News
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What's Up and Coming
Published Sep 16 2020 in Cape Coat, Cherry Velvet, Fall 2020, Veronica Belle, what's new
How about a little update about what's happening here at Cherry Velvet? We've settled into our new digs and we're loving it here. But we're sure you're all wondering what's coming in the way of new and pretty things...
For starters, coming soon is a new wool cape design for Fall in 5 beautiful shades. This item sold out last year so we've designed another updated version just for you. It's not only goes perfectly over your dresses, but you can wear it with just about anything from jeans to cosplay, and style it anyway from casual to dressy. It's the perfect weight to transition the seasons if you're in a colder climate. But if you live in a more temperate area, this could do for most of the cooler months of the year.
Just to show you how great our new A Cappella Cape looks over our dresses, Veronica Belle models it over our Marie Dino Might dress. (P.S. Don't wait on this dress, some sizes are already sold out!)
New for fall we've designed a blouse (we're excited!) that will be coming in 4 new prints including the music print you may have helped us name. (Winner TBD) There will also be a new necklace in music notes!🎵🎶 Here's a peek at the blouse fabrics:
There will also be a new Coat Dress (more details closer to the release) and another new dress style called Jacqueline that will unfortunately be coming a little later than originally planned as there has been a fabric delay. Sneak peeks of all the fabrics for this dress will be on our social media channels in the coming weeks.
In other news, we're thrilled to have a new staff member, Leah Tuttle. You might recognise her as she has done some modelling for us. Here she's wearing the Marlene dress in Cherry Tart-an. Leah has also been our sales agent for Western Canada for over 10 years and as such knows our brand inside and out!
We hope you've enjoyed our update. Thank-you for all your amazing messages and photos. We love you all and miss seeing you at our studio shops.
Take Care, Be Kind and Stay Safe
XOX Cherry Velvet
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Close to Home: Having Fun and Staying Safe
Published Sep 09 2020 in Body Positive, Cherry Velvet, COVID-19, Dresses, Made In Canada, Retro
When all the things we love doing are on indefinite hold, it takes a little bit of creativity to keep the fun going. And with autumn around the corner, and the long winter right behind, there’s no time like the present to think of some new ways to enjoy ourselves while focusing on self-care, body positivity, our friends and family and yes, fashion too. We’ve come up with a few ideas to help our Cherry Velvet family during the ongoing pandemic as we all continue to stay close to home:
Escape into Fantasy
There’s a reason it’s called “escapism” – the right book or movie can draw you in so deeply, you forget where you are. There’s never been a better time to tap into the joy of a story that helps you disappear for a few hours. We can’t travel right now but we can go anywhere in time (or space) with the right novel or film.
-Grab an old favourite and re-read: has it been a few years since you read the Outlander series? Time to pluck it off the shelf and dive back in. (As fans ourselves, we even found inspiration in Outlander for one of our pieces last year. Check out Style Inspiration – the Claire Capelet.https://www.cherryvelvetplus.com/blogs/news/style-inspiration-the-claire-capelet
-Check out some fantasy faves: Hunger Games will take you into a dystopian future and the latest book in the series – a prequel to the original trilogy called The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is out now. Also new and certain to be popular is Midnight Sun, the latest in the Twilight collection, which (if you don’t already know) will let you disappear into a world full of vampires and werewolves. If you prefer outer space, there’s an endless supply of science fiction to help you escape to Mars, or the other side of the universe – and everywhere in between.
Go Retro
We love all things vintage. From the tips of our toes to the tops of our heads, we adore a retro look: shoes, dress, jewelry, old-school hairdo. Now’s a great time to indulge in some vintage fun.-Enjoy some old Hollywood glamour with a movie night of classic titles. Make some popcorn, pour yourself an Old-Fashioned (if you know how to make one) or a Shirley Temple, and enjoy a film night from another era. Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Ginger Rogers, Mae West … the list goes on.
-Always wanted to learn how to do a victory roll or another hairstyle from the 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond? There’s hundreds of tutorials on YouTube. Pull out the curling iron, the hairspray, and get started. Upshot: if you mess it up, you can just wash it out.
-Put on one of your favourite Cherry Velvet dresses. Don’t save them in your closet for a special occasion. Every day is a special occasion! Get dressed up for dinner and pull out the best dishes and light some candles while you’re at it – or just throw one on to wear for a walk or around the house. Putting on a dress doesn’t always equal dressing up. Not all dresses feel “easy” but ours definitely do – we even wrote about it in this blog post: Actually Dresses ARE easy. https://www.cherryvelvetplus.com/blogs/news/actually-dresses-are-easy
Cozy Up
With autumn on its way, now is a good time to start “nesting.” This year especially, some of us may be dreading the shorter days and longer nights, but if we plan ahead, we can create our own cozy retreats from the world-String up some little white lights around your living room or bedroom. The warm glow feels cheerful.
-If you’re a tea drinker, stock up on some new varieties. Add a warm blanket and a good book or movie (see the above tip about escapism) and you’re all set.
- Get creative with indoor arts and crafts on a rainy day. We have our very own pin-up colouring sheets to download (https://www.cherryvelvetplus.com/blogs/news/colour-me-cherry) so grab some markers or colouring pencils.
Do Good
It’s a tough time for many people these days. If there’s ever been a time to make the world a little bit better, in ways both big and small, it’s now.-Drop off some food to your local food bank. Better yet, make a financial donation online from the comfort of home (most food banks have websites where you can donate cash.) This allows the food bank to target spending to those items most needed. More people than ever are relying on their local food banks.
-Call a friend, even if you don’t think they’re struggling. Sometimes our most upbeat friends may be the ones having the hardest time in private. Reach out to a friend. And if your friends are all doing well, make a new friend: many seniors’ homes and local agencies have opportunities to be matched with a stranger to write letters or make phone calls, to help people from feeling isolated.
-Learn and get involved. We recently wrote about our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and our support for Black Lives Matter. If you’re not sure where to start to become better educated and be an ally, we have a few suggestions on our post here: In Support of Anti-Racism and BLM https://www.cherryvelvetplus.com/blogs/news/in-support-of-anti-racism-blm
Don't forget, we always love to hear from you. Send us your thoughts, ideas, dress and print wishes and of course photos of you in a dress. Don't forget to tag us :-) #cherryvelvet
Christina Meyer for Cherry Velvet
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Keep Calm and Carry On
Published Sep 03 2020 in Body Positive, Cherry Velvet, COVID-19, Dresses, Made In Canada
We do things a little bit differently here at Cherry Velvet. From the way we make our dresses (locally designed and manufactured) to our focus on body positivity (with sizing that’s inclusive and designs that are comfortable), we pride ourselves on having a unique approach to fashion, business, and life in general.
And we find our customers – all you fantastic fashion divas with fun-loving attitudes – do things a little differently, too. Over the years, so many of you have shared wonderful glimpses into your diverse lives (and oh-so-colourful closets) by sending us notes, photos, and highlights from your weddings, parties, travels, stage performances, and more “everyday celebrations” than we can count.
These days, things are definitely different – but in new and challenging ways. Those birthday parties and overseas adventures aren’t happening. Theatre and music shows are on hiatus. Our normal routines and activities are on all on hold. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, and tired – like life has lost some of its colour.
We’re all eager for a time we can gather with friends and family and return to our favourite activities – but how can we bring back some of that colour to our lives, symbolically and literally, right now?
We have a few ideas on how to cope during this pandemic in our own unique Cherry Velvet style. Here’s a few tips on how to keep calm, carry on, and have some fun along the way:
Love Yourself
Easier said than done at the best of times, and you may find that it’s uniquely challenging to feel worthy and valuable right now. There’s a lot of body-shaming and hurtful jokes about weight gain online these days. Social media can feel like a landmine, and prioritizing self-care can be a challenge when you’re juggling different responsibilities.- Make a list of five attributes you love about yourself. If that feels too hard, make a list of five things that others have said they love about you. Look at the list when you go to bed, and again when you wake up.
- Trim your social media by keeping the people and organizations that offer support, care, and valuable content. Unfollow or remove those that do the opposite. Curate your social media for body positivity!
- Check out our blog post from earlier this year applauding some famous women who are making big waves in the body positivity and size inclusion realm. Reading about others can feel inspiring. https://www.cherryvelvetplus.com/blogs/news/judge-not-our-bodies
Safety First (But Keep the Fun)
-Missing parties? Host one on zoom. Go all out with a theme – encourage everyone to dress up in the style of a particular era or go tropical with sundresses and Hawaiian shirts.
-Wear your mask when out in public. And you might as well make it fun – and fashionable! There’s plenty of options out there now but our favourite is, of course, the ones we’ve been making right here at Cherry Velvet. Our beautiful printed masks come in packs of three, or as singles, and are made from two layers of tightly woven cotton. They are washable and adjustable, with a row of elastic that is worn behind the neck and one on the back of the head, rather than tucking around ears. Check out our colourful selection here: https://www.cherryvelvetplus.com/collections/face-masks
-Stay safe and shop from home. Find your favourite retailers online (especially the ones local to you) and see what they’ve got on offer. Treat yourself to something fun and new: some pampering treats like a face mask or new candles, a cozy new pajama, or a book. Better yet, bring home some colour with one of our many newly released designs and fabrics! Check out all our New Arrivals https://www.cherryvelvetplus.com/collections/new-arrivals
Think Local
This is a catchphrase going back years but it means more than ever right now. Since most of us are staying close to home, we have the chance to explore (and make an impact) in our own neighbourhoods. Here’s a few ideas:
-Explore your local area by going for walks in different directions and routes each day. Even better, bring along a small garbage bag and pick up litter you see along the way.
-Check google maps for your closest parks and wildlife areas. Many of the favourite outdoor hotspots are extra busy right now (in Vancouver, this includes some of the beaches and world-famous parks like Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park.) Are there smaller places close to where you live that you haven’t explored yet?
-Support businesses that are owned and operated locally. Restaurants, small shops, and local services need support right now. Many have options for curb side pickup or delivery. You can also buy gift certificates now and save them to shop another day.
Stay tuned for more ideas next week in Part 2 :)
Christina Meyer for Cherry Velvet
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Care of Your Cherry Velvet Dress
Published Aug 27 2020 in Care Instructions, Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, Fabric Care, Garment care, Made In Canada, Washable Cotton
Cherry velvet dresses are super easy to care for. With minimal fuss, our high-quality cotton dresses will last you for years. They resist shrinking and fading and are so timeless they can be worn over and over. You don't need to save them for a special occasion!
To give you the official low down on care, here are the steps:
1. Machine Wash, gentle cycle on cold or warm (separate the colours....so no RED socks, please). Also don't wash Black print dresses with other black items like pants as the black could get on the lighter printed parts. (It's ok to wash all your dresses together as the colours on our dresses don't run)
2 Hang to dry
3. 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 for another night, 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 occasion although not having an occasion 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 website and we will look after the rest. Don't forget to smile and say "Thanks!".
XOX Cherry Velvet -
Beauty and the Belle
Published Aug 20 2020 in Cherry Velvet Dresses, Made In Canada, Pin Up, plus, Plus Model, Veronica Belle, Vintage Inspired
She’s one of the most familiar faces here at Cherry Velvet and for good reason: Veronica Belle’s iconic style – a blend of old-school glamour and pin-up bombshell – is a modelling match made in heaven.
It’s been five years since Veronica’s first Cherry Velvet shoot, which took place near Robson Square in downtown Vancouver in October 2015. That shoot saw her in a pair of now-retired styles that were a great match for her classic style: the Tatyana dress in “Burgundy Tiger” (a unique criss-cross bust design with a stylized tiger pattern) and the Aurora dress in “Guitar Picks” (a multi-coloured fabric with a sweetheart neckline, cap sleeves, and a side bow at the waist.) Both dresses were popular additions to the lineup, offering Cherry Velvet’s unique approach in creating dresses that fit curvy and plus-size customers in flattering and fun designs.
But the plus size model and body positivity advocate doesn’t just wear our dresses on photo shoots. She’s also a long-time customer herself, with plenty of our most popular designs hanging in her own closet. As a plus size 0X (about mid-range in Cherry Velvet’s inclusive sizing that runs from XS to 3X) she’s one of countless curvy women who have fallen in love with Cherry Velvet’s fun designs, retro charm, and classic elegance.
And it’s no surprise the camera loves her: a self-described “total ham” and huge fan of all things Disney, she grew up doing theatre and today is an accomplished singer. She performs with her husband, Ben Klein, a well-known international Elvis impersonator. With her 'Snow White' colouring and his matching black hair, they make a striking couple on the stage – a flashback to the classic looks from an old black-and-white film.
So when Cherry Velvet launched a dress that was equal parts old Hollywood glamour and retro pin-up – with a sprinkling of happily-ever-after princess – it was easy to decide who to name it after. The “Veronica” dress is a satin pin-up style wedding dress with a full circle skirt (with lots of room for a matching crinoline) and a banded waist with a picture-perfect bow.
If plus modelling and performing with her spouse don’t keep her hopping all day, Veronica has a host of hobbies to occupy her time: she’s artistic and loves to both paint and draw. She’s also a book worm (current read is the long-awaited new Twilight series book Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer) and she’s a big fan of true crime, from podcasts to books.
And she’s always been a little bit quirky: not too many kids have a Jaws-themed birthday cake – but she did, on her fourth birthday. Sharks are still one of her favourite animals today.
We love you Veronica Belle! Thanks so much for being uniquely, wonderfully you and such an amazing model for our brand ❤️
Christina Meyers for Cherry Velvet
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Spot Picks For Retro Clicks
Published Aug 14 2020 in Diners, Parks, Photography, Pin Up, Retro, Vancouver, Vintage
Sharing the joy of your vintage-inspired outfit is just as much fun as putting it together. And choosing a special location to snap your share is just another way to extend the fun, right? For inspiration, here's our insider's list of photo shoot locations and favourite spots in and around Vancouver.
Stanley Park Rose Garden
610 Pipeline Rd, Vancouver
Established in 1920, this is a perfect place for some true vintage romance, which makes it a popular photoshoot location. Visit between June and August to catch the beautiful floral displays, and get your picture among the blossoms or under the vintage gazebos.
Burnaby Art Gallery
6344 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Burnaby's art museum is located at the historic Fairacres Mansion, a 1910 Edwardian style building. Outside are beautiful staircases and grounds surrounded by a pictureque garden as well as the lake nearby. This whole location has many photo-worthy spots!
Sophie's Cosmic Cafe
2095 West 4th Ave, Vancouver
This diner was opened in the '80s, and its style is pure retro glory. The kitschy artwork, eclectic decor, bright red barstools and pink booths will have you snapping pictures the whole time!
Gastown's Hotel Europe
43 Powell St, Vancouver, BC
Incredibly picturesque, this six-story heritage building from 1909 resembles a tiny version of a "flat iron" building. Stand on Gastown's cobblestone streets and have your picture taken with Hotel Europe in the background for a super vintage look!
Lucy's Eastside Diner
2708 Main St, Vancouver
This spot opened in 2010, and it's been an absolute gem ever since. It's open 24-hours (omg right?), and the decor is perfect inside and outside. The turquoise on the wall is one of our favourite colours, and the orange countertops have retro boomerang patterns!
Locomotive 374 at Roundhouse Community Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
This antique engine was retired in 1945 after many decades of transporting passengers, and has since been renovated and placed on permanent display at the Roundhouse Community Centre. It is open to the public, and you can even climb on it for some beautiful vintage shots!
Paramount Theater
652 Columbia St, New Westminster
This historical location was first opened as the Edison Vaudeville Theatre in 1910, and was later renamed. Currently it offers adult entertainment, but you might recognize it from the movie Twilight or shows like Sabrina. The beauty of this location is the gorgeous neon sign outside, fun to pose with.
Hopefully we've inspired you to take some photos of your own. Make sure to wear your favourite Cherry Velvet dress and share your photos with us!
And if you're not from Vancouver, we would love to know - what retro spots should we make sure to visit in your city?
Stay safe & get clicking!
XOX Cherry Velvet
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Frock Flashback: The Marie (New ones coming soon!)
Published Aug 07 2020 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, cotton, Marie, New Dress, What's new
What better time to reminisce on past dress releases than Flashback Friday? Today we're doing just that, looking back on some of your all-time favourite prints in the unique, smart design of our Marie dress.
This dress was named after the brainiest of babes, Polish-French scientist Marie Curie, who discovered Radium and Polonium. Many of our Marie prints, right from its inception, have been focused on things intellectual girls love.
Right off the bat, we need to talk about its shining feature: the zipper front! That is definitely a modern take for a retro-inspired dress, and it adds so much to the design. You can play with the amount of cleavage you want to display, making it so versatile, you can wear it to work or for a fun night out!
On top of that, if you've tried the Marie before, you know that the zipper's superpower is that... you never need help to zip up! Now that's smart design!
The sharp collar and sleek lines give it a look that's both prim and proper for a cool geeky look or a little bit edgy for a rockabilly style!
2017 Release
Our first release was a total success. We had prints like Genius, which is like a blackboard covered in equations; Jet Set, with postcards from famous tourist spots around the world; Double Feature, with popcorn and drinks for the cinephiles; and Mini Donuts... who doesn't love mini donuts??!
Genius, Mini Donuts
Jet Set, Double Feature
2019 Release
For last year's release, our brainy look was the Chemistry Cu-Te, an ode to all lab-dwelling beauties. The geeky Spaced Out pays homage to classic Atari video games; Jelly Jam is a marine biologist's dream with a multitude of cnidarian specimens, and Prismatic Peacock was geometric with classy gold details.
Chemistry Cu-Te, Spaced Out
Jelly Jam, Prismatic Peacock
Coming Soon
Our upcoming release has already arrived in the warehouse, and we couldn't be more excited to share these new dresses with you! (we're just waiting for the official photos) You may have seen some of these prints on our social media as you've been helping us name them. Here is the complete assortment:
Floral Fireworks, Spot On, Roses Are Dead, Our unnamed Owl print, and Dino Might
Are you excited about the new frocks? Which are your favourites? Stay tuned for a new Name That Print contest soon, and for the announcement of the release!
We can't wait to see you in these new looks!
XOX Cherry Velvet
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There's Pride In Love
Published Jul 24 2020 in Dresses, LGBTQ, Pride Week, Rainbow, Vancouver Pride
As we approach the start of Vancouver's own Pride Week (July 27th-August 3rd), we'd like to take a moment to reaffirm our support for the LGBTQ community in creating a world of equality and acceptance.
The LGBTQ community has long sought the ability to freely express their love, with the same rights as other people and couples enjoy. As a brand that champions body positivity, we deeply appreciate the importance of inclusivity, fair representation, and being able to live a life free of judgment. Equal rights and equal opportunities are a necessity for people of all sizes, ethnicities, sexual orientations and genders.
We are proud to be based around Vancouver, a city with a vibrant LGBTQ community. While this year's world-famous Pride week celebrations have been re-imagined in a digital form, there are still a variety of ways to participate.
For this year's Spring/Summer releases, we made sure to include dresses that could serve as an expression of love and support for the LGBTQ community! Rocking the rainbow is not just about how wonderful it looks, but can also be about making it clear as day where you stand: with love.
So you can Fly With Pride with all the rainbow specimens of our Doris dress...
Or bring all the cosmic energies to your outfit with our prismatic Aura Luna Norma!
Although most Pride events are currently being held online, make sure to stay safe if you happen to attend any get-togethers! Our cute Rainbow Cubes mask coordinates nicely with other colourful pieces, and we have many more masks available on our site.(And yes - you can get yourself this beautiful rainbow necklace right here!)
In support of the LGBTQ community, we will also be donating 10% of the proceeds from the sales of our rainbow products to Qmunity, BC's queer, trans and two-spirit resource centre. (from now until Aug 4th) If you are in need of resources or interested in donating, please visit their page here!
Stay safe, and Happy Pride!
XOX Cherry Velvet
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A Blast From The Past: Atomic Attire
Published Jul 17 2020 in atomic, Cherry Velvet, inspiration, jewelry, mid-century modern, Vintage Inspired
We simply wouldn't have “Retro Class with Modern Sass”, if we didn't recognize how inspired we are by Mid-Century Modern (MCM) design! This post-war movement was popularized between 1945-1969 and is characterized by simple, sleek lines with an uncluttered, minimalist aesthetic. As you can tell, it is still celebrated today!
Here at Cherry Velvet, we are definitely drawn to the kitschy, fun designs and colourful palettes of the Atomic Era, which coincided with the rise of MCM.
Why was it called The Atomic Era? Around the 1950s, nuclear power and space exploration had quickly become household phrases, and the world was excited about this new kind of energy. It symbolized the potential our future held and everyone was obsessed. And so, this era produced bright, cheery designs; demonstrating the positive outlook the world had at the time.
From fashion design to transportation, Atomic was the way!
Cherry Velvet's Atomic Necklace Sets
So let's come back to the future! – Some of our most MCM items at Cherry Velvet are our handmade necklace sets, custom designed by local jeweller, Mirror Mirror Bijoux. From their galactic sparkle to their scientific-inspired design, these glass bead beauties definitely echo that Atomic appeal.
Royal Atomic Set | Black Atomic Set | Rainbow Atomic Set | Atomic Tiffany SetNow, we would be remiss to ignore a few of our most stellar prints!
Below are a few of our favourite MCM prints in our latest collection - Paired with our aptly named necklace sets. From jewellery to dresses, these looks are out of this world 😉:Brooke in “Love Triangle”
With its uncomplicated illustrations, geometry theme and contrasting colours, this fun print is a great example of the simple, clean drawings popular in comics and cartoons at the time.
Norma in “Kitschy Cocktails” & “High Spirits”
Which brings us to these next looks! These Kitschy-cool prints fully embodies the lighthearted, playful vibe of the period. Times were booming, so people were living it up! If Mad Men taught us anything, it's that Happy Hour meant all hours
Doris in “Pickup Sticks”
Our newest dress to touch down on earth, this print features straight lines and subtle dots, against a tidy black background. It deftly illustrates the stark, yet striking impact this minimalist style can have!
What a fascinating and optimistic time in our history, don't you think? Suffice to say, this aesthetic has had and continues to have such an significant impact in our culture and it's such a testament to the hopes and dreams we have for our future. We love it!
So, how does the Retro culture inspire you? Tell us in the comments!
XOX Cherry Velvet -
Which Cherry Velvet Dress Best Suits Your Personality?
Published Jul 10 2020 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, Personality Test, Quiz
Looking for inspiration for your next Cherry Velvet dress? We made this quiz thinking of you! Answer a few questions, and we'll try to guess the dress which best suits your personality. Have fun, and make sure to share your results!
** Mobile users may need to scroll inside the blue box! **
We hope you had a fun time taking our quiz. Did we get it right?
Let us know if you'd like more quizzes like this!XOX Cherry Velvet
