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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
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
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
Cherry Velvet + Fluevogs

Published May 29 2020 in Canadian Designer, Cherry Velvet, Dresses, Fluevog, John Fluevog, Vancouver

It's the age old question...Which comes first - The shoes or the dress? 😉

It's no secret that our designer, Diane, has a bit of a thing for a certain local company...you may know them as Vancouver's own Fluevog Shoes! Our customers also follow suit (or is that shoes?), often pairing our lovely frocks with this fabulous footwear. In fact, it's not unusual for some of our customers to buy a new pair and then turn to us for a matching dress.

Recently, one of our regulars, Jacqueline, was considering purchasing a pair of colour blocked beauties (called "Fellowships Sandra") and asked if we had a dress that would compliment them. Challenge accepted! Diane suggested our Waterfront Dress in Fables which turned out to be a perfect match!

With an antique vibe, this literary print features heirloom fairy tale covers (with such titles like Pinocchio, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.) You can practically smell the leather bindings. Add these Vogs and you have a perfectly happy ending.

Why stop there? Jacqueline went on to fall in love with a couple of our new Brooke dresses. She requested a personal shopping appointment and brought with her a bagful of beautiful shoes, including a pair called "Hopefulls Bliss". In the past, we haven't had a dress to match this particular shade of pink. But our Brooke in "Love Triangle" dress fits the bill admirably.

Fluevog Shoes just celebrated their 50th anniversary, which is an incredible milestone. To celebrate, they designed a pair of platinum gold shoes, called "Minis Zaza" and Diane was lucky enough to score a pair herself. When they arrived in the mail, she immediately knew our Brooke in "Sherwood Shimmer" would be "The One".

So many of our dresses have a subtle touch of gold in them - They make beautiful pairings for these stunning shoes! Check out below, some of Diane's favourite pairings: From left to right - Our Waterfront Dress in Regency, Angelina in Dragonfly in Amber, and Brooke in Sherwood Shimmer.

Congrats to John Fluevog for his amazing achievement of 50 years in business. It always brings us great joy to see our Cherry Velvet dresses paired with his beautiful "Works of Shoes".

XOX Cherry Velvet
New Style, New Dress Fit!

Published Apr 17 2020 in Cherry Velvet, Diane Kennedy, Dresses, fit, plus size, shift dress, women's

Did you know Cherry Velvet has a sister brand, Diane Kennedy? Our designer Diane originally designed each line for a specific customer, but we're starting to see a bit of overlap, a meeting of two worlds so to speak. You may have noticed the Diane Kennedy brand coats and capes on the Cherry Velvet shop in the past few months, and there will be more crossover items to come.

No matter the label, Diane designs classic, timeless styles that fit and flatter many body shapes and sizes.

Let us introduce you to the Waterfront dress. You'll notice a Diane Kennedy label and hangtag on these dresses, but other than that, there will not be any difference in the fabric or quality. Just like Cherry Velvet, all of Diane Kennedy's garments are consciously created and ethically produced in beautiful Vancouver, BC in women's regular and plus sizes.

With a slightly extended shoulder and a tailored fit around the armhole, it fits very similar to our Olivia dress through the upper body. It fits with room in the waistline (not too tight); while still coming in at the waist, it is more reminiscent of a looser shift style dress. It also has a higher, softened V neckline for coverage; a longer, mid calf length and quite generous inseam pockets. The looser fit and longer length are the most noticeable differences between a Cherry Velvet dress and this new DK style.

From left to right: Enjoy the paisley-like filigrees of "Regency", abstract teal brushstrokes in "Ocean", tropical leaves in "Palm", and vintage storybooks in "Fables".

We have more new dresses are coming throughout the season as usual. Diane is working in the office every day, shipping orders to make sure you can all get your hands on your dresses asap. Our business continues pretty much as usual, except for the social distancing keeping all our staff apart.

Thank-you so much for your orders. We are incredibly grateful for your support!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us by email at info@cherryvelvetdresses.com!

Stay safe,

XOX Cherry Velvet
**CONTEST ALERT!!** - #staydressedchallenge

Published Apr 02 2020 in #staydressedchallenge, Contest, COVID-19, Dresses, Fashion

These past couple of weeks, the whole world seems to have implemented preventive measures against a certain virus. The order is clear: Stay home (if you can)! Many of us are working from our living rooms and home offices, while others are simply staying home, without much to do.

Although the initial impulse when staying home may be to relax, perhaps stay in your pyjamas, or wear your hair in a messy bun and abolish pants altogether, we are here to say: Halt!

Stop right there if you're wearing your nightgown past noon!

It is known that staying in PJs all day can be a hit to your self-esteem and overall mood. On the other hand, it is beneficial to your productivity (whether you are working from home or doing other activities) to change into day clothes. At the end of a productive day, getting into your loungewear is a great way to relax and "leave work".

To look after you (because we care!), we're challenging you and all your friends to Stay Dressed - And what's more, there're prizes!!

So put on a frock, and show us how you rock it at home - be it doing your chores, doing your job, working out, or passing the time in any way (such as doing our coloring pages!)

And with a dress, you still don't have to put on pants!

INSTRUCTIONS:

* Take a photo or video of yourself passing the time while sporting a retro-inspired dress/look - Bonus marks for creativity and styling!

* Share your look via Instagram or Facebook, and tag #staydressedchallenge in your post to be entered into our draw to win 1 of 3 Cherry Velvet E-Gift Cards - You could win a $100, $150 or $200 E-card. Don't forget to nominate your friends!

**For every 3 nominations, you'll get an extra entry to the draw, so tag your friends and challenge them, too!**

We can't wait to see your entries, good luck!

XOX Cherry Velvet
Frocks In The Time Of COVID-19

Published Mar 17 2020 in Cherry Velvet, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Dresses, New Arrivals, new dresses, Norma, Studio Shop

During this complicated time, we have still decided to open up for shopping on the 20^th and 21^st of March. We’d like to talk about this decision, and the current state of things.

Here at Cherry Velvet, we typically don’t have much close contact. There’s only 4 of us (Hi from Diane, Logan, Tracy and Julia!), and we sit about 12’ apart in the office. We only have customers in occasionally, on scheduled appointments and, twice a month, for our studio shops. As it is, we’re usually pretty isolated.

But we have fun here so it’s okay!

We’ve decided to open up for shopping amidst the current COVID-19 situation largely because… we’re not that large! Your regular shopping mall retailer will, each day, receive hundreds of customers and be manned by over a dozen staff members. But the nature of our business means that much of it is done online, and only a limited number of shoppers come by when we open up.

In our province (British Columbia), social gatherings of over 50 people have been cancelled for the time being. That said, our studio’s capacity is about 10 people at maximum, and we normally have under 5 guests at a time. It’s a comfortable shopping experience, and you will still maintain a reasonable distance.

Hugs were allowed around Christmas time, but not currently encouraged ;)

We will, of course, maintain our standards of hygiene, and have our bathrooms equipped with the most luxurious, delicious hand soap (by Barefoot Venus) for all your disinfecting needs. We also gently ask that if you or someone very close is ill, that you stay home and rest for this one! You can always shop online!

Another reason why we’d still like to open up shop is that we’ve just received brand new frocks in super exciting prints! We have not made these available online yet (although we’re hoping to soon), so the best way to see them at the moment is to come try them on in person!

We believe that, in this trying time, we should not fall into despair. Even during periods of seclusion, dressing up for the day and treating yourself well can have a powerful impact on your mood.

So, wear a pretty dress and lift up your spirits!

We’ll make it through this!

XOX Cherry Velvet
The Survey Shakedown

Published Feb 20 2020 in Cherry Velvet, Cherry Velvet Dresses, customer feedback, Dresses, pricing, prints, sizing, survey, what's new

As many of you know (almost 300 of you in fact!), we asked you, our wonderful customers to do a survey. We wanted to know what you think, so we can better provide you with the frocks that will most delight you. Thank you so much for your participation. We have a lot of fun and interesting statistics to share!

First of all, congratulations to the 13.6% of you that's part of the "Cherry Velvet Collector’s" Club. You've got yourselves more than 10 different dresses of ours over the years!

It’s not a problem, really. It’s a solution!

And thank you to all who have responded our survey from far and wide. We even had a respondent all the way from... Russia!? Spasibo! (That's "Thank you" in Russian 😊 )

Here's something we found out about your style preferences: 60% of you are all for short or cap sleeves. Over 70% like their skirt right below the knee. And about 70% like your skirts either full or A-line, with many of you requesting very full or straight skirts. It’s clear to us that many of you enjoy a very balanced fashion - not too much and not too little!

And finally, the juicy stuff:

Our most popular prints are, by far, the florals and the polka dots. These timeless classics have been remixed in many ways over the years, and we always make sure to bring them back! We currently have many of those available, including the Doris in Black & Red Polka Dot or the Chrissy in Bird of Paradise for example.

Here are some hot takes from what you requested.

1 - Cats Rule and Dogs Drool

Not by a lot, but cats still definitely took the lead here: Cats got 23% preference, and dogs only got 14%. It's nothing to bark at, but it's certainly the cat's meow to hear!

2 - You really looooooove Space

With an incredibly high amount of mentions – between stars, space, and galaxy, we have just about 20 specific requests for Space themes. Don’t worry, ladies, we’ll keep them coming (out of this world)!

Marlene in Written in The Stars / Dita in Golden Galaxy

3 - You want Dinosaurs, Books, Music, and Geometric Prints

What does that say about our audience?

Maybe you're a math-loving brainy bunch, with a palaeontology hobby, erudite music training, who love spending time in libraries familiarizing yourselves with the classics of English literature!

We're not sure we can find a print specifically with all those factors in at once (what a print it would be, huh?), but we hear you! We'll make sure to incorporate (or perhaps already did... mua-ha-ha!) these very hotly requested themes into our next seasons. Stay tuned!

And the most unexpected requests were...

Krakens and Yetis.

Nothing against them, but those prints might be hard to find!

Best friends forever

Q&A

On our Survey, you also had the chance to tell us anything you like, and it was so delightful to hear your feedback and concerns. Most of the comments were so sweet - we were smiling all day reading them!

We’d also like to answer a couple of the more frequently asked questions here. Although we’ve addressed some of these before, we’re more than happy to revisit them.
- Manufacturing issues (slight fit inaccuracies)
All our garments are handmade, very carefully by local seamstresses here in metro Vancouver. As such, we can often deliver a much higher standard of quality than clothing manufactured overseas. There can, however, be some small variations from seamstress to seamstress. No different than getting your latte from different baristas There is also the off chance that a garment can get the wrong size label. While it is RARE to see a manufacturing flaw, they do happen, so please inform us immediately so we can fix that for you.
- Limited sizing
All our dresses are limited edition runs; if you love a style, you may want to grab it in your size quick. We enjoy knowing that as each limited run sells, our clients will have the satisfaction of knowing they are one of a few to own that special print.

As much as our mission statement is to provide amazing dresses so you can be lovely and stunning at ANY size, it is not always possible to have every print in every size. Running a fashion business that produces ethically poses some unique challenges that brands which manufacture overseas won’t face. Costs can often be prohibitive, and there are minimum quotas and specific requirements when it comes to placing orders. In general, we try to have a broad selection of sizes. We do, however, occasionally opt to produce fewer in certain sizes or skip them altogether for these reasons.
- What’s up with the pricing?
The pricing reflects much more than just the fact that most of our dresses come in limited edition availability. Our frocks are ethically manufactured in the same city as our headquarters, Vancouver BC, Canada. Wages in Canada are much higher than other countries and our minimum wages are very much on the rise (which is a good thing for workers!) Our production does not rely on certain “more affordable” options, we choose the best quality zippers and fabrics we can get our hands on. It’s ethical production, and that's how we've chosen to function. We strongly believe this is a necessary step for the fashion industry. We want no part in the suffering of workers in unsafe conditions. Although our garments may take more saving up for, we 100% stand behind the fact that they are worth it.

We always love to hear your feedback, please feel free to write us and tell us what you think!

XOX Cherry Velvet

P.S. Hope to see you this weekend at our Warehouse Sale / Studio Shop:

Friday Feb 21 from 2-7 pm

Saturday Feb 22 from 11-5 pm

@1635 Powell Street, Vancouver BC
The Tale of the Empty Suitcase

Published Aug 29 2019 in best birthday present, birthday, Cherry Velvet, Dresses, suitcase, travel, Vintage Inspired

Last weekend at the Studio Shop a couple travelled all the way from Portland, Oregon, just to see us! We were so thrilled and honoured. And it's such a sweet story....

Meet Andy and Lisa. Andy's birthday gift to Lisa was a weekend trip to Vancouver and an "Empty Suitcase" to fill up with Cherry Velvet frocks. Can you imagine such a treat?

Lisa has a great laugh! And it was so lovely to watch her happy experience. She loved everything she tried on and was overjoyed with the fit and all the fun prints making it so hard to choose. These are the problems we all like to have: having so many choices of pretty dresses that fit!

The Paige Dress in Flower Power print was the first dress she tried and it was obvious that this dress lit Lisa up. She absolutely LOVED everything about this dress and it fit her like a glove but it was really the bright, vintage floral print that she connected to.

Next, Lisa tried on the Minerva Dress - Fantastic Beast, Unicorn print. This was a dress that she had on her list and was already excited to try on before she even got here. It didn't make it in her bag though.

The final choices included: The Shelly Dress in Slate Gingham, Elizabeth dress in the Graceful Dead print, Norma in the Gamer Girl print as well as the Paige Dress in Flower Power print. After her fun afternoon of shopping Andy took Lisa out for her birthday dinner to Maenam for delicious Thai food. What a day!!

Lots of folks have a heck of a time finding the right birthday gifts for their partner. What to do? A gift card is nice but can feel a little impersonal and a trip is a great way to celebrate another turn around the sun but... our new friend Andy really nailed it in our books. We've told Andy that he needs to spread the word about his magnificent idea! Don't you wish your partner would gift this for your birthday!

Thank-you so much Lisa and Andy! We loved having you visit our shop! Hope to see you next year!

XOX Diane and Barb