By: Jill Ehrlich aka LuLu
Chief Fashion Officer

I have never met an accessory I haven’t liked.

In my accessory collection I try to live by the rule, if I haven’t touched it in a year, then it is time to donate it. It is a rule that is much easier said than done.

There will always be items in your closet that you just can’t part with. My accessories that I have worn on special occasions are the ones I have the hardest time parting with. I have held onto a scarf  that I had worn to my bridesmaids brunch,which seems so long ago. There is a gorgeous crystal earring whose perfect match I had lost but I am still hoping it’s mate will magically reappear. I also held on to my expensive leather tote I used for work, in my days of wearing power suits and sexy heels, it was such a part of my past, a part I like to be reminded of.  Does this sound familiar?

Does your accessory armoire need a good spring cleaning?
Have you ever considered breathing new life into old accessories by using them around the house?

The scarf that I had mentioned looks amazing in the spring as the table runner in my dining room under a vase full of fresh blooms. I have draped pashmina scarves over furniture to create a cozy and welcoming chair. I use a wayward earring to add a decorative element to an inexpensive pillar candle. I have also used mateless earrings to secure the ribbon on a gift and attach a heavy card stock gift tag. A pretty hair clip can add a decorative element to a throw pillow or curtain tie. The possibilities are endless. My old leather tote is now a magazine rack. Your best way to find new life for those favorite accessories is to walk around your house with them, give them a try in a whole new way, you will be surprised how creative you can be!

One of my favorite experiences in my career happened just last December.
I host LuLu Trunk Shows, it is one part home party, one part girls night out.

I was invited to the home of a very sweet customer… she and I share a love of vintage jewelry and accessories. In the entry of her home, she had the most eye catching framed piece of art, at first glance it was a delicate Christmas Tree, upon closer inspection I noticed that each branch of the tree was made of an ornate piece of jewelry, small, about the size of an earring. My hostess had explained to me that each piece of jewelry in the frame was an odd piece that belonged to a relative that had passed. She felt that they were too pretty to throw away and held too many memories. She had created something so beautiful and so special to use in her home and share with her family at the holidays.

LuLu – Fashion Handbags and Accessories has been North Wilmington’s style maker’s fashion secret since 2005.

The Winner of 2010 Philly’s Hot List, LuLu has been working with cost conscious and fashion savvy shoppers to create modern and trendy looks on shoestring budgets. Our showroom is located in the Booths Corner Farmers Market. A few minutes north of Wilmington, just over the Pennsylvania line, LuLu Booths Corner style showroom is packed with handbags, scarves, fashion jewelry, and fun finds. We use every possible inch of our space to offer the latest accessories at the best prices you will find in the area. You don’t even have to walk into our shop for your bargain hunting to begin; your experience starts outside at our dollar wall. There you will find pieces from brand name shops like Target and Express for just one dollar.

Our goal is to help our customers define their own personal style.

When we first opened in 2005 so many of our customers were so focused on the brand names of the bags they were purchasing, no one wanted to carry a cute fashion bag, they wanted name brands and if not the real thing than a knock off. We spent a lot of time talking to our customers and trying to help them define their own look and hoping that we could talk them out of a counterfeit knockoff. Not only are knockoffs illegal, the quality is terrible. Knockoffs are made to copy a designer and they are not sold in regular stores. We have heard too many horror stories of our customers going to Canal Street, getting into strange cars, locked in rooms, and getting their belongings stolen. We love designer looks, we love quality accessories, but we also love being able to help our customers feel sassy and smart without spending a week’s paycheck on a pocketbook.

Our Booths Corner showroom is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. That doesn’t mean that fans of LuLu don’t shop with us all week, we have a very active Facebook Fan Page where we post our new arrivals and customers can ask us to hold accessories for them so they don’t miss out on a piece that they love. LuLu to Go is similar to a designer trunk show, a customer invites us to their home, we pack up all of our current offerings, and visit their home or office. The show is similar to that of many home shows, except the difference is with a LuLu Trunk Show, there is no sales pitch, no ordering, everything is cash and carry. We have had so many wonderful experiences being on the road. We also use the Trunk Shows for Fundraising and support several organizations by donating a large percentage of our sales at their events. Most recently, we hosted a Trunk Show supporting the March of Dimes and in store we have raised funds for local churches, the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, Hearts, Hands and Horses – a therapeutic horseback riding program housed at Wellspring Farm in Bellevue State Park, and many more.

We get new arrivals weekly.

The selection is never the same and the shop’s offerings change minute by minute. Our costume jewelry is a great mix of quality closeout pieces at amazing prices from well-known stores and home shopping channels, and we mix the latest looks you will see in all of the fashion magazines. Nothing is more exciting to us than when a customer brings in a catalog or a magazine with a piece that they had bought at LuLu’s and they want to show us how expensive it is in the book and they are thrilled that they paid a fraction of the price for the piece at LuLu’s.

And don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone how little you paid to be so fabulous.

LuLu is located in the Booths Corner Farmers Market, 1362 Naamans Creek Road, Boothwyn, PA 19061.
For more information about hostessing a LuLu trunk show please visit us online at www.shoplulu.com or for up to the minute new arrivals Follow Us on Facebook.
www.facebook.com/shoplulu

Testimonials:

The best thing about Lulu’s is JILL!
She is your immediate friend…no matter what the age difference or the spending capacity! I have to have my Friday p.m. fix at Lulu’s and turn everyone I meet on to her amazing merchandise. It is such a… great place to buy gifts that are affordable (cheap!!), fashionable and varied. I have received so many comments on jewelry and purses from Lulu’s. I especially love the shopping via Facebook! Jill always keeps everything fresh and fun for old and young (my granddaughter!) alike. Check her out and be happy for your finds.      ~ Sharon B.

I’m a complete Lulu’s addict! I love it even more because you can bring it to your home to share with friends! They’re consultants are wonderful! Kelly and Jill have been fantastic! You can see their love and pride for the products they offer.      ~ Gretchen S.

Lulu’s is the best.They offer all the things that any woman would want at the most afforadable pricing.. It is like shopping in your girlfriends closet when you go to the shop. All the staff is so friendly.. I have bought from Lulu’s many many times and never had a single issue in any way. I have recommended tons of friends to try them out and they ALWAYS become return customers as well.. Thank you Lulu’s.      ~ Amy P.

Come see what makes us Philly’s Hottest and what North Wilmington’s style makers are keeping a secret!