the fashionista's guide to packing

Now that Summer is upon us, it's time to start thinking about what you are going to need for those upcoming vacations. Whether you're headed to the beach house for the weekend or on your way to an exotic getaway, these six summer vacation essentials will be a great starting point for all your summer packing needs!

1. Pack-able sun hats 

Protect your face from sun while looking sassy for your summer vacation. All San Diego Hat Co. hats have a UPF 50 rating, which protects your face from harmful UV rays. These hats bounce back to their original shape when crushed, making them the perfect travel companions as well.

San Diego Hat Co. pack-able hat, $45.

2.  Tinted lip balm and sheer gloss

Keep your lips moisturized during the warm summer weather and add a little lip color to your nighttime vacation looks. Go for a more sheer look with the lippy gloss or try out the tinted balm for more color coverage.

butter LONDON lippy and tinted balm, $18-$20 each.

3. Crease-less hair ties 

Keep your hair out of your face for daytime activities without leaving a crease in your hair. Kitsch hair ties also double as a fashion bracelet!

Kitsch hair ties, $14-16 per pack.

4. Crossbody bag

Store all your small vacation necessities like you butter LONDON lippy and Kitsch hair ties in a convenient crossbody . Crossbody bags are great for keeping your hands free while you're on the move! 

Street Level woven crossbody, $48.

5. Pack-able sandals 

Everyone needs a great pair of sandals to take with them on vacation. Pack a lightweight pair that is versatile enough to wear with various outfits, but comfortable and durable enough for all day wear. We chose a leather thong style sandal that would look great with everything from shorts to maxi dresses.

Miz Mooz Inuovo thong style leather sandal, $69.

6. Colorful nail polish 

Show off those toes with a freshly painted pedicure in a tropical inspired color. Bright colors will perfectly compliment your summer tan!

butter LONDON nail polish, $15 each.

Trending: Spring Booties

It's finally Spring!! Well, that's what the calender says anyway.  It's that time of the year where you aren't really sure whether to put on your tall boots or t-strap sandals. Spring/Summer booties are great to have in your closet for those days that are teetering on the line between warm and cold. Or maybe you have just waited far too long to get a pedicure and are not ready to show off your toes. If any of this sounds like your current self, a good pair of transitional booties is just what you need! Wear them with your summer dresses instead of sandals to give your outfit a whole new vibe. This is a perfect option for festivals and other outdoor events when you want a little more coverage and support, without sacrificing any style. Another look we love for early Spring is booties with jeans. Pair western inspired booties like the Frye boots featured with cuffed boyfriend jeans for a tomboy look.   

Frye Reina bootie, $258
Adam Tucker by Me too, $166
Bed Stu, $220

You can also dress your booties up! Try these perforated Me Too booties with your LBD for a evening date or night put with your girlfriends!

Me Too perforated stacked heel bootie, $164

6 Years of SHOES!

This month marks the 6 year anniversary of Poppy & Stella! We still cannot believe it has been this long since we first opened our doors in 2008! For the last 6 years, we have striven to provide the Baltimore girl with fabulous footwear and stunning accessories, and added the Annapolis girl to our radar along the way. In celebration of 6 years of shoes, let's take a trip down memory lane to see how we've grown!

Poppy & Stella started off as a modest sized store in the heart of Fells Point, closely located to other locally-owned small businesses.  The shop quickly became known for having a great selection of beautiful, high-quality shoes, including styles from well known brands such as Frye, Miz Mooz, and Poetic Licence.  

 In November of 2009, we made our first expansion by adding a second store in the Annapolis Towne Center. Having both locations allows us to carry even more stylish shoes, and reach even more amazing women!  Customers love that we can transfer items from store to store with ease for a broader selection. We emphasize customer service in our small store atmosphere-- we value our close relationships with our customers more than anything! Whether this relationship lasts an hour with an out-of-towner, or years with our locals, we love helping people find their new favorite pair of shoes!

In 2012, the space next door to our Baltimore location became available and we jumped at the opportunity to double our floor space. The expansion included adding clothing to the mix as well as more amazing shoes. Poppy & Stella is still know for carrying our customers' favorite brands, but now we are able to truly have something for everyone! Whether you are looking for a practical flat, pointed toe stiletto, or a casual day dress, we've got it! Still a favorite brand of our customers (and staff!) is FRYE. Our Frye bar currently holds the largest selection of Frye handbags, shoes, and boots in Baltimore with over 40 styles to choose from! We now also carry over 40 additional shoe brands including Clarks, Jeffrey Campbell, Kelsi Dagger, Kork-Ease and more!

Our most recent venture was acquiring a neighborhood favorite in Fells Point called Babe. (a boutique), which carries fashion forward brands like Charlie Jade, Splendid, and Ella Moss. Babe has been open since 2007, with a great selection of unique merchandise from casual Splendid tops to elegant floor length BCBG dresses.  In the last year we've brought in brands like Olive + Oak and Knot Sisters, only adding to the eclectic and stylish (yet wearable) vibe of the store. Have the hottest outfit in Baltimore by pairing a Babe ensemble with stunning shoes from Poppy & Stella!

Our original location in Fells Point

Inside our original Fells Point location

Chie Mihara, Spring 2010

Inside our Annapolis store

Our 2012 expansion of our Fells Point location

Pour La Victoire, Spring 2014

Our newest addition to the family, Babe. (a boutique)

Thank you to all of our customers who have had made these last 6 years a blast!  We love you guys as much as we love SHOES!

Perfectly Perforated

Perforations are having a major moment this Spring, from the runways of top designers to local boutiques and family-owned businesses. Designers like Rebecca Taylor and Alexander Wang are showing off this trend in perforated leather ankle booties and punctured paneled tops. This is one of our favorite looks for the season, especially in footwear-- make a more covered style breathable for the warmer months ahead with punctured or laser cut details! Here is our take on perforated style from all your favorite designers here at Poppy & Stella, including Hobo the Original, Jeffrey Campbell, Me Too and more!

Me Too perforated bootie, $164 

Jeffrey Campbell lace up bootie, $185

Born mango flats, $90

Hobo mini cross body, $98

Whether you like to keep it neutral or prefer a bolder color palate, we can help you find your perfect perforated piece for Spring 2014! Even more styles to come!

Styled by Rebecca

Local artist and jewelry designer Rebecca Allen is a favorite of ours at Poppy & Stella! She creates unique jewelry that is beautiful and practical. All of her pieces are lead and nickle free and even gold plated!

We recently had the privilege of interviewing our favorite jewelry designer, Rebecca, to get to know a little more about her! We would like you to get to know a little more about her too!

Q: "What made you want to start designing jewelry and accessories?"  

A: "I went to Towson University for a degree in costume design and after an amazing couple of years I realized what I really loved doing was creating jewelry and accessories that were my own style, not necessarily of a certain time period.  So, I switched my career path and school to pursue my degree in Accessory Design. After school and a job designing shoes, I ventured out on my own to create pieces that I would love to wear and that I thought others would love too!"

Q: "What would you consider your inspiration for your designs?"  

Gem Dangle Earrings in Turquoise, $28

A: "I’m a huge animal lover, so each year I always come out with new little critter designs.  This year we introduced some adorable tropical birds, and underwater friends. Besides nature and animals, I’m also inspired by vintage gemstones, colors, and shapes. Each season I try and incorporate hand patina designs or vintage gemstones and components to my jewelry.  This year I was given  bright gold and orange gemstone clip on earrings from my grandmother, who has quite a collection of jewelry from the 50's and 60's.  I used this design to inspire my vintage gemstone pieces for our 2014 Spring/Summer collection!"

Q: "Our customers love that you are a local designer - Does Maryland play a role in your designs?"

A: "Being a born and raised Maryland girl does play a role in my designs.  I grew up right on the water and spent many days at the beach, biking or walking in downtown Annapolis.  I use my experiences to mold my designs into pieces that would work well for the girl who may spend her days on the water or at the farmers market to nights out in Fed Hill or Naptown!"

Q: "What items would you recommend for gifts?"

Flamingo Necklace in Gold, $28
"Love" Necklace in Gold, $26

A:  "I love to put together a few special pieces that I know the receiver will love plus something that they may have never thought of wearing. Our new Love Necklace-- I like to layer this with other necklaces especially our new Flamingo necklace! Of course I always include one of our gemstone earrings into the gift.  This is where I like to introduce my friends to new colors that they can include into their wardrobe, plus what girl doesn't want something sparkly dangling from their ear?!"

                                                         

Stop by either location of Poppy & Stella for a look at more of Rebecca's work! Pieces starting at $24.

Spring Style Preview!

There may be six more weeks of winter, but we are celebrating Spring early, previewing our new arrivals exclusively to you! From fun floppy hats to strappy sandals, we have just what you need this Spring. These styles are perfect for a winter getaway, or just for those dreaming of warmer weather!

One of our favorite reemerging trends this season is the maxi dress, done in fun prints! Wear your maxis with casual sandals, or dress them up with wedges and a contrasting necklace. Add a fun hat to any Spring outfit for a pop of color and to shield your skin while outdoors.

Another trend we love for the upcoming season (and for any season!) is comfort shoes, whether they are flats or heels. The Born leather wedge featured below has a padded footbed and adjustable slingback strap, making it perfect for all day wear. The Bed Stu woven leather sandal below is also a great everyday shoe, absolutely made for walking with its leather lining and rubber outer sole!

Here's to SPRING and all it holds for fun and fashion!

Shop this look:

Olive & Oak striped maxi, $89

Born leather wedge, $115

San Diego Hat Co. ombre floppy, $28

Sunburst necklace, $32

Shop this look:

Olive & Oak chevron maxi, $84

Bed Stu leather woven sandal, $119

San Diego Hat Co. woven fedora, $22

Introducing: Johnston & Murphy

We are so excited to announce the arrival of our newest collection, Johnston & Murphy! Not only do they make impeccably crafted leather shoes for men, but as of 2008, they started a new line of Women’s shoes, and naturally we have to carry it!

It all started in 1850, when shoemaker William J. Dudley established Dudley Shoe Company in his New Jersey home.  The company gained notoriety for crafting shoes for each President, from President Fillmore to our current President, Obama. The company went through many adjustments and three name changes, but finally emerged with the name we all know today. Through all the changes, Johnston & Murphy still holds to the same level of craftsmanship in their shoes as they did in 1850.

Over 150 years after the start of the company, Johnston and Murphy decided to add women’s shoes and accessories to the mix, including everything from drivers, to oxfords, to heels.  What makes them unique is their attention to quality. Each flat is cushioned with memory foam insoles and constructed with leather soles.  The “Claire” penny driver is even cut from one piece of suede and is lined in sheepskin!

We are now carrying three styles, in both our Annapolis and Baltimore stores, and are awaiting the arrival of another.

Stay tuned for more Johnston and Murphy to come!