two elle – a lifestyle boutique for women, men, and home

One year ago right now, I opened this door for the last time, and I wrote this on the wall:

Only 24 hours before, wonderland was empty, and I had taken to the stage for a photo shoot.

My dear friend and photographer Stephen Gilbert had asked many times if he could capture me in my space. I waited, as is my way, until the very final moments. The former factory was empty, but the music was loud, and the lights were bright. We danced the last dance.

I was so pleased when he posted his piece on me a few days later. I loved the imagery, of course, but if possible, I think I loved his words more. I remember reading them and feeling flattered, but I also remember noting that a day would come in the future when I would recall his inspirational telling of my own tale. I knew that I would journey on after our dance but that eventually I would stumble and revive his words as my mantra.

So, here we are, one year later, and I continue to visit his site and his magical version of my moment. And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the anniversary of the day we scraped our name off the window.

I may have locked up these red doors for the last time, and I may have turned in the keys that opened them so many times. And if I’m being honest, these doors that traveled from New York to Nashville to keep our wonderland safe inside were one of my proudest moments and one of the many that I wish I hadn’t left behind.

But if the mantra bestowed upon me by one Stephen Mitchell Gilbert is correct, then the magic is in the moment. Doors and walls and windows stayed behind, but I packed up the sparkle and the music and the dance. One day, I won’t miss those doors, and my hand won’t ache because it can’t write on that wall. And on that day, we will dance again. For now, I turn to another artist friend, Bob Roman, who tagged my wall with some relevant anniversary inspiration.

Lately, I’ve been adding bits and pieces to the wall to better reflect the changes and the journey. But sometimes, despite my best efforts to write the story myself, a once-hidden truth reveals itself without my help. Earlier today, forever friend Arnold purchased 2 of our racks. As we cleared off the clothes and wheeled them away, nestled under images of days and bands passed, was a message I had written years ago: No time like the present.

In April of 2007, a small group of friends and family pulled late nights at a little house on 12South to open a new concept store. During the summer of 2009, a far larger group of friends and family pulled late nights at the Hill Center to, among other things, write our story on the wall. Today, I stand alone, a girl who stumbled upon a grand adventure, picked up some colorful characters along the way, learned from the flowers, played her cards right, and found her way back from wonderland. And today, my writing on the wall speaks for itself. There is no better time to climb out of that rabbit hole and write the next chapter.

And so, dear friends, we close our doors. The rabbits will surely continue to hop, and I will continue to follow them.

But for tonight, I say goodbye, old friend.

xoxo,

rachel

For years now, we’ve been telling you our stories, drafting our graphic novel with our home-grown ad campaigns. And now, on our last Sunday, we offer our history for your own homes. Not only can you buy the furniture that has graced our space or the books that have lined our shelves, but you can now buy our images and truly own a piece of the story. Surely, the stories will continue, and we will keep telling them. You have one week, though, to bring the real thing home.

xoxo

There have been a lot of questions lately about what’s next for us, and all of this pressure has Frank up in arms (pun….intended). For 5 holiday seasons, Frank has served as the 2L gift advisor and security detail, but it appears that he will soon be out of a job. He is in the process of updating his resume to include swordsmanship and uniform bedazzling. We know it’s rough out there, and we fear Frank would get trampled in an Occupy Wall Street situation, so if anyone hears of any opportunities, do let us know. You can reach Frank with job offers at info@twoelle.com. And, for that matter, you can offer Rachel, Ricky, Becca, and Sara jobs at that address, too!

As we prepare to Bid our aBode farewell, we’re going Back to Basics. With But 2 weeks left Before goodBye, I’m engaging in my own celebration of my favorite things. This Sunday celebrates my favorites in a classic B&B: Books & Becca.

As the road Begins to Bend, we Better appreciate our Basics. For me, Books have always functioned as something of a Ballet Barre. They Bring me Back. They remind me who I am. And they show me the way to move on. Becca, a Balanced combination of Beauty and Brains, has Begun to function like a Ballet Barre herself. Although she entered my life as a Barista, her powers of inspiration and compassion far exceed anything a soy latte could conjure. This journey would Be significantly less meaningful and less personally successful without this B standing By my side, encouraging me to Be Brave and Be Better. In short, Becca has Become a Basic.

So, this Sunday, join us in celebrating the Basics that make Two Elle what it is. You can Buy the Books, but noBody’s taking my lil B!