Grab your sunnies and head to the rooftop...
Because two locations are better than one, jewelry maven Prudence Kauffman has opened a second Dear Prudence location in the MoDiv incubator stores on the corner of Monroe and Division in Grand Rapids. Kauffman says the best thing about the spot is "energy is crazy through the roof right now. There's a constant flow and we're in the middle of this huge awakening downtown." Pop into the itty-bitty biz spot for custom sterling pieces, monogram necklaces, phone covers and custom fingerprint necklaces. Visit the Dear Prudence Facebook page or dearprudence.com for more deets.
Dear Prudence is not the only new roomie in the MoDiv bunks. Humanity Boutique, a women's clothing and accessories boutique, takes inspiration from around the globe to bring downtown dwellers a fashion-forward look. Celebrity shoppers might be Blake Lively, according to owner Courtney Hunt because "she fits our style perfectly." Summertime at the boutique will be brimming with casual dresses and dressier options for weddings and bachelorette parties, and Hunt predicts a lot of peplum going into the warmer months. (My opinion: You can't stop a good thing). The store's accessories include jewelry, scarves, handbags and belts. Swing by so you can love on all the "mint color and peplum" that Hunt is crushing on.
The Rooftop Culture series (brought you Rooftop Couture) caters to the fashionable and thirsty crowd with Rooftop Cocktail: A celebration of West Michigan Art, Cocktails & Fashion. Everything is looking up June 14 at UICA as bartenders from popular venues such as Bar Divani, Pyramid Scheme and Louie's Rocket Lounge mix drinks on the rooftop terrace, competing for the best "Rooftop Cocktail." Below, local designers and boutiques display and sell their summer collections so shopping and sipping is the new sport. Look for style selections from Sydney's Boutique, Iconoclasp, Humanity Boutique and The Mitten State to be on hand. "It's every woman's dream—having a cocktail in one hand and shopping with the other," says Crystal Hilliard, organizer and promoter, who describes the event as innovative, fun and flirty with the cocktails being "the talk of the town." Pose for pictures, air kiss amongst the models and enjoy music with Celebrity DJ SuperDre and A.B.! Whip out that dress you've been saving for a special occasion, because it's now here and it's serving signature cocktails with the GR skyline as your backdrop. Casually glance at rooftopcocktail.com as if you don't care—but you do!
The men's fashion scene gets a boost with the new Lee & Birch Men's store in Grand Haven. Located right next door to the sister location on Washington Street, the shop is the place where boys can shop everything from denim, zip-up jackets, hoodies, blazers and dressy or casual tops. The store caters to the "style conscious guy that's still rugged and still West Michigan, but a guy that wants to step it up in areas of personal style—trendy, but not too over the top," says Communications Coordinator Blair Badge. Seeing a need for more men's fashion resources, the store hopes to be the perfect middle-of-the-road option with men coming in and feeling comfortable shopping while still holding true to their masculinity. See what all the fuss is about at the Grand Opening event June 15, where swag bags and whiskey and wine tasting will have shoppers poppin' tags and fillin' bags. The grand opening event includes both stores so girls can go their way and guys can go theirs (provided they have adequate instruction on what to purchase). Keep watch on the Facebook page for more details.
