On Monday I posted about my discovery of Earnest Sewn's Decca jeans, but I failed to mention where I got them. That's because I've been saving it until today: My website of the week is the online home of Mr. Charles, the State College, PA boutique where I found my new beloved jeans. The irony of finding the perfect jeans in the middle of Pennsylvania--when I live in the so-called fashion capital of the country--is not lost on me, and the fact that State College is, well, a college town, makes it that much more bizarre. State College is home to an Abercrombie & Fitch, a store selling custom screen-print tees, and other college-student-friendly shops, but Mr. Charles, which has been around since 1940, is a bit more upscale and, judging by the other shoppers in the store, is probably where the wealthy undergrads shop. But, hey, now that the store has a website, its clientele can shop there long after graduation. Which is a good thing, because the site has a great mix of premium jeans, cute tops, pretty dresses, and cool accessories.
Dress-wise, a lot of the usual suspects--Vince, Ella Moss, Generra--are represented here, but I love this very bohemian tunic dress from Iro.
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I was actually quite surprised to see this Ulla Johnson Oasis dress--it's a bit more sophisticated than what most college girls wear, and the drapey jersey fabric is more forgiving for those of us with less-than-perfect bodies.
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It's probably too warm for it now, but this military-inspired Loomstate jacket will be perfect for fall.
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Surprisingly, I've never seen this Vince babydoll cardigan before. I think it would be good for battling summer air-conditioning chill.
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Another top I totally love but have never seen before is this vest from Clu, one of my favorite knitwear labels. It's no Kate Moss for Topshop vest, but it's pretty awesome.
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There are also a lot of large, slouchy bags on the site--chic schoolbags if you're a (wealthy) student, everyday carryalls if you've graduated. One of my favorites is the Cassidy bag from Rachel Nasvik.
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But what Mr. Charles does best is what's essential to single girls of all ages: cute going-out tops. My favorite is this Ella Moss halter top--it shows enough skin to be interesting, but the blousy shape looks comfy too.
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Since MW drags me to State College several times a year, I now know I have something to look forward to--while he he shops for T-shirts at SBS, I'll be down the street at Mr. Charles.
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