sanding "whiskers" (light horizontal lines in the zipper area), so that hips appear narrower. They also employ what's called the "all in" method; which means using all techniques available, including grinding, stonewashing, baking, and applying oil stains and cigar burns to achieve an authentic worn-in look and feel.

Another advantage to buying domestic (and yet another reason to love AG), is the keen eye L.A.'s manufacturer's have kept on the environment. The routine process of obtaining those tricked out washes you love on your denim, is eco-destructive beyond your wildest nightmares. AG Jeans found these outdated and toxic practices unacceptable and in recent years, has led the pack in developing a new "clean denim” by overhauling their manufacturing process using organic and sustainable top quality fabric choices, and employing "Ozone Technology".

Wait, ozone? Isn't that just in the air? No, my friends, your jeans are now eco-friendly! Ozone is a process that significantly reduces water consumption, use of chemicals and dirty energy. Normally jeans are rinsed with large amounts of water to rid them of excess indigo, and toxic chemicals are applied to create fades while cleaning up indigo bleeds on pocket linings. When a jean is "ozonized" however, those processes are drastically reduced- if not eliminated, greatly lowering water, energy and chemical usage.

Thanks to a vertically integrated factory and 100% control of their wash processes (unlike other brands), they are one of the ONLY denim brands using this process on 100% of their products. The happy bi-product of supporting this process and striving to buy domestic, is a subtle but steady push for change from governments and our favorite clothing companies. It would be tragic if fashion and economics continued to come at the cost of our natural resources. Finally, we can be cute and eco-friendly. Responsibility and compassion looks great on you!

Experience this premium brand now @ Hop Sing!!!

Hop Sing is....

Hello Lovelies!!!

I'm fresh off a buying trip...

Newly Inspired, and C R A Z Y excited about Spring/Summer 2012!!! (and the OMG Fall previews are spectacular too!!!)
The designers we know and love have worked feverishly to please...
and in my opinion... Mission Accomplished, once again!!!

So... here is a little inside scoop on what we need... in order to bring you, the most fabulous collections to date!!!

Room to move!!! .... um... No Really!

Over the next month we will be updating our interior ... construction zone alert ...
and ... That means the fabulous fashions on hand have got to move!...
Like...
Move to your house...

So... let me entice you with our best sale E V E R !!!

The more you buy... the better the prices will get!!!
Don't wait... get a jump start and add a few new favorite amazing fashion staples to your wardrobe!!! Don't be one of those girls who see's a fabulous piece on somebody else, only to find out it's sold out... This happens all the time!!!

Can't wait to see you... xoxo Hop Sing!!!
Over the Rainbow Sale Starts Today

New Arrivals 20% up to 30% off.....
Everything else.... 30% up to 70% off..
How long?... "...until we have enough room to work in"
Follow the Rainbow to Hop Sing....
We hope to Inspire your fashion dreams!!!!

Cuz we love you... and the guys need some help!!!

February 12th-14th...(or while supplies last)

Love the Beauty of Winter Woolen Whites.....

Is there anything more beautiful in the Winter then luxurious Winter White Woolens and Leather Boots and Vintage Accessories....
Not in my world! Maybe because I lived on a tiny heart shaped island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for three decades, and as such my winter fashions resembled summer fashion year after year, nice but kind of boring... so now that I am living here in Prescott I'm enjoying the change of seasons immensely!

I love bundling up in my favorite sweaters, scarves, hats and boots! It's so enjoyable and cozy to put these efficient layers on and they don't feel heavy or bulky, just pretty, feminine and warm.

Like a warm hug or a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows melted on top!!! My winter utopia!!!


I never thought a pair of leggings a winter white skirt and boots could feel so girly until I topped the ensemble with the floaty holiday knits currently offered by FreePeople , Relais and Odd Molly! My goodness these sweaters take away any ill memories of a winters chill! Now I just laugh at Mr. Weatherman trying to scare me into buying a fat Puffy Coat!

If your tired of the same old thing every winter... You need to infuse your wardrobe with some of the special pieces currently on the racks at Hop Sing...
We are always trying to bring you that extra special item that is sure to become your "New Favorite"...


I'm sure you'll feel like me... excited to hear the forecast of wintery weather approaching... Again!!!

Have a Happy White Christmas my dears!!!

Hot & Ready... Yoga Apparel by Hard Tail

Hot Yoga anyone?...

Hop Sing is expecting a
Hard Tail shipment on Monday, December 12th!

Just in time to ask your Santa Baby to put you on his "Naughty or Nice" List!


If you want to get a fresh pick from this limited supply of really special pieces... because...(fyi, it takes 6 to 8 weeks for these orders to be produced) then don't delay!


UPS will deliver this order by 12:00 noon on Monday.

Let's have a box opening party!

I Admit It!

I... admit... it!!! I L-O-V-E fringe!!!!

My store reflects this obsession... Fringed purses, fringed ponchos, fringe dresses & fringed Victorian or piano style wraps and jackets... They separate the plain Jane from the stylish Jane, in my opinion... They transcend age as they're often coveted by both the young trend seeking ladies and sophisticated conservatively dressed women. Almost anyone with just a hint of artistic flair can wear one!!!

Ladies, you can achieve tasteful bohemian style and look fabulous without evoking any signs of a sloppy hippie vibe. If you're new to bohemian fashions and don't know where or how to start, Hop Sing is the place to experiment in Prescott.

To change up the scantily clad looks pictured here... (only because we just received an awesome new shipment of Burnout-Velvet pieces!!!! Such loveliness!!!) You can style your own look combined in a myriad of ways including... with your favorite jeans and boots (because, baby it's cold outside!)

Or for the more conservative approach to the upcoming holiday events, you can wear one of these artful pieces over your favorite-go-to-LBD, (little-black-dress), and guess what... nobody's gonna know it's last years model!

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"

Shop till you Drop! Save 20% Storewide!

Thank you ladies for the super response (so-far) to the sale!
You're looking so fine in your new fashions!!!
(check out the back of this Free People dress in the mirror)



Customers are falling in love with this seasons freshest looks!
Warning Ambur! You're gonna get a lot of attention in this Hazel look!

So while the girls are still on the Warpath...
Shop till you Drop! At Hop Sing!



Save 20% on ALL your favorite labels newest designs!

Stress Relief

I need my Lavender Flower Water!!! Ahhhh! Instant Stress Buster....



I've been a busy bee this week, and barely found the time to sit down here and update the blog... I say it like... "the blob!"

It's scarey to sit here when clearly I have no plan of action on my next...word.... "I miss Kathryn!!!" She was the web-ster, web-stress, master of the web-universe for Hop Sing, and now I'm IT!

It makes me sweat!... Ohhh! I need my Giovanni Peppermint Towelettes! Ohhhhh! Yes! Instant cool, refreshment! These things are the greatest invention! They cool the hottest flash or sweaty palms, and provide the ultimate aromatheraputic lift...



Honestly, I can't even tell if anyone reads this stuff or not. It's a mystery to me how all this web stuff works! Do you read this? Are you really interested? I'm going to go home and slip into a bubble bath, and then the softest silk tunic and study my direction's again... Maybe I can find it in myself to enjoy this blogging stuff...



I still miss my Kathryn...

Indulge Yourself!

Do you consider the "Brand" you're buying as being superior to another brand? I personally consider this concept with almost every purchase I make. In my life extreme thought goes into all my purchases. Like you, I demand the best bang for my buck in everything I buy!

I've been loyal to my favorite products for many, many years. Most are not the most expensive in the big picture, and in my opinion are superior in performance to similar products often times more expensive. These products are what I refer to as "my favorite indulgences" and they're available year round in Hop Sing's personal care inventory because simply, I can't imagine not having them in my life!

Thayers Witch Hazel Tonics: Made in the U.S.A.
Flower Power! Rose, Lavender, Peach...

Made of extract from the Witch Hazel shrub (Hamamelis Virginiana) and a blend of other time-tested ingredients - THAYERS® Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula Astringents and Alcohol-Free Toners are soothing, natural treatments that cleanse, tone and soothe your skin. THAYERS® are the ONLY Witch Hazel products made of non-distilled extract from the Witch Hazel shrub maintaining the highest levels of therapeutic tannins.

An Orchard in a Bottle. Thayers Peach Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula is nectar for the skin. It’s got all the soothing properties you’ll come to love. Aloe Vera Formula Astringents, with a gorgeous, fresh-off-the-tree scent. Check out this ingredient list! Thayers Proprietary Witch Hazel, Peach leaves, Orange Flower, Tangerine, Kiwi, Passion Fruit, Vitamin C, Aloe Vera, natural grain alcohol as apreservative (10%) and an Emulsified All-Natural Peach Fragrance

Thayers Rose Petal Alcohol-Free


Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula Toner will make your skin bloom. Rose Thayer’s remarkably soothing Toner is made with rose-petal water, Vitamin E and our proprietary Witch Hazel extract. Toner with Aloe Vera Formula with Vitamin E 12oz bottle Ingredients: Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Certified Organic Filet Of Aloe Vera), Glycerin (Vegetable), Fragrance (Natural Rose) Hamamelis Virginiana

Lavender Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel formula: Treat yourself to a spa in a bottle! Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Certified Organic Aloe Vera), Glycerin (Vegetable), Fragrance (Natural Lavender), Hamamelis Virginiana (THAYERS® proprietary un-distilled Witch Hazel) Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water,... stress be gone!

About Mountain Ocean:Pioneers of body care products containing abundant whole natural ingredients. They have proven to be safe and unique with effective results for over 35 years. Made in Boulder Colorado. Family owned & operated.



SKIN TRIP is Mountain Ocean's original coconut moisturizer. Its light, smooth feel is unique among skin moisturizers. This extremely fast absorbing, non-greasy formula soothes, protects and quickly replenishes needed moisture to dry skin. Blended with Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera, and Lanolin, Skin Trip gives your skin the nutrients it needs and effectively reduces the natural evaporation of moisture from your skin. pH Balanced. Perfect After Sun, After Shower, After Shave, Anytime!

French Soaps

Absolute Bliss! Hand-forged Savon de Marseille Soaps with crushed flowers and pure fragrances of Lavender, Orange Flower, Rose Petals & Lemon Verbena. World famous and made especially for you. Once you try these big luscious blocks you'll be hooked! Must try with our very special "Agave" wash cloths! Gentle exfoliation and moisturizing Olive Oil = happy, glowing skin!





Stay tuned for the next installment of Hop Sings favorite "Specialty" indulgences!

Feathers are Flying!

Feathers are Flying in Prescott!
Ever since we brought the Hair Feather trend into P-Town they're popping up on many of our new friends and customers! Way to go girls! Be fun and flash some unexpected color in your hair! Just in case some of you missed our blog post weeks ago, featuring our feathers, here's another sneak peck ahhhh... peek!



The Natasha's are looking hot in their hair feathers...

Feathers!

These fun little extensions were a last-minute addition to our Spring Fling ensembles, but they've turned out to be a real hit! So popular, in fact, that Lauren's set up a vanity station so we can apply them in-store.

We've already had a handful of ladies coming in specifically looking for the feathers -- word gets around, so if you see anyone with these pretty stripes in their hair, they came to us!









They come in lots of colors, from neutrals to neons, stripes and solids. Once the feathers are in, they're pretty sturdy. You can wash and condition them, blow-dry, even curl them if you're gentle! After a while, the bit of hair will grow out and the crimp will start to show, but if you come back to the store, Lauren can re-place your feathers if the tips are still in good shape.

Personally, I'm convinced that Jeff needs one in his beard.

Fun with colors!

With the new things coming in recently, all the fun in-store is about mixing and matching, layering and draping the new tops against the skirts. While lots of the spring items are light and lacy, some bolder things are finding their way onto the racks...

























The bright with the muted, the patterned with the plain... how do you mix your colors?