HOP SING VIBES with M'Lynn

I just love a girl with Salt water in her veins and willing to rock my fav-o-rite clothing item ever... OVERALLS and worn in the funky-cool not farm-y way they should be worn!  M'Lynn is that girl! She arrived at Hop Sing for her photoshoot in vibrant living color, with fun pastel pink ombré curls ready to play dress up! What a great time we had, and the images speak for the warm season ahead...  Hello Summer! Hello Road-trips! Hello Sand! Hello Music Festivals!!! 

NAME: M'Lynn
PLACE OF BIRTH: Sierra Vista, AZ
OCCUPATION: Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring (I monitor nerves during brain and spine surgery)
AGE (if you'd like to share): 23

Describe your "signature look"... 

"Boho chic, relaxed, practical. I want to look fabulous but also be ready to ride my bicycle wherever or go hike in the woods with my dogs."

Who or what inspires you? 

Any woman who takes a new trend or fashion, makes it all her own and rocks it.  Confidence makes or breaks every outfit.

What makes you feel beautiful? 
"When I get to lounge with my dogs and loved ones after a long day of saltwater, sand, and waves. Sun-kissed skin and salty hair will always make me feel gorgeous."

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

My black fringe Minnetonka moccasin boots. Amazingly versatile.

    

                         

The biggest splurge in your closet...
Let's not talk about it...(looking at you, thigh-high black leather boots)

The biggest waste of money in your closet... 

Crappy flats and cheap blazers. Contrary to what your parents tell you, business wear does NOT have to be conformist or boring.

What's the most memorable piece of clothing you've worn, and what made it special? 

My father gave me a stunning black lace dress for Christmas one year. I wore it to ring in my 21st birthday and many times afterwards and I always feel completely gorgeous yet ridiculously comfortable in it. I haven't yet found a dress that classy and that much fun to dance in.                            

        
What's your guilty pleasure/something you can't resist?
"Sea salt dark chocolate, lavender biscuits, and a perfect cappuccino. Decadent, simple, perfect."

Do you have a style icon? Please describe: 

My mother. Our styles are radically different but she taught me how to love clothes and to love the game of putting them together unexpectedly to look fabulous. I know no woman with better style.

What is your beauty/skincare routine?
Wash twice a day with organic face wash, moisturize with rose hip seed oil,  apply mascara, maybe some eyeshadow, swipe my lips with some hazelnut oil and boogie out the door!    

                                      

                                  

     

What has been the biggest surprise about the age you are now? 

How young I feel, but how mature everyone seems to perceive me. I'm an adult! What?!

The best advice you've ever received? 

"Letting emotions guide your decisions for love, work, clothes, anything, is not weak, but the only way to love and live authentically."

Do you believe in destiny? 

I don't. I believe each person carves their own path and can change it as they please.

What's next for you? 

Getting out of the country as soon as possible and getting under the waves! 

Thank you M'Lynn! You inspire us! ❤️

HOP SING VIBES... with Gudrun!

From the very first time this tall, attractive, and quietly confident woman walked through the door, all I could think of was how incredible she would look in our clothing... I wanted to run over and just beg her to try on a few choice pieces that would look perfect on her, but I refrained from accosting her - for at least 30 minutes! The power of restraint! Haha!

Meet Gudrun, she has been a Hop Sing enthusiast for about 3 years and she appreciates the whole unique process...  meaning she loves the involvement when we make special suggestions and help her choose styles that she may otherwise have passed by, especially when those pieces become favorite additions to her wardrobe. To my delight she allows me help her choose pieces that will compliment her life & personal style. It's truly a love, love relationship!  We love her & she loves us!  - Lauren

Name:  Gudrun Miller

Place of Birth:  Goerits, East Germany near the Baltic Sea, formerly Prussia.  Born right after WWII.  I grew up in Berlin and my family emigrated to the United States when I was 7.

Occupation:  Professional Counselor, Visionary artist and metaphysical teacher focusing on soul psychology.

Age: 67

Describe your signature look:  Funky but fashionable.  Casual but stylish. 

Who or what inspires you?  I am influenced by current fashion trends.  Lauren has been my greatest inspiration recently.

What makes you feel beautiful?  I like to look different.  Good quality stylish clothes help me feel beautiful.

Name an item of clothing you can't live without:  A great pair of jeans or two or three!  Now AG jeans.

What's the biggest splurge in your closet?  I think now it is Odd Molly clothing which I love and treat almost as collector's items!  Other than that, it is Native American jewelry made by artists who are friends. 

The biggest waste of money in your closet:  When clothes look good on me, I want to purchase them.  A lot of clothes look good on me so I am having to be more mindful of what I will actually wear!

What's the most memorable piece of clothing you've worn and what made it special?  I am looking for that piece!  It is the primal quest!

What is your guilty pleasure/something you can't resist?  A great glass of red wine.  or white!

Do you have a style icon?  I think now it is Lauren who embraces beauty in women regardless of age or size.  Other than that, it is whichever woman I may see that is happy in her skin.  I saw this a lot more in Europe and in South America, mainly Brazil where the women seemed so confident of their beauty regardless of age or body size.

What is your beauty/skin care routine?  I do minimal things regarding makeup.  I am very conscious of eating healthy and I use mainly simple things on my skin, organic if possible.  I am now also using essential oils internally and externally which seems to be helping my overall health and well being.

"...one of my missions in this life was to learn to love myself."

What has been the biggest surprise about the age you are now?  I am amazed that I love life!  I see the signs of aging and I am not overly concerned.  Mostly I am grateful to have wisdom and inner peace.  I wish I had known this when I was younger.

The best advice you have ever received:  This came from a spiritual source that informed me that one of my missions in this life was to learn to love myself.  I do now and that love has allowed me to forgive all that have ever hurt me and to forgive myself for my own shortcomings.

Do you believe in destiny?  Yes.

What's next for you?  I am open to that.

Thank you so much, Gudrun! You inspire us!

♥

Holiday Advertising Hop Sing style!

Yesterday our beautiful holiday ad came out in the Prescott Courier! 

The behind the scenes "work" of this photo shoot was considerable, but when it's a labor of love, the old adage is true... It's true, "love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life"!

My camera shy but -oh so adorable niece- "Stormy Rose" was kind enough to suffer through oh.... Maybe.... 2000+ shots! Yes.... really!!!

Our photo shoot location was an amazingly restored Victorian era home, registered on the Society of Historical Homes, located in Prescott Arizona. (The homeowner, a friend and a substantial collector all things amazing including... Hop Sing fashions). As with most Victorian homes the lighting is minimal and the rooms are often shaded in substantial amounts of beautifully stained glass windows... For a photographer...lighting can be a challenge. 

However... Challenges are often opportunities!

Disadvantages can be used to your advantage... Hence soft Rockwell-esque silhouettes.

The past begins moving you towards the future.

Romantic lace worn over or under...

draping flowing lines. Casual yet dressy, wearable at home and on the town.

And just when you thought you have to be "her" to wear these things...

Along comes all 52 years of "me"... OMG! Oh Well! When in Rome...

"Please be kind... Tell me if I need to suck something in", I repeatedly said...

Now, let me be clear... I'm not ashamed of my fluff & curves, but having them preserved in digital history is another story all together... Not my comfort zone!

Blue hair, contrasted color... Soooo me!

Well, I digress... The point of this message, you don't have to be 20 something to enjoy Hop Sing! In fact very few of our customers are... You do need a sense of individualism.

No cookie cutter fashions here! 

The bottom line is... Ladies my age should never compete stylistically with their daughters, but neither should we compete stylistically with our mothers! Find the perfect balance for your age and body type, then embrace you! Life's too short to blend in!

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

Young at Heart?

What is your inner child?

The aspect of one's psyche that is believed to retain feelings as they were experienced in childhood. The aspect of your consciousness that is naturally innocent, playful, uncomplicated, and whose approach to life is simple and straightforward.

When it comes to fashion often woman are afraid to be fun. By "afraid" I am referring to color and easy, relaxed styles!!! I'm not suggesting you dress like the mannequin in the window at Gap Kids- but you don't need to dress like "Betty from Sun~City Arizona" either... Polyester slacks and a Polo shirt, or ill-fitting jeans with your Labrador Retriever sweatshirt are not "age appropriate". Ever.

Playing, imagining and curiosity served you well in childhood and can again be renewed to enhance your quality of life, well-being and, ultimately, your happiness as an adult. Including fun, colorful, unique and (dare I say) quirky fashions can elevate your mood, add a sassy little sway to your hips, a little pep in your step, a smile on your face... the kind of smile that starts in your eyes and works it's way to every muscle in your face.

A natural facelift!

If you are in doubt about embracing your inner kid. You need to spend some time remembering what it felt like to play, discover, feel and explore without fear and concern. Learn more about what fresh styles will work for you, and make you feel young again with out looking like the mannequin in the window at Gap Kids... and then welcome that brave little girl back into your life.

"We are intended to remain in many ways- childlike," anthropologist Ashley Montagu once wrote. "We were never intended to grow up into the kind of adults most of us have become. We are designed to grow and develop in ways that emphasize rather than minimize childlike traits." We are all born with the gifts of creativity, imagination, play, exploration and curiosity. Children act on these valuable attributes freely, discovering happiness, belonging, connection and community through them.

Do you use the phrase "I'm too old" to avoid trying new and different activities?

I hear this phrase all too often in our boutique, uttered by women who look like they’ve surrendered to the fashion grim reaper- only they are younger than my own mother, who at 70 years young... is youthful, tasteful, in great physical shape and feels great about herself! And guess what?! She’s not medicated for anything, because a joyful heart full of childish enthusiasm is the fountain of youth!

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!!!

Pendleton, The Portland Collection

Because you asked...

The Portland Collection by Pendleton





We still have a few very hard to find items available
in various sizes...





Contact us if you'd like to discuss shipping these treasures to you!

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!!!