Style Vanguard » Plus Size Boutique http://stylevanguard.com The daily online destination for full figured fashionitas everywhere Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:36:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 en hourly 1 Chit Chat with Laura at Lola & Gigi http://stylevanguard.com/2009/12/09/chit-chat-with-laura-at-lola-gigi/ http://stylevanguard.com/2009/12/09/chit-chat-with-laura-at-lola-gigi/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:00:08 +0000 Lola http://stylevanguard.com/?p=2238

Yesterday I drove about 40 minutes west to Etobicoke, Ontario to visit Laura at her boutique to do my first in person Chit Chat session.  Little did I know what a treat I would be in for, well worth the drive. 

Lola & Gigi is not your typical overly saturated, overly commercial store.  In addition to Laura being super nice her boutique has a very welcoming, want to stay long and spend all your money with out even realizing type atmosphere. 

The boutique’s colour scheme is a combination of my favourite colours fushica, black and white, needless to say I was in heaven.  Open by appointment only… with the exception of periodic sale events, you will be sure to receive the ultimate in customer service.  I personally have never received service like I did at the Lola & Gigi boutique. Great talk, tea and shortbread… OMG!! What else can a girl ask for. 

 I can safely say that Lola & Gigi is my new favourite place to find great clothing to fit and flatter my figure.  One of Laura customers said that the Lola & Gigi boutique is a treasure trunk full of fabulousness and I would have to agree with that statment.

Watch the video:

Name:  Laura Caravaggio
What do you do?  Owner & Chief Curvy Fashionista, Lola & Gigi
Age:  39
Zodiac Sign:  Scorpio
Birth Place:  Toronto
Current Location:  Toronto
Single or Attached:  Married
Size:  18/20
 
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What does fashion mean to you?  I think that fashion gives me the opportunity to express myself.  My outfit is my art!
5 Must Haves?   The perfect dress (Rachel Pally’s short Kaftan dress is my go-to this season), a statement necklace, a properly fitted bra, a pair of red shoes, and a great smile!
Favourite Clothing Designers
Melissa Masse (for lady-like dresses with a twist)
Anna Scholz (for her gorgeous prints & luxe fabrics)
Jibri (a new favourite -- loving my leopard pencil skirt!)
Diane Kennedy (her organic bamboo pieces are a must for a casual day)
Style Icons:   I love old movies from the 40’s & 50’s, so I’m a sucker for a retro look.  Sophia Loren is timeless and still so gorgeous, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly were so fresh and sophisticated.  I love Joan from “Mad Men”, her curves are inspiring!
Favourite clothing/jewellery stores/catalogs/websites?  LolaandGigi.com of course!  I’m also slightly addicted to Etsy for accessories and Barefoottess.com for shoes in sizes 10-15 (I take a size 12).  Every once in a while I’ll torture myself by looking at the designer shoes & handbags at Neiman Marcus.
Describe the path that has lead you to where you are in your career right now?   I was always the one my girlfriends called when they couldn’t find an outfit for a special event.  They would go shopping and end up feeling so disappointed and unhappy with themselves because they couldn’t find things that fit.  I always thought it seemed so wrong that shopping made them feel badly about themselves.  Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you could go to a shop where everything was in your size and you could just have fun trying everything on and then choose what you love.  Years later, Lola & Gigi was born.
What is the hardest thing you’ve had to deal with as a Full Figured Women thus far?
I’d have to say the lack of choice in clothing that fits my style and personality.  I have a very specific aesthetic and I had such a hard time finding things that fit into that.  It was always a little frustrating to not be able to just walk into any store I wanted to and find my size.  Now I have a whole store to choose from!
What advice do you have for other women who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Be true to yourself and your own inner voice, it will never let you down.
So what can expect from you next?  I would love to take this show on the road.  We’ve been to Calgary & Ottawa and had great success with our Trunk Show events, it would be great to do them in other Canadian cities
How are you shaping the plus size community?  I hope that I provide another choice out there for the curvy woman.  I want my customers to feel great about themselves and celebrate their style & their spirit every day.  Life’s too short for anything less!
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Here are some additional pics from my visit a few of me trying on some pieces handpicked by Laura:
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Be sure to stop by and visit Lola & Gigi; also available online at www.lolaandgigi.com
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