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May 20, 2013
It’s Back: The Transport Tote
Good news: It’s finally warm enough for those upstate jaunts and coastal road trips you’ve been dreaming about. Even better? The beloved bag you’ll need for all of ’em is now back in stock. Cleanly cut in different shades of buttery leather, it’s bound to look even better as you wear it in. Which is good, considering how many summertime adventures you have ahead.
Get it now before it takes a summer holiday of its own.
May 18, 2013
Labels We Love: Plomo
We love tucking our toes into wooden wedges and easy heels all summer long, but finding a versatile sandal for a few days away is no simple task. Enter Plomo®, whose effortless and easygoing flat sandals are perfect for slipping into your carry-on.
Designers Keltse Bilbao and Galia Katz founded the line in 2010 and we’ve been enthralled with their supercomfortable—and superstylish—traditional sandals ever since. Inspired by footwear from the Spanish island of Menorca, these cushy slip-ons come in a trio of faded beachy colors, meaning they will perfectly pair with your lightest summer layers. Slip them on with our breezy Bandana Dress or use them as a laid-back pop of color to your favorite cutoffs. There’s no way vacation can be far when these are near.
May 10, 2013
May 6, 2013
A Label We Love: Mollusk Surf Shop
The California surf spirit is alive and well, as evidenced by Mollusk Surf Shop’s San Francisco and Venice Beach shops. Inside you’ll find surfboards (naturally) and coastal-inspired art, as well as the supersoft tees and sweatshirts with sun-washed graphics that we love. We asked the founders of the eight-year-old house of cool, John McCambridge and Johanna St. Clair, to share their secrets for capturing the endless summer.
Above: One of Mollusk’s signature graphics. San Francisco friends can stop by Madewell at 845 Market Street on the evening of May 16th to meet the Mollusk duo and take home one of their limited-edition screen prints (gratis!) while they last.
Where do you find inspiration for the designs of your tees and sweatshirts?
Old movies, travel, European magazines, vintage Brazilian record covers and people watching in Dolores Park.
The California-inspired art on your site is fantastic. Which prints do you find emulate the surf spirit of San Francisco and Venice Beach the most?
We love the work from “It’s All Around You,” the photography of Kanoa Zimmerman and Barrett Gentz. Thomas Campbell’s work is always iconic, and we can’t resist Nat Russell’s silk-screened posters.
Mollusk’s book collection is off the charts. What factors do you keep in mind while curating the shop’s literary mix?
We like photography books, like the ones from Akira Kobayashi and Slim Aarons. We also like books that focus on the handmade, ranging from Pacific Northwest hippie houses to Cuban poster art.
What local spots do you and your clientele typically hit up after a day of surfing?
Our friends Dave Muller and Lana Porcello have the perfect post-surf restaurant around the corner from our San Francisco shop called Outerlands.
In your mind, what are the four quintessential colors of California?
Capitola green, bright khaki, olde yellow and lots of indigo.
What’s on your current soundtrack?
Michael Hurley, Alice Coltrane, Orlandivo, Jonathan Richman, The Left Banke and Little Wings. (Our eight-year-old daughter is singing backup on their new album!) We also enjoy listening to whatever the great Andy Cabic, friend and frontman of Vetiver, is spinning.
Which stores, shops and stops are essential to living a California surf lifestyle?
The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, Amoeba Music, Gjelina and the Bolinas Free Box.
May 3, 2013
Host Well: A Cinco de Mayo Party
A celebration of Mexican culture, Cinco de Mayo is one of our favorite holidays, and a true sign that spring has finally sprung. While we’re gearing up for the 5th, we’ve put together a no-fail five-step guide to throwing the perfect fiesta, featuring ideas from some of our favorite bloggers around. (No pre-made margarita mix here, folks!)
1. The Pretty Piñata:
You’re going to burst through it in ten seconds flat, but a gorgeous paper-machéd piñata is an exciting upgrade on the classic party-store variety. Refinery29’s homemade ombre version is a masterpiece just begging to be filled with multicolored sweets.
2. The Discerning Drink Menu:
Everyone claims to know the perfect margarita recipe, but this one from Flourishing Foodie may actually be the only one you’ll need. And, for friends who will be opting out of alcoholic libations, Smitten Kitchen’s Melon Agua Fresca, made from cantaloupe and honeydew juice, is also a refreshingly sweet treat.
3. The Pared-Down Party Snacks:
These couldn’t-be-easier guacamole and salsa recipes from A Beautiful Mess take a split second to make, leaving more time for, you know, partying.
4. The D.I.Y. Décor:
Buying and hanging banners can be a pain, but all you’ll need for this oh-so-easy play off traditional fiesta bunting from Oh Happy Day is colored tissue paper, twine, scissors and tape.
5. The Gussied-Up Goblets:
We’re all for these swirly tri-colored goblets, made from recycled glass—can’t you see a lime sitting pretty atop the rim?
April 27, 2013
Notes from Madewell HQ: Weekend Getaway Essentials
We look forward to sunny mini-breaks as much as anyone (in fact, we’re counting down the seconds until Memorial Day weekend) so we deemed it the perfect time to ask some stylish ladies here at the office: What’s the one Madewell item you’ll be bringing along for fun in the sun?
Joyce Lee, accessory design whiz
“The mini wedge heel makes it supereasy to run around in. Plus, they’ll go with anything I pack.”
Susan Cernek, resident wordsmith
“The woven texture makes it beach-ready indeed, but the dark, unflashy hue means I can wear it once the sun goes down (or away entirely, come fall).”
Alice Bucaille, art director/guru
“It’s simple yet sexy and I like how it dips low in the back. I wear the Two-Tone Chambray Shirt as a cover-up.”
Sun Choe, merchandise maven
“I love the shape and they double as sunnies for my son in a pinch.”
April 26, 2013
Calling All LA Foodies: You Won’t Want To Miss This Bash
Two of LA’s best chefs (Nancy Silverton of Mozza and Roy Choi of Kogi BBQ) will team up with the big names behind Paris’ top-rated restaurants (Inaki Aizpitarte of Le Chateaubriand, Grégory Marchand of Frenchie) for the first ever Le Grand Fooding Crush Paris-LA 2013, a two-day food festival outside of the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA on April 26th and 27th.
The tasty spectacular is hosted by Le Fooding, an insider-y culture and culinary guide that chronicles the French foodie scene with a supremely cool, “what-to-know-now” point of view. (Think if Anthony Bourdain edited New York Magazine.) So it’s no wonder they planned this event with the same avant-garde approach they use in their essential restaurant guides.
With commemorative T-shirts designed by Shepard Fairey and French street artist André Saraiva and a portion of proceeds benefitting the LA Food Bank, it’s a soirée with so much more than cross-coastal food.
Tickets range from $50 to $125, and are available here. (A small price to pay for the closest you’ll get to visiting Paris for the night.)
April 25, 2013
On Our Way to San Jose: 5 Must-See Stops
We just opened our first store in San Jose and so, to mark the occasion, we thought we’d share our five favorite spots in this quaint corner of California. Think Egyptian relics, homemade favorites and grown-up board games.
1. The Worldly Wonder
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
This local institution houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in western North America. There are real mummies in there. Need we say more?
2. The Textile Shrine
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
We’re suckers for interesting fabrics and patterns, so it’s our must-see for a steady stream of unexpected DIY inspiration.
3. The Healthful Pit Stop
This small, under-the-radar shop in Japantown specializes in homemade tofu and unbelievably fresh soy milk. Try their tofu pudding with ginger syrup on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
4. The Big-Time Board Game
We didn’t believe it at first, but just outside the Children’s Discovery Museum is a life-sized Monopoly board etched right into the concrete. There are even gigantic plush dice, wearable playing pieces and an on-site banker doling out paper money—it puts the board game version to shame.
5. The Coffee Class
Though coffee culture can be a bit snobbish, this local roastery instead focuses on educating its clientele. Between espresso and drip samplings, cold brew tastings and roasting classes, it’s an aromatic (not to mention tasty) learning experience.
April 23, 2013
A Label We Love: Skargorn
As Barcelona celebrates Lover’s Day—a sweet holiday that honors romantic writers Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, who died one day apart in April of 1616—and the season of l’amour falls upon us (you know, the birds and the bees and all), we’re putting the spotlight on one label we adore: SkarGorn™.
As the brainchild of LA-based, Danish-bred denim expert Rikke Korff, SkarGorn is chock-full of fuss-free, carefully thought out items that walk that oh-so-fine line of casual yet sophisticated. Skargorn’s thin skinnies and wear-wherever tanks (including a striped version that’s exclusively ours) are the layering pieces you’ll reach for when sticky summer heat settles in.
April 22, 2013
Great Dressing, Direct From Tennessee
Photos by Jessica Comingore.
Along with Sous Style, Tomboy Style and 4th and Bleeker, Pennyweight is currently topping our daily must-read list, as the Nashville-based blogger (aka Elise Joseph) speaks our language completely. Blogger, style guru and curator extraordinaire, she has her finger on the pulse of the best indie music, stylish home goods, new shopping destinations—the works. In other words, if it’s artfully cool, you can bet it’s on her well-rounded radar.
Her impeccable taste is evident in each post, and so we’re especially glad that she’ll be on hand as we open our newest store at The Shops of Saddle Creek. If you’re in the Memphis area tomorrow (4/23), swing by as we celebrate the grand opening with some bubbly, small bites and a curated selection of Pennyweight’s favorite Madewell pieces. And if you’re curious to see which spring pieces earned her seal of approval (we sure were!), you can also get a sneak peek via the almighty Pinterest or right over here.
