April’s week one was dedicated exclusively to our annual in-store Spring launch event – this year, featuring one of the largest new collections we have showcased in an evening. With a fresh window display and photo-shoot favorites developed in poster size style guides, our creative team worked tirelessly to transform the boutique in preparation of the event, and the new fashion season ahead. Stunning dresses, bright colors, anchor prints and floral designs were in high-demand as our clients sipped champagne and enjoyed custom-made desserts with Muse Girls alike.

Weeks two and three we continued to roll out the new collection, with a shoot of our current must-haves and a buying focus on the rest of the warm-weather months ahead. We met as a team for a long-overdue staff meeting, just in time to celebrate owner Christine Visnjak’s mid-month birthday, and reflect together on the tragic events that took place in Boston. We discussed our creative strategies for the seasons to come, and shared a Dove Beauty video that reminded us once more why we believe so strongly in embracing natural beauty, self-approval and inner confidence, for ourselves, and our clients. Then our girls were off on their own adventures – finishing up with school and traveling to Vancouver Island, hitting the streets of New York, launching a jewelry business… just another week in the life of a Muse Girl.

April is ending but that sense of renewal is still at the forefront of our minds, and things are as fresh and beautiful as ever at Muse Social Fashion House.

Come and see for yourself.

The Lightweight Blouse
Polished, classic and versatile, a chic, lightweight blouse is a perfect wardrobe go-to piece, whether tucked in to a skirt, loose over denim or dressed down with leggings. We are loving this sophisticated tunic version in crisp colors, with feminine detailing and roll-up sleeves perfect for warm weather wear.

The Platform Sandal
Our Spring sandal collection is fully stocked and all about the wedged platform, in a variety of fashionable colors and styles to be dressed up or down for added versatility. Cuff them with your denim for everyday casual or add them with a flirty dress to amp up your party look.

The Statement Necklace
A dramatic statement necklace is both a powerful styling tool and a must-have accessory for any collection. Our most sought-after styles feature geometric prints in candy colors and pair with anything and everything, from basics to formal wear, for an instant touch of glamor.

The Colored Skinny Jean
Denim is a flawless center-point for the transitional seasons: easy to build on with high use value, and appropriate for day or evening. The skinny jean is the go-to fashionable fit of the season, and in lavender, mint, blue, coral and yellow for a playful and on-trend color twist.

The Maxi Skirt
True casual cool, this full-length skirt is a Muse best-seller and available in solid and striped easy-to-wear colors perfect for all your Spring pairings. Keep the look effortless and underdone – chic sandals, a colored camisole, a lightweight sweater and that killer Muse Girl confidence is all you need.

With many of our clients looking for pre-Spring fashion inspiration, this month was dedicated to transitioning winter wardrobes in to lighter and brighter looks fitting of the warm weather ahead. Our staple camisoles, graphic t-shirts, versatile handbags, colored denim and Spring scarves flew off the shelves for mix and match pairings, while JQ Vancouver, a spectacularly sleek and modern necklace collection designed by our very own Chelsey Andrews, debuted exclusively at Muse this month, offering the ideal finishing touch.

In that same transitional spirit, our preparation for the Spring Styled 2013 collection launch was a month-long project – the first step? To create a conceptual photo-shoot reflective of the energy behind the collection, and always, the lifestyle of the Muse Girl. Set on location, featuring twenty-four individual looks, this was our largest and most impactful shoot to date – worth every moment when the breathtaking images finally hit The Look Book. A store overhaul, fresh window display, and collection launch in the works… It’s officially Spring, and it’s definitely styled at Muse Social Fashion House.

Happy Easter!

In Part 1 of our Spring 2013 photo shoot we celebrated everyday wear at its best: in our trademark smart casual aesthetic. Each look enthralled us more than the next and that was only the beginning…

Part 2 of this shoot takes the entire collection to the next level. Set once again at home with the Muse Girl, we saved a whole lot of pretty for last, with an exclusive focus on the dresses that will complete your Spring wardrobe and cover every event in your social calendar. From soft and delicate to bold and bright, there is a dress for each Musette, and we are certain you will find yourself as captivated as we were.

Preview the collection, find your favorites, and we will see you Thursday, April 4th at 6pm.

This is Spring – styled. And you will be too.

Photos | Gillian Stevens

Location | The Residences at Morgan Crossing

Set at home with the Muse Girl, this concept shoot features the effortless work, weekend and party pieces perfect for rounding out your transitional wardrobe, and all available at our in-store Spring Styled launch party, Thursday, April 4th. Part 1 of the collection? Everyday wear as fresh, vibrant and fabulous as the Muse Girl herself. Think colored denim, bold stripes, graphic prints, delicate detailing and so much more, in the season’s hottest hues of navy, mint, yellow and coral.

Watch for Part 2 of the collection shoot on The Look Book next week and mark April 4th on your calendars, Musettes.

This is Spring – styled.

Photos | Gillian Stevens

Location | The Residences at Morgan Crossing

February at Muse is really about one exciting thing: our Spring/Summer buying trip! With stops in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, hand-selecting each item for our collection is a huge undertaking, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. The first week of the month we book appointments with showrooms, designers and brand reps, prep our trend reports, finalize travel details, and establish a buying plan. Before we know it, it’s last minute packing, goodbyes and airport drop-offs as owner Christine Visnjak begins the first leg of the trip in sunny LA. Home to some of our favorite designers, LA is a fashion forward and dynamic city to buy product in – there is never a shortage of new looks, vibrant color or Muse worthy style. The week disappears and it’s off to Las Vegas for part two: the WWD Magic fashion market show. An opportunity for us to connect with some of the labels we have featured in seasons past, and discover emerging brands, the show features the very best of the upcoming trends and allows us to expand, compliment and highlight the finds we made in LA. Less than a week later Christine is back in store and our girls are hard at work unpacking, steaming, tagging and pricing shipments in preparation for the first product launch.

With the Muse Girl forever on our minds, each piece of every collection is purchased to represent the smart casual, effortless good taste defined by the personal style of our clients and our team: Spring 2013 is proof once more of exactly how fashionable the Muse Girls truly are. First items debut in store starting today.

Ready? Set… Go!

It was love at first sight as our in-house creative team put together a photo shoot of crush-worthy looks to take you through this sweet holiday, and perhaps inspire a few admirers along way. Whether you are sharing February 14th with your beautiful family, your best friends, or the love of your life, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to pretty up with the best of them, romantics and all. Find that one perfect item, or style yourself from head to toe. Just don’t forget the candy hearts.

Love is in the air, Musettes. Will you be our Valentine?

Photos | Gillian Stevens

This particular January we are moving forward having accomplished so much success and happiness in 2012, we are tempted to dream bigger than ever: from the strength of our collections, to our in-store events, photo-shoots and new ways to celebrate our Muse Girls, we anticipate great things from 2013, and we think you should, too.

Our introspective month began with getting the team together for a much-overdue girls night – something we had little time for during the busy holiday season! It was wonderful to share an evening with our close-knit group outside of the store, though none of us could resist going over a few Muse details – namely, sharing our excitement for the “First Look at Spring” Collection. Vibrant pops of coral and mint green brought the racks to life in that first week of the New Year, especially for our clients headed out on vacation, or those who simply couldn’t resist a little pre-season shopping. New collection established, we were hard at work on our mid-January Look Book post: Meet the Muse Girls, in weeks two and three. A thrilling project for us all, this collaboration brought out the candid beauty of our team – not to mention some very memorable, “You played the organ?! You were in karate?!” Muse moments. To close out the month we turned our attention to our first official photo-shoot for 2013. Featuring a Valentine’s Day theme and set to hit the Look Book next week, this must-see shoot is a personal favorite on the Editorial Schedule, highlighting our key looks for the February holiday, whether you are hitting the town with girlfriends, hanging with family, or enjoying a romantic evening with your love.

Whew! One month down, eleven to go. Hello, 2013.

Without further ado, these are the Muse Girls.

Everyone says I am…  caring, giving and supportive, but sometimes hard to read.

And someday I hope to… go to New York city!

My guilty pleasures are… blueberry and raspberry gin martinis and pear flavored Jelly beans.

You might be surprised to know that I… played the organ for years.

My celebrity crush of the moment is… Jay-Z. He’s a music and business icon, and he always puts his wife first – something any woman can appreciate.

When I grew up, I wanted to be… a lawyer.

Now I want to be… exactly where I am!

The best advice I ever got was… if you’re going to do something, do it with everything you have.  Give it your all; leave no regrets behind.

My personal style is… smart casual. i focus on clean lines, select accessories, and polished looks.

I can’t live without… my iphone, chapstick, sunglasses, my car and a hair tie.

My New Year’s resolution was… to enjoy the small moments in life.

I love Muse because… it started out as my vision and over the past two and a half years it’s evolved to so much more than I could have dreamed.

To me, the Muse Girl is… a woman who follows her heart, dreams and intuition.

And I am a Muse Girl because… I take chances in life and I always try to push myself. I never wonder “what if”.

Everyone says I am… Quiet at first but more open as I get to know someone.

And someday I hope to… Travel more of the world!

My guilty pleasures are… Yogurt raisins – they are a real thing, and they are amazing, and Instagram, which I check before bed and in the morning.

You might be surprised to know that I… Was in karate for 5 years.

My celebrity crush of the moment is… Ryan Gosling – no explanation needed!

When I grew up, I wanted to be… An actress, singer or veterinarian.

Now I want to be… a boutique owner, a visual merchandiser, or a fashion buyer.

The best advice I ever got was…If you’re lucky enough to be different from everyone else, don’t change.

My personal style is… Minimalistic but trendy.

I can’t live without… My family, friends, and fashion.

My New Year’s resolution was… To work on my posture – shoulders back!

I love Muse because… It is different from any other boutique I have seen. I love the atmosphere and what we stand for.

To me, the Muse Girl is… Who she wants to be.

And I am a Muse Girl because… I have my own signature style.

Everyone says I am…  Creative and imaginative.

And someday I hope to… Live in Europe again! in a brick house along a street full of brick houses, taking photographs all day, traveling everywhere by train or bicycle and filling my ears with beautiful european accents.

My guilty pleasures are… Yogurt and chips (yes, together), and singing and dancing when I am home alone, pretending my life is a musical.

You might be surprised to know that I… am a newlywed!

My celebrity crush of the moment is… Marion Cotillard – for her talent and elegance.

When I grew up, I wanted to be… A famous actress.

Now I want to be… A mother, loving wife, and running my own business.

The best advice I ever got was… Always have high standards when it comes to men, and never change who you are to be with someone, or to make them happy.

My personal style is… A mix between feminine vintage, and relaxed tomboy.

I can’t live without… cozy pajamas, music, family, summertime, laughing and traveling, sharing stories, my camera, and vegetables.

My New Year’s resolution was… To go on more walks with my husband.

I love Muse because… It’s fun and inviting, and our team is amazing.

To me, the Muse Girl is… someone who tries new things, and who isn’t afraid to be herself – even if she hasn’t quite figured out who that is yet.

And I am a Muse Girl because… I don’t know what the future holds but I am moving forward and taking in every moment, enjoying the process and the beautiful people that I meet along the way.

Everyone says I am… Clever, witty and incredibly charming.

And someday I hope to… Prove them right.

My guilty pleasures are… traveling with my husband, reading all day, movie popcorn, and family traditions: old or new, they make me so happy.

You might be surprised to know that I… have lived in Europe three times and speak four languages – though I still rarely ever say the right thing at the right time.

My celebrity crush of the moment is… Russell Wilson – Quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. He’s a complete gentleman and he can throw a touchdown pass that makes me swoon.

When I grew up, I wanted to be… gorgeous and super rich.

Now I want to be… gorgeous and super rich.

The best advice I ever got was… from my husband. He told me to follow my bliss.

My personal style is… Preppy, feminine, classic.

I can’t live without… Football, style, literature, art, family, champagne, beauty, love, travel, i-laughed-until-it-hurt moments and my dog Giorgie.

My New Year’s resolution was… to write a book. And then do something with it.

I love Muse because… We offer women the opportunity to look and feel fabulous, and we have such an unbelievable riot in the process.

To me, the Muse Girl is… Funny, effortless, honest and unexpected. she is flawed and real and perfect all at the same time.

And I am a Muse Girl because… I am brave enough to be myself, I see the beauty in everything, i dance for no reason, and i forget my umbrella everywhere i go.

Photos | Gillian Stevens

The Kickoff to Christmas Sale – now an annual traditional at Muse – launched both the first day of the month and a fun, fabulous opportunity for us to connect with regular clients and new faces alike as we showcased our must-have favorites for the festive season ahead. With holiday hours, pine scented candles, a wrapping station and as many scarves as we could fit stocked in the store, we were all prepped for a month of full-on gift giving by the end of week one, and thank goodness, because as soon as the Muse Girls’ Gift Guide hit the Look Book, it was a joyful and whirlwind sprint from there on. With some of our most popular items (love bracelets, anyone?) selling out with shopping days remaining, it was all hands on deck to re-stock and re-merchandise those special somethings to put under the tree (or in your own closet!), and offer our dedicated Musettes the product they were longing for. A few days from the 25th and it was all about the Men of Muse as husbands, boyfriends, fathers and brothers stopped by to unravel their loved ones’ wish lists, ask for recommendations, and heed our advice. Finally, it was Christmas Day and at home with our families, visions of happy Muse Girls unwrapping their gifts danced in our heads. Food, drink, presents and it was back at it for our Boxing Day sale – no real rest for the weary or the fashionable. A weekend of last-minute New Years Eve finds and just like that, December is drawing to a close.

There is so much to say about this past year at Muse. So much creativity, style, humor, hard work, friendship and dreams come true. It was an unforgettable year and we look so forward to the immense inspiration and beauty ahead. We wish you all the success and happiness we experienced in 2012. Now let’s get out there and rock those resolutions…

You know, as only a Muse Girl can.