Our spring/summer buying trip last week in Las Vegas was a huge success! This particular show features thousands of vendors showing their collections over a three-day period, making it one of the largest retail fashion venues in the U.S.

Like everything in Vegas, this market is over the top! Miles of clothing, accessories, and even a few celebrity appearances inspired us to find the best pieces we could.

Our goals for all of our buying trips are the same:  learn what the latest trends are, connect with brands our customers know and want, and find the hidden gems that offer something unique and special that aligns with our aesthetic vision. This may not sound like a tall order, but it’s definitely a challenge to accomplish these things in such an overwhelming and overstimulating environment!

We found several spring and summer trends among the racks of clothing stretching to the horizon. Many designers referenced the nineties in their collections. Higher waisted denim with a straight or flare hem in light washes were everywhere. This style calls to mind the days before low-rise skinny jeans became the mandatory style. Other late 80s/early 90s throwbacks included puffy sleeves, boxy blazers, romantic floral prints (remember Outback Red?), and colorblocked minimalism (it calls to mind Robert Palmer’s “Some Like it Hot” video).

Bright, happy colors were everywhere, even featured in leather! The color of choice for the season seems to be orange. Think of soft peach, terra cotta, and coral, instead of construction-site orange. Many designers also emphasized sustainability by creating clothing from recycled materials or using fewer resources in the manufacturing process.

Whenever we get to visit some of the vendors we’ve carried for a long time, it’s like seeing old friends. We look forward to catching up and checking out the upcoming styles for the season. Over the next few months, The James will be receiving new inventory from old favorites like 525 America, DL1961, Liverpool, Elan, and many other standbys. Buying new inventory from brands we’ve carried allows us to refine our selections using our clients’ feedback.

When we go to trade shows, we love introducing ourselves to vendors and bringing their lines into our store. One of the new lines we’re excited to introduce this spring is Susana Monaco. Susana Monaco is known for high-quality dresses and separates in flattering silhouettes and colors. It’s no wonder they have a cult following! We are the only local store to carry Susana Monaco, so be sure to check it out! We have some other hot brands in the pipeline as well, so stay tuned for more information.

In addition to carrying clothing from recognizable brand names, we like to seek out smaller labels. They may not have name recognition, but they offer beautiful clothing that isn’t available at every store in town. This is the most rewarding part of buying for a boutique—connecting our clients with something new. We have several of these lines hitting our stores in the coming weeks, and we look forward to sharing them with you!

Spring is an exciting time at The James! Because we look forward to sun, fun, and warmth on the waning days of winter, there’s so much anticipation to see the clothes and accessories for those brighter days. Come in and check out what’s new and keep coming back to see as spring unfolds.

The dark, dreary days of winter leave us craving color and fresh prints to brighten up our mood and wardrobe. After all, how many of us really believe the old adage that prints add pounds and black makes you look thinner?

While we all love the neutrality of black and grey, it can be boring and too safe. Wearing head-to-toe neutral all the time is the fashion equivalent of having Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s blah. This time of year, especially in Michigan, a dose of color is the perfect antidote. Color can give you a healthy glow and brighten your mood. 

If you are a black or neutral devotee and don’t know if color is for you, start small. Try a pair of earrings with a bright stone, an attention-grabbing handbag, or a statement shoe. These inject some fun when paired with basics. Wearing color can be as simple as wearing a top in a favorite shade or choosing colored denim over standard-issue blue.

There’s a recent trend that’s been popping up on runways, too. Designers are showing pantsuits with matching blouses in a bold color. Embrace monochromatic looks with a focus on bright color palettes. The actual color featured in these monochromatic looks varies, but the common denominator is boldness.

It can be easy to add a pop of color to your favorite staples. Here are just a few pieces that we love recommending when you want to brighten up your look:

1. Loren Hope fuchsia studs, $36.

2. Heartloom cable knit sweater in orchid, $88.

3. Gretchen Scott stretch trousers in tangerine or poppy, $108.

4. JKT leather jacket in terra cotta or sage, $341. 

Choose where you want to land on the spectrum of wearing color, then stop in at the James. We can’t wait to show you our favorite looks.

After the craziness of the holidays, a lot of people like to get organized and get rid of clutter in January. We’re doing the same thing here in the boutique by marking down fall and holiday merchandise, discounting coats and jewelry, and taking stock of our basics to make way for spring!

Come check out our sale racks and score some amazing deals on favorite designers, from Gretchen Scott to DL 1961, with lots of indie brands in between. This is a good time to take an inventory of your own closet and assess what you have in order to know what you need to pick up.

Not sure where to start? Every woman should have these basics in her closet:

• A great pair of jeans. Whether they’re high rise, low rise, skinny, flare, dark, or light is all a matter of preference. You may need several pairs to create different looks. Try pairing a distressed denim with a crisp button down and jacket to add polish. Well-fitting denim is a workhorse in your wardrobe.

• A classic white button down blouse. Think of this as a canvas to showcase whatever you’re pairing it with, whether that’s jewelry, a great jacket or pants. You can even toss a blouse under a favorite sweater for an added layer.

• Black pants. Tailored trousers for work, sleek cigarette pants for date night...the possibilities are endless! We are in love with dramatic Spanx flare trousers paired with a cropped blouse or sweater.

• Layering basics. T-shirts, tanks and leggings are staples that frequently need refreshing. Pair a great white tee with your favorite jeans and shoes to make a look that’s timeless. We recommend replenishing your white tees and tanks every season to ensure a bright, crisp look.

Good, high quality basics are the foundation of your wardrobe. You can work in trendier pieces easily with your basics. Try sprinkling in an animal print blouse with your favorite jeans, for example, or a leather skirt with a white button down.

Need help building your foundational wardrobe? We would love to work with you! Either stop in and let us know what you’re looking for, or call to schedule a complimentary appointment with one of our stylists.

If you’re a client or friend of the salon, you have probably noticed how The James Salon,  Spa and Boutique is committed to the communities in which we serve. At our East Grand Rapids location, we have supported the community through our partnerships with both the East Grand Rapids school foundation and Kid’s Food Basket with “give backs” and events that raise awareness to the needs of these nonprofits.

At our newest Ada location, the James Salon, Spa & Boutique will continue to partner with community organizations that are meaningful to us. Our September 19th Grand Opening event will benefit the Grand Rapids Women’s Resource Center, an organization committed to educating and empowering women to workplace success. 

This October, look out for another partnership event that will benefit Grand Rapids HQ, a drop-in center where youth experiencing homelessness encounter authentic relationships and belonging.

Want to get involved but can’t make it to the events… we would love to hear from you! Call us at 616-776-6090 or 616-920-7120, or email us at thejamessalon@gmail.com

Learn more about the Women’s Resource Center at www.GRWRC.org and HQ by visiting: www.HQGR.org

Oh what a night it was!  To say we were overwhelmed with the love and support at our August 19th Soft Opening Event at The James in Ada is an understatement.  Over 400 of you came and celebrated our newest location… we handed out our 200 swag bags within the first 20 minutes of the event!

It was amazing to see the support from everyone and we believe all of you have had a piece in making our newest location a SUCCESS.  We can’t wait for you to stop back in to explore the boutique, try one of our custom facials or a luxury pedicure and enjoy the new Ada Village development we get to call home!

Can’t get enough?  Well you’re in luck!  The James truly invests in the communities in which our businesses are located and enjoys giving back. We are partnering with the Grand Rapids Women’s Resource Center for a Community-wide Grand Opening Event on Thursday, September 19th from 6:30-9 pm... 20% of all sales that evening will be donated to WRC.  In addition, if you come to the event with business-style clothing donations for WRC, The James will provide you 20% off of your boutique purchase on your next visit!

From the bottom of our hearts, we THANK YOU for the success of last month’s event and cannot wait to see you visiting our newest location in the months ahead!

Our stunning new cutting-edge medical aesthetics spa is now open at our Ada location!  From your first step onto the 3500 square foot loft space you will notice a fresh and airy feel. The James Spa will allow you to remove your outer veil, take in all of the luxury services we have to offer and truly relax. 

Leading the way is Master Aesthetician and Laser Technician, Patti Alberts, bringing 12 years of experience to share with our guests and spa team.

“It’s so exciting and invigorating to open this gorgeous spa,” says Patti. “I’m excited to provide results-driven treatments to the clients of The James. The vibe is super relaxing and comfortable – not stiff at all. Our goal is to simply have everyone walk out of their experience here feeling amazing.”

The James Spa boasts a service menu that is sure to excite avid spa-goers and first-time guests alike! Botox, fillers, microblading, microdermabrasion, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, IPL treatments and customized medical grade facials, laser hair removal, sugaring hair removal, lash exetensions and so many others can all be found on the list!  

Patti’s favorite quote sums up what inspires her every day: “Behind every successful man or women is him or herself.”  A great reminder that everything you need is within yourself.  At The James, our latest spa offerings will help the true YOU shine through.  

Call or visit us today to make your next appointment!

 The James Salon, Spa & Boutique

550 Settlers Drive #102

Ada, MI 49301

(616)920-7120

Jen is among the friendliest and most artistic faces you will come to know at The James Boutique. By title she is a Merchandising Specialist, Personal Stylist and Buying Team Member. She helps the boutique look amazing, helps clients find the perfect outfits and accessories, all while keeping in mind what clients may need or want that isn’t already on the shelves! This is one busy and very talented girl! 

“One of my favorite things about my role at The James is that I get to contribute to a vision I believe in, I find so much joy in creating something for others to find joy in.” Jen has played a pivotal role in choosing colors and fabrics, creating stories with the clothing and designing layouts that are easy for clients to shop. This will continue with the opening of The James’ new location in Ada opening in just one week!

“We are growing into a new location, expanding in size to offer a larger variety of brands and begin reaching the working woman, but our heart and soul will remain the same! Our hope is that clients will feel the warmth and comfort of our James Family the same way they do when they walk into our East Grand Rapids location.” Says Jen. Along with maintaining their stellar customer service James and the staff will also continue to support the community with exciting new relationships with HQ and Women’s Resource Center! Keep an eye out for announcements on how you can help support these efforts. 

Stop by to meet Jen and the rest of the staff at The James Boutique next week… they can’t wait to show you all the new treasures and give you a tour!

We are currently looking to fill several positions at both our current location in East Grand Rapids and our new location in Ada opening in just a couple weeks!

In our search for Stylists, Estheticians, Manicurists and Receptionists… our hope is that we will find the perfect individuals to complete our team.

If you are positive, energetic, friendly, dependable, eager and fashion-forward we would love to chat about a possible opportunity! Inquiries can be made via phone 616-776-6090 or by filling out the form below!

Do you love a little retail therapy? Or maybe you know someone who does… planning a private Sip & Shop at The James Boutique is exactly what you need! 

Leave the kids at home, invite 10 or more of your best girls and let The James Family do the rest. The boutique will be yours for the evening so you can try on all of those “I’m not sure if I love this” or “OMG I love this” and feel free to strut it out to gather all the friendly advice you need. Still not sure about it? Our personal clothing stylists will be on hand to help you put together the best trends and offer up a few outfits you will easily fall in love with. 

Now let’s talk deals… As a host you will receive 35% off of all of your purchases and guests will receive 15% off… and we will provide the small bites and bubbly!

Are you in the dog house? Plan one for your wife! 

Have a friend with a birthday coming up? Plan one for her!!

Just feeling like you need a fun and different night out? Plan one for yourself!!!

Private Sip & Shops are available at both the East Grand Rapids and Ada (opening in August) locations. For more details or to make your reservation call 616-776-6090 or email us at thejamesboutique@gmail.com. 

Learn more about the boutique, salon and staff visit us on our websites www.thejamessalon.com & www.thejamesboutique.com.

Clothing trends are constantly evolving and changing, making the job of a buyer both exciting and nerve-wracking! Which brands do you approach? What will the clients need and love? How do you pick the perfect needles in the haystack of options that are out there? These are all questions that the expert, the fashion guru, the leading-by-example lady can answer! Mary is in charge of all of these things and so much more. Filled with intuition, knowledge and a whole lot of passion, this should be your go-to-girl for advice, trend questions, fitting room support or maybe just a hug. She is as sweet as she is sassy and The James Boutique is proud to have her!

Starting her day with a little caffeine, a walk with her pups and some mind-clearing yoga, she always comes in with a sunny “hey, how are ya.” When she’s not in the boutique she is busy on her laptop picking out the perfect pieces to add to the shelves. “Our clients play a huge part in what I order,” says Mary. Connecting with shoppers, building an intimate and personal relationship is one of her favorite aspects of her role. “Being on the floor allows me to really listen and understand what they want to see, and gives me a direction to move in that will stretch them a little too.”

“I’m so excited about everything we will have to offer this fall in both the East Grand Rapids location and our brand new build in Ada opening this August!” While the rest of us are soaking up every bit of summer we can get, Mary has been focusing on what trends will be waiting for us come fall. “Snake print is the new neutral, you will see an abundance of saturated colors and deeper jewel tones, and for the men we are anticipating a more casual trend… think more happy hour and less office.”

Chatting with Mary felt much like visiting with an old friend… and we couldn’t walk away empty handed of course! She is a MUST on the list of to-do’s in Grand Rapids as is The James Boutique! You can catch a sneak peek or two and join the mailing list at www.thejamesboutique.com. Happy shopping friends!

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In this video Todd will answer some of the most frequently asked questions he receives during patient consultations