The best part of being a buyer at Tres Mariposas are, well, the buying trips — particularly the trips to New York City. My most recent visit, just last week, was marked by 9 degree weather, vintage bags, and of course, Fall fashion.

We’re gearing up for Spring in the Sun City, but the fashion industry is looking ahead to our autumnal wardrobe. Here, the top 10 trends to look forward to this Fall:

1 . Fall forward with fringe: Trends, by definition, typically fade away as quickly they’re introduced. Not fringe, not this time. Fringe is stronger than ever before, with its versatile appeal on handbags, evening gowns, apparel and even shoes! (As pictured below the LoveFringe suede heel by Stuart Weitzman). We will be seeing fringed cashmere cardigans from Repeat and Central Park West, and fringe on supple leather handbags we ordered from a line called B-Low the Belt. Fringe forward and keep wearing it, because fringe is not going anywhere.

2 . Jonathan Simkhai: Jonathan Simkhai is a New York-based designer that was introduced to Tres Mariposas by our New York buyer, Lucie Jordan. She was right on by leading us to his showroom in 2014. We loved the collection and carry it in store now, and it’s very exciting to see how this up-and-coming designer is now EVERYWHERE, as seen on celebrities like Chanel Iman, Jennifer Lopez, Alessandra Ambrossio and Gigi Haddid. Legions of Hollywood “It Girls” have been seen in Jonathan Simkhai, and I am proud to feature the collection at our store. The only thing better than the line itself is its price point—super affordable.

3 . Jewelry trends (my favorite): I am a minimalist when it comes to fashion jewelry, but I can assure you that these trends will have me decked out! Edgy, eye-catching pieces like body chains, hand chains, and ear cuff will be everywhere this Fall. Tres Mariposas owner, Nan, and co-buyer, Bobbie, discovered a new line called Goldish that makes necklaces into hand chains that are 14kt . (As pictured below)
This fresh and fun trend is a great way to play with fashion, and an inexpensive way to try something different. The best part is that you can mix it all together, these pieces look even better when worn together to create a statement outfit.

4 . Midi-Dresses/Skirts: The longer the better! This Fall look is called, “The Midi” referring to a hemline below the knee and above the ankle. There are endless ways to wear this style. Pair midi dresses with tall boots or heels, and midi skirts with anything from a basic tee, to a crop top. Midi styles can be pencil shaped, A-line or circular, but the length is consistent and everywhere this Fall.

5 . Vintage Handbags: Until now, it was impossible to purchase a Celine, Chanel, or Louis Vuitton handbag in El Paso. Three years ago at our Fashion’s Night Out event, we hosted a Vintage Chanel Trunk Show with our friends from What Goes Around Comes Around. We were surprised to find that their line had gown to carry not only vintage Chanel, but many other brands as well! “Vintage?” you might ask. Doesn’t that mean they’ve been used? Not necessarily. The vintage handbags from WGACA aren’t always pre-worn, in some cases, the bags may have been an older style; gifted and never used; or worn once or twice and in impeccable condition. Nan, Bobbie and I hand-picked each bag, ensuring all classic styles are still available regular-price in the designer retail stores, and in pristine condition. Each bag is certified and inspected, and less than the original price! We look forward to hosting a trunk show with WGACA sometime in the Fall.

6 . Helmut Lang: I was pleasantly surprised by the change in direction from Helmut Lang. Gone are the edgy twists on classic styles. His Fall line has evolved with his collection, and the designer has ushered in a richer, more chic aesthetic. A longtime fan of Lang, I am excited and curious about the change. It’s a risk for the designer, and a major departure from the fashion house’s previous looks, but our buying team loved the collection and look forward to receiving the new and improved Helmut Lang Collection for 2015: Clean lines, crisp blouses, tailored suits and jackets. Tré chic!

7 . 70’s-inspired denim: High-waited jeans and flare legs are back in style, but don’t throw away those skinnies just yet. Do add to add a few pieces of flare-legged denim to your collection. My favorite styles were from Rag and Bone who showed dark washes that give off a dressier, cooler feel, but also expect to see many lighter-wash denim options. Each showroom we visited offered at least one pair of flared pants or jeans.

8 . Dynamic sportswear: Make room for dressy athletic wear like sweatshirts, jogging pants, and football jersey-inspired tops. Athletic wear is definitely having a moment and we want to capture it! I ordered some great jersey-inspired sweatshirts donning celebrities names, like Cara Delevigne, Kate Moss and Beyonce. The items will be available this month, with Rag and Bone showcasing the best athletic-inspired apparel for Fall.

9 . Evening Gowns: As we saw at the Oscars this year, intricate formal dresses are back in style. Lady Gaga, Emma Stone, Lupita Nyongo’s dresses were works of art in their own right, and anything but plain. For Fall 2015, expect decadent, extravagant and over the top! I was happy to see this shift in evening gowns. Tadashi Shoji by far my favorite line I saw this market. (Picture of Tadashi designer) He showed leather, beads, fringe —you name it, he had it all! The most diverse, interesting collection by far. There was lots of jewels, beads and embroidery, all dresses were red carpet-worthy.

10 . 50 Shades of Grey: The color for Fall 2015 is none other than grey! This includes all shades, from heather to charcoal, slate to gunmetal. The color is clean and chic and pairs perfectly with a variety of other hues. Grey boots, grey handbags and grey sweaters— cozy up in your favorites shade of grey this Fall and mix it up with unexpected accent colors like burgundy, hunter green and even navy blue. Gray is neutral and basic and should definitely be in your closet this Fall!

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Intricate ear jewelry like ear crawlers, ear jackets and ear cuffs are having a major moment. Everyone from high-end designers like Armenta and Meira T, to more accessible lines like Beje (photo below), and Lisa Freede are featuring these edgy accessories, and they’ve adorned the lobes of celebrities like Diane Kruger and Jennifer Lawrence in recent weeks. I’ll admit that I’m more of a minimalist when it comes to jewelry, but I’m loving this trend— it’s such a fun, unexpected way to add a bit of chic to any look. The best part about the ear candy craze? Any girl can pull it off and look fabulous.

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I’ve put together my favorite Valentine-themed goodies, the perfect treats for yourself or a sweet gift for the lovely ladies in your life.

1. Calvin Klein Silk Underwear Set 2. Sydney Evans Love Ring 3. L’Agent by Agent Provocateur Eye Mask 4. Christian Louboutin So Kate Pumps 5. Eddie Borgo Pave Bracelet 6. Valentino Rockstud Leather Tote 7. Dior So Real Sunglasses 8. Givenchy Bambi Pouch 9. Kevyn Aucoin Carliana True Red Lipstick [10. Kevyn Aucoin - The Starlet Faux Lashes](https://www.facebook.com/DryElp?ref=bookmarks ){:target=”blank”} 11. Tom Ford Nail Lacquer Bordeaux Lust
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Last month, I went to the Dallas Market at the World Trade Center and the F.I.G. to view the Spring/Summer 2015 lines. Days at Market can be chaotic, with back to back meetings and appointments at showrooms, but I always look forward to seeing new and classic designs

My favorite finds were these amazing neon tassels from Zacasha handmade in Bali; and Soludos espadrilles. These shoes are at a great price point and perfect for summer. I learned that ‘Soludos’ is a clever combination of the Spanish words, “Salud” and “Sol.” Translation: Cheers to the sun!

I’m excited to leave to Market in New York City in a couple weeks, so stay tuned for my new finds!

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Hello out there! Welcome to Tres Gal, I am thrilled to share with you my first blog post, and I’m even more excited because it’s about a cause that is very close to my heart.

As I mentioned in About Me, my husband, Abel, and I own Dry: A Blow Dry Bar in El Paso. We have the honor of helping women and girls feel and look their best on a daily basis, and one of our most beloved clients is Samantha Gonzalez. Samantha is a young teen with Down Syndrome whose confidence, enthusiasm and kindness has inspired me since the day I met her. Her energy radiates through the salon at each visit, so when I learned that her 15th birthday was approaching, I knew I wanted to do something special for her.

What started out as an idea to host a makeover party for Samantha and her friends evolved into an event for the Special Olympics and Down Syndrome Coalition of El Paso. Both Dry and Tres Mariposas sponsored the celebration, and local media from News Channel 9 and El Paso Inc came by to cover the event, making Samantha and the rest of the girls feel like celebrities.

Tres Mariposas owner, Nan Napier, was so moved by Samantha and her energy that she gifted Samantha an entire wardrobe at no cost. The Dry staff felt so grateful to be able to make these girls look as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. Abel and I were inspired to to start an organization called “Blowing Out Blessings,” and are excited to continue this fabulous tradition of creating special events for those in need.

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