A Vacation, a Chocolate Cake, and not much about Renee's!

Dear Friends,

How's your summer shaping up? We've had spectacular sunshine and temperatures in the Pacific Northwest for the past two months. Lucky us.

I just returned from vacation. I traveled from Missouri to Wisconsin and then to Ohio. Got to attend two lovely weddings. Spent time with my beloved in-laws and family. Ah, these are the things that make life sweet. Here are a few photos from my trip.

My husband's nephew's wedding in Wisconsin. Bride Affton and groom Dylan.

Our grandson Hayden (right) and his little friends.

Two of my beloved sisters-in-law at a lighthouse on Lake Michigan.

My hubby Bill and I.

Look at this pristine beach on Lake Michigan!

My mother, sister Kris, me and sister Lori in Ohio.

With two of my nieces Annie and Eleanor.

The backyard reception area for my nephew's wedding.

The bride Jenna and groom Reuben.

My mother Sandy and father Rod. Mom is wearing clothing from Renee's! Sympli dress, Fidji shoes.

While we were visiting Ohio my niece Annie celebrated her ninth birthday. She requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

I have to admit, the cake we made was the best chocolate cake ever! The recipe came from this book:

Here's the recipe, in two parts, and the frosting recipe, right off the cocoa container.

Make this cake! I guarantee, you won't be disappointed. And it's so easy to make. The chocolate frosting on top was the bomb!

FYI, I checked for doneness at 35 minutes as the recipe instructs, and then at ten minute increments; my cake (baked in a glass dish) took 55 minutes to finish baking in the center.

At Renee's I returned to find all kinds of new fall clothing in stock. I took a bunch of photos. But those will have to wait for the next post!

Enjoy the summer beauty and bounty, and I'll meet you back here again real soon.

With love,

Renee

Big News! Renee's is Upgrading!

Dear friends,

Our summer clearance sale is coming to an end this Saturday. We are making room for our new (dare I say it?) fall  arrivals! If you haven't stopped in lately, the store is looking a little cleaner... just the way I like it before the new seasonal clothing starts rolling in. Believe me, whatever is left is priced to be GONE.

On another happy note, I am excited about what this fall is going to bring to Renee's. We are upgrading! Renee's moved onto Colby Avenue in 2001, and it's time for a makeover. We need to keep up with the times!

In August you'll begin to notice our enhancements like a new awning, new logo, new outdoor sign and lighting, new carpet, new bags, new computers, new software, and more. Renee's just keeps evolving and getting better, thanks to you.

Here's a Beyond Yoga outfit from the summer line.

Best of all, though? A NEW category! Yup, yoga and active wear will grace our floor starting in September. Brands like Beyond Yoga, Lucy and Fig are just a few of the fantastic new lines you will find at Renee's in September. Keep an eye out for our big launch party invitation. You are invited!

In the meantime, keep rockin' this summer weather, and stop by to get in on the sale. You'll be glad you did!

See you soon!

With love,

Renee

How to Dress Age-Appropriate in Seven Easy Steps

Serena (high school senior), Deb (Serena's mother), and Sue (Serena's grandmother) shopped at Renee's yesterday.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday Paige and I had the privilege of dressing three generations. Deb came in with her mother, Sue, and her daughter, Serena. After they perused the store, they asked us to set aside items we thought they might like while they went for lunch. Ooh, my favorite thing to do. But could Renee's dress a senior in high school, her mother, and her grandmother? Yes, I'm happy to report, turns out we could! All three left the store excited about their finds.

In a world where everyone from age 9 to 90 wears jeans, what does "age appropriate" actually mean? Older women don't look like our grandmas used to. People are turning 50 and feeling like they still have some of their best years ahead of them.

These days women are being pushed to look younger, and young girls are being pushed to look older. Perhaps we can figure out a way to make age appropriateness something that inspires confidence and creativity, as opposed to dread and a feeling that one's stylish days are over as soon as a certain number appears on their birthday cake.

Finding a balance between trendy or dowdy, expensive or affordable, young or mature, is a tough spot for most women (and girls) because styles are often aimed at people of a certain age and with a particular income, and we are all at different stages in life. The trick, instead, is to dress for your lifestyle.

I have noticed, in my 20 years (!) of dressing women, that many of us have internalized old rules. Instead of wearing clothing that makes us feel beautiful (and that looks great, too), we play it safe and stay inside our box. We stick to our automatic responses, even though they may be outdated or no longer apply.

Here, then, based on my experience, is my guide to dressing appropriately.

1. Value your body. It works hard for you. Your body is worthy. Adorn it beautifully and stylishly.

2. Pay attention to what feels right on you. Trust yourself. Love what you wear. In my humble opinion, feeling confident in your clothing is more important than what you are actually wearing. Not every trend works for every person. When what you wear suits your age, personality and lifestyle, you will carry it off regardless.

3. Stock your closet with basic and classic pieces that bridge all generations. Invest in the best quality that you can afford.

4. Each season choose a few on trend accessories like shoes, belts, bags and jewelry to keep you looking fresh for the season and age appropriately modern.

5. Shop by fit, not by size. Don't be married to an 8 when the 10 starts fitting a little better. Make sure the clothing flatters your body type.

6. For young women, it's more about dressing fun, as opposed to overtly sexual. 

7. Last, and most importantly, have a youthful attitude, and be open to change and experimentation at every age. I have seen time and again, when customers are willing to try on something out of their comfort zone, they have been pleased with the outcome.

So, friends, come in to Renee's again. Let us help you. Be open to suggestions. What have you got to lose? You just might be pleasantly surprised at the results.

With love,

Renee

Here to Stay. Summer Sale Starts Now.

We are here to help! Renee, Marlene, Paige.

Hello, friends!

I trust you are are enjoying our beautiful Pacific Northwest weather, and taking in the warmth and sunshine.

On the Ferris wheel in Seattle. Renee and Reuben.

My nephew Reuben and his fiance Jenna came to visit from Pittsburgh last month. I got to show them all of our best kept secrets! Here are a few shots of time we spent together.

On the hospital rooftop landing pad. Renee, Jenna, Reuben, and Bill.

Taking a closer look at the county sheriff's helicopter with Reuben.

We ran a half marathon together in Olympia. Renee, Bill, Jenna, Reuben.

Do you realize I have been choosing clothing and accessories for you at Renee's for more than 20 years? And I'm thankful for you! Without you, we wouldn't be here providing you with an opportunity to enjoy wearing quality clothing.


As you know, I search for American-made garments. I like to deal with small companies. I love to carry products made nearby. It's an honor to be your eyes and ears on the market. And I plan on staying right here, doing what I do best.

With the advent of the Internet impacting our world, a lot has changed a lot in the last ten years. And we are keeping up. Stay tuned for updates. We will reveal more about what's in store for you soon!


In the meantime, we are starting our summer sale today! Next week the general public will receive our mailer (and so will you). But you can start shopping the sale before the general public gets a chance. Subscribers to our blog and Facebook followers are rewarded with receiving Renee's news first.

Please pass on this good news to your friends. Recommend Renee's on Facebook. Forward my notes to your family or coworkers. The best compliment you can pay us is to refer us. Share your clothing secret. We are grateful.

With love,

Renee

Best Selection Ever of Summer Dresses at Renee's!

Back by popular demand: JamsWorld summer dresses!

Dear Friends,

Summer is the season for dresses! Flirty and feminine, dresses are cool and comfortable to wear in warm weather. Add a pair of sandals and some fun jewelry, and you are ready to go! Renee's has more dresses than ever before in stock now! Check out the photos below, and stop in to see additional dresses not pictured.

Take your out-of-town guests to Pike Place Market in this number.

JamsWorld

We loved this JamsWorld print so much we ordered it in a short length too!

JamsWorld

This JamsWorld dress is also in stock in a longer length.

Head to an outdoor concert in Nomadic Traders.

Wear this Luna Luz dress to a wedding.

This Luna Luz full-length cotton square-neck dress has cap sleeves, a knit bodice, and a poplin bottom to add flare. In a beautiful royal blue, the style is figure flattering!

A comfy Nomadic Traders skimmer works great for a picnic.

Entertain guests wearing this chic stripe knit shift dress by Nomadic Traders.

Head to the tropics in JamsWorld's full-length dress.

Going out for dinner? Wear Elana Kattan's bright princess-seam dress.

How 'bout a night on the town? Tees by Tina makes this slim-fitting knit number.

Elana Kattan's 3/4 sleeve print dress will take you anywhere!

Understated elegance is the rule in Elana Kattan's figure-flattering silouhette.

Elana Kattan's princess seam lace dress is sleek and sexy.

Elana Kattan "fireworks" tank dress. Perfect for the fourth of July party.

Nic and Zoe's drape-neck print dress is sophisticated.

Stay warm in Nic and Zoe cap sleeve sweater dress.

Sympli makes the ultimate travel dress.

Another great traveler is Tribal's red knit dress

Stay cool in Nic and Zoe's lightweight tie front v-neck dress.

You'll be comfy shopping all day in Tribal's geometric print knit dress.

Good news! We are offering 10% off store-wide at our Memorial Day sale!

Better news! If you received this note via email, you are a blog subscriber and can take advantage of our "Early Bird" offer.

Take your discount early starting Thursday, May 23 just by mentioning that you are a blog subscriber. PLUS, because we highly value our subscribers, take an additional 10% off. (That's 20% off anything in stock, including sale items, starting on Thursday, May 23 through Memorial Day for any blog subscriber!) You must tell us you are a subscriber to get 20% off early.

Have a good week! See you soon.

Warmest Regards,

Renee

Spring Excitement at Renee's

Hello, friends! It's me again. I am alive and well, but haven't written lately!

So what's been going on at Renee's? Well, we are having a Customer Appreciation Week through Saturday, May 11, and we really hope to see you at Renee's for this special event! We are serving refreshments! Get gift with a purchase of $50 or more.

The store is chock full of beautiful clothing and accessories for spring and summer. You really must come in to take a look if you haven't been in lately. Just take a look at these cool spring and summer dresses. And there is a lot more to choose from!

Nomadic Traders black and white polka dot dress

Angie "creamsicle"summery dress, fully lined.

Luna Luz tie-dye tank dress, full length, cotton.

 What else is happening? You got to meet our newest hire, Paige Albert, earlier this spring when  Marlene and I held a welcome reception. Paige has been with us for over two months, and we really appreciate her outgoing personality and her fashion sense. She knows how to help people put outfits together.

Paige and Marlene

We also changed a few things around in the store! We put up a new piece of encaustic artwork behind the counter, and we arranged a comfy new seating area for you! We found a new way to display our ever-growing scarf collection, too.

New artwork behind the counter

Revised seating area

See all our scarves easier than ever

Rearranged "opportunity" area

Well, friends, that's all I got for today. Please do stop in soon and take another look around Renee's. There's always something new and exciting going on in here!

With love,

Renee