Spotted: Orchid Grey

Congratulations to Julie of Orchid Grey who just got married and shared her adorable engagement photos with us on her blog! We're crazy about how she paired our (now sold out) Parade Necklace with a vintage-inspired dress and chunky heels! It's the perfect look for the location they shot at-- a Massachusetts arcade.




TOO CUTE. Congrats, guys!

Suit Up!

There's something about a man in a good suit, isn't there? Especially a perfectly tailored tweed suit with a splash of color like the ones James Marsden is wearing here. He looks masculine and sexy but like he could still make you laugh. It's not often we ladies get the pleasure of seeing a gentleman in a suit (especially where we're from- the perpetually warm and uber-casual Orange County) so let's take a moment to appreciate:




Can't you just see him throwing his jacket over a puddle for you to walk across? Although hopefully you'd stop him because that is a GOOD jacket. Priorities, girls.

Painted Ladies

We are so in love with this photograph by Barbara Cole. How gorgeous are those full tulle skirts in cotton candy colors?

Back-to-School Dresses

There's something about stripes and the color blue that just feels so back-to-school, don't you think? When you're making that exciting jump into September, you need dresses that are cute, unfussy, and will make a good first impression. Here we've scouted out the perfect ones from Spotted Moth:



How cute would those look with a shiny red apple? Or better yet, these puppies:

August Shoot

Here are some pictures from the August photo shoot where I was the model! It took place at Laguna Beach around 7:30 in the morning. I had to get up extra early to turn my hair into that bird's nest that you see (probably the earliest I've woken up since high school-- brutal!). But the good thing about being there at that time was that it was practically empty... except for two dudes sitting on the sand that insisted on watching me pose. It was so awkward I could not stop laughing! It definitely reminded me why I could never be a "real" model (that and the fact that I'm about a foot too short). Oh well, we had a great time!

Candy-Bow-Tie Cupcakes

We love this adorable cupcake idea from Martha Stewart. The bow is made of fruit roll-up!



How to: Dip tops of cupcakes in royal icing, letting excess drip off, then let stand until set. Unroll fruit leather, and cut strips 1 1/4 inches wide and 6 inches long. Fold ends in toward the center, forming a 3-inch piece. Cut another strip 1/4 inch long and 1/2 inch wide. Wrap strip around center of folded piece, scrunching to form a bow. Press on top of cupcake, seam side down. Repeat.

Mary Blair

I recently went to Disneyland and saw the Mary Blair exhibit at the Disney Gallery. Mary Blair was the woman who did the concept art and color styling for the "It's a Small World" ride (also for the films Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella). We've always been obsessed with the ride so getting to learn about the woman behind it and seeing some of her original drawings was a dream come true!







Isn't it magical? It's like the colors she used don't even exist anymore. Props to Walt for recognizing her talent and giving her such awesome opportunities to showcase it. Disneyland and Disney movies would not be the same without her!

Contest Winner!

Congratulations, Miss Sweet Tea! You are the winner of the Rendezvous Clutch! To claim your prize please contact us at info(at)spottedmoth.com.
Thanks for sharing all your fun back-to-school wishes with us, everyone!

One Skirt, Two Ways

One of our favorite new arrivals is the Bandit Skirt in Stripes by BB Dakota. It is a go-to item in my closet because of how versatile it is!




My first look is pretty casual with a simple T-shirt, funky necklace, and fringe wedges. I would wear this out shopping or on a lunch date with girlfriends.

1. Shirt- Urban Outfitters
2. Skirt- Spotted Moth
3. Bag- Spotted Moth
4. Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell
5. Necklace- Found somewhere in Portland, Oregon.




The second look is a bit more dressed up. In retrospect, I probably should have chosen a different blouse because the ruffles in the front of this one aren't exactly discreet tucked into the skirt. It makes me look like I have somewhat of a food baby... a lumpy food baby. I also could have just untucked it, which still would have looked nice belted. But I didn't, so you just have to deal with the bunchiness, ladies and gentlemen.

1. Shirt- Forever 21
2. Belt- H&M
3. Bracelet- Forever 21
4. Skirt- Spotted Moth
5. Shoes- Steve Madden
6. Earrings- Spotted Moth

I can think of about a million more ways to style this fabulous skirt and it is so comfortable I could just live in it.
How would you wear it?

Transcendental Wayfaring

We are so in love with these photos by Dylan Culhane:






Dreamy right?

Giveaway: Rendezvous Clutch

We may not all be heading back to school this fall, but it's always fun to pretend since this is one of the best excuses to shop of the year!

Leave a comment below telling us your must have "back-to-school" item for 20l1. Each commenter will be entered for a chance to win this adorable clutch!
For an added entry follow our blog. One lucky winner will be chosen at random next Wednesday. Good luck!

Contest open to residents of US and Canada only.

Shop Progress

Here is a little peek at the latest updates to our retail space. We installed wooden beams to bring down the height of the ceiling and add a rustic feeling, two dressing rooms, and our office wall and door.





Our build outs will be all finished by next week. Then comes the fun part- decorating and merchandising! We can't wait!

Beauty Tutorial: Face Mask

We went shopping at our local health food store over the weekend and found this face mask we had to try. It's called "Aztec Secret" and on the front of the container it claims to be the "World's Most Powerful Facial." We are sort of stick-to-what-we-know girls when it comes to beauty products but we liked that this mask is natural (100% Calcium Bentonite Clay) and it just sounded way too mystical to pass up!



What you'll need:
2. Spoon
3. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
4. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (We like Bragg Organic)
5. Your lovely face!

Mix equal parts clay and vinegar in the bowl and stir:



Soon you'll achieve that nice, gooey texture and you can smooth it over your face. The mask will begin to dry quickly so try to spread a thick layer evenly and all at once (I did it a little thin in some areas and when I tried to add more a minute later it got real chunky).



Viola! Note the awkward pursed lips-- it's not easy to smirk when your face is experiencing mild paralysis. A few minutes in, things started to get exciting. See, I didn't believe the back of the jar when it said "FEEL YOUR FACE PULSATE!" perhaps because I didn't want to-- call me crazy but I find the thought of my face pulsating rather alarming. But suddenly, it was. I felt a subtle twitch in my nose and something like hundreds of tiny rubber-bands gently snapping against my skin. It kept pulling tighter and tighter and after about 5 minutes the only function my face retained was the ability to blink. The directions recommend to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes for delicate skin and 15-20 for normal skin. I rinsed it off after 10 to be safe, plus it was starting to feel so tight that I worried I was going to end up looking like this:



Alas, I did not. But my pores were completely cleansed and noticeably refined. My skin was a little rosy in some spots but didn't stay that way for long. Overall it was a fun experiment with a positive end result. I reckon it's not often that the Aztecs share their secrets, so I say you all get in on this one!

The Holstee Manifesto

Meet the Photographer

We've been working with our super-talented photographer Maile Roseland for six months now and we absolutely love her personality, her creative vision, and of course- the finished product of her work! So I wanted to give you a little glimpse at the girl behind the lens:



Christina: How long have you been interested in photography?
Maile: I've been doing photography since I got my first digital camera at 15 years old. I really started to get serious with it as a senior in high school though.

C: What inspires you?
M: I'm inspired by nature. I love the sea, especially. I love old things and little bits of history. I'm the weirdo who sits there wonders how old each grain of sand is.

C: What are your favorite things to take pictures of?
M: I love taking pictures of girls in natural settings. Always with natural light. I've always taken pictures in the evening, but I'm learning to love the morning light as well.



C: Any hobbies besides photography?
M: My hobbies include pressing leaves and flowers and gardening when I have the time. I also like to collect sea glass, shells and rocks.

C: How would you describe your personal style?
M: My personal style is really simple. I don't wear a lot of jewelry or accessorize very much. The majority of my closet is composed of dresses.

C: What are your favorite Spotted Moth items?



Left to right:
McGillicuddy Dress- $52.99
Limoncello Dress- $59.99
Lunch Date Skirt- $34.99
Soda Fountain Blouse- $34.99

click here to "like" Maile on Facebook!

Heat Wave: What To Wear

It's hard to find the will to be stylish when it's 100 degrees out, isn't it? After all, you can't even put on makeup because it's just going to sweat off mid-application. So why bother with a cute outfit when it's going to stick to your back and make you feel even more uncomfortable?

But being chic in summer isn't impossible. The solution? Wearing something light-as-air. Here's 5 perfect dresses for when you just don't feel like getting dressed:

These are our favorites because they're sleeveless, short, and a little loose. They'll make you forget you're wearing anything at all until people stop to tell you how great you look. And now you're not sweating- you're glowing.

Left to right:

Oh Barnacles! Dress in Navy $34.99

Parisian Weekend Dress $58.99

Delphi Dress $49.99

Patchwork Pastiche Dress $44.99

Domesticity Dress $36.99

Shop Progress

Our retail space is coming along! This is what the store looked like in June when the previous owner vacated:

Since then we've had new flooring put in and painted the walls silvery white and the ceiling dark brown.

We're so excited to start getting our fixtures installed this week. It's beginning to feel like home!

Want to follow our shop progress? Become a fan on Facebook.