Black Friday Outfit Builder

This Black Friday and Small Business Saturday weekend we are offering an awesome promo! 

With the purchase of any sweater, get a pair of our famous fleece-lined leggings in black with a scarf of your choice for only $9.98! You are getting all the pieces you need for a super cute outfit for an awesome steal. We know that you will want to take advantage of this bundle deal, so we want to help with some outfit ideas that are sure to impress anyone over this upcoming holiday season.

1.

Here's what we pieced together:

Lace Love Sweater

Infinity Scarf

Cable Knit Leg Warmers

Fleece Lined Leggings

 With our awesome deal, you can snag the leggings and the scarf for $9.98 with the purchase of the adorable lace trimmed sweater. Although not necessary for a chic look, the leg warmers are an added accessory that tie the warmth of the outfit together. 

 2. 

These are the items we used to put together this look:

Puffer Vest

Fun in Flannel Top

Fleece Lined Leggings

Infinity Scarf

A puffer vest is a huge staple in the winter. What's better than buying something you will use again and again and then getting an awesome deal on fleece lined leggings and a scarf to go with it? Whether or not you also decide to purchase the flannel, the vest is a versatile piece that can be worn over almost everything. We also threw on a pair of braided ear warmers to finish off the look and to keep extra warm.

For extra inspiration here are a few more looks to get you pumped for our deal! Everything is centered around a sweater and paired with a scarf and leggings so that you can take advantage of our amazing offer!

Western Wonderland Fringe Vest

Debut Cardigan

Throw Me On Poncho

What do you think of our outfit ideas? Will you be stopping by this weekend to check out our new arrivals and take advantage of our bundle deal? We hope to see you all there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Currently Reading: Project Soiree by Sara Visser

"Currently Reading" is a misleading title for this post, because we've been following along at Project Soiree for over a year now.  Initially, we were attracted to her effortlessly-cool sense of style, but even more than that, Project Soiree offers a fun daily perspective of life in Chicago.

Why We Read: 

1) Sara has nailed how to show her personality through her outfits.  You will definitely get ideas for mixing casual + dressy and wear bold pieces without feeling obnoxious about it

2) Check out the recipe section because OMG.

3) You will definitely feel inspired to discover the city because the@ProjectSoiree Instagram is on point for go-to dining, coffee, etc.

We were honored to get to know Sara a little more in this interview:

1. Tell us a little bit about Project Soiree:

Project Soiree is my little space to grow, learn and celebrate my favorite things in life. It’s a continual “Project” that evolves with the twists & turns of my eventful life in Chicago while celebrating big and/or small moments “Soiree.” After 4 years I’ve grown along with Project Soiree, and it’s truly a great creative outlet.

2. Why do you love fashion?

I love fashion because it’s an extension of my personality. I really enjoy trying new trends, mixing different pieces together and taking risks with my outfits. I approach fashion as a fun and artistic way to express your mood each day.

3. Describe your personal style.

My personal style is somewhat unique with a twist of classic pieces and on-trend items. I love mixing items in my closet so it’s rare to see me in the same outfit twice.

4. A fashion rule you never break.

Honestly, I really don’t believe in fashion rules. I will always wear white after Labor Day, mix navy and black and attempt socks with open toe heels. Have fun with fashion and don’t be afraid to break the rules and try something new.

5. Suggest a must-have for this fall/winter.

The cape trend is my must-have for Fall/Winter. A cape is such a chic item to stay warm and stylish so it’s a win-win in my book.

6. If you could only have one pair of shoes for the rest of your life, what would they be?

If I could only have one pair of shoes for the rest of your life I would choose a classic pair of black heels. You can’t go wrong with black heels that go with everything.

7. Your Chicago go-to hotspot this fall and why:

My Chicago go-to hotspot this Fall is MFK in Lincoln Park for incredible seafood dishes and a cozy atmosphere.

8. Do you have any fall traditions? Any specific to Chicago?

A trip to the apple orchard for pumpkin spiced donuts and Honeycrisp apples is a must in the Fall. I also love visiting the Green City Market on Saturday mornings in Chicago for apple cider and local produce for baking up some of my favorite Fall recipes.

9. Every brunch is incomplete without ______. 

Champagne. Cheers!

You can follow Project Soiree at the links below:

Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Pin-spiration! - Recreating Pinterest's Cutest Looks

Pinterest is a great way for some super cute outfit inspiration. We've seen some awesome looks lately and decided to recreate some of our favorites with all Envy items to share with you!

1. We love Sherpa vests so this look stood out to us right away! We wanted to showcase our super soft Sherpa vest with this super cute southwestern print midi dress. Although the original picture has no accessories, we couldn't help but add a long layering necklace and chunky bracelet!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/408349891187133599/

2. Clearly we've jumped on the vest bandwagon because we also loved this look featuring a denim vest! We love how the sweater, knee-highs, and scarf warmed up the denim vest! To dress this look up, you can swap the scarf with a statement necklace or just add some bangles.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/574631233677362383/

 3. We are loving the look of liquid leggings. It's a super cute alternative to the typical legging look, which, if you're like us, you wear almost every day in the fall and winter! We love how the seemingly grungy look of a military jacket and leather-looking pants ends up so classy and cute! We also love the added metallic clutch and large gold bangle. If you wanna spice the look up even more, we recommend adding a gold statement necklace to match the bracelet!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/276408495852789162/

Sweater Weather!

Love the look of oversized sweaters and ponchos but don't know how to style them? We put together a few looks to give you some outfit inspiration.

1. We paired this grey knit poncho with a pair of fleece-lined leggings. For a pop of color, we added a bright blue basic shirt underneath, and a long statement necklace to spice up the look. For a simple poncho like this, you can pair any color bottoms underneath because nothing will clash! It's so versatile.

Poncho

 

2. We paired this southwestern print poncho with a bright red long-sleeved shirt to bring out the colors. We also added a chunky statement necklace for some fun! You can wear a poncho like this over basic leggings or instead of the colorful undershirt, wear colorful bottoms.

Poncho

3. To brighten up this soft chunky sweater, we paired some colorful cold-weather accessories. We love the added pop of turquoise in the scarf and ear warmers - it's unexpected for the season but super cute and it works! Because the top is black and white, you can wear any color or material bottoms. For this look, we threw on a pair of black  liquid leggings for some added texture.

Sweater

 4. This poncho can be worn for a shirt or even as outerwear! It's so warm and versatile for the season. We love pairing it with a pop of color on bottom and neutral accessories. The scarf and ear warmers bring out the light colors in the pattern while the rust colored ponti pants bring out the bright red. You could also layer some long necklaces under the scarf or in place of it to dress it up.

Poncho

 5. There is so much you can do with this colorful lightweight cardigan. We decided to bring out the beautiful royal blue with the tank top underneath and the statement necklace. For added warmth in this season, we added a pair of ear warmers. On the bottom, she is wearing our fleece-lined leggings. Instead of the necklace you could always add a neutral scarf or you could put on a scarf and a longer necklace.

Cardigan

Top 3 Reasons to Shop Small this Holiday Season

For retailers like us, we have already started planning and prepping for our busiest season: the time when YOU shop for the ones you love most.

Envy owner Kristi explains the top reasons you should shop local this holiday season:

1. Shop with your Friends
I've been lucky enough to help many of my customers over and over-- I know their taste, their lifestyle, their body type, and their price point. Or, if I don't know you personally, chances are I've assisted your neighbor, daughter, co-worker, etc.

From the customer's perspective, however, it's more than just building a personal connection with sales associates; it's about convenience. It is so much easier to shop with someone that already 'gets' you. Holiday shopping can be a headache, but not when you're shopping efficiently in stores that already know how to help you.

Even more, holiday returns are annoying, but chances are, the same employee that helped you pick out the gift item will be working *if* the item comes back to be returned. Last Christmas, I helped a husband put a whole outfit together for his wife. So sweet! When she came back with the entire gift still wrapped in Envy tissue paper (wrong size, darn!), I thought, 'This is so fun putting a face to the gift!' And I was able to help her get the correct items in less than 5 minutes.

2. Diversity of Products
Local businesses don't have to stock their shelves with products to reach a "mass market." Instead, we pick products for our local audience. For example, the two most popular items in our store right now are Chicago Flag necklaces and Fleece Lined Leggings. Obviously, these items are specific and regional, but we sell hundreds of each item in our Evanston store.

But it goes beyond niche-y products. You ask for sweaters, leg warmers, infinity scarves? We run to the phone and make sure our buyers order it. Because it's what YOU want (and need-- let's be real, it's freezing here), not what someone in L.A. or Dallas wants to buy. The benefit of shopping local is we listen to you when we fill our stores so you can purchase exactly what you are looking for.

3. Help us create jobs and invest in our community!

Without a doubt, the best part of owning a small business is connecting with the community that supports us. We hire local residents and college students who are active in the community, and we support their local charities, schools, and events. For example, in the past year, your support has allowed us to contribute to Evanston Township High School, Northwestern University Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, Delta Gamma Sorority, Kappa Delta Sorority, and a handful of other charities and fundraising events.  You are able to patronize the shops that support your causes, and that means YOU have a direct impact on your community. That's pretty cool!

This is a feel-good post for us! We have been blessed with a community filled with local support, and we can't wait to help you shop this holiday season for your loved ones :)


Mark your calendars for these Envy shopping events in November:

November 7 - November 9: Shop3V Pop-up Shop at Envy in Downtown Evanston
Meet Danira from Triple V Clothing at her online boutique's Grand Opening event!

November 9: Kenilworth Club Holiday Bazaar
Shop with Envy and other local vendors at this festive event!

November 14: Envy Pre- Black Friday Party! at Envy in Downtown Evanston
Out of town for Black Friday? No prob-- we celebrate it early at Envy!

November 29: Small Business Saturday and Downtown Evanston Tree Lighting
Shop Small Saturday coincides with Downtown Evanston's most popular holiday event! This is your excuse to shop around the great local boutiques in Evanston!

Meet Danira from Triple V Clothing!

Mark you calendars! 

This weekend you will have the opportunity to meet the owner of Triple V Clothing, an e-commerce clothing store based in Evanston! Triple V Clothing will be hosting a pop-up shop at Envy from November 7th - November 9th. Currently, Triple V is only available online at www.Shop3V.com, so this is your opportunity to come and try it all on in person!

We interviewed Danira Alihodzic, the CEO and Founder of Triple V, so you can learn a little more about her and the brand. She will be at Envy all weekend, so stop by and meet her in person!

About Shop3V.com:

Triple V Clothing is modern, contemporary and unique clothing hand-picked by Danira. The price point is amazing but even better, Triple V Clothing gives a portion of it’s proceeds to charities. 

Briefly describe your story:

I was working at a law firm and simply decided one day that it made sense for me to start my own business and do something I truly love. The business plan was drawn up the same day, and here we are.

Where did the concept for Shop3V.com come from?

I was getting sick of seeing the exact same clothes at all the stores I was shopping at, and noticed that my friends were too. I decided to give us an option that wouldn’t leave us worrying if 3 other girls would have the same dress at the same party.

What is the best thing about being Founder & CEO (Chief Hustler)?

The best thing would have to be the creative freedom. I get to pull inspiration directly from my surroundings and pour it into the brand. It’s nice because my customers are girls like me, I get them – they get me. There isn’t a buying meeting at the 100^th floor of some fancy building with a handful of stuffy businesspeople whose main goal is money. I feel like that’s what Triple V’s customers appreciate.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Would it be super cliché to say life? Yeah? Ok.
It would be difficult to narrow it down to one major thing, but my friends and family are probably a huge part of what inspires me. Each of them is so different, yet somehow they all mesh. Their styles blend together and end up in our clothes. I’d like to think there is something for everyone at Triple V, and that’s a direct result of my friends and family.

What is your best selling item at Shop3V.com?

Everybody was going absolutely crazy over a denim coat we had last season! So much so that we’ll be re-introducing it in the Spring.

Describe your personal style.

I’m such a chameleon. One day I’m super sophisticated and sleek in all black, the next I’m channeling my inner 90’s grunge diva with a vintage band tee and purple ombre. But that’s the beauty of fashion; we get to be whatever we want to be.

What is your favorite thing about fall in Chicago?

The clothes! I’m not a fan of 90-degree weather, so when it drops down to 60’s and I get to shop for sweaters, hats, and boots – I am ecstatic! Also, the gorgeous lakeside walks in early fall. Our city is stunning!

Three things in your bag:

My liquid eyeliner by NYC – fall is the ultimate season for a bold cat eye, and this gem lasts forever and is such a bargain at $3!

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Line lip liner in 3C – my ULTIMATE obsession at the moment. Move over, Kylie Jenner.

Business cards, because you never know when an opportunity can come knocking!

What is one thing our readers would be surprised to hear about you:

I lived in 7 different countries and 11 different cities by the age of 13. I’ve added London, UK to the list since then.

Check Triple V Clothing out on Facebook

And come meet Danira in person at Envy this weekend!! Can't wait to see you all there!