vive la femme

Heavens to Murgatroid! vive la femme has been inundated with a no less than three major shipments of wonderful and whimsical tops! Without further ado…

Out first round of late summer/fall preview Comfy has come in and it is just precious. Here’s Maggie in the tiered cardy, in a deep teal and lovely plum. Perfect with any basic layering piece, this versatile cardy has been going to jeans and skirts with effortless aplomb! Oh, and this slouchy vest is muted gray and heathered merlot is just delicious for a curve-friendly nod to menswear without sacrificing a womanly silhouette. Finally, this dual-layered longsleeve tee taps into an “intergalactic desert” vibe very much like what was worn in Star Wars on Tatooine. No, I am not kidding.

Gals looking to shore up their work wardrobe will love this crisp buttondown in both a power crimson and versatile ecru. Festooned with military-inspired “workshirt” detailing, this piece from NYDJ is amazing on gals with fuller bosoms, believe it or not! Pair it back with a denim skirt or dressy trousers for a sleek and sassy ensemble sure to be a go-to for professional polish! We also snagged a handful of day-oriented pieces from both Kiyonna and Karen Kane; highlights are this kelly green tee and ruffle-front sweater in dusty turquoise.

Finally, we just unpacked a romantic and dreamy ensemble of blouses and tops from Kische! These pieces are the ultimate in ladylike elegance with a vintage sheen. Here’s the softy silver hoodie paired with a periwinkle underlay for a fresh and feminine look that is both modern and classic. Check out this lace-trimmed pullover in violet for a nod to glorious color, and finally this rose beige swing top makes a sweet and sassy pop top for any pair of distressed jeans.

More Comfy is en route, as is a major shipment from Missphit! The new Kathryn Kerrigan shoe boutique is gearing up for fall with tons of boots, EXCLUSIVELY IN WIDE CALF WIDTHS! Currently, we have tons of great footwear in sizes 9 and up that is wonderful for late summer/early fall, so stop by and check us out at 2031 N Damen, or call us 772.235.7150!

Hey summer sweeties! We’re living the dream and keeping cool at vive la femme this weekend. We will be open Saturday from 11 to 5, as well as Monday from 11a to 7p. Come and see the new goodies!

Just in from Karen Kane, a range of fabulous options in flattering cuts with feminine and fierce detailing. Check out this all-black ensemble…the new blouson top with ribbon/pearl necklace detailing and ultracomfy black swish pants! Effortlessly sleek and chic, this outfit could not be any more comfortable and travels like a dream. We paired it with black suede pumps from Kathryn Kerrigan for a fabulously pulled-together look!

And here is an easy recipe for a kyute summer outfit from vive la femme: Take one brand-new Karen Kane vneck flutter sleeve tee in cocoa brown. Mix in street-chic denim pencil skirt from NYDJ. Fold in a sassy stripey pop scarf from Comfy and garnish liberally with adorable flower-print flats from Kathryn Kerrigan. Serve immediately and feel free to go back for seconds…there’s plenty to go around!

And how kickass is this leopard print dress?! vive la femme’s going retro with this voluptuously vavavoom frock! Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING is foxier than a fitted and fierce leopard print dress and this one pretty much is all that AND a bag of chips! (yummm…chips.) Comfortable and curve-friendly, this dress is hot, here, and RAWRing to go! Red lippy and a willingness to break hearts strongly recommended.

Finally, the words “busty” and “buttondown” are almost always mutually exclusive, but once again vive la femme’s got the magic touch for those with the screaming cleavage! Behold the new chiffon buttondown blouse in a rich amethyst. Designed to fit flush to the front, this blouse has oodles of professional appeal without sacrificing any girly charm. Pair with a simple tank underlay and a basic bottom for a chest-friendly look.

The Kathryn Kerrigan Shoe Boutique at 2031 N Damen is pleased to announce a partnership with a new line of jewelry, Paoo! Paoo’s vision and belief is that through jewelry, we have the power to express our personality, feel beautiful, confident and acknowledge our shining moments.

And to celebrate the launch of this fabulous line, we are announcing a great new promotion, Sparkles and Skips! Paoo’s one-of-a-kind earrings are all priced at $49, and Kathryn Kerrigan’s signature ballet flats are $99. Buy a pair of earrings AND a pair of shoes for only $129!

Behold some of our gorgeous suggestions: blue flats with azure stones, croc flats with amber detailing, and bronze earrings with a white/gold story! Want more information about Paoo? Check ‘em out at www.paoo.biz. Want to see more earrings and shoes? Email us or call us at 773.235.7150 and we will send you more pics!

We are ignoring the current Roman calendar and making up our own this week at vive la femme! Welcome to the lovely month of FROCKTOBER, where dresses of all cuts and colors are a daily occurrence!

Our first round of dresses is a glorious partnership of color and cut! Amanda models our newest range of fun frocks from igigi. We got flowers! We got polka dots! We got colorblocking! Perfect for day weddings, any fancy brunch, or summer travel, these dresses are easy seasonal styles with lots of pop, fun, and sass. Three of the dresses have a nicely structured sleeve, and the sleeveless piece comes with oh-so-bra-friendly straps.

How about some vintage-inspired looks? Check out our most recent delivery of sundresses in lightweight cotton. We have a great range of little black dresses for alfresco cocktail soirees and a few floral options for more causal affairs. Very unique with lots of moxie and flair, these pieces are adorable with classic jewelry such as pearls and clutches for a sleek homage to ladylike retro-metro appeal.

Oooooh, a few more snuck in…how cute is this bandana-print babydoll as modeled by the always-adorable Stephanie 2.0? The range of colors is such to please any preferred color palette and what could be more summary that this picnic-table print? This piece is just too cute. Too cute, I tell you! We also unpacked a few empire-waisted/a-line dresses in throwback florals with ruffled sleeves and a longer hemline. And to top it off here’s a fabulous maxidress with a bandeau top that is doing really well on gals with smaller busts and fuller booties.

We’re not done yet! vive la femme just brought in the first range of Gayla Bentley’s new diffusion line, one of her Traditional Wrap blouses perfect for the workplace! The turquoise/gold would be very smart with any dark denim bottom or brown skirt, and the black/white is wonderfully crisp and clean with any clean black trouser. These blouses are running full and really are working for gals with full shoulders and bustlines.

A few more details…the Kathryn Kerrigan Shoe Boutique is open this weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! I am now the owner of a shoe store exclusively carrying the Kathryn Kerrigan line of handmade footwear, so come check out our range of shoes in sizes 9 and up! We have a ton more ballet flats in all sorts of darling colors, including a shimmery pink, bright green, and deep lapis blue. These flats are FLYING as they are truly some of the most comfortable footwear you will ever have the pleasure of wearing!

We also just brought in a superpremium sandal, the Maribelle. The Kathryn Kerrigan Maribelle is a hip, California-cool boho thong sandal. The butterscotch camel suede brings this shoe to life! Cuffed collar and cut-out detail around heel is funky and stylish, and the slightly angled sole is the epitome of summer chic. We also have a slew of year-round flats in brown, black, and a magnificent sapphire blue, the Melinda comes in either a kitten hell or menswear-inspired flat.

Finally, we are having a TWO THREE FOUR! sale…we are closing out sizes 20-28 with a major progressive promotion…your first items is 20% off, your next item is 30% off…all the way through to 90%! Tons of marquee labels are on the sale rack…Zen Knits, Kiyonna, and Comfy, to name a few. Tanks, tops, dresses, skirts are all included so if you or someone you know wears this size range, please send them our way for all sorts of steals and deals!

Good afternooon! It is a glorious day today…the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, and our new Kathryn Kerrigan Shoe Boutique is having a soft opening all holiday weekend! Stop by and peruse our twenty-or so styles available in sizes 9 - 13, at 2031 N Damen. Amanda and I will be here all weekend! Call us to say hi at 773.235.7150 or email us at chicago@kathrynkerrigan.com

We have unpacked a ton of new clothes at vive la femme, including a small crinkle order from Comfy! Hoodies, scarves, and tanks have made an encore, as well as a new swish pant perfect for weekend looks and vacation styles. Fun mix-and-match colors make this shipment a delightful excursion into colorful comfort!

We also have a slew of dressier Comfy options, a range of mix-and match tank dresses and flowy jackets that have maximum professional appeal. Here is a sleek gray/red combo, popped with pewter peeptoes from Kathryn Kerrigan! And here’s the black tank dress with gorgeous overlays in deep emerald green and rich royal blue, again with matching shoes!

Love funky tops? Then you will enjoy our latest Kische shipment, full of lace detailing and vintagey colors. This pale lavender blouson tee has gorgeous lace detailing along the neckline, and also ties in the back for a fun summertime flourish, and this silver shrug is totally Old Hollywood with its retro silhouette and gray ribbon belt. Finally, here’s a power tank in dusty lilac with adorable bra-friendly straps and a sweet bow detail on the neckline! So cute with jeans or even a floral skirt. We also received a cheap-n-chic printed blouse with a slouchy cut on top and a fitted hip - -perfect for hot summer nights! And to wrap it up, a new Karen Kane shipment came in - -here’s a sampling of the current colors and shapes, a deep lush turquoise with a flutter sleeve detail.

Finally, I got free tickets to a hot summer show! FUERZA BRUTA: LOOK UP is a non-stop collision of dynamic music, visceral emotion, and kinetic aerial imagery. Featuring mind-blowing visual effects that must be seen to be believed, FUERZA BRUTA: LOOK UP is a theatrical experience that floods the senses. Experience a 360 degree heart pounding theatrical event, filled with flying dancers, pumping beats, engaging dream sequences and a multidimensional swimming pool above the heads of an audience who is standing on stage in the middle of the action. First gal to stop by the new Kathryn Kerrigan store and say “Bruta” gets six FREE tickets for a performance at the Auditorium Theatre on June 2nd at 7:30p!

Weekend hours for both shops! Friday until 7p, Saturday and Sunday 11a to 5p, and Monday 11a to 3p.