vive la femme

Hello sunshine sweethearts! It’s always a party at vive la femme and this weekend is no exception!

We have shifted to serious sale mode and I am pleased to announce that all sale items are now marked down to $25! Yep, you read that correctly, TWENTY FIVE BUCKS. The vast majority of sale items are between sizes 2x-5x and we have tons of skirts, tops, and dresses in this size range all ready to find good homes. This is a closeout sale in sizes 4x/5x, and all sales are final. CASH ONLY, please! Call or email for more options.

I love retro chic party dresses and our newest style from Maggy London is ready to enjoy some canapés and do the frug! Sleek and structured, the color on this dress is a glorious raspberry damask with tone-on-tone embellishments on the neckline! Perfect for semi-formal events or a gallery opening. Toss on some pearls and you, Darling, are the bees knees.

Our Comfy power hoodie is back! I rarely push through reorders, but this piece broke all the rules. A workhorse design that offers year-round style mileage, this hoodie has been a staff and customer favorite for good reason! Soft, ultra comfortable and actually flattering(!), this hoodie can go back to jeans, a denim skirt, or even yoga pants for a pulled-together yet laidback look. We have size L-3x in black, gray, and our newest material, tweed!

Finally, we just unpacked some cheap-n-chic tops perfect for glorious summer weather! Priced at $35, these fun and colorful tops jazz up and denim bottom and have tons of colors to *pop* with accessories, jewelry, and shoes.

Shoe lovers rejoice! The new Kathryn Kerrigan store is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We have tons of colorful ballet flats, and a new flat, the Burnett! Pure urban sophistication, this gorgeous black leather flat with oversized buckle will take you across blocks of boutique shopping or jet-setting from NYC to LA. Soft leather lining, moderate arch support, leather sole, and available in sizes 9-13. Stop by 2031 N Damen or call 773.235.7150.

It’s a spring fashion explosion this week at vive la femme as we are finished unpacking a delightfully seasonal round of polka dots, cardigans, and birdies!

How cute are these lightweight tops in a pink/cream and cream/brown polka dot pattern? Detailed with the world’s cutest ruffle collar and self-adjusting pulltie at the waist, this top is absolutely adorable with any denim bottom including skirts, capris (so girly and Sixties!) and trouser jeans. Here’s a sweet shot of sunshine in a banded bottom tee in a delicious shade of summer yellow! Super comfortable and bust-friendly, this is an easy piece for a sweet swath of color.

And here’s another round of what has become our signature seasonal skirt, the Flippy! Behold it in an awesome turquoise color, paired with our newest shipment of leggings. Love the ultra-trendy minifloral patterns?

Check out this supercute babydoll dress/tunic in this hot graphic. Finally, here is a fantastic yoga-inspired hoody/balletwrap in a two-tone combination of black and gray. All these items part of our Cheap-n-Chic collection and are ALL $35! Come and get ‘em!

We also unpacked a wonderful lightweight cardigan that’s perfect for work and weekend! Nicely fitted to showcase curves and a perfect match to any professional pants or fitted skirt, this cardigan comes in sleek black, deep purple, or dusty yellow. Throw it over a little black dress or with dark denim for a sweet weekend option, or pair it with a pencil skirt or structured trousers for a retro-esque work ensemble.

Need an easy dress for upcoming vacations, cruises, or local festivals? Check out this maxidress in punchy tropical patterns! Super comfortable and at only $50 a perfect treat to yourself this weekend. Pair it with any of our shrugs for an easy ensemble or bring you own!

Finally, check out the latest Birdie Skirt in bright buttery yellow! Handmade with love right here at vive la femme, this is one of the edgiest color combinations we’ve ever seen in this vive-exclusive design. Want more information about available sizes? Please call or email!

Mark your calendars! We are about three weeks to the opening of our Kathryn Kerrigan Shoe Boutique! Stay tuned over the next two weeks for specific details and a VIP event.

Meanwhile, please join us on May 15 as we welcome Merra Kerr, creator of Big Yoga! Interested in Yoga, but afraid you can’t do it? Won’t fit in? Forget the images you’ve seen in the media of super-slender people doing extreme Yoga poses, in tight outfits!

Big Yoga is a gentle Yoga practice that can be adapted for any body type. Visit with Yoga expert, Meera Kerr, and have her sign a copy of her new book, Big Yoga: A Simple Guide for Bigger Bodies. You don’t have to be thin to do Yoga! www.bigyogaonline.com.

No time for foofy pleasantries and airy politesse! Here are the facts. We have tons of new clothes and we’re having a sale. Let’s explore.

First things first: You want sale? You got a sale! SKIRT FLIRT, BETTER SWEATER, AND JACKET RACKET! All long skirts, handknit sweaters, and a ton of medium-weight jackets are now on a progressive sale at vive la femme, starting with 40% off all the way to 90% off! Labels include Comfy, Zen Knits, and Pure Handknit. Let the games begin!

Lots of great daywear and workwear and here and ready to rock and roll. Gunning for that promotion or off to a crucial interview? Then check out these new long cardigans from igigi perfect to punch up simple trousers and a clean tank. This piece comes in rich chocolate brown, sleek authoritative black, and bold purple. Pair with the new trousers from Comfy, also in this image, for a fabulous look that conveys an undeniable dose of curvaceous confidence. Also, check this 50’s shirtdress out! A classic design in a timeless silhouette, this dress is made from a wonderful stretch material that conforms to curves to really show contour and shape. Can’t you just see this with some pearls and kitten heels? VERY Mrs. Cunningham, this.

Need some weekend options that are both stylish and ultra-comfortable? Look no further than this structured hooded jacket from vive la femme favorite, Comfy USA. Popped with a darling hoodie detail, the belted design and rich fabric impart this piece with an upscale sense of weekend chic. We also unpacked a round of our awesome crinkle tanks and tunic hoodies, both if which feel like
pajamas and travel like a dream. Colorways include periwinkle, olive, and black for the hoodie, and apple green and periwinkle for the tank.

Denim, denim…come and GET ‘EM! Enjoy two new styles from NYDJ, a dressy deep indigo trouser cut and an ultratrendy bootcut in a soft, lightweight spring denim. The deep blue features a nigh waist to fit fuller bellies, while the gray pair is more of a midrise to accommodate smaller waists and womanly hips. Gorgeous! We were really excited to see these and Amanda took the gray pair but immediately.

Finally, we have some new “cheap-n-chic” options from LA-based label, Mai Tai! The staff-fave “flippy skirt” is available once again, and here is a new babydoll dress in a fresh purpley-blue. Happy and swishy, the neckline and bodice offer girly detailing and the length can translate to a dress for shorter gals and a versatile tunic for those with longer legs. This piece also comes in a neutral taupe and of course basic black.

Mark your calendars! vive la femme is pleased to welcome a new line of fabulous plus-size clothing, Lotis! Designed to effortlessly translate from work to weekend, this cosmopolitan line represents the epitome of sleek, chic, and sophisticated. Please join the owners and designers of Lotis Clothing on March 18th from 6p to 8p as we celebrate their new Spring Collection 2010, arriving at vive la femme in May. Samples of the line will be available for preview and pre-order. Delightful nibblies and swanky cocktails will be served, and as usual friends and family are welcome!  www.lotisclothing.com.

We are supertotallymajorly excited about the shipments that keep rollin’ in for spring 2010! Behold the goodness that is our latest round of shipments:

We received some great new “cheap-n-chic” options — check ‘em out! Crisp and girly, these tieback blouses from Missphit come in a black/white and white/back pattern with a ribbon belt. They are adorable as a standalone piece with black pants or a slim black skirt or as a fun underlay for a jacket or blazer!

And here is the world’s most English schoolgirl-esque lightweight trench in classic and classy cream and black plaid print with a pop of red. I am going to wear this with a black satchel and a black cloche hat and it will be smashing, darling! And we also had the pleasure of unpacking a fabulous swish dress in red, black, and this deep berry color that is truly an amazing deal for just $50. Bra-friendly and totally comfortable, this piece is perfect for upcoming casual weddings and garden parties!

Amanda from Redskew is whipping up a new wave of confectionary graphic skirts for spring and here is the first of many! Designed in her signature a-line silhouette, this floral pattern in shades of green and pink is all happy, all the time! Paired here with our $35 cropped cardy in loden green, it makes for a darling transitional piece with lots of style mileage well into the warmer season.

Finally, we unpacked a handful of goodies from Karen Kane including this adorable raspberry shade with a sweet beadwork placket! This shape is running a bit full and it reading well on gals with full chests and curvy hips. Pop an all-black outfit with this amazing color or mix it in with lime green or lemonade yellow for a very naughty retro-prep look! Finally, we have a stunning black silk blouse with glorious embroidery work along the neckline and sleeves. The shape of this piece is marvelous on Amanda, really fitting her curves and frame and laying wonderfully against her shoulders and torso. I think she should take it…don’t you (wink wink)?

Heads up! We are hostessing our newest spring line, Lotis, with a Designer Reception at vive la femme on Thursday March 18th from 6p to 8p. We’ve already made our spring order but we absolutely be taking pre-orders for the items you simply have to have! RSVPs are welcome, and friends and family can of course attend too. http://www.lotisclothing.com/ Please email or call if you plan to grace us with your presence!