Congratulations Terese Zache!!

This fashionista along with her fellow Hilldale merchants and managers are proud to acknowledge Terese Zache Designs as a 2009 recipient of the Governor's Trailblazer Award for Women in Business.

*Terese Zache

Terese has been recognized as a woman pioneer in the business community. She has been awarded for bringing her vision, talent and expertise to building Wisconsin's economy and making our community a better place.

Terese opened her retail outlet "Terese Zache Designs" in 1981. Since then she has designed and constructed over 1,500 original designs. Her designs have been worn at the White House, Grammy's and many other prestigious business and social events locally and abroad.

Terese was nominated by Vickie Wenzel, Vice President of Target Interiors and fellow TEMPO member. Terese Zache Designs has remained successful with the continued support of her wonderful customers and professional staff.

Visit Terese Zache Designs online @ http://www.teresezache.com/

Congratulations Terese!!

A Different Kind of Pucci

When I hear Pucci I think geometric print dresses in brilliantly bold colors, like any true fashionista would. However, there is a completely different type of Pucci that is doing more for women than making them red carpet ready. Pucci's Gallery and Custom Framing at Hilldale not only sells beautiful artwork and prints, but is the exclusive carrier of Sticks, a line of handcrafted wooden furniture and art. This month Pucci's and Sticks have come together with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help the fight the battle against breast cancer.

Sticks has created a special edition "Hallelujah Lady" (one of the company's signature sculptural pieces) that will be available for purchase only through October. For each "Lady" purchased, Pucci's and Sticks will each donate $100 to Komen for the Cure. Though there are many ways to join the fight, this beautiful sculpture strikes me as a unique and personal way to honor that woman in your life who is or has fought the battle against cancer.






Pucci's will be holding a reception this Thursday, June 12th, from 5:30 to 8:00pm, to preview the "Hallelujah Lady". Receive 5% off any orders placed that night. During this time, Liina Keerd, Madison's Race for the Cure poster artist, will be available to autograph Race posters which will be for sale and a drawing will be held to win a $100 Pucci giftcard.

Personally, I plan on scooping up one of these Pink Ribbon bracelets, by local jewelry designer Dianne Fitzgerald, which will also be available at the reception. I may not be physically running the race, but I am going to make sure I am along for the ride!

Buzzed Into Ulla

Emmy Fink has become a local celebrity here in Madison. Her weekly updates on the Madison CW, 'Buzzed In with Emmy Fink', are always cheery and upbeat. I am particularly fond of her new series, Buzzed Into Fashion. This week she featured our very own Ulla Eyewear, talking about the hottest new trends and frames. Click here to check out the interview!

Rooftop Release

So after a week-long sabbatical from the blog, also known as the finals week I spent in College Library, I am happy to announce that summer really is right around the corner. Case in point; the season opening of the Rooftop Bar at Sundance Cinemas tonight, May 12th. I am very excited to sip a chocolate martini and taste a few items from their new menu, all while taking in a brilliant sunset. If you've never checked out this west-side hot spot, I highly recommend you grab some friends and unwind after work with a cocktail from their full bar. And for those of you planing a ladies night on May 30th to celebrate the "Sex and the City" movie opener, take advantage of Sundance Cinemas online ticket reservations and claim your seat now. This way you can be sipping rooftop Cosmos with the girls before the show, instead of camping out in line for six hours. Now that is very New York chic indeed!

Fresh and Fabulous

One of best things I've discovered since moving to Madison is the The Farmer's Market. Growing up in a city where the only "fresh" fruit one could find was located in the produce department at Cub Foods, I was in heaven when I first discovered the Saturday morning bliss that is fluffy, fresh baked loaves of bread and crisp veggies that had been plucked from the earth just hours earlier.


Recently, I was very surprised, and delighted, to find out that the Capitol Square is not the only Farmer's Market location in town. Hilldale Farmer's Market, open every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 7 am until 1 pm, features farm fresh produce, jellies and jams, flowers, cheeses and much more. The location alone (have you tried to park down by the Capitol on a Farmer's Market Saturday?) makes this the perfect place to browse on a beautiful, sunny morning.

This year in addition to farm fresh produce there will be “buskers” added to the markets Saturday morning mix. Busking (a British term) is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people for donations and tips. This should bring a new level of excitement to the market. I’m personally looking forward to the musical offerings of the accordionists. Yes folks, accordion players! If you ask me, that in itself makes a trip to the Hilldale Market worthwhile!

Environmentally Friendly Fashion

It is officially Earth Week and I am trying to be even more environmentally conscious than usual. However, as a full time student with an internship and a part time job, let's just say I have very little time to be replanting forests or sewing a dress made from recycled cotton. I do plan of doing my part though, and eco-centric, a environmentally friendly line found at Terese Zache, has made planting a tree as simple as buying a t-shirt.

For every eco-centric t-shirt purchased, American Forests will plant a four year old tree to help reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuels in the air. Talk about shopping with an impact!

Eco-centric is fun, fresh t-shirt line, dedicated to the use of organic materials and earth friendly technologies. A sweatshop free manufacturer, eco-centric produces luxurious organic cotton t-shirts. Each shirt features a digitally printed nature photograph that captures a different seasonal interpretation. I am in love with a burnt orange t-shirt, that features a spotted tiger whose realism blows me away. Doing good for the earth never looked so good!

A Fabulous Fit

Ananda Salon and Spa is not the only Hilldale business supporting a great cause this month (see Tuesday’s post). Macy’s has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen fund to hold a Fit for the Cure event at Hilldale. Wednesday April 23rd, from 10 a.m to 7 p.m., customers can be fitted in a Wacoal or DKNY Underwire bra by a Walcoal fit specialist. Just for trying on a bra, Wacoal will donate two dollars to breast cancer research, along with another two dollars for every bra purchased during the event.

Personally, I recommend the DKNY “Belle du Jour” balconette underwire bra, a romantic piece with adorable lace detailing. However, there are many different shapes and styles that are sure to please everyone’s tastes.

Hilldale Cut-A-Thon

Just after declaring to a friend that, as a poor college student, I was too broke to even get a decent hair cut, the perfect opportunity fell into my lap. This Sunday, April 13th, Ananda Salon and Spa at Hilldale is offering $20 haircuts to benefit the Alliance for the Great Lakes, an organization dedicated to water quality and conservation in an effort to "ensure a living resource for all generations." A salon quality haircut for twenty dollars that benefits a good cause? I wanted to know more, so I went to Ananda to get all the juicy details.

Here's what I discovered...

Not only is all of the $20 dollars for the haircut donated directly to the cause, so is the stylist's tip, because they are all donating their time for the day! This is so incredibly refreshing in an age where many businesses claim to support a cause, but then donate very little of the actual profit. Along with donating their time and skills, the stylists are also whipping up their favorite melt-in-your mouth treats to be sold in a bake sale manner, all profits also going to the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The Cut-A-Thon is from 11 am to 6 pm, with nine stylists on at most times. Walk-ins will be welcome all day, but I would schedule an appointment now by calling Ananda at 244-2161.


Can't make it Sunday, but still want to help the cause? Ananda is holding a silent auction throughout the month of April, featuring many different products, services and gift cards. They are also partnering with Aveda's national campaign for clean water, by selling these sweet lavender scented candles for only ten dollars a piece. With 100% of the profits being donated to charity, they are the perfect item to brighten up your home as we move into the spring and summer months!

A Little NYC Flair Comes to Madison

New York City is my favorite place in the world. If you don't believe me, you can just take a peek at the Big Apple tattoo decreatly tucked behind my right ear. So you might imagine my delight, when I discovered two NYC designers would be hosting a trunk show this Thursday and Friday at Woldenberg's. Lauren Wimmer and Rebecka Fröberg, both jewelery designers, will show a dazzling selection of their stunning work, which will be available for purchase.

Wimmer handmakes all her pieces, which consist of semi precious stones, sterling silver, gold filled wire, gold filled chain and antique brass. Her pieces explore the concepts of "light and weight". I am expecially a fan of this interlooped bracelet, the Des Cuff, with it's intriguing texture and coloring.

Fröberg's work has a spiritual feel, her work inspired by the myth and folklore of her native country, Sweden. A Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, Fröberg founded her jewelery studio in 2006 and creates delicate jewelery made of precious metals, either in solid 18 or 14 karat gold or sterling silver. This necklace, entitled "Snowflake in Cloudberries," would make any woman feel like a queen.

To see more of Wimmer and Fröberg's designs and to meet these two young, up and coming designers, stop by their Trunk Show at Woldenberg's, this Thursday and Friday, the 27th and 28th from 10am until 5pm. See you there!

Doing the Bunny Hop. Hop. Hop.

Easter is right around the corner and that brings to mind a few of my favorite things...easter egg hunts, colorful candies nestled in bunny shaped baskets and crisp, white cotton Sunday dresses! Everyone has their favorite Easter memories and I am sure many new ones will be made this year. Looking to find those perfect easter basket accessories or a place to take adorable pictures of your children in their favorite new Easter outfits? Fear not! I searched out the best Hilldale has to offer this season.


Tristan and Hopper are making quite the splash at Photo Express. These live rabbits are cute as buttons and available for pictures all week long. Getting your kids to smile in their Easter photos will be no challenge once you add these furry little friends to the equation.


Still haven't picked up Easter baskets? My favorite are these from Kirklin's Hallmark. In fabulous pastel shades with quirky phrases and an adorable baby chick, they are the perfect container for all your favorite candies and trinkets. While there don't forget to scoop up cards, available in a wide array of Easter themes!


Cute baskets and nothing to put in them? Head to Play Things, whose selection of toys, books and gadgets is astounding, leaving you with never ending possibilities. If you can stand the music, these play instruments are a must! They are the perfect toy to transition from indoor to outdoor play this spring. I happen to be crazy about board games, so imagine my delight when I found the largest selection of games I have ever seen. You are sure to find one to please the whole family!

Whatever fills you Easter basket this season, I hope the day brings lots of smiles and new memories for everyone involved. Happy Easter from Hilldale!

Keep the Oscar Buzz Going

My Sunday night was spent analyzing one Oscar gown after another, my favorite being Best Actress winner Marion Cotillard's stunning Jean-Paul Gaultier mermaid dress. My only complaint of the night is that Ellen Page did not win an Oscar for her portrayal of a pregnant teen in Juno (however, she did win a Spirit award on Saturday). If you have not yet seen this charming indie film turned Oscar winner for Best Screen Play, you need to get to Sundance this instant! I will be there seeing There Will Be Blood, starring Best Actor winner Daniel Day-Lewis. Also showing, Oscar nominee Persepolis, an animated feature film based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. Movie times for all three films can be found at http://www.hilldale.com/now_playing.html.