Boutique Week!

One of Cincinnati’s newest women’s fashion boutiques – Curate in Hyde Park – specializes in the curation of your closet. And boy are they curating some fashion and fun for Tri-State trendsetters this summer!

Courtney PeGan, owner of Curate Boutique in Hyde Park

Owner Courtney PeGan says she’s been keeping her finger on the posh pulse of fashion with a “Trend Watch SS14” and here, in PeGan’s own words, are her five favorite trends hitting shelves now:

All White This summer, white is having a serious moment. White on white outfits look so luxurious and put together. And perhaps my favorite way to wear this trend is pairing white pants with an ivory or off white jacket or sweater.

White on white

The Soft Pant The skinny pant has had its hey day, and now the pant silhouette pendulum is swinging the other direction to bring back a whole new crop of more relaxed, wider leg, flowy pants. This summer, the “soft pant” is all the rage. The soft pant is a more relaxed fit, flowy, lightweight pant that can look just as perfect for evening out on the town as it does for a beachy getaway.

The “Mom” Jean The “Mom” Jean Of all the ’90s trends happening right now — crop tops, Birkenstocks, overalls — the relaxed fit jean is by far my favorite. The “mom” jean is basically a new spin on the “boyfriend” jean with a relaxed leg and slightly higher (but not “highwaisted” waist) Doesn’t the thought of donning a pair of easy, relaxed denim sound intriguing? The trick to getting the look right is all in the styling. Pair with an easy t shirt and birkenstocks for a classic 90s casual look or wear with a tank top and blazer with dressier accessories for a more polished look.

Graphic Prints Prints and patterns are fun way to jazz up your summer wardrobe. From architectural black and whites to aztec tribal prints to the updated floral patterns, we are seeing prints everywhere this summer. If prints make you feel nervous, just pair a printed pant with a solid top for an updated, no-risk style!

Minimalism All trends seem to have an equal and opposite counterpart trend to balance our the season, and one of our favorites is minimalist sheath dresses and the return of basics. We have seen so many designers releasing classic, timeless pieces in clean silhouettes. These styles are great additions to your wardrobe because they can be dressed up or down depending on how you accessorize them.

Soft pant with graphic print

Honorable Mentions:
– Sunkissed denim: This summer the lighter the denim, the better! Although we love a dressy, dark indigo wash jean, the light blues this summer are such a fun update.
– The Kimono: We think kimonos are the most glamorous everyday piece you can add to your wardrobe. While this may only be a micro-trend this year, it is one that we think you should go for! Kimonos look amazing over shorts and a basic tank AND over a maxi dress for a more bohemian look.
– Embellished Details: From hints of metallic sparkle to bejeweled accents on a more basic knit top, these accented pieces add just the right amount of fashionable flair to your look.

“You can shop these styles for yourself at two big local boutique events coming up,” PeGan says. “Curate is participating in both, and we’re really excited about them!”

Mom jeans

The first is the Hyde Park Shop Hop this Saturday, June 14 from 3-6pm. The event starts at Leeli + Lou, a women’s fashion boutique that just opened in April 2014. There, participants will get a complimentary swag bag and “Passport” with a list of local shops to visit. Once the Passport is stamped at all of the listed locations, participants take it to Unwind Wine Bar on Michigan Ave. by 6pm to be entered to win a $500 Prize Pack, including gift certificates and items from various businesses on Hyde Park Square. Stores participating in the Shop Hop include: Leeli + Lou, Curate Boutique, Nest, 45/46 Fine Men’s Apparel, Knickers of Hyde Park, and Unwind Wine Bar. The event is free and open to the public. Click here to RSVP.

The second event PeGan suggests you slate on your couture calendar is the summer Cincinnati Boutique Sale (CBS). The semi-annual sale is taking place July 18-20 in the former BlockBuster Space next to McDonald’s in the Hyde Park Plaza. Typically, there’s a $5 suggested donation for admission for all three days. This year, the charity group is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The sale started in the summer of 2007 when a group of local women’s boutique owners decided to partner together and pool their sale merchandise into one convenient, central location. Since the sale’s inception, the event has grown to attract a crowd of more than 3,000 shoppers.

While the list of businesses participating in the summer CBS has not yet been released, CBS has previously featured 14-20 local boutiques under one roof for a one-stop-shopping experience with discounts of up to a staggering 80%. To stay updated on more CBS event details as they become available, visit www.cincinnatiboutiquesale.com or “like” them on Facebook.