Vote for Lola & Gigi Founder in W Network Experts Search!!!!

Get your curves noticed – vote for Canada’s Curvy Fashionista!

Canada’s own Laura Caravaggio of Lola & Gigi (gorgeous designer fashions to fit your 12+ curves) has been chosen amongst hundreds (400 to be exact!) as one of the top 20 finalists in the W Network’s Expert search.

Laura is passionate about providing designer fashions to fit women’s curves and about getting the message out there that all body shapes should be admired and appreciated. Now’s your chance to be represented and be heard - not everyone's a size six but fashionistas don't have to be! Laura is on a mission to prove it but needs the help of Canadians who are also dedicated to a love of fashion, but who also want to open minds to different body images.

Check out her video on the W Network experts search site, and if you feel inspired, please rate the video and leave a comment on what you think of having her as your next W Network expert. Who knows, you might see a different body shape in the media to help women feel good about themselves!

Cocktail Rings this Holiday Season

Hello, my name is Laura and I'm a Cocktail Ring-o-holic!!!

I've been completely taken over with my obsession for these gorgeous re-worked vintage cocktail rings lately. They are made from vintage clip-on earrings that have been lovingly restored and made into adjustable rings by the amazing Sara at Twinkle Studio.

They add instant glitz and glamour to any outfit and I love the retro feel to them. I love them so much, I had Sara send over a selection of her "vintage gems re-styled into luxe modern jewelry" for the Lola & Gigi Holiday Party on Dec 6th.

So be there or be square!
L

Lola & Gigi Holiday Mini Makeover Event

I made the Top 20!!!

Well you could have knocked me over with a feather when I got the call from the W Network letting me know that I made the Top 20 in their Experts Search!!!! With just a day or so notice, I had to whip together my challenge - to take 2 women from day to night with just the accessories that could fit in their work tote. A cinch!

The lovely producer & camera man came to film it here in the showroom yesterday and boy was it fun. Hard work and I loved it! Closely followed up with an appearance this morning on CHCH Morning Live, my head can barely fit through the door. Where's my closeup Mr. Demille????

Lola & Gigi's 1st Anniversary Party Nov 1st!!

W Network Expert Search

We had such great fun shooting some footage for a series of "My Shape" videos several weeks ago that I decided to go ahead and submit a short version to the W Network Expert Search Contest.

You have until Oct 26th to view all the videos and rate them, and then the W Network chooses 20 semi-finalists who will get a shot at appearing on TV.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

PS - for a sneak peak at the "My Shapes" videos, go to lolaandgigi.blip.tv

Falling in Love with Fall!

Well we had a hoot at the Lola & Gigi fall shoot on Labour Day (yes, no rest for the well dressed!). The lovely Cindy (a former Miss Plus Canada) and the stunning Jennifer (yes, she was on X-Weighted) did an amazing job as usual.

We really felt like they were channeling one of our new fav TV shows, Mad Men, in a lot of these pics. I love the mod 60s London look that Cindy is channeling in this Melissa Masse Tammy dress and they are both totally rocking one of the biggest fall trends - the colour purple!

Many many thanks to Carolyn of Trove, the grooviest accessories store in Toronto for the loan of the gorgeous jewelery & funky hats. The looks wouldn't have been complete without them!

Props to Gary Golberg of Fast Focus Productions for his amazing artistry behind the lens.

This is just a sneak peak - much more to come!

Lola & Gigi In the People Style Watch Magazine!

I was at the grocery store the other day picking up my Sunny Bears (like gummy bears only much much yummier!) and I decided to pick up the latest copy of People Style Watch magazine. Queen Latifah was on the cover and I must admit that she is one of my style icons (many is the day I wake up and think "what would Queen Latifah wear?").

While leafing through to check out what the Queen was up to, I was thrilled to see none other than Lolaandgigi.com listed in the "Shop Online for Plus" pink box! What an honour! I have to admit there was a little bit of screaming going on. In case you didn't catch it, here it is!

Loving My New Corso Como Caroline Boots!

I just received my new Corso Como Caroline Boots from Barefoot Tess! They are so buttery soft, the heel is the perfect height and they are super comfortable with extra gel cushioning in the sole. Love the ruching detail & the pointed toe. High style & high comfort - what more can a girl ask for! Size 13 shoes never looked this good.

I can't wait to wear them this fall with my fabulous Cate trouser jean (tall inseam of course to accommodate the 3" heel!). I might also try the dress/opaque tight look that I'm seeing all over the place this fall. We'll see how brave I feel.

Lola & Gigi Going Going Gone Summer Sale

It's sale time at Lola & Gigi! Time to get some great deals on all of our fabulous summer pieces and incredible steals on last season's fall stock. All summer sale prices are listed online & for an extraordinary 45% OFF all fall stock in the Sale Items section*, enter the code "Extra45" at checkout!

Come check it all out this week in person at the Lola & Gigi Boutique:

Thursday Aug 21, 1 - 7 pm
Saturday Aug 23, 11 am - 4 pm
Sunday Aug 24, 12 - 5 pm
92 Carrier Drive
Etobicoke, ON
Click here for the map

Happy shopping!

www.LolaandGigi.com

*All items in "Sale Items" section are eligible for credit note or exchange only

Lola & Gigi are coming to Calgary!!!

Huge Summer Clearance Sale!!!

Huge Summer Clearance Sale!!!
20% - 70% off at the Lola & Gigi Showroom
Thursday July 24 - Sunday July 27

The summer is in full swing and what could be better than getting all your favourite Lola & Gigi pieces on sale? Believe it or not, we've got to get ready for fall so we are having a huge Summer Clearance Sale at the Lola & Gigi Showroom this week from July 24 - 27 and all in-stock clothing, including New Arrivals, will be marked down 20% - 70% off! And to make the deal that much sweeter for our mailing list - if you bring a friend, you'll receive an extra 10% off your purchases!

Here are the details:

Lola & Gigi Showroom
92 Carrier Drive
Etobicoke, ON
Thursday & Friday July 24-25, 1 - 7 pm
Saturday July 26, 11 am - 4 pm
Sunday July 27, 12 - 5 pm
Click here for map

See you there!


www.LolaandGigi.com

Give a Boost to "The Girls" with an Expert Bra Fitting

Wherein I Get All Weepy With Gratitude (a warm & fuzzy note from a Lola & Gigi customer)

I wanted to take a minute to let you know how happy I am with the clothes I got from you. I love every piece.

You know, it didn't really hit me until later, how much I had been living inside of some world of depravation - like, "I will buy nice clothing when I lose weight" or "I cannot give this undeserving body nice clothes". Do you know what I mean? So I had been walking around in clothing I did not like, planning on buying nice clothes at some undetermined point in the future "when I have a body that deserves nice clothes." Sometimes this approach to life would kind of ruin my whole day!

But lo and behold, I put on the clothes that I got from you - and I already look nice! and feel like I look good! even great! All of a sudden, I don't have to wait to just enjoy myself and my body.

I don't think that you set out to really, you know, create a big revolution for women or anything. Or maybe you did! But what you are doing - providing ways for women like me to look and feel good - it is revolutionary all the same. I think, honestly, that coming to see you and allowing myself the freedom to just "go for it" in getting as much as I did from you was one of the most self-loving things I have ever, ever done for myself.

I wanted to let you know. And you can count on seeing me again. I will eagerly await opportunities to get together with you (and your clothing!) again. Plus, you know, I just really liked you.

Cheers! Alexandra

What to Wear for Summer Wedding Season

Wedding season has arrived and Lola & Gigi is here to help! Since we want you to look your best here are a few tips to get you started.

Q1: What should I wear to a daytime wedding?
Daytime weddings are fresh, fun, and light. Think garden party or romantic picnic in the park. Choose a dress in a pretty summer colour or try a floral, one of the hottest fashion trends for Summer 2008. Make sure to accessorize with strappy heels, a fabulous pair of earrings and a great clutch.

We've got you covered this summer with the Donna Ricco Polka Dot Dress. It’s just the dress for summer weddings, garden parties, and afternoon wedding showers.

The Abby Z Goddess Dress with beading at the neckline, waist and hem is light and breezy and would be perfect for an outdoor or destination wedding.




Q2: What should I wear to an evening wedding?
An elegant cocktail dress does the trick. It doesn’t have to be flashy, sparkly or too revealing. You want to be stylish, sophisticated, and elegantly feminine.

We love this Boudoir Dress with a delicate scalloped black lace overlay with a subtle nude lining peeking through. Feminine 3/4 length scalloped sleeves and a v-neckline add subtle sophistication. You’ll look and feel fabulous in this dress!

Wanting to get away from wearing black? A great choice is this Flirty Cocktail Dress in magenta! It’s sexy and romantic, perfect for an elegant evening out.



Q3: What should I wear to a black-tie wedding?
A full-length dress is the perfect option for a black-tie wedding. Think red carpet glamour! An elegant cocktail dress can always make a statement too.

The JS Boutique Chiffon Gown available in sea blue or chocolate brown is the perfect evening gown for any formal occasion.

The Diana Dress by Thien Le in Turquoise or Chocolate is fabulous, stylish, and figure flattering. This dress will definitely turn heads!



Q5. Anything else I need to keep in mind when dressing for a Wedding?
It’s the Bride day and she should be the centre of attention. However, make an effort in choosing what you wear. Respect the occasion and dress accordingly as a way to respect the Bride on her special day.
Keep accessories to a minimum – don’t overdo it. Choose key pieces that accentuate the outfit, i.e. shoes, clutch, earrings, etc.

The Spoils from Lola & Gigi's Trip to Vegas

A few weeks ago, we had the overwhelming experience of going to Las Vegas on the hunt for more spectacularly unique clothing for LolaandGigi.com. Man did we win big! Here's a sneak peak at what is on its way.

This dress by Sandy Starkman is a gorgeous coral print with a wrap neckline with stunning black beading and an elastic ruched waist which comes in sizes L - XXL (18/20) for $198. This is a perfect neckline for a more voluptuous bustline, while the crinkle-cotton skirt has loads of volume. The perfect summer dress for the curvy fashionista who is not afraid to strut her stuff!

Lola & Gigi meet Anna Scholz in the Big Apple

We just got back from a whirlwind trip to New York where we met the fabulous Anna Scholz, the goddess of curvy design. A tall blond fashion powerhouse, Anna has been designing the most luxurious, striking and sophisticated clothes for the past 10 years. We had the privilege of viewing her Fall/Winter 08 collection which included sumptuous cashmere, far out vintage prints, and her signature sultry jersey.

We managed to pick up a few of her spring pieces that will be coming to LolaandGigi.com very soon. These pieces are extraordinary - with the cut, quality and design that are a curvy fashionista's dream! Here's a sneak peak at a few of our favourites. We'll only have a very limited quantity, so get in there fast!

Kimono Dress on Canadian Beauty!

Check out the stunning Canadian model Etheliya Hananova in our fabulous Abby Z Kimono Dress on the Loulou Magazine 14+ website.

I love the dramatic pose & the punch of colour with the red shoes. This dress is absolutely incredible on a pear-shaped figure - it accentuates a small waist and glides over the hip area to create balanced perfection!

Abby Z on Today Show!

Just wanted to share with everyone the clip of an episode of the "Today Show" from a few days ago which featured Carnie Wilson and a "plus size" fashion show. Check out the cute Soho Top by Abby Z sported by one of the models - way to go Abby Z!

Trench Dress on the Red Carpet

Here's Nikki Blonsky looking tres chic in one of our new arrivals, the black Trench Dress. This dress works wonders on the curvy figure, giving the illusion of an hour-glass figure (whether you've got one or not!). The beauty of this dress is that you can wear it as a trench coat as well. Nicky is wearing it with a belt, but the dress does come with it's own. I can just imagine strolling down the streets of Paris with my Jackie O shades on ... C'est magnifique!

Sneak Peak at Spring

Thought I'd give you all a sneak peak at what's coming up for spring and hopefully get your feedback!

Abby Z has done a beautiful sequined & beaded dress in three colours that is a must for that summer wedding. Particularly flattering on a pair shape, this floaty flirty dress hugs and skims in all the right places.

Diane Kennedy has worked her magic again with her eco-friendly soy & bamboo creations. I love this Pulse Top & Fluid Skirt, and I can't wait to get my hands on this Tempt Tunic in wild aster (also available in black). Love the way the v-neck elongates the neck and compliments "the girls", while the gather at the front glides over the tummy while still nipping in at the waist. Genius!

What are you looking forward to in fashion this spring? Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail me at info@lolaandgigi.com