Introducing Mina + Olya SS14 Collection

Their story:: Co-founders Mina Yazdi and Olya Dzilikhova first met as colleagues in 2008 at a leading financial and communications consulting firm in San Francisco. After swiftly becoming close friends, they joined together with a shared vision and passion for fashion and sustainability that would ultimately lead to the debut of their ready-to-wear label mina+olya, in 2011. 

This is our second season with the talented designers and excited to debut their new gorgeous Spring collection.  Stop by and see the beautiful pieces in store or online

Sherri with the designers at the Fall fashion show benefitting Oakland Elizabeth House
Mina Yazdi, Sherri McMullen, Olya Dzilikhova

Introducing Lizzie Fortunato SS14 Collection

Each season, I travel to market finding the best designers for McMullen.   In some cases, something so beautiful happens and I fall head over heels in love with a designer and their work.  This happened with Marcus and David from Rag & Bone and with Andrea Lieberman for ALC when I bought their first collections and watched their brands grow and evolve into what they are today.  

I have the same feeling about designer, Lizzie Fortunato and her twin sister, Kathryn Fortunato.  They are incredibly talented and ever so grounded that you want to spend hours talking with them about their love for travel and their inspiration.  

I first bought Lizzie Fortunato in 2012 and each season, I watch it get better and better.  Last year, they introduced Italian leather handbags with intricate beading and whimsical details like hearts, lips, bananas and other spirited motifs.  They also happen to be my personal go-to jewelry when I have an event, travel or just want a special piece to wear with a simple cotton button down shirt. 

This season, Lizzie focuses on two stories: The Shibuya story and the Naoshimi story.  

 See her collection below and at McMullen in store or online

LOOK 20 CHOKER    

THE NEW BLUE NECKLACE    

MODERN KYOTO NECKLACE    

FISHERMAN'S HAUNT NECKLACE    

THE SCHOOLGIRL MINI IN BLACK & WHITE EMBOSS    

PORT OF CALL CLUTCH IN SUSHI BUN    

PORT OF CALL CLUTCH IN NAVY SPORT    

SAFARI CLUTCH IN MONET    

SAFARI CLUTCH IN BUZZ    

SAFARI CLUTCH IN NAOSHIMA LADDER    

xo

McMullen

Getting to Know Our Designers :: Clover Canyon

L.A based  label Clover Canyon, epitomizes the adventurous spirit of California with its bold, bright prints, and effortless style. 

Head designer Rozae Nichols uses her many travels across America and Europe as the inspiration for her prints, which include everything from abstract low riders to the grand canyon to Russian china.

Pair these beautiful and eye catching prints with super soft neoprene fabrication, and you have the ultimate in chic, California style. Clover Canyon keeps their silhouettes simple, relying on clean lines and great fit to showcase the prints. 

All pieces are designed, cut, and sewn in house in Los Angeles, making them a true California label. 

Clover Canyon describes their style as "jubilant", fresh and happy, creating a high fashion look with just the right amount of originality and quirk. Their pieces become a piece of art, an adventure for the viewer, and bring humor and inspire the imagination for the wearer.

Clover Canyon's Fall 2013 collection looks at Russian landscapes and architecture for inspiration. Traditional Russian china, the snowy winter landscape, and even the Kremlin make an appearance. Look for pieces from their fall in-store and see below for more shopping details.

Shop Clover Canyon Fall 2013 Collection

in-store

or call

510.658.6906

for more information.

xo

McMullen

Getting to Know Our Designers :: DulkinysDavis

Based in both San Francisco and Berlin, DulkinysDavis produces a chic and modern alternative

for fashionable women who want to stray away from mass produced items made in other countries. 

With a focus on leather, modernity, and U.S based production (including a factory in Oakland), DulkinysDavis is dedicated to both 

style and substance. 

Susanna Dulkinys, a branding and communication design specialist, joined forces with Martha Davis, a San Fransiscan with 25+ years in industrial design experience, to create an alternative fashion label centered around leather basics and high quality materials.

The designs are simple, focusing on essential silhouettes with a modern edge and twist. Each piece creates an easy chicness with a touch of luxury that can only come from the finest leather. 

Their pieces are both unexpected and at the same time "uniquely refined and appropriate". 

We love their take on the leather bomber, along with their curve hugging pencil skirt and trousers.

With style, function, and substance, DulkinysDavis is quickly becoming one of our favorite labels for the upcoming fall season. 

See an interview with Martha Davis below, as well as information on how to shop DulkinysDavis.

McMullen: A big part of your mission statement is to provide style and substance by producing within the U.S. Why is this important to the DulkinysDavis Brand?

Martha Davis: Because there is so much junk hurled at consumers anymore and luxury has become disposable. we believe in investing in things that have meaning and are lasting- things that have a story behind them and are made with quality and care. we source the finest materials available globally and on a small scale produce locally so we can control quality 

 

MM: What is the best part about working mainly with leather? What inspired leather

to become center stage for the brand?

 

MD: Leather has inherent value - it is durable, warm, breathable, resilient, and is more structural than fabric. It doesn't have a weave so patterns  can be placed with maximum economy. It doesn't need to be finished. Edges can be left raw. It is the ultimate strong and sexy!

 

MM: What are 3 essential pieces every woman needs in her wardrobe?

 

MD: 1. The blouson, which is like an uber sweatshirt - comfy, just the right casual and totally cool.

2. The trouser, the super modern track pant.

3. The zip skirt, what can I say? It makes every booty look amazing!

 

Shop DulkinysDavis in-store 

or call 510.658.6906

for more information.

xo

 

McMullen 

Getting to Know Our Designers :: Epice

When customers come into the store looking for a little something extra 

to brighten up their outfit, we love showing them beautiful scarves from Epice. Each piece is a wearable work of art, with beautiful and whimsical prints that inspire a Parisian-like chicness for the wearer. 

Bess Nielson, co-founder and Creative Director of Epice, graduated from The Design School in Copenhagen, and then combined her design skills with her love of Indian art and textiles (along with some inspiration from her many years living in France), to create the Epice line of scarves, bags, and sweaters. Using a Scandinavian approach to her designs, Nielson created a purposeful, simple, and elegant line of easy-to-wear accessories that are coveted the world over. 

Jan Machenhauer, co-founder and designer for Epice, also received his education at the Design School in Copenhagen, and collaborated with Bess on numerous projects before founding Epice with her in 1999. Jan heads the Epice design team in Copenhagen, and applies his keen eye for detail, as well as an obsession with perfection to the line. 

We love the versatility of Epice scarves, from a pant suit to jeans and a favorite t-shirt. The artistic prints and beautiful linen and silk textiles provide a sense of everyday luxury.

Stop by McMullen to shop 

the Spring 2013 Epice collection

or shop online at

http://shopmcmullen.com/designer/epice/ .

 

xo

McMullen 

Getting to Know Our Designers :: Veronica Beard

Sisters-in-law Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard decided to combine forces to create a brand that could bring women modern, beautiful clothing, while simplifying the activity of dressing for women with busy lifestyles. 

In 2010, the Veronica's used their backgrounds in finance and fashion to launch Veronica Beard, their eponymous line now famous for their tailoring and perfect blazers. 

The sisters-in-law wanted to create a "uniform" for women like them who do it all. 

Between the two of them, they raise 8 children while building their fashion brand. 

They wanted to create an easy to wear, effortless style that would appeal to the modern working woman and mom. They did just that with their iconic blazer (complete with interchangeable dickies), and launched themselves into a full ready to wear sportswear brand.

Each piece in their collections acts as a "cornerstone" to a woman's wardrobe, fit to be worn alone, and easily incorporated into an existing wardrobe. Their prints are subtle and fun, their silhouettes are impeccable, and their styling is modern and easy.

We love that they are a team of sisters (in-law), and how effortlessly their pieces work for a busy lifestyle. 

See an exclusive interview with Veronica and Veronica and McMullen below, 

as well as details on shopping the collection.

McMullen: What is the best part about working with family? has it brought you closer?

Veronica Miele Beard: I can honestly say that I have a sister now after working with my sister-in-law.  We are so close that she was the first to know when I was pregnant with my last baby.  I tried to keep it from her because we had just started the business but she is that perceptive!!  On a more serious note, working with family can be heartfelt.  Even though we might fight it out (in a good way) on some design or business decisions, I never feel alone.  For us, sharing the VB brand is what family is all about!

Veronica Swanson Beard: I am one of 3 girls and my sisters are my best friends. VMB is my fourth sister from another mother. Working together makes all of it so much more worth it!

MM: Veronica Beard focuses on simplifying the way a woman dresses.  How does this concept shape the designs and collections? 

VMB: We design for the superwoman of today who does it all and wants to look gorgeous in any situation.  Iconic layering pieces like the jacket with upstate dickey or staples like the scuba legging with the silk/lace tunic are examples of key pieces every woman should have.  

VSB: Our motto is “we are our customer.” We have to love it and want to wear the clothes we design. We always think about how to make pieces that we can wear to a meeting for work and then go straight to a dinner. 

MM: Which do you prefer? Spring sunshine or spring showers?    

VMB: I love the fashion worn during a spring shower.  Umbrellas are a fantastic accessory and every girl looks good in a spring weight trench/raincoat!

VSB: Both! Spring took forever to arrive in NYC so I’m even relishing the allergies that go with the flowers. 

MM: What are your go-to outfits for a breezy spring day?

VMB: The army jacket (mine has some bling on it) over the amethyst tile print peasant dress.  Style it with a raffia open toe bootie or a strappy sandal.

VSB: Short suit with heels or a blazer thrown over a dress

MM: What are some specific inspirations that led to the spring 2013 collection?

VMB: The color palate and prints are reminiscent of the colors of Morocco.  

The best fitting jacket is a beige chainmail cotton/linen schoolboy with silk hoodie dickey.  Style with the beige chainmail trek pant and you have a blank canvas for a brightly colored shoe or bag.      

  

VSB: We were inspired by the colors of Morocco; Rich, sexy and vivid.

Stop by McMullen to shop the Veronica Beard Spring 2013

collection

or call 510.658.6906

for more information.

xo

 McMullen  

 

 

       

 

Getting to Know Our Designers :: Melissa Joy Manning

Melissa Joy Manning began her highly coveted and eponymous line in 1997

after seeing one of her designs on a t.v sitcom. 

Manning had studied traditional silversmithing in Mexico, design in Barcelona, art history in 

San Diego, and jewelry design and sculpture in San Francisco.

A bay area native, Manning took her extensive background in the arts and applied it to her true passion, creating beautiful, heirloom style pieces that combine the traditional with the modern.

Her aesthetic crosses many genres, and her inspirations from traveling, art, and different cultures shine through in her designs. They range from simple and delicate 14k gold and mixed metal chains to large statement pieces featuring raw cut crystals and stones.

Manning lets her materials speak for themselves, allowing the gems or metals to become the focal point in order to show their natural beauty. 

Melisa believes her pieces speak to the individual rather than the masses. Each piece is special and unique becoming "not an accessory, but an expression", as Manning says of her work. 

Mannings materials also come from social and environmentally sustainable vendors

and are handmade to order in her Berkeley based studio.

We love Mannings attention to natural beauty, as well as her range of style and choice. Each piece is truly unique, and we love how her pieces stand out when worn alone, and the bold statement they create when layered together.

Stop by McMullen to shop the Melissa Joy Manning collection and find the perfect Mother's Day gift, or a pretty treat for yourself.

See limited styles online at 

http://shopmcmullen.com/designer/melissa_joy_manning/

or call 

510.659.6906 

for more information on Melissa Joy Manning.

 

xo

McMullen