Antsy Nancy – Your New Favorite Place

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My friend Heidi Yribar has officially opened her new venture, Antsy Nancy, at River Center today! The former mining exec, beauty queen and author–literally she is a bad ass– is hosting an Open House from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, so stop by if you are in the River and Craycroft neighborhood. Antsy Nancy, antsy-nancy.com, will be offering how-to skills classes and parties with all of the materials and know-how so you walk out of each class with a finished product–no stress! From charcuterie boards to hair bows to holiday decorating, this will seriously be a treasure for Tucson. Stop by if you can or check out her website!

Prada, Chloe, Burberry Scents at Tuesday Morning

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Tucked between the Halloween decorations and the creep of Christmas accessories peeking out from the corner aisle was a welcome find today at Tuesday Morning–three shelves of luxe fragrance bundles that included Prada Candy, Chloe, Coach, Burberry, Giorgio Armani and more. Clearly, as the Christmas aisle indicates, it’s not too early to be thinking of stocking stuffers!

Also, the discount store has really decadent candle selections right now. Happy Friday!

Hem & Her – A Tucson Tailor to Know

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For any of you who haven’t heard of Hem & Her, you NEED TO! I only learned about this incredible Tucson tailor this past Spring, when the winning purchase of a beautiful Cotillion dress on Poshmark ended up being a bit of a fiasco to get the right length. Procrastinator that I am, I waited until the last minute and then panicked that I had to get this dress fixed so my teen didn’t trip through the event.

So, I called Hem & Her, 4004 N Stone Ave, (520-887-4739) after the advice of another mom who raved about the business. The man who answered, the tailor’s husband Marvin, said, “Not to worry!” and told me how his incredible wife, expert seamstress Joyce Feickert, stayed up all night once fixing a wedding dress that the bride’s pit bull had destroyed before the big event. I was sold. When we walked in, she quickly ushered us back to her studio and was able to meticulously trim through every layer of tulle, and then she offered to use a beautiful thread that would finish it off.

IT WAS AMAZING. Literally, she is a genius. Now, the price was high, but worth it. (also, when you wait to the last minute, nothing ever good happens cost-wise! You’d think I would know that) For any of you beautiful moms getting your girls ready for Cotillion and Assisteens this school year, I highly recommend Hem & Her!

It’s in a house. You’re not wrong when you see it. Just look for the sign!

Game, Set, Match

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Retailers have remembered our demand for comfy and cute during the pandemic by flooding the stores with tons of loungy, matching short sets this summer that are perfect for post-pool, post-beach relaxation. The T-town choices are everywhere, from Target to TJ Maxx. Online options, on Steinmart.com (yep, it’s still alive online) and boutiques such as Red Dress Boutique are even more stylish. Definitely a trend to stock up on!

Scent of a Woman…in 100 Degrees

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It’s impossible to smell like a daisy when it’s 100 degrees in the desert.

You try, right? A shower in the morning, you’re feeling good. Then, working out and running errands in your car because it’s so much easier to get your stuff done all at once and then go home!! Before you know it, you’re sitting in a den of hot and sweaty and smelly. So, I was so excited to find these fragranced body sprays at Walgreens, ranging in price from $6.99 to $11.49. (I’m highly partial to the Ariana Grande Moonlight)

I not only spritz it all over before heading into the Tucson oven, but then pop one into my bag for touchups. Just have to say, highly effective!

Charming Charlie at La Encantada

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Charming Charlie, the fun jewelry, accessories and clothing boutique that left Tucson Mall a few years ago, has found a new landing spot at La Encantada in the former home of J. Crew. In the past, Charming Charlie was known for its clothing by color sections, which was super helpful for UA and high school sports events — hope that continues!

A Cuff Above

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There’s a certain bravery to wearing a large cuff when the current bracelet trend is clearly more delicate and stacked. But, it was Coco Chanel, by the way, who confidently asked the Italian jeweler, Duke Fulco di Verdura, to redesign her jewelry collection and he presented her with what would become the most iconic cuff of all time. Chanel would wear her Verdura Cuff constantly and it’s a piece still coveted today.

In that spirit of fearlessness and breaking the rules, ChicAcrylicCuffs on Etsy is offering its own take on the bold cuff, with jeweled emblems on smooth, crystal-clear acrylic. From the Three Rams Cuff, seen above, to versions with jeweled crowns, horses, and flowers, they range in price from $35 to $55. The quality is stunning and each piece arrives in a cute black and white box with cleaning instructions.

Your inner rebel would be proud.

Pretty in Pink at Francesca’s

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Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Some pinkalicious pieces are now front and center at Francesca’s at La Encantada!

Blush hued-dresses, blouses and tops are featured throughout the store, with some especially cute versions for Valentine’s Day! The Foothills store also has constant sales, alternating between percentage-off days and BOGO days during this pandemic winter. If pink is not your thing, there’s also a lot of camo clothing right now.

Piece by Piece Wear: From Street Chic to Luxe Lounge

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Walking into Piece by Piece Wear in St. Philip’s Plaza is nothing short of walking into your stylish best friend’s amazing closet.

And, according to owner Julie Penny, that’s entirely by design.

“It should be like shopping with your best friend,” said Penny, the engaging force—you meet her and you love her—of this Tucson boutique since the 90s. “I want it to be a great experience!”

And because Penny has customers ordering items from Piece by Piece from as far as New York and Louisiana, it’s clear that experience has cemented an incredibly loyal fan base. Her Facebook and Instagram feeds are not only filled with her luxe new arrivals, but also genuinely ecstatic reviews from first-time and longtime shoppers alike.

“My goal is whenever you get something from me, it becomes your go-to piece,” said Penny. “I want it to be like, ‘What did I wear before this?’”  Ultra-soft lines such as Sundry, Tart Intimates and sumptuous tees by JET John Eshaya are just the start. “I want it to feel soft. I touch everything. It has to be soft to start, and then I look at it.”

“It all starts with what I want to wear and what my friends want to wear,” she said. In fact, every single piece of clothing at Piece by Piece is handpicked by Penny.

A science major at DePaul University, she credits a stint at a designer consignment store for her fashionable fate. “I just fell in love with fashion.” She and her husband moved to Arizona after she joked that frost began forming inside their apartment windows in Illinois. Though they initially thought Phoenix, Tucson’s inclusive community and charm won them over. “Everyone here says hello and smiles at you.”

Penny has since been a devoted promoter of all things local. She is the exclusive carrier of Tucson designer Annie Hammer’s jewelry line and mosaic stones by Rox, another talented local artist.

When the pandemic hit and closed so many Tucson businesses, she made sure to continue selling her items online and personally delivered them to her loyal customers. “It’s what kept me alive,” she said. Even now, when she can’t travel to her usual markets because of COVID-19, she treasures her designers and representatives who come to her, even customizing their lines for what her shoppers want.

“I love shopping at Julie’s store,” said Mindy Thomas, a frequent Piece by Piece shopper. “It’s my favorite place in Tucson to get cute, on-trend pieces. I always leave with a smile on my face, spending my money locally and looking fashionable.”

Oh, and right now, there’s a rare 50% off sale going on–the perfect time to discover your new favorite store!