News » Cherry Velvet

Hello Halloween!

Published Oct 02 2020 in Cherry Velvet, Costumes, Dresses, Halloween, Outfits

The seasons have changed. If you're in the northern hemisphere like us, the breeze has just started getting cooler, and the smell of pumpkin spice permeates the air. Even if this is not your favourite time of year, there is a special type of joy in seasonal wear that really shines when Fall begins!

Whether you express your spooky style year-round, or you wait until now to let your inner ghoul out... We have the perfect looks for you to make the most out of Halloween! From the most subtle to the most fun, here's our spooky selection for you:

Walk through the eerie gates of a haunted house in our elegant Norma in "Haunted Manor" (only size L left)

Featuring sugar skulls in a subtle pattern, the Elizabeth in "Graceful Dead" is perfect for the Halloween season all the way to Dia De Los Muertos! (only L and 1X sizes left)

This classic print is based on an actual vintage fabric, and with its pink roses and delicate spiderwebs is just the perfect style for a bombshell Halloween look! Try the Chrissy in "Spinderella"

Dinosaur skeletons are still skeletons! These super special fossilized bones will be the star of any Halloween party when they glow in the dark on your Marie in "Dino Might"

Or you may prefer a romantic, gothic style straight from the crypts? Rock & roll with the skulls from the Marie in "Roses Are Dead"

Take a walk through a haunted forest where you just feel like you're being watched... Because you are! Dozens of cute (but spooky) owls have their golden eyes on you on the Marie in "Hoot's Watching"

In need of a perfect dress for casting spells? Feel the magic fly right off the shimmering, starry fabric of our Dita in "Golden Galaxy"!

Colour is key! For a very subtle Halloween look or a simple base for your best accessories, get our super flattering dress with 3/4 sleeves, the Stacy in "Deep Purple". Or, for a glamorous, brilliant black base that will perfectly accent any horror and special effects make-up looks or pointy hats, try the Lana in "Black Shimmer"

And last but most definitely not least, layer this most magical, ethereal, flowy cape-shrug hybrid over your dress, and you will have additional warmth and flair with the Claire Capelet!

Fashion has the power of bringing joy to our everyday experiences. We hope we've inspired you to have fun with fashion this Halloween season, and given you many outfit ideas with our dresses!

Please share your spooky outfits with us! Send them by email to info@cherryvelvetdresses.com or tag us on your posts @cherry_velvety #cherryvelvet. We love seeing and sharing your photos!

XOX Cherry Velvet
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
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
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
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
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
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 Set

Now, 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
Shipping Updates

Published Jun 26 2020 in Cherry Velvet, COVID-19, delays, shipping, update

Have you ever wondered what happens to your order once you have made it on our website? We are here to tell all!

Shipping

Even during these times that require extra care, we are, as always, getting to your orders lickety-split (usually the day after you make it, or the next day).

Once your order is processed, a tracking code is generated - and that is when you receive the email that states your order has been shipped! You may think, "Hooray!", right? But there's still another step: Then, the package leaves our hands and is sent to a packing and sorting facility, where it is officially entered by the carrier into their tracking system. Only then you can start seeing tracking updates.

Delays

Of course, everybody is favouring online shopping for safety reasons. Right now, Canada Post is seeing record-high shipments, even over Christmas numbers. They are working in every possible way to meet this demand, with approximately 2 million parcels being delivered daily - triple what is usual for this time of year!

Due to this giant volume being handled by postal facilities, each part of the process once a package leaves our hands can take longer than usual.

You may have noticed that there is a delay between receiving your tracking code and being able to check its status online. That's because our packing facility is faced with a much larger amount of packages than normal, so they're taking longer to enter them into the official tracking system. At this time we recommend waiting at least a week before checking for updates.

After it is entered into the tracking system, every other step of the way is also facing delays, and packages are sometimes being rerouted to help meet demands. That means that once your parcel gets going, it may move much slower, and possibly take much longer to get to you.

You can click here to read Canada Post's official statement about the delays.

We care!

We will continue to process your orders ASAP and provide the best service we can.

We are all facing unprecedented circumstances, and delivery times have been all over the place - we've been seeing everything between regular deliveries and weeks-long waits! For these reasons, delivery timelines cannot be guaranteed.

At this point, we kindly ask for your patience. Here at Cherry Velvet, we are extra thankful for your continued support, and hope things will start improving soon.

That feeling when your Cherry Velvet order arrives!

We will, as always, keep you updated, and we hope it feels like Christmas-in-the-summer when your package arrives.

XOX Cherry Velvet
Frock Flashback: the Doris (+ New releases coming soon!)

Published Jun 19 2020 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, cotton dress, Doris, Made In Canada, Vintage Inspired

This flashback friday special is all about the Doris dress, one of our customer favourites. Join us for a stroll down memory lane, as we look back on previous releases of this beautiful style, and get excited for the new prints coming out very soon!

Named after 1950's songbird Doris Day, this dress is just as lovely as the lady. With a bustier style top, the details are fabulously flattering and just perfect for the summer, with straps that perfectly cover your bra's. The full skirt looks lovely with or without a crinoline, and there are pockets, of course!

2015

In 2015, the Doris was first released in 4 beautiful and iconic prints - including our signature cherries on polka-dots (available right now!). For that season's photoshoot, we went to the stunning Hycroft Manor, an Edwardian mansion in Vancouver that's a popular spot for weddings.

Our model for this shoot was Charlotte, who's also an advocate for body acceptance. Didn't she look so lovely in the Doris?

2016

You can say our 2016 release was definitely "stellar"! With two galactic prints (one that glows in the dark), we brought back the cherry dots, and added a fun digital-age pixel print.

We chose to shoot this time at Pier Park in New Westminster, BC (near Vancouver), with its beautiful greenery. Veronica Belle was on the mission this time, with her bombshell glamour shining as much as the glow-in-the-dark Star Magic dress!

2018

In 2018, we released 5 fun and beautiful new prints. We had more kitschy options, like Bat the Lash and glow-in-the-dark skulls, and realistic prints, like Rose Crush and Citrus Slice, plus the stunning floral; Enchanted Garden.

Our model, Veronica Belle, is pure pin-up glamour and a Cherry Velvet veteran, shooting with us until this very day!

2020

And that brings us to our newest releases! You can look out for these beauties very soon on our online store, and our lemon-y "Squeeze The Day" is available right now!

Squeeze The Day - Swizzle Sticks - Violet Femmes - Fly With Pride

It was fun looking back, but you can see there are also many exciting things to look forward to!

We hope you enjoy these new releases and make sure to follow us on our social media or subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear when all the new Doris dresses are available.

XOX Cherry Velvet