We Need to Talk

Dear Friends,
Tomorrow we ring in the new year. Hopefully, when you turn over the calendar page, you will resist that old familiar diet resolution.

If your New Year includes getting out and feeling comfortable, you can accomplish both with our Lucy workout wear. Designed with stretchy comfort in mind, Lucy could be an appropriate addition to your wardrobe.

Or you may enjoy wearing Beyond Yoga, another activewear brand we started carrying last fall. Be good to yourself by wearing soft and cozy fabrics from Beyond Yoga.

Some of  the Beyond Yoga athletic wear we carry is made of breathable bamboo that withstands even the toughest yoga positions.

  
Don't forget, EVERYTHING in the store is 20% off through tomorrow. We will be closed on New Year's Day and Jan. 2, 2014 for inventory.

Finally, allow me to quote a few lines about diet resolutions from writer Anne Lammot's Facebook page. With humor and grace she addresses this delicate subject below.

Writer Anne Lammot

We need to talk.

I know you are planning to start a diet next Wednesday. I used to start diets, too. I hated to mention this to my then-therapist. She would say cheerfully, "Oh, that's great, honey. How much weight are you hoping to gain?"

I got rid of her sorry ass. No one talks to ME that way.

Well, okay, maybe it was ten years later, after she had helped lead me back home, to myself, to radical self-care, gentle Self-Talk, to a jungly glade that had always existed deep inside me, but that I'd avoided by achieving, dieting, people-pleasing, multi-tasking, and so on.

Now when I decide to go on a diet, I say it to myself: "Great, honey. How much are you hoping to gain?"

You can read the rest of her Facebook post by clicking here.

Happy 2014, my friends. We look forward to sharing another year of fun and fashion with you.

With love,

Renee

From My House

"The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."
-William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell


Dear Friends,

From my house to yours, Merry Christmas! Thank you, good friends, for another fantastic year downtown Everett. My heart is touched by your generosity. We are grateful for your friendship and support.

Please join us at Renee's starting tomorrow when everything is 20% off. We will be closed on New Year's Day and Thurs., Jan. 2 for inventory. Best wishes for a safe and happy New Year!

With holiday love,

Renee

Shop and Sip Tomorrow at Renee's!

Dear Friends,
There's a cool event going on in downtown Everett tomorrow called Shop and Sip, and we hope you will join us! Shop and Sip features local wine and beer producers who will set up in eleven downtown shops, including Renee's.

Do your gift shopping at Renee's tomorrow. We will wrap for you!

Wicked Cellars, a local wine store, has curated Renee's selections and will be serving customers from noon to 5 pm. You can finish your holiday shopping, taste some fantastic local beverages, and then go grab dinner at a downtown restaurant. Click here for more details and parking info.

A $10 ticket gets you seven tasting tokens and the chance to finish up your shopping with a locally brewed beer in hand. For extra thirsty shoppers, additional tokens are just $2 each. Get your tickets here.
 

We are excited to see you this holiday season. Every customer makes a difference in a small shop, and we appreciate your business.

Happy Friday night!

With love,

Renee

Get Great Gift Wrapping Tips Saturday at Renee's

Renee's sales associate Paige wrapped this package beautifully.  

Dear Friends,

At Renee's we wrap your purchases the old-fashioned way. We use high-quality paper, organza or satin ribbon, and we tie on handmade bows. There is no extra charge for this service.

When I announced on Facebook that Paige successfully passed her wrapping class yesterday with flying colors, someone said "I want wrapping lessons!" What a great idea!

I love wrapping! If you are challenged when it comes to cutting, creasing, taping and bow-tying, stop in this Saturday, Dec. 7. Bring in two boxed presents ready for wrapping. (You'll need to practice more than once to get the routine down.) Better yet, make your purchases here!

After 20 years of wrapping your gifts, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I'll let you in on them so you can present a beautiful package, too. All in good fun, I hope you can join us.

Sending you December love,

Renee

Things Are Getting Festive.

Dear Friends,

The holiday season Downtown Everett kicks off on Saturday, November 30th with the Holiday Stroll. Here's your chance to celebrate Small Business Saturday by supporting Renee's and other businesses that make downtown Everett a great place to live.

Renee's is ready for bargain hunters.

On Saturday, Nov. 30 only, get $50 off your $150 purchase by connecting with us in three simple ways. You may already qualify!

1.  "Like" us on Facebook.

2.  Subscribe to our blog by entering your email address in the blank on the right side. Then verify your subscription by clicking on the link you will receive in your email inbox from Feedburner.

3. Make sure we have your current email address on file. Email it to us at reneesclothing (at) yahoo (dot) com. That's it. Simple!

If you plan on coming in, you could even shoot us an email in advance and let us know. We will check all three places in advance and get you on your way faster.

Other downtown Everett small businesses are offering some fantastic deals to holiday shoppers, and local restaurants have specials to fuel your shopping spree on Saturday only. Check out these offers, download a map, and print coupons here.

Paige is getting her decorating fix early.

Enjoy the festive feel in the air along with great deals from great shops! Small Business Saturday is the perfect day to start your holiday shopping downtown.

Marlene and I are making "adjustments" to the decorations.

Here's another $10 for you if you have an American Express card. Card Members can get a one-time $10 statement credit for spending $10 or more in a single, in-store transaction on 11/30/13. Starting Nov. 24 Card Members must register an eligible American Express Card at ShopSmall.com and use that Card to redeem this offer. Registration is limited.

So stop by on November 30th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and do your part to help make this Small Business Saturday one of the biggest shopping days of the year for small businesses.

We look forward to seeing you.

Sending you cheer,

Renee

Thoughtful Gifts.

"To be rich in admiration and free from envy, to rejoice greatly in the good of others, to love with such generosity of heart that your love is still a dear possession in absence or unkindness -- these are the gifts which money cannot buy." --Robert Louis Stevenson

Dear Friends,

There are important gifts that money cannot buy. But when time is short and you need the perfect present, come to Renee's, where you'll find a collection that has been thoughtfully chosen with you in mind.

Renee's is fully stocked with a thoughtful collection of apparel, accessories and jewelry

You may be pleasantly surprised by the quantity, quality, and nicely priced gift selection at Renee's. Most of our items are made in the USA by small companies, like Renee's, who rely on your decision to shop locally.

Wall of Bags at Renee's

This month check out our "Wall of Bags." Sven, Lug, and Stephanie Johnson are just a few brands you'll find when you drop in.

Blending intelligent features, artful cutting and careful stitching, Sven full-grain leather handbags will give years of dutiful service.

You'll like Sven if you want a clean, no frills design combined with the softest leather I've found. Handmade in Berkeley, California, the bags are guaranteed for life!  My two favorite Sven bags are pictured above. The large black one-strap stays securely on your shoulder, and the generous bottom keeps it upright when you set it down. I can carry all my neccessities in the mini (above front), strap it across my body and not even feel it's there.

Sven Design collection at Renee's

This review from Yelp describes Sven better than I can: "There [are] some incredibly ugly logos and labels in the world; there are awkward shapes and poor construction. And this is not to mention all that pointless hardware clanking painfully. Sven Design to the rescue! The leathers are warm caresses, the buckles and zippers are necessary... I never actually need to replace my Sven, as nothing wears out, not even the linings."

Stephanie Johnson collection

If Sven is all about quality and functionality, Stephanie Johnson is about fashion and femininity. Versatile pieces designed to simplify your life but stunning enough to carry and wear as a stand-alone handbag or accessory, these chic and stylish bags are lovely. All under $50.

You'll appreciate Lug because it's bright, lightweight, and inexpensive. Practical and useful, it's ideal for everything from travel accessories to savvy globetrotters. "We felt the market was filled with black and boring product," says Ami, one of the two owners, "and we wanted to add some color!" Super smart bags with unrivaled organizational features, our Lug selection is all under $150. Lug is functional, fun, and fresh!


Ever wish your tote had backpack straps? Or your messenger could just be a tote? Enter the Sprout Carry-All (above), a.k.a. the trifecta of totes! It's a superstar!



When it’s time to get up and go the Cable Car satchel (above left) is ready to hit the road. Plenty of pockets and pouches organize your essentials, and a matching keychain clips inside. Available at Renee's in brown, yellow and green. Not too big, not too small, the Puddle Jumper (above right) was designed to fit upright in a gym locker for easy in and out access. No more tipping over, jostling, and squishing larger duffel bags to fit into a gym locker.

Other handbag lines at Renee's include Orox Leather (Portland, rustic leather), Graf and Lantz (Hollywood, worsted wool), Hobo (contemporary), Hobo's Urban Oxide collection (great for travel), Tray 6 (waterproof).

This season, make no mistakes. Come to Renee's!

Find the perfect, thoughtful present at Renee's this season. We'll be right here, waiting to help you.

Sending love,

Renee

Comfy, Economical AND Cute Footwear? Introducing Bernie Mev Woven Shoes

 Dear Friends,

Allow me to introduce you to some (really!) comfortable footwear. Here is Bernie Mev, the perfect blend of style and lifestyle, and the master of woven footwear. Got foot problems? You can find this cute combo of a tennis shoe, flip flops and slipper at Renee's today!

Bernie Mev's casual shoes artfully combine upscale styling with the latest European comfort technology. The result? Shoes that feel as good as they look.

For under $60, these street-smart, high-style shoes are just what today's fashion-minded, active woman is looking for. I love the "Tod's" bottom on the black flats.

How 'bout some sparkle for the holidays? Imagine: comfy and cute and economical footwear. Possible? Yes. Right here and now. At Renee's. Stop by to try them on!

When you are here, check out our Eileen Fisher collection! Yup, we started carrying that, too! Right here in li'l old Everett. So many exciting things happening at Renee's. You really must come in again soon.

Sending love,

Renee

Four Simple Steps to Pull Off Leggings

Leggings are everywhere! Granted, the stretchy fabric is comfortable. But leggings are not pants; they can reveal parts of us we'd rather not show the public. Follow these four simple steps to make sure you can seamlessly carry off the legging trend.

Lysse ponte knit leggings in stock at Renee's

Start with good quality leggings. Don't buy your leggings at Target or the dollar store. Spring for a quality pair made of thick, non-shiny fabric like ponte knit, which doesn't show bulges, travels well, doesn’t fade and is super comfortable. They will happily last you for years.

Leggings are meant to be worn as part of a layered outfit. Think of leggings as tights; put them under skirts, dresses or tunics. Longer tops (at least to mid thigh) camouflage any fluffiness.

Lysse brocade flocked leggings in stock at Renee's

Wear footwear that looks good with leggings such as flats, boots, a low heel, or even a high heel.

Lysse velvet legging in stock at Renee's

Leggings are best for those with great legs. For the rest of us, stick with a solid, dark color on the bottom; black and charcoal gray are fail-safe. Add personality on top with prints and patterns, jewelry, scarves and other accessories.

Lysse cotton lycra slimming drape jacket in stock at Renee's

Meet Lysse, the legging with revolutionary tummy control. Lysse leggings are your solution to get rid of any muffin top! Best of all, they are now available at Renee's.



Click the arrow above to play this short demonstration video from Lysse. If the video isn't showing up in your browser you can watch it by clicking here.


Constructed with a double layer of control fabric inside the waist, Lysse leggings slim, smooth and shape with hidden panels that eliminate "the roll." Pronounced Li-Say, Lysse is a twist on the French word for "smooth."

Lysse faux suede legging in stock at Renee's

Renee's newest Lysse additions are the flocked brocade velvet legging and the solid velvet legging. Either of these paired with Lysse's velvet tank top (also in stock now) create a wonderful holiday canvas you can use to show off your sparkly sweaters and jackets during the last two months of the year.

Lysse cotton spandex legging in stock at Renee's

Now you can wear leggings, too! Just follow these simple steps: 1. get good quality, 2. layer with long tops, 3. wear the right shoes, and 4. stick with solid, dark colors.

Try on a pair of Lysse leggings next time you visit Renee's. Flatten your tummy instantly and try something new. You might be pleased with the results.

Sending love,

Renee