Mid-May is always the time when we start thinking about soaking up the sunshine in a lounger by the pool. With the items on this list, all you need is a stack of magazines, your favorite snacks and a drink, and you're set for fresh poolside style! 

1. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray - Even if you're nowhere near the ocean, your hair can still look and feel like it with this amazing spray that's like a beach in a bottle. 

2. Towne & Reese Fisher Earrings - Bold enough to make a statement yet light enough to wear all day, our Fisher earrings come in 10 colors and have been a consistent best seller year round. 

3. Sephora Glossy Gloss Galore - One of the great things about summer is skipping your makeup routine and wearing sunglasses and lipgloss instead. We're smitten with this pick from Sephora and how it shines. 

4. Shiraleah Andrea Tote - Toss your things in this bright cotton tote that's perfect for the pool. We absolutely love the entire Shiraleah line! Check out their new website (shiraleah.com) for everything from signature handbags to stylish home decor.

5. Havianas Slim Fresh Flip Flops - Comfortable and adorable, there are so many ways to wear Havianas when the weather is warm. The polka dots and pop of color on these flip flops are just flat out fun. 

6. Target Merona Halter Maxi Dress - We love how this dress can be worn with wedges or dressed down with flip flops. Target always has a fantastic line of maxis, cotton dresses, skirts and shorts for great prices. 

7. J. Crew Summer Straw Hat - A black and white stripe hat goes with any swimsuit and this pick from J. Crew is both classy and chic. Plus, it flattens and folds for stashing it in your bag. 

8. Towne & Reese Pope Necklace - This 30" length necklace comes in two summer colors, bordering on boho style. Toss it on over any cover up or dress, just make sure to keep it away from sunscreen and water to keep it looking great.  

Have you picked up the June 2013 People StyleWatch magazine yet? It's packed with guilt-free finds and styles, featuring 297 summer must-haves under $50 and our Jayden earrings made their list!

We were so excited to hear the news, we turned straight to page 186 and there they were. Our Jayden earrings in pink and orange are featured right above Nicky Hilton.

But what's even more exciting than seeing the Jayden discs dangle above Nicky is what's written across the bottom of the page. Look closely and you'll see now through June 14, you can grab our Jayden earrings (or anything else on towneandreese.com) for 20% off at checkout when you use code JUNESTYLEWATCH. 

It's just our way of celebrating affordable style and seeing our name in ink. 

Happy shopping!

Go Gray in May is an expression we weren’t familiar with until we were thinking of ways to bring awareness to a cause we care deeply about. The color gray signifies Brain Tumor Awareness and in honor of this, we’ve added a Shop Gray collection to our website. You'll see it's filled with our silver statements and staples—including those much loved natural stones and sparkling gemstones—all in shades of gorgeous gray like hematite and howlite that work with any color and any occasion. 

We’ve put a special focus on Brain Tumor Awareness this year because of a 3-year old who has inspired us with his determination and smile. Kase Powell is a boy who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and cancer at 18 months old. Kase has a twin brother and their parents are friends of the Towne & Reese family. You’ll hear more about Kase in the coming weeks, and you can check out his Facebook page here: facebook.com/littlekaseman

This month, we have a goal to spread the word about Brain Tumor Awareness and raise money for the Kase Powell Fund. One of the ways we are doing this is by donating $1 for every new page ‘like’ we receive on Facebook in May. If you are not already a fan of Towne & Reese on Facebook, like our page here and share facebook.com/towneandreese.com with friends. We are so appreciative of our fans and we know Kase is, too! 

Accessories are a simple way to ramp up a new oufit or affordably change a favorite you're already wearing. It's one of the many reasons we love working with jewelry. Mixing and matching or layering different accessories—the possibilities are endless and can instantly transform a look, as well as your mood.

If you're looking for new fashion to add to your spring wardrobe, our Spring Splurge sale is a great time to grab Towne & Reese pieces at a discount. Now through April 17, you'll save 30% on any full-priced item on our website. Discount will be taken at checkout. 

To show you what we mean, we've styled two dresses that show off how you can change a simple jersey or silky sheath with Towne & Reese jewelry.

Sundry Ruched Tank Dress $135

                        ----

Lily Gray Earrings $21 (reg. $30) 

Evelyn Bracelets $21 each (reg. $30) 
 

Lucie Necklace $17.50 (reg. 25)

Elliott Necklace $28 (reg. $40)

Daisy Ring $21 (reg. $30)

ONE by Otte Ellen Dress $286

                        ----

Harrison Earrings $24.50 (reg. $35)

Poppy Necklace $28 (reg. $40)

Elena Ring $28 (reg. $40)

Helen Necklace $24.50 (reg. 35)

Ruthie Earrings $21 (reg. $30)

Wesley Bracelets $14 (reg. $20)

If you live in Charlotte, love Towne & Reese and look forward to a great deal, you're in luck!

Next Wednesday we're hosting our bi-annual Sample Sale and everything is $5-$15. 

Save the date, plan on bringing cash (no credit cards or personal checks accepted, sorry) and join us any time between 10am-8pm at our office located at 214 W. Tremont Avenue, Suite 303.

Based on Sample Sales we've had in the past, we suggest arriving early - but please know, we won't open the doors or start the sale until 10 am. 

Because we do not have a storefront and the sale will be held inside of our office building, PLEASE PARK ACROSS THE STREET in the old warehouse lot on the LEFT side of the fence only, not blocking neighborhing businesses or you may be towed. 

We look forward to seeing you guys!

The top 5 most frequently asked questions about our Sample Sales 

Will you have a Sample Sale in any other cities? We would love to, but none are planned at this time. Our only Sample Sale on the calendar right now is Wednesday, April 17 in Charlotte. 

Is there any other way to buy samples from you? Currently, the only way to purchase Towne & Reese samples is to attend one of our Sample Sales. 

What accessories will I find at one of your Sample Sales? The items we offer during our Sample Sale are overstock items, Sales Rep samples, accessories left over from season's past, and some with irregularities.  

What should I bring to the sale? Patience to look through the bins, cash to make your purchases and a friend who can help you carry your loot! 

How do I find out about future Towne & Reese sales? We announce all of our sales (Sample Sales included) online. So if you are a fan of ours on Facebook, a newsletter subscriber, or follower on Twitter, you'll hear the news first!

We can't believe this is our first namesake post of 2013 — a Q&A series on our blog that introduces you to the Moms and daughters behind the names we choose for our jewelry. We're smiling from ear to ear to present little three-year old Riley, the niece of our Marketing Manager, and the inspiration for the name of our Riley earrings. 

We chatted with Riley's Mom, Kelly Warren, of Greenville, South Carolina. Let's see what she had to say. . . 

How would you describe Riley?  It depends on the hour! Riley is a strong willed child but definitely still a mommy's girl. She loves all things girly, but can hold her own against her big brother, Charlie, who is six. Riley loves to wear my shoes and the higher the heel the better. I have to hide my jewelry in my purse if I am going out for the evening because she will steal it and wear it in a heartbeat. I feel like a teenager hiding my outfit under a coat and changing in the car! Riley loves to read by herself and will make up her own language just so she has something to say about each page. She plays more independently than her brother. 

How did you decide on her name? Charlie told his teacher that his mom was going to have a girl and her name would be Riley. He didn't know anyone named Riley, so I really don't know where it came from, but I liked it. Her middle name, Claire, is after my grandmother.

Let's share how you're connected to Towne & Reese. My sister, Kristen Garnett, is the Marketing Manager and my personal stylist. 

What do you and your kids do for fun? We try to be outside as much as possible. We love the zoo, park, museum or just riding bikes around town.

How would you describe your personal style? I am pretty classic, yet comfortable. I am in jeans a lot but I love to accessorize with a scarf or pendant necklace. My sister always has some piece of jewelry on no matter how casual she looks. So I try to copy that.

What’s your favorite thing about Towne & Reese? I love the price point and how original the pieces are. I also love that each piece is named after friends' daughters. I will look at the names before I look at the jewelry!

If Towne & Reese were to name a piece of jewelry after you, what would it look like? I love bracelets, so that would be it. I feel naked without something wrapped around my wrist. My ideal piece would be a bright color, orange or turquoise and would be wearable dressy or casual. Stackable bangles or a leather wrap. I know Towne & Reese has something to satisfy that!

Check back for more Q&As like this one throughout the year or click here to meet those we've already featured. 

Some bunnies wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter! We hope you have a wonderful weekend surrounded by those who make you smile. And if you still receive baskets of goodies, may they be filled with all things fabulous and fun. 

Spring has sprung, which means now more than ever we are kicking up our beauty routines (and our workout routines) as we inch closer and closer to summer and peel back layer after layer of winter clothing. Who needs a tan?

In an office full of girls, we have a lot of conversations that start out with "Have you tried....", which is exactly how we got the idea for this post—a collection of must-have beauty accessories that at least one of us at Towne & Reese wanted to share. Details and links for each item shown after the photo.  

Items listed from top - left to right

Chanel Lip Glossimer in Imaginaire - If you've never tried this lip gloss, well - you've never tried this lip gloss. These glosses are never sticky and come in a ton of shades that sparkle and shine for hours. 

TIGI Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo - The name of this product describes exactly what it is: our dirty little secret. For those every-other shampoo days, this one does the trick with no residue. 

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream - Face cream should be light and never greasy. That's how this face cream became a hot topic of discussion and included in our list. 

Tocca Colette Collection Fragrance - We all agree when you wear perfume, it should be subtle. This scent from Tocca is one of our favorites from the line. 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer - It's no wonder this tinted moisturizer was a 2012 Nordstrom Beauty Award Nominee. Its armed with SPF 20 and gives you the right amount of coverage and color. 

Elta MD Moisturizer - This moisturizer is intense, but doesn't come with an intense price tag. The buzz around here is, it's a great choice for nighttime or when you're extra dry. 

Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing System - How is it possible something this accessible can make you feel like you've just spent an hour having a facial? We're all addicted to this one. 

Benefit Posie Tint Lip & Cheek Stain - This is not your grandmother's lip and cheek stain. What's great about this is how it goes on naturally and doesn't have a matte look like typical blushes do. 

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub - We all love a little extra exfoliation every once in a while, but this gel is so light it can be used more often. 

eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm - If the funny round shape and the fact that it doesn't melt when you leave it in a hot car aren't enough to get you to try it, maybe that it's 100% natural, petrolatum and paraben free will.  

Maybelline Eye Studio Master - Some of us wear eye liner and some of us don't. But for those of us who do, we all agree this product is fantastic. 

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo - This shampoo smells great and makes your hair feel like you've had someone professionally wash it at the salon. 

Essie Merino Cool Nail Polish - Merino Cool is no new color, but it's one that's stuck around through the seasonal trends. The perfect hue for straddling the line between "too light" and "too dark". 

HOOLA by Benefit Bronzing Powder - Bronzing powder? Yes, please! This is one of those products some of us just can't live without. Especially this early in the year. 

Before you see Towne & Reese jewelry like our Reynolds or Walker earrings that look like this....

we go through hundreds of sketches that look like this....

You can see how our Reynolds and Walker earrings came to life, but what you also see above are designs that never made it past paper. 

It's fun to take a look back at where we were with a design when it was in the sketch stage and then seeing how it became a stylish reality, so we thought we'd share some behind-the-scenes drawings for you to digest.

Each new Towne & Reese collection is the result of carefully selecting and sampling from hundreds of sketches, as well as physical prototypes. Here's how the sketch process works: 

Our team of designers starts out with the development of around 120 style sketches. From those 120 sketches, we carefully review each one and make any necessary revisions before sampling around 50 of the designs.

Before we sample any design that we can touch and feel and try on, we take our time choosing specific finishes, colors and stones based on the latest trends and the best selling accessories from our current line.

For example, this season you'll notice a lot of mint, emerald green, coral, raspberry and yellow in our accessories. Yellow was a great seller in our previous collection, but mint, emerald green, coral and raspberry were all hot in the apparel world.  

For each design, we also try anywhere from 3 to 8 different colors and different materials like semi-precious stones, glass, and resin. Some styles make it to our final collection in several colors (like the Emma Grace necklace featured above) and some we end up developing in 1 or 2 colors, like the Libby earrings and Ruthie earrings. 

Once we receive the samples, we take a careful look at the whole collection to decide what to keep and what to cut. This is always one of the most difficult parts of the process because of course we love it all!

We make our final decision on what to bring to market based on many factors, but one of the most imporant ones is price. Even if a piece is gorgeous, if it isn't affordable, it won't work for our brand or our customer. 

When it's all said and done, we end up with about 20 of the original 120 sketches in our line of accessories—just one piece of the puzzle that helps us launch an entire collection.

At the same time, we are always working on new accessories to complement next season's most sought-after styles. In fact, although we just launched our new Spring|Summer collection, we're already finalizing our Fall|Winter collection and beginning pencil sketches for Spring 2014! We wish we could share those designs with you now, but you'll have to check back when the seasons change to get the scoop. 

We had an absolute blast at Front Row Charlotte and we'd like to thank Erica Hanks, Joey Hewell and Effie Loukas for including Towne & Reese in the event.

The charity benefit gave everyone a front row seat to a night of fashion that raised $4,500 for Safe Alliance, an organization which serves more than 20,000 area victims of domestic and sexual violence, and child abuse.

During the show, there were so many fabulous new looks presented by some of Charlotte's best boutiques, we were ready to head straight from the runway into spring!

After the runway portion of the event was over, we had a great time meeting many new faces at our pop-up shop. Thanks so much to those who stopped by! 

Below are a few snapshots of the Towne & Reese team from the night. You can see even more photos from the event, including those incredible spring looks, right here. 

The fabulous Towne & Reese ladies with Emily Maynard. Photo courtesy of Green Valley Photography. 

Co-Founder Jessica Stanfield smiles with Emily Maynard. Photo courtesy of Thien La Photography.

You may remember Elissa from this post sharing photos of her wedding day last September. 

Here she is, happily married, with her husband Ian. Aren't they adorable? Elissa's great sense of style is only rivaled by her sweet personality — making her the perfect Customer Service Manager at Towne & Reese. We're not sure what we'd do without her in the office!

Since we're so proud of our employees, we like to have a question and answer session with each of them so we can share who the fabulous women are behind our fashionable brand. 

We've already introduced you to two other ladies — Hillary here and Kelli here — but here's what Elissa had to say: 

Tell the fans where you're from. 

I'm originally from Fairfax, Virginia, but my family moved to Charlotte about 15 years ago. I have been in love with this city ever since!

Let's share how you became our Customer Service Manager.

My friend Joy was working in my current position but was preparing to move away. One night we were out to dinner and she asked me if I wanted to interview for her job. Even though I was already working two jobs, I agreed without hesitation! I started in January 2011 and the rest is history!

What's the best thing about your job?

Honestly, my favorite thing about working for Towne & Reese is hearing from customers on a daily basis about how much they love our brand. It's just so rewarding! Also, the laid-back atmosphere in the office is fantastic. Everybody is friends with each other and we all have a really great time together.  

What past experiences have helped you in your current role? 

Growing up in a very big family, I have had a lot of experiences where I had to be resourceful, problem solve, and interact with people — which have all come in handy being a Customer Service Manager.

How would you describe the office dynamic? 

Busy, fun, hardworking, nonstop, colorful, friendly and a fridge full of endless snacks!

What would you say is the most exciting time of the year around the office? 

The most exciting and crazy time of the year in the office is definitely show season. Twice a year we refresh the line and travel to several shows. The weeks leading up to those events and after are just nonstop. The time flies by and the next thing we know, it's already time to prepare for the next season!

Describe your personal style.  

Casual and simple. I am a huge fan of jeans and a t-shirt or leggings and a sweater. Everyone in the office is always shocked when I put on a pair of statement earrings or a statement necklace.  

What is your current favorite Towne & Reese accessory?

That is a tough question because my favorite piece changes every couple of weeks. Right now I am loving the Sydney necklace. I think I have worn the Sydney in gold for three straight days. 

When you wear jewelry, is it always Towne & Reese or do you have any other favorites?

I almost always wear Towne & Reese. I have a few pieces that my Mom gave me that I wear occasionally. But my go-to pieces are definitely Towne & Reese. 

What question are you asked the most about Towne & Reese?

"Are you hiring?" The answer is, we're not currently hiring, but we always welcome new resumes at info@towneandreese.com

What would people be most surprised to know about the Towne & Reese corporate office?

Even though we're all very much focused on fashion and trends, there's no dress code in our office. More than half of the time, we are all wearing our nice gym clothes. The variety of pieces is one of the best things about Towne & Reese jewelry. We are always able to find earrings, necklaces, etc. to spice up even our most casual clothing. It's a good day when three or more of us are dressed up.  

------

We're so lucky to have Elissa working for us! We'll introduce you to even more of the gorgeous faces behind Towne & Reese throughout the year, so stay tuned. 

Excuse us if we're blushing, but can you imagine gracing the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition? We couldn't. At least not until we flipped through this year's issue and saw Towne & Reese jewelry worn by SI swimsuit models. Not only were we excited, we suddenly lost all cravings for candy.  

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is a highly anticipated magazine seen by more than 70 million readers, and this year just happens to be their 50th Anniversary Issue. Since these models are minimalists (so to speak), we're absolutely flattered they chose to don our classic Fisher earrings, as well as our stackable and mixable Kim bracelets.

Just in case you're reading this from a not-so-private place, here's a photo of model Julie Henderson rocking our Fisher earrings in black. 

In addition to seeing Towne & Reese on many pages of the magazine, our jewelry was also featured on a special swimsuit trends segment of the TODAY show with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editor, MJ Day. Here's a link to the video, and below shows a snapshot of a model wearing our Makenzi ring and Taylor bracelet. A very special thank you to MJ Day for including Towne & Reese in this incredible issue and to models Irina Shayk and Julie Henderson for making our jewelry look sexy and chic. 

Last week we revealed our new Spring|Summer 2013 collection by introducing you to a few of our most popular pieces at Market. This week we'd like to introduce you to a few more names that kept popping up from buyers: Cadence, Sarah, Kara, and Margaret. These are just a handful of the colorful combos you can expect to see in stores this season. 

Color blocking is sticking around both in apparel and accessories. To pull off this wearable look, choose colorful accessories to pair with your favorite neutrals or bold basics. Our new Cadence earrings are a subtle step into this trend and are as sweet as they are stylish. 

Two other newbies to our collection are Sarah and Kara. Our adjustable, stackable Sarah rings come in a set of three, so you can wear them together or separately. And our Kara earrings come in five eye-catching colors that are the perfect companion to brighten up any look.  

Of course, who can forget Margaret—designed in bright, contrasting colors, these earrings are an adorable twist on color blocking in a subtle size that still makes a statement.   

To see even more of our new colorful accessories that tap into the color blocking trend, click here. 

Are you thinking about spring? What about summer? We've been thinking about and planning for the next two seasons for months, which is why we're more than ready to reveal what we took to market and what caught buyer's eyes. As of today, you can find our entire new Spring|Summer 2013 collection on towneandreese.com (and get free shipping through tomorrow 2/8 with code FREESHIP), but in this post we'll focus in on a handful of the haute items that got buyers buzzing.

Let's start with a familiar name you might remember from last season—Lila. Spring and summer are all about bold color. And this continuing trend is the reason we decided to bring Lila back in six shades of awesome. The Mint (shown left) and Raspberry were two of the most talked about tones. 

Another colorful accessory chosen again and again were our Eleanor earrings. These playful dangles are available in five happy hues, but it was Green Turquoise (shown left) that seemed to have received the most attention. 

And just because you crave color doesn't mean you have to sacrifice sparkle. Our new Jane Zoe necklace proves just that. With a touch of shimmer, this piece stood out in our showroom again and again. 

Of course color isn't the only trend we tapped into. Since stacking is sticking around, we're bringing you a ton of new bracelets to cuff, slip on and clasp. Our Taylor bracelet, Zara bracelet and Emma bracelets are the trio that were tried on the most at market. 

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for a closer look at many of the other new pieces you can expect to see in locations near you. 

January always seems to fly by faster than size 7 1/2 shoes at a shoe sale. And that's because for us, the first month of the year means preparing for and traveling to Markets, setting up our showroom, fulfilling orders, taking down our setup, and doing it all over again in the next city.

We have an absolute blast sharing our upcoming collection with buyers, but the trips are definitely a whirlwind. So now that we're back in Charlotte, we're scrolling through the photos we snapped, remembering what stood out. 

We already shared a post regarding our DIY showroom using envelopes in Atlanta, but here are photos of what our booth looked like in Dallas and New York!

Looking back on our trip to the Atlanta Gift Show, we had a fun evening out with our friends from Bella Tunno. And we spotted some of our favorite vendors at the show like Decor Craft Inc. / DCI, Carrie Dunham and The Macbeth Collection. 

In Dallas we ran across Studio Oh! (a favorite from last year), FarmHouse Fresh (an Oprah favorite), and Design Legacy. We were also inspired walking by showrooms that gave us interior decorating ideas! 

Since it was our first time as a part of the New York Gift Show, we were completely focused on our showroom and meeting with buyers, so we didn't take many photos. But we absolutely loved being there and customers can count on us being back next season!   

As for the west coast, our trips to the Los Angeles Mart and Las Vegas Market allowed us to get a closer look at some of our favorite showrooms like Article:24, Shiraleah, Foreside Home & Garden and Mine Design. 

Stay tuned for sneak peeks into our Spring|Summer 2013 collection we revealed at Market. We'll let you in on which items got buyers buzzing and when you can expect to see our new line of accessories online and in stores!

Take a good look at these 10 Towne & Reese exclusives because with the limited quantity we have left of each item, none of them will be around for long!

More than half of these popular accessories are on sale, so now is the time to score on the things you love. Simple everyday necklaces like the Samantha (#2) or Serina (#3) are versatile and fun. The Milla necklace (#1) and Elizabeth bracelet (#10) make great gifts. Or if you want to spice up your wardrobe with a statement piece, the Anya earrings (#7) and Amanya bracelet (#9) both come at a great price. Accessories like the Frankie ring (#4) and Mallie bracelet (#8) are fun to stack, and of course the Murphy ring (#5) and Willa ring (#6) add that punch so many look for before they head out the door. 

See pricing and color choices after the image. 

1. Milla Necklace - $40 in Amazonite and Deep Teal (shown)

2. Samantha Necklace - now $20 (from $40) in Matte Gold

3. Serina Necklace - $25 in Matte SIlver

4. Frankie Ring - now $15 (from $30) in Citrine

5. Murphy Ring - $25 in Matte Silver

6. Willa Ring - now $12.50 (from $25) in Raspberry

7. Anya Earrings - now $18 (from $30) in Turquoise and Smokey Quartz (shown)

8. Mallie Bracelet - $30 in Smokey Quartz

9. Amanya Bracelet - now $12 (from $30)

10. Elizabeth Bracelet - now $24.50 (from $35) in Aqua

We absolutely love it when our jewelry makes a statement. But just as fun is making a statement at Market! 

This is our 4th year to attend Gift & Home shows in cities like Atlanta, Dallas and New York. But this year, we decided we wanted to push the envelope a little and do more than just bring paint to the walls of our showroom. 

Co-Founder, Christi Pack knew she wanted to bring texture to our space, and she challenged the marketing team to come up with a bold idea that would allow us to show off our new Spring|Summer 2013 line.

After brainstorming treatment ideas like adding beautiful fabrics, dimensional tree branches and even colorful Post-It notes, we ultimately landed on an idea that came out of taking a fresh look at something everyone has around the office: envelopes!

Marketing Manager, Kristen Garnett had the idea to lay envelopes on the wall with the flap facing out. After playing with a few different ways to lay them out together, we decided on a textile-like pattern that felt both chic and crafty. A bright papaya colored envelope was chosen because it really showed off our linen canvases displaying our jewelry.

Of course we weren't exactly sure how everything would turn out, but at the Atlanta Gift Show in mid-January, we turned our paper idea into a project installation. With 1,000+ envelopes in her hand, Marketing Coordinator, Meredith Machesney, painstakingly placed each envelope on the wall. After several hours of slowly seeing it all come together, we were thrilled with the final result!

We're doing it all again this week in New York. So if you happen to be at the New York Gift Show January 26-30, stop by and see us (and our envelopes) in the Mary Harper Group Booth - Javits Center, Booth #2602-2702.

Towne & Reese is flattered to be a part of the first annual Front Row Charlotte event, which will take place on Thursday, February 28th at the Triple C Brewing Co. at 7 pm. It's a night we are looking forward to and an event that gets us excited for spring!

Front Row Charlotte was planned for local boutiques to show off their spring looks and allow customers to shop those items. Towne & Reese will be one of the local businesses offering a pop-up shop after the show!

At the event, everyone will have a front row seat. Local brewmasters will be serving "Front Row Ale", Roots Farm Food truck will be serving food, and everyone who attends will receive gift bags!

Tickets are $30 and available now for purchase. Click here to purchase tickets. Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward Safe Alliance, which serves more than 20,000 area victims of domestic and sexual violence, and child abuse, and helps them build safe, healthy relationships. 

For more information on the event and Front Row Charlotte, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter at @FrontRowCLT.

We hope to see you in the front row!

Wishing you the joy of family, the gift of friends, and the best of everything in 2013.

XO, 

The Stanfields (Jessica, Taylor, Robert, Reese and Winnie)

The Packs (Christi, Barrett, Towne and Weston)

We only thought it was fitting that one of our last blog posts of 2012 give you some helpful hints to wrap up those last-minute gift purchases. Gifts for your neighbors, your yoga instructor, the hostess of the New Year's Eve party, parents of your child's best friends . . . the list can go on and on.

Since we know how busy (and expensive) this time of year is, we've put together a new board on Pinterest just for you. (Or maybe we mean just for them?) From DIY to OMG, Our Go-To Gift Idea List is a collection of inexpensive treats for just about anyone, with most items from stores accessible just about anywhere. We plan to keep it growing throughout the new year, but click here to head there now. 

Here are a few of the pins we've added to our board ranging from $4-48:

Do you have a go-to gift idea that you'd like us to add to our Pinterest board? Leave a comment below and we'll add it! 

We'd like to introduce you to Tucker, the sweet little 6-year old girl who was the inspiration for the name of our Tucker scarf.

We chatted with Tucker's Mom, Emily, who is also Jessica's good friend. We love seeing her wear our yellow Lila necklace in her family photo! Let's see what she had to say. . . 
 

How would you describe Tucker? Petite, fun-loving, sweet, and inquisitive.

How did you decide on her name? Tucker is named after her paternal great grandmother, whose maiden name was Tucker.  Grandma Avis had a tremendous impact on Tucker’s dad growing up.

How do you know our Co-Founder, Jessica? My husband and I grew up in Wilmington with Jessica’s husband, Taylor. We so love that we all ended up in Charlotte and are fortunate to have the Stanfield family among our very dearest friends.

What do you and your kids do for fun? Travel (especially to the beach!), outdoor activities, spend time with family and friends, sing and laugh.

How would you describe your personal style? Beachy and fun – love nothing more than throwing on a sundress, flip flops and some Towne & Reese jewelry!

What’s your favorite thing about Towne & Reese? Truly everything! I mostly love and admire the heart behind Towne & Reese. Jessica and Christi are two of the warmest people I know, not to mention that they’re quite savvy businesswomen. I love how Towne & Reese allows me to follow the latest trends at such affordable prices. It makes me so proud to have something from Towne & Reese named after my daughter!

If Towne & Reese were to name a piece of jewelry after you, what would it look like? A fun, colorful bracelet. It would be a wardrobe fixture – whether worn with a bathing suit at the beach or with a dress for a night out.

Do you have other ideas for questions we should ask our Moms? If so, leave them in the comments below. And check back for more Q&As like this one in the new year. 

We're trying not to sing this title to the tune of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You", but the holiday spirit has gotten to us and let's face it: that song is catchy! So we'll just say this: we've made our list and checked it twice, and here is a roundup of things we think are nice. (Details for Santa are below.) 

1. Clare Vivier Monogram Flat Striped Clutch ($184)

2. Madewell Zipcode Suede Boot ($198)

3. JCrew Stripe Merino Snood ($68)

4. La Mer Collections Limited Edition Aztec Suede Wrap Watch ($87.50 on sale!) 

5. Clarisonic Mia^TM Cleansing System ($119)

6. Henri Bendel Stripe Eyemask ($68)

7. JCrew Calf Hair Gloves ($158 on sale!)

8. Lulu Lemon Ice Queen Long Sleeve ($88)

9. Bop Basics Thick Knit Cuff Hat ($43.40 on sale!)  

10. BDG Twig High Rise Jean ($78)

It's no secret one of our favorite trends this season is tribal. You can catch all of our tribal accessories right here. But for now, we'd like to point you to another standout in our new line of scarves—Karsyn.

With a popular bold turquoise, red and black Aztec design, Karsyn just might be the leader of our statement scarves.

When you wear the scarf open and untied, you can show off other tribal accessories like the Harlow and Adebel necklaces, or wrap it up and pair it with a great pair of earrings. Details on the jewelry featured below after the photo.  

Jewelry pictured above in order from top to bottom: 

Harlow necklace, Adebel necklace

Barrie earrings in Matte Silver, Cameron earrings in Black, Frida earrings in Pearl

The 12 drummers are definitely drumming here at Towne & Reese. That's because today we launch our 12 Days of Towne & Reese where you can score 40-50% off one-day deals we announce each day at 10 am EST on our Facebook page and on Twitter. So make sure you're following us so you can follow along! For more details and info on this exclusive holiday promotion, see below. But first, here's a sneak peek of what's to come:

12 Days of Towne & Reese details:

From 12/6/12 through 12/17/12, we are deeply discounting some of our most popular accessories so you can save on the items you want and still have them arrive in time for Christmas. And because we believe beauty is in the details, we'll ship your gifts in signature Towne & Reese black pillow boxes with tissue so your gifts arrive ready to be put under the tree. 

Each day at 10 am EST we will announce which items are discounted on our Facebook page and via Twitter. We will sell 25 of each daily item at the discounted price. Once 25 are sold, the sale is over for that day. So make sure to tune in early!

Happy Shopping!

Now's the perfect time to take a closer look at Tucker—a scarf with an artistic, aqua paint-drip design set off by varying shades of caramel and cocoa. It's a trend that will keep you toasty all winter and well through the spring. We just love how Tucker looks open and draped with a necklace or wrapped up showing off our signature bird with the & mark. 

What may also catch your eye is the current sale price of $26.25, dropped just in time for the holidays! We have so many sale accessories priced from just $5, we're certain you'll find something for everyone on your list. (Except maybe for Dad.)

And if you like this entire look, you can get all of these accessories for just over $100! For details on what's featured, see below. 

Allenson necklace $45, Charlotte earrings $25, Amanya bracelet $12 (sale price)

We’re back with another Q&A in our namesake series, letting our fans in on who the Moms and daughters are behind the names we choose for our jewelry. 

This week we're featuring two adorable sisters, Karsyn Grace and Presley Lane. This 4-year old and 8-month old from Lake Norman, NC are dear friends of Christi's and inspired our Karsyn scarf and Presley earrings. 

Let's see what their mom Kelley had to say...

How would you describe Karsyn and Presley? Karsyn has a fiery spirit and a compassionate heart, and she loves to play! She also loves being a big sister. Presley is a very sweet, easygoing baby, and her favorite person is Karsyn. 

How did you decide on their names? Karsyn and Presley are names that we just like, but both of our girls’ middle names have special meaning. Karsyn is named after my grandmother, Grace Hipp, who has always been my biggest cheerleader, and Presley is named after my sister, Kimberly Lane Cherry-Beck, who is my best friend.

Tell the fans how you know our Co-Founder, Christi. My husband, Brandon, and Christi’s husband Barrett, were college roommates at UNC, and Christi and Barrett are our dear friends.

What do you and your girls do for fun? We love to play outside and be on the water. We also enjoy spending time at the beach and in the mountains. And, we are definitely a sports family!

How would you describe your personal style? Classic with a twist. I wear a lot of black and white and pieces that transition from season to season, but I enjoy adding trendy accessories to spice up an outfit.

What’s your favorite thing about Towne & Reese? I like how the pieces are named for a friend’s daughter, giving each piece special meaning.  I also love that it is so affordable, so I can always buy more than one piece!

If Towne & Reese were to name a piece of jewelry after you, what would it look like? I’m a big fan of scarves because I think they can really change the look of an outfit. I would choose one with a fun pattern and bright colors that I could throw on over a solid color dress or with jeans and a tee, like the Karsyn scarf! 

Do you have other ideas for questions we should ask our Moms? If so, leave them in the comments below. And check back for more Q&As like this one. 

Black Friday is a day you either love to hate or hate to love. On one hand, there's the thrill of taking advantage of so many incredible deals and on the other, there are the bustling crowds that can play tug of war with your holiday spirit.  

For those who prefer to stay in and shop online, Towne & Reese is offering 30% off all of our full priced merchandise from midnight of 11/22 through midnight on Cyber Monday 11/26 when you enter code 'thankful30' at checkout! And if you're ordering for gifts, there's no need to worry about wrapping. All of our jewelry arrives in Towne & Reese black pillow boxes with tissue paper.  

In addition to our Black Friday sale, we also have a ton of affordable and trend-setting accessories that have been previously marked down, like our Kari necklace for $33 (was $55) and Katherine necklace for $10.50 (was $35).

We've featured just a few of our items above that you can grab at 30% off, like our Jade earrings, Leah earrings, Abell earrings and Vivie earrings—all perfect for upcoming holiday parties and get togethers to ring in the New Year!

For those who are headed out, we suggest wearing comfortable shoes like these Minnetonka Moccasin Black Zipper Booties, and bringing a big, but lightweight tote like this one from Target. Drop a little notebook that can hold your holiday lists, notes and coupons, like this one from Moleskin, is also a great way to stay organized. 

Happy shopping!

I can't believe it's already mid-November! This time of year is always a bag of mixed emotions for me. On one hand, I love everything that comes with fall: the weather, football games, all things pumpkin flavored, boots, scarves, and being able to skip on the spray tan. But on the other hand, once the newness of pretty fall days spent drinking Pumpkin Spice lattes wears off, we're left to the cold hard truth that its just plain cold outside.

I don't know about you all, but there's something about the weather change that just makes me all but give up on looking cute. Like today for example, as I'm typing this, I'm looking at my all black outfit. Is this out of protest, demanding summer come back or is it just pure laziness? Probably a mixture of both, but this year I'm going to challenge myself to not let the winter blues get the best of me. And unlike every other year when I've said the same thing, I really mean it this time!

I just left my weekly bible study this morning and it never fails that my sweet friend Laura is perfectly put together, looking like a ray of sunshine on an otherwise dreary day. For some reason seeing her so perfectly accessorized in the cutest bright green pants inspired me. Now I can already see the comments showing up saying, "It's not about what you look like on the outside, it's about what's in your heart." I'm sure there are many other creative ways to basically tell me I'm vain. And I totally agree. But let's be real for just one second. I know (at least for me) I tend to have a better outlook on the day when I take those few extra minutes to feel confident about how I look on the outside. That almost instantly translates to how I feel on the inside. Even when the weather is all but sunny, just putting on a bright colored scarf or a fun pair of earrings can somehow magically give me an extra boost of confidence and help me beat the winter "funk" so many of us get in this time of year.

So, starting tomorrow I'm going to try my absolute best to avoid just putting on workout clothes everyday, especially on days I have absolutely no plans of even looking in the direction of a gym much less going inside. That's not to say I'm going to be wearing heels and have perfectly curled hair everyday because that's just putting far too much pressure on myself. Maybe instead of throwing on the first comfy thing I see in my closet, I'll pair a cute skirt with tights, flat boots and throw on a fun statement necklace. And on days I can't see past my uniform of black leggings and black sweater, would it really kill me to wrap a bright colored scarf around my neck as I'm running out the door?

Here are some of my favorite items I think every summer loving girl could use to get through these upcoming cold winter days! What are some of the trends you're loving right now?

- Emily

Purse: Marc by Marc Jacobs Crossbody Preppy Leather Sia

Necklace: Towne & Reese Harlow Necklace

Floral Jeans: Forever 21 Floral Print Denim Skinnies

Earrings: Towne & Reese Gemma Earrings

Sweater: Zara Sweater With Embellished Sleeves

Scarf: Towne & Reese Lucy Scarf

Colored Jeans: Express Zelda Colored Jean Legging

Flats: Christian Louboutin Pigalle Spikes Flat *sold out in black

Gearing up for a big weekend of football? Since we're in Panther country, we put together some fun and flirty ideas for wearing teal and black. Even if you need to stay warm, you can still be festively dressed for tailgating and cheering by adding a few accessories in your team's signature color. 

No matter which team has your heart, we've made it easy for you to search our site by color. When you choose an accessory category like earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, you can then refine your search using our Top Swatch Picks, Color Category and more. GO TEAM! 

For information on the products and clothing featured, see details after the photo. 

Items from top to bottom/left to right

Teal Earrings: Towne & Reese Gemma Earrings

Bracelet: Towne & Reese Coleen Bracelet

Insulated cup: Starbucks Made Greener Star Tumbler

Necklace: Towne & Reese Kari Necklace

Black Earrings: Towne & Reese Adalaide Earrings *Currently only available in Red Coral

Blanket: Jonathan Adler Richard Nixon Throw

Bracelets: Towne & Reese Kim Bracelets

Hat: Carolina Panthers Ladies Adjustable Hat

Tote: Jonathan Adler Turquoise Patent Tote

Jacket: Snake Collarless Biker Jacket

Scarf: Towne & Reese Abbie Scarf *Currently unavailable

Boots: Ralph Lauren Jenessa Vachetta Riding Boots

Watch: La Mer Peace Charm Wrap Watch

Jeans: Paige Denim Verdugo Legging in Teal

Basket: Marley Lilly Monogrammed Large Black Swirl Market Basket

Photos courtesy of Amy Free Photography

While we’re not sure we’re ready to see Christmas trees for sale and holiday commercials on TV, those of us in the office have been thinking a lot about what we need to do to get ready to send out our holiday cards.

We knew just the person to ask about this subject — photographer Amy Free — a dear friend of both Christi and Jessica and someone who has taken family photos for many of us around the office for years. Just check out Christi's family (above) through the years starting when Towne was just a baby.

Amy recently moved from her home state of North Carolina to North Dakota, but thankfully she makes time for us when she’s in the area!

Here’s what she had to say:

When do you recommend families have their photo taken in time to order holiday cards?

I love to wait until it’s a little bit chilly and comfortable to bundle up in a festive way, but not so cold that the kids are uncomfortable outside. Depends a little on where you live (ha, much different now that we recently moved to North Dakota!) Also, when thinking about time of day, it’s best to be really honest with yourself about what is the least stressful time for you to be organizing yourself and the family. More relaxed parents usually translate into more relaxed kids and natural/happy photos.

When you’re helping families get ready for their group photo, what’s your biggest piece of advice?

Try to RELAX! Enjoy! It can be stressful trying to make everyone “just so” – but the more that it is a fun experience the more genuine the images will be. Be willing to laugh at yourself. Bringing some candy or special treats never hurts either. 

Are there certain colors or styles you think work better than others when it comes to getting the perfect shot?

I tell my clients it’s most important to wear what makes them feel comfortable and fabulous. It’s not about certain colors necessarily, it’s about creating images that are an expression of WHO you are as a family. My philosophy is to NOT wear outfits that you wouldn’t normally wear out in public together. Think about “going” together instead of all wearing the same color!

How do you feel about props in photo shoots?

I think that if something is meaningful to the family, like a special blanket or toy, that can work well but I like to usually keep things simple and natural, which again goes back to the philosophy of creating beautiful images that are a genuine reflection of who you are.

Do you think there is a perfect time of day to schedule a photo shoot?

Usually first thing in the morning or a couple hours before sunset are the best times to shoot.

What about jewelry? Do you think bigger is better or subtle is the way to go?

Again, not to sound like a broken record, but consider what your day-to-day jewelry style is and try to select pieces that reflect YOU and your style. This is why the Towne & Reese line is so amazing because it offers everything from simple earrings to statement necklaces and now scarves. There is truly something for everyone in their collection.

Where’s your favorite place to order holiday cards?

I love The Happy Envelope and Minted.

Thank you so much to Amy for answering our questions! For more information on her photography, visit www.amyfree.com

It's been a while since we've had a Q&A in our namesake series where we let fans in on who the Moms and daughters are behind the names we choose for our jewelry. But it only makes sense that today we feature the name Clara, who is the littlest Petersik of the YoungHouseLove.com crew and the inspiration for our Clara earrings (which just so happen to be on sale for $18 in the two colors we have left, Gray and Smoky Topaz!) 

We wrote about YoungHouseLove.com before when we gave picks for our Top 10 Decorating Books. Now that list has grown to a Top 11 list because today Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home is now available in bookstores and on Amazon.com! Check out this YouTube video promo where Sherry is wearing the Clara earrings! If you're a fan like us, be sure to check out their book tour to see if The Petersiks are coming to a city near you! We're absolutely thrilled they are coming to Charlotte in February (date TBD.) 

But back to Clara. We checked in with Sherry (our friend and Clara's Mom who lives in Richmond, VA) and here's what she had to say. 

What's Clara's full name? Clara Kenley Petersik

How do you describe Clara? She's a happy girl (usually has a smile going on, even in the weirdest situations). She's also super chatty (always making up long stories about her animals and dolls and singing songs that she invents). And she's the toughest kid you'll ever meet. Seriously, she can be bleeding from a bad fall and she'll shake it off and go right back to playing again. 

How did you decide on her name? Clara was my husband John's grandmother's name, and we thought it was really sweet and classic. My dad's name is Ken and my favorite great aunt went by Lee, so that's how we came up with Kenley. 

Tell the fans how you met our Co-Founder, Christi. Well, first of all—we're fans of Towne & Reese! We shot Christi's gorgeous first house for our blog, Young House Love, where we do a segment called House Crashing (aka: we visit awesome homes and photograph them so we can share the inspiration). We also had the honor of Office Crashing Towne & Reese (such a cool and creative place!) 

What do you and Clara do for fun? Going to the pool or the beach is one of Clara's favorite things. We also ride bikes (we have one of those seats on the front that Clara loves), play with Play Doh, read books, and do some family dancing every night in the kitchen. Clara's got the moves like Jagger. 

How would you describe your personal style? New York meets Mom. Haha. I lived in New York for six years so I definitely have a love of black clothing, simple lines, and crisp blazers. But sometimes I have a smear of peanut butter on my shirt (thanks to my two year old), so I never really have it all together. 

What's your favorite thing about Towne & Reese? I think the price point is genius and I love that the pieces are named after children that you guys know. It was such an honor to learn there were going to be Clara earrings. I wear mine all the time!

If Towne & Reese were to name a piece of jewelry after you, what would it look like? It would definitely be dangly earrings since those are my favorite. Maybe gold-toned chandelier earrings with bright emerald stones in them? My eyes are green and I definitely have been loving gold more than silver lately, so there ya go. 

Do you have other ideas for questions we should ask our Moms? If so, leave them in the comments below. And check back for more Q&As like this one. 

Happy Halloween from Ariel, The Little Mermaid (Towne) and Hello Kitty (Reese)!

This holiday reminds us of all the little girls who inspire us to play dress up every day.  

We hope your holiday is filled with lots of sweet treats!

Photos courtesy of Amy Free Photography. 

From bright citrus to burnt orange, this season's hottest hue sticks around long after Halloween. And if you just so happen to be a college football fan of teams like Auburn, Boise State, Clemson, Florida, Idaho State, Illinois, Miami, Oklahoma State, Princeton, Syracuse, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia or Virginia Tech, you have all kinds of new and fashionable options for wearing your school colors with stylish pride!

Check out our entire collection of orange accessories right here. For information on the products and clothing featured, see details after the photo. 

Items from top to bottom

Sunglasses: Icon Eyewear Maureen Retro Sunglasses

Medaillon earrings: Towne & Reese Jillian earrings 

Ring: Towne & Reese Lena Ring

Fabric bracelets: Towne & Reese Kim Bracelets

Flats: Tory Burch Watersnake Eddie Ballet Flats

Tank: Sass & Bide The Tempest Embroidered Tank

Maxi Wrap Dress: Rachel Pally Long Rocia Dress

Beaded earrings: Towne & Reese Presley earrings

Beaded necklace: Towne & Reese Avery Blake necklace

Clutch: Kaleidoscope Patent Snake Clutch

Gemstone ring: Towne & Reese Syd ring *Out of stock

Wedges: Elizabeth and James Wedges

This month marks the 3^rd year Towne & Reese has been in business. And since we’re feeling sentimental, we thought we’d share a few thoughts on where we’ve been and why we’re so thankful for you.

Three years ago, Towne & Reese was just the beginning of an idea. It all started with a phone conversation between Jessica and Christi and rapidly developed into the brand we all know and love today. The idea was simple: Towne & Reese would bring statement-making jewelry and gorgeous go-to staples to those who crave the latest trends and affordable luxuries. Three years later, we’ve traveled to more than 20 Markets, worked with more than 75 reps, sold to more than 2,000 boutiques, and have launched 6 unique lines found in stores across the US and Canada.

What’s just as humbling, is less than one year ago when we moved into our current office, we were flattered to have 1,000 fans on Facebook and almost 150 followers on Twitter. Today, we have more than 4,800 Facebook fans and almost 1,000 Twitter followers, as well as a growing Pinterest page, a dynamic website, and much more.

When we think about the past three years, there are so many moments that are meaningful to us, but as we are working on preparing our 7^th line to launch in Spring 2013, we’d like to take this moment and say THANK YOU. We truly mean it. Thank you to our fans, our reps, our retailers, our staff, and our friends and family. If you are reading this, you are someone who has helped us realize a professional dream that’s become a personal blast.

XO

If you're still searching the perfect Halloween costume, we have a few ideas on how to get dressed up in style with items that will stick around long after the candy has been eaten and the pumpkins have been put away. 

Inspired by our 40% off Silver Sale (happening now through 10/22), we've put together a few looks for incorporating our affordably chic jewels you can pair with items most likely already in your closet.

For a Movie Star or 20s Flapper look, pull out that little black dress and heels and try our classic Abigail studs, draping Keaton necklace, or airy Chelsea bracelet. With red lipstick, a fancy up-do and a clutch, you'll be a show stopper. 

For a Rocker or Superhero look, pair our Cailyn earrings, chain-link Eileen necklace, and wide Zandie cuff with a black leather jacket and boots or leggings and a wide belt. Borrow a cape from your child (or your linen closet) for a costume that saves the day.

For a Belly Dancer or Flower Child look, our leafy McLain earrings and the dangling details of the Julianna necklace and Caroline bracelet, will make a definite statement layered over a flowy skirt or flower-print maxi. 

Happy Halloween! 

We're back with another employee feature on our blog. This time, we'd like to introduce you to our Customer Service Associate, Kelli Cornwell.

We absolutely love this tiny Mom of four who brings a lot of spunk to our office and a charming face to our customers near and far. Here's what she had to share . . . 

Tell the fans where you're from. 

I'm originally from Texas, but moved to Oklahoma with my parents and siblings when I was 13. My husband and I and our four kids moved to Mooresville, NC in 2010 and we love it! 

What's it like being a working Mom of four?

I have an amazing family! (I can brag, right?) My husband, Taylor, of almost fifteen years is my best friend and a lot of times he is also my stylist! He is a talented tattoo artist in Mooresville. Together, we have 4 beautiful children—2 girls and 2 boys, Makenzi (12), Cadence (9), Tayson (7) and Leven (4). Please don't judge, but was also have 4 rats! Totally my husband's doing!

Let's tell the story about how you got the position at Towne & Reese. 

A previous employee who was actually a friend of mine from back in Oklahoma (small world) emailed me to see if I could “help with a jewelry company” she worked for. Not having a clue about where she worked, I wasn’t sure if I’d be beading jewelry or welding or braiding, but being new to the area and not knowing anybody I was desperate for adult interaction and said “I’m in!”  

I started in the packing room using WAAAAAAY too much bubble wrap in February of 2011. I came on full-time in September of 2011 and I don’t get to use any bubble wrap now! Now I get to interact with our retail customers and I love it! I love when they call and ask my opinion about certain pieces or styles. Seriously, we have some amazing and loyal customers. They’ve been so patient with me while I’m figuring out my new position!

What's your favorite aspect of your job?

Christi and Jessica are my favorite aspect of this job! (They are going to read this right?) But seriously, I feel so blessed to be working here! Never in my life have I looked so forward to Mondays!

What past experiences have helped you in your position at Towne & Reese?

Because my husband and I got married right out of high school, I did not go to college. I was fortunate to be able to stay home with the kiddos but I also looked for opportunities to contribute financially when I could by doing odd jobs here and there. I think by being willing to help when and where I could has given me the heart to learn whatever I needed to do get the job done!  

How would you describe the office dynamic?

FUN! FUN! FUN!  (I’d keep going but I don’t want anyone envious of me.)

In your opinion, when is the most exciting time of year in the office?

I love love love the end of each season because that’s when we start getting sneak peeks of what’s coming in the next season’s line.  

How do you describe your personal style?

I probably shouldn’t admit this at my age, but I get some of my inspiration from my pink-haired pre-teen. But I always ask my husband before leaving the house!

What is your current favorite Towne & Reese accessory?  

The Hunter earrings have always been a top favorite. They are light weight and can be worn with an edgy look or a more professional look.

When you wear jewelry, is it always Towne & Reese or do you have any other favorites?

I think I have a little bit of an obsession with Towne & Reese jewelry, so with that said that’s all I wear!

What question are you asked the most about Towne & Reese?

Where can I buy it?! We have a Store Finder feature at the top our website that will let you see what stores are nearest you by zipcode. Of course, you can also buy Towne & Reese at towneandreese.com. 

What would people be most surprised to know about the Towne & Reese corporate office? 

I’m surprised at how much we like to eat! Any opportunity to celebrate or recognize someone, we will! A lunch or dinner and heck, we’ve even done breakfast!

----

Like we said, Kelli is a spunky bundle of fun! Stay tuned for more even more employee highlights to come.  

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we'd like to introduce you to Ali—a scarf in our new line that not only looks good, but gives back. 

Ali's unique design features subtle pink ribbons that infinitely link to each other, just as we are all connected to someone who has been touched by breast cancer.

This October, think pink and encourage the women around you ages 40+ to schedule their annual screening mammogram. Early detection saves lives. 

20% of the proceeds from the sale of this scarf will be donated to breast cancer research. 

For details on the earrings we've featured with the Ali scarf, see below. 

Earrings listed in order from top to bottom: 

Loah in Matte Silver, Sadie in Matte Silver, Merrie in Matte Silver, Jane in Matte Silver

Being in Charlotte, North Carolina means we're lucky enough to experience a true fall. After many weeks of hot heat in the summer months, we get giddy about feeling the cool fall air and adding new pieces to our fall wardrobe.

But don't put away those summer favorites just yet! There are plenty of ways to shift from summer to fall using a few of your key items and adding new layers that will give you a completely new look.

Put a blazer over your favorite tank. Wear tall boots with your embellished shorts. Switch your summer clutch to a leather crossbody bag. Try pairing booties with your boyfriend jeans. Add our colorful Karsyn scarf to warm up that strapless jumpsuit. The possibilities are endless.

What are your favorite ways to transition to fall? We'd love to know! Leave us a comment below. And for even more Towne & Reese style ideas, follow us on Pinterest. 

Product details featured below after the photo. 

Items from top to bottom, left to right

Blazer: Helmut Lang Plexus Shawl Jacket

Shorts: Top Shop Jacquard Metallic Shorts

Gold Hoops: Towne & Reese Barrie Earrings

Leather Bag: Frye Cameron Magazine Crossbody

Jean: Shop Bop Boyfriend Jeans

Gold Necklace: Towne & Reese Keaton Necklace

Ring: Towne & Reese Cori Ring in Titanium

Boots: Rag & Bone Classic Newbury Booties

Scarf: Towne & Reese Karsyn Scarf 

Pendant: Towne & Reese Meredith Necklace in Black

Jumpsuit: Feel The Piece Pump Jumpsuit

Earrings: Towne & Reese Ginger Earrings in Red/Turquoise

Back in July, we shared some jewelry ideas we had for our Customer Service Manager, Elissa, and her upcoming wedding. Now we're back to show you how stunning Elissa and Ian's big day turned out! From the bright pops of yellow in the flowers to the classic details of her gorgeous gown, we can't help but want to show off our girl. 

Elissa chose to have her bridesmaids wear the Harper necklace. This solid blue was a custom piece and worked perfectly with their navy dresses. 

Elissa ultimately decided on wearing her great grandmother's earrings (which look a lot like our Raygen Crystal earrings) and our Chelsea bracelet in Matte Gold.  We love how she mixed something old with something new—proof that classics and trends pair together well!   

Congratulations, Elissa! We're thrilled you are a part of the Towne & Reese family and can't wait to watch you and Ian live happily ever after. 

These incredible images are courtesy of Lauren Cardwell Photography. Thank you so much, Lauren for allowing us to share your photos! For even more from Elissa & Ian's wedding day, check out Lauren's September 17 blog entry on her website. 

We’re back with another Q&A in our namesake series, letting our fans in on who the Moms and daughters are behind the names we choose for our jewelry. 

This week we're featuring the Camden necklace and Coleman earrings because they were named after 2 1/2-year old twins Camden & Coleman!

You might remember our Sales Manager, Hillary, mentioning them because these two cuties are her nieces. 

We asked Whitney Ferguson (Hillary's sister) a few questions and here's what she had to say. . .  

How do you describe your two girls?

Camden is busy, busy and super funny. Coleman is calm and cool and loves to concentrate on small details. 

How did you decide on their names?

Camden is a name we just liked and she looked like a Camden to us when she arrived. Coleman is my mother's maiden name. 

In addition to being our Sales Manager's sister, you also buy Towne & Reese for your store.

Yes! My Mother and I own a gift store in Uptown Charlotte, blis. We opened in November of 2004 and have been selling Towne & Reese since the brand launched in 2009. blis features all kinds of unique gifts and personalized gift services.  

When you're not at the store, what do you and your girls do for fun?

We play dress up in tutus/necklaces/bracelets/shoes, read books, go on walks in the stroller, and play at the park.

How would you describe your personal style?

Anthropologie meets Banana Republic. Conservative with a touch of funk. I love to mix everyday staples with a touch of trend, such as a belt, a bag, a scarf and of course my Towne & Reese jewelry.

What’s your favorite thing about Towne & Reese?

As a retailer–the price point, a variety of styles and colors, and the company as a whole. I love that they are from Charlotte!

As a consumer–I love the colored stone pieces that pack a punch like the Brooke earrings, May earrings, Lila necklace and the simplicity of the Hannah earrings, Loah earrings, Coleman earrings and Emma necklace.

If Towne & Reese were to name an accessory after you, what would it look like? 

I would be an infinity scarf! I love to wear scarves and I like things that fit well and have a tailored look.

Do you have other ideas for questions we should ask our Moms? If so, leave them in the comments below. And check back for more Q&As like this one. 

We couldn't wait to get our hands on US Weekly's September 17th issue. Already on news stands, the issue features 145 Musts for Under $100. And you know we love all things affordable and fashionable. 

Besides getting a peek into Beyonce's closet, we loved seeing our new Jacqueline necklace make the must have list! 

Flip to page 135 and right there in the center of the page, not only is one of our latest necklaces for fall featured, US Weekly gave a discount code to their readers.

Now through September 24, when you order the Jacqueline necklace from towneandreese.com, you'll receive 20% off with code USWEEKLY20 at checkout. 

How's that for good gossip? 

With Labor Day behind us and steamy summer temperatures dropping, we'd like to introduce you to Lucy—a stylish scarf in our new line that exemplifies the feeling of fall. 

Lucy features a tree design in black/ivory and purple/ivory, so you can wrap yourself up in a statement scarf that's totally in season.

This week, we're featuring Lucy with a few of our favorite fall rings. See details after the photo.  

Rings pictured above in order from top to bottom: 

Elena in Smoky Topaz, Murphy in Matte Silver, Cori in Tangerine 

Syd in Brown Topaz, Makenzi Ring in Matte Silver, Lena in Deep Teal  

Left photo: Hillary (on right) with her Mom and sister                  |                Right photo: Hillary (top right) with her brother-in-law, Mom, Dad and sister. 

It's time we introduce you to the women behind Towne & Reese. After all, without the whole team, we couldn't bring fashionable and affordable accessories to your closet.

It only made sense to kick off this new Q&A series with our Sales Manager, Hillary Young. She has traveled all over the country representing Towne & Reese and is someone we simply could not live without. Let's see what she had to share . . . 

Tell the fans where you're from. 

I was born in Atlanta, GA, but have lived in Charlotte for the last 18 years (off and on), so I consider Charlotte home.

Outside the office, who do you spend your time with? 

My wonderful parents and older sister live here in Charlotte. While I have no kids of my own, my sister and her husband have 2 ½ year old twin girls, so I have two beautiful nieces—Camden and Coleman. You might recognize their names from this year’s line. There’s a great Coleman earring and an awesome Camden necklace!

Let's tell the story of how you got the position.

It was pure happenstance. I was the jewelry buyer for my mom and sister’s gift boutique, Blis. Christi (in her previous job) was Blis’ Charlotte rep at market.  When Christi started Towne & Reese, my mom told me about it. Of course I started to buy Towne & Reese jewelry for Blis. It was what I had been searching for—an affordable and trendy jewelry line!

Fast forward a couple of years…I had just moved back to Charlotte and was working at Blis. I had to email Christi a question regarding Towne & Reese and in the closing of my email I wrote, PS- any chance you’re hiring? I wrote it kind of as a joke thinking that they weren’t hiring, but sure enough, they were starting to interview for the Sales Manger position. Every day I’m so thankful that I sent that email!

What’s your favorite aspect of your job?

Frequent flyer points! Just kidding…that’s a tough question because there is so much that is amazing about being a part of Towne & Reese and working for and with Jessica and Christi. 

I really love the traveling. I travel to most of the markets across the country, so I love to hear what people love about the line from coast to coast. I also love getting to meet our many customers. It’s fun to put a face with a great customer’s name. I also love seeing the line go from a collection of ‘maybes’ pinned on a board in Christi’s office to an amazing line for sale each season. The line has grown so much since I first started buying it, so it’s pretty amazing to see what each season holds. 

What past experiences have helped you in your position at Towne & Reese? 

I lived in Boston for three years, and while I was there, I worked in sales. While at that job, I had a great Sales Manager named Mary. She taught me so much about sales, communication, motivation, work ethic, etc. When I was given the opportunity to be the Sales Manager for Towne & Reese, I found myself wondering WWMD (What Would Mary Do)? While this managing position has many different dynamics to it than Mary’s did, I always aspire to manage the way she did—with great communication and respect.

How would you describe the office dynamic?  

Fun, but hard working! I love our dance parties. We always have great music playing. Anything from "Bust A Move" to country. No matter what, it’s always a good time in the office! The thing I love most is all of the amazing people that work here. Everyday we all talk about how lucky we are to work here.

In your opinion, when is the most exciting time of year around the office?

The month(s) leading up to show season, so the months before January and July. It’s so fun to see the line complete and start to get the product ready for show. It gets exciting to anticipate what people will think, what the top sellers will be, if we’ll exceed last season’s performance, etc. 

How do you describe your personal style?

It really depends on the day and my mood. I can go from fairly conservative to kind of Bohemian. I love to layer clothes, jewelry, etc. I can never have enough T&R bracelets on…ha!

What is your current favorite Towne & Reese accessory?  

I am loving the Adebel necklace. I love the neutrality of the ivory pendant and the subtle statement it makes. It goes with everything!

When you wear jewelry, is it always Towne & Reese or do you have any other favorites?

It’s mostly Towne & Reese. I will mix it in with my more expensive jewelry from time to time. This is one of the things I love most about the line, it wears well with my Yurman or other designer pieces.

What question are you asked the most about your job?

How much do you love your job? It’s true! Any time I tell someone what I do, their immediate question is, “Oh my gosh, that’s so cool…how much do you love it?” And my answer is always, “A LOT!” 

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Isn't Hillary a doll? We're lucky to have her and can't wait to introduce you to the rest of our fantastic staff! 

Whether you prefer Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or your in-box, we're there. And we're sharing all kinds of scoop on things like our latest accessories, how to enter great contests and giveaways, as well as behind the scenes peeks from our office and trips to market! 

Follow along for news and style updates by being a fan of ours on Facebook, following us on twitter and Pinterest, and signing up for our newsletter. We hope to see you around! 

Did you catch this week's Star Magazine? 

While the cover may have focused on Outrageous Celebrity Demands, inside on page 55, our McKay earrings demanded our attention.

In a section called "Accessory Steals", the McKay earrings were showcased thanks to Ashley Hebert (former Bachelorette) who loves them and showed them off in style. 

If you see Towne & Reese jewelry featured in your favorite magazine, snap a shot and post it on our Facebook page. As much as we love seeing others show off our jewelry,  we also love seeing what magazines you're reading. 

We've already introduced you to Mabry, but now we'd like you to say hello to Abbie—one of our new scarves available in Black and Spice Orange.

With artistic lines in varying sizes, Abbie brings a playful twist to the stripe trend. Plus, we love the two birds perched in just the right places so you can show them off.  

Of course, our scarves go great with all of our jewerly, but this week you'll see how things tie together when you pair them with fun bracelets. See details after the photo. 

Bracelets pictured above in order from top to bottom: 

Dagny in Chartreuse, Julie in Black Silver, Kim in Black

Ellie Marie in Green, Ellery in Ivory, Elise in Matte Gold

We’re back with another Q&A in our namesake series, letting our fans in on who the Moms and daughters are behind the names we choose for our jewelry. 

This week, our Mom is Mandi Bell of Charlotte, NC. Mandi is a friend of our Co-Founder, Jessica. She’s also the mother of 3 children, Jake (6), Elizabeth (5 ½), and Merritt (3). Her daughter, Elizabeth, is the name behind our Elizabeth bracelet.  

Here's what she had to say. . .  

How would you describe Elizabeth? Kind hearted and determined

How did you decide on her name? Elizabeth is named after several family members who are special to both my husband and me.

How do you know Jessica? She was one of my first “mommy” friends in Charlotte. We met in a music class with our sons. She has since become a very dear friend of mine.

What do and your family do for fun? Play games, travel and have serious dance parties!

How would you describe your personal style? Ideally, I’d like to either be in my lululemon workout gear or jeans and a T-shirt. Super casual and laid back. With 3 children, I rarely have much time to worry about what I am wearing.

What’s your favorite thing about Towne & Reese? I love that it was started by 2 of the most down to earth and kind-hearted women I know. Jessica and Christi are such good people and I love seeing the successes they’ve had. Of course, I love that the name carries so much meaning, as well as the names of each piece. It makes it more fun to grab a pair of earrings or a necklace and know that it has been named after someone special. I also love that each piece is affordable so you don’t have to feel guilty when you are covered in Towne & Reese accessories.

If Towne & Reese were to name a piece of jewelry after you, what would it look like? A big, bright, chunky necklace that I could throw on to dress up a plain colored T-shirt with jeans and high boots! One that is so versatile that I could either be picking my kids up from school or meeting friends for a drink!

Do you have other ideas for questions we should ask our Moms? If so, leave them in the comments below. And check back for more Q&As like this one. 

You may remember us talking about our new addition and very first line of scarves in this post when we were at the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market in June. We received so much great feedback at the show, we've been anxiously awaiting their arrival and finally—they arrived!

To kick things off, we'd like to introduce you to the Mabry scarf, which goes great with our jewelry! This fun for fall design features a repeating bird pattern with a signature Towne & Reese touch. It comes in bright blue and soft grey, which means there's something for the statement maker and the simple style seeker.  

For more detailed information or to view all of the scarves, see the new Scarves link at the top. 

Earrings pictured above in order from top to bottom: 

Arden in Clear, Mara in Smokey Quartz, Ayla in Orange

Adalaide in Blue*, Coleman in Grey*, Greta in Matte Silver 

*Sorry, this color is not currently available online.

This week, when John & Sherry Petersik of YoungHouseLove.com announced their upcoming book available for pre-order on amazon.com, we couldn’t have been more excited! Not only do they run one of our favorite blogs, we also got the pleasure of meeting them when they crashed our office last summer. (See that post on their website here.) While the Petersiks were snapping photos around our office, we fell in love with little Clara and even named a pair of earrings after her. 

With all of the chatter about DIY, design and books, we decided to make a list of the top 10 hardbacks that have inspired us when decorating our homes. After all, homes need their own kind of jewelry—right? Of course, on November 6th, this list will quickly grow to a "Top 11 List" as soon as Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home arrives in our hands! 

• Southern Living Style

• Good Bones, Great Pieces

• Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces

• Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions

• Design Sponge at Home

• Domino: The Book of Decorating

• The Nest Home Design Handbook

• Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home

• Modern Vintage Style

• Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Colors

Do you have any must-have décor books on your bookshelf that we need to know about? If so, leave them in the comments below.  

In celebration of our new fall line being in stores and ready to purchase on our website, we’re back with another fan-tastic contest. And this time, there will be 3 winners!

Towne & Reese Facebook fans are eligible to win either the Presley earrings in Spice Orange, the Jillian earrings in Green, or the Brooke earrings in Deep Blue.

It’s easy to enter. Here’s how:

1. On our Facebook page, look for our Share & Wear photo on our wall. If you are not already a fan of ours on Facebook, you must "like" us in order to be eligible. 

2. Comment on the post on our wall and say which of the 3 earrings you'd like to win if your name is chosen. Will it be the Presley? The Jillian? Or the Brooke? 

3. Click on our Share & Wear photo to use the "Share" tool to share our contest photo with your Facebook friends. Feel free to encourage them to enter, too!

Remember, you must be a fan of Towne & Reese on Facebook and you must both comment on the post on our Facebook wall and share our contest photo on Facebook to be eligible.

The contest runs from Monday, August 6 to Friday, August 10. We will announce the winners on our Facebook page the week of August 13. Good luck!

                                                                                       ------------------------

No purchase necessary to win. This contest will run from 8.6.12 - 8.10.12. To be entered, vist facebook.com/towneandreese, "like" our page, comment on our "Share & Wear" photo and share our photo with your Facebook friends. The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on our Facebook page the week of August 13.  

Family photo courtesy of Taylor Wright Photography. 

You may already know that we name all of our jewelry in honor of the daughter of a friend, but we're starting a new Q&A series on our blog that lets our fans in on who the Moms and daughters are behind the names.

Our first Mom is Heather Glasgow of Nashville, Tennessee. Heather is a dear friend of our Co-Founder, Christi, and the mother of soon-to-be 3-year old Fisher Elise—the name behind our Fisher earrings. 

Here's what she had to say. . .  

How would you describe Fisher? Full of personality, but laid back at the same time! 

How did you decide on her name? She is named after my paternal grandmother, Katy Fisher Brevard, the most inspiring woman I know!  

What do and your family do for fun? We love to travel, play outside and especially love to swim!

How would you describe your personal style? Natural with a pop of color. I tend to buy clothing that I hope will last for several seasons, so inevitably my clothing tends to be pretty classic, so I try to add color and/or style with jewelry – and usually lots of it!

What’s your favorite thing about Towne & Reese? I absolutely love that you can change any outfit by adding a piece (or 2 or 3 or 4!!) of T&R jewelry. All of the different colors available make it so fun to accessorize! 

If Towne & Reese were to name a piece of jewelry after you, what would it look like? It would definitely be earrings because I rarely leave the house without them! They would be big, gold and have bright color bead(s) or stone(s).  I swear, they would be the Fisher earrings and I’m not just saying that because they are named after my daughter. They fit my style perfectly!!!

Do you have other ideas for questions we should ask our Moms? If so, leave them in the comments below. And check back in a few weeks for more Q&As like this one. 

When our Customer Service Manager, Elissa, got engaged, we couldn’t wait to find out about every detail. Since we started our business, she’s the first person in the office to plan a wedding. And since we’re an office full of girls, surrounded by jewelry, we immediately went right to the question everyone wanted to know: what accessories would be perfectly perfect for our girl?

The ceremony is set for September 2 inside a sweet old white church near Charleston, SC and the reception will be at a Charleston-style historic home. Relaxed summer southern evening is the kind of event she had in mind and chose simple navy dresses for her bridesmaids and an elegant, understated gown for herself. Navy, light blue, yellow and grey are the colors she was drawn to, and knowing this—we knew just the accessories to suggest.

For her bridesmaids, it was between the blue Harper necklace or the yellow Lila necklace (shown above). Ultimately, Elissa decided on the Harper necklace because it’s such a standout piece.

As for the bride, she wanted a look that’s both simple and elegant. Although she hasn’t made her final decision just yet, the Chelsea bracelet, Emma earrings, Abigail earrings, Laci necklace and Keaton necklace are all still on the dressing table.

We couldn’t be more excited for Elissa and we’re flattered she chose to incorporate Towne & Reese into her special day. Check back in September and we’ll show you how everything came together. Knowing her, we have no doubt every detail will be beautiful.

*Unfortunately we are sold out of the blue Harper necklace and it has been discontinued. Elissa got her bridesmaids their gifts just in time! Lucky girls. 

We are thrilled with the season finale of The Bachelorette and want to spread the love by offering our customers (and Emily Maynard fans) a BIG surprise.

This week, when you make a purchase anytime between July 23 to July 26 using this link, you'll be automatically entered to win a package that includes four of Emily Maynard's favorite Towne & Reese pieces! 

The package will include the Brooke earrings, Daisy ring, Harlow necklace (no longer available online!) and Riley bracelet. 

We will contact the winner on Friday July 27, so be on the lookout. One person will win and it could be you!

There is no purchase necessary to win. To be entered without making a purchase, send your name and email to kbellew@e-dreamz.com. Only one entry per person will count!

Happy shopping!

P.S. If you want to be one of the first to find out about great promotions like this one, make sure you sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of our homepage. Our newsletter subscribers get all of the scoop before anyone else. For more information on staying in touch with Towne & Reese, check out this blog post. 

No purchase necessary. This contest will run from July 23 to midnight, July 26^th. To be entered, simply email your name and email address to kbellew@e-dreamz.com. The winner will be selected at random, and will be contacted via email on July 27^th. 

UPDATE

Towne and Reese would like to congratulate Candace McClure- winner of the Bachelorette Finale Contest! Candace has won an Emily’s Favorites package that includes the Brooke earrings, Daisy ring, Harlow necklace and Riley bracelet!

Be sure to check here for future contests, style tips, and all things Towne & Reese! Head to our homepage and sign up for our newsletter, and like our Facebook page for future giveaways. (Hint: our next contest is coming up next week!) 

Last week we shared photos from our trip to The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and promised to fill you in on what buyers were buzzing about in the Towne & Reese showroom. Here's the scoop....

This fall you will see a lot of bright color. Buyers absolutely loved our yellow Lila necklace. In fact, this statement piece was our number one seller. (The Lila necklace will also come in Grey.)

Natural stones will continue to be in style this upcoming season, and customers couldn't keep away from our Pink and Green Poppy necklaces.

With a great basic teardrop shape, the Brooke earring was also a standout. Since this is an item we offered in our last line that did extremely well in stores, it continued to be one of our most talked about pieces. In addition to Crystal and Mint, we've also added Deep Blue and Deep Green.

Customers were also drawn to our Jillian earrings—especially the orange. (They will also come in Green and Tortoise.)

Perhaps the most fun we had in our booth was trying on the Camden and Alison necklaces to show buyers how you can wear them two ways: as a longer single strand or doubled around your neck to make a shorter statement piece. The Camden (shown first below) and Alison necklaces are great for getting two styles in one piece. Both come in Gold and Silver. 

Everything you see here (plus so much more) will be available in stores and on our website at the end of this month. 

We hope you are as excited as we are!

Emily Maynard wore a lot of fantastic clothing and jewelry on this season of The Bachelorette and we couldn't be more flattered she chose to wear Towne & Reese! Because we have received so many questions regarding what items she wore and when, we put together this complete list below. You can also check out Emily's Favorites on our website and our Pinterest Board. 

Official Promotion Shoot

- Brooke earrings, green  

- Daisy turquoise ring  

May 14: Episode 1

- Hannah earrings, silver and gold

- Finley necklace, gold

- Hailey bracelets *No longer available. 

- Sally earrings, gold 

May 21:  Episode 2 / Muppets

- Sally earrings, gold

May 22: Episode 3 / Individual Dates

- Daisy turquoise ring  

- Elena ring, coral  *This color is no longer available. Available in Green and Smoky Topaz on 8/1.  

- Sloan ring *No longer available. 

- Holly cuff, gold *No longer available. 

June 4: Episode 5 / Bermuda

- Harlow necklace 

June 25: Episode 8 / Prague

- Elena ring, green

- Daisy turquoise ring  

July 2: Episode 9 / Hometown Dates

- Syd ring, colbalt blue  

July 9: Episode 10 / Final 3

- Hannah earrings, gold

- Polly earrings, turquoise *Available in Coral and in Deep Blue and Hematite on 8/1.

- Riley bracelets 

Towne & Reese is currently at The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market with exhibitors and from around the globe. This is not only an exciting time to see what buyers think of our latest line, but it's also a time for us to see what's coming to the marketplace and do a little shopping while we're here. Here's a quick peek at a few of our favorite exhibitors . . . 

Fellow Charlottean Bella Tunno showed off their adorable dress up clothes and a diaper bag that would be fantastic for just about any purpose. 

We couldn't take our hands off of these stylish reusable pockets and bags from RuMe. The USA bag is the perfect way to go patriotic for the upcoming Olympics. 

From the shimmery details of this stemware to the colorful touches added to this throw and pillow, it's no surprise Shiraleah caught our eye.

Be sure to check back here on the blog next week and we may let you in on what had buyers buzzing about in and around our booth. 

Since Towne & Reese announced its very first line, Co-Founders, Christi Pack (CP) and Jessica Stanfield (JS) are often asked how they went from a dream idea of offering affordable and stylish jewelry to the full-time reality of creating and distributing their line to retailers nationwide. Since there were a few questions even those of us in the office didn’t know the answers to, we decided to put their answers down in a top ten list we could share with the world.

When did you start Towne & Reese?

(CP) I was a sales rep for a handful of lines and called on gift boutiques. I saw firsthand the need for trendy but affordable jewelry. Not to mention, I personally shopped for statement necklaces and earrings and felt like I was spending a small fortune for the pieces I wanted. Jessica and I had previously worked together as Account Executives at an ad agency, and I knew she had the drive and smarts to help get a business like this off the ground and a personality that would make it fun!

(JS) I was still working in advertising but knew I was ready for a change. Christi called me on September 25, 2009 on my way home from getting Reese’s first hair cut and told me about her idea. I thought it was brilliant because I love jewelry but hated spending so much money on trends that would only last one season. I always admired Christi’s impeccable taste, so I knew anything she designed would be fabulous! She asked if I was up for seeing if we could make it work as a business and without hesitation, I said “yes!” 

How did you come up with the name?

(CP) Jessica came up with the name and it was perfect!

(JS) During one of our midnight work sessions, we realized we needed a name for the company. We threw out a couple of ideas that were worthless and said we’d think about it more the next day when we were fresh. The next morning it hit me: we should use the girls’ names. I called Christi and suggested “Towne & Reese” and that was that.

What past experiences have helped you make Towne & Reese successful?

(JS)  Since high school when I interned for a neighbor’s small PR firm, I’ve always had an interest and passion for marketing, business and entrepreneurship. After college, and several years of experience in larger advertising agencies, I accepted a job as the second employee of a start-up ad agency. Over nine years I helped them grow from a small business with a handful of employees into mid-sized, national agency. As a part of the management team, I saw all of the ups and downs of running a company. I loved it—but it made me want to do it on my own and be the person making the final decisions. I think both Christi and I’s backgrounds in marketing have been invaluable in helping us creating our brand. 

(CP)  I have always needed a creative outlet and have been interested in fashion and interior design since I can remember. But that was always a hobby for me. My schooling was in marketing and management. When I graduated from college, I pursued a career in advertising and learned the importance of building a brand. I knew that I ultimately wanted to do my own thing and always dreamed of what that would turn into one day. Towne & Reese has given me the opportunity to combine all of my interests and has been an amazing journey that I’m so thankful for. 

How would you describe your partnership as Co-Founders and Co-Owners?

(JS)  Christi and I have worked really hard for all that we have and we’ve also had some lucky breaks along the way. What I think we knew at some level—but didn’t fully realize the importance of when we began the business—is that we have a mutual work ethic and respect for the other one’s talent. We are both incredibility driven and are always thinking, working on an idea, but on our own schedules. We also have very clear lines drawn for our responsibilities based on our talents and we really respect those. We never waste time trying to do the other one’s job. Of course, we both give input on the other one’s decisions, but we trust each implicitly and never question each other’s judgment. I believe this is the key to our success.

(CP) We have a wonderful partnership that we’re both so grateful for. When we first started we were friends but now we (and our families) are best friends. We have different strengths that honestly work out perfectly for the partnership and make the division of roles and responsibilities pretty easy. We respect each other’s strengths 100% and make a great team!

What question are you asked the most about Towne & Reese?

(CP) I get asked about my day a lot. Do I go into the office very much? Do I work from home?, etc. The answer to that is: we are in the office every day going 100 mph. We have to-do lists that multiply as soon as one thing is checked off. There is so much that is fun about what we do – I mean, we work with jewelry in an office full of fun girls, what more could a woman ask for? But we work really hard and spend a lot of hours on our computers in the office and after the kids go to sleep to make it all happen. 

(JS) Since Emily Maynard has been wearing so much our jewelry on this season’s The Bachelorette, lately I get the most questions about her. I will say, we have met with Emily on a few occasions. She is incredibly down-to-earth, gracious and beautiful. However, I can assure you we do not have the inside scoop on the show or who she will choose! We also get asked about balancing our work life and family life. I wish we had the perfect answer to that question but it is a constant struggle and balancing act. I think we are both extremely fortunate to have a career we love, children we adore and very supportive spouses and support systems but it is never easy.  I always say that the “perfect balance” is the one that drives you the least crazy and makes you the happiest but it will never be perfect! 

Where do you find inspiration for creating new lines?

(CP)  I look at everything differently now. I’m constantly on the hunt for inspiration. I definitely check out all the fashion and celebrity magazines and blogs, walk the jewelry counter in every store I visit and of course, study the season trends. Jessica and I also go to flea markets throughout the year where we find inspiration from everything vintage.  I also pay attention to what other people wear and how they express themselves. There are ideas everywhere.

(JS)  Yes, everywhere! We get a lot of inspiration from watching the seasonal trends, fashion magazines and clothing designers we admire, but we also get inspiration from personal pieces we love. We designed a bracelet two seasons ago that was inspired by a bracelet my mother-in-law received from her grandmother. Christi is the guru of all design and aesthetics for Towne & Reese, so that is really her area of expertise. But when I do give my input, I think I bring a slightly different perspective. I LOVE color – turquoise, coral, green, yellow, etc. and am probably a bit more traditional and less edgy than she is. We are a good balance. 

What’s the process you go through to name your jewelry?

(CP) We name all of our pieces for our friends’ daughters. We compile all of the new names each season, think about the personality and style of the child and the mother, and pick out a name for each piece.

(JS) It has been great fun to honor our friends in this way and they love being able to wear a piece of jewelry named just for their daughter. Although we will probably need to make some new pregnant friends as we continue the business!  

Do you have plans to expand to other markets or open a storefront?

(JS)  We have always been dedicated to growing in a smart way and not too quickly.  Our retailers are the reason for our success so we will continue to look for like-minded retailers to help continue our growth. We are lucky to have many great retailers here in Charlotte that have large, beautiful Towne & Reese displays, so we have never seen a need for that. 

(CP) We would love to continue to grow the brand but through our retailers. We don’t have any plans to open a storefront. Our retailers have been so supportive and have helped us get to where we are today.

When you wear jewelry, is it always Towne & Reese or do you have any other favorites?

(JS) After six seasons, my closet is so packed with Towne & Reese jewelry I don’t think I could fit anything else in there! Since we started, we have created so many different kinds of pieces, I don’t really think about wearing anything other than our jewelry. Of course, I mix in sentimental pieces of jewelry like the earrings my husband gave me when Robert was born and the necklace from Reese’s birth.

(CP) With two releases a year, we have lots of jewelry to choose from that always feel new and different, so I only wear Towne & Reese; with the exception of two bracelets I wear every day—one has a “T” charm for my daughter, Towne, and the other has a “W” charm for my son, Weston.

Where do you see Towne & Reese in 5 years?

(CP) Wow, that’s a tough question. I didn’t think we would be here 3 years ago. I do know that we will stay true to the brand and ourselves and continue to offer trendy but affordable accessories. We love what we do and will continue to work hard to keep it fresh and to deliver what customers want – and we’ll see where that takes us in five years.

(JS)  I don’t know where we will be in five years but hopefully continuing our expansion with retailers who appreciate what we have to offer. One thing I do know is that we’ll keep doing this as long as we are having fun, running a viable business and providing trendy but affordable jewelry. If we can’t do those three things, we’d probably stop but I don’t see that happening!  

Do you have a question for Christi and Jessica? If so, leave it in the comments section below and we'll do our best to answer it as soon as we can. 

There’s something about the fourth of July that makes us overcome with nostalgia for good old-fashioned family fun.

Yesterday, everyone at Towne & Reese spent their holiday doing just that. From the beach to the backyard, the lake to the local yogurt shop—no matter where we all were, each of us had a fantastic day relaxing and having fun with our nearest and dearest. 

We hope you also enjoyed a safe and happy fourth!

You may already follow Towne & Reese on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, but did you know you can also be one of the first to find out about stylish news like fresh accessories and great promotions before anyone else?

At the bottom of our homepage, you’ll see Newsletter Signup:

Just type in your email address and you’ll be added to our exclusive list!

We send out our newsletter twice a month, so we’ll never flood your in-box—but promise to fill you in on the latest scoop.

Happy shopping!

Maybe it’s the heat wave we’re having in Charlotte, but we’ve been thinking a lot about summer and what things we’re digging to have on hand when it’s time to hit the pool or the beach—whichever is closer.

So we put together a list of seven items those of us around the office have recently picked up to be prepared for the summer season.

1. A perfect book for daydreaming and discussion, This Book Is About Travel Author, Andrew Hyde, spent 20 months visiting 15 different countries writing about the kind of travel that will make you want to pack your bags and just go.   

2. Block out the sun’s rays and cover up the shine at the same time? Yes, please. This Anti-Aging Instant Mineral SPF 45 is a great item to put on before you leave the house and throw in your beach bag to reapply throughout the day.

3. We have a crush on this affordable Colorblock Clutch and think it’s perfect for toting along the essentials you need for lazy yet stylish days in the sun.

4. If you’re going to take a cooler along, it might as well have the look of a great bag and be insulated enough to keep your drinks cold. That’s why we love this Fooled You Beach Cooler.

5. Water bottles have come a long way in recent years, and this Metal Water Bottle is no exception. It comes in four bright summer colors with a trefoil design and is BPA-free.

6. Snacks are a staple for summer afternoons. These Bamboo Nesting Bowls are a great size and have just the right amount of detail around the rim to be festive and fun.

7.  TKEES claim to be cosmetics for your feet. And we couldn’t agree more. They’re light, they’re bright and they come in enough colors for you and all of your friends to have a different pair.

What new things have you picked up for summer? Let us know in the comments section below.  

Last week, we shared photos from the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. In addition to our new jewelry for fall, did you notice anything else new from our market showroom?

If you look closely on the right, you’ll see our latest bundle of joy—something we revealed at market and can’t keep under wraps any longer. We’ve added scarves to our line of affordable trend-setting accessories! And we couldn’t be more excited to share the news!   

Towne & Reese Co-Founders Christi and Jessica traveled to Texas this week for the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. We asked them to take a few photos of upcoming trends and things buyers were buzzing about. It's the first of eight Markets and Gift Shows they'll attend this summer, so stay tuned for what they discover in other cities around the country. Here are a few photos from what they had to share from the Big D: 

We are obsessed with the StudioOh! line:

How cute are these mini recipe boxes with lots of champage cocktail recipes?

They have them for so many things like mac-n-cheese and even bacon!

Check out these cute tags for all of your baked goods!

And these adorable cake toppers:

Byrd's Famous Cookies!

Byrd's Cookies were right across from us in the showroom, so I had my fair share.

They're delicious! And so cute!

Unleashed Life

For the tough dogs

The Towne & Reese space!

With the summer travel season upon us, we thought we'd share our tips for traveling with jewelry and keeping your jewels looking as good as new.

• Wear It or Carry It   Although your purse or travel bag may be filled with a lot of extra vacation must-haves, like magazines and snacks, we recommend you find a spot in your bag to fit your jewelry in, too—especially if you are flying.

• Clearly Organized  If you’re looking for a great way to keep your jewelry in order, individual, air-tight plastic jewelry baggies are best. That way, you can see what you have and still be able to throw it all in a jewelry bag without worrying about things ever getting tangled.

• Looks As Dry As New  Moisture such as lotions, liquids and sweat will all interact with the finish on your jewelry. So when you’re getting dressed, avoid the tarnishing process by putting on your jewelry last. If you want to clean any of your Towne & Reese jewelry, it’s best to use a dry tissue or clean cloth.

• Be Stylish & Safe  When you’re staying in a hotel, put your jewelry in the in-room safe. If there isn’t one, don’t be shy—ask the front desk to hold it at the hotel safe. It’s tempting to want to wear your jewelry to the pool, but you’ll enjoy it much longer if you just keep it in your room.

Have a jewelry travel tip to share? Leave us a note in the comments below.

Towne & Reese is led by two Moms, but we couldn’t do all that we do without the love and support from our husbands, who just so happen to also be incredible fathers to our children. Thank you for everything, Barrett and Taylor!

We love you, 

Christi, Towne and Weston

Jessica, Reese and Robert

Flip through the pages of the July 2012 People StyleWatch and you’ll see our Sydney Necklace featured in a special section on Charity Finds.

Together with BALBOA Jewelry, the bright glass stones that surround the Sydney Necklace were strung in colorful memory of Sydney Boone Gaylord. Sydney was one of the founders of BALBOA Jewelry, and a mother to three children who lost her battle to cancer. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this necklace go to KinderMourn, a non-profit organization in Charlotte, NC that serves the needs of those grieving the death of a child or parent.

Since we added the Sydney Necklace to our line, BALBOA and Towne & Reese have donated more than $8,500 to the charity. It’s our hope these donations will help families like Sydney’s manage the loss of a loved one.

Last week we gave you a sneak peek at our upcoming fall 2012 collection and promised to come back with an even bigger look at what's to come. So here it is: a view of some of the colorful gemstones, exotic shapes, and surprising statement pieces that you'll see in retail locations and on our website in late July.  

There's so much more we can't wait to show you, but for now we want to know: what do you see that gets you excited for accessorizing this fall?

Top left to right: Cori Ring, shown in Titanium.  |  Jacqueline Necklace, shown in Tonal Greys.  |  Emma Earrings, shown in Clear. | Jillian Earrings, shown in Orange.  

Bottom left to right: Ellie Marie Bracelets, shown in Black, Spice Orange and Green.  |  Cailyn Earrings, shown in Shiny Gold/Black.  |  Makenzi Ring, shown in in Matte Gold.  |  Poppy Necklace, shown in Pink and Green. 

Before Pinterest, we had hundreds of bookmarks and piles of tear-outs from magazines. Since “pinning” is much more organized and frankly, a lot more fun—we’re hooked! This week, we’re featuring one of our latest Pinterest Boards: Emily Maynard’s Towne & Reese Faves. Now you can see all of the jewels this season’s Bachelorette has worn all in one place. Including the Harlow necklace Emily wore in last night's episode (seen below.) Of course, if you’re already on Pinterest, you can follow all of our boards by clicking here. Or get started with your own Pinterest account by requesting an invite. (But don’t say we didn’t warn you. It’s addictive!) We’ll make sure to let you know when we add more boards so follow right here on the blog.

Each season we get more and more excited about our new jewelry lines, and this fall is no exception. Take a look at one of our latest standout pieces: our new Lila necklace, in stores in late July. A layering of deep yellow beads makes a sunny and stylish statement that will look great with your favorite t-shirt or add a pop of color to any outfit. We’ll give you a bigger look at our fall 2012 line next week, so stay tuned!

About an hour west of Boston is Brimfield, Massachusetts- a rural New England town home to 3,000 residents. But a few times a year, it's also home to the country's largest outdoor antiques show, drawing more than 250,000 visitors and 5,000 dealers. Towne & Reese Co-Founders, Christi & Jessica, took a quick trip up to see what could inspire ideas for the Spring 2013 collection and found a little inspiration for the home, too.

We know the best flea-market spots come from word of mouth, so tell us: where have you been that we must explore?

This was a big weekend for two little girls, Towne and Reese. Towne took the stage in her very first dance recital and Reese was ready to sashay for the second year. 

Watching them practice (which mainly consists of watching themselves dance silly in the mirror) brings back lots of memories of strapping on dance shoes and that nervous fun feeling that comes from stepping out on stage. We couldn't be more proud.

On March 17, the streets of downtown Charlotte were a sea of green for St. Patrick’s Day. But inside the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, a group of us from Towne & Reese waited in line to catch a glimpse of a rainbow. A rainbow connection, that is.

That’s right—we had tickets to a LIVE taping of The Bachelorette, with a special appearance by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy! We’re not sure who was more excited, the adults or the kids. Check out Ricky in the audience and Reese next to her brother, Robert, who made it on TV!

But as soon as we saw Chris Harrison take the stage and welcome us to the show, it was clear that we were all going to have a good time.

While we weren’t allowed to take photos during the taping, we could have them between set changes. But the event wasn’t all for show, it also raised $20,000 for The Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care at Levine Children’s Hospital, named in honor of Emily’s daughter Ricky and her late father. As the only Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit in our region, treating critically ill and injured children, it’s a cause close to Emily’s heart. For more information, click here. 

There’s just something about reading a blog that completely makes our day. Here are a few of our favorites:

Interior Design We absolutely love this Mom and designer, Erika from Urban Grace Interiors. Her Pinterest boards are so inspiring and get us all giddy for interior design.

DIY Just as we prove you don’t have to spend a fortune to exude great style, Young House Love offers a peek into their daily life at home, giving fantastic ideas on how to do just about anything yourself. (Plus, we’ve met them in person and they couldn’t be sweeter.)

Personal Style You know when you’re standing in front of your closet and can’t decide what to wear? Professional style blogger, Jessica Quirk, shows how to incorporate bargain buys, vintage finds and investment pieces on her blog, What I Wore.

Celebrity Style Dana Weiss, also known as Possessionista, is the sassy, go-to blogger for finding details on where to find styles seen on celebs and TV stars. She definitely has her finger on the pulse of fashion and the remote.

Of course, this short list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of great blogs out there. If there’s a link you think we should bookmark, let us know in the comments section below. 

Emily stepped out in style on last night's premiere episode, and we couldn't be more excited to see her wearing our Finley Necklace that makes a subtle statement of LOVE.

As for the bachelors, we thought they looked pretty fantastic, too. Here are our predictions for which ones we think will win Emily's heart and be one of the last 5 holding a rose.

Photos from ABC.com The Bachelorette. Tune in Mondays 9/8c.

Arie – Not only is he pretty cute and down to earth, but since he’s a racecar driver, it may be natural for Emily to feel a connection. 

Chris – Just like the bobble head gifts he brought Emily, we wobbled on our first impression of Chris, but decided his thoughtfulness is what makes him a doll. 

Doug – This single dad from Washington won our hearts. Or maybe we should say his son’s letter to Emily is what made him a standout selection. 

Joe – He’s from the South and wears cowboy boots, but knows how to get dressed up for a night out. We like that. 

Ryan – This Georgia boy made our list as soon as we saw him at the gym. Once we saw he was working in the gym with kids, we melted.

To read more about all of the bachelors, visit ABC.com here.  

Are you ready for Monday night? We can't wait to root on our hometown girl, Emily Maynard. In fact, we've put together a list of some of our TV watching favorites for getting cozy and setting the mood. Click each photo for its source. 

Everyone knows the best gifts in life for Mom, money can't buy. But that doesn't stop us from wishing for one of these gems that caught our eye. *wink wink* 

Click on each image for its source. 

Play Wonder Woman with the Double-Cuff look, like this one from Sterling Style. Double up on pieces like our Holly or Zandie Cuffs & set your inner fashion  superhero free!

Keep it neutral this Spring & try tone-on-tone! Add in different metals, organic pieces with natural stone & of course leather to add trendsetting texture to your outfit. 

We came across this beautiful image on this gloomy day in Charlotte & had to share these gorgeous colors with you. Hope it brightens your day! Happy Spring everyone!

We were thrilled when Emily Maynard, the next Bachelorette came by to shop for some fun accessories from our new Spring collection to style her already chic look on and off screen. Thanks for coming by Emily & always being so supportive of your hometown Charlotte! We wish her the best of luck!

Emily picking out her favorite ring! The Willa Ring in raspberry!

Emily with the amazing team at Towne & Reese!

We love this burst of citrusy sunshine from DVF we found on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/towneandreese/t-r-style/. We have just the thing for it to create fun day & evening looks for Spring. 

Throw on gold flip flops, our Polly stud earrings, some Riley beaded wrap bracelets & the vibrant Sydney necklace for a casual daytime look that really pops. 

Treat yourself to a Spring pedi & burst out those fun wedges you've been saving or a strappy heel. Then get ready to WOW with our gold Holly cuff bracelet, Harlow bib necklace, the Ivory Sloan ring & the Fabienne chandeliers. 

Our founders Jessica Stanfield & Christi Pack won the Charlotte Smarty Pants "Best Smarty Mompreneur" Award for excellence in balancing two very important full time jobs...being moms and entrepreneurs!! Thank you so much Charlotte Smarty Pants' fans for voting and congratulations Jessica & Christi!

Click here for more details.