Tuesday, August 26, 2014

100% UpShift, !00% of the Time

My wardrobe has slowly (but surely) shifted to become all UpShift, all the time.  It's taken a while to part with old items I loved so very much...but also I've been able to custom build my ideal wardrobe with items from the boutique and it has finally come to light!

Without any effort or thought I wore 100% UpShift today for work (yeah, I teach during the day and had to go with a professional look today).  I laid out my clothes this morning, got dressed and realized that everything was from the boutique; black pencil skirt, dotted peplum top, vintage strappy ballets, and silver twisted ring.

On that note our intern came up with an idea....if our customer shoots a pic on any social media wearing all UpShift they can show it to us or post on our FB and that customer gets $5 off next visit within that week! Love the idea...let's roll with it!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

BTS trends

Back-to-School is here.  Regardless if you're indeed going back to school or not this season is mega important in the fashion and retail world.  Why?  Because we each get to start new with our fashion image (just like back in elementary school we got to start with a new teacher and a new trapper keeper...mine was blue with a rainbow).  Below are the top three trends we're calling out at UpShift and the fashion world in general.

Preppy: Chaps cardigan (tags still on $89...it cost next to nothing at UpShift) with denim dress.


Casual: Retro Bill Blass overalls with nordic print tee.  Bibs are back (again),  how can you resist retro?

Ballet: Pretty in pink with a chiffon top and lace champagne skirt...and flats of course!

Must have accessory: Canvas and leather tote!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Plus Size 8.20.14

Today's outfit brought to you by UpShift's Plus Size Underground Store that officially opens 8/21/14.

We hosted a VIP party and the response in regards to trend selection was all positive.  Many gals have been asking how to become a VIP member at UpShift.  Simple.....email us and we'll add you to our list (and no you won't receive a bunch of random emails).  You'll be notified about special promotions and events!

Eddie Bauer cable knit sweater in size 18 with brown denim in size 18 with strappy leather pumps



Inspiration for our trends come from tear sheets from the trendiest and most recent magazines    

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Introducing our next concept - Plus Size 8.21.14

It's been quite the journey opening UpShift to the public.  We started out as invite-only, but quickly realized that swapping clothes is a retail model that does indeed work.  We opened up once a week in an "underground" location in a residential neighborhood at 2315 Superior Street in July of 2011. Word spread and our little swap shop gained a following.  We finally had the revenue (barely) to open up full-time to the public at our current (and totally amazing) location on East Johnson.  Our goal is to open 5 stores in 5 years with 5 different concepts (womens, kids, plus, mens, maternity).  Our aim was to open up our Kids location second, however a lot (and I mean A LOT) of people came forward wondering when we'd open Plus.  Honestly, back when we first opened up to the public I wasn't sure when or how we'd open a second location...but we knew that the right correlation of events would make it happen at the appropriate time.  Whelp, wouldn't you know it several of our customers (most notably Theresa F.) came in asking if they could bring in plus items to swap up for smaller sizes that we carry in our E. Johnson location.  Of course!  Many of our customers have lost weight but didn't have clothing that fit...and had a bunch of old clothes in plus sizes.  Sure, we'll take if off your hands and help you find clothing that fits!  Slowly over the year our Plus size inventory grew.  We now have enough to open up our old "underground" location one day per week so that our swap model is available to gals that fit in plus sizing. We'll be doing our first swap Thursday, August 21 from 5-8pm.  Below is a smattering of styles.  The pictures don't even begin to tell the story of how cute the items are!  

Beneath the pics are a few of my personal thoughts and comments on our inventory, if you care to read on scroll through and read.  Leave comments as needed, or get on FB and message us.
Tribal tee in XL
Size 16 print dress - tags still on!
Straight leg classic Levis - size unknown, approx 16 or 18
Amazing cocktail dress - size 20
Knee length red shorts - size 18
Tribal chiffon top - XXL
Chiffon teal top - XXL
Tribal tank - size 22
Tweed printed skirt - size 16
























Additional comments: Alright ladies, I worked with plus sizing when I was a designer at Maurices, Inc and they did their sizing as 1, 2, 3 for tops and 16-22 for bottoms.  Now that I've gotten the opportunity to compile inventory for our Plus Concept I now realize how crazy sizing is for Plus clothing.  Is it just me or is it all over the board?!  I seriously don't even know how to begin communicating the sizing of certain items (the sizes affiliated with the above pics are accurate if there was a tag otherwise I had to guess based on styling). I don't know how a plus size gal can shop and find appropriate sizes and fit.  Ok, enough with that rant.  On to the style of plus size.  

We really weeded out the items that looked old, tattered, or even too matron-like (this is the exact same process we use at our other location).  We ended up with some seriously cute items!!!  One observation is that plus size has a ton of print.  Is this something that people like or hate?  I think the items are amazingly cute but have noticed a lot of print.  Very few solid items, and we're hoping through the swap process we end up with more variety in this area. We also ended up with a ton of denim, really really cute styles!  Again, through the swap process we hope to add variety to our bottoms selection.

That's it for now, hope to see you August 21st 5-8pm at our "underground" location.  It's open to everyone and anyone so don't be thrown off when it's in a residential area.  Just follow the signs and know you're in for a treat!  It may be a smaller location, but it's packed with awesome clothes just waiting to go home with you!