Falling For Flocking

As the fall season gets fully under way, I find myself gravitating towards all things textural. Fall has always been my favorite season for dressing - I love the look of layers and the possibilities of combining colors, patterns and textures in a new way. At LILL, it is also my favorite time of year as our fall fabrics always include an aray of rich colors and textures - my favorite of which is flocking. Flocking is a process of creating texture by applying small particles of fabric to create a pattern with a velvety feel. The raised flocked texture creates a striking visual appeal and adds an extra dimension to the design and the tactile experience of the fabric. I am loving our flocked offerings this year. Check out the photo of some of my favorites - Clockwise - Flocked Houndstooth, Dottie, Whippany Paisley, Flocked Tiger and Red Sea. The patterns really pop when you add a colorful accent. If initial Fall orders are any indication, I'm not the only one falling for flocking. Happy Designing!

-Jen Velarde

Happy 5th Anniversary to our Rep, Shelley P!

As you may know, LILL celebrated its 10th Anniversary this August (my how time does fly!). And while we were busy turning 10 this year, our LILL on Location Party Rep program turned 5! One of our Minneapolis reps has been with us from the very beginning and all of us at LILL want to wish a happy 5th anniversary to Shelley P.!

Shelley has been celebrating all month long with special prices on her Fave 5 Bags and lots of great LILL parties. This weekend she's having her official celebration party and since we can't all get there, we wanted you to have the chance to get to know Shelley a little bit. So we asked her a few questions...

Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in the Western Suburbs of Minneapolis, MN where I have made now my home with my own family. However, I spent 4 years (ok, 4 ½) at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Where did you meet Jen (our founder & president) and Robin (LILL's vice-president)?
Robin lived on my floor my freshman year at Drake. We rushed together and both pledged Delta Gamma which is where we met Jen. We have been friends for a very long time!

What do you love most about working for LILL?
It has been so cool to watch LILL grow from its most humble beginnings in Jen’s studio apartment in Lincoln Park to the successful company it is today. It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to share my own personal account of the company’s history. I am so proud of my friends and the work they have done. And, in my role, I get to have all the fun. To introduce women to this company and the fabulous handbags is such a thrill! And I have loved meeting such great people at these events. I have forged friendships with a handful of my hostesses whom have now become some of my best friends.

How have the parties changed since you started working with LILL?
If you can believe it, when I first started, I had to take the orders by hand and FAX them to LILL headquarters. The other major distinction is that the brand awareness and general familiarity with LILL has grown exponentially. This is not a typical sales job, I am merely a facilitator. The bags sell themselves and the process is so interactive and engaging people look forward to doing it again and again.

What about family?
I have been married for 7 years and we have two wonderful kids, Jenna Grace (age 5 ½) and George (age 3). I was so flattered when Jen chose to name the Grace bag for my Jenna Grace. No George bag yet... but that's probably OK!

What are your three favorite fabrics right now?
Not sure I can just pick three, but I'll try. Ooh La La... Lime Leaves... and any animal prints (Kalahari Leopard, Wild Zebra, Lemon Zebra, Snow Leopard)

Do you have a nickname?
In college I was called Link. Its origins are not all that interesting but the name does come out every once in a while now among our friends.

Favorite musician, band or music genre:
It seems like right now we are so kid-focused all we listen to is Kidz Bop and Disney princess soundtracks. But music really isn’t my thing. I don’t even own an iPod (but my 5 year old has one…go figure).

Where did you last go on vacation?
To Chicago to visit my best friends and their kids!

Thanks Shelley for all your help spreading the word about LILL and helping to get our LILL on Location program going. You have been a fantastic assest - AND a great friend - to the LILL Studio! Happy 5th Anniversary!

Fall Inspiration

Hello LILL Fans! I'm excited for the holiday weekend and looking forward to one last barbecue before the signs of the fall season start to appear. The change of season always puts me in the mood to go shopping and add updates to my wardrobe. I'm not fully ready for a jacket and boots; however, I am craving some rich fall colors. I thought I'd share some of my ideas for a transitional fall bag with you!

ANDI is an old-time favorite with our LILL Girls and LILL Team Members alike. Roomy, yet not overwhelmingly large, a cool and chic style for year around.

I particularly love this ANDI combination because the exterior is made with fun and kitschy cotton print. The rich colors of burnt orange, cocoa brown and deep tomato red make a nice statement.

AUDREY JANE is one of our newest styles. It's a great transitional style, perfect for your last summer parties and can tuck into any of our larger bags.

This AUDREY JANE is made with rich, gemstone colors of ruby, amethyst, and yellow topaz.

Paisley is a lovely pattern for fall, made with a lighter weight cotton fabric to create any easy transitional look.

Here are some more transitional fabric that are great for now until fall is officially here. Match any of these fabrics with one of our faux sueds to add a nice, lux texture to your combination.

I hope this post inspires you and finds you ready for the fall season!

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

-Lilly S.