Inspiration Behind the Simply Chic Collection

Each season our team evaluates our current collection of styles and makes decisions about new styles to incorporate in the upcoming seasons. For Spring 2009, we are introducing a new collection of styles to our line. We have titled them the "Simply Chic" collection. Our design goal for this collection was to introduce simple, yet stylish, silhouettes that won't break the bank. The result is the introduction of CHLOE, CHARLOTTE and CHARLIE. These styles offer our customers exciting new options for bridal, special occasion or everyday use. Pair your favorite new LILL style - CHLOE, CHARLOTTE or CHARLIE - with our fresh new spring fabrics for a chic look this season.



I know you’ll find a Simply Chic bag that is simply you. We hope you enjoy these new styles and we look forward to creating with you very soon.

Happy Spring!


Jen Velarde – Owner and Founder

Featured 'LILL Girl' - Meet Briana!

Meet Briana, a LILL Girl since March of '08. Originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, but now resides in Los Angeles, designer of 12 LILL Bags! I received a few emails about a particular LILL FANatic, Briana. Her love for LILL was spread about the office, bringing cheer to us all. This is why we love what we do and why we love to hear your stories.

Jenny W., our LILL on Location rep for the OC/LA area wrote a post about Briana's party on her blog.

Lets get to know Briana by learning some fun facts about her.

Briana featured on left loving her DONNA.

Special hobbies or activities you enjoy doing?
"I really love to travel. I love exploring new places and cultures. I've been to 41 different states and a number of countries (USA, Mexico, The Bahamas, Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Vietnam, Burma, Hong Kong, China, Japan, England, Scotland, Spain, France, The Netherlands and Italy).
Any fun facts you’d like to share?
I once lived on a ship with 600 college students for 100 days while traveling around the world!"

What began your love for LILL and how long have you been a LILL Girl?
"I was first introduced to LILL while I was at a conference in Boston in March of '08. A friend from grad school told me that she had just designed her own bag at a store on Newbury Street, and I was immediately intrigued. Being someone who has a pretty healthy obsession with bags, I knew immediately that I needed to check this out for myself. So I went back with her, and the minute I walked into the shop, I knew I was hooked. I made two bags that day for myself, one for a friend and got the phone number for the LA rep."

How many LILL Bags do you own?
"Let's see. I own an ANDI, a MOLLY, a DONNA, an ANNE, a DREA, two LESLIEs, a SAM, an ERIKA, a LIZ, an ERINN and an AUDREY JANE. Oh...and a CONNOR! I believe that is 12 in total!

Favorite LILL style?
"This is a tough question. It's hard for me to choose. But, I think my favorite is the ANDI. She's such a great everyday bag. She has plenty of space for all of my daily needs, and she can easily hold some of the smaller LILLs inside (like the SAM!)"

Top 3 fabric picks:

Calla Lily - It's just such a beautiful fabric, and I love the different textures of it!

Paisley Party - When I first saw it in person, I was blown away by how appealing the different colors and patterns were. I knew I needed it on a bag immediately!

Central Park Tweed - I love green and tweed, so I think this fabric was made for me!

“If I were the queen of LILL for a day of LILL I would….invite all of my favorite bag-lovers to come make a bag. I love introducing new people to LILL and seeing how much fun they have while designing their own purse. I would especially invite those who are skeptical because they can't picture what the bag will look like in the end because I know once they see the end-product, they'll be a LILL fan for life! I would basically host one large LILL party!"

Thanks so much, Briana! It was certainly fun getting to know you better. We can't wait to create with you again and see what creation you come up with next!

-Lilly S.

This Week's Employees

Last week you met our 3 “models” from our website’s home page. Now meet some more behind the scenes folks that work hard everyday to ensure you truly love your LILL Bag.

Meet Adrienne S., Senior Fabric Associate Design Dept.
Favorite Style: ANDI and PAULA
"I love all the creative minds and seeing how a bag comes together. I also like that it is a mostly women run company. It is very inspiring. It is a great work environment and I never dread going to work."

Fun Fact: The ADRIENNE bag is named after this very Adrienne!

Meet Donna C.,
Parts & Pieces Associate
Favorite Style: MOLLY & DONNA of course.
"I work with an awesome team. I love how I have learned so many areas of the company.
Our potlucks are the best ever."
Fun Fact: The DONNA bag is named after this very Donna!

Meet Brayan N., Shipping Associate
Favorite Style: "If I were to be a girl, I would say the AUDREY JANE would be my favorite. It would have a Lux Tux exterior and fairy dust for the JANE."
"What I love about working at LILL is that it’s very motivating. I have learned so much and I enjoy working with my co-workers."

It was great getting to know this week's highlighted LILL team members. Check back soon for more fun posts from LILL's owner and see what Emily's pick of the week will be this week. Your LILL Bag could be famous!

-Lilly S.

LILL's "Team Member of the Month"

October's Team Member of the Month award goes to....Candice G.! Assistant Manager for the LILL on Location department.

Candice is known for being one of HQ’s brightest stars. She is quick witted, creative and always a team player. Whether it's answering emails at 1:00 am, adding fun games or themes to the monthly potluck she is constantly going the extra mile and delivers great results. Her humor and positive energy effortlessly infect all who work with her to push a little further. Some recent accomplishments that were noted to award this honor to Candice were, her help with the sample bags for the Sample Sale held at LILL's HQ, always being available to LILL reps and her notable lead in the social committee over the last few months. She is very organized, dedicated and always willing to help out to get things done.

Bravo Candice- job well done!

Candice has been with LILL for 3 years, let's get to know her by learning of her favorite things and more! As she is outgoing and willing to share fun tid-bits about herself, I think everyone will enjoy learning more about her.

Where are you originally from? I was born at Good Samaritan hospital in Downers Grove, Il – I’ll give them a plug because they have cable with on demand movies and really good quesadillas w/ GUACAMOLE! I now live in Naperville; it is glorious. We just got a Loehmann’s and Nordstrom Rack right next to each other.

Favorite LILL style? I love JANE! She’s little but does sooo much… like an Olsen twin. I love to attach JANE to my AUDREY because she she’s perfect to use at the casino. Audrey fits all of my players club cards from the casino, my id, and my winnings in her and I can hook my Audrey Jane to my pants loop when I go to the buffet.

Top 3 fabric picks: Tiger Lily, Snow Leopard & Viva Las Vegas














What do you love most about working for LILL?
Being employee of the month… and the people! It’s a super cool company and I love my job but the people are definitely what make working for LILL so amazing. It’s hard to even use the word co-worker because I consider the majority of people here my most bestest friends. Oh, and did I mention I love my boss, Kate? Love you, Kate (the Great). It never hurts to give your boss a plug.

Nickname: Actually, instead of a nickname I’d like to lengthen my name so people have to use the full thing every time. Candice Adeline Gatlin. It sound much more regal and if movie stars can do it, I should certainly be allowed. And No, I have no nickname but for the 9 months prior to my birth my parents told everyone I would be named Danielle. But, while my mom was in labor (and probably after they received gifts with the name Danielle embroidered on them) my parents decided they were sick of the name Danielle. Subsequently, while my Mom was trying to birth me my Daddio was watching David Letterman (my fave!) and Candice Bergen was on… they went with that. I’m guessing I probably came pretty close to being Murphy Brown too.

Favorite musician and band: I love, love, love Kings of Leon, Louis XIV, Damien Rice, and M.I.A. but my all time faves are Dolly Parton, Cher, and Michael Jackson. Ooh! And I love Madonna because she does what she wants and doesn’t take guff from anyone- the way I live my life.

Where did you last go on vacation? VEGAS BABY!!! Well, I also drive to my Michigan casino every other weekend to gamble but that’s more of a compulsion than a vacation. Buffets or bust!

Anything else fun you’d like to share? Hmmm…I’m stuck somewhere between “where do I start” and “I could go on forever”.

More fun facts about Candice!
-My celebrity crushes are Bill Murray and David Letterman. Nothing gets me more than a really old guy with 45 years worth of jokes under his belt.
-I have a son; he is a cat. His name is Homer Spider-man X-rat Cat Gatlin-Kelly. Though he answers to many other names, among his favorites are Baby Pepper Steak and Peabo Bryson (or Peabs for short). Homer had an unfortunate syndrome last year and had to undergo a very stressful (and expensive) surgery that many would consider a sex change. Don’t worry, he’s still my little handsome man.
-I’ve never lost an argument and I’ve never been wrong.
-I drive a hybrid car and am a member of the Go Green Committee at Lill HQ. Go Green; Go Prius!
-If I weren’t at Lill I would love to be a medical examiner, crypto zoologist, or a critic- I have lot’s of opinions and they’re all valid and correct.
-If I were a Muppet I would be a mix between Miss Piggy and Animal because I’m super into myself (seriously, I would marry myself) and because I look (and may just be) crazy like Animal- same hair do and everything.
-I have a TLP project, it stands for time lapse photography and it consists of me standing in pretty much the same spot everyday and taking a picture of myself while I document the number day. I started it on January 1st of this year and plan on continuing forever… or until I forget to take a picture. I think I’m going to make a calendar at the end of the year with my photo from that day on the previous year on every day and then give them out as gifts to family, friends, and strangers.
-I love reality tv. I want my own tv show; it would be awesome and would defo top the Hills.
-I am a vegetarian… but I love meat. I mean I LOVE it. I became a vegetarian a few months ago after talking with one of our LA LILL on Location reps, Jenny W., about all things green and eco friendly and realizing the effect that farming too many cows has on the environment. I miss meat so much though. When packages arrive at HQ from Texas they always smell like tender, succulent, delicious meat and I like to curb my cravings by sniffing the boxes.
-Though I am not a fan of children, I have a deep love for the show Jon & Kate plus 8. Beyond them making me infinitely happy, my favorite thing about the show is that no matter how many children they have, they treat each of them equally.
-I have a grainy YouTube video from a night at the roller derby when I won a riotous game of extreme musical chairs. That’s me at the end being swept off my feet with a chair and tackled by roller derby gal Megan Formor.
-I love Thai food. I got the logo for my favorite Thai food restaurant tattooed on me…3 times. It’s really good.
-My favorite video games are Dance Dance Revolution and Centipede; I am amazing at both.
-I am a Brookfield Zoo member and I love learning about animals. If I were an animal, I would most likely be a Utahraptor or a Megaladon shark because I’m wicked cool, crafty, and cunning.
-I am uber interested in serial killers. Ed Gein is my fave though his status as a “serial” killer is debatable.
-Though I love my look, if I had to choose a celebrity to look like I would be stuck in tie between Nicole Richie, Megan Fox, Monica Bellucci, and Victoria Beckham.


I hope you all had fun in the joy of getting to know Candice. Now you all can see what a pleasure it is to work with such a fun and unique individual as we her at LILL get to experience each day.


-Lilly S.

LILL's "Team Member of the Month"

Each month at LILL’s HQ we get to vote on an employee that has made a great presence and impacted LILL in a special way.

August's 'Team Member of the Month' is LILL’s accountant, LIZ K.


She was voted by LILL HQ team members because she is ethical, professional, nice and a pleasure to work with, she has made great strides that have helped us all. She learned, very quickly, the culture of LILL and everyday has continued to find ways to improve and make a positive impact on the LILL work environment. In addition, she is also a part of LILL’s ‘Go Green’ committee, which has made great leaps in making our HQ environmentally friendly.

Liz is friendly, easy going and positive and we are delighted to have Liz on the LILL team!

Liz is originally from Cincinnati, OH., she has worked for LILL just shy under one year now.

Let's get to know Liz:

Favorite LILL style?
SOPHIE – it’s the perfect size for everyday use, has tons of interior pockets, and I love the adjustable strap. I’m always adjusting it on the go, depending on what I’m doing or carrying.

Top 3 fabric picks:
Jungle Twill – It’s such an appealing shade of green and also a very durable fabric.
“Fall” in Love – I love the rich fall colors.
Tangerine Dream – I just got a CONNOR in it.

What do you love most about working for LILL?
I’m the accountant, so my days are filled with numbers, numbers, and more numbers. I love that I can just walk out of my office and be in the midst of so much creativity and fun – and, of course, handbags.

Nickname:
Liz is a nickname. My parents intended to call me Elizabeth, but I decided when I was little that it was too long – so I chose Liz and made everyone call me that until it stuck.

Favorite band:
Bright Eyes

Where did you last go on vacation?
Northern Michigan, where my sister lives. We hiked, canoed, and went to a minor-league baseball game.

Favorite thing about LILL bags:
I’m a vegetarian, and I do wear leather shoes, etc., but I try to avoid it as much as possible. Before I discovered LILL, I could never find non-leather bags that were durable, practical, and – most importantly – attractive. LILL quickly solved that problem! Now I have a great fabric bag for every occasion and never have to resort to my old leather ones. Thanks LILL!

Thank you for all you do for LILL, Liz!

-Lilly S.

Our Favorite Customers

With LILL not only are you creating one-of-a-kind handbags, but you are creating memories that last. It's not only the product that makes LILL the fun and dynamic company it is today, but the people who create with us. The thing we love most here at LILL, is sharing the experience with you!

This week we are highlighting Michelle P., a favorite customer of Emily R., the LILL on Location rep for the Chicago Southwest Suburbs. Here's what Emily R. has to say about Michelle P.:

"I have a customer named Michelle P. who is the best LILL on Location customer in the world!
I met Michelle when she hosted a LILL on Location party in September 2007. Michelle is a friendly and upbeat person. She immediately made me feel welcome in her home. I had only been a LOL rep for about one month and Michelle made me feel confident in my presentation skills. I realized at Michelle’s party just how much fun it can be to be a LOL rep! Michelle had such a lovely group of guests. I was able to talk about LILL and everyone was so attentive and interested! Then, the ladies proceeded to order over 20 bags. I couldn't’t believe it. Michelle ordered 5 bags herself! Michelle designed all of her bags with a unique twist to suit her personality. Michelle just loves LILL. In fact, she’s hosting another LOL party with me at the end of July. Michelle and her husband are expecting their first baby in September. I can’t wait for Michelle to see our SUSAN style. I know that she will love it!

Michelle and I have kept in touch over this past year. She has even referred a few of her friends to me. I credit Michelle with showing me that I can be an extremely successful LOL rep. She just made me feel so lucky to be able to talk to her and her guests about LILL. "


Thank you for sharing your story of your special friendship you found as a LILL on Location rep, Emily! This truly shows how LILL is about not only creating handbags, but creating memories and friendships to last.


-Lilly S.