New Beginnings...

I've always been amazed at how quickly life can change in just a few weeks or even days. One day you are traveling down one path and then, suddenly you decide to try a different direction. For 3 years Bella Ropa has been my life. And until two weeks ago, I thought it would continue to be that way.

We've been in negotiations with our landlord and it's not working out. I love Birkdale and can't imagine being anywhere else, but at the same time I have to do what is right for me and my business.

So Bella Ropa is officially closed. It's not a sad thing. I have been so lucky to do what I love for the last 3 years, but it's time to move on now. I am beyond thrilled and excited about what life has to offer. I'm excited to have weekends off, to have time to take a vacation and most importantly, to spend more time with friends and family. It truly is a blessing in disguise.

I will miss all my wonderful customers. Thank you to everyone that has supported me through this adventure. You mean the world to me and I could not have done this without you.

Vacation Inspiration...

I decided to make a last minute trip with some girlfriends to Florida for a little fun in the sun. After the reservations were booked, I immediately starting taking inventory of my closet. What should I pack? Obviously, there are the basics- swimsuit, cute dress, shorts, tanks... a lot of my pieces have been with me through the season, and I love them! But, sometimes you just need a little something new to spruce up your old faithful pieces.

I realized most boutiques, including Bella Ropa, are having their end of summer sales! So, now is the perfect time to stock up on a few new fun pieces for the trip and they will be great to wear next year, too! And who doesn't love a great deal! Here a few of my favorite steals-

Striped Tunic (Original $32, Sale $19) with DL1961 Betty Jeans (Original $148, Sale $74)

Theme Embroidered Tank (Original $62, Sale $49) DL1961 Jennifer Jean (Original $158, Sale $79)

*All of our summer items are marked up to 50% off! Including white and cropped denim!*

Casual Summer

Our romance with summer is heating up with the arrival of new fashions. The smell of sunscreen, longer days and dew on the roses, reminds of us how little time we have to spend with our favorite season.

Toss on a tee-shirt, shorts and sandals to celebrate the casual side of summer. Enjoy sitting on the dock, catching the sun's rays and kicking off your shoes. We have a great selection of comfortable tee-shirts perfect to wear while lighting up the grill and making your summer complete.

Now is a great time to stock up on basics to last you the rest of the season! We have summer items marked 20%-50% off! Including 40% off cropped and white denim.

DL1961 Jeans

Ladies, I have found it. The Holy Grail of jeans. Take it from a admitted jeanaholic, these jeans are the best in the market. I have tried almost every brand, style and wash and none compare to DL1961.

DL1961 uses a cross-weave XFIT technology that basically molds the jeans to your body. I've heard of similar lines before taunting the same claims, and I've always been disappointed. Eventually the jeans stretch and lose their shape or they begin to sag. But I figured it wouldn't hurt to try, right?

When I tried them on, I was impressed. They felt good and I liked the way they fit. Little did I know, just how well they fit. I wore them out to dinner that night and I've never received so many compliments. Did you lose weight? You look skinny! What jeans are you wearing? My head was so big at the end of the night I almost fell over.

I also noticed that the jeans had kept their shape. No saggy bottom and they weren't lose around the waist. They really do give to fit your body. You can walk, sit and breath in these jeans but still look good!

Catwalk for a Cause

Don't miss a night of fashion, great food, freebies and philanthropy at the first Catwalk for a Cause: A Celebration of Fashion Benefiting the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, May 18 at River Run Country Club, 19125 River Falls Drive, Davidson, NC.

The highlight of the night will be the runway presentation featuring spring/summer apparel for men and women from the best boutiques in Lake Norman: Bella Ropa in Huntersville and Lavendar and Dot's Women's Wear in Mooresville.

Expect to see the latest offerings from the hottest lines, including William Rast, True Religion, Rock & Republic, Ella Moss, Da-Nang, Nanette Lepore, Yumi Kim, MM Couture, Theory, Miss Me, Young Fabulous & Broke and more.

"I have wanted to stage a fashion show in the Lake Norman area since we opened in 2007," says Lavendar owner Sherry Pollex, longtime girlfriend of NASCAR driver Truex. "So when the opportunity presented itself to plan this event and have the proceeds go to the foundation Martin and I started, it seemed like a perfect fit."

In keeping with the high fashion/high speed theme, the emcee for the evening is the fabulously stylish Jamie Little, ESPN/ABC pit reporter for NASCAR Nationwide and the Sprint Cup series.
Each $75 tax-deductible ticket includes food, select beverages, door-prizes and a supersized swag bag jammed with designer apparel, accessories and beauty products. The silent auction will feature high-dollar items including jewelry, designer handbags, entertainment and sporting packages and dining and spa certificates.

Buy your ticket before May 14th and get a 25% off coupon* to use at Lavendar Boutique, Dot's Women's Wear or Bella Ropa Boutique.

*Full price styles only and cannot be combined with other offers. One coupon per ticket.

The SilverGirl Jewelry Giveaway!

That's right! Here is your chance to win a fabulous SilverGirl Jewelry necklace. Recently, Genia, of SilverGirl Jewelry, joined us at Bella Ropa to show her newest spring designs, and we decided to share our enthusiasm by giving away two of her beautiful designs - just by signing up as a fan on her Facebook page.

Genia creates fun, flirty, and functional jewelry by blending glistening gem stones, luminous pearls and precious metals. SilverGirl Jewelry is available at fine boutiques in Charlotte, Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston and Hilton Head Island. Even Miley Cyrus has picked up a few of her pieces.

So become a fan and make sure you stop by Bella Ropa Boutique to see SilverGirl Jewelry's spring collection.

Eco Chic

In the mood to save the planet or take recycling to the edge? Whether you've checked out our Facebook page or stopped by Bella Ropa Boutique, we're sure you've seen our latest obsession- The EcoCuff. Wrap your wrist in a peaceful, artsy statement representing the true meaning of reusing materials that are earth-friendly (made from left excess wood used to make designer furniture). Each EcoCuff is hand-made by Green Market Girl - we think her name says it all.

All bracelets are constructed with FSC wood, stained, glued and finished with low to no VOC compounds making them all Eco Friendly. EcoCuffs are designed and hand-crafted right here in the Queen City.

The Peace Cuff is uniquely designed to align our planets, to compliment the hippie in all of us and to keep us singing in perfect harmony. Try one on your wrist and hum along with us.