Hoopla 5.0

Hoopla 2014… my fifth annual conference with Stella & Dot! Every year, this is THE event that Stylists look forward to. Yes, it’s technically a work conference, but it’s really much more than that. It’s game-changing training sessions with the craziest, most brilliant VP team out there and learning about the inspiration and craftsmanship behind the most beautiful, on-trend accessories created by a truly world-class design team. It’s inspirational stories of fellow Stylists being in the back of the room one year and then being recognized on stage for their incredible accomplishments the very next year and celebrations of those fellow Stylists and team members’ hard work. It’s sitting poolside sharing not only work tips and strategies, but also personal stories and laughs. It’s endless hours of happiness through dance parties, team parties, and dinner parties with friends near and far, many of whom we only see once a year at this conference.  It’s listening to our Board Chairman’s yearly speech and wiping tears from your eyes because his words are just that beautiful and heartfelt… and also watching him dance on stage for 3,000 women, all of whom are jumping from their seats to cheer him on. It’s way more than a work conference, because through all these things, it rejuvenates me and makes me want to apply what I’ve learned to all aspects of my life. It makes me want to be a better version of myself.

This is kind of a photo over-share for the blog, but I hope this gives my readers/friends/family a glimpse into the happiness, innovation, inspiration, fun, and pure joy that Stella & Dot embodies. Who wants to join me next year?

Hoopla swag bags, including 3 new pieces from the fall 2014 collection::
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My ATL friend Melanie, the Lucky and Lovely lady
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Orlando World Marriott Center – best pool yet
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Faux cousin yearly meet-up
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From college hall roommates to Hoopla roommates
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All opening sessions should include break dancers
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Complete with an appearance by our Global VP of Training, Danielle Redner
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Some love for the ladies in the back!
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Metallics, geometrics, and bright colors — all big trends for fall
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Day #2 of Hoopla
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Danielle’s re-incarnation as “Danierella”
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Stella & Dot is partnering with Every Mother Counts, founded by Christy Turlington. Did you know that 1 woman dies every 2 minutes from complications during pregnancy and childbirth? Every Mother Counts is a non-profit organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. The organization informs, engages, and mobilizes new audiences to take actions and raise funds that support maternal health programs around the world. The sale of just 20 of these bracelets will buy essential medical equipment for midwifery students, pay for two prenatal visits for uninsured women, and buy 6 safe birth kits for mothers-to-be. Can you imagine what we can do as a company through this partnership?
I have a goal to sell 25 bracelets by August 31st — who wants to help make a difference?? Click here to support this amazing cause!
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One of the fall favorites – the Fanella Statement Necklace
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Sutton in gold – wear it 5 ways
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Our CEO/Founder Jessica Herrin and her youngest daughter rocked it on stage for our “Hoopla dance” 
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dinner with Stella friends 
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Dance party, complete with break dancers and flamingos everywhere
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Day #3
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Hostess bonus through 8/31/14! Who wants a FREE engravable necklace?
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Heading home, but not before dinner at the airport with some lovely new friends who didn’t want me to eat alone. Nice people are everywhere.
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Agreed, John, agreed.
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stella & dot’s new 2014 collection is here!

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Stella & Dot has done it again. I say this every.single.season…. but they really have outdone themselves with this collection. There are neon and soft colors, pearls, rocker and boho pieces, totes, travel accessories, and gorgeous scarves. Our team of designers, led by the lovely Blythe Harris, are so incredibly talented at what they do. They travel the world looking for inspiration, then they bring those ideas back to our SoHo design studio and create beautiful works of art in so many of our pieces. They make our jobs as Stylists so easy because the product practically sells itself — and more so, I genuinely do love almost every piece in the line, every season. So I feel good about selling these pieces and helping women be a little more stylish in their everyday lives. It’s hard to pick a #1 — so here are my top favorites.


NECKLACES:

Norah Pendant – $98: This citrine is the perfect bright dose of color we need going into spring, but it’s really wearable now, too! I LOVE it over a cobalt blue sweater, and it looks fantastic over white, black, grey, navy, and patterns, too.  
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Linden Necklace – $138: 
This photo doesn’t even do the necklace justice on how gorgeous the colors are. In person, they literally look like they’re glowing. Green is my favorite color, so I really love this new piece for spring and summer. I think it will stunning over white, but will also be fun over pink, navy, black, and grey, to name a few.

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Milana Necklace – $79: I am a sucker for a good tassel necklace (hence my undying love for the Rebel Pendant). What makes this one so great is the mixed metals and the fact that you can remove the tassel for a different look!

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Elodie Necklace – $89: So many pretty colors — they sort of look like candy! This piece also looks extra statement-y when layered with the Somervell Necklace. Cobalt blue is a surprising complement to these colors — it really brings out the boldness of the stones. 
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Sutton Necklace – Stone – $178: 
Five necklaces in one. I have the mixed metal version that came out last year, and it’s the epitome of a versatile piece of jewelry. You can wear it short with all strands, long with all strands, take just the green stone strand off and wear it on its own… I could go on and on. I love the rocker look, but that it’s also preppy and fun with lots of great color.
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EARRINGS:

Sardinia Chandeliers – $59: I mean, seriously… one earring that you can wear THREE different ways? Sign me up! Go from a glam statement earring, to a medium-sized chandelier, to a cute little stud in the snap of a finger.

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Norah Chandeliers – $49: Continue the bright citron trend with these fun chandeliers. They’re sure to brighten up any face and any outfit. I think they’ll look especially stunning on ladies with dark hair.

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Cleopatra Studs – $24: These are such great everyday studs. They go with almost every one of our gold/bronze necklaces in the collection, and they’re so easy to pop on and run out the door. And you can’t beat $24. A definite must have for any woman!
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Janice Studs – $24: Here we go again with my favorite color. These are a substantial stud, and they’ll add a great little pop of color to any outfit.
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BRACELETS:

Macey Bangle – $39: Aside from the pretty colors, this bangle is cool because it expands when putting it over your wrist! It’s super lightweight, and it looks great on its own or stacked with other gold bangles. 
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Milana Bracelet – $49:  Three separate bracelets that can be worn together for a stacked look or worn on their own for something more simple and understated. The tassel is also removable!

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RINGS:

Florence Stackable Rings – $49: Three beautiful stone rings of varying sizes (the stone, not the ring size) — like so many of our other pieces, these look great stacked together and are also cute on their own. I just love the colors this season! Rings come in sizes 5-9.
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Cross Ring – $39: Our Interlock Cross necklaces have been runaway hits, so it only makes sense to have a ring as well. It’s such a pretty little statement – with just the right amount of sparkle. And it’s a steal at just $39.
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BAGS/SCARVES:


How Does She Do It Bag in red/navy pattern – $98: 
The HDSDI bag is something that every woman can make good use of, whether they’re a mom of 3 kids or a businesswoman on the go. It’s perfect for stowing a laptop and paperwork, traveling to the beach, or using as a diaper bag. I just love this new pattern, and the inside pattern is pretty, too! Tons of pockets, and the material is water-resistant. 
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The Shift – $198: 
This is another multi-function bag that I am swooning over. Leather, hand-stamped cut-out pattern, and the front clutch zips right off to take this bag from day to night. Everyone needs a black bag, so why not make it one that you can get even more use out of? 
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Double Clutch in citrine – $89: This color is so bright and cheery, and it also comes in cerise, which is a reddish-coral color. Great for spring/summer nights out, and it could even be used to brighten up a winter outfit. The double clutch has 2 zipper sections, as well as a mirror for those quick hair/makeup checks.

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Palm Springs scarf in citrine floral – $59: More bright color, but in a really airy way. This scarf is huge, and it can be worn tons of ways as a traditional scarf, but it can also be worn this spring/summer as a pool sarong, and it makes a very stylish blanket on cold airplanes. This would make a fantastic gift!
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See something you love? Hop on over to Melissa Hayes, Stella & Dot Stylist to shop today!

holiday shopping for a cause

The Stella & Dot Holiday Collection is here!! EEEEEK!

And on top of that, in October, 100% of net proceeds from our Breast Cancer Awareness Boutique will support the Noreen Fraser Foundation! Last year, Stella & Dot raised over $182,000 to for the foundation to support breast cancer research and awareness for the importance of early detection. We’re back this year with a new selection of PINK items that I think you’re going to love — so let’s work together and fight Breast Cancer in style!

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I just got my Holiday Collection samples in last night, and they are as gorgeous as ever! I focused more on the bags and small good this time around. I am especially in LOVE with the new clutches and crossbody bags! Here are my top picks for the holidays:

Avalon Bracelet Clutch in cobalt (and black) — $69
The strap comes off to become a wrap bracelet! I tell you, our design team thinks of everything. And check out that adorable pattern inside!
avalonclutch_both Tia Crossbody in Cerise (and black) — $98
Such a versatile and fun piece. The strap is removable to create a clutch, and the body zips out to fit a mini ipad and all your evening essentials. I can’t get over how cute this color is!
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Pouf  (crazy stripe) — $24
Perfect for the girl on the go! Use it in your purse or travel bag to store snacks, makeup, power cords, kiddie toys… the options are endless!
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Luxembourg Scarf (wild hearts) — $59
Our scarves have been so popular, and I just love the weight, feel, and size of them. They make the perfect gift, too!
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Adelaide Hoops (silver or gold) — $39
These sparkly hoops come in both silver and gold, and they’re ta beautiful way to finish off a dressy outfit! 
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Eternal Band Ring  — $39
I loooove this guy! It’s got just enough sparkle, but it’s delicate enough to wear every day. 
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Daisy Pearl Necklace — $118
Gotta love a statement necklace that you can wear more than one way. The hematite chain section can be removed for a more traditional-looking pearl necklace. I like the edge that the chain and clasp give to this piece — it’s a very fashion-forward way to do pearls!!

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Stella & Dot’s Holiday Collection is here!

The Holiday Collection is here and it’s like Christmas in… October! This is my 3rd holiday season as a Stylist with Stella & Dot, and I just continue to be amazed at how they outdo themselves each time. We have tons of new pieces to please most everyone’s taste and budget. There are so many new products we’re offering, so many great gift ideas, and the packaging is irresistable. Here’s a sampling of my top picks! To see the rest of the collection, visit my personal website at www.stelladot.com/melissahayes.

THINK PINK Boutique::
Breast Cancer is near and dear to mine and Craig’s hearts, and I’m thrilled and honored to work for a company that supports such a wonderful cause like the Noreen Fraser Foundation. For the month of October, 100% of the net proceeds from 5 THINK PINK items will be donated to NFF in the fight against breast cancer. I’m looking to do breast cancer fundraiser trunk shows this month around the Atlanta area, so please let me know if you or someone you know would be interested!

Bryant Park Scarf in Pink — $59

Hope Bracelet – $32
This bracelet features an angel wing in rose gold and is just so delicate and beautiful. It layers really well with last year’s breast cancer awareness bracelet, the Tribute Bracelet.
Mercer Zip Wallet in Pink — $79
I have this wallet in brown leather, and it’s amazing!! So many pockets inside, beautiful detailing, and a fun leather tassle on the zipper. Comes in a great box for gifting, too!
Scarves::
We are debuting our scarf collection with 5 beauties, and I love them all! It was so hard to choose just a couple for my sample display. I  chose this fun poppy one with the elephants, and I can’t wait to try it out!! Scarves are such a great way to update your wardrobe in the fall and winter. I love that all of our scarves are a great pop of color and pattern. We have a really fun video on our website showing several ways to wear your new scarf. We also have some pretty blue color palettes — check them out online!

Bryant Park Scarf in Poppy — $59
Bryant Park Scarf in Leopard — $59

Wallets/Tech Cases::
I’m swooning over these new wallets, tech cases, and iphone cases! The poppy (orange) with pink trim is so lush and fun and bright… and the snakeskin with gold interior (and a cute little message on the zippered section for coins) is gorgeous and elegant. The price range for these pieces is great, too. And the new iphone cases (for 4 and 4s only right now) are too cute! I got the poppy one, but love the little birdies in blue and green.

Mercer Zip Wallet in Snakeskin — $118
Iphone case (fits 4 and 4s only) — $29Designer Collaborations::
We have 2 exciting designer collaborations this holiday season!
Alice Temperley is a famous British designer,  known for combining femininity with cool Britannia sensibilities. She’s reigned over the London fashion scene for the past decade with an impressive celebrity following, including Beyonce and Kate and Pippa Middelton.

Fox Ring — $59 (limited edition)
This foxy ring is inspired by Alice Temperley’s son, Fox. She says the fox symbol is her lucky charm, so maybe it’ll bring you some good luck, too!
Wonderland Charm Bracelet — $98
Here’s the story behind what the charms mean:
Heart Charm – represents love; Bird Charm – one of Alice’s favorite motifs, it represents freedom; Fox Charm – a special charm for Alice’s son Fox London; Crown Charm – represents Alice’s British herritage; Key Charm – a popular symbol from Alice in Wonderland, the key opens doors to a world of possibilities.


Admiral Bracelet — $198 (limited edition)
Lara Bohinc is lauded for her innovative designs, and I just love her knot jewelry. This U.K.-based brand combines modern luxury with bold, classic style.

More Jewels::

Liz Drop Earrings — $59 (you have to go online to check out the back of these babies!!)

Suzanne Cocktail Ring — $39
Love Bracelet — $19
Swallow Studs — $19

Wesley Pendant — $98