Vogue vs. Verité

One of the reasons I love September? The September issues. Any fashionista worth her salt will tell you, September means the biggest, best, and brightest from all your favorite fashion magazines--and for many, Vogue is the crème de la crème.

The very sad elephant in the room, however, is that the state of the economy has hit the fashion industry hard (think Mack Truck), evidenced in--among other things--a noticeably slimmer stack of glossy pages this September. This grim reality means no couture gowns, no shoes priced at nearly four figures, and (tear) no Chanel handbag--not this year, and probably not next year either. As my mother so aptly phrased it the other day, the world has gone from vogue to verité.

Fortunately, it's not all gloom and doom. As my man Nietzsche once said, One must still have chaos within oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star. In this particular scenario, the star of the (fashion) show is keeping it local. For those independent boutiques who have not crumbled under financial pressures in the last year or so, they have never shined so bright.

One such place is Bessie Blue, a sunny boutique in the center of Belmont. Bessie Blue is the type of place where vogue meets verité, offering a range of apparel and accessories for the everyday woman.


If it sounds too good to be true, you couldn't more wrong. Take a peek inside my shopping bag... After a recent visit to Bessie Blue, I walked away with an amazing wrap sweater by Laurie B. Made of super soft cotton and a dash of cashmere, it's ultra cozy--but also totally edgy, as it can be worn two ways: wrapped up around the shoulders or long and luxe. If you're a babe on a budget, a two-for-one look like this is the best cure for the recession blues.

Thanks to the très chic trio of Lee, Lone, and Ashley, Bessie Blue is able to do what few other boutiques of its kind have mastered: walk the fine line between cutting edge trends and ready-to-wear fashion. From handbags and hoop earrings to skinny jeans and scarves, Bessie Blue offers something for every woman. Mothers and daughters can shop together and then leave the store, shopping bags in hand, still friends. I've seen it happen. But if you don't believe me, then you'll just have to see for yourself. Go ahead, put a little vogue in your verité.




Psst: Bessie Blue is open 7 days a week, located at 21 Leonard Street in Belmont, MA, and available by phone at (617)489-4900. When you stop by, don't forget to join their mailing list for updates on sales and promotions!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Vogue Paris September 2009 cover; (2) Bessie Blue store interior, photo courtesy of Trinity Building and Construction Management (http://www.trinitybuildingboston.com/).