MetroMix recently put together a short television segment about shopping along the Pearl Street Mall and we were lucky enough to be included! Check out this video and see what you think- we’ve got our fabulous owner Debra Mazur talking into a mirror (?!) and some cute CU girls modeling our most amazing outfits.
AND- you know how sometime you can’t really trust what you see on TV? Well, just to let you know, after they finished shooting the segment they came back to the store to buy the very clothes they were talking about! That’s pretty cool, nothing fake here!
Winter Toast! No, it is not another recipe of ours for some sort of hearty, bread based appetizer. Here, “toast” means to celebrate and on Thursday, December 3rd that’s exactly what we plan to do (and you’re invited!)
The Winter Toast is actually an annual event held for the past several years in which the businesses along Platte street in Denver host an afternoon (5pm – 8pm) of delight for their loyal customers. If you are not a customer, don’t worry, this event is for you as well- to get to know this charming neighborhood and all it has to offer.
Common Era will be participating, as usual, with our fabulous finger foods and fierce fashion advice from a professional expert, Tina Gill of worthwhile style. Tina was at the Denver Common Era for our Girl’s Night Out event last September, giving advice on flattering colors, styles, and dressing for your body type.
And while you browse our newest winter gear, you may also revel at our Winter Window Display. 303 magazine is documenting a project that will take place across all of Denver this holiday season (not just Platte Street) in which they showcase the amazing window displays that Denver’s creative geniuses put together. They will be at Common Era filming (we are told) so if you’d like to get in on the action be sure to dress cute (duh) and maybe stand in front of our window display with this sort of doe-eyed look and point one trembling finger while with your other gloved hand you cover your mouth as if to say “I’ve never seen anything quite so beautiful.” That’s sure to please. Then you can go around bragging about how you were in a documentary, something very few people will be able to trump.
Oh- and once you have eaten your fair share of crackers, cheese and fruit and after you have gotten advice from Tina and Deb about whether or not you can pull off 4 inch long earrings, you will pleased to know that there are also discounts. Discounts! At the register you can dip your hand into a magical jar and pull out an instant coupon of between 10% off and 30% off!! Could it get any better? Well, considering Rob Pattinson turned down our invite to join in on the fun, I guess the answer is no, it doesn’t get any better than this. That is, until December 4th, when we’ll do it all over again in Boulder, only with OPEN STUDIO CRAFT TIME!!!
First Friday! While Boulder may not be the fashion capital of the world, (or even Colorado for that matter), you wouldn’t know it from walking into Common Era on 16th and Pearl. And to celebrate our dedication to fashion forward thinking, Friday, December 4th we’re having a party (and you’re invited!)
First Friday is actually a monthly walking tour of participating Boulder art galleries that has widened its scope to include shops along the East End of Pearl and any other local businesses who feel like hosting a monthly event.
Common Era will be participating, as usual, with our fabulous finger foods and fierce fashion advice from a professional expert, Tina Gill of worthwhile style. Tina was at the Denver Common Era for our Girl’s Night Out event last September, giving advice on flattering colors, styles, and dressing for your body type. Unlike our Denver event the day before (Winter Toast) we will also be blessed with the presence of Sameera Ahmed, who will be offering makeup tips and touch ups.
And while you browse our newest winter gear, you may also revel at our Winter Window Display. 303 magazine is documenting a project that will take place across all of Denver this holiday season in which they showcase the amazing window displays that Denver’s creative geniuses put together. While this project does not involve Boulder, we at the Common Era Boulder store decided to participate anyways. I mean, come on! We have about 1000 feet of window space on a busy downtown corner. We’d be crazy not to take this opportunity to really wow all Boulder residents lucky enough to stroll by Pearl and 16th, not just our loyal customers.
But let’s not forget the most amazing thing about this day, and the main difference between our Boulder and Denver events- OPEN STUDIO. For those of you who know our Boulder store you may have noticed that this year we did some serious renovating! With a more open floor plan and decidedly more modern dark wood dressing rooms we are investing in our image and the customer experience. In fact- that’s why we’ve added a whole new section of the store which is used as a “workroom” of sorts. Complete with work tables, shelves full of knick-knacks, glue, sparkles, magazines, yarn for crocheting and sewing machines, the only thing you need to bring is your inspiration. The workshop will be open all day for you to make your own projects with our materials (for a nominal fee). From necklaces and earrings to card cases, pill boxes and appliques, we provide you with everything you need to walk out of Common Era with your own, unique, hand-made product.
Some come on in and give it a try! We will also have our OPEN STUDIO WORKSHOP every Monday for you to come back again and again. And just in case you need any more reason to show up: you will receive from 10% to 30% off of any purchases at the register when you reach into our magical jar. I’m just saying.
I remember back in 2003 when I first heard the word “blog.” I laughed hysterically- it seemed like a word that hadn’t developed naturally, but rather was invented by marketers after many weeks of focus groups. It’s like the difference between “brunch” and “linner.” “Brunch” sounds natural, delicious and appropriate. “Linner,” on the other hand, sounds as though a middle schooler were trying really hard to be cool by coming up with his own slang. And, to me, the word “blog” sounded the same way. Just silly.
However, I have been proven wrong- as both the word and the activity that it represents have stood the test of time. I guess since I’m 28, I can call lasting a mere 6 years “the test of time.” But it’s true- everywhere you look people are starting up new blogs (us included!) and we are pleased to help promote another local, fashion related blog- Fashion Folio. Glorianna (apart from having a fabulous name) does a great job mixing local news (parties, events, fashion shows, cafés and craft fairs) with national trends (textured tights on most of the Gossip Girl crew) and even some global insight (a scholarly looking bear used as a mascot for the Korean label, Teenie Weenie.)
What we like most about Glorianna, however, is what we like most about anyone- the fact that she likes us! Mutual admiration is such a wonderful feeling! Here you can read all about what she thinks about us (or at least what she thought back in December 2007 when she wrote this piece for “This Week in Denver.”)
Oh, and Glorianna- if you read this- let us know if you’ve been back to our store lately and if you still feel the same way. Or better yet, take a trip up to Boulder to check out our original location and tell us what you think of the recent remodel!
***note*** For those of you wondering about the weird image collage for this entry- I borrowed the images of Glorianna Schinagl from her blog and since they were sort of small I had to, as Tim Gunn would say, “make it work.”
Here’s the thing- if you are reading this blog entry you probably own some of our clothing because you live in Colorado and you’ve discovered how unique and fashion forward we are without charging gobs of cash. Believe me, it’s not easy to do- and without our expert owner who sniffs out deals like she sniffs out fancy cheeses, there’s no way we could charge such affordable prices for the kinds of shoes, bags, jeans, dresses and tops that we offer.
While there are stores that can compete with us on price, they are usually big chain stores who are able to keep there prices low because they order from thousands of suppliers in quantities that allow them to get deep discounts. We at Common Era, on the other hand, are very picky about our suppliers, the quality of the garment, the price and of course the style. When chain stores who have locations all across the U.S. choose what to sell, they generally make “safe” decisions about what they see as either “timeless classics” (khakis, pinstripe button-ups) or a trend that is easy to adopt and wear (say, “bubble skirts” from a few years back.)
This is where we have the advantage- we buy in small quantities and we often have the trendiest items before anyone else! Here’s an example- cigarette pants, or “skinny jeans” as they are sometimes referred to, were first spotted on Kate Moss back in 2004, though finding a pair at that point was nearly impossible. Unless of course you shopped at Common era, in which case you’d have had your pick of the litter, including several different washes, gray and black.)
OK, but more to the point- Why did I post a picture of some kind of beat up turquoise flats? It has to do with our traditional thinking about how a lower priced item is generally of lesser quality and a higher priced item is of a better quality and will last you longer. In general, I agree- if I am buying a basic winter coat, I am more likely to spend several hundred dollars because I anticipate using it for many years. If I am buying a fluorescent yellow tank top I might only spend $30, thinking that by next year I won’t be into that color anymore. But that’s why I wanted to show these flats by Miss Me, with their delicately scalloped border, the little button strap across the top, their perfectly pointed toe and the “oh so slight” kitten heel for those of us who need height but sometimes struggle with uneven sidewalks.
I bought these shoes in late 2004 (almost exactly 5 years ago) out of the Common Era sale bin ($18 shoes!!!) They also came in pink, but I decided on these teal delights and have never looked back. They are not leather but they are extraordinarily comfortable and have held up pretty damn well over the years. I had to replace the heel at one point for about $10 dollars, but as you can see- just because Common Era offers low prices on our boutique styles, it doesn’t mean they won’t last. On the contrary- these shoes have lasted longer than some I paid 5 times as much for. So keep that in mind next time you come in, and choose wisely- you never know how long you’ll have that wrap-around kimono shirt or knitted bolero!
OK, you know how you’ll find something totally awesome and feel like it is exactly what you NEED, like it was actually invented with you in mind? It could be a fantastic bagel shop, an adorable skirt, or the hippest new band. And you love it and you enjoy it and life is good.
Then all the sudden one of your friends comes along and starts talking about how cool THEY think that thing is. And you’re like “Yeah, me too.” And then you hear a co-worker mention it, and you’re like “Oh, really…” And then you hear your 65 year old neighbor mention that she read a story about it in the newspaper and she thinks it sounds really neat. And almost as soon as it begins- the “cool cycle” comes to it’s end.
A prime example is Twitter, of course. Originally aimed at the “youth of today” to whom texting is like breathing, Twitter was something for those who were “in the know.” Now, only three years after it’s creation, twitter is a term being tossed around by corporate new anchors as a way to “connect” with a younger audience.
Crochet, as it turns out, is just the opposite. It was never cool, it was just a way for housewives to pass the time and create winter garments for their children or to give as gifts. And even now, I think it would be hard to argue that crocheting is cool, though it has enjoyed a substantial comeback.
We like crocheting because we like most things that you do from scratch (like cooking and sewing and painting and lots of other creative activities.) But we also like crocheting because it’s one more way for us to transform our already limited edition items into VERY limited edition items (a.k.a. “one of a kind”). And it will only run you between $40 and $50!
Now that winter is just around the corner it’s probably time to come in and try on one of our delightfully edgy librarian cardigans with completely original hand crocheted flower embellishments. And bring some friends- you can each buy one and then go home and rent Ghost World. That’s what I would do.
Seychelles is one of our favorite brands, and here are three fine examples of why we love them so much. It’s no secret that we pride ourselves on offering great prices and these heels are no exception, especially when you consider the quality of the shoes, the materials, and the craftsmanship. In fact, not just any old store can carry this brand of shoe- we had to go through a rigorous “cool test” before Seychelles agreed that their shoes and our clothes were a perfect match. Good for us and good for you- since these autumn hues are too good to pass up!
In general, a neutral toned shoe (like the one on the right) can be worn day or night during any season. Formal or casual, this delightful nude heel is versatile and might just make you feel like a princess. Well, not a princess exactly- with the mini-size small peep toe and the striking ankle strap this shoe isn’t as frivolous as say, a glass slipper. This shoe is for women who are strong and independent, but aren’t afraid of a little glamor. Like maybe a professional poker player who also gives tango lessons…? Or maybe Carrie Bradshaw when she matches a nude heel with a pinstripe suit for her interview with Vogue magazine… By the way- she gets hired.
As for the other two toasty styles, these are perfect examples of “autumn chic.” With jeans, with a pencil skirt, with wide-leg slacks or with a creamy, cowl neck sweater dress- these heels embody what I like to call “cozy authority.” Don’t be surprised when you are inevitably invited to spend a weekend away in a semi-rural setting. After a long hike and a warm bath you’ll be thankful and proud to show off these appropriately rustic heels as you cuddle up on a bear skin rug.
Either that or you’ll just wear them to work and get a few jealous glances at the water cooler.
I don’t know what to tell you about this video except that in addition to working really hard, the Common Era girls sometimes need to kick back and have some laughs. In between customers, of course.
Believe it or not, 2009 has seen its share of headbands in magazines and on the red carpet. A far cry from the brightly colored plastic variety that came as part of a 6 pack and caused a migraine by the time recess was over, the modern headband has taken a cue from 1920′s flapper style. Pushed further down across the forehead and off to the side for a more pronounced look, these headbands tend to feature softer neutral colors, metallics, feather embellishments or vintage jewels and buttons. Everyone from Mischa Barton to Nicole Richie and Natalie Portman have been spotted crowning their heads with these creations and now you are lucky enough to know just where to get them!
Of course that isn’t to say you would be paying the same prices that celebrities pay to look this good. At Common Era we want you to look good and still be able to pay your rent!
And one more thing- don’t worry about anyone having the same headband as you, one of the best things about Common Era is our collection of amazing one-of-a-kind accessories- from headbands and barrettes to earrings, necklaces and even cigarette cases.
Make no mistake, these are the kinds of accessories that get noticed. It’s a small investment that can make an outfit out of anything at all. Throw on some skinny jeans, slouch boots, a long black tee and one of our headbands and the next thing you know Vice magazine is begging to take your photo.
Not sure it’s the look for you? Well you’ll never know if you don’t try. That’s why Common Era has charming young girls working behind the counter, to give advice, to hold up a mirror, to adjust a stray feather, and to steer you in another direction if it isn’t the look for you.
Listen, I never thought I could pull off a beret until I tried on about 7 different styles. Now I look better than Blair from Gossip Girl…I’m just saying.
Check out these lovely and stylish young things! I could probably tell you that these are the up and coming actors for an Oscar-nominated movie and you’d say “Oh yeah, I think I’ve seen them in People magazine…”
Of course you probably didn’t see them in People magazine because they aren’t actually famous and they are not casually waiting to be interviewed by Ryan Seacrest. In fact, the little that we do know about them we were only able to deduce through some fancy detective work (i.e. looking at the logo in the background of the photo and entering the name into Google.) As it turns out they were actually attending an event here in Denver called the the “Sneaker Prom” put on by Pulse Arts as a fundraiser. The idea was to dance the night away, but comfortably, while raising awareness about the power of art as a way to “end generational poverty.”
So what does this have to do with Common Era? Well, of course we are artsy types ourselves, but more importantly I would like to take this opportunity to direct your attention to the young lady on the left with the black strapless and the oh-so-chic headband. Not that the dress isn’t lovely, but that headband- what a statement! I imagine her gentleman friend spent the whole night begrudgingly holding her purse while she danced it up with every guy in the place. I mean, with such an obviously fashion forward sensibility she must have been the belle of the ball. I can only hope she told everyone who asked her where that hand-made head band came from- our one and only Common Era.
If you have any doubts whatsoever about the cutting-edge excellence of our hand-made headbands, please refer to another of our blog entries entitled “Don’t Fear the Headband.” You won’t be sorry.
