All Dressed Up and Somewhere to Go

Cheers! Nevermind the crown, Janice is the true Queen of Reho. 

Hallows eve is approaching and we could not be more excited. Sophia and I love dressing up year round, but October 31st is an excuse to get a little themetastic. 

I am not one for the comedic costumes or the basic witch getups; the holiday to me is a chance to immerse myself in a different decade and procure an outfit so accurate that I forget it is the 21st century. 

My costume inspiration so far:

                                  Gatsby 20s                             Twiggy 60s

Stevie Nicks 70s

Did you know Stevie is a bellalunatic too? There is always a crescent hanging around the fellow moon-lover's neck.

If you are local to Rehoboth, you know that the Sea Witch Festival is the biggest part of Halloween. Sophia and I will be buzzing around the avenue photographing the food, the costumes, and the acessories (ofcourse). Make sure to stop by the store to get your picture taken if you're sporting Bella Luna Halloween gear or a crafty costume. We love to see to see all the bellalunatics in action. Plus, there might be some candy involved...wink, wink.

Stay eccentric people. See you there, 

Kateland Kester

Good Fortune and Good Fashion

Dating back to the times of Ancient Egypt, turquoise was a stone that was thought to bring good fortune and protection. In these times we are still attracted to the stone for these reasons as well as magic it brings to our home, body, and soul. At Bella Luna like to take risks and bring turquoise into our home decor and outfits, turquoise has just the right pop for that. 

For the home? A turquoise woven ecot pillow, a glass pitcher, a "DISH" coffee table book, Beach Days scented dryer sheets, antiqued owl bookends, a gold accented cross, a rhino wall hook, and a glistening Cody Foster holiday house. And for you? A printed scarf with accents of turquoise and butterscotch, an Elements beaded fringe necklace, a vermeil cuff with a large turquoise stone, a wrap bracelet, cute readers, and long, beaded tribal necklace. 

May all your turquoise gems bring you good fortune and good fashion. 

May all your outfits be a success and your home a palace,

Sophia Moore

Weekend Peek: Active Naturals

I spent this past weekend in Rehoboth (surprise, surprise) dining, shopping, and exploring. Along with me I brought two friends who do not know the town as well I do, so I took them to some hidden beauties to take photos in Bella Luna style. 

Above: Gordon's Park

Here I am wearing the new houndstooth jacket at Bella, walking along the quiet suburban streets surrounding Silver Lake. I love coming here on my bike/longboard rides, the cars are sparse and the reflection of the sunset off the lake colours everything a beautiful sepia tone.

Again at Gordon's Park, mixing earrings. Difficult, but rewarding when you find the right pair.  

The white bridge over silver lake connecting Rehoboth to Dewey is one of my all time favourite places.  During the winter after snowfall I like to walk halfway over the bridge, and look down at the swirling slush. The lack of contrast between the white of the railing and the white of the water is such a pleasing site. 

I am sort of obsessed with the new caps in the store. For the past couple years it has been all about beanies and berets, but cloche hats are a warm and refreshing new trend.

 I also added these fabric flower clips to brighten up the look.

Flowers, flowers, flowers. Who would I be if I wasn't wearing flowers?

The jackets here ↑ here ⤹and here ⤵ were all from Bella Luna as well. You can see in the photos that the warmth of the sun escaped us, and I might say they were body-heat life savers. 

Just a weekend peek. Stay inspired, keep it natural,

Kateland Kester

Boardwalk Blues

The boardwalk, like most of Delaware, is an amazingly dynamic locale. In the summer (I usually avoid it), Hawaiian shirts and neon is pretty much the standard as far as  boardwalk fashion goes However, in the off-season I will travel down to the boards in my faux fur lined coat, hat, scarf, boots, the whole shebang, and without a doubt there will be a family frolicking in the wave break like it is the middle of July. The variety is pleasing.

Although it may look like somewhat of a ghost town, there are plenty of things to do.

For the bellalunatics with boardwalk blues, here are some ways to the turn Rehoboth anew.

• Grab a slice of Louie’s before they close their doors for winter
• Cocoa crawl, who can resist shopping, giveaways and desserts!
• Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival for all the jazz lovers out there. 
• Dress warm and throw a Frisbee on the beach
• Walk the boards. No crowds and good exercise!
• End of season sales…they are everywhere.
• See the snow on the beach; it’s peaceful scenery.
• Film Festival. This takes place at Midway Movies but the flyers are posted all over town. 
• Sip a hot coffee on the benches and watch the birds fly south. I recommend an azteca mocha from Café a Go-Go
• Restaurant specials! Sushi night on Tuesdays at The Cultured Pearl (has live entertainment) or Stingray. Half-price Sandwich night on Wednesdays at Arena's. Haven't been, but excited to checkout Meatless Mondays at a(Muse).
• The farmer's market in it's final weeks. Ends October 24th.
• Holiday shopping at Bella Luna! Pickup a present for yourself as well. ☾

Fun, Fun. Until next time,

Kateland Kester

What's Your Favorite Color?

Hello my fellow orange enthusiasts, 

It's Sophia back for another blog session. Orange is my absolute favorite color so I thought I'd create a color palette of orange Bella Luna goodies. It seems people don't often wear orange clothes (although, I do), so accessorizing with a brilliant pop of tangerine is perfect for any outfit. My favorite color companion? Turquoise. The mix of cool and warm tones add a unique flavor. 

This sunday morning is a bit rainy and chilly so why not brighten the day with some orange accents. For the home? We have Tea Forte's loose citrus tea, a funky owl clock, our fabulous soup cookbook, and a pumpkin spatula, perfect for those Sunday morning pancakes. And for you? A chunky orange bracelet, two-toned orange hard candy necklace, bohemian patterned tote, nerdy-chic orange readers, and wool ombré scarf. 

More color palettes to come!

Sweet daydreams of apple cider and harvest sunsets, 

Sophia Moore

Sweet October Crisp

"Autumn is a season much loved by artists, poets and those not responsible for the raking up of leaves."

It's the first week of October, and Mother Nature has created a seamless setting for fall festivities here in Rehoboth. If you haven't been using the term "sweater-weather" you should be, because there's no better way to describe this breath of fresh air. Not to mention, Autumn is a much-needed vacation for our skin between the season of sun and season of snow. 

The parking meters come down, the pumpkins come up, and the local thrift-stores are packed with colourful knits. My go-to outfit for Fall is always a quality-crafted sweater, a bright necklace, a turband if my hair is looking drab, and  some fitted jeans. I have learned that dresses and skirts work as partners in creating a look, but when pants are involved they are the outfit's true foundation. Don't forget about accessories though; the jewelry can turn an outfit from "Did you oversleep this morning?" to "Stunning and comfortable, how do you do it?" 

Best of all, we can wear burgundy again! How exciting.

With the herd of leather boots clunking in the alleyway we tend to forget about the dripping bathing suits and sandy toes that traveled through it just one month prior. Although the change in weather was quick, our employees were quicker! The store is full of season-appropriate goodies, make sure to stop by.

For all the Bellalunatics out there—here are some ways to enjoy the crisp Fall air.

Something for the home:

Don't forget to decorate! The entrance to your home is like a blank canvas and the focal point of your property. If you have a brick pathway, you're in luck this season. Autumn tones bring out the best in that rustic red. Try something like this?

Something for the body:

Baked pumpkin seeds!  Many people add sugar to the seeds, but I suggest for a healthier snack stick with seasonings. Maybe some cumin, curry, or cayenne? Yum, yum.  

Something for the soul:

This will make you feel good, I promise. 

Now that you have cut down on your sugar intake with those wholesome pumpkin seeds, go get yourself a pumpkin spice latte! Go ahead, it won't be here for long.

Happy sweater weather,

Kateland Kester

Once Upon A Sunday Morning

Upon this last Sunday morning, Sage and I took to the sidewalks of Wilmington Avenue to satisfy our empty bellies. The sun was high, a cool breeze whipped my curls around, and people enjoyed the beautiful beginning to the fall season.

Our first stop? Local juice bar, Green Man, serving up the most berry-licous smoothies in town. The secret ingredient which makes them so addicting? Frozen yogurt! Not to mention perfectly ripened berries and citrus which tantalizes the taste buds. I snagged a Berry Beast: a most delicious blend of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries mixed with yogurt. Sage ordered herself a Perfect Peach smoothie with granola for a yummy start to the day. 

How cute! Sage and I met this perky poodle while slurping down our smoothies. He just sat waiting to be served his latté. 

The next stop on our breakfast quest?  Café Papillon tucked away in Penny Lane.  Sage decided on a flaky almond croissant, while I indulged in a fresh made crepe lightly sprinkled with the sweetest brown sugar and spiciest cinnamon. Trés bien!

Papillon is a back alley beauty. Umbrellas block the flooding sunlight and allow you to enjoy the cute scenery of scattered flower boxes, potted petunias, and white picket fencing.

So long smoothie lovers,

Sophia Moore