ANNEISE: The Coolest Shop In Long Beach.

A few weeks back I was walking around downtown Long Beach with my friend Katie looking to buy a present for my sister. As we walked along 1st street, between Elm and Linden, we noticed the coolest shop in Long Beach, called ANNEISE. We walked in and were surprised by how small the shop appeared, but impressed with the product. The clothing, accessories, and jewelry were artistic, unique, and very budget friendly. After seeing all of the clothing and accessories it was really hard narrowing down my favorite items.

 

Monochromatic Tide Dress

This was my favorite look because it's monochromatic and very simple. Gorgeous, ombre chiffon dress goes from cream to grey and features a double, asymmetrical flounce with raw edge detail.

 

 

Accessories

Oversized Frames with gradient lens really stood out along with the black leather clutch. It might be a bit hard to see from the picture but the necklaces are very artistic.

 

 

Overall, I was very impressed with the merchandise and the layout of ANNEISE. My only con was that they didn't offer men's apparel.

 

 

All pictures were provided by the owner. 

 

 



Sweet Threads: The Cutest Little Shop In Long Beach

A few months ago, a little treasure was introduced to the streets of Long Beach. Located on the corner of 4th Street and Coronado Ave, what was previously a nail solon has been transformed into an adorable, well-curated, children's clothing and vintage store,

Sweet Threads is simply adorable on the inside, with a teal, as well as black and white color scheme. If you're lucky, you might get a chance to see their matching, teal Volkswagen bus puttering around Long Beach sometime.

At first glance, one might mistake Sweet Threads as a strictly children's vintage clothing store, but all you vintage clothing junkies out there are in for a sweet surprise. This boutique not only targets the littlest consumers of fashion, but also has a lovely selection of vintage wear for ladies.

On the day I stumbled into this tiny store, I was blown away by the quality of the vintage selection, and wanted to take many things home with me. In the end I couldn't resist this mustard yellow 60s style dress with beautiful lace overlay. Did I mention that it was only 27 dollars? Sweet Threads not only has the goods, but also has the deals.

Sweet Threads is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 5:00pm. There is no parking lot, but there is plenty of street parking by the store. For those who live too far away from this store, or simply want to do some shopping not when Sweet Threads is open, they also have an online store which can be found at http://www.shopsweetthreads.com/ .

Photo Credit: Lillian Fahey and boutique owner

Blue Windows

Located in the heart of Belmont Shore, Long Beach CA, is a boutique called Blue Windows. Although it may be easy to miss and small in size, the store contains a strong fan base with extremely loyal customers. Most people would consider this boutique a "gift store", because it contains much more than just fashion apparel. Items include jewelry, cards, household products, baby items, stationary, furniture pieces, clothing, purses, and kitchen necessities. 

Did I mention they gift wrap free of charge?

If you are about to embark on the journey that is visiting Blue Windows, you must prepare yourselves for 2 things:

1. The lovely aroma that will fill your nostrils as you step inside. Due to an abundance of candles, Blue Windows has their own personal scent.
2. Cuteness overload. You thought you were creative? Think again, friends.

Before walking into the boutique, take a look at their window displays. For this Fall, you will see water colored leaves painted on scraps of book pages, posing as the backdrop behind a few mannequins. I know we're all about the DIY phase right now, but I truly believe Blue Windows secretly inspired this craze. From window creations to visual displays, everything is hand made by those who work at the boutique.

Clothing

Free People

Emu

Heather

Alternative Apparel

Jewelry
Jeanine Payer
Fruition
Melissa Joy Manning
Upper Metal Class
31 Bits

These are just some of the featured brands Blue Windows carries. Many local artists are featured at this boutique as well.

             

Jewelry may be the most purchased item at Blue Windows. Many of the pieces are customizable and extremely unique, a perfect gift for nearly everyone. And if you're a smart man, this is the place to be if you're looking to get your lady something special. The prices range from $10-$2000, so there's definitely something for everyone!

Sales are uncommon at this boutique, but they do have trunk shows and semi-annual sales throughout the year. These events allow customers to get their favorite merchandise at a discounted price.

So, have I convinced you to stop by Blue Windows the next time you're in Long Beach, CA? I wouldn't want you to miss out on a boutique as special as this one. I advise you all to shop local and support small businesses. Cheers!

This post was written by Lauren Machernis.

All photos taken by the owner, Heather Duncan & Blue Windows Sales Associate, Lauren Machernis.

Check out Blue Windows on Facebook!

Not Another Fashion Blog

To the fashion savvy individuals who love a good deal in a foreign place,

THIS BLOG IS FOR YOU!

The purpose of this blog is to discover and explore the unique boutiques found within Southern California. Posts will include everything you need to know about these stores, photos and deals included.

We love small businesses! Shop local :)