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Bliss at 5812

Bliss at 5812 on Grove Avenue is owned by sisters Brooke Holland Kelly and Kate Holland Duncan. We love the sister-sister thing they have going on and how deliberately they curate their store. From eccentric Bailey 44 pieces to comfy Bella Dahl button downs, they have a great variety from basic to statement and everything in between. We picked out a few of our favorite pieces recently and asked them a few questions about owning a boutique in Richmond. Read on to hear what they have to say!

What is the best part of owning your own boutique?
There are so many perks of owning our own boutique. The most important one to us is being able to have our kids with us everyday. Not many people can say they get to work with their sister and kids. It’s also fun to be able to share our style with our customers. The buying trips are always fun too!

What is it like working as a sister-team?
We can’t even imagine what it would be like not being a sister team. Not only is it fun to work together everyday but we also balance each other out perfectly.

How would you describe each other’s style?
Our styles are very similar. Kate is more of a pants person while Brooke likes more dresses. It works out perfectly when we do buying for the store

What is your vision for Bliss in the years to come?
Our vision is to keep doing what we’re doing. We are going on 7 years now! The potential for a Baby Bliss would be nice in the future, but we will see!

Do you have a favorite go-to piece for fall?
The 360 Cashmere Sweaters are our go-to this Fall/Winter. So cute, comfy and unique!

What is your favorite aspect about being located in Richmond, VA?
Richmond is a fun town! We love being located where we are. It’s also a college town, so we get customers in from all over the United States!

Stop by and see the sisters and their adorable little ones next time you’re in the neighborhood or take a trip across town to find new fall favorites! Cath’s Bliss look will be up next. Stay tuned.

Back Off

Upon walking into Bliss at 5812, I almost immediately picked out this jumpsuit. I have always had a thing for jumpsuits because the whole its-a-one-piece makes for easy outfit decisions. They also make me feel empowered and want to strut like a supermodel down the streets of RVA – and in this instance, down Grove Avenue. I know we keep saying & showing our love for all black get-ups and here is another. Black is. just. so. versatile. How are you styling your favorite black pieces this fall?

ps. Stay tuned this week for more pictures of the Bliss shop and words from owners Brooke & Kate.

Belle & James is Open in Richmond

Richmond has become the ultimate foodie city over the past couple of years and we are excited to tell you that yet another remarkable restaurant has opened in Richmond, Va called Belle & James. We had a chance to try the menu before it opened to the public earlier this week and let it be known that we had a wonderful evening full of yummy libations and delectable food. Belle & James is a French-American restaurant with enticing creations that sat nicely on our palate such as Pimento Cheese Beignets & lavender infused cocktails. Not only do we love the juxtaposition between the feminine and masculine names used in this restaurant’s title (think Belle Isle & James River), but we also enjoy how the interior decor will make you want to stay awhile.

Check out Belle & James this weekend between all of your Halloween fun for a meal before the festivities or a cocktail at their instagrammable bar. Thank you Belle & James for a wonderful evening, we can’t wait for many more!

P.S If you ever get lonely, you can always go visit Brigitte Bardot while enjoying a glass of champagne at Belle & James.

Big Magic

What was the last book you read and truly savored? (You know, one that you never wanted to finish because you enjoyed the process of reading it more than you cared about knowing the end.) Up until about a week ago, my answer to this question was “40 Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak. When I finished “40 Rules of Love,” I thought about it for days and days and days. I envied people who hadn’t read it yet because they got to read “40 Rules of Love” in all of it’s wonder for the first time. Over this past week I found myself savoring “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert as much as I did Shafak’s novel.

I have had “Big Magic” for 7 days and am only on page 25. This is unusual for moi considering I tend to speed read through books that I’m excited about. So far, I can’t tell you what it is exactly about this book that is causing me to put my speed reading habits aside except for the fact that the message is beautifully empowering. I’ll figure out in detail why it resonates with me so much one of these days but for now, if you are in need of some shiny new inspiration – check Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book out.

PS: I am wearing this HM top.

Posted while listening to: 10,000 Emerald Pools by BORNS

Step Into Fall with DSW

*This post is sponsored by DSW Shoes, but all thoughts and opinions are our own

As we mentioned the other day, fall is here and so are our favorite black outfits and new boots. We are back in black, so to speak. However, with this black outfit we decided to pair our new favorite Steve Madden Fame Combat Boots for an edgier, I-just-hopped-off-my-Motorcycle look. These boots are perfect for walking around on a Saturday between fall festivals when you’re going to be on your feet all day and want to prevent the next-day raw-foot situation. (Not that we didn’t change into a heeled bootie later in the night, of course.) Not to mention, the combat boot is a style that truly stays in fashion, in our humble opinion.

Lifestyle Lookbook

Halloween Costume: Brandon Flowers

Disclaimer: this post reveals a Nordstrom giveaway at the very end!Halloween is hands down my all time favorite holiday. Ever since I was little, deciding what I was going to be for Halloween was always a decision I took very seriously and seemed to make way earlier than other kids. Yes, I was the girl asking what my friends were going to be for Halloween seven months in advance. From a 50s girl, to Chipper Jones (tomboy phase, don’t ask), to Mary Kate Olsen, I’d like to think I was a pretty well rounded (prepared) Halloween dresser upper.

The unforgettable person that inspired my love of Halloween (and fashion, for that matter) was my Aunt Mary. If there was ever a queen of Halloween, she was it. She always helped me with my costume growing up and sent me Halloween care packages when I was away at college. My aunt made Halloween care packages a thing.. a very much anticipated thing at that. She loved the idea of dressing up in costume and her Halloween spirit was infectious. She passed away a couple of years ago, and to this day – I get a little more outrageous on Halloween in her honor.

I decided to dress up as the lead singer of The Killers, Brandon Flowers. Rebecca and I saw him in concert this summer and I pretty much fell head over heels for him (don’t judge until you see him live.) Anyways, Brandon’s thing was feather epaulettes and lets be real, who turns down an excuse to unapologetically wear feather epaulettes? When I went down one of my I’m-obsessed-with-Brandon-Flowers rabbit holes via google, I found this quote in regards to his feelings on his signature feathery Dior blazer:

“The feather epaulettes were my most fabulous style statement. When I get into the jacket I feel good and very triumphant. It’s the old cliche of putting the mask on. I don’t know if I could get up in front of 70,000 people at festivals without my feathers on.”

Brandon, if you’re reading this – I feel pretty triumphant in my blazer adorned with feather epaulettes too and don’t mind switching out your festival-ocassion for my Halloween celebration. Thanks for the inspo, bud.

Iconic Fashion Moment: Dress like Carrie

Whether you grew up anxiously waiting for the latest episode of Sex and the City to air or have only seen the Sex and the City movie in passing, it is hard to not fall completely in love with the legendary character of Carrie Bradshaw. With Halloween two weeks away & film festival season in full force, we teamed up with Farfetch to put a wish list together inspired by one of fashion’s great characters, Carrie Bradshaw.

Fall Veggie Favorites

Check out some of our favorite oven roasted fall veggies to change up your dinner plans!

Newbury

The cold is creeping up on us more quickly than I would like so I had to take one last opportunity to step out in my trusty-old rag & bone jorts. That being said, I’m super excited to pull out the sweaters, leggings & jeans that have been in hiding all summer. Plus, I just copped these rag & bone Newbury booties and Eliz & James Crossbody bag to kick off the season right because who doesn’t like starting off the season with a new pair of classic boots & a badass handbag? Shocker, all black. Be prepared to see lots of black coming up on TCP, seeing as no matter what we do, we end up gravitating to sleek monotone get-ups! Happy Fall, Y’all!