If you are lucky enough to still have your mom, then there are a few days left to get her something really fun at U7. I have gifts starting for as little as $12 for the silicone coin or card cases and as fun as the cork clutch that is only $70 and is a perfect bag for the summer. New necklaces from Amsterdam artist Jet in different colors and the pin necklace from Barbara de Jounge are always great gifts! Two new “flavors” of candles are here too: violet and linen. Lovely.

Or, you can just buy yourself something! If you have always wanted the silver Bosco ring, a new batch has arrived. New jackets and pants in putty have come in from Spirithouse and today I got the boatneck rib sweater from Planet in tangerine, red, and chartreuse. I love that sweater! I am waiting to get more pieces in from Annemieke from Amsterdam. They are taking forever to get here as they were sent two weeks ago!

I was in New York on Monday and I found all kinds of fabulous things including EYE BOBS reading glasses. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I got round ones in clear, black, orange, red, green, yellow and tortoise shell and maybe even more colors I bought so many. I could not help myself. They are $75 and they are such a great accessory. I wear contacts so I am going to have plain lenses put in them! Also, I got these lace pieces that you can wear either strapless or with lace straps under things. They are really inexpensive and I think they will be here today! The mesh pieces from Porto are fabulous and there are a few left. Next week I am getting in black and white pants that are this cotton fabric that is sort of puckered so no wrinkles and they have these elegant black tops that I bought for myself too. You will love them. They scream summer! AND for those of you who missed out on the Kedem jumper from fall Dress to Kill copied it so I bought three pieces. It is really a fabulous jumper and I usually will not buy a copy but it looked great so I did.

I WILL BE OPEN THIS SATURDAY from 12-5 so come in and see me!

We saw Footnote last week at Bethesda Row and we really enjoyed it. There was a great twist to it and believe me, you will talk about it when you leave the theater.

Barbara de Jounge's pin necklace

Oh, I almost forgot. I got this dress and coat that will be in the store in July that is ASTOUNDINGLY gorgeous. I got it in midnight blue and the coat in black. It is that fabric that is tightly ribbed so it sort of bends. I forget what you call it. It is not expensive and it is beyond great. I cannot wait to wear it myself!

So lots of new and exciting things going on at U7!!

Have a great Mother’s Day!

Ricki

Here is a partial list of what has arrived: Planet boatneck ribbed sweaters in colors: blue, glass and mustard as well as black and white, Niche dresses and tops with a great pair of pants in grey seersucker, Luna Luz dresses with cotton tops and layered silk bottoms that are perfect for a summer outside wedding, fabulous Ray Harris tops in his squishy fabric in red, black, white and grey, Spirithouse pants and tops that are great for now but a deep eggplant that will be wonderful in September when it is still warm but you cannot wear white, (fashion police, you know) some great jewelry made of nickel and rubber, new shirts from Dress to Kill that are almost gone, amazing scarves from London scarf maker Shawlsmith, the dresses pictured below, AND lots of black linen pants that I have bought and have worn at least ten times already!

The big news is that after Memorail Weekend, May 30th and just for that day, Annemieke from Amsterdam will be in the store again with all her new pieces and she has just sent me a box of her tunics, pops and poppy necklaces as I keep selling out of them. They are so fabulous and should be in the store next week.

Rubber and metal jewelry

As the spring ends it becomes time to get gifts for graduations and Mother’s Day and I have lots of gifts starting as low as $12 so start thinking about this before all the selection is gone. The colorful silicone cases are coming back this week so those are great to give and makes the inside of your purse so happy!

I WILL be open this Saturday and I will NOT be open the first one in May as we have to go to a family wedding but I will be open the following Saturday so that anyone who cannot get downtown during the week, can shop. Now is the time to come because there are lots of sizes left and lots of styles to choose from.

Hope to see you soon!

Ricki

And the winner is…

Wendy Wolf! I waited to tell everyone because I did not think losing the lottery AND my fun shopping spree would be easy to take on Monday. By now we are all back to work and have forgotten all the plans we had for all that money! (I swear I was NOT going to close the store, so not to worry, just in case I DO get rich.) HOWEVER, I will give another spree away before the year is over because it is so much fun to give!

Pretend that you DID win the spree, what would you get? Here are some suggestions: $135 dressy dress from Comfy, a new fabulous dress from Crea or Kedem and a new top from Moyuru. And since you would STILL have money left over you could get one of the new colorful necklaces from Jianhui of London OR if you missed the rubber necklaces from Annemieke of the Netherlands, you could now get one as they just came in again. And if you STILL had money left you could get any number of fabulous socks. Day dreaming!

There are still some pieces left from Sun Kim and Comfy mesh tees are here too. I got some new dresses from Luna Luz who I used to carry and brought back again in black, of course, purple and gray. They are cotton on top and silk on the bottom so they are a little dressier.

Jianhui

If you have always wanted one of Ray Harris’ stoles with sleeves I got in a silver one as well as his new mocha color. They can be worn as a scarf as well as a blouse two different ways and then, well, just as a stole.

I WILL BE OPEN THIS SATURDAY but just 12 until FOUR because we are off to Passover and you might want to cook for Easter! If you are stopping in bring me jelly beans!

Have a great holiday weekend and come shopping soon!

Ricki

This Thursday from 12-7 and Friday from 11-5 you can see all the new fall dresses, coats, and separates from La Petite Robe. If you already own one of these fabulous dresses you know what I mean when I say it is the most feminine dress ever. And there is a black skirt that is so fabulous I may even get one: it is above the knee!! But with opaque stockings and a great shoe, it is the best skirt. All the styles come in lots of colors, not just the black and gray that I order so if you want a great red dress, this would be the time to order one. Or, you can order the fabulous black skirt in any color you want. Go crazy and get a color! All the sizes will be there too so now you can finally figure out what size you need! The pictures below and on the right are from LPR.

La Petite Robe

If you have not been to the store in the last two weeks then you have missed seeing the store as stocked as it has ever been. Either I bought too much or I lost hanging space when I remodeled because it is PACKED with beautiful dresses from Crea, exciting sportswear from Moyuru, great linen pants from Blanque, new tee colors from Planet and a fabulous jumpsuit from Lilith. And those are just a few items. Mesh tee shirts came in today from Comfy so if you do not want to go sleeveless, these mesh tees solve that problem for you without being too heavy. They come in black, white and slate and are only 62 dollars! Spirithouse techno fabric is in with a great top and pant in light beige and it is adorable. Those pants fit great! Tons of new jewelry came in today in silver and rubber and you do not want to miss the mesh bracelet and the slinky bracelet for only 30 dollars. I could go on and on as ok, I bought too much but you just have to come in and see if for yourself. ALSO, you have until Friday at 5:00 to add your business card for the FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR shopping spree. Whoever is in the store at that time is going to pick and if I have to go out into the hall to have someone do it I will. I just don’t want to pick because I will feel guilty if YOU don’t win. Of course, if I do not have your card, you cannot possibly win. So come in and drop one off before it is too late and you have to buy the clothes yourself!

Ricki

First thing: I totally overbought for spring. I could not help myself as everything looked so great. There are so many clothes here right now that I have run out of hangers if that gives you any idea of how much is here! So enjoy this gorgeous day and week and come shopping. I assure you, you will not be disappointed. If anyone wants me to meet them after work I am happy to do so. I am closing at 3:30 on Friday however, to see my dear mother in Arizona! for the weekend so I will not be open on Saturday.

Second thing: COMFY AND SUN KIM ARE HERE! I am ready to unpack it so here is what I know: there are mesh tees in black and slate for $62 and lots of beautiful inexpensive dresses for as little as $135 including a black tulle dress made especially for U7. The pant we all love I got in mocha and there are some short jackets in white, black and olive. And a TON of other styles. As I said, I overbought.

Third thing: The LA PETITE ROBE trunk show is in two weeks on March 29th and 30th. For those of you who want a more fit, shorter amazing dress, this is the line for you. They also have a fabulous above the knee black skirt that I MIGHT EVEN GET as it is that fabulous. (For those of you who know me, my knees have not been seen since 1952 when I was 3!) Come meet the line’s representative, Larry Rothenberg, the brother of my college roommate if you can believe it, and get the dress, the color and the style you want for the best fall dress you are going to buy.

Fourth thing: MATT AND NAT handbags and wallets are back and in the store today. In colors, in shapes and at the prices we grew to love way back before they hired a “consultant” and almost ruined their company.

Sorry so short today but I am dying to see the Sun Kim myself!

Ricki

How much fun was the Ali in Wonderland book signing? And yes, it is true. Ali Wentworth is now my best friend! Ok, maybe not, but it was so much fun to host the event and again, my huge thanks to her amazing jewelry designing sister, Sissy Yates for asking her to come to U7. She could not have been nicer or more funny. I think we have to have Sissy and Ali’s mother in for an evening to talk about how to raise lovely children. My thanks to caterer Lynn Rudolf for her fabulous dinner. And thanks to all of you for supporting U7 all the time.

With regard to “social networking” I am trying to “tweet” more so if you are on twitter you can follow me at Upstairs on 7th and of course you can “friend” me on Facebook for all the daily updates.

SO MUCH has come in that it is almost too much fashion. AND more Crea and more Lunn will be in today. Either at the end of this week or the beginning of next I expect Sun Kim and Sprithouse to arrive. More Dress to Kill came in on Friday and I know that Moyuru should be shipping soon. If you do not have the back hole sweater from Planet, white and black ones came in and all the Kedem Sasson is now in the store too. I am getting new socks from a company called Born in London, Raised in Brooklyn and there are tons of them with all sorts of custom designs. I will load them on my FB page so you can see them. I have gone sock crazy! Linen from Blanque is here in red, black and white. Those of you who have the crepe bell pant might want to get a pair in the linen as they fit so well. I also have some very very special dresses and tops from Berlin designer Anett Rostel. Yes, they are expensive but I went to Neiman’s over the weekend for the first time in ages and I could not believe the prices. The exact same top I have from Blanque for $195 is $845 from Eskandar and they have loads of short little nondescript dresses for over $1,000! I really was shocked. I probably should go comparison shopping more often.

I will be open until 7 on Wednesday and I WILL BE OPEN THIS SATURDAY from 12-5 if you want to come shopping. If anyone has a non profit that they are committed to, you can plan a shopping party in the store and have 10% of the proceeds go to the charity with U7 providing the champagne. It is a very fun way to spend an afternoon or evening and do a good deed at the same time.

Here is a warning for all of you. Do NOT take your watches or your jewelry repairs to Corey Hyon, the man who leases space from Rodman’s on Wisconsin. One of my customers took a gemstone necklace there to be restrung and it came back FIVE AND A HALF INCHES SHORTER. According to Rodman’s this is not the first time this has happened so do not go there as he is not to be trusted.

Don’t forget to come in and give me your business card. Someone is going to win a $500 shopping spree in honor of U7′s anniversary and the drawing will be on March 31st. Have a great week at work and come see me soon!

Ricki

Yesterday marked the 5th anniversay of Upstairs on 7th. A HUGE thank you to everyone who has walked through the doors, made my days so much fun, and hopefully purchased some things you are still wearing! I cannot begin to tell you how much fun it has been to know you and spend time with each and every one of you.

Throughout the month I have planned some surprises that may or may not get announced so you will just have to come in and be there when they happen. HOWEVER, on March 31st I am going to award someone a $500 SHOPPING SPREE!Every time you come to the store in March you may put your business card into the bowl. If you do not have one, I will provide you with one.

Annemieke

I WILL be open tomorrow as it is the first Saturday in March. Gallery 555 will be open also and the new show is fantastic.

Again, thank you very very much for making U7 the best business decision I ever made!

Love, Ricki

My two favorites were Stacy Keebler’s gold Marchesa gown

Stacy Keebler

and Michelle Williams’ Louis Vuittan

Michelle Williams

Rooney Mara

I also loved Rooney Mara’s and

of course Angolina Jolie looked her usual gorgeous self even though when she went to present she kept putting out her leg. So much that the men that won were imitating her.

Angolina Jolie

How gorgeous did Octavia Spencer look?

Octavia Spencer

And you know what, so did Meryl Streep.

Meryl Streep

For once. Viola Davis

Viola Davis

and Glenn Close both wore green and it looked so new. Colin Firth’s wife had a gorgeous red dress on and brilliant of her for having a great accessory: Colin Firth. Gwynneth Paltrow looked amazing in her white dress.

Gwynneth Paltrow

I really liked Emma Stone’s dress too. Very dramatic and she was very funny. My mother plays golf with her grandmother so I may be prejudice but I don’t think so.

Emma Stone

Ok, so here is who I did not like. Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy both looked so bad but they are so funny they get a total pass. The worst by far was that mint dress worn by the actress in The Artist. So bad.

Actress in The Artist

I did not like Cameron Diaz’s dress but I think I never do. I can’t decide if I liked Jessica Christain ‘s dress or not. She is so pretty though.

Jessica Christain

The other dress I really did not like is the one that Shailene Woodley wore. (Is that how you spell her name?) She was the daughter in the Descendants and she looked too old.

Shailene Woodley

Did anyone like Sandra Bullock’s dress? I thought it was so boring but I loved her hair.

Sandra Bullock

I thought Billy Crystal did a great job and I love when the girls from Bridesmaids do the Martin Scorcese drinking game.

I was totally shocked that Viola Davis did not win as she was so incredibly amazing and heartbreaking in The Help but it is so hard to beat Meryl when she is always so good and has not won in 25 years. Can’t wait to hear what you all thought!

Oh, I almost forgot. George looked really good too.

George Clooney

It is going to be a very busy two weeks at Upstairs on 7th!

Next Tuesday from 12-7 and Wednesday from 11-5 is the Kedem Sasson Trunk Show and we are lucky to also have the gorgeous jewelry of Annemieke Broenink who will be here with us from Amsterdam. ALSO, Andy, our rep from Kedem, represents Niche so you will be able to see and order fall from that line as well. Both Kedem and Niche looked really great for fall and Annemieke is bringing over 150 pieces for you to choose from and take home.

Crea and La Petite Robe will also be here for shows in March. I am just waiting to confirm those dates. For those of you who ordered Kedem for spring, it will be in the store by Tuesday as it just landed in New York today and they will get it out to us first. If you did not get to come to that show I bought a lot of it as it was so fabulous, so there should be plenty for those of you who love that line. The big news from Crea is that they made a less expensive line so it will be fun to have the chance to get that for fall. The first of their spring line should be in the store today. Lunn is in the store as is Peter O Mahler, Ray Harris, Planet, Dress to Kill, Comfy, Transparente, and Sun Kim. I also got in some really really gorgeous Sissy Yates necklaces. There are a few that are made of some rare stones in the most beautiful shades of blue. While I was in New York I also got two new colors of the eco friendly multi strand wood necklaces from Jianhai of London: dark racing green and orange.

Sissy Yates Designs

Speaking of Meryl Streep, the Oscars are this Sunday night! Here is a link to a story our own Mary Tabor wrote about the movies we all must see before Oscar night. Might have to marathon between now and then! Although I warn you, while Mary loved Tree of Life, I have to say it was, and will always be, on my all time list of movies I wish I could have walked out of.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/not-what-you-expect-mary-l-tabor/2012/jan/13/oscar-buzz-twelve-films-love/#.T0XMwV589aw.email

Can’t wait to see all the fashion and of course George! With Billy Crystal hosting this year it should be a great show.

Hope to see you all soon!

Ricki

HAPPY VALENTINE”S DAY! WE HAVE CHOCOLATE AND CHAMPAGNE TODAY!!

Actress, comedienne, author ALI WENTWORTH is coming to Upstairs on 7th! On Tuesday, March 6th from 6-8 pm come to U7 to meet one of the funniest women of our day and get a signed copy of her new HYSTERICAL book ALI in WONDERLAND! I have already read it and seriously it is laugh out loud funny. A memoir that is a love letter to her mother who is almost as funny as Ali, Ali in Wonderland is filled with stories about her life in Washington, Los Angeles and New York with husband George Stephanopoulos. Dinner will be served and you can purchase the book and have Ali sign it for you. When you are done reading it, give it to your mom for Mother’s Day if you are lucky enough to still have her or better yet, buy her a copy too. She will see herself in it and laugh out loud too! Remember Schmoopie in the iconic Soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld? That was Ali.

Please let me know if you are planning on attending the Ali event so that I can make sure there are enough books and food. IF you cannot come but would like Ali to sign a copy for you, let me know and I will make sure that happens. Other exciting details to follow about this event as soon as I can confirm them. My huge thanks to Sissy Yates, our popular jewelry designer, and sister to Ali, for helping to arrange this for us. (Ok, she probably begged, but it worked! We are on the book tour!) See Ali on her daily online five minute show The Daily Shot with Ali Wentworth. It is a great way to take a break and laugh!

Happy Valentines Day

I have a new intern this semester, Ama. She is lovely and unlike the last one did not get fired on her first day. I mean she got me chocolates, how could I let her go?

All the summer bags are in and are quite nice, in colors. I got more of the colorful purse accessories if you missed them the first time and all the Manouk jewelry has arrived!

Don’t forget the Kedem Sasson trunk show on February 28th and 29th with jeweler Annemieke from Amsterdam. It is really going to be the biggest and best show for spring. For those of you who ordered Kedem from the last show it should be in by show time. Our rep Andy for Kedem is the rep for Niche too so he is going to bring pieces from that line also.

THE STORE WILL BE CLOSED on Monday for President’s Day and I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

Ricki