Little Miss Ali Ro ♥

New Ali Ro Spring 2 and it's all sooooo SOOOOO good! I just want to draw a huge heart around this delivery. I adore it so much, would it be weird if I hugged each piece?

Dot
Corset romper.
Awesome, cute, unique... only 2 in store.

Domino
Just zip and everything is better.

Lemoncello
Between the embroidered detailing, the rope belt, the color and the sleeve
I don't know what's not too love!
Can't you just picture this with some hot pink heels?

Grotto

Super awesome silk blue romper with rope belt and gold elements.
Any one else have this sudden urge to start jumping rope!

Grey Dawn
Frig! This pant suit is insanely cool. Insane I tell you! Insane!

Splish Splash

New hot swim styles by Cuche bikinis have arrived. And we're locked and loaded with size replenishment for the existing styles too... so come and get first Dips.

hmmm... with all these amazing bikinis arriving, I'm thinking of getting a turtle pool for out front. Anyone in?

She Does the City, THANK YOU!

Huge hugs of thanks to Louisa at She Does the City for the sweet shop write up! We're blushing!

Courtesy of She Does the City. Wednesday April 28th 2010.
We talk with Leighann Boquist, Owner of Lovely South Granville Boutique Oliver & Lilly's
By Louisa Cohen

Tucked just to the west of Granville on 13th Ave., under the shade of a leafy tree, you’ll find Oliver & Lilly’s, a sweet little boutique owned by husband and wife team Leighann Boquist & Darren Bold. It is truly the perfect place to pick up a fresh tee, party dress, a this or a that, a bikini, scarf, or even a hat.

Just last week I popped in to shop and chat with Leighann. With a welcoming and sweet nature, and an honest opinion, Leighann makes a lovely host and creates a perfect space to pick up your classics or try something new.

SDTC: Who is Oliver & Lilly? Are they real? I imagine them being little fictional Hansel and Gretel types leading us to a house of sweets, well, at least in terms of clothing accessories!
LB: YES YES YES! I too, imagine them to be little Hansel & Gretel types. I always wonder if they have a secret village in the backroom that comes alive after the store closes. I bet they do!

(Back to reality) Oliver & Lilly were just two names I came up with in 2002 for a school project. So when I started the business planning in 2007 the names just came back to me and well, here we are…. Oliver & Lilly’s it is!

SDTC: You run the business with your husband, what’s that like? Who does what?
LB: Truly, it’s a hoot! Darren takes care of all the numbers and keeps us on budget, and I cover all the buying and relations. Not that either of us couldn’t tackle both, it’s just nice to divide the responsibilities. Well, maybe that’s not true... ‘cuz if he was to cover all the buying, the store would be full of Hawaiian shirts and I would inevitably go over budget.

SDTC: What’s your method in choosing pieces for the store? Your mission statement if you will.
LB: I just really fill the shop with pieces I would want to wear everyday. I’m a jeans, cardigan and t-shirt girl who needs a dress now and again too. So, I’ll mix the store up with that in mind. Most importantly the clothing has to be livable, functional and not off the price charts.

SDTC: Did you always work in fashion? Can you tell me a bit about your background and how the store came to be?
LB: I’ve worked in retail for many moons now and my post secondary education is in fashion, too. For the past 8 years, primarily my work has been in the visual end of fashion.

And in 2007 I was fortunate enough to be a part of many lay offs that my previous employer was issuing, which gave me time to figure out what my next career step was. I always wanted a store and with time on my side that year, I took the leap and started creating the plan for Oliver & Lilly’s and on August 8th, 2008 we opened our doors!

SDTC: What do you enjoy most about being a part of the South Granville retail community?
LB: Getting to know all the other small business owners has been the highlight for sure.

SDTC: Any pet peeves about it?
LB: Price per square foot.

SDTC: What brands do you carry?
LB: We carry Steven Alan, Ali Ro, Demy lee, Alternative, Eze Sur Mer, Heidi Merrick, Something Else, James, Alex & Ani, Nicole Ginsberg Jewels and Cuche Swimwear.

SDTC: What’s your ideal summer outfit (Day and Night)?
LB: For day: a bathing suit, cut offs, fedora and flip flops. For night: a flowy boho dress, cardigan and cowboy boots

SDTC: Can you name some of your favorite places to go, shop, eat, hang out at in Vancouver, when you are not in the store?
LB: Ooooh! I love eating at Salt Tasting Room in Gastown, and Rangoli on South Granville is just yum! Also, hanging out at the farmers market on a Sunday is pure bliss for me! I like to pretend I’m a good cook and pick up all the fresh ingredients to create a meal with.

Leighann really is that awesome girl in the neighborhood; the one that is sweet and friendly, knows all the hip spots, and can put herself together with an understated cool. Join Oliver&Lilly’s for a little party, "The Art of Spring Dressing" on Thursday, May 6 from 6:30 – 9:30 pm. Drinks, treats, and pretty things.

We hope you can join us....

'cuz this is going to be such a delightful Spring shindig!
We have special guests; Nicole Ginsberg jewels and Panty by Post here with us to chat, sell and dish all about their goodies. Plus, there will be in store treats to help you shop shop shop! Oh, and we'll be featuring a new line that evening too. It's cute and full of stripes. We think you'll like!!!

The RSVP's are rolling in and we hope yours is too! Give us a shout at sayhello@oliverandlillys.com by May 1st (ish) so you can receive some sweet evening specials.

From undies, to jewels to dresses...

join us for a Sweetened Spring evening of eats, drinks, shopping & treats!

RSVP and Save the date: Thursday May 6th
6:30pm-9:30pm

Prepare to adore...

Alternatives Spring 2010 Campaign. Adore adore adore!

The inspiration behind the video:

Inspired in part by the famed romance between cultural icons Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg and the overall vibrant allure of 1960s French pop culture, Alternative’s “I Kind of Love You” campaign video evokes a casual luxury and effortless cool that is synonymous with the premier brand’s fashion-forward, vintage-soft clothing and accessories. From music, art and cinema to the unforgettable icons themselves, the 60s French pop scene was abundantly rich in style and creativity; it was a cultural moment in time that was all about spontaneity, authenticity and comfort—both inside and out. Featuring the latest Alternative fashions for women and men, the film was shot in L.A.’s scenic Laurel Canyon neighborhood.

New Back to Basics

Meags Tank in light blue

Meags Tank in Lilac

The most perfect tank for layering.

Racket Dress in midnight

Another great basic t-shirt dress from Alternative.

Racket Dress in black

Ah... oui oui!

Our scrumptious second Demylee Spring delivery.... lightweight cashmere for Spring & Summer. Which I feel are best accessorized with a bicycle and basket.

Savannah Ruffle Cardigan
in Smoke Grey

*Color in photo is heather Grey

Meret stripes

Zoe V

Estelle stripe

Sawyer cardigan in Smoke Grey

Bright White Twiggy!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!





Oh, won't you join us?!

RSVP by May 1st

Drum roll please....

Here now. Gone tomorrow. Guaranteed.
Fully restocked in the Twiggy department. Come and get the skinny.

Restock in Black Cat

Restock in China Doll

A little panty. A little French style.

There are many many things we love here at Oliver & Lilly's and among them are brilliant ideas by brilliant & talented women. Ideas & companies that we feel should be on your speed dial & bookmarks. So get your computers and phones ready my friends, you must be 'in the know' about Panty by Post.com, that is.... if you aren't already.

So here's the skinny, PantybyPost.com is a super cool luxurious underwear company run by two super savvy Vancouver-based entrepreneurs; Lori & Natalie. Who both simply wish to send you a little piece of French style once a month. And it's that simple. Pick your post or let it be a surprise, all ya gotta do is subscribe to what catches your eye, click & send. Soon luxurious undies will be in the mail for you, in no time. I mean hello? Seriously, such a fab gift for you, an Amiga or an Amigo too.

Here's the O&L inside dish:
PantybyPost.com has been generous to offer a dazzling incentive to all O&L customers. And all you have to do is shop at Oliver & Lilly's from April 16th to May 6th, spend $100 or more and we will slip you a top secret discount code to go towards shipping on your first PBP subscription. Coolio, oui? *one code per person

Huge love to PantybyPost.com for opening this wonderful offer to our fabulous customers. Now come shop till ya drop won't you?!

Festival seasoning.

With all the cool music festivals about to begin, or beginning as we speak. You'll need a few new duds for each occasion to help get down and boogie in. One for the outdoor festival, another for the club and maybe one more for the Jazz show on a Sunday.
Come see these new arrivals... they might just do the trick.

Miss Manners dress

Moped Dress

French Pocket Dress

Coachella (could it be any more suiting)