Gift

Holiday Gift Guide Part Four: Leather Goods from ILI

Beautiful Things, Color, Gift, Lovely Materials, Style

Kids might be excited by an oversized present under the tree—maybe it’s a build-your-own-Death-Star kit, or one of those creepy three-foot-tall Barbies—but adults know that the best gifts come in small boxes. Supple, brightly-colored leather goods from ILI are no exception. We love this brand year-round, but there’s no better occasion than the holidays to snap up an ILI wallet. With a variety of styles ranging from a compact cardholder to an elegant pocketbook, a passport cover, and a zip coin purse, ILI has something that will please any leather-lover on your list. What’s more, wallets and pocketbooks come in festive red-and-gold or black-and-gold boxes, making gifting them even easier.

In addition to wallets, we are happy to carry ILI leather gloves in sizes Small through XL and in three shades—bright red, burgundy, and black. Nothing combines chic and warmth quite like leather gloves! We also have a few purses, in case you fall in love with ILI leather and want to size up!

Happy gifting, and stay tuned for more holiday gift guides from Petrune!

 

Holiday Gift Guide Part Three: Web Shopping Edition

1950-1960, 1960-1970, Beautiful Things, Gift, Petrunia, Style

Cyber Monday may have come and gone, but you don’t have to give up on holiday shopping without leaving your chair—yes, even for vintage clothes!

There are two ways to shop Petrune online: our Etsy shop features vintage items that are particularly delicate, high quality, and/or one-of-a-kind. And our Petrunia shop lets you peruse the offerings from all four collections of our own vintage-inspired clothing line. We ship from both sites at very reasonable rates, so there’s no reason to leave the far-flung vintage lovers in your life out in the cold! (And of course, if you’re local, you can come into the store and ask to see anything you’ve spotted online.)

Here’s a quick side-by-side sampling of some of the pieces on offer.

First, two beautiful faux leopard coats, one from the 50s, the other 60s-inspired:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second, two full-skirted party dresses in iridescent blue, one classically feminine, the other with modern, flirty touches of black:

 

Can you guess which are new and which are Petrunia? (Probably; luckily that’s not the point.) Happy shopping, and stay tuned for more gift guides! If you missed the two previous installments, check them out here and here.

 

 

Holiday Gift Guide Part Two: Cold Weather Accessory Roundup

Gift

Scarves and gloves and socks, oh my! Sure, the person on your gift list may have a million of them (if they live in Ithaca, anyway–brrr!), but every closet has room for another cute winter accessory. And what’s even better? Every product on this list is under $30. Can you say stocking stuffer?

Some of our best sellers this fall have been infinity scarves from Look. In either 100% cotton or a cotton-silk blend, these circular scarves are a breeze to throw on and complement any outfit.

Check out this wonderfully textured cream knit scarf from Tulle, with matching gloves! We love wearing cream in the winter–it’s cheerful and unexpected against all the black and brown, but it’s more forgiving of the occasional smudge than stark white.

 

 

If you follow us on facebook, you already know how much we love b.ella socks and tights: warm and soft (with several different blends, including cashmere and silk) in classic winter colors.

Finally, this year, we’re adding Ozone socks to our winter repertoire. In bright solids or crazy prints (roses, fans, and weeping willows), ankle height or over-the-knee, Ozone has socks for every taste and temperature.

 

Check back soon for more holiday gift ideas! Until then, we wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving, and we hope you’ll keep Petrune and other local stores in mind on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday!

 

Petrune’s Holiday Gift Guide: Amara Felice

Gift, Handmade, Lovely Materials

If you’re like us, when it comes to holiday shopping, you prefer the thoughtful, useful, beautiful, and, if possible, local. Not to brag, but Petrune has a pretty amazing selection of items that fulfill those requirements! For the next few weeks, we’ll be running blog posts featuring some of our most gift-worthy products. We hope you’ll be inspired, and maybe even filled with holiday cheer.

First up: Amara Felice. This versatile Brooklyn-based designer works with everything from leather to rhinestones, and we think her handmade gifts are a great fit for Petrune! Take a look at her Etsy site, or swing by the store to check out her vintage-inspired jewelry and bags—some made from vintage fabric—in an assortment of sizes, so you can stash everything from coins to your iPad in style.

Check back soon for more gift ideas from Petrune, and happy holidays!

Valentine’s at Petrune

Color, Gift, Petrunia, Special Events, Style, Windows

Trust us, we’ve heard the anti-Valentine’s Day backlash. “It forces people to buy things to prove their love!” “It makes single people feel bad!” “It’s a really terrible movie!”  We don’t disagree with any of those points. (I mean, Valentine’s Day has an 18% rating on RottenTomatoes.) But hear us out: it’s February.  It’s cold and gray outside, and if you’re like us, you’ve been hibernating in a giant coat and/or blanket since the day after New Year’s.

While it’s tempting not to emerge until May, we think it’s worth considering another winter strategy: don’t underestimate the mood-boosting powers of wearing something pretty like a lacy bra, cute boots, or a sparkly necklace that makes you feel like Liz Taylor. Not for anybody else’s benefit, mind you (although if you have a significant other you can expect their enthusiastic support). No one has to know you’re wearing a silk slip for it to feel amazing against your skin, and make that walk to the bus stop just a little more glamorous.

With that in mind, we have a few humble suggestions: we now carry Coobie bras, which are supportive, affordable, and cute—like a cross between a bralette and a less-restrictive sports bra.  They’re one-size-fits-most and come in a rainbow of colors, so there’s something for everyone, whether you want invisible support or a pop of color under a sheer top.

Then there’s Honeydew, whose black lace and sheer pink camis, bralettes, and hipsters undies are definitely sexy, while still being comfy enough for everyday wear.

Nothing glams up a winter sweater like a long pendant necklace!  This arrowhead probably isn’t Cupid’s, but it’s guaranteed to turn heads all the same.  The jigsaw piece is inscribed “You Complete Me,” perfect for fans of puzzles OR Jerry Maguire.  And the rest of these necklaces are equally irresistible.

Finally, when bright reds and pinks start popping up everywhere, rather than sighing about how they clash, consider them a signal that it’s time to start alternating those winter browns and grays with neons, jewel tones, or pastels.  You’ll be surprised how a drab day brightens up when you’re wearing an emerald-green coat, or purple tights, or a bright red blazer—all of which, coincidentally, are in the store right now.  And our very own Petrunia label features date-night-ready dresses in very Valentine colors of red and black!

Great Gift Ideas at Petrune: Petrune Apothecary

Gift, Handmade, Ithacans, Lovely Materials

Haven’t you ever been shopping at Petrune and thought, sure these clothes make my body look great, but why can’t they make my skin look great too?  Well, worry no more, because we now carry select skincare products!  The Petrune Apothecary line is locally made in small batches from natural ingredients, and includes an ultra-rich face cream, an exfoliating and hydrating sugar scrub, alcohol-free roll-on perfume, and a reinvigorating skin spritzer.  Each of these items comes in two scents: rosadora (a delicate rose-lavender) and pelargonium (a refreshing geranium). In addition, we have three varieties of lip balms. Our spearmint, lavender, or orange lip balms are all delicious and nourishing!

It’s hard to decide which item makes the most perfect stocking stuffer, so it’s probably best to try them all!

Great Gift Ideas at Petrune: Man Gifts!

Beautiful Things, Color, Gift, Handmade, Ithacans, Lovely Materials

Conventional wisdom says that men are harder to shop for than women.  Look around a department store at holiday time, and it seems true  — the women’s section overflows with glittery, jewel-toned, and sumptuously soft offerings, while in the men’s there’s just bathrobes, slippers, and of course, neckties.  Well, we’re pretty sure men get just as much of a thrill from receiving a thoughtful gift as women do, so it should be just as easy to find that perfect present.  We hereby offer this assortment of guaranteed-to-please gifts for the men in your life, from your stylish sweetie to your … less-fashion-conscious dad.

First, socks from B.ella.  Now, we know what you’re thinking — aren’t socks just as bad as ties when it comes to uninspired men’s gifts?  All we can say is…have you worn these socks? B.ella makes cashmere-blend socks that are reasonably priced, warm, and stylish!  Plus they’re long enough to prevent the dreaded cold strip of calf between sock and pant leg…guys know what we’re talking about.

Second, leather gloves from iLi.  These hit the sweet spot of men’s gifts, blending rugged practicality and sophistication.  We also love their wallets and passport covers, for your man-on-the-go.  And if the buttery softness of iLi’s leather tempts you to be your own Santa, we carry their women’s gloves too.

Third, every man needs at least one pair of cufflinks (if he’s an old-fashioned type or goes to lots of Great Gatsby parties, he may need more than one).  And we guarantee he won’t have cufflinks like these—our co-owner Justin makes them from old typewriter keys!  At $18 a pair, they’d make a great centerpiece for a letter-themed gift for the writer or typography nerd in your life.

Fourth, what about an album by your guy’s favorite defunct band?  We do have a healthy assortment of both classic and eccentric titles, from David Bowie to Rick James.  Old records will never break the bank , so even if he doesn’t have a record player, your guy will appreciate a beautiful album as a piece of art…or laugh so loud at a tacky one that you’ll know you won Christmas.

Fifth, bow ties! We are now carrying these whimsical  bow ties from Cotton Bow Tie Co. They are handmade locally from an array of patterned vintage cottons. With such beautiful packaging as well…. Who could say no?!

Finally, what kind of vintage store would we be if we didn’t remind you that vintage clothes make the easiest one-of-a-kind gifts of all?  We have classic menswear, from Italian loafers to cowboy boots, from Pendleton button-ups to cashmere overcoats to goofy t-shirts.  Stop by the store or check out our online store, and remember that at the holidays, it’s better to give than to receive…but it’s ok to do both.

Great Gift Ideas at Petrune : Qtoo

Beautiful Things, Gift, Handmade, Style

Q. Cassetti’s Etsy shop Qtoo promises “the pretty, the teeny, the creepy & the odd,” and we thought that sounded just right for Petrune!  We’re thrilled to be selling Q’s adorable food-themed jewelry, which includes such irresistible treats as a fruit-and-cheese-platter brooch, a chocolate-cake bracelet, and a pendant that looks so much like a dozen tiny glazed doughnuts that it’ll make your mouth water.  They’re affordably priced, too, from $16 for a bitty cupcake ring to $35 for an elaborate bracelet made of nine different plates.

Multi-talented in multi-media, Q also makes beautiful sets of holiday cards in two different designs.  Her extra-long cards feature either a doleful dachshund wrapped with a red ribbon, or three stylized arrangements of flowers.

Check out more of Q’s distinctive designs at Petrune this holiday season!

Father’s Day!

Gift, Special Events, Style

Here at Petrune, we have an extensive and beautiful selection of clothes for both men and women. Many guys, however, come in and immediately resign themselves to the chair by the door, sure that there’s nothing for them in the store.

Well guys, you’re wrong. We can help you look like James Dean, just as we can help your gal look like Marlene Deitrich.

For this first Father’s day post, we decided to honor 2 things that most dads hold very dear: Bruce Springsteen and vacations. So slap Born To Run down on theturntable and make yourself a Dad-ish drink (mine is particularly fond of Long Island Iced Teas for vacay times) and enjoy. We also have very nice ties.

Thanks much to Anthony Tocchio and Reece Lazarus for modelling!

Bruce goes to the Bahamas in this classic denim get-up.
Some stylish and comfy leather loafers.
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