Creating the Dream: Elaine’s Love of All Things Tortoise, Raffia and Bamboo

Clearly, pink plays a role in Elaine’s interior design sense. It’s the backdrop for the walls in her boutiques and punctuates spaces with a bright burst of color via flowers and her signature hot pink sofas.

Unzip any bag and you find it lined in the hue, emblazoned with her maze pattern, but take a closer look, and you will find she has a few other favorite things in her design arsenal, namely all things tortoise, raffia, bamboo.

Inspired by the Caribbean travels of her youth to beautiful, beachside locales, Elaine began incorporating tortoise, raffia and bamboo into her bags in unexpected ways.

Her first bag, the Jackie, was inspired by raffia and topped with tortoise handles. Raffia is a mainstay in every spring and resort collection and even fall pieces are made extra special with tortoise and bamboo.

The affection for bamboo is steeped in the same tropical family vacations as the raffia and tortoise. It is harvested and grown in tropical regions and carries special meaning around the world.

In China, bamboo represents longevity, in India it means friendship and in Japan it is a barrier to evil and means luck and prosperity.

“I have always been drawn to bamboo and its greater meanings,” Turner says.

As the Elaine Turner brand continues to evolve and grow, three things will always remain. All things tortoise, raffia, bamboo.

Pattern Play: Dressing Outside the Lines

Mixing prints and patterns is no easy task. You don’t want to look like you dressed in a blackout, but you want to have fun and take a risk. Megan Greenwood, a San Antonio Dream Teamer, makes it look easy, pulling complimentary colors from each piece tying the look together. Greenwood accessorizes with over-sized jewelry she makes herself and loves the Raquel black patent wedge to add that final kick.

Megan Greenwood plays with color and pattern, finishing the look with Raquel wedges.

Elaine’s Closet Covet: Meet Meredith

Elaine’s Closet Covet of the week is a glam go-to bag for every girl. Meet Meredith, a mid-tote available in four hues for fall. She’s a Closet Covet must for Elaine, who balances form and function in all her designs.

How cute would Meredith look on your arm?

“Understated luxury is how I describe the Meredith bag, its simple, classic shape makes it the perfect bag for your everyday carryall,” Elaine says.

Meredith had a starring role in Elaine’s Fall for Ali video, spotted in the closet scene and on the arm of the Ali model, strolling along the sidewalk, catching the eye of a handsome guy.

A bag for all seasons, Meredith comes in copper, gunmetal, bronze metallic python and buff nubuck stingray.

Ring, Ring. It’s Your Future Calling: Explore the Elaine Turner Intern Program

It takes an entire Dream Team to make Elaine’s vision a success and everybody has a part to play in her fast-growing fashion brand. That philosophy extends to the intern team, where every fall, spring and summer, talented college students from around the country join the team, earning college credit and valuable experience.

We would love to connect with you in the Houston or New York areas to be a part of our fall, spring, or summer internship programs. Time spent interning with Elaine Turner is about more than just credit though. You also get a mentorship, and exposure to all aspects of the Elaine Turner brand and the fashion industry.

You also work one-on-one with Elaine, seeing her creative vision in action, as well as collaborating with the entire team. You are exposed to the nuts-and-bolts of the fashion industry, getting real experience but you also have fun, one of Elaine’s life and business philosophies.

Want to be a part of the Elaine Turner team for class credit or experience? We would love to hear from you.

 The Elaine Turner Internship Opportunities include:

• Retail

• Visual

• Design

• Production

• Marketing

• Wholesale

• Graphic Design

• Financial

Qualifications:

• Must be able to work 3-5 days a week

• Must be located in or around Houston or New York City

• Related major or experience in desired department is a plus

• Eager to learn

• Great attitude and enthusiasm

• Team player

• Be able to work efficiently in a fast paced environment

*Internships can be completed for school credit or experience

Please send your resume and work availability to intern@elaineturner.com

We Love Our Interns! Meet the Summer 2012 Dream Team

Elaine’s amazing summer interns! (L-R) Terrence Gelo, Lauren Graham, Sajanee Chopra, Paige Cisneros, Sage Klement

The Elaine Turner Dream Team wouldn’t be complete without the roster of interns who earn college credit and gain invaluable hands-on experience. Each semester brings a new crop of talented people to the loft-like Elaine Turner headquarters and when their internships are over, the Dream Team is left enriched and we hope, they leave with knowledge and direction about their career path.

Now for the fine print about an Elaine Turner internship.

It’s fun!

No, really, it is. The office is a hub of laughter and creativity. Suggestions are encouraged and often incorporated into a design or plan. And there are pizza parties and cupcake days, not to mention as an intern, you are surrounded by gorgeous bags and shoes. And, interns also get one-on-one interaction with Elaine on everything from design elements to marketing campaigns.

All that and college credit? Yes, please!

The Elaine Turner 2012 summer interns are preparing for the fall semester at their respective colleges, but here are the people who made this summer one to remember.

Name: Sage Klement

Senior at North Carolina State

Design Intern/ Worked with Manufacturing

“I was very happily surprised how much I actually got to work with the manufacturer. There is a lot of detail that goes into each piece.”

Name: Terence Gelo

Senior at the University of Houston

Industrial Design Major/Minor in Architecture

“I worked on design elements in Web, print and graphics. I was surprised to all that it takes to run a company like this. Elaine’s influence plays into every element of the company.”

Name: Lauren Graham

Sophomore at Vanderbilt University

Human and Organization Development Major/Minor in Spanish

“I worked on things like public relations and Pinterest. Elaine is such an amazing person and so personable.”

Name: Callie Trigg

Senior at Baylor University

Double major in Journalism with a Public Relations and New Media focus/ Fashion Merchandising Minor

“I was surprised at how everyone interacted together and every department works so closely together. It really made an impression on me. I was very surprised but very happy that I was entrusted to do PR, retail and visual work. I got to do some of everything and it was so fun and challenging to do it all. I absolutely loved it!”

Want to create your own Dream Team experience at Elaine Turner? Please send your resume and work availability to intern@elaineturner.com.

Elaine’s Back-to-School Mantra, Be Comfy, Look Chic

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It’s time to trade sandals for boots, beach totes for backpacks. Instead of pool time, vacations and sleeping late, there are schedules, games, classes and meetings. The dog days of summer are winding down and the shift to fall is underway.

School is in session for both of Elaine’s children and like most mothers, she is juggling the role of style-savvy working parent and  hands-on mom.

Whether you are a mom sending the small ones off to school or a college student heading back to campus, Elaine’s ultimate B-T-S look is easy, fashionable and shoppable from her boutiques.

-Claridge & King The His is Hers Tuxedo shirt

-Skinny Tassel Belt

- Hue Solid Skinny Jean Leggings

-Ryann Leather Riding Boots

-Aubrey Satchel

“Heading back to school brings busy days full of kids schedules combined with work obligations, so my go to outfit is something comfortable yet chic,” Elaine says.

Closet Covet: All About Elan

Your closet is your sanctuary and your personal boutique. It’s where you play favorites and introduce new loves. And, it’s where you find Elaine’s weekly Closet Covet, a Thursday installment of the things she loves and we know you will too.

Elan, a sexy mix of heel, shoe and boot, is the first of the weekly Closet Covets and she roars back onto the scene after a very popular debut last fall. This season, Elan is dressed in metallic python, nude and black suede and is one of Elaine’s favorites.

We asked her about the coveted shoe and how she’s wearing Elan now and later.

-Why do you think Elan is so popular?

Elan is über chic and goes easily from day to night. It’s a great transitional bootie that can take you from late summer into early fall.

-How do you like to wear Elan now as we transition to fall?

I like to wear it with soft, boho inspired dresses but it also looks great with more tailored looks like capri length jeans and classic blazers.

-How do you look forward to wearing Elan in the winter?

I can’t wait to wear her with a sleek pencil skirt and edgy leather jacket.

Making Headlines: Elaine Reveals What Every Woman Wants and More in Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express News Stories

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When Michael Quintanilla breezed into Elaine’s sunny, sophisticated new boutique in Alamo Heights, the chemistry between Michael and Elaine was instant. Perched on one of Elaine’s signature pink sofas, the duo discussed Elaine’s store expansion, why a handbag is a girl’s best friend and how her mother encouraged her to take fashion risks as a girl.

His story, which ran in the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express News, is a great look at who Elaine is. She wore a black pencil skirt, something she’s had for five years, because “the wisest investment a woman can make are accessories.” See what else she and Michael talked about in an excerpt from the story.

Elaine Turner, Houston’s well-known handbag and shoe designer, is sitting pretty in the business world right now.

Her shops in Rice Village and at City Centre are doing well and another will open soon in The Woodlands. She just opened a shop in San Antonio’s Alamo Heights, and she’s poised to open boutiques in Nashville, Tenn., in October and Manhattan later this fall.

Michael also asked the age-old question, “What does a woman really want?”

“She wants something that will take her all year round and through all aspects of her lifestyle. Accessories are more resilient because a woman can look at her wardrobe and say, “OK, I have this little black dress, but what can I invest in to make it look new again?” It can be a platform or wedge shoe, it can be a python or cheetah pump or a handbag. Women look for items to update their wardrobes.”

To see what else Elaine and Michael discussed, read the original story here.

Golden Girls, Fall’s Metal Hue Is For You

Metallics rule from day-to-night this fall and Elaine’s collection is studded with gunmetal, coppers, bronze metallic python and metallic cheetah. From the Ali cross-body to the Liz ballet flat, the colors are bright, shiny and versatile. These aren’t the only bags and shoes you’ll want to carry this season, but they are definitely a golden place to start.

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San Antonio Blogroll: Thanks for the Memories!

• One of the highlights of Elaine’s San Antonio trip to open her new Alamo Heights boutique, was meeting and chatting with local press. Elaine enjoyed spending time with the city’s newspaper, magazine and blog writers, talking about how she created the brand, but she also reached out to their readers through a contest giveaway. Well, the results are in and the feedback is fabulous.

A special thank you to all our new media friends in San Antonio!

*Bloggers Mandy, Katy and Libby are the trio behind The Style Dossierand not only posted a super cute blog about the new store, but they also gave away a Lily Beachgrass clutch to one lucky winner.

The Style Dossier Squad

-Kristen Wright of The Wright Stuff is another San Antonio blogger who, like Elaine, is new to San Antonio. She’s exploring the city and told her readers all about Elaine, the new boutique and held a giveaway.

Sarah Faye is the grande dame of the city’s blogging scene, having started the San Antonio Fashion and Beauty Bloggers Blog. Her fashion-centric blog Living Goldie is loaded with up-close-and-personal style shots from around San Antonio.

-Fashion stylist and writer Jules Aldez stopped by the boutique for her blog as well as an upcoming article in the San Antonio Scene. We look forward to the story and appreciated her participating in her giveaway.

-Luisa Garcia AKA the San Antonio Socialista made the rounds of Elaine’s VIP opening party, snapping pictures of gorgeous Elaine Turner bags and shoes. Her dapper husband Jesse dressed for the weather and the occasion and duo were chic addition to the event.  Check out her coverage here.

Erin Busbee of Bus Bee Style and Elaine

-It was as if writer Erin Busbee and Elaine had called each other before the interview and dished on what to wear. Great minds think alike and the women both donned cobalt blue and jet black the day they met, making for an irrististable photo op. Busbee posted her thoughts on Elaine and the brand on her blog, but also look for her story about Elaine in the September issue of San Antonio Magazine.

-Michael Quintanilla of the San Antonio Express News charmed all of Elaine’s Dream Team during his interview and even purchased a scarf for fall right off a display. Look for his story in the San Antonio Express News and the Houston Chronicle Thursday, Aug. 16.