"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).

Let There Be Shoes.

Dear Friends,
We have shoes. And boots. Not to mention cozy slippers.

If you want to wear booties AND have comfortable feet all day long, this ^^ is the footwear for you.

Want to look professional AND still have happy feet? ^^ Then try wearing these!

And then there is Bernie Mev...

I couldn't be more excited: You're gonna love their boots that arrived YeStErDaY!!!!

Marlene instructed me to call her, even on her day off, if a shipment of Bernie arrived.

She was like a kid at Christmas.

She did the testing for all of us...

And then she wore them out of the store. They passed with flying colors.

We received three additional Bernie Mev styles yesterday: a flat and a wedge in "jeans," and a "refill" of the black flat Hazel style.

Look at these great charcoal slippers from PJ Salvage. Wouldn't these be comfy to put on after a hard day's work?

Or what about these cable-knit slippers, also from PJ Salvage? It's not too early to think about the gift giving season. Most anyone would hug you for these.

Stop by soon and take a look at our latest arrivals. And come for birthday cake and champagne next Tuesday between 11 and 5. You are just gonna love everything!

Sending you love,

Renee

New York Calls; Renee's Answers!

Dear Friends,
On 9/11 from the taxi, the new tower, One World Trade Center, glistened in the distance. It was a sunny day, just like on 9/11/2001. Humbled by the sight of the tower, I was reminded how fortunate I am. Thank you for allowing me the chance to shop for you in one of the most cosmopolitan, exciting cities in the world!

My British friend and fashionista Fiona and I shared an apartment near the Lower East Side in an area called Murray Hill. The neighborhood, also known as Curry Hill, had hundreds of East Indian restaurants. We ate out--Indian, Turkish, Italian restaurants--none of them famous, but all delicious!

The Empire State Building sparkled nearby, and Grand Central Station was glowing, too. What a treasure these landmark buildings are.

Of course the streets are always bustling. I used to think all the people on the streets live and work in the city; now I assume many of them are tourists.

The shops display tempting treats. This kiosk specializes in macarons, colorful French sweet meringue-based confections. Isn't that quaint? The (free) street scene is the best entertainment in town.

Oh, yes. I almost forgot I was in New York to shop for clothing! There are buying shows all over the city. The biggest presentation is at the Javits Convention Center on the West Side. How exciting to walk through those doors. I anticipated finding all kinds of treasures for you.

They decorated the halls just for the buyers. The extravagance is impressive.

Here are a few photos of some "finds."

Jewlery on the floor.

We found some beautiful cocktail dresses for next spring! Got a wedding coming up in your family?

Light pink dress and jacket

Perfect party dress

Wedding shower-appropriate

This group is reminiscent of years gone by...

Acid-etched linen jacket for next spring

This architectural bag line will make another appearance at Renee's next month.

Dots, lines and colors, mixed and matched, will be fun to wear.

To top off an already great trip, I discovered a friend I hadn't seen for more than 15 years was in the city! What a pleasure to have dinner with Michelle, her husband and their daughter, a college student in Brooklyn.

Me and Michelle

The September trip to New York was inspiring and exhilarating. I can't wait for all the new items! I came back to a store full of arrivals: sweaters and pants, coats and jackets... Marlene owned the store while I was away; she is quite the pro. I count myself lucky to have her. I'm ready for a new season. Are you?

Sending love,

Renee

Let Us Eat Cake!

Dear Friends,

A few posts back, here, when I was in a feistier mood, I mentioned I've always wanted to try the tall, decadent-looking chocolate cake from Costco.

I can't think of a better time to have decadent cake than when one is celebrating a milestone birthday. Enjoying cake with friends is better than eating it alone, right?

Please and join Marlene and me for chocolate cake and Champagne on Tuesday, September 30 from 11 am to 5 pm. You can check out the exciting new Fall arrivals while you are here.

We look forward to seeing you next Tuesday.

With love,

Renee

Celebrating an Anniversary

Dear Friends,

Join us today, tomorrow and Saturday as we celebrate Eileen Fisher's 30th Anniversary.

Got any Eileen Fisher pieces just hanging out in your closet? Donate 'em and receive a Recycling Rewards gift certificate of $5 per item donated, good toward new Eileen Fisher purchases during the event.

One customer brought in 43 (!) items. At $5 each, she had $215 to invest in a new Fisher jacket. We will send these items back to the company, where they will be resold. All profits go to women in need.

Enjoy festive food and drink while you are here.

Next time, a report on September finds in New York!

Thank you for following along!


Sending love,

Renee

Now It's Your Turn!

Dear Friends,

Whew. Labor Day is over. The kids are off to school. Fall is in the air.

Now it's your turn to go shopping. Turn over a new leaf. Start with a clean slate. Begin your own Autumn Adventure at Renee's. We're officially unveiling our fall lines (check our preview here) and seasonal look this Friday.

Please stop in for our Fall Coming-Out Party. Drop by any time after 3 pm. Relax and unwind. Help yourself to plentiful hors d'oeuvres. Get a gift with every purchase over $25.

So launch your own fall wardrobe this Friday. Begin your Autumn Adventure at Renee's. Visit us for our Grand Unveiling.

Experience the best of fall clothing and accessories at Renee's. Embark on your journey here. We can't wait for you to see what's in store for you this season. You are just going to love it!

Warm Regards,

Renee

p.s. We are looking for another model.