We hope that you have all been enjoying this delightful summer and that you have been able to spend quality time surrounded by the people who matter most to you. It is so important to take time to recharge in order to begin the year with enthusiasm and a joie de vivre.

 

Now that all our sweet princes and princesses have returned to school, I wanted to finally take some time to tell you about our Italian getaway.

For those of you who follow us on social media (if you haven’t already, go like us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!), you should have already seen some photos from the exposition.

Let me tell you all about it!

 

There are many possible ways for you to purchase our luxury costumes: come see us at our show-room, place an order on our website, or visit one of the twenty worldwide stores that carry our merchandise.

We want to give as many young girls as possible the chance to fulfill their dreams with our dresses, so Elisabeth and I went to an exposition of fashion professionals so we can continue to make ourselves known: the Pittibimbo in Florence. And what an adventure it was!

 

First, we had to be selected to become one of the lucky participants in the exhibition (we had to try twice, but perseverance always pays off!). Next, we designed our 5m x 5m booth with the help of an ever-so-talented graphic artist, our neighbor and friend Gil de Bizemont : creating the racks, choosing the décor, the flooring, the lighting…

Check out our first draft below! Not bad, huh?

You can imagine how excited we were to bring our design to life. We entrusted the production of our booth to a flamboyant Italian, and he certainly lived up to our expectations.

 

I’ll spare you the recounting of all our many adventures, disappointments, plot twists, and meetings.

Above all, I took one thing away from the trip: at Ivoy, we need to know how to use not only a needle but also a hammer, how to negotiate with not just fabric manufacturers but also airport customs officers, and we need to be able to trek through a city in stilettos as well as load merchandise from a rural warehouse.

Working with Elisabeth, I am reminded of this every day. At a small company like ours, we have to be able to multitask as well as find solutions to anything that comes our way, all while wearing a smile.

 

 

 

 

 

To summarize the exposition: wonderful people, countless adventures, and a big step forward for the Ivoy team.

Best of all, our dresses will now have the chance to be worn in Ukraine, Canada, and many more places.

 

Since we also love to live life to the fullest and savor every moment, we took some time to enjoy the Italian dolce vita.

Florence is a magnificent city, overflowing with incredible museums, palaces, gardens, and adorable little streets… It takes only one late summer day of wandering through those streets to understand why so many people consider Florence the most beautiful city in Italy.

If you are lucky enough to visit Florence, take some time to explore the Central Market, just a few steps from the must-see Duomo.

 

 

In the morning, head over to the traditional market to stock up on delicacies from Tuscany.

Or later in the evening, climb upstairs and you’ll discover a great, newly renovated space where you can enjoy tasty mozzarellas, pizzas, and truffle pastas, all while sipping a Spritz or a glass of red wine. Delizioso!

 

On to the next adventure!

Lucile