JuBella.com - Get Your Creative Dose

Can we all take a moment of silence to give thanks to such pretty cupcakes that are carefully placed in pretty window vignettes and adorned with juicy colors like fuschia, orange, yellows, turquoise, and pinks. Oh my! If you are ever in Europe, near the Covent Garden Piazza, Fitzrovia London, or roaming Kingly Court off of Carnaby Street, then you must pop into the sweet shop of Candy Cakes! The decor is so lovely and the cupcakes, oh, why I have not had the pleasure of devouring one of these personally, I am more than positive that these sweet gems would be divine, and when you’re asked to create 300 cupcakes for Madonnas 5oth Birthday, then you know they must be tasty! Not only am I in love with their pretty cupcakes, but I think that their decor is great, especially the Covent Garden Piazza location with its jeweled greens, pinks, and whites, and the cute outside eating area!

I would love to spend a quaint weekend at The George in Rye in the southeast of England. What I love about this boutique hotel is the ambiance and the decor that resemble the comfort of home. There is nothing worse than staying at a hotel that is sterile and deplete of character. Bed & breakfasts, and “homey” boutique hotels such as The George In Rye would be my first pick over many mainstream hotels. When living in Savannah, we had the opportunity to tour and stay in many of the bed & breakfasts, and the charm of the old homes and the comfort of the southern food was enticing, and the huge rice beds and fluffy pillows was just icing on the cake! One of my favorites was the Olde Georgia Inn(no longer in business). It was a period home and the kitchen was gorgeous..wood block island, porcelain kitchenware, vintage stove, and brick walls. If I can find a photo, i will be sure to post it!

So, have any of you had the opportunity to stay at a bed & breakfast or a swanky and comforting hotel such as The George in Rye..do share!

Vintage fashion is one of my favorite styles outside of things that I hand make, and I absolutely adore “Adore Vintage”. Adore Vintage is an online vintage boutique that sells some REALLY cute and chic vintage finds that include clothing, accessories, and even some great finds for your home! (I love these vintage tea cups and saucers) Rodellee, the owner of Adore Vintage, is just as beautiful as her treasures and I am stoked that she took the time to share a bit of her vintage inspiration with us!

On top of finding some great pieces, you can also find a TON of fashion inspiration by flipping through her Lookbook that is filled with celebrity styles, trends, and vintage eras of clothing and patterns…but be aware, you may get caught in this portal of vintage goodness! So nevertheless, here is Rodellee..I hope you enjoy! Oh, and be sure to check the boutique often because things are always changing, one day there may be a lot of things sold out, but the next day or week over, it can be filled with her fresh finds, so be on the lookout!

JuBella: Why is creativity important to you?

Rodellee: I could not live without it of course! I create and express through my clothing, my dance, my day to day life. I think it is the most wonderful feeling to create something (an image, a photograph, a dress) and be able to share it with the world and have someone else just truly appreciate it. My creativity allows me to add color, meaning, and laughter in my life.

JuBella: How would you describe your most creative spot/atmosphere?

Rodellee: My office is the most creative place for me. I am surrounded by beautiful dresses, quirky shoes, handbags… just all these wonderful things that make me smile. I also have a skylight in here so I can gaze up into the sky when I feel like clearing my head or search the clouds for inspiration.

JuBella: Where were you in life when you decided to start your own boutique, and what things would you like to achieve in the future within your career and life?

Rodellee: My husband and I had just moved to Texas from Budapest and we were about to get married, so I had this surge of energy and invincibility, not to mention a rapidly growing vintage dress collection… I started selling on Ebay, but as a freelance webdesigner, I really wanted a look and feel for my shop to be completely customized. So I designed the first layout for Adorevintage (it was very pink and very girly) and within a couple months had opened my own online shop. I am still 100% involved in all of the design work for Adorevintage. In the future I would really love to see Adorevintage become the best online resource for vintage clothing and accessories for men and women and opening up an actual storefront.

JuBella: Favorite Fashion magazines, books and T.V shows?

Rodellee: ZiNK has some of the best fashion editorials, so I always peruse for inspiration. I love ELLE for their “ELLE SHOPS” section and although I’m no longer a teen, Teen Vogue always has fun and playful fashion and a lot of ideas that are readily wearable. I don’t watch much TV, but I do own every season of Sex and the City and Family Guy.

JuBella: Top 3 Fashion/Beauty Boutiques or Designers?

Rodellee: Oh goodness…only three? My top favorite designers are Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Sui, and Marc by Marc Jacobs. I tend to favor different designers throughout the seasons depending on the collections.

JuBella: Do you have any areas in your home that truly depict vintage style?

Rodellee: I do pick up a lot of vintage knick knacks here and there and they are scattered throughout my house. Generally if I like something I’ll go ahead and purchase it because I have this mentality that “someday I’ll find a use for it.”

JuBella: What are your top 3 marketing tips that you would give to an aspiring boutique owner who wants to focus on vintage fashion?

Rodellee:
1.] Get to know your field, educate yourself with the product
2.] Figure our your target market (who do you want shopping at your store, what kind of men and women are they? what do they like to do?)
3.] Be friendly, helpful, and genuine.

JuBella: What are 5 things that you must have in your closet or purse?

Rodellee:
Closet: White tank top (infact I have multiples), a little black dress (I have a Holly Golightly inspired vintage 60s cocktail dress that I love love love!), black cigarette pants, comfortable but quirky ballet flats (I’m a sucker for ballet flats), and an oversized handbag.

Purse: Chapstick, cellphone, notepad & pen (I’m old fashioned, I write everything down), a book (you never know when you’ll get stuck waiting for something), and a camera (for capturing life’s beautiful and random moments)

JuBella: Favorite vintage fashion era?

Rodellee: My favorite would be the late 60s and early 70s when clothing was just very flowing, colorful, and all about self expression. But there is something about every era that I love, the 20s for the gorgeous flapper dresses, the 30s for the old Hollywood glamour silhoutte, the 40s for the fitted feminine suits, the 50s for the voluminous skirts and dresses when women looked like walking flowers, the 60s for the adorable minis and the wide eyed look, the 70s for that BIBA look, and of course the 80s from off the shoulder dresses to wristbands. Every era had its own special something and I am ecstatic to be able to share the clothing from these time periods with the world and have them be appreciated and loved.

JuBella: Do you have any beauty tips, products, or pampering regimens that you like to use/do to keep your beauty in its glow?

Rodellee: I love St. Ives products and its very inexpensive and has always worked with my skin. Other than the facial scrub and clay mask which I use twice a week, I wash with mild soap and water and moisturize with Ponds cream.

JuBella: If you had to pick a song that represented your personality from a “vintage” time, what song would it be and why?

Rodellee: “After Hours” by Velvet Underground. The song is so simple, so innocent, and it has a good beat. Every time I hear it I feel like dancing around like Anna Karina in “Band of Outsiders”. I also love absolutely LOVE “Moonriver” which was sung in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” written by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini in the early 60s. The song is heart wrenchingly beautiful.

JuBella: Other than fashion, in what other ways do you express your creativity?

Rodellee: I draw, or mostly sketch… usually flowers, branches, and faces. I write poetry and short stories as well, but not as often as I used to. I also like to bake sweets and invent my own little recipes (my recent invention some sort of coconut, chocolate chip cookie bar concoction that remains nameless but received rave reviews from my husband and friends).

Imedagoze was so kind to share these photos of her trip she took to Malang, Indonesia a few years ago. The architectural elements alone makes me want to go visit here wouldn’t you say! If you have not checked out Imedagoze flickr sets of all the fabulous travel destinations that she has been to, then be sure to head on over and be inspired by lovely photography! Thanks for allowing me to share these pics on JuBella Imedagoze!

images are copyrighted via Imedagoze

Wow! The architecture and color that are nestled in what seems to be some of the prettiest landscapes around! Argentina is one place that I would love to visit if only for the architecture and food! My roommate from college is half Armenian and she took a trim there and said that it was quite lovely! Have any of you ever traveled to this part of the world? here are some of my favorite images…

La Boca: This little town of Buenos Aires is so charming and colorful! I bet you could find some fabulous things to bring back to the states after going here!

If you are ever in Southwest England, let’s say somewhere around Exeter (which is the capital city of Devon county & is home to the lovely Exeter Cathedral), then why not entertain your taste buds by stopping by La BoCa! I love the decor of this venue(it’s 4 stories with 4 different restaurants) and the menu consists of Authentic Moroccan cuisine such as cous-cous, dolci, chicken, lamb, and vegetarian tajines, flalafel, stuffed vine leaves, hummus, and so much more! I am getting hungry just thinking about it! Yum!

“La BoCa consists of 4 floors where you can experience the exotic. You can share an authentic tajine, cooked in traditional terracotta pots & served to your table straight from the oven, as you dine in the sumptuous Hareem on mounds of cushions under beautiful silk awnings. No party is too big or small for the Latin Quarter Grill and private function room. From corporate meetings to private parties La BoCa will provide a unique experience in authentic surroundings that will make any gathering a memorable one. On the Ground floor there is El Hamra where you’ll feel like you have been transported to the heart of North Africa, with traditional belly dancing you will also be entertained whilst enjoying your meal. After you have finished your meal you can relax downstairs in Club Maroc with an exquisite Cocktail whilst listening to live Jazz, Flamenco guitar or resident dj’s. Run by the same team who brought you the ever popular Al Beb in Torquay you are sure to have a wonderful time, and look forward to your next visit with anticipation.”

Aaah! Take in the fresh and airy decor of upstate New Yorks Bed & Breakfast: Breathe-Inn, I love the simple & quaint serenity of these rooms along with a slight sparkle of Moroccan and eastern influences from the lighting to the textiles. The clean white walls and the pop of color of the bed spreads and art are wonderful. You can’t beat prices starting at just $150 a night. Most plain Jane hotels could cost around the same price and you better believe that you won’t be seeing any Moroccan lanterns, plush textiles, and hardwood floors in those rooms nor would your breakfast consist of choices like: fresh frittatas, strawberry mimosas, freshly squeezed antioxidant juice, or scrambled tofu, which are all whipped up by celebrity chef Marlon Aitchesson. Yep…Gotta Get There to Breathe Inn that sort of relaxation!

Ever traveled to Greece? I have not had the opportunity to visit as of yet but I can adore the architecture and colors from abroad! A staple color combo in Greece is Cobalt blue and white. I think the architecture is amazing and it seems that through any window pane you could find a view worth taking a picture of.

Don’t you just love French chocolate, especially when they are featured in artistic and scrumptious photo shoots and they come packaged in pretty paper like these Gotta get to Pralus Chocolats!