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Fashion Week

The Style Edit 

Hello my fellow shopaholics, and welcome back to the Apricot Lane Blog! My name is Katie and today we are going to deep dive into the latest trends in fashion, beauty and retail! From Spring fashion, New York Fashion Week, to dewy skin and shopping local! If that sounds like a good read then stay tuned!

 

First off, welcome back and thank you for stopping by! This blog is here to keep in touch and let you know that everything we do here at Apricot Lane Boutique is for you! If you like what you see, make sure to like/follow us on social media!

 

Back to business! Trends trends trends, hard to follow? Sometimes. Cute? Not always. But I am here to help you out! So far going into spring we are seeing some trends roll over from last season. Denim, denim, denim. Still loving the raw hems, flare edges, distressed and rock washed. Trenches and oversized outerwear are still pushing through Spring, so pull out those puffy jackets that your mom made you wear to go sledding and steal your aunt’s camel trench because you are on trend girl!

Fashion Week

New and now, we are seeing a lot of upcoming trends come out of New York Fashion Week 2018.  Pattern! This is a major one, from florals to muted plaids, to Disco Fever vibes from Tom Ford. Don’t be afraid to mix those mediums and you’ll be on trend, so throw on that gingham jumpsuit and pair it with a fur vest for the perfect Spring funk. Lastly color! Play with color, don’t be scared to get a bold jacket with pale blue fur trim, or a hunter green moto jacket, or even a bold hot pink mule(thank you Gucci)!

From these trends, we are seeing different techniques coming from retailers. Consumers want that unique, one of a kind look, and it’s much easier to achieve with online retailers or shopping small. Some of the best, one of a kind finds come from local boutiques who are buying current and buying on trend. Not to toot our own horn, but boutique shopping is the easiest way to get a curated, blogger look, without breaking the bank.

 

The Style Edit 

Moving on to the make up edit! Now, ladies I want to make one thing clear… Skin. Is. In. Say it with me! The days of high coverage, matte, caked on foundation are behind us! Sidenote, if you are a full coverage queen, keep on doing you! However, the evolution of skincare and cosmetics has merged to give us bands like Glossier, and The Ordinary who are all about skincare, and makeup combined. So, embrace the face and get that skin glowing girl! Apricot Lane always has sheet masks in stock, so we are your one stop shop.

 

Now that we have brought it full circle, we can talk shopping local. Apricot lane is a franchised boutique, and every time you shop you are supporting a someone’s means, promoting what is often a dream of these store owners, and you are giving back to your community. These owners are so passionate about their stores and nothing means more to them than customer happiness, driving business, supporting their town. So find your local Apricot Lane Boutique on social media today! Support your local business owners!

 

Life’s too short, buy the outfit!

 

Until next time.

Leather Jacket Layers

3 Fun Ways To Layer For Fall

It's getting a bit chillier out now so it's the perfect time for layers! Here are three cozy but not bulky layering ideas for this Fall. Layer up on bottom! Wool, suede and leather are warm textures on their own but you can combine them for an nice ruffle flare by opening up a button-down skirt over leather legging. Try putting tights under frayed or ripped jeans for a super cute and edgy look. denim jeans woman in grey long sleeves woman in black turtle neck woman in brown coat woman in brown boots Dress up your boots with layers of all black makes them a little bit more sophisticated and wearable just look for pieces of different texture like a knit turtleneck, blouse or t-shirt with a blazer or leather jacket. woman in black jacket woman in black outfit woman in black turtle neck Lastly, try layering different thinner pieces together. You can go really short or really long. woman in blue jacket woman in black skirt woman in striped shirt stripped jeans stripped jeans brown top Image Source: Pinterest
Summer Primary Webslider

Summer Fashion Must-Haves

Summer is in full swing, and it's time to update your summer wardrobe! Below is our list of summer fashion must-haves to help you enjoy the warmer weather. Low Back Swimsuits From Baywatch to Miss USA , the one-piece low back bathing suit is a must have this summer! One piece suits with visible zippers, cut-outs, bold prints and colors, have been seen on stars like Alexandra Daddario and Kelly Rohrbach and on Polyvore, a community-driven fashion app that has seen a 282% increase year-over-year in searches for ‘one piece swimsuits.’ o50qmu-l-610x610-swimwear-low+swimsuit-shorts- Image Source: Pinterest Woman 1 Images Source: Pinterest Woman 2 Image Source: Pinterest Sun Dresses Sundresses are so easy to wear during the summer and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and time of day! You can wear as a cover to the beach and when the weather is a bit chilly, throw a jean jacket over it. This versatility makes the sundress a summer must-have! Woman 3 Image Source: Apricot Lane Southern Pines Woman 1 Image Source: Pinterest Woman 5 Image Source: Pinterest Denim Cutoffs Denim cutoffs are a staple piece for any girl during these hot summer months. Whether it’s shorts or a skirt, they’re super easy to throw on when you run out to do errands or they can be dressed up for a night out on the town. Woman 6 Image Source: Pinterest Denim-Cutoff-Shorts-1 Image Source: Pinterest Woman 7 Image Source: Pinterest holding-bella-hadid-celebrity-style Image Source: Pinterest Rompers & Romper Dresses The romper has rapidly become one of our favorite summer staples. Thought of as the perfect outfit for summer, you can dress them up or down. Woman 8 Image Source: Pinterest Woman 9 Image Source: Apricot Lane Fort Myers Woman 10 Image Source: Apricot Lane Boutique Woman 11 Image Source: Pinterest Woman 12 Image Source: Pinterest Graphic Tanks and Tees Graphic tees have been trending for a while now and don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon! Street style stars have proven that this T-shirt style is officially the most versatile item in your wardrobe. This makes the graphic tee a must-have this summer! Woman 13 Image Source: Apricot Lane Wisconsin Dells Woman 14 Image Source: Apricot Lane Longmont cinco-de-mayo-tshirt-ideas-cinco-de-mayo-shirts-for-women Image Source: Pinterest Woman a Image Source: Apricot Lane Coralville
Coming Soon Manchester

Apricot Lane Boutique Is Here To Stay!!

Starting last year, many retail chains closed and many more most likely will not survive this year either. Even though we are reading and seeing many of the major retail brands closing or downsizing from the impacts of internet shopping, the economy, etc, Apricot Lane Boutiques are growing!

By being locally owned, we  preserve our one-of-a-kind shopping experience and distinctive character. Also, being locally owned means each store location is selecting merchandise based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own individual interests and the needs of their local customers. This guarantees a much broader range of product choices for our customers. A marketplace made up of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.  

Here at Apricot Lane Boutique, we train to provide exceptional customer service which build strong relationships within the community. This helps to sustain vibrant town centers, linking neighbors and creating social relationships which keeps customers coming back. A personal stylists that is helpful can always make a girl feel good when shopping for a special event or outing!

Our boutiques offer an easy to shop in “boutique” environment without the “boutique” prices. Our buyers stay up on the latest fashion trends and offer a wide selection of merchandise straight from market. Our store owners visit the top fashion trade shows every year and always have the latest in apparel, footwear, accessories.

Visit our website to find a location near you here!

New stores that are opening soon:

Wellington, FL

Manchester, VT

La Crosse, MN

Minot, ND

Blaine, MN

Fort Worth, TX

 

 

 

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Wichita Mom Boss

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Meet Kami

Before starting Apricot Lane, I was a hair stylist in a small Kansas town.  I think that’s how my passion for helping women feel good about themselves started.  Styling hair allowed me the opportunity to give women the boost of confidence they desired.  It was in that same small town that I met my husband, Mark.  After we were married, his work moved us out of state.  I was a stay-at-home mom raising two boys, but Mark and I had always dreamed of starting up our own business – we just didn’t know when or how.

Why Apricot Lane

Mark and I finally decided it was time to move forward with our dream.  My desire to help women feel good about themselves was still strong, and I had always loved anything to do with fashion.  We both knew we wanted to be closer to home, so we made the move back to Wichita, Kansas.  Wichita was not only a lot closer to home, but it also offered us the perfect market for a trendy and affordable clothing store. store front Once we discovered Apricot Lane, we knew we had made the right decision.  This franchise took out all of the guesswork for us, and made our transition to “boutique owners” so much easier.  We loved having the support of a large franchise, but even more than that we loved how Apricot Lane allowed us the flexibility to truly make the store our own.  Not only did we receive support from the franchisor, but also from the network of other Apricot Lane Boutique franchisees, which helped us create a solid foundation. store interior"Our lives are hectic managing three children and a business but we wouldn’t trade it for anything!"

Where We Are Now

Mark and I are approaching our fourth holiday season in the retail business.  Just like any other new adventure, there have been ups and downs along the way, but each year we find ourselves more organized and more excited.  Having an amazing sales team is of utmost importance in making sure our store is running smoothly.  I’ve always loved working with women and young girls, so having the opportunity to manage our sales team has been such a great time – and definitely never boring!  Building and maintaining relationships with customers is Apricot Lane Wichita’s number one goal.  We love our “regulars” and make it a point to welcome each and every person into our store with a smile and a greeting.  It is our goal to make every single customer feel appreciated.

clothes flat lay clothes flat lay 2 As a husband-and-wife business team, we make every important decision for the store together.  Mark, in addition to his full time job in commercial banking, handles the hiring and accounting end, while I take care of store merchandising, employee management, and all of the buying.  Opening the store has strengthened our relationship in ways we could not have imagined.  Since making the move back to Kansas and opening Apricot Lane Wichita, our family has grown.  We now have the two boys, Aidan and Cooper, and a little diva, Madeleine.  Our lives are hectic managing three children and a business but we wouldn’t trade it for anything! family photo Originally posted in City Moms Blog