Blog

Holiday Gift Guide 2021 :: Your Dad

For the second guide in the series of 2021 Holiday Gift Guides – Your Dad. When it comes to finding a gift for your Dad, many of you know the struggle is REAL. A lot of gifts out there for the “man in your life” aren’t super appropriate to give your dad… So what do you get for your dear father? Here are some ideas for that man you just don’t know what to buy for!

Gifts for Dad

1. He’s not a regular Dad, he’s a #CoolDad! This #CoolDad Shirt from Banky Girl Creations will be sure to make him smile.

2. There’s always something about dads and ties! Help him elevate his tie game with this Hawaiian Koa Silver Inlay Wooden Tie Clip from bcr designs.

3. The retro design of these Dylan Sunglasses from Admiral Row will make him feel confident and remind him of back in his day.

4. The extra long and cozy Forest River Scarf from Salem Style. Because he’ll love being warm and snug in style!

5. Dad is sure to appreciate you upping his snack game with this Original Salsa from Prate Ringo’s Salsa!

The best part about all of these gift ideas? They all come from small businesses! Yep! ALL OF THEM!

If you’re looking for even more small businesses to shop from this holiday season, check out the Shop 1-in-5 Pledge Small Business Directory.

Holiday Gift Guide 2021 :: Tween Girls

Tween girls ( and non-binary tweens) can be so hard to buy for! They are starting to lose interest in toys, but they’re not quite teenagers yet. So as far as gift ideas go, there is a lot of confusion! Here are some gift ideas for the tween girl or non-binary tween in your life who you might be wondering, “what do I get??”

Tween Girl Gift Ideas 2021

1. A Super Cozy Young Readers Gift Set that comes with a book and pouch of cocoa from Misplaced Muse Creative

2. An Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelet from Lunabella Bracelets that she’ll not only love the look of, she’ll love the essential oils that help her stay calm before the big test!

3. A Rainbow Wire Bookmark to help keep her place, whether she’s reading for school, or for fun, from WireCreationsbyJules

4. A Personalized Rainbow Mug from Stick’em Up Baby, so she can have her go-to mug for her cocoa or a cup tea!

5. A handmade crochet scrunchie from Salem Style. She can rock it in her hair, or wear it on her wrist. Just don’t tell her you did it first in the 90’s…

he best part about all of these gift ideas? They all come from small businesses! If you’re looking for even more small businesses to shop from this holiday season, check out the Sh

The best part about all of these gift ideas? They all come from small businesses! If you’re looking for even more small businesses to shop from this holiday season, check out the Shop 1-in-5 Pledge Small Business Directory.

Salem Outfit Ideas – What to Wear In October

Salem Massachusetts owns Halloween like how the North Pole owns Christmas. And because of that, the whole month of October is one big long Halloween celebration in Salem. So many people plan a visit to Salem in October to be part of the fun, and the magic.

So how do you decide what to wear in October in Salem? We have a few suggested Salem outfit ideas to get you started.

Exploring the Wharf, Cemetery, Willows, Pioneer Village, and Winter Island

Salem has some areas that are “off the path” that are absolutely worth exploring! For this, you will want to make sure you have a jacket, shoes that are easy to walk in, and a super cozy hat. The Winter Island Hat is a super soft pompom hat that will keep you warm whether you’re on the water, or in the woodsy areas. Perfect Salem outfit idea.

Visiting Museums and Shops Downtown

When you’re walking around downtown and popping in and out of shops and museums (definitely check out the Peabody Essex Museum) you will want to have a light jacket, a small bag that you don’t have to think about, and a cozy scarf. The McIntire Scarf is an oversized cowl scarf that is no fuss, and will be the perfect accessory.

Going out for Social Hour

In Salem there are tons of awesome places to grab a drink or bite in the late afternoon / early evening. Many of these options include outdoor options, so you’ll want to be cozy. But since you probably want to travel light, the Anderson Ear Warmer is your perfect companion. It will keep you toasty, but if you find yourself warm inside, you can put it in a small bag for safe keeping. Pair it with a chunky knit and some fall boots, and you’re good to go.

Taking a Cruise Around Salem

Salem is right on the water, and it’s the perfect opportunity to see the area by sea! Escape the crowd of the city and get on a boat! It will be a little chilly, so you’ll want to bundle up! Pair a sweater with some warm pants, and top it off with the Essex Scarf.

Looking for some recommendations from locals? This post is for you!

The Anderson Ear Warmer : Your BFF For Fall

right now one of the best sellers in the shop is the Anderson Ear Warmer✨

these are perfect for all of you “I’m not a hat person” who tend to struggle a little bit when your ears start to feel that chill.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
they’re also perfect for this time of year where it tends to get a little bit cooler in the mornings and evenings.

and they’re available in 5 different colors. I hope you agree and love them too! 🍁🍂

so what’s the inspiration behind the Anderson Ear Warmer?

my Grandma ✨

they’re named after my Grandma (her last name is Anderson) because she’s awesome. she’s such an important part of my life and one of the reasons I crochet so much. and it’s my honor to have something in the shop that is a direct tribute to her.

one of the first things Chris (my husband) said after meeting my grandma was “you don’t take after your mom or dad, you take after your grandmother!” 🥰

I love you Grandma 💗

What Inspired Me To Start Salem Style

Salem Style started almost 10 years ago. Yes, you read that right, 10!

I was inspired to start this business when I was starting to design my own hats. I had been crocheting for years, but never really designing my own thing. So I made a practice one (a prototype if you will) and wore it when I went to work.

One of my coworkers at the time complimented me on my hat and asked where I got it. when I told her I made it, she asked if I could make her one too, and then asked how much.

How much? I’d never thought of that before. This was the first time someone wanted to buy one of my hats!

She bought a hat and loved it, and my other coworkers said I should sell them online.

I didn’t know where to start. I had shopped on Etsy before, but I felt that I wasn’t experienced enough to sell on there. (Even though I had been crocheting for over 10 years at that point!) So I clicked “open a shop” on December 28th 2011, and just started. I had five items listed, and the photos were super blurry that I took myself.

The first item I ever listed

From then on, I kept making items, taking blurry pictures of them, and listing them on Etsy. I figured it would last about a year, tops. I had such imposter syndrome (okay I still do sometimes) that I thought I would just be posting things to nobody. It wasn’t until a few days after I opened, that I received my first sale from someone I didn’t know. A complete stranger wanted one of my items. Now don’t get me wrong, I love all my friends and family who have purchased from me, but this hit different. This was what I needed to see. This made it REAL.

I never in my wildest dreams thought that people would find me online and want to purchase items that I designed and made by hand.

and they still do. ✨

6 Cool Gifts For Any Mom

There are all sorts of moms in our lives.

Whether she’s your friend who has been juggling her kids zoom learning, your cousin who just had a baby, or your aunt who just totally gets you, she would totally appreciate the acknowledgement! Looking for something different and out of the box to show her you care? Well look no further! 

The Fitness Mom:

For the mom who is always rocking the leggings and checking her stats on her smart watch, the Relax Tank is the way to go. This ultra soft tank is lightweight, perfect for any exercise, and promotes a calming message!

The Modern Mom:

For the mom who is always in the know, she’ll love the minimal style of the Moon Phase Necklace in Rose Gold. She knows how to make an awesome Instagram story and is always sharing her parenting hacks.

The On-The-Go Mom:

You know this mom, she’s EVERYWHERE. She’s always on the go, and literally has everything always on her just in case. The on the go mom would love the This Bag Contains My Face Pouch. Because even though she’s on-the-go, she’ll take a moment for herself.

The New Mom

She’s a new mom and she’s tiiiiired. The Rose Iced Coffee Cozy is just what she needs for a much needed caffeine intake. And since she might not get the change to drink it right away, the cozy will help those ice cubes from melting so quickly. So when she comes back to her cup, it won’t be a watered down mess!

The Soon-To-Be Mom

She’s pregnant in a pandemic, and her only silver lining is that strangers aren’t touching her bump. As it gets into summer, she’s going to feel hot. The Black Jersey Twist Headband will help keep her hair back. (And if she has morning sickness… well.. yea…) It will also come in handy in her hospital bag!

The Intuitive Mom:

She seems to have this mom magic within her. It always seems like she knows exactly what you need to hear. She just seems to always help guide you down your needed path, and you are so grateful for her help and guidance. You know the Rainbow Quartz Crystal Hair Pin is a little dash of added magic that would suit her well!

Speaking of awesome moms, I recently did a collaboration with my own mom. Have you seen it? Check it out here!

Holiday 2020 Wrap Up

Thank You for all of your love and support this year.

2020 has been… insane. It threw us all for a loop and created hardships and challenges we never thought we would face. 

Thank you to all of you who continued to show love to Salem Style, place orders, and spread the word to your friends and family. Without you, this never would be possible.

The shop is now closed for the season, so we can take some time to welcome our new baby into the world and enjoy some quiet time. (if we’re lucky!) But I just wanted to leave you with warm wishes to you and yours this holiday season. And again, thank you!

Love,

Juls & Chris

Holiday Gift Guide 2020 :: Gifts For Someone You Don’t Know Well

For the next guide in the series of 2020 Holiday Gift Guides – Gifts for Someone You Don’t Know Well. Oh man! Haven’t we all been there?? A new coworker? Your neighbor? Someone you got for Secret Santa? Someone your sibling just started dating? Or even someone you just started dating???

It’s so tough because you want to give something thoughtful, but you’re not sure where to start. Here are some ideas that you really can’t go wrong with! They’re all special items that will make the lucky recipient really excited!

1 A box of Salt & Ayre Chocolates from Harbor Sweets. Because when in doubt, you can’t go wrong with fine chocolates!

2 A bottle of New England Reserve Rum from Privateer Rum. Privateer Rum is wonderfully crafted, making each bottle such a special gift.

3 A Grapefruit Lavender Candle from Loxley + Leaf. The amazing scent combo is incredibly relaxing, they’re sure to love it! (I mean, who wouldn’t want to relax a little more after this year!)

4 The Iced Coffee Cozy from Salem Style. Because if they have ever had a cup of anything cold to drink, they’ll appreciate the wonders this little cozy can do!

5 A Ceramic Mug from Beech Street Pottery. Whether it’s coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, it’s sure to taste better in one of these beautiful mugs!

We’re on a roll! As in the the last guides, these gift ideas all come from local businesses! So be sure to support all of these amazing businesses!

Holiday Gift Guide 2020 :: Stocking Stuffers

For the third guide in the series of 2020 Holiday Gift Guides – Stocking Stuffers! Whether you’re stuffing an actual stocking, or just looking for something small and lovely, here are some items that are sure to bring a smile to their face!

1 A set of Wicked Warmers from Payne and Comfort. Just pop these babies in the microwave and put in your pockets. Easy as that! (p.s. I bought these for my mom as part of a “survive a New England winter” set and she loves them!)

2 A jar of Chocolate Toffee Almonds from The Cheese Shop of Salem. Because who doesn’t love a little treat in their stocking??

3 A handmade Jotter Notebook from HausWitch. Because whether they are suddenly inspired, or realize they need to make a list, this notebook will come to the rescue and be there for them!

4 A super cozy ear warmer, like the Anderson Ear Warmer from Salem Style. This ear warmer is perfect for anyone who is “not a hat person” but also hates those other ear warmers that squeeze your head.

5 A Floral Flower Bath Bomb from CC’s Essentials. What better way to have a “treat yourself” moment is to take a luxurious bath? What a gift to receive!

Like the previous gift guides, these gift ideas all come from local businesses! Look at you stuffing those stockings and shopping small!!

Holiday Gift Guide 2020 :: Gifts For Your Dad

For the second guide in the series of 2020 Holiday Gift Guides – Dads. Many of you indicated that finding gifts for your dad presents a particular challenge. One person specifically suggested “for the father who doesn’t have any major interests besides books” and another said “I need ideas for my father in law who keeps to himself”. Here are some ideas for that man you just don’t know what to buy for!

1 A Green Monstah Mug from Sully’s Brand. Because although baseball came back, that man misses going to the game and eating a Fenway frank.

2 The Burger Blast Blend from Salem Spice Company. Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean he’s necessarily firing up the ol’ grill.

3 An 800 Piece Model Ship Kit from the PEM Shop. Listen, it’s going to be a long winter. This will help mix things up, and then he’ll have a cool model ship.

4 The extra long and cozy Forest River Scarf from Salem Style. Because if he goes out to use the grill from #2, he’s going to be thankful to be wrapped up.

5 A bar of Backwoods Beer Soap from Grace Gardens. This soap can be used for face, body, and even shaving. It’s great for his skin, and also includes beer!

Like the last guide, these gift ideas all come from local businesses! So there’s that awesome factor as well!