HI!

Hello Friends!

I know what you're thinking. FINALLY! A POST! If you follow us on facebook (click the sidebar to join the party), you know we are still alive and well and hearting accessories more than ever. We've just been a lil busy getting the beginning of this blissful year organized...we promise to pay more attention to our blog and keep you up to date on all the happenings from here on in.

That being said, there's a LOT to catch up on since December - so, I just wanted to shine a little light on our media attention as of late. We kinda get overly excited when people call and want to feature us in their spots/mags/newspapers....and we do LOVE the attention!

Take a little lookie-loo at our recent exposure. I'm a very proud mama!

Below: A recent interview done by the lovely Wyndham for The Grid. That's me there.

MID

Yonge & Craighurst

Tue Jan 17, 2012
Advice

My Job Could Be Your Life: Natalie Colalillo of I Heart Accessories

In this week's edition of our career-advice column, we learn the pros and cons of going into business for yourself.

BY: Wyndham Bettencourt-McCarthy

Name: Natalie Colalillo
Age: 30
Job: Owner of I Heart Accessories (2646 Yonge)
In 30 seconds or less, tell me what you do all day at work.
I’m the store’s sole owner, so each day I check email, order new stuff for the store, merchandise, serve customers, update the website and manage social media—everything, really.
How did you first become interested in starting your own business?
When I was in university, my parents—who have been in the home-décor retail business for 20 years—helped me start up a little side business. It kind of stayed with me; whatever I was doing, I sold jewellery and accessories on the side as a hobby. My parents had an in with a lot of suppliers, and they would take me on their buying trips, so that really helped. I became familiar with where to go and what to get. And then one day I just decided that I needed to be my own boss, and I had always pictured myself owning my own shop. I work in the store five or six days a week, and I have a part-time employee who helps me one or two days a week.
What is it about accessories in particular that inspired you to go into retail?
I’ve always been really interested in accessorizing outfits I have rather than shopping for new clothes. I’ve always shopped simple in terms of clothing, and then used accessories to make my outfit exciting. I find it really fun. Here, we offer a wide range of accessories rather than just jewellery, as a lot of other stores do. My customers know that they can bring an outfit or a picture of an outfit into the store, or they can describe an outfit to me, and we can accessorize them from head-to-toe.
Once you decided what kind of business you wanted, how did you go about finding a location and establishing the store?
I took a year to write a business plan, and then it came down to deciding what size of space I was looking for and what kind of neighbourhood I wanted to be in. I really wanted the store to be a bit more high-end than your average cheap-accessories store, but not so high-end that people couldn’t afford it. I was looking for something much larger, but then I found this space (on Yonge, north of Eglinton) and I realized that it was actually the perfect size for what I want to do. Now, it’s actually worked in my favour; a lot of people call the store a “hidden gem,” or say to their friends that they have to check it out because it’s so small but has the greatest things.
When you first opened for business, how did you build a customer base?
It took a little while to get busy; even now, people are still finding out about us. I still get people saying, “Oh, I didn’t even know you were here,” and we’re in our third year. But the good thing is that customers keep coming back. In our first year, it was all about people finding us, and now our focus is on our really great base of return customers.
What’s something people should know before they open their own business?
It’s really important to have a plan, and to set goals that are attainable. It’s also important to keep in mind that it’s a life-long commitment. I always say that it’s equally as challenging as starting a family, because it takes up all of your time. I don’t have kids, but, as with a family, you have to be a 100 per cent committed to make a real go of it.
What are you favourite and least favourite parts of your job?
My favourite part is that I get to wake up every day and work for me; my least favourite part is that I have to wake up every day and work for me!  It’s a challenge when you’re the only owner, because you don’t have partners or people to bounce ideas off of, so I try to seek out mentors in order to do that. But actually, the challenges have become my favourite parts of the job.

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More news and posts coming soon! In the meantime, check out our online shop - new gorgeous pieces added daily!

xoxo
With Heart,

Natalie

Winter Snapshots

AHHH! IT'S WINTER! Almost. Good thing we have some stylish cozies to ease us into the the frigid temps. We snapped some pics of our new arrivals, as well as one of yours truly. I tend to do this once in a while...but only with winter wear...?! Not sure why. Anyway, stay cool. And by stay cool I mean, stay warm.  

xoxo
With Heart,

Natalie

Laura's Faves in Fall Trends

Gorgeous trends are starting to make an appearance for fall! There are way too many amazing styles and materials popping up on runways to cover them all, but I thought I would go over some of my favourites in the accessory world.

Once again, we're in luck. Fall runways are showing big, statement pieces in a variety of styles, and you know how much we heart statement! Some are pulling from art deco and gothic influences while others are going back to vintage styles with large metal chokers and cuffs. Collar necklaces are the common style being seen, with tons of beads and chains to make sure all eyes stay on you. I must admit, in the past, I've gone more towards simple, dainty pieces for myself, but since I started working at I Heart Accessories, I'm pretty excited to leap forward and commit to one like this for fall...

Smokey Crystal Necklace, $32

...or maybe this?...

Cuff bracelets are big this Fall with lots of studs, leather, and sparkle. 

 Leather Studded Cuffs, $19

 

We are also seeing large metal cuffs of plain or hammered metal, keeping it simple yet adding impact such as this one on a Michael Kors model. 

Check out I Heart's lovelies...

 Golden Feather Bender, $27

 

Gunmetal Hinge, $26

I'm also loving that I see animal print and texture everywhere for this fall. Leopard, snakeskin and fur seem to be the top three. 

This reversible bag (personal case included) is available for pre-order on our website. 

The Inside-our Aliya, $69

 Lindsay Phillips Switchflops, Available in-store only, $95

And for the colder months, we have hats similar to this Adrienne Landau style coming in.

Finally, neckties and more masculine looks are making us smile. This Moschino model is sporting a slim grey ascot. In the shop, we do have a basket of silky scarves in a variety of colours and patterns that would be perfect to use for this look. 

 And let us not forget our friends at Handsome & Lace, who are always right on trend with ALL of their pieces, and have hand stitched this awesome piece just for you.

So, although we're seeing things a little more rough, hard edged and a slightly less flirty, things are still looking as interesting as ever for the next few months. I'm so excited to see what we get and even more excited to share it with you. Stay tuned!


xoxo
With Heart, 

Laura
 

Pre-orders for Fall

Our pre-orders for fall have started to roll in, and although we hate the idea of cooler weather, we're pretty excited for new collections! We'll be adding these and more to our NEW ONLINE SHOP!! for pre-orders, and "asap" shipping once they arrive.  Judging by the attention they've already been getting, these beauties will not last too long. Grab'em while you can, and be all set for fall!

  

  

 

 

 

For questions or to pre-order, give us a call at the shop at 416-792-1271, or email us at info@iheartaccessories.ca

XOXO

With Heart, 

Natalie

Laura's 3 Shop Faves

I love blog posts like this because they give me a reason to walk around the store and examine all our lovely items. We have been getting in a lot of new pieces lately, here are my three favourite at the moment.

Feather earrings are HUGE right now. They are definitely the trend of the summer, and since we try to stay on top of those, we just got a bunch of really nice ones in. Our feather earrings come in all different colours so you can go bold with pink or be subtle with grey. There aren’t any rules on how to wear these so some are choosing to wear a pair and others are wearing just one. It is really up to you what you think looks best. We took this into consideration and are selling our earrings as $12 each or a pair for $20. Some our fave celebs rock them too. 

A couple years ago I made an imprint of a leaf on some silver to turn into a necklace. I thought I had done a pretty good job of capturing all the veins, until I saw a pair of earrings we recently got in. These earrings capture all the intricate veins on the back of a leaf and the detail is just amazing! It was love at first site with these and I am very tempted to snatch them up for myself. They are $24 and if you are interested, I suggest you act fast before I decided to get them for myself.

A bonus is that they are also super shiny and while making some new dare to compares earlier, I stumbled across these similar leaf earrings by Silver Rush that are $208.50, so the price is right too.

 

When I was checking out all our new merchandise, this necklace stood out to me the most. With rows of peach, purple, and pink beads on a gold chain, the combination of these colours is what drew me to this necklace. It is girly, fun, and cute without being over the top, and the colour combination is just perfect for summer.

It is a little bit of a blessing and a curse working at I Heart Accessories. I get to be surrounded by beautiful things all the time and I can’t complain about that aspect. The only downfall is the temptation. I often find myself wanting to buy things every time we get new products; this post is a perfect example of that. Come on in and check out our new jewellery, taking advantage of the 20% off summer deal. If you are having trouble deciding, feel free to ask me anytime what my current favourites are, because I can guarantee I will have some. 

xoxo

With Heart, 

Laura

Sunglass Mishmash: What's Right For Your Face?

I don’t know about you, but I always dread shopping for sunglasses. I try on every pair possible and still cannot decide which ones look the best on me. Then, when I do find a pair, it seems to disappear the next summer so I have to repeat the whole process again. It is exhausting. I’ve decided to break the vicious cycle this year for those who also have sunglasses "issues", and write up a short guide for what type you should wear based on your face shape, because a great pair of sunglasses can perfectly finish off a look. At I Heart Accessories we carry a variety of styles all with UV 400 protection to make sure you look good while staying safe.  

Generally, the most flattering frame shape is one that contrasts the shape of your face. Keeping that in mind, I’m going to break it down further. 

Square Face

 For those of you with a more angular, square shaped face, you should try oval and round frames. Find a pair that sit higher on the face, to minimize the jaw line. You could also try a narrow, longer frame to widen the eye area. Avoid square shaped frames, low set temples, or a colour accent along the bottom of the frame.

Oval Face

Oval faces have got it easy, the balanced proportions ensure that almost any frame shape will suit you, but try to find some frames that are wider or the same length as the widest part of your face. To add some angles to your curves, you could try geometric, rectangular shapes. Even though you can work almost anything, try not to go too big with the frame as it can overwhelm your features. 

Oblong Face

Oblong faces are long and narrow. Choose a deep frame which covers the center of your face to shorten it. Broader sunglasses with some decorative elements around the top rim or temple can help to add width to your face shape. Avoid small and shorter frames. 

Round Face

For round faces, the best way to compliment your shape is with contrasting straight or angular frames, like this season's popular cat-eye style. If you want to make your face appear narrower, choose a clear bridge over the nose and a rectangular or horizontal style that will work to widen your eye area. To lengthen the face, go with a slimmer frame or an upswept frame which will work to draw attention to the top of your face. You need to avoid small and short frames. 

Heart Shaped Face

Heart shaped faces should be complimented with bottom-heavy frames that will work to add width to your lower face. Styles with a low set temple and narrow, round frames will work to draw attention down and soften your face. Avoid decorative temples and frames with heavy tops. Aviators work well for heart shapes.

Now that you know what styles look best and what to avoid, stop by I Heart Accessories to pick out the best pair to compliment your gorgeous face. They are all priced at $12, or 2 pairs for $20.


Happy Summer!


xoxo
With Heart, 
Laura

Last Minute Glitz

So you've been guilted into a last minute holiday mixer that your best gal pal can't go to alone.   If you're like me, by the third week in December, there is no more dolla bills left for presents for myself. New outfits will have to wait until the deals come out of hiding and on to the racks in January.  Alas, the number one reason why I heart accessories. Take a simple outfit out of your closet, add some out of the ordinary accessories to change up the way you would usually wear it...and go to your mixer stylishly less broke. Sound good?

Here are some accessories that are sure to add a pop to any outfit you currently own.  Slip these babies on, and no one will even notice you've worn the same thing twice.

xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie

Birthday Week Love

Every year, I have a birthday week. There's a friend party, a boyfriend party, and a family party. And then of course there are dinners and coffee dates with friends here and there.  Before you know it, a week has gone by and I'm feelin' good about the extra year.  This year, my store stole my thunder in celebrating her first birthday, however, it was with extreme pleasure that I handed it over. The gal's been good to me.

We started off I Heart's birthday week with a fab 3-day sale of Buy 1 Get 1 50% off.  Hats and scarves were flying out of here like nobody's business, and with our already amazing prices, lovelies had the chance to stock up for prezzies and stocking stuffers.

Later on in the week, we had a date with Shop Socials for our 1st birthday party. Maggie, our most favourite personal baker from Lovin' from the Oven, supplied us with deliciously pink and white cupcakes (dusted with real gold flakes), and guests shopped with a whopping 25% off everything in the store and free gifties.

Above, two of our happy shoppers. The expressions on their faces says it all. Am I right?

A great time including good deals were had by all, especially me. The $5 martinis only had a *little* to do with it. 

Big hugs and kisses go out to Tamika from Shop Socials for throwing us such a great bash, and bringing her group of gals to celebrate with us. We also heart bloggers Laura from For Those about to Shop, and Natasa from The Stiletto Twins, for coming out and covering the event.  And of course, a big smooch to Baily and Graham from Snap North Toronto.  We can always count on them to snap some pics and let the world know we exist!

Those who attended: thank you for taking part in our first year and for all of your love and support.  I truly am so grateful for the people that walk through that door each and every day. We wouldn't have been able to make it here without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

xoxo
With Heart,
Natalie

Socialite Perks for Everyday Gals

Happy November Lovelies! Tis the season to get your shop on.  Ready for this? there are only 54 days left until the big day!  I KNOW!

This is going up tomorrow!

If you're reading this, you probably enjoy shopping. If you enjoy shopping, you most likely love when you find something fab for a fraction of the regular price. Regardless, I love having gorgeous items as much as I love to sell them, and what's not to love about paying less for more?  So, when I came across Shop Socials, I was instantly drawn to this brilliant concept combining all the things I love.  With just the right touch of fun, fashion, beauty, and discounts, founder of this amazing company, Tamika Auwai, organizes fabulous gatherings for women.  Tamika has made it a point to collaborate with independently owned Toronto boutiques, spotlighting hidden gems and designers that often go unseen. Also, martinis are usually involved.  Just sayin.

Showing off their goods below, some lovely socialites who attended our last event in May. 

Uppin' the anti of your discount socialite shopping is Shop Socials first born: The Socialite Card. Not necessary to attend events, but TOTALLY worth getting, this card grants you continuous discounts at boutiques in the Toronto area, private invites, free swag...ah...the list goes on.

Lastly, the newest service being offered by Shop Socials is their Girls Night In packages. With all of her amazing connections, Tamika brings a personalized boutique to your home (including I Heart Accessories goodies), providing you and your gal pals with the best in shopping in the comfort of your own home.  Have a few friends with little ones on the way? A pop-up including maternity wear is at your place in no time. Seriously...she's that amazing.
 

With our first Shop Socials event being a smashing success, we decided to ask them to help us out with our first birthday bash. If you're sentimental and wish to call us on the day, it's the 14th of November, however if you're like me, and just wanna come, enjoy a bevy and a cupcake (which will be generously made by our friends Lovin' From the Oven), Thursday the 18th is when it's all happening. Major discounts, free gifts and goodies galore are to be had, not to mention, shopping like a socialite at an invite only event.

So if shopping like a socialite is something you could get used to, I urge you to check out the Shop Socials website, and/or their facebook page for constant updates on new events.

If you've never been to I Heart Accessories, we'de love to see you at our birthday party, and trust us, you won't regret coming after shopping with 25% off everything in the store!

See ya then Sugar Plums.

xoxo

With Heart,
Natalie