Spring Fling
The look this season: Is it neo-preppy? New Glamour? Romantic?
Is Boho still chic? White’s hot, and so is brown, and blue, and pleats, ruffles,
crochet, and lace. Dresses are the big story — but baby-doll, strapless tulip, classic shirtwaist, sleek shift? The fact is, when it comes to style these days, the choices are just about endless. Luckily, for Valley fashionistas in search of a look that’s all their own, these local boutiques are ready to help them find it
Photographs by Michael Polito
Hair and make-up by David Cartelli and Deidre Harris of Salon Davidé, Wappingers Falls
Shot on location at Adams Fairacre Farms, Poughkeepsie
Cesare & Lili
6384 Mill St., Rhinebeck 845-876-4009
“My daughter is 25, I’m 49, and my goal was to create a mother-daughter place where both of us could shop and find things,” says Regina Caridi, who opened her boutique in 2003. “We have mixed styles and mixed prices. It’s so much fun. It’s my dream job.”
Trends for spring: “Straight-legged jeans, striped shirts, anything striped — very French, like navy and white. Navy is huge, and brown is another big color for spring. And Bohemian, still, with ruffle layered skirts.”
Wide leg gaucho pants, twist tie cami, stone and sequin embroidered wrap, all by A Common Thread; vintage earrings from India. At right: Jersey skirt and tank by Rachel Pally; scarf by Frank & Kahn.
Models: Anna McCloskey, Patricia No
Rambling Rose Boutique
73 Main St., New Paltz 845-255-3899
“We have fabulous clothing for fascinating women,” says Julie Mazur, whose 12-year-old store serves a lot of chic boomers, as well as “anybody who wants to be cool, contemporary, ageless, and timeless.”
Trends this spring: “Dresses, especially white dresses. Everyone needs at least one jersey dress for work and a little cotton sundress for play. Other strong colors are brown and all shades of blue.”
Brown mesh dress with wood bead detail by ECI. Turquoise and gold earrings from the Rambling Rose house collection.
Model: Carolyn Randazzo
Elephant’s Trunk
111 East Main St., Mount Kisco 914-666-7666
“We dress women for special occasions, mothers of the bride, someone going to a black-tie or red-carpet event,” says Ralph Brache who, with his brother Robert, has owned Elephant’s Trunk for 36 years. (“I’ve dressed friends for their wedding, dressed their children, and now I’m dressing their children’s children,” he says, laughing.)
Trends for spring: “Happy colors, like kiwi, soft banana, shades of turquoise, shades of white, and dresses that are ethereal, whimsical in chiffons, silk charmeuse — softer, flirtier fabrics.”
Hand-embroidered silk dress with Swarovski crystal beading by YSA Mokino; bag by Carlo Fellini.
Model: Adrienne Volpe
Style Counsel
19 Main St., Warwick 845-986-9588
Tim Mullally and Bob Maxwell opened their boutique in 1994, offering everything “from ripped jeans to beaded gowns, a preppy seersucker jacket to a prairie-style peasant dress,” says Mullally. The small menswear department mainly serves women shopping for their husbands, though guys often venture in, too.
Trends for spring: “Things are a little more tailored, but there’s still attention to detail, whether it’s embroidery, appliques, or ribbon trim. Colors are more muted, but patterns are still important.”
Black cotton embroidered dress by Vasna; Lili Bleu loose crochet cotton cardigan; straw bag by Y&S. Button-down, tie-dyed and embroidered cotton shirt by Dragonfly; stretch blazer by Mac and Jac; Michael Michael Kors pants.
Models: Martin and Joan Dominguez Ball
Up To Date
2600 South Rd., Poughkeepsie 845-471-0300
Practically an institution, Up to Date has been a favorite among sophisticated women of all ages for 105 years now. “Our customers are looking for something they don’t find in a department store,” says owner Amanda Gobbi Forman.
Trends for spring: “Black is still in, but color is important, too. The look is a little more feminine, with longer, fuller skirts. And the Asian look is still in.”
Sleeveless floral shell is topped by a matching jacket that reverses to solid black, both by Tania; pants by Mac Mac; bag by Brighton.
Model: Patricia M. Sherwood
