My father Sol, who was a founding partner when the original Merra-Lee Shop opened 82 years ago, taught me to face facts and look to the future.  The fact is our retail businesses at the corner of State and Third Streets are no longer profitable.  As landlord as well as merchant, I realize the Merra-Lee Shops need to close.

The Merra-Lee Shops, including Merra-Lee, The Meeting Place, Boutique 15, The East Room and She She will be closed Friday through Tuesday to reduce prices and prepare for The Merra-Lee Shops Going Out of Business Sales starting Wednesday November 16th.  We have over a million dollars invested in fall and winter inventory that must be liquidated.  Please shop early while selections are at their peak

Starting Wednesday at 9:00 a.m sharp you can save up to 50% or more on all the clothes, accessories, and shoes you count on from us. Each of the shops is participating, and all inventory is included (except breast prosthesis products).

We’re having special store hours during the first week of the sales:

Wednesday, November 16th 9am – 7pm

Thursday and Friday, November 17th and 18th, 10am – 7pm

Saturday, November 19th 10am – 5:30pm

Sunday, November 20th 11am – 4pm

Many of you know I’m also co-owner of The Little Traveler, our unique 36-room store in a Victorian house.  The Little Traveler is a cornerstone of Geneva’s shopping community, and I will focus my energy to making it even better.

The world changes, and while this marks the end of the Merra-Lee Shops, my commitment to Geneva runs deep.  Once the Going Out of Business Sales are over, we’ll be redeveloping our property on South Third Street to strengthen our downtown.

Thank you to the many customers and employees who are all such a big part of the Merra-Lee family. We’ve made countless friends for which we are so very grateful.  I’ll continue to do everything I can to merit your continued confidence.

Yours truly,

Mike Simon

Accessories are bold this fall and winter and just as wild as clothing.  Fur, feathers and fringe are everywhere.  You’ll see it not only in vests and coats, but in jewelry, hats, and  headbands.

We’re excited to introduce Leatherock belts and jewelry at The Meeting Place.  Wide leather belts with metal embellishments and cuff bracelets are literally BIG this season.

Down at Merra-Lee you’ll find lots of chunky stretch rings and the cool coated wire bracelets that are in vogue right now.  Look for layered, tangled necklaces to continue strong this season.

All of our shops have a large selection of scarves—full, ruffly, and yes, some even with fur.  Hats are embellished in a newsboy and casual cloche-inspired styles.

I hope you’ve found this two second tutorial helpful.  Now get out there and accessorize yourself!

If we had to sum up Spring 2011 fashion trends in two words, it would be “anything goes.”  Even the base fabrics can’t make a decision and are a blend of various textures and finishes with colors range from stark white to wild, floral prints.   Pants go anywhere from skin-hugging to wide-legged.  The best news is that there are no rules to what can be worn together.  Pair a tailored jacket with a loose button down shirt and a pair of skinny jeans, wide-leg capris, or a long skirt—your choice!

Newest fashion trends in tops for spring 2011:

As mentioned in our first “lesson,” stripes of all widths and color combinations are taking over the market!  They’re in everything from casual to dressy.  In addition to the slub effect mentioned in the previous post, knits are getting lighter and more sheer.  Crinkles are popping up as well as mixed yarns in tees or sweaters. All these trends in fabrics lean toward a more casual feel, which seems to be prevalent this upcoming season.

One shoulder tops and dresses are big on the runways, but we probably won’t be seeing a lot of that trend here in the Midwest—at least not in casual wear, but perhaps in some dressier outfits for special occasions or a night out.

Newest fashion trends in bottoms for Spring 2011:

Lengths in skirts and dresses are getting longer, going from above the knee to tea length.  Also, after several years of low riders, waists are rising!  While skinny jeans and jeggings are still out there,  you’ll also see widening legs. Denise Harshbarger, buyer for Boutique 15, says she expects this trend in wider legs to continue into fall season fashions. So while you don’t want to ditch your skinny jeans just yet, it might be a good time to re-introduce a pair or two of wider-legged pants into the mix.

Newest Trends in Color for Spring 2011:

Dresses are bursting with bright and bold color and prints, especially floral prints.  With military influences being strong this spring and summer, neutrals—whites, olives, khakis—are also big, so anything goes as far as color.  Harshbarger suggests popping these more neutral tones with a splash of coral, pinks, blues, or lime greens.

So now you know what’s up-and-coming in the fashion markets.  In the next post we’ll talk about which trends are sticking around.

The Merry Carolers is a talented Chicagoland-based vocal quartet available for private holiday home parties, evenings at fine dining restaurants, parties at country clubs, community special events, and holiday fund raising events.  The Merra-Lee Shops are pleased to present them as our gift to our treasured customers.  Cheers!

Here’s how they do it:

Hallux support enables hold of the big toe, preventing the foot from slipping forward while walking and improving the foot’s hold on the shoe. This is especially important in sandals.

Elevated footbed center releases pressure on the joints of the central part of the foot for maximum comfort.

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Arch support enables the weight of the body to be correctly distributed and reduces pressure generated by the spinal column and joints.

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Deep heel indentation helps the body’s balance and maintains the natural shape of the pad of the heel that protects the heel bone.

Latex sponge layer of padding provides caressing and softness for textural comfort.

Flexibility, durability and shock absorption in the comfort footbed made of a unique high-quality blend of cork and latex, perfect for walking and hiking.