“Less Is Not Always More”

This is one of the philosophies of Pearlesque designer/local artist Margaret Chodos-Irvine, whose lingerie and layering pieces are both classic and sultry. Intended to be seen on the streets, the diaphanous separates bridge the literal gap, say when a top needs sleeves or a skirt is too scant.

Pearlesque’s sheer pantaloons have a distinctly Victorian feel, while the “Shnickers” tap pants are evocative of the pin-up girl era. The off-the-shoulder top offers lightweight coverage with the added touch of elegant and enticing lace around the neckline.

Sheer black pantaloons are reminiscent of the Victorian era. 

"Schnickers" tap pants are available in a rose print and sheer black mesh.

Sweet off-the-shoulder top is arm coverage at its best. 

Momo is also stocked with the sheer rose-print Tent Dress. Sweetly feminine as an outer layer (we like it paired with a long cami and leggings) or as a base layer (perhaps topped with a simple black frock)?

Sheer Tent Dress.

Already regarded as an illustrator, this is Margaret’s first foray into designing clothing for someone other than herself. She’s been sewing since the age of 11 (both her grandfathers worked in the garment trade) when she couldn’t find exactly what she was looking for in the retail world. After receiving constant compliments on her work, she decided it was time to take the leap. We at Momo are so glad that she did! We’re very excited to be representing her line of subtly seductive apparel.

 

Wouldn’t a wee bit of Pearlesque be a lovely Valentine’s surprise for someone you know?

Happy Lunar New Year!

2014 brings us the year of the Wood Horse. According to Momo’s handy-dandy book of Chinese horoscopes, the year of the Horse is a fast-paced one. Filled with periods of hectic activity and high-spirited adventure, it will be exhilarating, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding and profitable.

To  kick off the start of this exciting year, the Chinatown/International District will be hosting a neighborhood celebration  this Saturday, February 1st, starting at 11 a.m. at Hing Hay Park. Lion and Dragon dances, taiko drumming, children’s costume parade, scavenger hunt, $2 food walk — these are just a few of the festive events you'll find! Bring your friends and family and enjoy a unique, fun-filled cultural experience.

Message from Momo: Happy Lunar New Year!

Get ready for a wild ride in the auspicious year of the horse. The speed of the steed
will find us traveling the world and engaging in new adventures, possibly including unexpected trysts! Brave, energetic and powerful, the noble stallion champions both business and personal pursuits. In this fortunate year, harness your luck to bring about long-awaited change. Follow your hunches, be decisive — take swift action and your goals will be within reach.

Momo Markdowns!

Spring is right around the corner. Today we had a brief teaser — the sun came out and for an all-too-short while we were able to doff our gloves and scarves and marvel at the bright thing in the sky.

Springtime at Momo means the arrival of Spring clothing. Lots of it. Which means, dear readers, that we need to make room on our racks! We just put a slew of beautiful picks on sale. Here’s a sampling of what you might find — spruce up your Year of the Horse wardrobe while sparing your wallet.

This one is reversible, back-to-front

Essential long tunic tops from A’Nue Ligne. One light grey and one dark grey, both in size M. These are one of our all-time favorites for four-season layering (psst, a secret: I used this piece as the bottom layer for most of the photos in this blog post). Marked down to $71.

Thick knit ‘Mike’ Cop-Copine sweater with elegant batwing sleeves, size M. Yours for $216.

‘Angela’ (named after me!) faux shearling jacket from Cop-Copine in an XS, reduced to $377!

Luscious linen/wool jacket by Japan’s Fog Linen Works in a size L. A steal for $257 (plus it has pockets, a must).

Subtle Luxury cashmere can be worn two ways: right-side-up or upside-down. We have dove grey and pale beige, both in a size S/M for $217.

Our Claudia Nichole cashmere cardigans are a just-right tunic-length, cozy and have hoods. We have charcoal grey and slate blue in a size S as well as a mocha brown in a size M. Now only $194. (Great gift for Valentine’s Day!)

We have two Ronen Chen knit tops — slight ruching and a gently rolled neckline make this a super cute piece for dressing up or dressing down. Sizes 0 and 2 available, reduced to $121.

Velvety trench by Samuel Dong
in a size M. Yours for $155.




Flirty and fashionable Cop-Copine ‘Safe’ skirt, XS now only $176.






Adorable black bubble super-soft sweater dress (both sexy and flattering) from With Love from Kokoro. Size XS, for $119.

When Life Hands You Meyer Lemons ...

Make limoncello*! At least that's what Mr. Momo does.

Thank you, Sophia, for the charming photo of Ms. Lemon’s luscious fruit!

Meet our Meyer lemon tree. Ms. Lemon has been beautifying the front window of Momo since our opening day in 2007, when she was given as a gift by Jennifer Habu. Just like our happy shop, she is a bright spot of cheer, a sunny yellow beacon during the oft grey winter months.

Ms. Lemon started out by yielding one plump lemon in her first year here. The next year ... two lemons. The year after that? Three lemons! And so she’s continued, gracing us with an ever-increasing and always appreciated bounty ... just as you do, dear Momo friends. Like Ms. Lemon, you’ve been lovely and steadfast and we appreciate each and every one of you!

Here’s to familiar faces, new faces, more smiles than we can count and a seven-lemon year in 2014.

*if you don’t want to make limoncello, here are some alternatives:
Meyer Lemon Recipe Fun!

Momo Kalikimaka

Photos courtesy of http://espn.go.com/action/photos/gallery/_/id/8770400/image/1/happy-holidays-mele-kalikimaka

We’re on our 7th Christmas this year — can you believe it?
We are grateful to every one of you who have helped us reach this amazing milestone in the world of modern retail. To customers new and long-time loyal, thank you for sharing your holidays with us, and for introducing friends and family. You made this season peaceful and joyous. To everyone, we wish you a Mele Kalikimaka.

Enough about me, what do you think about me?

Before You’re Elfish, Be Selfish
Treat yourself first during our pre-holiday Selfish Sale
Thursday – Sunday, November 21 – 24 all day
Save up to 20% off on a selection of attention-getting clothing for men and women. Get dressed for Thanksgiving, the infamous Office Party, Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah festivities. And if you think that far ahead, how about New Year’s Eve? Already reduced clothing included; some exceptions apply (ie. consignment), but not many! Shop early for best picks. 

Winter is Coming

Seattle’s predicted low is 39 degrees tonight. That is seven small degrees above freezing. Freezing! Lucky for you, Momo has just received some delectable knits from Beagle House N.Y., Japanese designs via New York. Durable and comfortable, the adorable accessories are also enticingly affordable ($32-$49). Fresh for you, via Momo:

•  knit beanies, made in Japan. 100% cotton, these hats are densely woven and are sure to keep your noggin toasty. An easy fit for men or women.

Perfectly sized for a slouchy look and a tight, fine knit for warmth!

•  infinity scarves, also knit in Japan. Made from a blend of fibers, they are lightweight yet surprisingly insulative and feature a sweet pattern reminiscent of traditional Norwegian sweaters.

We love the soft colors of these infinity scarves.

• knit arm warmers. Cable-knit sweaters for your arms! They have a handy thumb-hole to keep them on your hands, and are woven with spandex to help them stay up your arms. 

Available in black, taupe, pale grey/beige and chocolate brown. 

A Good Scarf is a Good Friend

It’s that time of year again — scarf season is upon us and new scarves have been flooding into Momo. We have an enticing array of styles, colors and fabrics to choose from, ranging from affordable acrylic  to lovely linens and cozy cashmere.

Our favorite acrylic is the multipurpose Vivi button sweater-scarf. Not only is it perfect for folks with wool/cashmere sensitivities, it’s also the most versatile accessory imaginable. It can be worn as a halter (in two ways), a long-sleeved shrug, a vest, a poncho, a scarf ... whatever strikes your fancy.

Always a classic, Momo has a fresh batch of St. James “Pucker” scarves. We love the distinctive texture, as well as the ease of use (simply pull one end through the opening on the other end).

A rainbow of St. James from France.

Unique “Pucker’ scarf.

Some folks are still operating under the notion that linen is a textile that is limited to summer wear. We at Momo won’t say that they’re wrong ... but they’re wrong! Linen is one of the most durable fibers on earth (literally). Our Fog Linen scarves from Japan are thickly woven, elegant and warm. Available in solids, stripes or checks.

Fog Linen from Japan. 

Thick, shimmering linen is both elegant and comfortable.

Cashmere is, of course, the winter classic. Soft and toasty, timeless cashmere will always fend off the chill of a winter day. Momo’s new cashmere features a palette of soft greys, blues and taupes — perfect for men and women alike.

Soft-as-a-cloud cashmere.

A great scarf, like a great coat, is invaluable in the cool Pacific Northwest winter — both you'll wear every day. Why not ensure that you’ll stay warm while looking good? Come visit our scarves and find your neck’s new best friend!

Three Cs for A Rainy Tuesday

What do Candles, Cashmere and Collectables have in common?
Aside from starting with the letter “C,” all three feature fresh arrivals
at Momo.

For Sweet Petula soap lovers: locally-crafted Sweet Petula candles.
Now your favorite fragrances can delicately scent your home. We have Bourbon & Vanilla, Vintage Peony, Wildflowers & Honey and La Nuit. Yum!

Giftable, fragrant candles by Sweet Petula.

Delightfully creative Jen Gay has brought in a fresh batch of her Kitten Mittens — ever so soft, her fingerless gloves are made from recycled fine wool/cashmere sweaters, with vintage trim and buttons. A portion of the proceeds are donated to P.A.W.S. Warm and fuzzy mittens help warm and fuzzy animals in need.

Keep your hands toasty warm in the cold drizzle.

Mr. Momo and Momo Mama recently perused the treasures at Kyoto Art and Antiques and found some truly stunning pieces. Here are just
a few of the beautiful antiques they discovered:

Regal bronze Kirin dragon. It symbolizes prosperity and serenity.

Elegant white marble Buddha head from China. 

Tiny Fat Bird Lands at Momo

Glowing moonstone, carnelian and aquamarine “Swing” earrings

Local jeweler Tiny Fat Bird (aka Grace Matsumoto Wood) is making her bricks-and-mortar retail debut and we at Momo are the lucky folks who get to introduce her to you! We are in love with her delicate and feminine aesthetic.

Luminous stones adorn elegant earrings while sterling pieces show a playful organic sensibility — all the while remaining simple enough to pair with nearly everything in your wardrobe.

If “dainty” describes your jewelry tastes (or your sweetie’s, for that matter!) then we think the perfect jewelry for you has roosted at Momo.

100% hand-formed, painstakingly soldered ovals are adorned with iridescent stones

Graceful garlands of sterling