News
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The Snow Family: A "Cherry" Tale (Part 2)
Published Jun 14 2019 in
A couple blogs ago, we introduced you to a family that's been a regular fixture at our studio since our first in Gastown so many moons ago!
Brandi Snow recently took home her 47th dress and we had a chance to gather some of her thoughts about our dresses and how they fit into her lifestyle and allow her to express herself.
When/Where do you wear our dresses?
I mainly switched to dresses as my primary clothing option because it was convenient in the morning. The idea of getting my clothes ready the night before was not an appealing option for me. Rather than turning the lights on in the morning and disturbing my husband just to find matching pants & tops, I can just grab a dress and dark leggings (if the weather was colder) – After a while, I ended up wearing dresses most weekends as well because they were comfortable!
We love that you find dresses more convenient than having to pair separates - we totally agree! The last thing we need is fussy fashion, right?
Your dresses are super comfortable, they're fun, and have pockets – which means I can throw my phone in a pocket and go. They are appropriate for work, can be worn casually on weekends, and dressed up for fancier occasions. I’ve ended up loving Cherry Velvet and having them take over my closet!
How did you discover us?
We found Cherry Velvet quite by chance at The 2014 Taboo Naughty but Nice Trade Show in Vancouver. At the time, I was in my late thirties, post-kid. Finding clothing that I liked at that time was not always an easy task – I no longer wanted something I would have worn as a teenager or in my twenties and I certainly did not want to shop anywhere that had clothing for people my mother’s age (no offense to my mom or people in her generation intended!) There didn’t seem to be a lot in between until I found CV. We weren't looking for dresses at the show, but was pleasantly surprised; the dresses were fun and cute, but also classic.
So what made you keep coming back to us? ;)
Five years after finding Cherry Velvet, you probably account for 95% of what’s in my closet. I love the diversity in your dresses - loud/bright/bold or reserved/understated – whatever your personality, mood, or the occasion, there is a Cherry Velvet dress to match! The consistent styles make future purchases easier as I know what size to purchase and how the dress will fit.
Not a week goes by that I don’t get complimented on one of your dresses. While some of the dresses are more geared towards one season, most of the dresses can be worn year round, often with the help of a cardigan, which means I get more wear out of them and don’t have to bother storing away clothing, to be reorganized into my closet every winter or summer depending upon the season.
We love to keep you practical & pretty, year 'round! ♥️
Here's a delicate one and we appreciate your honesty...We receive some feedback regarding our prices once and awhile - Has our price range ever deterred you?Not sure if it was age, having a kid, or just becoming more knowledgeable as a whole, but when I discovered your dresses, I was at a time in my life where I started wanting to be more aware of what I was spending money on and actually using my dollars to support things that I believe in.
Purchasing from Cherry Velvet allows me to spend money on values that are important to me – You are a local small business; your dresses are well made and they have a huge focus on employee sustainability, diversity, and living wages. All the while, because the dresses are retro I can wear them for years without adding cheap, poorly made clothes to the land fill.
Why wouldn’t I purchase a dress that I love that I can wear for five+ years?
We're positively blushing at everything Brandi shared with us and are absolutely humbled by her devotion! We love that our customers appreciate the detail & care that goes into every one of our garments.
How do our dresses make YOU feel? Let us know in the comments or drop us a line!
XOX Cherry Velvet
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Events Calendar NOW LIVE!
Published Jun 07 2019 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, Customer Appreciation, Dress, Dresses, Made In Canada, New Arrivals, what's new
...We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog post for an ANNOUNCEMENT!
Ever since we started holding regular open studio shop weekends, we've wanted to make sure ya'll can Save-The-Dates on our events as soon as you can. We understand how busy life can get and want to ensure everyone has a chance to get some retail therapy in. #selfcare is a thing, after all 😉
Have a peek at this month below & bookmark our new Events Page!
Can't make it out? Can't wait? :: Book a Personal Shopping Appointment with us! ::
We can't wait to see y'all! ♥️
XOX Cherry Velvet
BLOGGIN' NEXT WEEK :: PART 2 of our customer spotlight on The Snow Family.
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The Snow Family: A "Cherry" Tale (Part 1)
Published May 31 2019 in Cherry Velvet, Customer Appreciation, Made In Canada
In the many years that we have been in operations here in beautiful Vancouver, BC, we've watched our customers come and grow into an enthusiastic, body positive community.
Feeling so blessed to have such wonderful people supporting us, we wanted to take a moment or two to recognize one such family, who have been delighting us at our studio with their excitement and charm since 2014.
May we present to you, The Snow Family.
You might recognize Jon, the provocative patriarch, as our erstwhile model for our Men's line of shirts...
But the real Belle of the Ball is the buxom and beautiful, Brandi Snow.
...And of course, we cannot forget our "Littlest Velvet", Miss Isobel!
Even though we don't offer Girls' sizes, we love that Isobel can't get enough of our styles.
It warms our heart to see how much she loves to match with her mum & dad.
But it touches us even more than she's always the first to our door, so eager to help out the team. We love our little Hanger-wrangler! With fashion on her mind, we may have a young designer in our midst...
We love that each member actually has their own favourite look -
Of course Jon loves all our Mens' shirts, but as a lover of all things V, the Chrissy & Marie are Jon's fave dresses (who doesn't love adjustable cleavage?) Both Isobel and Brandi are currently Team Brigitte, with our Pandamonium Print on point.
But Brandi admits that she will always have a fond place her in heart for one of her first styles (and one of our earlier designs), a little number named, "Melody".
We think it's so neat that Jon was able to send us this old snap from a past Studio Shop way back at our old Gastown location.
...Could this have been the very moment she decided to say "Yes" to the Dress? ;)
Stay tuned! In next week's blog, Brandi shares her thoughts on aging gracefully and why 95% of her wardrobe is Cherry Velvet dresses! <3
XOX Cherry Velvet -
Welcome Back Tracy!
Published May 16 2019 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, Social Media Manager, staff updates, what's new
There is a buzz of excitement here at Cherry Velvet headquarters. The rumours are true, Ms. Tracy Po has returned to the Cherry Velvet fold and we couldn't be happier. Tracy is fulfilling her new role here as the Social Media Manager for Cherry Velvet so stay tuned for some very fun, and creative content on our social media pages.
Tracy brings an intimate knowledge of our brand and buckets of positivity and enthusiasm. Diane, our designer describes her as a (t)whirling dervish of energy. Tracy comes in like a wrecking ball of sunshine and has been quoted as saying "In all honesty, I'm the kind of person that turns lemons into lemon vodka and would rather look forward with my eye on the horizon than look down behind me."
With a passion for all things Disney. (Guys, she REALLY loves Disney!) and a unique and amazing sense of style and upbeat personality, it's kind of like having Mary Poppins join the team.
When she was asked why she was excited to work for Cherry Velvet, Tracy said "I love seeing the delight on our clients' faces when they see how wonderfully our dresses fit them. You wouldn't know it by looking at me, but I have struggled and continue to struggle with my weight. I know how depressing and disheartening it feels to have to settle for a less than perfect dress. I love that Cherry Velvet takes care of confidence-boosting style for our clients. It is incredibly inspiring to work for a brand that promotes the idea of being #StunningAtAnySize!"
Always whistling while she works, she has a passion for customer service. She'll be working at our Studio Shop this weekend. Come say "Hi"!
Friday, May 17 from 2pm-7pm + Saturday, May 18 from 11am-5pm
Welcome back to Cherry Velvet, Tracy! We're all so happy to have you as part of the team.
XOX Cherry Velvet
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Actually, Dresses ARE Easy
Published May 07 2019 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, comfort, cotton, day dress, Dress, Dresses, everyday, Fashion, Made In Canada
There’s a part of me that never outgrew the dress-up stage of childhood. Back then it was pretending to be an empress or witch-queen – anything that was equal parts regal, mysterious, and magical.
These days, give me a halfway good reason, and I’ll still spend the better part of an afternoon getting all dolled up for an evening out. It’s a lengthy process that starts, of course, with deciding which dress suits the occasion and my mood. After that, a host of secondary decisions: does it need a crinoline? Which shoes will match? How should I do my hair and makeup? Then there’s jewelry, accessories, a purse, hosiery, and various underthings. It’s dress-up, but for adults: less “witch-queen” and more “grown-up glamour” – but still full of whimsy and pleasure. Admittedly, getting “dressed up” like this can take a lot of time, and most of us wait for special occasions when the extra effort seems worth it. In the meantime, our dresses end up relegated to the back of the closet, on hold until a special dinner, wedding, or some other equally fancy event crops up. But wearing a dress is not always the same as getting “dressed up.” Believe it or not, wearing a dress can be just about the simplest wardrobe decision to make, and the most comfortable and efficient way to get dressed and out the door in the morning.
Everyday Easy Dresses
Without fail, when I wear a dress someplace casual – like picking up the kids after school or having a quick coffee with a friend – I get a compliment for taking the time and energy to get “dressed up.”
But pulling that dress over my head and popping on a pair of shoes was likely much more simple - and more comfortable – than any other outfit I might have chosen. More often than not, the dress was the easy solution. Pants and tops have to be coordinated. Waistbands pinch and pull. Shorts ride up uncomfortably. Trousers rarely fit properly in length or inseam without tailoring. Blouses come untucked, skirts twist around. To be honest, it feels like I’ve cheated my way into this compliment when I get it - and I almost always confess this sentiment to the person offering it. People see a dress and assume it’s taken a lot more effort because we’ve married the idea of dresses to the notion of being dressed up. Or, even worse, we’ve concluded that dresses themselves are uncomfortable and unwieldy – usually because we’ve worn styles that didn’t suit our bodies, made out of unpleasant or cheap material, or were constricting and uncomfortable in some way.
Keep It Simple
Obviously not all dresses will do for everyday wear. Leave the satin and sequins for evening glamour and fancy events. Instead, go for less structured shapes (I like an empire waist because it feels so comfortable for my body type) and try a cotton dress, in a simple colour or with a fun, lighthearted print. Skip the fancy hair and makeup. Pop on a cardigan and wear it with a pair of white Keds, simple sandals, or even flip-flops. Pull on a pair of matching capri or full-length leggings underneath, if the weather is cooler; in warm weather, don’t worry about hose or tights at all. Finish with a ponytail or messy bun. No doubt, dresses won’t work for everything. You’ll still need the right kind of clothing to hit the gym or weed the garden (although I’ve been known to mow the lawn in a simple t-shirt dress). But for almost all other settings and activities, don’t overlook the ease of a dress. It really can be as simple, or as complicated, as you want it to be.
Fancy is Still Fun
Wearing a dress doesn’t need to be a major production – it can be as easy as pulling on a pair of pajamas, but just a lot more fashionable. The notion that a dress is complicated, fussy, or time-consuming is largely a reflection of how we perceive fashion, and the abundance of ill-fitting, constrictive, overly stuffy or too-formal dresses many of us have in our closets. But if you find the right dress, the simplicity will surprise you … and you won’t want to keep it tucked away in the closet for a special occasion anymore. And if even the easiest of easy dresses still leaves you feeling a little bit fancy? Take a deep breath and just go for it anyway: you’re never too old for dress-up, even if you’re only going to the grocery store.
Christina Myers
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Make It! Show Vancouver
Published Apr 26 2019 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, cotton, Dresses, handmade revolution, Made In Canada, Made in Vancouver, Make It, Makies, Market, PNE Forum
Over 200 Rock Star Makies brought their beautiful handmade goodies to the PNE Forum and we were there! It was our first time having a booth and it was so much fun!
Thank you so much to all those that came out to see us and brought such good vibes. We LOVE the reaction of new customers when they discover our fun printed dresses with pockets for the very first time. We managed to fit a small fitting room in our booth and the patrons took full advantage! One of the best parts was having new Cherry Velvet devotees step out of the dressing room in one of our dresses and having passersby commenting on how amazing they looked. Unsolicited compliments are always welcome!
Most of all we just love meeting our customers old and new. It means the world to us to be able to show you our new wonderful prints and get invaluable feedback. Our customers are the best!
What a great group of people that put on the show and participated. We're grateful to be part of such a badass group of Makies who are so positive, upbeat, and FUN. This show is well organized and so well run.
There were SO many incredible Makies, who also had amazing booths! Everything from art, jewelry, food, pottery, distilleries, nature photography, chocolate, clothing and so much more. It's such a special experience to meet like-minded entrepreneurs who share our passion and enthusiasm for doing the work they love and made locally.
We love being part of The Handmade Revolution and are so proud to make all our dresses right here in Vancouver as well as supporting other businesses that do the same. Hope to see you for the Christmas Market in December!
XOX Cherry Velvet
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How To Get Your Dress in Your Size
Published Apr 10 2019 in boutique, Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, cotton, dress size, Dresses, Fashion, Fit, Limited Edition, Made In Canada, sizing
Are you sometimes frustrated when you can't find your dress size? If so, we're here to explain how and why that might be and what you can do about it!
Maybe this is a good time to state that we are a smaller, boutique-sized company. While our active online presence may give the impression of a larger business, we are actually a team of just five individuals! If we manufactured our dresses overseas like a lot of larger companies, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. This is not something that will ever happen with us, as we are proud to be a Canadian company that manufactures our dresses in Canada. This is something that means so much to us as well as the knowledge that no one will ever be exploited while making our dresses. The good news is because we are small we can be more fluid and make small changes that we feel our customers want.
While we do our very best to offer the widest selection of dresses possible, it all comes down to the ratio of sizes. You may or may not know that most companies cut their production of clothing in a ratio. The majority of units will be cut in the most popular sizes (middle sizes) and the smaller and larger sizes will receive fewer units. This is common practice in the clothing industry and it's also how retail stores order clothing for their stores, too.
As a small online retailer with a local shop, we can't make masses of dresses in each print we offer. We usually make 12-40 dresses per each unique print and those units get divided up over the sizes we carry. That's not a lot of dresses per size as we make 8 different sizes! Unfortunately, some sizes can sell out quickly.
FYI, we're bringing the classic Chrissy Dress back and it'll be available in all sizes at our Studio shop and online soon in these new prints:
To avoid any disappointment, please consider ordering your size early. As we see an increased demand in different sizes, we'll add more units in those sizes. We truly care about you, our amazing customers and do our best to respond to all your requests. We're always listening!
We love to hear all of your ideas, feedback, and comments!
If you are in the Vancouver area this Friday and Saturday we would love to see you at our Studio Shop!
Join us this Fri, Apr 12, 2pm-7pm and Sat, Apr 13, 11am-5pm
@ 1635 Powell St. Vancouver, BC (Free parking is available)
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Our Gratitude for Logan Rudrum
Published Mar 22 2019 in Employee Appreciation
In any business, there are folks behind the scenes who help make everything work smoothly. Logan Rudrum has been working for the Diane Kennedy and Cherry Velvet brands since 2013, and many people don't know that Logan is often the glue that holds things together. He has brought both a unique history and a positive vibe to our offices.
Every once and a while, you’re lucky enough to have a co-worker like Logan. He has a diverse background that includes media, film, web design, and music, along with a passion for fitness and nutrition. He’s smart and great at his job, but also compassionate and thoughtful. Logan is an amazing photographer and has a wicked sense of humour. He’s the lone male working in an office of females – and he completely makes it work! He has a healthy respect for everyone around him and is always kind.
Most of our photos of Logan are of him behind the action, taking photos for the website and social media platforms that he manages. He always does what it takes to get the best angles!
We are excited to announce that Logan will be expanding his role with Cherry Velvet going forward to include a managerial role. His new title is Creative and Brand Director. We can't wait to see him thrive in this new position and we are all looking forward to his new concepts and ideas growing our company.
We could not be happier for him!
The most important thing we want Logan to know is how deeply he is appreciated. He is such an important and integral part of our company it's almost impossible to imagine Cherry Velvet without him. We truly value his presence and tremendously important contributions to each of us and our company.
Thank-you Logan and congratulations!
We ❤️ you!
XOX from all of us @ Cherry Velvet
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Caring For Your Cherry Velvet Dress
Published Mar 14 2019 in cotton, Dress, Dresses, fabric, Made In Canada, washing
Cherry Velvet dresses are super easy to care for. With minimal fuss, our high-quality cotton dresses will last you for years. They don't shrink or fade and are so timeless they can be worn over and over. You don't need to save them for a special occasion!
Here are a few tips to help you keep your Cherry Velvet dresses looking their best:
Care of Cotton Dresses
- Machine Wash, gentle cycle on cold or warm with regular detergent. It's important to wash your dresses with items that will not bleed out colour onto your dress. (For example, if your dress is black with a white print, don't wash it with other darks, wash it with old towels or sheets - something that will absolutely not transfer colour to the white part of your dress)
- Hang to dry
- While still wet, smooth out the wrinkles.
Yep, that's it. It's worth spending a few minutes on #3. Taking the time to smooth out the wrinkles after hanging it up will go a long way toward being iron free! Smooth the collar, put your hands in the pockets, run your hand along the hem until it's hanging straight.
If you're going somewhere special or your dress has come fresh out of the box, go ahead and iron it with steam on a cotton setting.
Hanging around
When it's time to hang up your dress, be sure to give it a little room in your closet so it can hang freely. That way when you are ready to put it on again it will be crease free and ready to go when you are!
Wear your dress!
It's very important to take your dress out and wear it whenever possible. You'll want to accessorize in a way that's appropriate to the destination although not having a destination in mind is perfectly alright. You may illicit wistful stares and long lingering looks when wearing your dress. This is quite normal. You may also be approached by other women demanding to know where you found your dress. Just send them our way and we will look after the rest. Don't forget to smile and say "Thanks!".
Find our most recent Cherry Velvet Dresses in our New Arrivals section & please join our mailing list for tips, first looks & more here!
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Elly Mayday's Message to all Women
Published Mar 08 2019 in Ashley Luther, Body Positive, Elly Mayday, Ovarian Cancer, Plus Model
You may have heard about Ashley Luther, also known as Elly Mayday; a body positive model that, sadly, recently passed at the age of thirty. We spent a day with Elly back in 2013, shortly after her diagnosis and want to share her video message again with all of you.
Elly's message is about Ovarian cancer -a much less talked about, but a very serious type of women’s cancer. Did you know there is no screening test for cancer of your #ladyballs. This is a somewhat controversial name for your ovaries, but it does require both knowledge and guts to beat this difficult to diagnose disease.
The teal green shade of her hair represents the colour of the Ovarian cancer ribbon. These photos were all taken just before she planned to shave it all off. (due to the expectation of hair loss from Chemotherapy)
It's important to our designer, Diane, to spread awareness, as not only did she lose her Mom to Ovarian cancer at a very young age but also her Sister-in-law as well.
There is no one specific symptom for Ovarian cancer and these symptoms are generally vague/non-specific (often mistakenly attributed to other causes). It’s called ‘the disease that whispers’ for good reason: it’s often overlooked and under-diagnosed.
Do you do a breast self-exam every month? What about going for an annual pap test? These simple steps could save your life. Taking care of your #ladyballs is not as straightforward.
These are the symptoms to be aware of:
- Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
- Pelvic discomfort or heaviness
- Back or abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Gas, nausea, indigestion
- Change in bowel habits
- Emptying your bladder frequently
- Menstrual irregularities
- Weight loss or weight gain
Other symptoms…
- Mass or “lump” in your pelvis that you can feel
- Inability to eat normally
- Pain during intercourse
- Vaginal bleeding
We hope we’ve inspired you to catch up on any tests you haven’t taken lately, and brought attention to ways to help spot Ovarian Cancer. Please also consider taking a moment to share this post with all the important women in your life so that they’ll be aware, too.
RIP Ashley Luther / Elly Mayday
XOX Cherry Velvet
