Serene Comfort

Time for a Vacation: Resort Wear & Cover Ups

Now that the holidays are over and we’ve said goodbye to 2012, many people are welcoming 2013 with a little treat for themselves – a vacation! Whether you will be flying in a plane, cruising on a ship or finding a little piece of paradise at home, the center of all your plans should be relaxation and comfort. With Serene Comfort’s line of resort wear including cover ups, beach dresses and loungers, you won’t have the stress of searching high and low for the right clothes to relax in.

If you’re flying away to a tropical island, a beautiful warm resort or maybe just to rediscover the beach, the last thing you want to worry about is how you look. With all the fabulous styles Serene Comfort has to offer in their line of Resort Wear & Cover Ups, you won’t have to! From cover ups to sundresses to caftans, there is something for everyone and for all sizes.

Walking around town or hanging by the boardwalk, you can wander around in a beautiful short dress from Peppermint Bay. This simple feminine dress has cutely gathered cap sleeves and an A-line style that is flattering on any figure. Just throw this on over your bathing suit and you are ready from day to night. Careful of that bright sun, though! If you aren't used to the extreme rays from the sun, a simple shrug can help protect your skin from burns. Offering a variety of colors, these cute shrugs from Eagle Ray Traders can be matched with any dress or top!

When the night comes, blend in with the rich paradise setting in a gorgeous short Batik Rio sundress by Bali Batik with its beautifully hand-painted green and coral print and unique tiered flounce hem (Pictured left). For a less bold approach, try the Blue Crystalline maxi dress, a stunning long sleeveless dress with a striking print of blue and white from Peppermint Bay (Pictured right).

Or maybe you’re sailing off on a ship for a nice week long cruise? With the changing temperatures between the air conditioned rooms to the sunny outdoors to the windy nights, you’ll need something that can help you through all kinds of temperature. Escapada’s White Coral caftan made from cool and crisp rayon is the perfect solution! With its kimono sleeves and full length, this caftan is airy for a cool comfort, but covers the body enough so you won’t get burned by the sun and won’t be bothered by a gust of wind. This beautifully printed kimono caftan also features a drawstring, allowing for a flattering fit.

If you aren’t a fan of caftans, however, there is also the option of a sleeveless long dress or a maxi skirt. Both offer the same coverage from the sun and a length that will keep you protected from the cool night air. With a variety of styles and colors from popular names such as La Cera and Treasures of Bali, you’ll be sure to find one you’ll fall in love with. And as beautiful as they are, you’ll also find yourself comfortable and relaxed – a combination that is perfect for every vacation.

Just looking for some relaxation at home? Caftans are a wonderful pick for that! With their spacious easy on fits and their soft smooth fabrics, caftans make the best loungers. With many different prints, fabrics and styles, you can find the perfect one for you! Serene Comfort has a great selection of caftans from popular names such as Peppermint Bay, Oscar de la Renta, Natori, Winlar and Sante in both long and short lengths. Maybe you want to hang out by the poolside or at your local beach – then a cover up is the choice for you! One of our most popular items is the Jessica Taylor crinkle beach cover up. With the long length providing great coverage and their unique tie-dye prints, these simple yet stylish beach cover ups are a favorite among our customers! But hurry before they’re all gone!

Whatever the occasion, don’t let your clothes ruin your good times! With Serene Comfort line of Resort Wear, you’ll find comfort and style at a great value.

Holiday Gifts for 2012: Serenecomfort Employee Picks

It’s the time for gift giving once more and to avoid the hustle and bustle of the December crowd, more and more people are turning to online shopping. But what exactly do you buy for your loved ones? How about something warm and cozy that they can enjoy year after year?

Cozy, warm, beautiful and, most of all, practical sleepwear and clothing has been filling the Serene Comfort warehouses for the past two months. Our staff has been eyeing our new winter lines and doing their own holiday shopping. As shoppers themselves, they’ve happily decided to share their picks with you and hope you can spread some joy as well!

1. Terry has been raving about the Stan Herman bed jacket that she has bought for an aunt. Not only Terry, but her cousins and mother have also found themselves falling in love with these warm delights in both the Antique Rose pink and Seafoam green. These make a perfect gift to those who find the traditional robes too bulky – bed jackets are the perfect amount of coverage whether you’re lying in bed or having your morning coffee. Terry has also already snagged a pair of her favorite Lanz of Salzburg cotton flannel pajamas as a holiday gift to herself as well!

2. Mari has already purchased three sets of Microfleece pajamas from Karen Neuburger for herself and for her loved ones the same day they made their debut on the site! But who could blame her with their cute prints and cuddly soft feel? These make wonderful gifts for anyone – our staff has purchased these for their teenage daughters to their mothers. If you want one, you better hurry because they are flying out the door!

3. Katie is a fan of our brand new line of shrugs. With the various colors we offer, these shrugs are perfect to add a little flare to a plain dress or to extend the wearing season for those sleeveless dresses. With their light and easy to wear comfort, these shrugs give you just the right amount of coverage so you aren’t too hot or too cold. Let’s face it, not all of us are fond of our arms either. This adds a stylish cover that will leave you feeling confident in the way you look. As a gift for others, this is an easy stocking stuffer or an addition to a dress.

4. Kathy has been waiting for our winter lines to start her holiday shopping with flannel nightgowns – liking the soft dreamy feel of both the Eileen West and the Lanz flannels. These are a favorite of our customers and our staff during these cold months. In various colors, including many popular holiday prints, these cotton flannel nightgowns are as stylish and flattering as they are warm and cozy. There’s nothing more relaxing after a hard day’s work surviving the cold winter day then cuddling up in your warm flannel gown.

5. Cheryl has bought herself (as a gift from her husband which seems the most foolproof way for a happy wife) a beautiful heather brocade sleepshirt in a rich dark lavender. For her, sleepshirts are perfect with their short length for an ease of movement and still keep her warm. So if you are a lover of short gowns and boyfriend sleepshirts, we have plenty of different kinds of nightshirts for you – both short sleeve and long sleeve! With their flowing fit, these make for an easy holiday gift without worrying over the size.

6. Debbie has found herself falling in love with the new Crystal Palace Jess & Jane tunic top. As one of the newest trends in casual style with their intricate and beautiful patterns and unique hemline, tunics have become very popular with jeans, slacks, leggings, or however you’d like to wear them. Many tunics are versatile enough to be worn as a cover up! Two styles for the price of one! With over extensive collection of tunics, we are sure to have a favorite for every woman on your holiday shopping list!

7. Nicole recommends the peignoir sets and robe/gown sets. In particular, she has her eyes on the white Shadowline Silhouette ivory set as a bridal gift for her soon-to-be sister-in-law. With its gorgeous off white color and stunning stretch lace bodice, this set makes the perfect wedding present for a bride.

8. For Cathy, she finds the extensive nightgown selection to be her favorite. In particular, the Woodland Floral Vine printed nightgowns by Eileen West has become a favorite of hers on her holiday list. Made of a “Dreamtime Jersey” 100% cotton knit, this gown has a heavenly soft feel. Eileen West is a brand that our staff trusts to provide quality comfort and uncompromising attention to details. Hurry though, this nightgown is a hot item and it’s going fast!

9. Jen’s pick is the stunning Wind Song Caftan by Santé in a silky smooth satin charmeuse. With its unique contrast of colors and simple embellishment of beading along the neckline, this caftan is perfect for lounging in, whether it’s at home or by the pool. Because it is one size fits most, gifting this caftan to another is made easy without having to fuss over getting the correct size and with a price under $30, it fits any budget!

10. The luxuriously soft to the touch Tencel Dress by Tianello is a favorite of Kris. With its simplistic style and calming blue hue, you can wear this dress in many different ways – with boots, heels, shrugs, jackets, however you want! You’ll always be comfortable with this tencel material and still look fashionable. Comfort and style, what more can you ask for?

We have many more styles and colors, so if you see something you like, check out our entire selection at Serenecomfort.com! Order now before it’s too late!

The Masterpiece of the Closet – the Sundress

With any print, color, fabric, neckline, hemline and closure style, the sundress is a little miracle in women’s closets. Any day in the spring or summer, you can pull on a sundress and be set for shopping, looking after the kids, walking on the boardwalk, going out to eat, playing badminton, etc. If you’re in a rush to work, you can easily slip into a more conservative looking sundress and still beat the heat. Serene Comfort has a great selection of sundresses - ones that double up as a cover up and ones that are perfect for that dinner date you have. From bright colors to modest blacks, from sleeveless to short sleeve, the sundress is definitely an amazing asset of the clothing community.

But the sundress is more complex than you might think. The sundress must find that delicate balance between flattering, cooling, modesty and sun exposure. But how did the sundress come about, you might be wondering. Well, if you aren’t, you are now, right? It all started in the 1950s with Lilly Pulitzer.

Lilly Pulitzer’s story is an oddball one, especially for the 1950s. Growing up in a privileged and wealthy family and then marrying a wealthy man, she found herself bored – enough to use that popular saying “to die from boredom”. To satisfy her boredom, she decided upon selling fresh oranges – which her husband flew in from Florida every morning in his private plane. So pictures this, a rich socialite who could pretty much have anything she wanted was going door to door selling oranges to all the mansion houses in Palm Beach. Surprisingly, her orange business became quite successful and she opened up her own shop – the hang out spot to get a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

The problem with her lucrative business was the fruit juice stains she would end up with on her dresses at the end of the day. So, with the necessity of a change in wear and having her own personal dressmaker, Lilly wore simple shift dresses in busy patterns with colors that matched her tropical fruit juices. Not only were the dresses eye-catching, the fruit juice stains were barely noticeable! Of course, other women took notice and a demand for those dresses began. With a personal dressmaker and social connections, it didn’t take long for Lilly’s juice business to turn into a fashion one. And that was how the sundress came to be.

Thanks to Lilly, we’re left with a practical and comfortable dress that can be flattering on almost any figure. Sundresses can also be very versatile in both the designer’s point of view as well as the wearer. Where the designer is not limited in the colors or styles, the wearer can also choose to wear a sundress as a cover-up or vice versa and can wear a sundress from dusk to dawn.

SereneComfort.com took notice of these little miracles of the wardrobe and have stocked up on these adorable pieces. From La Cera to Bali Batiks, Serene Comfort carries many different styles and colors because everyone has different tastes and the sundress is perfect for fulfilling that. The sundress, the must-have masterpiece of our closets!

What to Wear on the Beach in Summer 2012

Summer is around the corner and beach time beckons!  We women are expected to throw off our cozy sweats and bare our limbs to the world (or at least the population that happens to be at the same beach or pool as us!)  For those of us who may not be feeling in perfect toned condition… a beach cover-up is the perfect solution to feel those balmy breezes caress our winter-weary skin while having the confidence to mingle amongst the bikini-clad.

So… what style of beach cover up is best for you? As a buyer/owner of Serene Comfort… I get to go to what feels like hundreds of trade shows and walk miles of concrete staring into booths overflowing with options looking for that one or two special tops that is “just right” – of course, not just right for everyone, but just right for someone! We have a lot of special but unique “someones” who are loyal Serene Comfort shoppers and it’s you I keep in mind when making selections for our shop. You have that elusive “good taste”, you know what makes you comfortable, you like flattering clothes that are more classic than trendy… but after that the similarity ends and you each have unique likes and dislikes.

Some of you like a simple swingy, lightweight, feeling-free and summery beach dress like these by Raya Sun, Treasures of Bali, Bali Batik, Icantoo and La Cera.  Falling just above the knee – these provide great coverage of the hips and upper thighs while leaving your legs free to kick up some sand. No need to limit to the beach – these dresses are cute enough to go out for après-swim or to stroll a local art festival!

    

What about a big shirt, tunic or oversize T-shirt cover up? Falling to just about hip length, these coverups offer some nice coverage on the shoulders and arms to minimize burns. Slip on some leggings or pants after you leave the beach – and you’re ready for those cool evening breezes!

   

Some of you like flowing one size coverups like a beach kaftan – they can come in long and fluid or short and sassy.  I’ve seen caftans being worn in the casinos of Las Vegas, on the streets of New York, by the pool, and at elegant parties… and always looking just right!

   

A short sleeve A-line beach dress is perfect for many women… in breathable cotton and rayon. Those shown are from La Cera, Treasures of Bali and Icantoo.

   

For those with the confidence to wear a whispy semi-sheer cover-up – these flirty coverups and pareo sarongs may be just the thing… all from Peppermint Bay (we love their fun prints!)

   

Finally, a discussion of what to wear on the beach just wouldn’t be complete without some hooded cover-ups… as the day draws to a close, whether you have a bad case of hat-head from sea salt in your hair (if you actually managed to get your hair wet) or if you just like to snuggle in – check out these cute hooded coverups:

  

I found so many cute coverups that I just had to buy that we are overflowing with them! These are just a few of the styles we recommend for summer fun! Here’s hoping that you take time for you this summer…. time to relax and enjoy, time to visit with friends, and time to enjoy some outdoor time! And remember, whatever you end up using as a beach cover-up… don’t forget the sunscreen!

Happy Summer (almost!)

To purchase the items found in this article, see below:

Caftans  Beach Dresses  Swim Coverups  Tunics  Casual Dresses

 

Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple

We just came back from our big buying trip in New York City… racing between trade shows and showrooms.  We saw a lot of great new styles for both sleepwear and our new expanded casual clothing departments.  Although the days are getting longer and warmer we had to switch back to thoughts of cold weather since most of the products we saw were for next Fall and Winter.

But don’t worry, you won’t have to wait until then to see new items in our store.  We have great new products being set up every day to help you get ready for Spring and Summer… which, by the time March storms in, is what we are all looking forward to.  Although we may still need the flannel for a while longer, we women of Serene Comfort (and our models) have been drooling over our new  Sun Dress and Beach Cover Up collections… just add balmy days and lemonade for a serene break from hectic lifestyles.

The photo that is posted with this article is of Times Square, February 2012.  Because school vacation week coincided with the trade shows, our daughter, Serena, joined us for this trip so we switched from our usual favorite business hotel – the Affinia 50 (if you ever need a great hotel in NYC, we highly recommend the Affinia 50 or Dumont – you can get a 2 room suite for the price of a hotel room with all the amenities of home) to the Doubletree in Times Square.  Although New Yorkers say that Times Square is just too touristy, there is nothing like it for pure awe-inspiring adrenaline and fun!  If you haven’t been there in a while (or ever), it’s worth a trip if you get an opportunity. 

Although we stayed in Times Sq. two years ago, it has since exploded with the latest technological advances.  It feels like you are standing in the middle of a wild 3D surround sound movie.  Every high tech billboard is trying to outdo all the others by presenting their products in fast paced short movie format.  They have even recently added flashing bleachers that you can climb up on (did you see them on Glee?) to get a better view and take it all in.  Add in fantastic Broadway-wanna-be singers at Ellen’s Stardust, half price theatre tickets, a kaleidoscope of yummy colors at the m&m store, break-dancers and musicians entertaining in the streets… and 15 minutes here and there in Times Square can turn a hard-working buying trip into fun vacation spirit!

The Remarkable History of the Dress

“Dress [dres] noun – an outer garment usually consisting of a one-piece bodice and skirt.” Now that’s not a very exciting definition for one of my favorite things to wear. I’ve got thick, warm dresses for those snowy days and cute, floral sundresses for those strolls along the beach. But dresses weren’t always this easy to wear as they are today. So let’s dive into the “Remarkable History of the Dress”, shall we?

The 1840s introduced the heavy layers of petticoats which were socially criticized for their decadence and materialism that the petticoats represented, but in the 1860s, dresses with a hoopskirt and a crinoline-supported style (to achieve that stylish bell-shaped skirt) interrupted the demand for petticoats. But once again, these dresses were criticized for their corsets by feminists and advocates of health. To solve this issue, in 1908, French couturier Paul Poiret designs the corsetless dress. Problem solved! Sort of.

Although now without corsets, dresses were always long and modest, covering a woman’s figure down to the ankles. But women didn’t just stop there. The 1920s took charge, and the hemlines of dresses slowly rose to knee length in a matter of years. It was as if all the women woke up one morning and wanted to free their legs from those ankle-length dresses. At the same time as the women were entering voting booths, the fashion world took a whole new turn and a new era began for women. Then the 1950s came about and out came the mini hemline (above the knee), which was popularized in the 1960s. From the 1920s to the 1960s, the rising hemline was the symbol of revolution for women, almost a rebellion for women.

Today, dresses vary in length from midi-length (calf-length) to thigh-high. Whether it’s the polka dot print of the 1950s, the bright colors of the 1960s with white gloves, the disco styles of the 70s, the 80s dresses with oversized bows, the babydoll dresses of the 1990’s, or the “mash-up” styles of the 2000s, one thing is for sure: Dresses are here to stay! And with a lot more personality than we give them credit for. 

Looking for that perfect dress that screams “you!” ? Serenecomfort.com is continuing to expand their popular casual dress line, from cotton to rayon, sleeveless to short sleeves, and loosely flowing to hugging the curves.  Whether you’re looking for a short, airy sundress for the boardwalk or a long evening dress for a dinner date, Serenecomfort.com offers something for everyone with our wide selection of dresses from La Cera, Bali Batik, Eagle Ray Traders, April Cornell, Lost River, and much more to come!

Breaking the Myth - Sleepwear for the Older

For years, I have gone to bed in the same usual sleepwear – a tank and shorts or sweatpants. It could be that I don’t really bother with looking nice for bed to impress a man I’m already married to (which doesn’t make me old, I’m only 23) or that I went through a phase of desperately needing workout clothes (which ironically all I do in the clothes is sleep). So needless to say, I wasn’t one much for elegant nightgowns and satin pajamas.

Then I started working for Serene Comfort. When I was interviewed for the part, all I could think about was “great, I’m surrounded by clothes my mom would wear…” No offense to her, but some of the clothes she wears can be a bit “stodgy”. But I thought, I certainly have done worse jobs including bunny suits and cramped half-cubicles... so what, if I can't really relate to the sleepwear? 

On my first day of work, I ended up having to scan through hundreds of photos of the women modeling the clothes. To my surprise, I found many of the sleepwear to be absolutely gorgeous – some things that my mom might not even touch. From sultry to adorable, nightgowns to pajamas, I was slowly wondering if I should expand my nighttime wardrobe.

These were the kind of sleepwear that I would admire in the department stores and rub against my cheek and awe over how soft or silky it felt. Then I would look at the price tag and realize my cheek was the only part of me that was going to enjoy it. I could never convince myself that at those prices, it was worth to take home with me. And like I stated before, I was a tank and shorts woman.

But Serenecomfort.com offers the same quality sleepwear for a fraction of the price! And if you saw how they cared for each item, ensuring that they reach their customers in perfect condition, you wouldn’t hesitate for a second. As much as I loved the selection, however, I’m still not much of a nightgown person, so my selection was limited to the pajamas. “Limited”, though, might be the wrong word to use. Serenecomfort.com has some beautiful Eileen West pajamas, vibrantly colored Shadowline pajamas and satiny Miss Elaine ones! And if you’re like me and nightgowns aren’t quite your “thing”, well, maybe for special occasions, you should slip into a Shadowline Silhouette or Petals nightgown because the feel and look are absolutely heavenly.

But if nightwear isn’t your targeted shopping area, there are always the shirts, pants, caftans, cover-ups and tunics. Before Serene Comfort, I didn’t even know the word ‘tunic’ existed, let alone what a tunic was. But wow, did I want all of those in my closet! The different shapely hemlines and the fun yet elegant designs – I was a kid with three gift cards in a toy store.

That should be our new motto: Serenecomfort.com – like being a kid with three gift cards in a toy store. Too long?

Give the Gift of Comfort

Holidays are coming up and after so many years, there are only so many things you can get your loved ones. Whether you’ve created a full collection of porcelain dolls for your mother or an entire room full of stuffed bears for your sister, buying the same old thing leaves no room for that special surprise of opening a gift.

So why not spruce up the holidays for someone and give them the gift of everyday comfort? Give your loved ones the satisfaction of a better night’s sleep and the feeling of being refreshed and reenergized in the morning. I’m not talking about an imported overpriced pillow or an overly soft mattress, but a simpler yet stylish gift – quality women's sleepwear that feels so good that it relaxes the body and mind!

Serenecomfort.com can satisfy anyone’s taste - from our gorgeous Eileen West nightgown and robe sets to our soft cozy brushed back satin Carole Hochman pajamas. Serene Comfort also offers incredibly soft Acorn Spa Slippers and a large assortment of robes for extra warmth to add to the overall comfort gift.

So why should only your loved ones get such wonderful gifts - why not spoil yourself this holiday season? When your child is bouncing off the walls to open his Christmas gifts, you can get out of bed and still look stunning for those early morning Christmas photos. Or start dropping those hints – whisper “Serenecomfort.com nightgowns” in your husband’s ears while he sleeps, leave printouts of your favorite pajamas around the house and office or update your status on your favorite social media site about how your dog ate your old set of robe and matching slippers. Or you could just make a wishlist at Serene Comfort and post it on the fridge!

Still haven’t convinced you that sleepwear is the way to go this holiday season? Don’t worry, Serene Comfort also offers a wide variety of tunics, caftans, shirts and cover-ups. To get their minds off of the cold winter weather, take your friends’ thoughts to the beach with our beautiful cover-ups. Or let them get away in our exotic and wild printed tunics and brightly colored caftans. These make perfect gifts for those who are planning on traveling to warmer climes during the winter season, so there’s no wait to wear!

Serenecomfort.com clothing makes a great present for mom, presents for friends, and are always great birthday gift ideas. So whether you want to give a gift for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Birthdays or just to celebrate that you made it another year, give the gift that will keep on giving night after night (and day after day)! And just in time, we have put together an attractive assortment of Cyber Specials so you can do your gift shopping and treat yourself too!

The Luxury of a New Nightgown…

Do you ever go into a lingerie department in a store or visit a sleepwear department in an online boutique and one particular nightgown immediately catches your eye?  As you continue to browse through the aisles you keep going back to that one particular gown that you just have to have!  You decide to wait on purchasing it just in case you find another night gown that you like better…  But you keep thinking about it.  How you want it and can’t wait to have it.  Oh, the anticipation… Finally, you break down and buy it.   Once you get that nightgown home, you can’t wait to wear it.  You put it on, check it out in the mirror and swish around a little to see how it feels.  You are so happy that you finally got something to wear at home that makes you feel beautiful and so comfortable.

This experience has recently happened to me.  The only difference is that I am a recent employee at SereneComfort (I know it’s like being a kid in a candy store).  I remember on the first day I came into SereneComfort to interview for a position.  I was in awe of all the nightgowns, pajamas, bed jackets, robe gown sets, dresses and loungewear they have to offer.  However, there was one particular nightgown that immediately caught my eye.   Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of browsing through all the styles and colors of sleepwear.  And we carry so many wonderful brands – each brand selected with women’s comfort in mind!  Eileen West, Miss Elaine, Shadowline, Lanz of Salzburg, Natori, and Calida just to name a few.   Even after all the browsing, that particular nightgown still stood out to me!

As a gift to myself, I finally bought it!  The gown that I’ve been looking at every day is made by Shadowline.  It’s a beautiful shimmering waltz (short) style nightgown made of opaque 100% nylon in sapphire.  I just love that color!  The deep and vibrant blue looks great in the silky soft fabric.  And talk about comfortable?  Once I put it on, I immediately felt relaxed.  Just the feeling of the material and the way it flowed when I moved made me feel so good.  I really like the neckline too.  This particular gown features flower petal embroidery and is so pretty.  The no-see-through nylon provided enough coverage so I didn’t have to wear a robe or bed jacket (though I did put one on later when I got chilly). 

When I went to bed that first night of wearing my new nightgown, I never slept better!  The softer than soft and silky flow of the gown kept me cool and comfortable all night long.  And it didn’t wrap around my legs.  I got up the next morning and was pleasantly surprised to see that my gown was not wrinkled. So I got out of bed looking nice too!

I love my new Shadowline Petals nightgown.  It‘s light, soft, comfortable, easy to wash, the right length, the right weight, the right neck...can you tell I like it?  

Happy in comfort,

Jodie L., SereneComfort.com

P.S.  I’ve got my eye on the matching Shadowline sapphire robe.  Then I’ll have a robe gown set. That’s my next purchase!