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!

Summer salutations, sassy sunshine! We are pleased to report a ton of new shipments came in this week for your weekend shopping pleasure. Without further ado…

vive la femme welcomes, Lotis Clothing, a new line out of Canada! Owned by two fabulous young ladies, this range of mix-and-match pieces is a spot-on mix of downtown and darling. Check out this faux wrap dress with a matching belt…oh, I LOVE this! And here is a darling sheath dress in a superfun vintagey pattern with all sorts of great colors to pop with jewelry and shoes. Finally, here is the same sheath in purple popped with a matching lace-front cardy in white. All of these pieces also come in black. These pieces are flying already so please stop by soon to check ‘em out!

We love NYDJ’s denim skirts, and so did the shoppers who snapped them up last time…so here’s a ton more! Amanda is modeling our two newest washes, a really chic antiqued blue and a weathered, more broken tone. We also have a signature deep indigo and a basic, rock-em-sock-em black denim as well. Classic is cut and really flattering on all sorts of curves, these skirts are a cornerstone of any versatile summer wardrobe!

A few more bits and bobs…a darling babydoll dress floated in this week! Lightweight and very girly, Maggie shows off this design with leggings and a silver Suzi ballet flat from our Kathryn Kerrigan Shoe Boutique! This piece also comes in white and is doing really well on gals with smaller chests and fuller booties. We also received another chiffon piece from Kiyonna, a buttondown blouse in a gorgeous jade green color. This blouse is all business! I paired with black trousers and gray suede flats from Kathryn Kerrigan, and I am getting it DONE.

Finally, we unpacked new cheap-n-chic jeans from our friends in LA! Superdark with a midrise and slight flair, these jeans make bottoms look like juicy peaches, as noted in the award we won this week from the Chicago reader http://www.chicagoreader.com/
chicago/best-place-to-buy-size-16-jeans/BestOf?oid=2016534)! Priced at $50, these are running 12-18 and are also loooooooong, so tall ladies should get their juicy peachy butts in here!

Our Kathryn Kerrigan Shoe Boutique exclusively for sizes 9-13 is open this weekend and full of gorgeous colors and comfortable shapes! Check out our range of ballet flats in colors we picked just for us, including the “kerrigan” blue and grass green! These are truly all-day shoes, as I have been running around town in them for weeks now! We also have a gorgeous range of professional kicks in rich colors and timeless shapes. The foxy blue pump is one of the styles we ordered just for our store! Come visit us all day today, Saturday, and Sunday at 2031 N Damen, or call 773.235.7150 for more information on available sizes.

Okay everyone! The time has come to reveal our big news.

Local entrepreneurs Stephanie Sack and Kathryn Kerrigan are pleased to announce the upcoming opening of Chicago’s first Kathryn Kerrigan Shoe Boutique, specializing in high-end, on-trend footwear in European sizes from 39 to 45.

The shop will open right across the street from vive la femme at 2031 N Damen sometime in May! Here are a few pics of the styles we have ordered to come in for spring! How fabulous are these shoes?! Opening dates and events will be announced a bit later this month. If you have any questions in the meantime, fire away!

Now on to the clothes! We unpacked a gorgeous round of dresses this week, including this print masterpiece in pale champagne and black! It’s amazing on women with full hips and busts and looks great finished with a strong black shoe. This piece is already sold out in smaller sizes, so right now we have 20, 22, and 24. We also received this sleek sheath which is really working on gals who can wear bold colors and are more comfortable in a conservative.

We also have a fabulous new range of mix and match skirts and blouses as modeled by vive la femme’s best model, Amanda! Here she is in a gorgeous new softy jacket in pale sage green from Kiyonna and a smart denim pencil skirt from NYDJ. Perfect for daywear at a casual office or a fun weekend getaway! Here’s another option that is wonderful for work — a black structured blouse with an army-green pencil skirt. Neutral colors and classic shapes mean this outfit is perfect for…I don’t know, new shoes?! And check out this smashing blouse in a blue snakeskin pattern with a simple black skirt. What a great date ensemble — the top features a fantastic “knot” detailing under the bust for cleavage-friendly shenanigans!

Finally, in between posing for these foxy photos, Amanda whipped some springy Redskew skirts in classic Redskew patterns! Designed in her signature a line shape, these skirts are always handmade with love right in vive la femme’s basement! We have tons of tops to match them, so why not come on in and try one of ‘em on.