It's What's on the Inside That Counts

My mother always told me "it's what's on the inside that counts." I was reminded of this recently when I received a beautiful gift from my staff as we celebrated the 11th Anniversary of LILL. The team presented Robin and I with commemorative ELLIE totes - in a fabric I didn't recognize at a distance. As they brought the bags towards us, I realized that it was a patchwork fabric made up of a multitude of fabrics in our line. Each team member had selected their favorite fabric and they had stitched them together to create a beautiful tapestry representing each person in our organization. Along with the bag came a fabric "key" that listed each person and their selection. At the top of the key was a statement that I just love - "A business is made up individuals working towards one goal. When they all come together amazing things can happen." I adored the bag and couldn't wait to start carrying it. Then someone pointed out the inside...

On the inside of the bag, each person had written a short note and signed it. I use the bag everyday and as I open it up to pull out my work, I am reminded of the wonderful group of people that make up LILL and I am thankful for the opportunity we've had to build this business together. It simply makes me smile. I can almost hear my mother's voice saying "it's what's on the inside that counts."

As you start to consider gifts to give for the holidays, you, too, can give a gift with a little extra meaning. Our ELLIE totes with their nylon interiors are perfect for giving to that special teacher, coach, boss, mom or grandmother. Pick an exterior fabric she'll love and have the group sign the inside to commemorate your experiences together or have the kids stamp their hand prints on the interior. Your recipient will enjoy receiving a beautiful bag, but will LOVE what is on the inside.

Happy Designing,

Jen Velarde

Our New LINKS Collection!

This month we launched the first pieces in our new LINKS Collection. What is LINKS, you may ask? Well, its a new twist on designing with our products. From LILL's beginnings, we have focused on designing our handbags by choosing from one of our set silhouettes and selecting fabrics for various parts of the bag. Ten years in, we are ready to offer something new - a way to build your own silhouette by choosing components that "link" together to create unique looks - thus our new "LINKS Collection." Our first few pieces include a large tote body (LILLI), a medium rectangular pouch (ISABEL), a small wallet sized pouch (NANCY), and 2 strap choices (2 short straps, or one long adjustable strap). With these 5 pieces you can do so many things. And, what's great about it is that the individual pieces all work together. So, you can start with one bag and as you add more pieces, you'll be adding to your design possibilities. The more pieces you have the more looks you can create! And, there are more on the horizon... we are currently working on the next body piece that will be introduced later this spring. Its a look you'll love now and for seasons to come!

I attached a few of my favorite looks here, but check out our website to see more and peak at a video! The LINKS collection is currently available in stores and at parties through our LILL On Location program - be the first to start your "collection" by hosting a party or visiting one of our stores!

LILLI with short straps worn full....LILLI with short straps worn cinched...LILLI with an ISABEL or NANCY as accent...LILLI with long adjustable strap....ISABEL with long adjustable strap....ISABEL with NANCY and long adjustable strap.... just to name a few combinations....

We can't wait to see what you all create!

-Jen Velarde

LILL's "Team Member of the Month"

September's Team Member of the Month is...
Emily R.! LILL's Web Store Associate.



Emily, is a pleasure to work with. She is friendly, enthusiastic and maintains a positive outlook. She believes in the vision and mission of LILL and it shines through so clearly in the customer service she provides to customers and coworkers alike. In addition to her daily duties, she recently starting writing a weekly post on our blog "Emily's Pick of the Week”.



Now let's get to know Emily by learning of her favorite things. She is a sweet and cheery person, just like her fabric picks!

Emily is from Homewood, IL and has been with the LILL HQ Team for 6 months now, but has worked with us as a LILL on Location Representative for over one year.


Favorite LILL style? MOLLY

Top 3 fabric picks:
Yellow Stone, Fruit Cocktail, Day Tripper:








What do you love most about working for LILL?
What don’t I love about it? Everyone is friendly and creative. It’s a very welcoming environment. I love that Jen started this company on her own and it has grown into such an amazing company. It’s very inspiring!

Nickname?
Em, Emma and my Dad calls me Bubb

Favorite music:
Counting Crows, Dar Williams

Last vacation you took?
I took a cruise to the Western Caribbean with my entire family.

Fun Facts!
I have two cats named Laverne and Tippy and a dog named Gandalf. Also, I got married in Maui. It was the best day of my life so far.

Thanks for helping to make LILL the pleasant, dynamic company it is today. As always, it's lovely to work with you everyday.

-Lilly S.

Holiday Style Tips per LILL's Design Team

I asked Jamie from the Design Team what she was looking forward to for Holiday style and to give us some tips on how to dress for that next party.

Here are some fun tips for Holiday 2007 per Jamie!

“Here in Chicago, Holiday is always about a desperate attempt to escape the cold, grey, terrible, dark winter, and the endless days of practical fleeces, snow boots, bulky sweaters, claustrophobic turtlenecks, and my ubiquitous puffy coat that I am ready to burn already in December. But this season more than ever we will have ample opportunity to escape into a heady world of Shangri-La as stores will be filled with clothes and accessories that gilded, glowing, and sumptuous as fashion takes us on a trip down the Spice Road...
I'm looking forward to wearing a spicy palette of saffron, cinnabar red, and nutmeg brown. I'll add color and sparkle to that with pops of turquoise teal, gold dust, plum, and emerald green.












Even though I'll spend my December trudging through black ice, doing my best to dodge the yellow snow on the sidewalk, in my mind I'll be following the trade winds on an exotic journey to Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, all the way to the Far East. Jewels, gems, precious metals, baubles, and spice - Holiday 07 is going to be a party, for sure!

I'll be celebrating with sumptuous velvets and suedes, the luster of satin, patterns inspired by ornate architecture - temples, pagodas, filigrees & arabesques, along with rich paisleys, ornate jacquards and damasks, shimmering metallics, and decadent brocades. This is the season to gild the lily. For my part I'm going to be sure to have one last hurrah before fashion becomes sober and minimal again. And what better time to load up & pile it on than the Holidays?

In terms of accessories, I'm going for it this year: hats, costume jewels, dramatic belts -- maybe I’ll even be brave (or crazy) enough to work a turban or some gloves into my ensembles. For my handbag, the crowning jewel of any well-planned outfit, I'll be carrying CORA, ADRIENNE, and GRACE to all my holiday parties.



CORA I love for its dramatic, oversized grommets, substantial metal chain, and deco-inspired sunburst pin tucks. And, most importantly, it has an adjustable strap. Double it up through the grommets and you have a sleek little bag to wear on your wrist or over the shoulder for the office Christmas party. Let it hang long and you can wear across your body on New Year's Eve when it's time to get down on the dance floor or for those occasions when one finds oneself with both a cocktail and a glass of champagne ...












ADRIENNE I love for its vintage elegance. I'll be making mine with one of our modern, graphic fabrics to keep the look young and current. Its framed shape stands up well to the architectural silhouettes I plan on wearing this Holiday.

And GRACE I will need on those winter nights when I've spent the whole day feeling decidedly shapeless underneath all my practical layers and needs something decidedly feminine to cheer me up. GRACE is just the thing for that mood - it's delightfully coquettish in pink velvet Baroque-inspired floral with a mauve-y pink ruffle - a little convection fit for a queen (Marie Antoinette?).













But for me, I'll be making my GRACE out of a moody, emerald flocked taffeta for a femme fatale/Old Hollywood inspired look, doing my best to channel the smoldering glamour of Greta Garbo, even if I have my snow boots on. "








Thanks so much for the design tips Jamie! You have inspired me to go out and get myself ready for my next holiday party!
-Lilly S.

Have a holiday style tip you'd like to share? Please send them to me to help others get inspired for holiday dress! lilly@1154lill.com

GRACE-fully LILL

Our sleek and chic GRACE has been spotted not once, but TWICE at major red carpet events!
Starlets such as Vanessa Hudgens (of High School Musical 1 and 2) and Carrie Underwood (Country Music Superstar who first got her start on American Idol) graced (get it!) the red carpet with their coordinating LILL clutches.


Vanessa Hudgens looks sassy and oh-so classy with her gold and black GRACE dangled from her wrist at the Teen Choice Awards.










The southernly-sweet Carrie Underwood looked simply darling with her ruby and champagne GRACE clutched neatly in her hands at the Country Music Awards.








PS
Carrie was voted best dressed for her ensemble that evening!

Stylist note:
Our GRACE is convertible!
You can wear her like Vanessa with the strap pulled out as a wristlet
-or-
Tuck the strap in and carry as a chic clutch like Carrie!

I Love My LILL Bag - Contest WINNER!

We had such an amazing response to our "I Love My LILL Bag" online contest. It was certainly hard to choose from all of the sweet (some silly - but fun!) poems and delightful write ups. Our staff had fun getting to know you (our "LILL Girls") a little more personally. We appreciate all the thoughtfulness that went you’re your entries, but unfortunately we were only able to choose 1 grand prize winner.


Congrats to Kellie S. our 1st place winner for our "I Love my LILL Bag" contest!

The popularity of Lill purses
grows faster every day.
From the store onto our shoulders
They have quickly made their way.

I was first brought into the store
where I designed a purse for my Birthday.
I was awestruck at the colors and patterns
not quite sure what to even say.

The finished product was perfect
for it was creative, fun and bright.
Do I dare think about another one?
Having two Lill purses - I just might!

I arrived at a bachelorette party,
and couldn't believe my eyes.
Lill studio was the there ready and waiting,
and my purse total was beginning to rise.

Now I had one jealous sister
and two amazing purses from Lill.
I used them so often I thought,
three purses? I think I will!

Once again I entered the Lill store
with three of my friends behind me.
We spent the afternoon playing mix and match
now how jealous my sister would be.

Thank you Lill Studio
for making a simple purse into so much more
They are creative, fun and unique
I have no doubt I will be back in your store.
(with my sister this time!)
Kellie S.