Heart of Haute Blog
Heart of Haute History! The Original Halter Top
Hello Heart of Haute Honeys,
It seems not-so long ago that I was sitting in a hallway at Cal State Fullerton waiting for my next class to start. I spent many hours in my sketch book coming up with new designs; simple things to get Heart of Haute started. Back in those days, we were only selling on eBay and Live Journal communities. The Heart of Haute Halter Dress, The Heart of Haute Halter Top, Aline Skirt, and Sweetie dress were the very first items in our line. I can tell you that some of the styles I came up with are still in our line today. As months and years go by, some styles prove to be true classics in the eye of my fashion-friendly female customer. Styles like the Sweetie Dress and the Super Spy Dress, which have both been our line since 2005. When we notice a decrease in sales and interest on a particular item, we may eventually retire a design. The Halter Top and its big sister, the Heart of Haute Halter Dress, are two of our original designs we decided to put away- but surely, not for good!
I recently began receiving e-mails and requests on our facebook page for our original halter top. In efforts to keep things moving forward, I would regretfully tell the customer that item was no longer offered. Though, after some thought about it and enough requests, we decided to bring this classic piece of Heart of Haute design history back into action!
Here's a look back at some of our original photos on models- these date back to 2006.
Miss Bernie Dexter
Cherry Dollface
Jasper James
The Heart of Haute Halter Top is now available on our website for order. I realize these are short tops, but I always advise those who don't want to bare their bellies to layer it over another halter or seek out a high waist-ed skirt or pants.
Here's to an excellent summer, Heart of Haute lovers. Grab your halter tops for only $28.99!
We will be adding more print options in the coming days.
With Love & No Regrets,
Mandie Bee
Cherry Dollface
Jasper James
The Heart of Haute Halter Top is now available on our website for order. I realize these are short tops, but I always advise those who don't want to bare their bellies to layer it over another halter or seek out a high waist-ed skirt or pants.
Here's to an excellent summer, Heart of Haute lovers. Grab your halter tops for only $28.99!
We will be adding more print options in the coming days.
With Love & No Regrets,
Mandie Bee
Book a Pinup Photoshoot with Tara O!
Hello Heart of Haute Fans,
This entry is dedicated to simply promote a super fun photo shoot session that I am hosting with my Pinup Photographer friend, Tara O. We are currently booking ladies who may want to build up their portfolio, give the whole pinup girl thing a whirl, or just a good time while getting some killer pics- because photo shoots can be a lot of fun!
Heart of Haute is rewarding those brave ladies who want to contribute to the pinup culture world with a $75 Gift Certificate! Bookings and deposits should be arranged with Miss Tara O (email: tara@taraophotos.com) but you will receive your credit either in an e-mail or in person on the day of the shoot from me, Mandie Bee.
Tara is bringing her trusted make up artist, Sabina Chowaniec. I, myself, have done shoots with Tara for Heart of Haute as well as for personals and I pretty much insist that Sabina does my makeup. I think she's great. She's a great gal, too!
In addition to Sabina, our long-time friend and seasoned Pinup model, Angie Alamilla, will be assisting with hair styling.
Want to know what it's like to work with Tara? Check out the 'behind the scenes' video from Viva Las Vegas: https://vimeo.com/64684736 (I'm the silly, dancing girl).
There will be a follow up to this blog which will include images of the locations at which we are shooting as well as props and other ideas. Gosh, I may even make a video about it. Stay tuned!
With Love & No Regrets,
Mandie Bee
The Sweetie Dress: The Ultimate Sundress
The Sweetie Dress has been with Heart of Haute since day 1. It fits well, it's classic, and ladies just love it how it flatters their figure. We love it, too! This halter dress features the oh-so classic sweetheart neckline, full swingin' skirt, and princess seems through the body for a versatile fit. This dress really does looks wonderful on every kind of figure! It's no wonder we offer it in 21 different ways!
I say it's the ultimate sundress. Why? First of all, the majority of the materials we choose are 100% cotton and machine washable! That's right. No trip to the dry cleaners for these sweet things. The Sweetie Dress is also a simple piece, making it open to many interpretations to accessorize. Add a belt. A petticoat, perhaps. A cute lace slip to pop out above the neckline. It's also rather cute to pair with on of our Betty Boleros. Most importantly, The Sweetie dress FITS. I can't tell you how many of these dresses I've had in my closet over the years. It's a good standby for those summertime parties, weddings, and outings. We continue to offer this style in new fashion prints each season as it has proven to be a staple in many ladies' fashion diets. If you were on the fence about this style, maybe now is the time to take the plunge and find yourself lookin' sweet in one of our Sweeties.
I recently received this e-mail from a happy customer named, CarlyAnn, about our ever-popular, Sweetie Dress.
I recently received this e-mail from a happy customer named, CarlyAnn, about our ever-popular, Sweetie Dress.
My name is CarlyAnn, and I just have to say I love your Sweetie Dress. I have never, NEVER been able to find a dress that fits my body off the rack without a single alteration- and certainly not online! I took a chance and purchased my second Sweetie thinking that maybe I just got lucky with the fit of the first one. But low and behold, it's two for two! I simply need to thank you for your amazing product! Please don't ever retire this cut!
Thank you, CarlyAnn for your testimonial!!!
With Love & No Regrets,
Mandie Bee
Mad Men Season Six Fashion Inspiration!
I can't wait until tomorrow night - Mad Men is finally back! My Sunday nights will again be filled with style, scandal and scotch on the rocks. One of the things that I truly love about Mad Men is the diversity of the characters, and the women in particular. Not all women want the same thing, or go about finding it in the same way. Many shows have explored this territory - 10 years ago, the question was; are you a Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, or Miranda? Now, the choices are Betty, Joan, Peggy, or Megan.
Heart of Haute can help you express your inner Man Woman! For the polished, traditional Betty, try the Ella Top by Mandie Bee - crisp cotton, sweet prints, and a prim bow. The structured Milan dress from HoH in the Katherine floral print is a retro style dress right out of Betty's closet.
Joan's looks is sexy, but not overly revealing. She wears a lot of rich colors. The Vanessa Dress in a new green stretch sateen is a perfect choice, and of course every Joanie needs a great sexy high waist pencil skirt in a bright red.
Peggy's style is a little more subtle, a professional mix of her youth and conservative past. The Beverly Dress is new Mint Lynette is soft without being too sweet. The Moxie Skirt in Black Plaid can go from the office to happy hour.
Hip, well-traveled Megan Draper would love the striking mod style Doreen Dress in Black Plaid - great for a night out seeing your friend's band, or maybe an audition. The Tara Top in bold stripes is a comfortable 100% cotton knit, great for your long days of rehearsal and modern dance classes.
I know that the new season of Mad Men will bring us excitement, intrigue, and loads of fashion inspiration. If you want to dig deeper, my favorite recaps that focus on the incredible visual style of Mad Man is the Mad Style series on Tom and Lorenzo.
Happy watching - join me with a whiskey on the rocks tomorrow night!
Mrs. V
Dress
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Katherine Floral
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Black Plaid
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Red
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Stripey
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Where the MAGIC happens
About a month ago, we made the epic 3-hour journey to Las Vegas, Nevada to show at the semi-annual MAGIC trade show. Heart of Haute has been going twice a year for over 4 years. This particular trade show is one of the best known in the fashion world. Apparel companies of all styles and business size attend and show their collections.
Out of a 10x10 space, Katrina and I sell to retail shops so they can make Heart of Haute dresses available to you in your local town! We always-always-always encourage our customers to shop with our retailers.
If you step into any department store, you'll see a lot of well known brand names like: Levi Strauss, BCBG, and Betsey Johnson , even our beloved Hello Kitty. Any retail store that carries multiple brands has a buyer to plan and stock the shop. All of these companies show at the MAGIC tradeshow. Also in attendance? Our friends at Fables, Queen of Heartz, Lux DeVille and Unique Vintage!
In this Photo: Lauren Shade, Barrie Kaufman, and Stephanie Castro 
Here I am with pieces from my Spring collection for Mandie Bee. I'm wearing the Ruby dress in the Blue Anchor print. My dress form has on the newly-popular Etta Dress in Yellow bees.
On another day, I wore the Marleen dress from Heart of Haute. Seriously- this dress is one of my favorite wiggle dresses.
On our last night, we had to make a stop at Frankie's Tiki room. I know this is a regular stop for many Vegas visitors. If you haven't been there yet, you just gotta check it out!
With Love & No Regrets,
Mandie Bee!
If you step into any department store, you'll see a lot of well known brand names like: Levi Strauss, BCBG, and Betsey Johnson , even our beloved Hello Kitty. Any retail store that carries multiple brands has a buyer to plan and stock the shop. All of these companies show at the MAGIC tradeshow. Also in attendance? Our friends at Fables, Queen of Heartz, Lux DeVille and Unique Vintage!
In this Photo: Lauren Shade, Barrie Kaufman, and Stephanie Castro 
Here I am with pieces from my Spring collection for Mandie Bee. I'm wearing the Ruby dress in the Blue Anchor print. My dress form has on the newly-popular Etta Dress in Yellow bees.
On another day, I wore the Marleen dress from Heart of Haute. Seriously- this dress is one of my favorite wiggle dresses.
On our last night, we had to make a stop at Frankie's Tiki room. I know this is a regular stop for many Vegas visitors. If you haven't been there yet, you just gotta check it out!
With Love & No Regrets,
Mandie Bee!
Vintage and Modern Fashion
Everyone has an inspiration; it may come from lyrics to a song, or even the beautiful pastels of springtime. Heart of Haute Fashion is inspired by 1950’s and 1960’s fashion. Honoring our logo “Made with Love and No Regrets”, we create timeless designs that inspire women to feel as if they are part of the 50’s and 60’s era.
The eternal fashions of the 50’s and 60’s are classic, and some of the most iconic styles and silhouettes have become staples in fashion design. Times have definitely changed since the “Good Old Days”, and it is becoming more difficult to find original vintage fashion. As a vintage follower, I am able to find these rare pieces, but sadly one of the main problems with vintage apparel is size. It is very difficult to find a particular size in, what is now, a one-of-a-kind garment. This can be heartbreaking, but at Heart of Haute we can make your 50’s and 60’s fashion dreams come true. Our styles and silhouettes can fit almost any body type, from the Pretty Petites (X-Small) to the Voluptuous Females (2X).
The sweetheart neckline was a classic shape in the 1950’s and in the early 1960’s. From cocktail gowns to day dresses, this neckline was a very popular style. If you are looking for a sweetheart neckline dress to add to your collection, look no further; our Sweetie Dress will certainly make your heart sing sweet songs. Our Sweetie Dress in Fresh Cherry Blue is a perfect day look for the Spring and even for the Summer.
So we have the daywear covered, “What about evening wear?”, you ask. We have that covered as well, from the Heart of Haute collection the Marseilles Dress in black. We also offer the dress in red. This ideal cocktail dress can be converted into a halter dress, or into razor back straps!
Another ageless style is the Shirt Dress. This dress speaks to the gal that wants to look classy for work and tasteful for lunch with the friends. If your heart is going “pitter- patter” for this dress, then we have what your heart desires. The Monte Carlo Dress from our Heart of Haute Line. We offer it in a variety of colors, and can guarantee a comfortable fit! We even offer it sleeveless, in our Milan Dress.
Cheers to a New Year!!
The New Year is abound Heart of Haute Fans, which means the holiday festivities are still in full swing! Whether you are hosting or attending parties this year, Heart of Haute is here to help you channel your inner domestic diva. From the perfect dress to the perfect dessert, read on for more!
As the year comes to an end, the holidays are our last excuse to indulge in that extra slice of cake. We love our sweets here at Heart of Haute, especially chocolate—after all, who doesn’t love chocolate?! In light of this holiday treat, I give you the ultimate chocolate ganache cake from one of our favorite baking websites, Bakerella. The chocolate cake layers are rich and moist, frosted in chocolate chip loaded buttercream for extra bite and topped with a smooth, creamy chocolate ganache. It’s decadently delicious and just the thing to whip up for your post holiday or New Year’s shin dig. For the full recipe, visit: Bakerella's Just a Cake Recipe
Since you never need an excuse to be stylish, you can bake up a storm with one of our lovely Diner Dresses. We offer this item in olive, black, red and polka dot and with all fabrics in stock, you’ll be ready to heat things up in the kitchen in no time!
And what’s a New Year’s Eve Party without cocktails? Try something different and unexpected from the traditional champagne this year with fruit and Prosecco cocktails from cookieandkate.com. They are fruity, fresh, and make a fabulously colorful presentation. For instructions to whip up these cocktails, visit: Fruit and Prosecco Cocktails Recipes.
Want to get creative? Deck out your cocktail table with clocks and twinkling lights! You can find more tips like this from Reader’s Digest. Visit: Plan an Easy New Year's Eve Cocktail Party Let’s not forget the most important necessity for New Year’s Eve—the dress! If an intimate gathering at home is your plan, try Heart of Haute’s very own Super Spy Dress. It’s classic design and comfortably flattering fit has made it one of our top selling items every year. Whether you go sassy in Burgundy, sleek in Navy, fresh in Slate Blue, or classic in Black, with the right accessories, you’ll find there’s nothing this versatile dress can’t do!
If fancy is more your flair, try something from our Teresa Marie Collection. The lace and satin Juliet and Antoinette Dresses will surely be showstoppers. Whatever your party plans are Heart of Haute fan, may you welcome 2013 in fabulous Heart of Haute Fashion!
'Tis the Season for American Made Products
Seasons Greetings Heart of Haute Fans,
It is that time of year Ladies and Gentlemen for lights, decorations and most importantly of all, shopping!! Oh, the gift of giving! The possibilities are endless, but I wish my pocketbook was just the same. When deciding on what types of gifts to purchase this year, I have made the conscious decision to look for one particular label on the products that I purchase this Christmas. One that states: Made in the USA.
‘Tis the season to buy American made products. Why? The answer lies in an article that I read published by ABC News' Ben Forer. The article gives some very interesting insight as to how American shoppers have shifted over the years from purchasing products made in the USA to products made in China. 
During the 1960’s, 9 out of 10 Christmas gifts in this country were made in the USA (Forer)
What struck me as fascinating is that American shoppers do not need to spend much on American made products to make a positive impact on our economy. If each of us spends just $64 on an American made product for a Christmas gift this year, 200,000 jobs will be created in the USA (Forer).
Here at Heart of Haute, we are very proud to deliver American made products to our customers. We know because we make them here in San Dimas, California with love and no regrets! We are happily committed in providing top-notch quality and customer service, all while being very fashionable, of course. The Heart of Haute company wants to thank its customers for creating jobs while aiding the prosperity of the US economy - you rock!
Signing off,
Alexis
Heartbreaker Herald Contributor
If you would like to read more on Forer's article, please visit http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/11/made-in-america-creating-jobs-for-christmas/