Dear J Crew,

Excuse the sloppy picture but this dress I bought from you last summer is so voluminous I had trouble cramming myself in a corner of my room to fit it all in my viewfinder. I want to say that this is one of my most favorite purchases ever. I love finding an article of clothing you either wear relentlessly for a couple seasons until it's lifeless (and by lifeless I mean gross), or one that you pull out randomly season after season and love. It can be $5.00 or $500.00 but it becomes priceless. That is this dress. In all its impractical glory (90 layers, drags, and weighs about 50 pounds) I love wearing it. Something you did when you cut this linen was genius - I legitimately get stopped by nothing short of 8 strangers on the streets to tell me what a great dress it is every time I wear it. This is NOT a reflection of me - certainly doesn't happen in any other garment I wear - this is a reflection of you. Likewise, I am obsessed with this dress from your site :
However, I can't spend $1200.00 on a dress. Both can be worn casually and formally, and both are so very darling. Here at Dakota Martin we strive to have those repeat offender pieces. I hope someday someone tells me they wore something to death of mine with love.

Best,
Lizzy

Color.

I love color. I think I've mentioned before that among my top 5 classes at Bates College was Color Theory. So interesting to see how one color changes another, or what goes into a shade. So I love finding color combination that happen organically. Like maybe you're chopping up vegetables and you look down in your white lined trash bag and there is a brilliant orange next to a really deep green you wouldn't have thought of on your own. This morning I had one of those aha moments. With a bright but faded blue towel on my head, and a seafoam towel wrapped around my shoulders I sipped my coffee out of a twilight colored Starbucks mug...and caught a quick glimpse of myself in the mirror and was loving the unity. So calming, and so beachy. Like a nice morning ocean wave. So after dressing I threw everything on the bed so you could enjoy it too (thought I'd spare you a self portrait in my towel in the early am).

Casual Fridays

There's nothin like 'em. I have a long running joke about casual Fridays ever since a professor in college (who shall remain nameless) showed up in brown old school-elastic bottom sweatpants pulled up over his belly with a t-shirt tucked in. I mean really? Anyway - I digress. Shannon and I just got in some new logo covered goods to show off our gorgeous Bucks. Hot stuff right? Nothing beats a classic hoody and a trucker hat... If youre lucky one is coming your way. Enjoy your weekend!

345 days

Until the next fourth of July :). And here is a picture from our Newport shoot we'll be promoting at that time. How hot is Alana? And how beautiful is this little secret garden?? Total slice of heaven. On this rainy thursday I'm working away on linesheets (itemized pictures of our garments with info for stores like sizing, fabrication, colors, ship date and wholesale price) for our upcoming spring 09 shows. Ports did another phenomonal job, but I don't want to give away too much of the new line!

And I'm back...

So sorry for my absence! I've been moving and am slowly returning to the human race. Here is a cute pic (though hard to see) that was published in the Lankenau (hospital) leaders mailer. If you look close there is Shannon and her sister Annie, 4th from the top, sporting and showing our wears. The picture was taken at the second annual Lankenau Boutique, which was a fabulous trunk show/cocktail party this spring, we were honored to participate in.

Dear Celebrities,

Our scarf tops are now carried by Lisa Kline. Please purchase one during your next, store-closed-just-for-you-shades-down shopping sprees, and wear it out of the store for all the paparazzi to see.

Thanks so much,

Lizzy & Shannon

That's a wrap.

We promised Ports we would never clap after a shoot, but maybe I can say that's a wrap? Another season's photo sesh has come and gone. The five of us had a great time in Rhode Island. Here are a few shots from it...


Our model looking bright eyed and bushy-tailed after a late night drive north, and Jenny hard at work with a curling iron.

Ports working in the hot sun on the Hamilton's garden veranda in Newport, RI

The precious view from my grandmother's porch. Wait till you guys see the shots we took on it!!

Always Accessorize.

Today we are off to Newport and Jamestown, Rhode Island for our spring 09 lifestyle shoot. In past shoots Shannon and I have always accessorized our line with our own bags, shoes and Jewels. We were told before our first shoot that we should hire a stylist... Not only could we not afford one, but we did not understand why this would be necessary. We were creating clothes for ourselves, why wouldn't we know how to accessorize and style them? Well this time we're stepping it up (we figured we had to match the step up in loca) and called a few fellow designers to ask to borrow their goods for our shoot. The shoes are all still ours... However, this winter we did a trunk show with Kelly of KEP designs, and Kristin of Kage Handbags. Not only did we adore these girls, but we have long lusted after their goods. The churn out absolutely fabulous products that couldn't match our look more perfectly. So if you don't already know them, check them out. And look for them next spring when you get to see the pics we're taking this weekend ;). In the meantime we'll be talking ourselves into putting the samples back in boxes to return and not keeping them for ourselves.

Our Dearest Alana.

Sometimes I like to share the faces behind Dakota Martin (think Renee, Jenny, Laurie, the list of people we could thank goes on and on), but today I want to share/thank the face OF Dakota Martin, our tireless, sweet, giving, model-who-isn't-really-a-model, Alana Aaron. For the past 4 seasons Alana has willingly volunteered her Saturday afternoons off from teaching at a public elementary school in Co-op City (that's the Bronx) to smile for countless hours in a windowless studio for the good of our line and our brand. Her Julieann Moore / J Crew looks are priceless and she fits in our samples like they were sewn onto her bod.I tell her over and over again that she is the greatest and the best and that we can't thank her enough, but she brushes it off like it is no big deal, and words don't really do the trick for the thanks we owe her. I met Alana here in NYC when she became Jenny's roommate, through friends. She has been a dear to me since, and one of few girls I truly count on the list of close friends I have met post college. Here are just a few of Alana's shining moments from past seasons. Tomorrow we're kidnapping her, Jenny (hair/makeup), Ports (photographer), and Teacake (team DM pup) to Jamestown Rhode Island (my favorite spot on earth) where we will shoot spring 09. DM is long overdue for a lifestyle shoot and we thought there is no better place. Thanks Lana for being so giving with no expectations. You're the best!

Summer Scarves.

We just wanted to share the versatility of the scarf top and compliment the girls who maximize their purchases. Here is Rachel Estepa wearing the fuchsia scarf top, and Miss Jillian Fraker utilizing the necklace solo, as a piece of jewelry. DM Scarf : garment and accessory in one pic!

We happened to run into Rachel in Nantucket this weekend (where she is pictured here) at Something Natural - best sandwiches on the island. She says she never leaves home without a scarf! Stay tuned for more pics in our "photos" section tomorrow. Should be a bunch, Ive been terrible with the upkeep. Oops.

G squared.

Ginger sent me this article from the New York Times (thanks for thinkin of me Regine!). I'm not going to lie, I am entertained by the show. And most girls I know love it. According to the article though, no matter how many of us like it, not many are watching consistant basis, and the show has mediocre ratings. What the article is really addressing though is what you see above (image taken from nytimes.com) -- fashion. And being raised collar and kilt girls we love this! Anything encouraging Shannon's and my faves -- knee socks, popped collars, and driving loafers -- what's not to love. We're thrilled to see what an influence these pint size fashionistas (and the stylists behind them) are having on runways everywhere. Everyone is just realizing what Shannon and I have always known to be true... Preppy is here to stay, and thank goodness. And an important note (because I had NO idea), is that you can do point and click shopping on CW's website... How lucky are these designers to be dressing Sarina Vanderwoodson - maybe we'll send her a poncho ;) it is right up her park avenue alley!

Interiors.

I'm in the process of moving so I have interiors on my mind. For instance, I was in Nantucket for the 4th, at an amazing dinner at Lola 41. Eating yummy sushi, drinking delicious wine, and chattering away with my friends, and what do I take a picture of?? The faucet in the bathroom. Cool though, right? I also made Jodi take a picture of their sangria - breathtaking pale wine color with deep blueberries and apples. Wish I had it to show you. But in all seriousness interiors speak to me like clothing does. They are artistic canvases that you should use to surround yourselves with beauty and personality. Things that comfort you and speak to you. It's not about materiality or showing off. I've also been lusting after Jill Malek wallpaper since seeing her on Daily Candy. I'm thinking about aphrodite or flux for a bathroom?? Love that she is a local Brooklyn designer! Here is a few swatches of her paper from her website -

Happy July!

Here is my Linda & Harriett calender as it sits on my bulletin board. Right above my head. At the desk where I sit everyday. And I completely missed out on June!! I just looked up and saw that I was still on May. While I was devastated to pass over ants marching on a picnic table cloth (doesn't get more June than that), I was quickly cheered by these fire engine red fireworks. Nothing is better to me than the fourth of July. It is my favorite holiday along with Thanksgiving. Red, white and blue, flags, fireworks, friends and bbqs are all I need in life. Shannon and I head out of town to Nantucket tomorrow so you'll have to excuse my absence. Please sing the Star Spangled Banner, wear red, white and blue, eat watermelon and corn-on-the-cob, light sparklers, and watch fireworks - preferably from directly underneath (I LOVE when it feels like they are falling on me!) See you next week! xo