News

Mystical Creatures & Fantasy Females: The Art of Megan Majewski

Published Oct 05 2023 in #cherryvelvet, #cottondresses, #ethicalfashion, #fluevog, #meganmajewski, #rainbowdress

When you’re visiting an artist named @deadkittie (IG) this is surely the perfect dress to wear! I stopped by the studio of Megan Majewski (by appointment) and had a lovely visit with the artist herself.

Her art is so inspiring to me and the paintings are extraordinary; bright and beautiful. I just love her surreal aesthetic of fantasy, nature, women and dead things. Much like the prints that I choose for Cherry Velvet dresses :)

One day on her social media account, I spotted some extraordinary bug and butterfly drawings in her sketchbook. I was thrilled when she agreed to make prints for me, and also a print of a surreal blue jay wearing a gas mask that I had been admiring for years.

Megan showed me some of her current projects including a painting in the works and plans for new enamel pin designs.

Supporting other local artists like Megan is at the core of my personal and business values. Megan will have her studio open for visits during the Eastvan Culture Crawl this year which is such a fantastic experience! I totally recommend attending the Crawl and visiting the charming Ms. Majewski in her inspiring space.

You may recognize another local artist in these photos; the Art of Mr. Fluevog and his extraordinary pink and metallic boots! #vog_revna

There's a scant few of my Marie - Meowter Space - Unicorn Cat dresses left, find them here. New dresses are coming very soon, I promise!

XOX Cherry Velvet
Cherry Velvet: Buy, Sell and Trade

Published Oct 03 2023 in #canadianfashion, #cherryvelvet, #cottondresses, #ethicalfashion

We heard you and it took some time but we are excited to announce that we finally launched a 'Buy, Sell and Trade' group on Facebook!

This group was started by popular demand we've received feedback from customers looking for a community of like-minded individuals eager to find somewhere to sell or trade their Cherry Velvet dresses they no longer fit or wear but also those looking for past styles to add to their collection.

We take so much pride in our dresses' longevity and want people to enjoy them for years to come. What better and more eco-friendly way than to trade or sell them? What's no longer new to you could be to someone else!

The group can be joined by sending a request directly on the page itself. We've decided to do it this way to keep spam and scammers at bay and to have a positive group of folks who share a similar style.

So if that sounds like you, we'd love to see you there!
Bonjour Emily in Paris!

Published Jun 09 2023 in #madeincanada #ethicalbrand, #parisdress #rosedress #cherryvelvet #emilyinparis #halterdress

While watching the new season of Emily in Paris earlier this year, I spotted Emily wearing an adorable, white and red rose halter dress and a matching cherry necklace. What better inspiration for a new Cherry Velvet style could there be?!

Here's how it happened...

It all started by making the pattern inspired by the version Emily wore. Our Cherry Velvet version had to incorporate larger bust darts into the bodice as per our usual fit. Here's my first mini mock-up of the bust, that included the proper shaping, just to get a sense of how it would look. The front panels are also cut on the bias and some discreet elastic along the back was incorporated as well. There were several rounds of samples and fit testing to get everything just right. This is our first true halter dress style, something we’ve never done before!

The next step was to search out the fabrics. And we found some adorable and unique choices suitable for a fresh summer dress:I was so thrilled to find a beautiful red roses on white print that also incorporated a Paris theme. You’ll find scrollwork, music, script, birds, Paris stamps and the unexpected; vintage hot air balloons. Such a beautiful and detailed print that's a tribute to the City of Love!

It’s always exciting when the boxes of new dresses arrive from the factory; when you pull the dresses out of the packaging and see them for this first time! Then of course planning a photo shoot so that we can get the dresses ready for you to see. This is Kerosene wearing the Emily 'Bonjour Bombshell" dress.

I’m so thrilled with how the Emily Halter dress turned out and have already worn mine out on a date for a picnic at the beach :) This shot (below) was taken near Jericho Beach in Vancouver, BC.

This is me being "Very Cherry"! "My Cherry Amour" Emily dress, purse, Cherry D'or necklace and even cherry perfume!

Fit Notes!

I know many of you mentioned not liking how tight a halter feels on your neck. But I’d like to point out that really it's your bra's job to hold up your girls. The straps are just to hold up the bodice of the dress. (Not your boobs!) So take a moment to tie the straps comfortably and not too tight around your neck. I can tell you that if you tie it like this, it won’t bother your neck.

Happy frocktastic summer!

XOX Diane
Afternoon Tea for Two at the Empress Hotel

Published Apr 26 2023 in #canadianfashiondesigner, #cherryvelvet, #pinupdress, #pinupstyle, #plussizedresses, #Victoria

Such a special treat! My girlfriend Barbara and I took the ferry over to Victoria BC for the weekend. Together we decided to dress up in our Cherry Velvet dresses and splurge on Afternoon Tea at the Empress!

People come from all over to enjoy the famous Afternoon Tea in the beautiful grand Lobby Lounge of this 110 year old hotel. The finest, ethically sourced tea and exquisite treats are served on special hand painted china originally picked out by Queen Elizabeth and King George VI in 1939.

Barbara wore her favourite Diane dress in the Petalicious print and I wore the new Sookie Dress in 'One in a Melon'. Both of us are wearing Fluevogs and managed to squeeze in several visits to the Victoria store as well.

Our 'Lady Londenderry' choice of tea was served in a big pot for each of us along with a timer to perfectly time the tea. First course was a delicious scone with clotted cream and jam. Next we had finger sandwiches; cucumber with dill, egg salad, curried chicken, ham w/cheese, and smoked salmon. Saving the sweet treats for last; a Lemon macaron, Cherry Mousse in a chocolate cup, lemon pound cake, and chocolate fruit gelee. Our whole assortment was gluten free and it was fresh and delicious!

After tea we took some time to enjoy the floral fireworks! They sure know how to plant tulips in Victoria!

Hopefully one day you'll get a chance to enjoy afternoon tea as we did in this incredible historic hotel!

XOX Diane
Insider Scoop, Sneak Peek & New Dress Names!

Published Apr 06 2023 in retro fashion, sookie stackhouse, spring fashion, summer dress, sundress, true blood, vintage style

A couple of years ago we made a blog post with a master list of all our dresses and we thought it would be fun to revisit!

We've had some new 'gals' join the ranks of Cherry Velvet dresses and look forward to welcoming more. Many of them are named after old Hollywood movie stars and have vintage names. Some are even a tribute to our models and long-time customers. After many years we even got Diane to finally name a dress after herself!

Check out our updated list, can you spot any new names?

Our next Spring/Summer release is called Sookie.

If that name rings a bell it's because it's named after Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood. Diane was re-watching episodes of the HBO show and couldn't help but notice all of Sookie's cute sundresses. One look in particular caught her eye, the flirty little number with the gathered bust she wore to her first Fangtasia visit. Yes, the dress in which Bill called her 'Vampire Bait'.

A new 'Sookie' inspired dress will be our next release and we can't wait to share it with you!

(Hunky vampires not included)

XOX Cherry Velvet

P.S. If you're a long time customer you may have found the next newest dress name 'Emily' and we'll leave to wonder just why we named it that!
The Glow (and Glitter!) of Inspiration

Published Feb 23 2023 in #cherryjewelry, #cherryvelvet, #handmade, #jewelry, #madeincanada

Have you ever wondered how we dream up the looks you love? While inspiration can come from just about anywhere, one really obvious way to find fresh ideas for our accessory catalogue is to coordinate our jewelry with our dress prints. Our new “secret garden” collection features florals, keys, and birds, and these gorgeous fabrics gave me the idea for a new line of charm-style necklaces.

The design process for these necklaces and earrings began with drawing my ideas out on paper. Then I sat down with Pam from Mirror Mirror Bijoux and combed through her stash of treasures. Together, we choose charms and beads from her boxes, coordinating colours with fabric swatches. It was so much fun making these ideas come to life!

Each unique and stunning necklace was specifically designed alongside one of our beautiful prints, but was also created to be striking and lovely in its own right. We want you to enjoy wearing your new jewelry with other outfits, too. All our charm sets compliment their inspiration dresses, but we intentionally made them not too "matchy-matchy".

Secret Garden Necklace Set

Designed with our Secret Keeper and Petal Perfume dresses in mind, this set sparkles in vibrant shades of violet and fuchsia. Gold highlights on the necklace and matching earrings connect with the bejeweled keys on the print, adding a regal touch to this gorgeously versatile jewelry.

Love Lock Necklace Set

With its antique-style padlock and keys, this whimsical combination will surely "charm" you! Crystals in pale pink, passionate purple, and brilliant blue were chosen to coordinate with our lovely Aerial Mingle dress, but will also bring out the beautiful colours in so many outfits.

Peacock Mystique

Just like our Pretty in Plumage dress, this set was made to dazzle! The spectacular hues of peacock feathers are echoed in beads that shimmer with shades of chartreuse and turquoise, grounded with classic black and gold. Whether you wear the set together or choose only the earrings or the necklace to accessorize an outfit, you'll be ready to strut your stuff.

Cherry Luck Charm

We reached back into the archives to find inspiration for this classic look. Our Good Luck Tattoo print dates back to our first year in business, and this coordinated set is here to reminisce and celebrate ten years of retro class with modern sass! Of course, cherry charms were a must, and are perfectly mixed with a crown, a key, and a horseshoe. Let this sweet necklace serve as a reminder: you're a queen whose good luck allows you to unlock all the best things in life.

We couldn't wait to release these sparkling sets and the dresses that inspired them. Have a look at all our new necklaces here.

We love to see your photos and discover all the beautiful outfits you'll create. Remember to tag your photos with #cherryvelvet so we get to see them too!

XOX Cherry Velvet
Let's Talk Skincare!

Published Feb 08 2023 in beauty, beauty tips, kerosene deluxe, selfcare, skincare, wellness

A little while ago Diane and I were driving around post-photoshoot when she brought up some skin woes. Suddenly I’m going on a rambling tangent about skincare before pausing to say ‘Did you know I was a skincare specialist for well over a decade?’

You learn something new about each other every day!

And indeed, prior to joining Team Cherry I worked in spas and boutiques assisting people with all kinds of skincare needs.

I’ll preface by saying I’m not a licensed doctor, so please do see a proper dermatologist if you have a serious persisting concern. But if you are looking for some tips to get your skin glowing or find yourself overwhelmed with the abundance of products out there this post might just be for you!

Let’s start with determining your skin type first.

DRY SKIN: Skin might feel tight and appear scaly. Sometimes red and irritated. It can be prone to eczema or dermatitis.

Dehydrated skin often gets mistaken for dry skin, but both are different and require separate treatments. Dry skin is a skin type vs dehydrated skin which is a skin condition that can affect any skin type (even oily)

A dry skin type tends to lack oil/lipids vs dehydrated skin which is lacking in water.

If your skin is looking dull, feeling itchy, your dark circles are looking a little extra rough and fine lines appear a bit deeper than usual then you’ve got yourself some dehydrated skin. This commonly happens during colder climates, when the skin barrier gets damaged, lack of water intake, and even stress.

How to treat: Both dry OR dehydrated skin benefits greatly from Hyaluronic Acid, preferably in the form of a serum. Hyaluronic Acid is a substance naturally found in the skin. (so nothing scary to worry about) it has the ability to latch onto water and plump these compounds. For example, a teaspoon of Hyaluronic Acid can hold 1.5 gallons of water! Picture if you will a raisin being plumped back into a juicy grape. Pretty cool right?

Hyaluronic Acid can benefit any skin type and should ideally be used right after washing your face when your skin is still a little damp. It can be used both day and night.

Moisturizer: For dry skin look for emollient-rich moisturizers. Nut oils (jojoba, hemp, almond) work great as well as moisturizers containing ceramides. If your skin is dry and feels irritated stay away from heavily fragranced lotions and look for soothing ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal. Dehydrated skin can benefit from oil or gel-based moisturizers. This is up to your preference.

Make sure to exfoliate the skin approximately twice a week with either a chemical exfoliant (glycolic acid, AHA, or BHA) or a gentle physical exfoliant (but do make sure the scrubby bits are perfectly spherical to avoid micro-tears. Please for all things holy and sacred AVOID St Yves, sugar, crushed nut-based scrubs or rough towels, etc on your face. I’m begging you!

OILY SKIN: This skin type tends to produce a bit more sebum (natural oils). You tend to be shinier in the face and might be prone to breakouts due to the sebum mixing with dead skin cells and getting trapped in the pores. You can’t necessarily get rid of oily skin but you can certainly take steps to get it under control.

How to Treat: It’s a myth that oily skin does not need moisturizer. It sure does! Just look for an oil-free, gel-based moisturizer that is non-comedogenic. Aloe Vera and Snail Mucin (yes you read that right) are great soothing ingredients to look for.

Wash your skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser followed by a toner containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or BHA if you are acne prone. You can get pre-soaked pads for easy usage.

Do not scrub the skin or be rough with it as this could cause the skin to produce more oil. This is a natural defense to protect the skin barrier, so be gentle.

NORMAL/COMBINATION SKIN: This skin is overall pretty happy. It might get a little oilier in the T-Zone. The key here is trying to find balance in the skin.

How to Treat: Use a gentle cleanser such as CeraVe or Cetaphil. If you use makeup or sunscreen it’s recommended to cleanse the skin twice (known as double-cleansing). The first round should be with a cleansing balm or oil, this breaks down makeup. Follow with a gel cleanser to remove any impurities.

Follow with a gentle BHA toner and antioxidant-rich serum and gel moisturizer.

You can use a clay mask on the oilier t-zone once or twice a week if needed. I am this skin type myself and will sometimes use a hydrating mark on the dry areas and a clay mask on the oilier parts.

A BASIC SUMMARY:

Cleanse using a gentle, preferably fragrance-free cleanser. Don’t splurge on expensive cleansers. No one needs to spend $30 on something you wash off your face within 60 seconds. CeraVe or Cetaphil are great options here. Your skin should be cleansed twice in the evening. If you wear makeup the first round with a cleansing balm or oil to break down the product, and the second round with your gel cleanser.

Exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine. Removing dead skin cells is vital for glowing, radiant skin and allows for optimal absorption of your serums and moisturizers. If you do not exfoliate your products will have a harder time penetrating the skin, which prevents them from doing their job. Our skin cell turnover slows down with age, so it's important to give it a little hand. Twice a week is plenty. Don't overdo it.

You may use a chemical/liquid exfoliant (Glycolic Acid, BHA, AHA) or a physical exfoliant (better known as a scrub) but make sure the beads are perfectly spherical. Sugars, coffee, scrub cloths and ground-up seeds (walnut scrubs etc) should never be used on the face. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and LaRoche Posay’s Ultra Fine facial Scrub are good examples of safe options. If you have active acne opt for chemical exfoliants.

Serums are more concentrated than moisturizers and therefore the best at targeting specific concerns such as aging.

Truthfully many products promising more youthful skin are not completely truthful or effective long-term. Retinol (Vitamin A) is one of the few ingredients proven to work against signs of aging. Retinol should be used at night only and not combined with a chemical exfoliant prior (use one or the other), it’s important to gradually build up a tolerance to this particular ingredient to avoid skin reactions. I’d recommend using this serum 3 to 4x a week. Vitamin C or Hyaluronic Acid based serums are great for glowing and healthy-looking skin all day, I love these in the AM!

Sunscreen is vital whether it is sunny out or not. It’s one of if not THE most important step in your skincare routine. It should be used by all skin types and there are various kinds out there to suit everyone so you don’t have to worry about that weird white cast or thick greasy feeling. If you are out in the sun your sunscreen must be reapplied every 2 hours! I personally keep the Derma-E SPF30 Sun Protection Mineral Powder in my purse for easy touch-ups that won't disturb my makeup.

JUST FYI:

Some of the best skincare is found at drug stores. Look for the ‘Derm’ brands. These are formulated with science, medicinal ingredients and with the help of dermatologists. This is why in Canada they tend to only be sold where pharmacists are present. Examples include (but are not limited to): LaRoche Posay, Bioderma, Vichy and NeoStrata.

Just because a brand is heinously expensive, advertised everywhere or celebrity endorsed doesn't make it the best, so don’t be swayed by those who paid the most for ads or the 'celebrity stamp of approval'.

Remember that the rich and famous have a whole team around them ensuring they look their best 24/7. From private chefs, aestheticians, and personal trainers to plastic surgeons and make-up artists. It’s not realistic to hold yourself to such a standard.

You’ll experience trials and errors in finding what works for you, but I recommend sticking to your new routine for at least 4 weeks (unless you severely react to your new products, in which case stop using it immediately). Skin can sometimes do a 'purge' when you are new to Vitamin C or Retinol, this will clear so don't worry, but maybe don't start a new regime right before an important event.

Things will not happen overnight, so be patient, stick to it, and don’t forget to rest and drink water. Skincare is part of healthcare and you deserve to feel your best.

Good luck!
Our 2023 resolution...

Published Jan 12 2023 in

2023 is here and each trip around the sun holds promises for new beginnings.

Right around this time, we are often bombarded with ads suggesting lifestyle changes, diets, and new fitness routines. And those are perfectly fine if they tickle your fancy. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with just continuing to be who you are at this very moment. If you are happy don't feel pressured to change. It has been a tough couple of years, and being kind to yourself (and others) should be top priority.

With all that said, what's in store for Cherry Velvet this year?

-First and foremost we are committed to bigger pockets in 2023! All of our dresses released this year will feature even bigger pockets so you can carry your phone etc without worry. Who likes having to replace their items because they fell out of their pockets? Not us! And sometimes bigger IS better...

-We will continue to carefully curate fun prints and provide ethically and locally made dresses that bring joy.

-We will continue to expand our local model roster to include more diversity. We are always eager to hear from those interested in modeling for us and strongly encourage BIPOC models to apply.

-We will continue to provide the best customer service we can and support you with any of your questions or sizing needs

Do you have any suggestions for us? We are always open to ideas!
Get to know our models!

Published Oct 20 2022 in #pinupgirl, #plussizepinup, models, pinup, pinupmodel

If you've been following us for a while you may have noticed a few lovely new faces modeling our dresses. So we figured why not put them in the spotlight with an introduction?

Fun fact; All three of these babes are mama's! Proving that living your best pin-up life doesn't just have to be a day dream after having kids. You are stunning, worthy and absolutely deserve to shine.

Now let's meet these ladies...

La Toya captured us with her bright eyes, gorgeous smile and irresistible dimples.

But she's also a complete power house! A single mom of 3 currently battling long Covid & Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome but not letting anything get in the way of her goals. La Toya is the owner of Go2Girl Services which she started after fleeing an abusive relationship. Her business has won numerous awards including the 2022 Small Business of the Year and the 2020 Young Entrepreneur of the year. La Toya is a lover of musicals, all things pink and has a soft spot for dogs. She's also a self-proclaimed Aladdin and Jack Sparrow fanatic (she even has tattoos of the genie and captain!)

We look forward to more photoshoots with this brave beauty!

Who's that gal with the fierce red locks, adorable freckles and killer smile? Why it's Miss Rebecca Rouge! This babe is a single mama of 3 boys, which makes her a superhero in our book! She has a penchant for thrifting, especially for vintage sewing machines and cameras. Her youngest (age 7) loves picking out her dresses to wear, and he has plenty of choice in the wardrobe department too, as she owns over 80 pairs of heels and 2 dresses for every pair! We love a personal stylist!

Her beauty secret is that she uses a red liquid matte lipstick in her eyebrows every day so that it matches her hair.

Snow White's got nothing on this raven haired bombshell! Melanie, aka Cherry Lee Lewis is a mom to an adorable baby boy and a professional event planner, having worked on over 1000 events. This crafty queen loves to sew costumes for pin-up pageants, photo shoots and of course, Halloween! She's a big Elvis fan and even got engaged at Graceland. Her favourite place in the world is New Orleans. Mmmm beignets!

Are you interested in modeling for us and located in the Greater Vancouver area? We are always keeping our eyes peeled for new models for our photoshoots.

Fill out the form here and don't forget to send us your photo's!
Pucker Up! Kerosene’s Guide to Red Lipstick.

Published Aug 11 2022 in #beauty, #cherryvelvet, #makeup, #makeupaddict, #makeuptutorial, #pinup, #pinupmakeup, #pinupstyle, #redlipstick, #retroglam, #selfcare, #styletips

Glamorous and timeless, red lipstick is a staple when it comes to that perfect pin-up pout.
You may read this thinking it doesn’t suit you, but let me tell you, you’re wrong.
There’s a red out there for everyone and once you find it just watch your confidence grow. Whether you are attending a special event or want to add a touch of chic to your every day look. A red lip never goes out of style!

Undertones:

There are many different shades out there but a red with blue undertones is the most universally flattering. Did you know that it even makes your teeth and eye whites look brighter? No wonder this was the go to choice for all those old Hollywood starlets...
If you are a warmer or deeper skin tone you’ll look fabulous in an orange toned or burgundy red too!

With so many different textures and formulas out there the choice can be overwhelming. These are my personal top picks with something there for all budgets and preferences.

What to pick?:

Matte Liquid Lipsticks are perfect for days where you need your pout to last. They are often transfer and smudge proof and won’t need to be reapplied frequently. A lip liner is optional but not necessary but starting with a smooth, well hydrated base is definitely key since this formula can be a bit drying.
Prep your lips with a lip scrub and light layer of chapstick about 30 minutes before wearing.

Cream or Satin formulas are your classics and give you a gorgeous pillowy pout. They do require a few more steps to get it just right. Lip liner in a matching shade is a must here for a defined shape and to prevent your lipstick from ‘bleeding’ into fine lines. Start by lightly sketching out your lip line and then dab on the red of your choice. For a longer lasting effect you can use the pencil to fill in the entire lip before applying your lipstick. Finish by blotting with a tissue and tidying up those edges for a crisp finish with either the same lip pencil or a small brush with a little bit of foundation on it. Blot down your lips with a tissue to remove excess and make sure you take this one with you in your purse, as you’ll need to re-apply throughout the day!

Tinted Balm and Glosses will be your go to if you like to keep things casual and easy (but still polished). Perhaps a bold red isn’t really your thing or you like something you can just throw on without even really looking all whilst giving your lips some hydration and shine too. It’s a win win really..

Whatever you go for wear it proudly and you’ll look gorgeous!

Love,

Kerosene