Thanks! Year in Review; Exciting 2015 Opportunities Await

Gwen Fletcher and her loved ones at Renee's

Dear Friends,

As we say goodbye to 2014, we look back with pride at the successful events and exciting new collections we brought to you this year. It's been a fantastic year! Your enthusiastic response was so appreciated. THANK YOU for contributing to our progress. Your generosity is overwhelming, and humbling. We are grateful.

At our Eileen Fisher 30th Anniversary celebration

Mother and daughter in matching Sunday Rose dresses

2015 holds another year of fashion excitement, travel, and hard work. I am grateful I get a chance to do it all over again, and more, in the coming year. Please come along with us, and invite your friends, too.

Shopping in my favorite position, on the floor

I will continue to search the marketplace, while keeping you in mind, for unique, high quality, USA-made apparel and accessories that you'll love to wear. Of course I'll be looking for value, remembering that quality tops quantity every time. You have entrusted me with the honor of choosing your wardrobe for you, and I embrace the challenge.

Twins shop at the fall fashion show. They are both teachers.

Take a look at a few more photos of women just like you shopping at Renee's during the past year...

Sandra Classen is in retail sales at Lamps Plus.

Lynne Swanson is a teacher.

Tammy McLendon has a massage practice at Peak Fitness.

Robin Cooley owns a swim shop, Got Gear, in Snohomish.

Andrea Moore loves vintage apparel.

Looking ahead, are you aware of the award-winning new developments going on downtown Everett? New hotels, including a Hampton Inn and a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, more housing units, and a year-round Farmers' Market and Food Hub and more will contribute to a more vibrant downtown. Word on the street is a new bicycle shop on Colby is in the works, too. We look forward to the contributions this growth and more will make to the entire Everett community.

A new Hampton Inn rises above downtown Everett's skyline.

At Renee's, we are excited about our plans for one of our BEST spring and summer seasons ever. New lines, special events, and more online presence are in the works. If you haven't already, please take a few moments to leave us a review here: Yelp, Google, or Facebook. Your referral is our greatest compliment.

Happy New Year from Renee and Marlene

Thanks again. I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy new year!

With love,

Renee

Week After Christmas Sale Starts Friday; New Year, New Hours

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support this holiday season. Join us for our Week-After-Christmas sale starting Friday during regular store hours (closed Sunday). Everything in-store will be reduced from regular prices.

Renee's will be closed on New Year's Day and for Inventory Jan. 1-4. We will reopen Mon., Jan 5, when we adopt new winter hours as follows: Mon - Fri. 10 am - 5 pm; Sat. 10 am - 4 pm.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!

Sincerely yours,

Renee

You need a sweater. Stat.

Wooden Ships cowl neck poncho with sleeves

Good morning friends,

Cozy sweaters are calling your name at Renee's. Hope you don't mind if I show them to you.

Eileen Fisher gray cropped poncho with sleeves

1. Silvery gray Eileen Fisher slouchy funnel neck cropped poncho with sleeves in lofty alpaca silk. Elegantly draped, cable-patterned. Chunky knit, dropped shoulders, ribbed sleeves and hem. Italian yarn. Layer Eileen's long silk shell (in store, too!) underneath for maximum coverage.

Eileen Fisher tan cashmere sweater with aubergine accessories

2. Tan Eileen Fisher oversized cardigan sweater. Cashmere yarn, button front, long sleeves. Shown with aubergine layering tank and textured scarf, or as above, use long silk shell for layering.

Wooden Ships cowl

Wooden Ships Cowl back

3. Wooden Ships cowl neck sweater. Black background, gold print. Angora and wool. Lofty knit, but lightweight. Acts like a poncho but has sleeves. :)

Wooden Ships teal button front sweater

Wooden Ships teal button front sweater, unbuttoned

4. Teal Wooden Ships fuzzy cardigan sweater (above two photos). Luxe. Must see.

I call this the cotton candy sweater.

5. Luxe Bailey v-neck sweater in hyacinth lavender color. Fuzzy like cotton candy. Feminine. 

Boyfriend. My fav.

6. Luxe boyfriend sweater. Available in two colors (translation? I really, really liked it.): ivy green (shown above) and cinders (steel blue). Understated. Love.

There are more. Many more. Come in to see. Send in your hubby. Or your mom. Sister? Anybody? 

Wishing you a lovely, peace-filled weekend.

With love,

Renee

Thoughtful and Practical? Cozy Flannels Jammies are Here.

Milk and Cookies flannel jammies... Cute!

Dear Friends,

How's your holiday season shaping up? I hope you are enjoying every moment!

White dogs in glasses

Want to wrap up in something cute and cozy between now and Jan. 3? What about some comfy new flannel jammies to get you through the stress of planning, wrapping, and cooking? Treat yourself to a new pair of pajamas and look hip when company unexpectedly calls.

For the sophisticated animal lover?

What about giving flannel pjs as gifts this year? Great for any age, whimsical, practical and thoughtful, flannel pjs might be just the ticket.

Red cats. Charming.

Available in x-small, small, medium and large, these come boxed in a pizza box "special delivery." As always, we offer complimentary gift wrap.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

With love,

Renee

Tomorrow and Saturday Get $50 off your $150 Purchase

Dear Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving! May your food taste delicious, may you be relaxed, and may you have wonderful fellowship with your friends and family, wherever you may be.

Looking for something to do on Saturday? Kick off the season with an old-fashioned holiday stroll downtown Everett on Small Business Saturday.

The holiday shopping season is here and downtown businesses are ready for shoppers. Support the businesses that make downtown Everett a great place to be.

Renee's is ready for bargain hunters. 
Get $50 off your $150 purchase on Friday and Saturday by connecting with us electronically 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 us at reneesclothing (at) yahoo (dot) com. That's it. Simple!

Once you connect with Renee's electronically in all three ways, you qualify for your $50 discount. Plus, we'll honor our special on both Friday and Saturday. Preview all the downtown merchant specials here.

Friends, thanks for being a big supporter of small business. Your decision to shop local means more than you can imagine. Thank you.

With love and gratitude,

Renee

What to Wear Now

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. I'm not sure how this can be, since we took down the holiday decorations seemingly just last month.

I love Thanksgiving. It's a food celebration with loved ones. No pressure of shopping and giving and (much) decorating.

What will you be wearing at your casual holiday gatherings? May I make a suggestion? Try a sweater from SKIF. Raw. Hand painted. Beautiful quality. Made in St. Louis, Missouri one at a time. Love.

Charcoal and tan Skif 3/4 sleeve pullover sweater

Red v-neck Skif 3/4 sleeve pullover sweater with Asian Eye scarf

Charcoal and ivory Skif cardigan sweater with cool matte silver buttons

More suggestions? A luxurious Eileen Fisher tan cashmere cardigan or poncho. A swingy cotton tunic blouse with back zipper from Comfy USA. Feel hip and comfy in either one.

Eileen Fisher cashmere cardigan with Asian Eye scarf

Comfy tunic blouse back detail

Comfy tunic blouse with Asian Eye scarf

This is what I want to wear this season. Cotton knit comfort from Fenini.

Fenini at Renee's

Renee's is full of beautiful options. Please visit us for clothing you'll love to wear and more on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29. We are located at 2820 Colby Avenue downtown Everett. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday.

See you soon. And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

With love,

Renee

Sneak Peek: Four Models, Seven Outfits.

Renee Peterson

Dear Friends,
What an honor to dress nine (!) customers for next Saturday's fashion show at Renee's. One by one they arrive at their fitting appointments with a smile on their face and anticipation in their step. What are they going to wear for the show?

Teresa Arnett

My task is to choose flattering clothing for each model. I also need a well-rounded representation of the store and the brands. Then I need to touch on the season, the trends, and the colors. Casual outfits, daytime clothing, and dressier attire each play a role. Putting a show together is like working a puzzle.

Laura Carlson

In the end, I put myself in your shoes. Questions like What do you want to know? What do you want to see? and even What would you buy? help me piece together the show. Finally all the outfits are "curated" before the fitting appointments begin.

Sharan Daniel

Curiosity and Collaboration. What if the outfits I have preselected aren't what the models might have chosen? What do these models bring to the table that enables them to step out of their box? Their success and mine hinges on two words: curiosity and collaboration. They bring an open mind, patience, and an attitude of working together. Together we tweak each outfit. We change a size, or add an accessory, or switch a color, until finally we tease out a successful result.

Renee Peterson

My dream is to dress each of you as if you were going to model in the fashion show. We could make an appointment, and I would "curate" outfits just for you from the store. "It was so much fun trying on the outfits and experiencing your keen eye for details," said Sharan after her appointment. What if we approached our closets like we were going to model in a fashion show, armed with curiosity, collaboration, and patience? Would that affect how you get dressed?

Teresa Arnett

For fashion, fun and inspiration, join us at Renee's fall fashion show in the store on Sat., Oct. 25th at 4 p.m. Discover how to navigate your own wardrobe. Understand how to create a monochromatic canvas and why you would want to. Drawing a blank when it comes to choosing travelwear? I'll share tips and tricks for dressing well and feeling comfortable in your wardrobe.

Renee Peterson

Reserve your spot by next Tues., Oct. 21st. Bring a friend. Click here for ticket info. Make plans now to get out of the house. You'll be glad you came. I guarantee it.

Sending love,

Renee

Don't Miss Renee's Fall Fashion Show!

Dear Friends,

You won't want to miss the fall fashion show at Renee's on Sat., Oct. 25 at 4 pm. Bring your husband and your friends! Start your evening in downtown Everett at Renee's.

The clothing. The show is an exciting culminating exhibition of a year's worth of hide and seek. Functional, down-to-earth and useful wardrobe treasures were hiding; I found them for you in a sea of items not chosen.

The theme. Navigate Your Fall Wardrobe With Flying Colors. Get inspired. Learn how to make your own wardrobe work harder for you. With 20+ years of dressing you and people like you, I will cover what to wear to work, on vacation, for travel, and at play.

The cause. One hundred percent of ticket proceeds benefit Cocoon House, a Snohomish County gem for homeless teens. Learn more here and here. Your $10 donation gets you a $10 coupon/ticket good toward any purchase now through Oct. 31.

Seasoned models and helpers. The models and helpers at the show are customers like you. They are real people who, like you, seek to balance family obligations, work and play. If they can wear clothing you see at the show, so can YOU!

The time. A 4 p.m. showtime allows you to attend to your Saturday routine. Then head out for some fun on the town. Enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres at Renee's. Outfit yourself after the show. After that explore Everett's restaurant scene for dinner. Surprise your friends and family with quality shopping, entertainment, and dining in Everett.

Want to avoid the crowd? Visit Renee's the next day. We will be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday for your shopping convenience.

RSVP for Renee's fall fashion show today (last day for reservations is Tues., Oct. 21). Mail your check (payable to Cocoon House) to Renee's, 2820 Colby Ave., Everett, WA 98201.

You'll be glad you came. I guarantee it.

Sending you love,

Renee

Navigating your Fall Wardrobe? Discover How at our Fashion Show.

Recent fall sunset

Ode to Autumn

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, 

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease;

For Summer has o'erbrimm'd their clammy cells.
--J. Keats

Dear friends,

We embrace a season of transition with the arrival of fall. How will you navigate your fall wardrobe?

We can help. Come to our fall fashion show on Sat., October 25th. Watch local women model a well-planned collection chosen just for you. Get inspired about your clothing and accessories. Learn how to make the most of your fall wardrobe.

All ticket proceeds benefit Cocoon House, Snohomish County's only resource exclusively serving homeless and at-risk youth ages 13-21. Click on the embedded video above to learn more about this important resource we are blessed to have right in our county. Or click here to watch: http://youtu.be/cPtrFobrj1U

Zucchini apple almond bread

Embrace the season. Enjoy the foods of fall. And think about wearing cozy sweaters, comfy jeans, and warm coats. Join us on Sat., Oct. 25th at 4 pm. Seating is limited; get your tickets today.

Sending love,

Renee

"Five Things I Learned..." Guest Post

Jacob Javits Convention Center lobby, Manhattan

Today's post and photos are by Fiona Remley. Fiona is VP Director of Program Management at the advertising agency Y and R Group Seattle.

Fiona Remley

Five things I learned while attending the NY Trade shows with Renee

1) She is relentless in pursuit of the best, newest and brightest for you (she refers to us as her “ladies” BTW, which I loved).

2) She knows you inside and out.

3) She is always looking for the interesting, the different, and the fresh.

4) She is extremely knowledgeable about fabrics, cuts and textures (I learnt a lot from watching her).

5) She is super fun to hang out with (we shared several great meals and one not-so-great apartment).