A Summer Jewelry Story

When I was four, my father returned from a business trip with a beautiful pair of tiny 24k gold heart stud earrings. It was at that moment that my parents decided it was time for me to bridge the gap between innocent tot and traumatized headcase: it was time to get my ears pierced.

In My Girl 2 (yes, I watched and loved it), Vada Sultenfuss refers to ear piercing as "a barbaric custom" -- at four years old, I wouldn't have disagreed. On two separate occasions, my mom sat me in the chair of death where a teen-aged ear-piercing-gun wielder stood poised over my virgin earlobes, and both times, I bolted like a frightened mouse into the surrounding mall.

Regardless of my sprinting prowess, I did eventually sit still, bite my lip and get my ears pierced. I won't lie -- it was awful. But the experience has forever shaped my jewelry collection, and I count myself lucky that I can wear beautiful earrings along with the rest of the world. No pain, no gain, right?

But I digress.

If you're a magpie like me, you covet all things glittery. Lucky for people with a sparkle problem, jewelry is the perfect obsession: it's low-impact in terms of space, so you don't have to feel too guilty about stocking up (unless of course your fetish is for Bvlgari, in which case I can't help you), and it's high-impact in terms of style and versatility. The sweetest summer ensemble is never complete without a little wink of gold. Even a colorful bikini worn with a sarong and sunhat can go from run-of-the-mill to high-fashion in a simple clip of a lobster clasp.

And we're happy to cater to the jewelryholics among you. As always, we're proud to offer pieces by Flint by Irenka Kudlicki, who is a local jewelry artist. Her pieces are always handmade, always fashionable, but still timeless. Our newest pieces are brightly colored and summery, from ropes of hand-knotted silk and shimmery orange Czech crystal, to delicate leather necklaces featuring clover charms.

Flint's Abby necklace (orange Czech crystal) $260, Flint's Gina necklace (rough disc) $130

Flint's Mia necklace (gold overlay discs, turquoise drop) $270

We also carry a great range of pieces from local favorite Viv & Ingrid ranging from itsy bitsy faux gemstone studs, to beautiful and delicate figural necklaces, featuring wishbones, elephants, and horseshoes. There are also coordinating studs to match in a variety of styles. Viv & Ingrid also offers higher-impact pieces: large gold pendant hoops and indulgent white jade drops. The range is impressive, fitting a variety of styles and just about every budget!

Viv & Ingrid's silver leaf post earrings $38

Viv & Ingrid's Belle necklace (citrine) $78

Viv & Ingrid's vermeil horseshoe post earrings $49

Viv & Ingrid's Dynasty earrings (white jade) $275

After seeing this summer's amazing jewelry pieces, I have to admit that I'm more grateful than ever to my frightened four year old self for taking one for the team. A life without post earrings would be an empty one indeed.

Exciting News at A La Folie!

Nos belles, we have THE most exciting news! We wish we could call each of you up to spill it, but we won't let the cat out of the bag just yet...

Rest assured, there are big plans underway for A La Folie, plans that involve new faces, impeccable style, and (of course) magnificent lingerie. Can you guess what's in store?

A Parade of Swimwear, No Matter What Your Shape!

Mes belles, Mother nature is still taunting us! Just when we think the rain is about over and the sun has begun to peek out from behind the clouds, the dreariness returns to barrage us for a few days. For now, our feet must remain in galoshes while the sweet summer sandals collect dust in the closet. And we don't like it one bit!

But we've come up with a solution. Let's all head to St. Tropez!

"I don't have a swimsuit! It's not swim season!" you say. Au contraire, mes belles! We just got our third (yes, third!) shipment of swimwear this season, this time from our newest beach-beautiful brand, Rasurel!

Rasurel has so many things going for it. Not only is it the brain child of the lingerie masters behind customer favorite Lejaby, but it's also a line focused on lift, support and sexiness in cup sizes many swimsuit brands won't touch. Rasurel boasts all the elements of truly high-end beach wear, from comfortable and durable fabrics, to sweet details, like empire-waist ties on the Daphne Tank and covered rhinestone-embellished straps on the Impec Maillot. Curvaceous girls, your search ends here. With cup sizes up to a G, Rasurel is sure to be your new favorite brand!

Rasurel's Daphne Tank Maillot, $239

Rasurel's Impec Tank Maillot (shown in green, stocked in black), $199

Anita has also delivered in the fuller-cup swim department. Their Circle-Cut Cloe suit may boast a simple shape, but its pattern is what really attracts attention, while the Organic Dana suit emphasizes a shapely waist with an ultra-flattering ruched cut. The Ethno Flower Jamina suit emphasizes a shapely bust and directs attention away from the hips with a fun and flirtatious print. All our Anita suits come in a wide range of cup sizes: C to E, and in some cases up to F, so like Rasurel, the brand is a great go-to for those with a little more up top.

Anita's Circle-Cut Cloe swimsuit, $90

Anita's Organic Dana Swimsuit, $113

Anita's Ethno Flower Jamina Swimsuit, $149

If support is not your issue, we're sure you'll love Huit's Kate tank swimsuit. The Kate is a simple, classic silhouette. A one-piece with distinctive styling: a prominent two hoop embellishment on the asymmetrical shoulder. We currently have it in black, and are expecting many more pieces from Huit in the coming months!

Huit's Kate Asymmetrical One-Piece, $149

Even if you don't make it to St. Tropez this year, there are always opportunities for fun swimsuits to make their appearance! Snag yours (and your suit) today!

This Sunday: Celebrate the 15th Annual Jazz on 4th Festival with Massive Savings!

There's no better time to dance, tap your toes and shop than this Sunday!

For one day only, enjoy massive savings store-wide as we celebrate the annual Jazz on Fourth Festival and Fundraiser! Take in the music with free shows by BHS Jazz Combo & Ensemble, Jazz Mafia, Zakiya Hooker and Fito Reinoso while you check out what 4th Street has to offer!

Enjoy 20% off store-wide at A La Folie*, including brand-new collections from Simone Perele, Anita and The Little Bra Company!

Select collections are up to 60% off, including pieces by Millesia, Valery, Le Chat and Rosapois!

See you there!

(*sale excludes Forever New, fragrance items and Zinke Goodnight Lovely eyemasks)

Pajama Mama!

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and if your mom's anything like mine, she loves comfortable pajamas, and is a sucker for feminine colors. Good thing for both our mothers that we stock PJ Harlow!PJ Harlow's Jolie Satin Pant, Charlie Racerback Tank and Josie Hooded Robe in Blush

The line marries sensible cuts with feminine styling to create pajama pieces that are at once fun, sexy and versatile. Our newest arrivals include pieces in blush, black, champagne and lilac, and we still have pieces in teal as well. The prices are great too -- ranging from $46 for the uber-cute Charlie Racerback Tank to $97 for the exquisitely comfortable and feminine Kimono Robe.

Mom will thank you with a hug and a kiss, then quietly pat herself on the back for passing her perfect sense of style on to you!

Four Ways to Impress Mom this Mother's Day!

We've told you before that good things come in threes, remember?

It should follow, then, that even better things come in fours! Like a dollar's four quarters, the Beatles, The Fantastic Four and the Spice Girls (that's right, I went there!), and now four fleur't panties or bralettes for the price of three!


This Mother's Day, give Mom something extra special! fleur't panties and bralettes make the perfect Mother's Day gift -- they're cozy, sweet and come in a dizzying array of colors. The boyshorts and thongs are perfect day-to-day basics, and can even be matched with your fancier bras and camis! fleur't's highly-coveted Second Drawer bralettes are perfect for that layered look -- we have customers who wear them peeking out from under their tops: a trompe l'oieul cami if you will!

Prove to Mom she taught you something about a good value and swing by to pick up a topped-off triad today. The Top Drawer boyshort retails for $35, the Second Drawer thong retails for $25 and the Second Drawer bralette retails for $36. Remember, if you pick a pack of three, you get the fourth piece free!

Celebrate Spring at the 4th Street Sidewalk Sale!

Looking for a special Mother's Day gift? There's no better time to shop than this Saturday!
For one day only, enjoy massive savings store-wide as we participate in the 4th Street Spring Sidewalk Sale! Check out what 4th Street has to offer as various vendors celebrate spring with amazing deals!

Enjoy 30% off store-wide at A La Folie*, including our newest collection from Simone Perele and Huit Swimwear!

Select collections are up to 60% off, including pieces by Millesia, Valery, Le Chat and Rosapois!

Come by and pick up something special for Mom at a very special price! See you there!

(*sale excludes Forever New, fragrance items and Zinke Goodnight Lovely eyemasks)