Happy New Year!!!

I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy New Year from GAVIN! The boutique is almost a year old and what a year it has been. I have some special things planned for the coming season. Our pics for this spring and summer will start arriving this month.
I feel a wild, crazy, English girl spring coming. We all know that those English girls have a way with fashion. Young British women have an instinctive ability to mix and match denim, streetwear, and formal wear with a typical blase attitude. This look is all over the shows as a preview to what we will see for spring...a "Pirates of the Caribbean" feel in blouses, fringed boots and bags, and hair worn long and flowing.
The ripped and shredded look is still very strong seen in collections as diverse as D & G to our very own Ralph Lauren. Everyone loves a rumpled cowgirl!
Shorts are very "it" so let's get those legs in order. (I am now a hot yoga convert, doing hot yoga at Bikram Evanston. I love what it is doing to my waistline as well.)
Also seen are sheer silks, with the pre-requiset black bra worn underneath. If that's not your thing a nude cami works as well.
Can't wait to break out the neon in very small doses, a tee, or a ballet flat works well. I always feel if something is trendy it works in a classic form, I have a neon yellow, one button, notched collar blaser, that fits the bill. Cropped leather, motorcycle unspired anything, is very strong. All of the editors have navigated right back to their black costume, having endured a bit of color, but can no longer be disloyal to their black one more minute. The New York Times style expert and on- the-run photographer, Bill Cunningham caught this trend at the Bryant Park tents in New York as well as the tents near the I.M Pei exhibit at the Louvre...
So to conclude, anything goes...fringed, ripped, colorful, see through, somber black, motorcycle leather, safari (always at YSL), army surplus. What I have seen absolutely disappear is a "lady who lunches" look. The suit and matching bag and shoes thing is definitely not in for this season. You can put those demure little suits and dresses awway for a few seasons. As Carinne Roitfeld, editor of French Vogue says, (loosely translated) "the bourgeois look is over for now, unless of course you are talking a Catherine Deneuve feeling...all teased hair, conservative trench and spike heels, otherwise break out the black Demeulemeester lace-up combat army boots and that Ferretti see through nude blouse!!"
That's all for now.
See you at GAVIN

party time!!!!!

Don't forget our little champagne and ribbon sale tonight! Stop by and have some light hors d'oeuvres and a little bubbly. We have added a bunch of new items to our ribbon sale to make room for the gorgeous new clothes that are on the way. The rep from Elizabeth and James was here yesterday and you won't believe the cool new stuff we have on order! I think we will have a great crowd tonight and if you know somebody that wants to share some Veuve with us, bring 'em. The more the merrier!!!! Plus a little bird told me there may be some press here tonight.....we all like to pose for the camera, Non?

glamour puss!

Hi to all of you glamourous girls out there. Continuing with the theme (from our last e-mail blast) of what glamour means. It means many different things to different people, but most people agree that when they see it, they know it. Seeing Jackie O,(like I once did) on the terrace of the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, after a day of shopping probably waiting for Onassis' yacht, well, anyone would know she was glamourous. I even knew that and I was probably 13 years old. I distinctly remember her white jeans, huge black sunglasses, and black, simple, tee. She was the epitome of glamour!! Her sister Lee Radziwill was with her and the two of them made quite a commotion on la Croisette. My mother was glamourous in quite the same way. She would wear gorgeous cocktail rings with her white jeans and YSL sandals . I remember it like yesterday, vacationing at the Marbella Club with my mother and my sister, Susan. My mother was in her early fifties and boy did she turn heads. She was asked by the English actor/comedien, Terry Thomas for a drink on the terrace and my sister and I peaked over from the pool, giggling! Those were glamourous times. But,there I go digressing again.....
Anyway, all week-end we will have party attire on sale 30% off at Gavin so you can be all ready for the holidays or that special New Year's Eve party. We absolutely have something for everyone, short skimpy cocktail dresses or a very special piece you will have forever to grab whenever you want to look really glamourous. Tracy Reese has some gorgeous ones!
Bises,
Lauren

Thanksgiving is coming and we are starting to plan for the beginning of the holiday shopping season. We have some great events planned for that big, first, week-end after Thanksgiving that marks the coming of an always very exciting time. The streets twinkle with lights, the trees with those first signs of snow, and a great big chill fills the air. Our hearts however are warm with the expectation of the wonderful gifts we will offer the ones we love. Let the girls at Gavin help you find just the right thing. We have cashmere from FEEL THE PIECE that is so lightweight and wonderful you will want to sleep in it! Great little, sparkly, earrings to fit any budget, and some absolutely gorgeous bags. Scarfs galore, wallets, and the most wonderful tees by TORN. Plus, a special shopping event planed for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Come by and see us, we sure would love to be part of your very, merry holiday season.
Love from all of us!

Nice!

Got a nice mention of the TCW piece in the Sun Times!!

http://www.suntimes.com/news/foster/1866559,CST-FIN-stella05.article

So exciting!!

We're really happy and proud to let you know that Lauren and GAVIN are featured in the November issue of Today's Chicago Woman!! Victor Skrebneski was a joy to work with!! Wow!!

Come let us help you "cassez le 'look'"!

Check our website under 'Pressroom' www.shopgavin.com/press.html and you can see the full article at http://www.tcwmag.com/Interviews/3-Fashionables.aspx

pretty, little, ballet slippers...

I love ballet slippers, they always bring to mind Audrey Hepurn, Bridgette Bardot, Kate Moss. All real style icons in my opinion because they can take a pair of little black pants, ballet flats, and a black tee and make it look spectacular. If your having one of those days when you feel a style bloc coming on....remember chic is easy, throw on some black capris, a cute beret, some red lipstick and put a smile on your face. You will look amazing. On the subject of red lips by the way, you must buy one tube. Blue red for those of us with pale skin looks so chic. Orangey red for those with yellow undertones, think Julianne Moore. Nars has some great reds.....
Don't forget to check out Taigan. It is a new website we have been asked to be a part of to sell online and it is fantastic. You will be exposed to beautiful clothes, shoes, jewelry, and houswares. The stores listed are some of the best in America and you will see merchandize pictured in a completely different way. Great photos but videos as well. Take a look and tell me what you think. BLOG ME!!!

Hi All!!!
So happy to have a minute to write something on the blog. With New York market and getting back and dealing with all of the p.o's, life has been a bit hectic. I have to tell you, we have some really awesome things coming in for spring. Some new vendors caught my eye, Tt, Sass and Bide, Iro, Frock, Whitley Kros, Wren, LnA, Illia, and some amazing sweaters from Inhabit. We also made a big buy of Janis Savitt jewelry and I cannot wait to get it in. The Blur bags from Israel are also amazing!!
I have really exciting news, Tuesday I had my picture taken with the master of all masters, the venerable, famous, genius, charming, VICTOR SKREBNESKI!!! It takes a lot to impress an old model like me, I have shot with Lindbergh, Toscani, Demarchelier, Bensimmon, in my opinion, some of the best photographers in the world, but Skrebneski has a very special cache, and he is, as they say in french, an amour. He is the sweetest, plus I had the pleasure of hearing one of his wondeful stories and I was enchanted. I walked in and the first thing he said to me is, you look great just like that, let's shoot you just like that ( I had my boyfriend jeans, an old tee shirt, and my Gryphon fur vest, no make-up, and wild hair). I was over the moon, because my look is so not hair and make-up ready, I was dreading the whole "done" thing. It is definitely a moment I will cherish forever. I am in love with Skreb!!! Look for it in the November TCW.

been away too long.....

Hi everybody,
Sorry I haven't updated the blog, but I was sooooo busy. Since we last talked I have so much to tell you guys. I was in New York with my bff Babeth and her french entourage, my daughter Gavin, my sister susan, and a whole host of other fun people. Emily Schnur, Gavin, and I bought some yummy new clothes for spring at Coterie. We have added some amazing new vendors to our stash, Iro, Sass and Bide, Patterson J. Kincaid, Janis Savitt, are just a few of the new things you will see in the store for spring. We also have some amazing new Vera Wang Lavender label dresses, so chic, sweet and just the right thing for your dance this week-end (Loyola girls, come on in, these dresses look just like you!!!)
Getting back to New York, My french friends and I decided to go to the Carlyle for lunch and who do we see.....President Sarkozy of France and his adorable wife, Carla Bruni. She is so chic, loved her Lanvin dress. Security was everywhere. It was very, very serious. Just when I thought we had had enough, Tony Blair sits down at the table next to us and Elle McPherson was a table away. I guess that 46$ green salad was worth it!! Wait I have one more story. Having dinner at a french bistro next to the Bowery Hotel, (forgot the name...) and who is next to us but Matt Dillon. We all struck up a conversation and chatted with him all through diner!!! He is very sweet, a bit shy, and very handsome.
I'm almost done. Our friends at Pencey were so kind as to invite us to a private party at the Jane hotel. All kinds of fashion trash were there, it was the place to be last Thursday night and Emily and I were there to represent GAVIN!!
That's all for now. I just love you guys and really appreciate the continued support.
p.s. an old and very beautiful friend came by today, Mary Levin, haven't seen her in years and I am convinced she is even more gorgeous than she was 20 years ago. Some girls have all the luck!! Anyway she bought all kinds of fab things to bring on her next trip away with her beau and has assured us she will tell all of her friends about us!!
Peace and Love
Lauren

Hi to all my gorgeous girls! I have been very busy getting kids off to college and to exotic places like Scotland (Torie) or settled into amazing Greenwich Village apartments (Gavin). Cooper's down in the Big Easy at Loyola, and William is getting his freak on in Bloomington with the announcement of the bands that will play for his first big concert Oct. 10th, (his business Fifth Agency produces events and manages musicians....check out the website)
Phew, I know that all of you have the same stuff going on and the great thing about having a store is that you all come in and keep us updated on what's going on in your lives too. Whether it's kids, travel, a new job, or kitchen, or engagement, we love to hear all about it and make sure you are dressed right for the occasion!!
We have two new additions to our Gavin staff. Michaela Jones and Jodi Casati have brought their expertise and talents to make Gavin even better. Michaela has a degree in PR and Marketing and Jodi's resume includes managing Saks up in Highland Park.
Also, big surprise!!! Come in Saturday to find out what's on sale. Could be those great jeans you have been watching or maybe the cool new BF jacket from Elizabeth and James. The faux fur vest from Gryphon might also be a possibility....cry your eyes out Intermix, we only have 1 left!!
Love ya, Lauren