Happy Valentine's Day!

Stop by to see our new Valentine's Day cards!

We also have a great selection left on our sale racks. Mention the code words "winter sale" and take an extra 10 percent off winter clothing, shoes and accessories, Monday through Saturday, Feb. 13-18.

Cue the color ...

Just in ... a trio of  colorful sweaters from John Patrick Organic with a flattering longer back. They're knit in lightweight merino wool that's great for layering through spring. Now in our Portland store.

"Solar Power" yellow is one of spring's hot colors – check out more 2012 color trends from Pantone ...

Show your stripes

Just in: Striped tees from Oska. They're an easy fit blend of 70 percent cotton and 30 percent hemp.

Heading south? Don't forget to stop by Black Parrot in Portland for a peek at early spring fashions and more warm-weather finds on our sale racks.

Got the midwinter blues?

 

While we can't complain about snow and cold this season, we're not immune from midwinter wardrobe blues ... Sometimes all we need is a spot of color to brighten a dreary day.

Our pick-me-up choices include a silk and wool scarf from Wallace Sewell, Carolina Amato long wool fingerless mitts and a stunning cobalt blue Rachel Comey clutch – now in our Portland store.

And don't forget Black Parrot's winter sale: MM6 boots are 40 percent off and other fall merchandise is reduced 25 to 50 percent.

Our favorite new shoes

Don't miss our favorite new shoes – dip-dyed black oxfords from Gidigio. They're all crafted by hand in Italy and have a vintage (but oh-so-chic) appeal.

Gidigio already has a loyal following in Denmark and Germany ... and we can see why with their soft, glove-like leather.

Now in our Portland store.

Jazz Age appeal

The lovely cloche is catching eyes again, especially on  Bérénice Bejo, above, so fetching as ingénue Peppy Miller in "The Artist." We'd pair our Eugenia Kim cloche hats with ladylike Carolina Amato gloves.

Stop by our Portland store to try one on! They're now on final sale, 50 percent off.

Think apres ski!

Finally! It's winter in Maine, and we're ready for the slopes, a hot toddy and apres-ski fashions. Our look of the day is a Mongolian lamb fur collar by Hache, YMC wool sweater from Scotland and Rachel Comey's Baxter boots.

Now in our Portland store.

Inspired by Bergman ...

Stop in soon to see new pieces from Swedish designer Helena Fredriksson, who now lives and works in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Her line, H Fredriksson, draws inspiration from the dark psychology of Bergman films and contemporary European painting. She describes her collection's look as "an air of melancholic beauty, drawn from the austere silhouettes of the Nordic landscape."

Fredriksson embraces sustainable fabric technologies and manufactures her collection in New York City. 

At right, we've paired her tunic-length, silk crepe "kimono dress" with a Herff Christiansen heavy cotton jacket, Emu leggings and P. Monjo laced boots.

On sale: YMC sweaters from Scotland

Brighten a dreary winter day with YMC wool and cashmere sweaters from Scotland. They're available in royal blue, above, red and green. Better yet, they're all 40 percent off at our Portland store!

New to Black Parrot: Issey Miyake

Just in: Issey Miyake's Cauliflower line. The Japanese designer's clothing is lightweight, compact and recognized for its multi-directional stitch pleats. The easy-to-wear pieces are sure to add a pop of color to your winter wardrobe. This shirt also is available in dark blue with a cobalt placket.

Bundle up!

Black Parrot's post-holiday sale is in full swing, with 25 to 50 percent off shoes, coats and clothing. One of our favorite sale items is the blanket poncho, above right, from Tara St. James and her eco-friendly Study New York line. It's perfect over chunky sweaters.

Read about the blanket poncho in The New York Times Style section! You'll find it in our Portland store. 

Another favorite is Obakki's garnet red Acadia coat, seen here on actress Amber Heard. It's sure to keep you warm with a double front and so-soft blend of wool, mohair and cashmere. It's 25 percent off in our Portland store, and available in sizes 6, 8 and 10.

Call us at 207-221-6991. We're happy to take phone orders!

New hat sale!

Here's a fashion fix for cold ears: Eugenia Kim, Albertus Swanepoel and MM6 winter hats at 40 percent off!


Take your pick of cloches, leopard-print brims or even feather-trimmed fedoras.


Visit our Portland or Rockland stores, or give us a call at 207-221-6991.


We're always happy to ship if you're not in Maine ...

Just in: Humanoid

Just in: Humanoid, one of our favorite brands from the Netherlands. This chic label features body-hugging shapes, luxurious fabrics and edgy designs. New offerings include dark gray wool and cotton leggings, wool and cotton tees, wraps and dresses. 

Now in our Portland store.

Stocking stuffers ...

Here's a little something she'll love: Antipast socks from Japan. They're warm, fashionable and sure to add a little sparkle to her wardrobe!

London time

Black Parrot is excited to introduce Uniform Wares watches to our Portland and Rockland stores. The London firm, established in 2009 by product designers Patrick Bek and Oliver Fowles, pairs classic British design and contemporary styling. Each series of watches is produced in small quantities with movements handpicked from the best Japanese and Swiss manufacturers. 

Call our Rockland store at 207-593-9370 or Portland location at 207-221-6991 for more information on available Uniform Wares styles and prices. 

Boot sale!

Stop by our pre-solstice sale to gear up for winter. Coats, Eugenia Kim hats and winter boots are all 25 percent off. 

You'll find a great selection of boots, from felted wool Martin Margiela MM6 boots (above and in a tall black version) to P. Monjo and the popular Rachel Comey Baxter waterproof boot.

Call us in Portland at 207-221-6991 or Rockland at 207-593-9370 for size availability.

Art to wear

Just in: Wallace Sewell scarves from England that will brighten even the darkest winter day. Black Parrot's selection includes silk, cashmere blends, neck scarves and wraps. Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell established the London design studio after graduating in 1990 from the Royal College of Art. 

Stop by to see their stunning work – we think they're works of art.

Tip o' the hat ...

If you're dashing off to "The Nutcracker," don't forget to don your fancy hat. Our choices are from Albertus Swanepoel, the Coty Award-winning milliner. Swanepoel, born and raised in South Africa, trained under a designer who worked for Balenciaga in Paris. He also assisted theatrical milliner Lynne Mackey.

At left is a two-tone dark green and black creation; the hat at right features an attached ribbon and bow.

Procrastinating?

Maybe our snail ornament is just what you need. Stop in to see our new selection of decorations in Portland and Rockland ...

Just in ...

Our look of the day, styled by Tess, features a gray, ribbed Herff Christiansen cardigan jacket paired with a Rachel Comey plaid shirt and boots and MM6 brown zip-bottom jeans.

We love the look of this heavy cotton jacket, which can be pinned in front or left open. This style has a waist-length back, perfect for layering. We also carry a longer black version that's great paired with leggings.

Stop by our Portland store to see what's new!

Aromatic riches

The story of our soaps and colognes from Santa Maria Novella is intriguing as their lovely scents, from almond to pomegranate. Dominican monks began making herbal remedies at the Florence church in the 13th century. Today Santa Maria Novella's soaps are still made by hand; each bar ages for a month before it's carved and packaged for sale.

Read more of the fascinating story in Smithsonian Magazine ...

Santa Maria Novella products are available now in our Portland and Rockland stores.

Pearly whites

  

We honestly think this is the best toothpaste ever: Marvis from Italy. It's available in cinnamon mint, whitening mint and classic strong mint. Soon to come: ginger mint and licorice. 

Don't forget The Designer Toothbrush from Creations by Alan Stuart of New York.

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores.

Iced to perfection

We haven't been to Miette, San Francisco's noted pastry shop, but we're charmed by the beautiful images, scalloped pages and recipes in this lovely book. If you're not up for making the elegant princess cake, above, chocolate chip cookies with rolled oats and walnuts might be a good place to begin. A perfect gift for the baker in your family ...

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores.

Ready for the party?

If you aren't, stop by Black Parrot for your holiday finery. You'll find fancy frocks at our Portland store, from Rachel Comey's emerald flame dress, above, to silks from Hannoh and the perfect LBDs from Obakki. 

 

Cozy cashmere

  Just in: the coziest, 4-ply  Mongolian cashmere from Jardin Prive´ – in v-necks, cardigans and figure-flattering drawstring pants. Choose from blue, beige, gray or brown sweaters and gray or black pants. Prices start at $195.

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores.

A toast to chocolate

Back by popular demand: Fazer Liqueur Fills, vodka-filled chocolates from Finland. They're highly recommended by Tess who offers this description: "They're like a party in your mouth!"

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores (while they last).

Scents for your nest

Stop in soon to smell the wonderful fragrances from our new assortment of Nest candles. Our current favorite is "Holiday" in its red velvet box: a blend of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber.

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores.

The Gentlewoman

Hailing from London, this inspiring magazine highlights women in every light.

Smart, sophisticated and now in the Portland and Rockland stores.

Just monkeying around ...

If you loved your childhood sock monkey, check out Carolina Amato's fingerless wool and angora monkey mitts!

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores.

The perfect pick-me-up

Sometimes a new pair of socks does wonders to beat a blue day. And what could be better than cushy-soft b.ella styles for happy feet?

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores.

Eugenia Kim hat sale!

Good news for hat lovers: All Eugenia Kim hats are now 25 percent off in Portland. What's your favorite – classic black with a bow, sage green with feathers or maybe a sweet little cloche? Come find your style!

I Hate Perfume

 For anyone seeking a new perfume experience, Christopher Brosius, creator of "I Hate Perfume" might be just the man.  Far from conventional, he's created scents from "Burning Leaves" to "In the Library" to "Roast Beef".  A Black Parrot favorite, our Portland location currently has six incredibly unique scents that will fill you with wonder.  

The history behind this perfume line is fascinating.  

Listen to the NPR interview here, featured last night!

Also new to the Portland store, hand lotion in Glorioso and Red Current, from Votivo.  

Known for their candles, Votivo's lotions are an ultimate luxury.

Rue

 Rue Jewelry 

from Japan.

"As the name reflects the French word for street and an evergreen Rue (Ruta) in English, RUE reinterprets and gives new values to ordinary, often overlooked things translated through design esthetics woven from differing inspirational strands ranging from the study of botany and ethnography to biology and mathematics."

These delicate and unique pieces are now in Portland.

Wharton Esherick

 Another top choice from our bookshelves,  

"Wharton Esherick - The Journey of a Creative Mind".

Get lost in the story of one of the 20th Century's most innovative furniture makers.

Currently in Portland.

Wrap yourself in alpaca

 Soft doesn't begin to describe these baby alpaca scarves from Austrian-born designer Arnold Haas of Wubet. They're hand-woven on antique looms and will keep you oh so warm.

Now in our Portland store.

Need a good escape?

  

Our pick for a good read this week is "Far Out Isn't Far Enough – Life in the Back of Beyond" by Tomi Ungerer. The book includes beautiful illustrations that help tell his story of pioneering in the wilds of Nova Scotia.

We were hooked on the first paragraph:

"Yvonne and I left New York City in 1971, head over wheels. We were suddenly fed up with city life: racing along, our lives had run out of fuel, stalled, and so we struck out on foot on the first side road, not even expecting the unexpected."

Now in our Portland and Rockland stores.