“How does this fit?” “Do you have a smaller size?” “Does this come in a different color?” “What is this made of?” “Do you know the length of the inseam?” “What size are you wearing”

I’ve worked retail for over 10 years now and believe it or not I haven’t always been an ES girl. (Shocking, I know!) But no matter where I go, the questions remain the same. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining! Sometimes it’s fun to feel like an all-knowing-fashion-goddess! It’s tough job, but someone’s got to do it! (*Sigh*)

Seriously though, if you’re a first-time sales associate in the wonderful world of retail it can be a little overwhelming when you’re still learning the ropes! The best advice I can give you? If you don’t know the answer to a customer’s question, take the time to find out because you’ll probably hear it again tomorrow.

I’ve seen a lot of clothes come through the front door of Ella & Scott over the past 3 years. They’re always pretty, but they ain’t always functional! Non the less, we make it work! There’s not a piece of clothing in this store that your ES girls can’t style! For the sake of not sounding arrogant, let me explain… Here at Ella & Scott we love fashion and we love a challenge. More than anything, we love our customers! So here are the answers to the 3 questions we hear the most!

What do I wear underneath this?

Every time someone ask me this question, I guarantee the answer is a good nude strapless bra. If you’re like me, you instantly reject this solution because there’s no such thing as a “good” strapless bra. Behold, non-believers! I present, the “Sexy Illusions” strapless bra from Victoria Secret. Not just a “good” strapless bra but an AMAZING strapless bra. Let me just tell you, this is the game-changer of all bras. I have ALWAYS struggled to find a strapless bra that a) supports the girls, and b) I don’t have to fidget it with 24/7. There’s nothing more annoying than having to re-adjust yourself a thousand times throughout the course of dinner.

The “Sexy Illusions” bra is the lightest bra I’ve ever owned. When I picked this thing up, I was seriously skeptical about what kind of support it would provide. Once on, I could not believe it. The whole bra is made from a special non-slip material that hugs your curves and conforms to the sides of your body. Even though this bra is lighter than air, the underwire cups keep everything where it’s supposed to be (or where you want it to be!) (*Wink, Wink*)

In addition to a good strapless bra, ES girl Adriane recommends keeping a versatile multi-way option as well. Her go-to is the “Where Everywhere” multi-way bra from PINK! I’ve check it out, and the entire “Where Everywhere” collection is AH-MAZ-ING. PINK totally has you covered for any occasion. Did I mention that EVERY style is on sale for $20 right now?!

If you’re a bra-hater like ES girls Carrie and Kaley, I highly recommend checking out the extensive bralette selection that Aerie by American Eagle has to offer. Between the racer back, bandeau, halter, and classic fit you’ll have a hard time picking just one! Guess what? You don’t have to. Right now, their entire bra inventory is 40%-50% off. That means ALL things BRA are on sale! But wait! I’ve got two more pretty little words for you before follow the link to their website, FREE SHIPPING! You’re Welcome.

Is this too dressy?

Have you ever walked into a cocktail party wearing blue jeans? It’s like bringing a knife to a gun fight. All I can say is no bueno. First of all, dress for yourself girlfriend! Don’t be afraid to stand in the spotlight and say, “Here I am!” Not to mention, a great pair of heels can spark the most fabulous conversations no matter where you end up! I’m going to tell you a secret, your shoe choice commands the direction of your outfit. If you’re worried about being a little too flashy the right pair of flats will turn things down a notch. When I’m trying to spice things up with a little street style, an awesome pair of sneakers does the trick. If I look trendy AND my feet go home happy at the end of the work day, that’s a win in my book! Please do yourself a favor and keep AT LEAST one pair of cute comfy heels in your closet. When you need to take your outfit to the next level, this is your solution. I feel like I could probably throw on some heels with my pjs and go from mess to YES in under 3 seconds. (Probably not, but you get the picture!) As boss-lady Jamie likes to remind us, “It’s better to be overdressed than under dressed!” (I guess that’s a big N-O to the heels and PJS then?)

Am I too old for this?

The answer is no, absolutely not. Unless you’re try to style a Hello Kitty Tee with a pair of jelly sandals, I don’t want to hear this question. There are several ways to take clothing you’re unsure of and turn it into something you’re confident in. Tank-top blouses seem to be a constant struggle. Instead of leaving that tank you love hanging on the rack, (doomed to regret it later) try styling it with a blazer for a chic look that provides a little extra comfort. My favorite fix for this tiny top annoyance is to throw on a denim jacket. It’s rare that I meet a denim jacket that I don’t like!

While I’m here, let me give you the skinny on denim. If you don’t already own a pair of skinny jeans, now is the time to invest. This trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! I promise the right fit flatters all body types. In addition to the skinny jean, we need to have a conversation about high waisted denim. The style has made its comeback and for the love of all things denim, please don’t fight it! Personally, it’s hard not to go a little overboard with my high-waste obsession! (If even that’s possible) High waisted anything seems to solve a whole plethora of my problems. (Like too much pasta on wine Wednesdays) I love the extra security I feel with this style. I need my jeans move with me and not against me! My favorite tall person and ES girl Ashley loves the high waisted fit because it gives her the freedom to invest in those tops that needed to be just a smidge longer to wear with a mid-rise denim.

The most important thing to remember in this industry is fashion fades but style last a lifetime. If you like it, wear it! Who you are is special and the way you dress is the best way to show the world just who you are.

Confidence is key! Those are words to live by toots.

No matter what questions you might have, your ES girls have got your back!

Feel free to drop us a comment with any fashion conundrums that have got you stumped this week! We love hearing from you!

Last summer, owner Jamie introduced Ella & Scott shoppers to the THML clothing brand and we haven’t been the same since!

Some of you might even remember the first THML collection we launched last June. I mean, how could you forget? Fresh bold patterns and bright colors? All laid across the most amazing assortment of fabrics? See, I knew you remembered! The Coastal Collection was EVERY-THING, and a personal favorite of mine! It was a total reflection of all things summer. In honor of July 4^th, the All-American Collection launched shortly after and there wasn’t a shopaholic out there that wasn’t wearing the red, whites, and blues of our new favorite brand!

Last summer THML totally killed it!

So, our expectations are just as high as yours but believe me when I say this, the new ZEST for LIFE Collection will-not-disappoint. The pieces have only gotten better and brighter over the past year and the obsession is STILL unreal! If the quality and originality of each piece isn’t enough, Jamie Scott goes the extra mile with each THML shipment to build a collection of items that fit your life at this very moment. Once the pieces are collected it’s time for us ES girls to get to work! Between steaming, tagging, naming, describing, wearing, photographing, and promoting each item, we get pretty attached to these clothes. (Which is probably why they all end up in my closet…. Hmm.)

The next best thing to bringing home a new arrival at the end of a long work day is the excitement we get from being able to share these pieces with our customers when they walk through the door. We hope this collection inspires you to dress like every day is a special occasion!

The Tops

There are seven amazing tops in this collection which means if you buy them all then a whole weeks’ worth of outfits is already planned! Score!

No need to thank me!

If the “Drippin In Finesse” top hasn’t already made its way into your cart, I would suggest you break away from your reading and go take care of that.

I absolutely love a good gingham print and the added tassels around the neckline of this top really makes it stand apart from the others. It’s always nice to have several statement pieces like this top hanging in the closet. They make getting ready a breeze when I’m in a rush to get out of the house. Throw on some white skinnies and a nude heel and you’ve got a bold look that people will think you spent hours putting together. Pair it with white denim shorts and a cognac sandal if you’re after a casual daytime look!

Please tell me you know what color chartreuse is?

Along with mustard and marigold, this particular shade of yellow is the “it” color this season. My closet is literally bursting with sunshine because of my newly found love for this color. I honestly feel like it’s probably impossible to be sad if you’re wearing any form of yellow. “You Glow Girl” is definitely a staff favorite from the ZEST for Life collection. I can already tell you this new arrival is going to fly out of the store once ES shopaholics catch wind of it!  Go ahead and take another intermission.

You can only click that “add-to-cart” button for so long!

The “Seas the Day” tank is another hot item you won’t want to miss!

At this point, you’ve probably noticed two things. We L-O-V-E love tassels! And we’re obsessed with navy details! I mean, have you ever met a person that doesn’t look good in the color navy blue? Me either.  The “Seas the Day” top has all the types of YES that a summer outfit needs. Can I wear it with dark denim? Yes. Can I wear it with light denim? Yes. Can I wear it with white skinnies? Yes. Will it hide my food baby when I wear it on date-night?

The Dress

The “Livin My Best Life” dress is a perfect representation of this entire collection. The subtle pops of neon embroidery on this super soft canvas fabric makes me giddy! (Like a 4-year-old-playing-with-glitter-for-the-first-time kind of giddy.) Hot new arrivals tend to have that effect on an ES girl. The flirty neckline was the first thing to catch my attention after seeing the awesome use of neon pink on this dress. Off the shoulder dresses are a summer favorite around the store but we can’t resist a good scoop neck when we see one! And did I mention that the inside of this dress is lined with the creamiest of silk fabrics? It will blow your mind with how comfortable it is!

Details, people. It’s all about the Details.

Check back next week for another dose of new arrivals! Can you handle more? We sure hope so! 

Shop the full collection in-store and online NOW!

&

Don't forget to snag a pair of the new Sneak Peak denim shorts before you checkout!

Stay jet-set ready by remembering to pack these essentials!

You’ve been day dreaming of sandy beaches and a golden tan since last December. You couldn’t be more prepared. You’ve booked the hotel, purchased your plane tickets, scheduled a massage, prepaid the excursions, and your VACAY activity spreadsheet is finally complete! Right?! Maybe not. Maybe you’re like me and you haven’t done any of that because you’re way too busy trying to find your passport, and your driver’s license, and your debit card… and your car keys… Ugh, the struggle is real. But, no worries! There’s no judgment here at ES. I’m a firm believer that there’s no better plans than the plans that weren’t planned at all! Keeping it together isn’t always as simple as it seems when you’re headed out on a week long vacation. You’re ES girls are here to help! Whether you’ve got it all together or you simply cannot, we’ve got you covered with these key essentials you don’t want to leave behind.

ES Insider Tip: Get your tan on before you get your tan on with one of these ES approved self-tanners! It’s not easy finding a self-tanner that’s easy to use and doesn’t turn you a scary shade of I-don’t-even-know-what. Try Bronze Glow Self-Tanning Gradual Tan Lotion by Ulta Beauty. It’s a serious game changer for all of you spray tanners out there! It’s only $10 and this tanner is buy 2 get 1 free right now at Ulta! Boss Lady, Jamie Scott, stays glowing on the daily! Achieve her level of bronze by using Body Blur Sunless Glow Instant Tanning HD Skin Finish. Made by Vita Liberata and sold at Ulta. Happy Tanning.

Packing wardrobe pieces that you can wear several different ways is key when you’re a jet setting Bahama-mama that wants to keep their carry-on light. I’m not going anywhere this summer without this Cool As Cabo Kimono. Whether you wear it with pants, shorts, or your teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini you’ll be thankful you threw this little beauty in that suitcase. Make sure you have a few pair of shorts to choose from while you’re on VACAY. You don’t want to be digging sand out of your pockets everywhere you go this summer. We’ve got you covered at Ella & Scott. Stop by the store and try on a pair of Sneak Peek shorts. We’ve got a ton of styles right now and this is definitely our go-to denim brand when it comes to shorts. Can’t stop by? Shop the look online!

ES Insider Tip: Even if your stateside this summer, style this kimono with some white skinnies and a fun yellow heel. (The perfect yellow shoes are ES goals right now.) We love the extra pop of color these heels add to the overall look. When you’re looking for the perfect top to wear under this kimono, keep it simple. Grab this Oh-So-Soft white ZSupply tee from our website and I promise you’ll end up buying every color we’ve got. (They are AH. MAZ. ING.)

Accessorizing is the last thing I want to think about when I’m trying to cram my whole life into one single solitary suitcase but accessorize we must! The first thing you want to do is pick up a tote that you can use universally throughout your trip. This brown straw bag is every fashion bloggers go-to bag right now. It’s summer chic and BONUS, it holds TONS of our lady crap! YAY! Make sure you’ve got a pair of QUAY sunnies tucked away in this bag somewhere. Ella & Scott just received a new shipment, and we’ve got an awesome selection of styles in-store and online right now!

ES Insider Tip: Get your jewelry basics in order. Keeping up with lots of jewelry on vacation is a big no-no for me. One marg too many and your girl here might leave her flipflops poolside. We are OB-SES-SED with all things Gorjana, at the moment. Throw on these Gorjana studs before heading to the airport and you’re set for the rest of your vacay. If your style calls for a little more pizzazz, try these funky little Ryder Ear Climbers.

You’re almost ready, I promise, but before you zip the final zipper on your suitcase make sure you pack at least one pair of practical shoes. If it were up to me, no shoe gets left behind but for the sake of simplicity and organization let’s say you can only bring one. This nude Steve Madden espadrille flat is it. The one. The one shoe you can wear with anything all summer long. Practical doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish too!

 Let’s talk beauty.

Between the salty beach air and the chlorine at the swim-up bar, my hair is done for. Done. For. Paul Mitchell’s Skinny Serum gives me life when my hair has been dried to a crisp. I cannot vacay without it. You can find this awesome leave in hair serum at Ulta, Target, and Walmart. ES owner, Jamie, swears by her Kenra Volume Dry Shampoo to keep her looking fresh while on vacation. Flat and oily hair is not an option if you plan on being photo-ready this summer. Also sold at Ulta.

In addition to my hair being dry when I travel, my skin also needs a little extra TLC. Kopari coconut milk is my favorite. It’s a hand, body, face, and hair solution that smells like coconut heaven. Kopari even makes a travel set that allows you to test their original collection for under $50. I highly recommend. You can order from the official Kopari website or Ulta.

Bring your sunscreen from home. It will save you from spending unnecessary dollars in the hotel gift shop. Our boss lady prefers Neutrogena Clear Face SPF 55 (sold at most drugs stores like Walgreens and CVS). Jamie wears this sunscreen under her Maybelline Pure BB Cream Skin Clearing Perfector (under $10 at Ulta).This 2 in 1 moisturizer/primer combo gives Jamie a light but flawless look that takes zero effort. Oh, and let's not forget our favorite Physicians Formula Bronzer that smells like coconuts!  So, you can spend more time soaking up that sunshine while looking your best!

Xoxo, Brittani

When it comes to Sunday, we have a love/hate relationship with it, mainly because we want to partake in the Funday, but know we should be preparing for Monday. We normally like to spend our Sunday’s worshipping, brunching, and lounging with a little bit of online shopping to end the day! In order to have a successful week ahead, we have to strive for balance with our Sunday habits. If you’re like us and would be willing to do just about anything to catch a few more Z’s Monday morning, we have a few life hacks for you to practice on Sunday in order to get your mind right for the week.

LIFE HACK #1: PICK OUT YOUR OUTFIT AHEAD OF TIME.
By picking out your outfit the night before, this will allow you to spend less time getting ready in the morning, which in turn could score you a few extra minutes to grab coffee before work and still be on time.

LIFE HACK #2: PRE-PLAN YOUR MEALS OR MEAL PREP FOR LUNCH.
When you pack your lunch the night before, not only will it save you money, but it’ll also make you feel better knowing you’re starting the week off with a healthy lunch. This will help you make good choices throughout the week and you’ll feel more energized…and maybe we’ll actually use our gym membership this week (fingers crossed).

LIFE HACK #3: TIDY UP.
There’s no better feeling than coming home after a long Monday to a clean house! Let’s be honest, we know it won’t stay clean throughout the week, but it puts you ahead of the game and will make your Monday just a little bit easier. This will also give you more time to start preparing dinner or spend time with your family.

LIFE HACK #4: MAP OUT THE WEEK.
Whether you have a big meeting at work this week, your kids after school activities, or you need to pencil in some “Me Time” (because this is VERY important). Grab your phone, open up your notes and start your To-Do list of all the things you need to get done this week. Another great feature for all you iPhone users is the REMIND app. This nifty little app will send a pop up reminder on your screen of anything you save to it!

LIFE HACK #5: DO YOU.
Now that you’ve finished the hard part, which really doesn’t take too long, spend the rest of your Sunday doing you. Whether that means taking a bubble bath, shopping our new arrivals at 7PM (wink, wink), or indulging in your favorite dessert, it’s important that you take the time to do what you want to do before the week begins and you have obligations.

Happy Sunday Shopaholics!!