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