Vanilla Clothing is a locally owned boutique that now has 3 stores to its name: the newest location in Langley just opened in October 2012, the White Rock location has been open since August 2010 and the original store in Prince George was opened in 2009.
Owner Deanna Whissell lives in Langley but is originally from Prince George and now splits her time between the stores. Though she has an extensive background in Marketing and Sales, Deanna always wanted to open her own store and received the opportunity to do so when her best friend, an entrepreneur, helped her after successfully running her own businesses.
Though their long-term goal didn’t go as planned after her dear friend’s passing in 2011, they shared in the fun of coming up with a name for the business in the initial planning stages. Both ladies considered themselves “foodies” and wanted to draw on vanilla’s world-wide popularity as a flavor and scent in their own company’s name and hoped that it would be just as memorable on a local level.
The goal was (and still is) to bring fashion to the Fraser Valley, with a strong focus on clothing that is age appropriate for women who are 35 and up. The clothing in the store is not only fashionable, but made of good quality. Deanna aims to stock clothes that meet the dressing challenges that women in all stages of life face, from finding breathable fabric for menopausal women to materials that fit well and are wearable for many years.
Vanilla Clothing keeps at least 75% of their clothing and products Canadian designed or made and you will only find one of each size with their newer items. Some of the favorite clothing lines carried in the store include Canadian Designer Frank Lyman and Bryn Walker, a casual West Coast clothing line that suits the lifestyle of many BC women. Another great perk of these stores is the in-house stylist that travels between locations.
Deanna and her team of 12 fabulous employees are actively involved with and supportive of local charities, such as hospice and cancer research, as well as being involved in their communities. They host 2 fashion show fundraisers each year and put on a “Retail Therapy” event, which is a chauffeured wine and boutique tour in the Fraser Valley. Fifteen people can sign up to spend an organized day of shopping, eating, and exploring local stores. Their next Retail Therapy tour will be in February.
Customers can find information on Vanilla Clothing through their website or Facebook page and can sign up to become a Fashionista member, where you will receive information about special events, sales, new arrivals, and much more.
Vanilla Clothing
www.vanillaclothing.ca
White Rock – 15208 Pacific Ave, 5 Corners
Langley – 8880 – 202nd St, Walnut Grove
