With Rachel at market and Becca on spring break, the 2L boys are officially in control. So, while Alice & the Queen are venturing down their own rabbit holes, we suggest you visit ours. This is perhaps your only chance to capture the candid male opinion and to compile your spring ensemble without the pressure of impressing those 2L ladies.

And as if this rare shopping opportunity isn’t enough, we’ve scored some free passes to the Thursday night sneak peak of Remember Me. We’ll be attending, and we’re happily giving out passes as a gift with any purchase!

With a mom this cool (Rubber Duck sunglasses & Tarina Tarantino flower), it’s no wonder Rachel created the wonderland that is Two Elle. Today is her birthday, and while she isn’t in Nashville to celebrate with us, her mark on the store is with us everyday (especially in the form of the storybook flowers that have made her Nashville-famous). Whether she was hand-sewing childhood Halloween costumes or pulling all-nighters on 12South, Rachel’s mom has provided the rich history, creative insight, and will to never stop dreaming through every step of the journey.

P.S. Mom, I’ll call you at 6, when we close! xoxo, rachel

In our estimation, this is what Wonderland really looks like. Rachel & Stephen will be down in the rabbit hole all day. Come play!

Seeing this season’s most-anticipated movie is one thing, but seeing it with a piece from the Tarina Tarantino Queen Alice collection sparkling around your neck is quite another. We don’t care if those theatres are dark; we still dress in theme.

Unless you’ve left Tweedle Dum in charge of your social agenda this spring, you’ve probably heard about a little movie Tim Burton’s been working on. As if Two Elle isn’t Alice-heavy enough, we’ll be prepping the store for all things Wonderland in honor of the Friday movie release. Perhaps there will be special promotions, perhaps a flash of your Cheshire grin (or your ticket stub) will get you a special treat, or perhaps you’ll just indulge us as we revel in what was once a literary construction but is now a bona fide 2L icon.

And just a warning: if you’re planning to follow that White Rabbit, we suggest you follow us as well @twoellerabbits.

It’s never too late….

It may be 40 degrees outside, but in here we’ve finally begun to celebrate spring! Although we’ve got some great Converse and Steven Alan to tell you about, let us first show you all the new WeSC headphone colors! Rachel already has a pair from fall and swears by their quality, but now she finds herself in quite a predicament. She doesn’t NEED a new pair of headphones, but she really WANTS the hot pink….and the orange….and the hunter green with gold……and……

Well, I’ve stretched this birthday for as long as I possibly can, but I think it’s finally time to erase the board and welcome the new age. It was a lovely, festive birthday week. I got so many visits and messages from across the country, gifts both heartfelt and thoughtful, a dinner at PM with my 2L bunnies, and an excuse to wear neon green chucks throughout. Thanks to all of you who made my birthday special and who made me want to keep it going & going!

xoxo, rachel

And the sting of birthday being over isn’t nearly as bad given that we have a store full of new pretty things to distract me!

RACHEL’S BIRTHDAY EDITION:

THE NEON GREEN CHUCK

In 2008, it was Marc Jacobs clown tees. In 2009, it was a flashing pink ring courtesy of Kristin. And in 2010, it’s the neon green Chuck Taylor hi-top. Yes, I’m someone who likes to celebrate my birthday with a fashion statement. But here’s the thing: I certainly don’t like to celebrate alone, and anyone who knows me knows that I’m a much better gift-giver than gift-receiver. So, MY birthday gift to YOU is $5 off these neon green Chucks, both for men and women, throughout my entire birthday weekend! It’s birthday present enough for me to spend my day with my little birthday bunnies, Becca, Ricky, & Stephen, but this way you can join us!

And although I love spending my birthday each year with my own little 2L family, I can’t help but miss the Chucks on the feet of my family spread across the country, whether it’s Adam’s enamel blue, Mikey’s white hi-tops (I promise I’ll put them in the mail!), Danny’s entire Spring 2010 line-up (again, the mail thing), my mom’s buttercup yellow, or my dad’s Varvatos slip-ons. Today, I’m supposed to celebrate the day I was brought into this world, but these birthdays wouldn’t be worth celebrating if it weren’t for the family, both 2L & blood, that celebrates with me.

Happy Birthday to us all!

Yes, friends, the contest is still on, and we’re not afraid to drop the hint that the stakes have gotten a tad higher. For now, click on the Converse tab to your right to refresh yourself on the rules and your competition. And now is the perfect time to enter, because we’ve started to receive new spring shoes and Converse by John Varvatos clothing for men, so you can put your $10 coupon to good use!

So, behold; we ring in spring with one of our personal favorites: Nashville stylist Amber Lehman. She makes others look beautiful in our clothes and somehow manages to impress us with her own beauty, both inside and out, every time she visits! And PS she’s wearing our sunglasses in the picture, too!

AMBER’S STORY

This summer, my chucks took me to Istanbul, Turkey. When I was packing, I said, “Self, you need to pick one pair of shoes that will match everything, but will be comfortable exploring 10 hours a day. You’re on the clock, Self, what’s it gonna be?” In no time, my reply was, “Of course, my black and white plaid Chucks that I got at 2L! I mean, black and white plaid, that matches everything, right?” Right. So, I wore those suckers all over Istanbul this summer for a wonderful six days of non-stop exploration.

The pic is of me and my friend Caroline with the Istanbul guide book glued to my hand like it’s my job. I didn’t want me or my Chucks to miss a single thing!

The Converse Contest is still on, and we can think of no better way to say Happy Valentine’s Day than with this little tale from Zoe:

SYDNEY + ZOE

My love for bunnies and Converse led me and my older sister, Sydney to Two Elle. My first love - a pair of glittery silver Converse at the store on 12th Ave. The problem was - I was only 6 years old and they were not my size. I searched every catalog that came to the house and googled every possible website for a pair in my size. No such luck. Fast forward three years - I am still obsessed with finding the coolest Converse sneakers. Two Elle is now in The Hill Center and I dragged my parents in at the sight of all those beautiful chucks in the window. With two pairs of socks and laced tied so tight, I can “fit” into their smallest size! Yea! Every chance we get - my sister and I go and visit Rachel to talk chucks and fashion. We love everything about Two Elle - chucks, clothes, jewelry and especially the coolest person we know…RACHEL! And yes, one day, I will work at Two Elle! By: Zoe (right side)

They’ve finally arrived…..just in time for Valentine’s Day!

We’ll let you fill in the blank however you please, but supplies are limited, so we suggest you fill it fast!

And fyi, we’re willing to go the extra mile (literally) to earn your love. If you’re stuck in the office and need a Valentine’s treat (Wildfox tee, Tarina locket, Converse love chucks), email us your request at info@twoelle.com, and we’ll have it delivered to you!

Happy loving, Nashville!

xoxo

We’ve recently learned that Valentine’s Day is a holiday that makes hearts across America ache. Sources tell us that it’s a holiday that puts undue pressure on boyfriends and makes single women everywhere feel alone.

This “new” version of Valentine’s Day baffled us, friends, because we never learned that lesson. We blame our parents. They taught us that Valentine’s Day was a day that celebrated chocolates, giant hearts, the color pink, and any type of love that exists out there. So, if we may be so bold, we invite you to celebrate THAT version of Valentine’s Day this year. Single or coupled or anywhere in between, we invite you to grab some chocolates (or better yet, bring us some!) and throw on a Wildfox tee that celebrates New York, California, your BFF, or a simple giant glitter heart.

It’s been a tough year, Nashville. It’s time to celebrate love!

Want us to do all the work for you? Well, friends, ask and ye shall receive!

Rachel’s brother Mikey just received his grad school acceptance letter, and she wanted to congratulate him with a new pair of chucks. Fearful that she’d select the wrong color, she gathered all the options that we have in stock in his size and sent him the picture you see above so that he could select. The good news is, though, that you don’t have to have the same last name as Rachel to merit such special treatment! Give us a call (615.269.9954), drop us an email (info@twoelle.com), IM us (twoellerabbit), or tweet us (@twoellerabbits), and we’ll do the same for you!

And fear not, Valentine’s ideas are on the way….

Friends! Monday night combines 2 things we love: an opportunity to help others & our very own Ricky Braddy!

Here’s the plan:

Ricky will be performing Monday night, February 8, as a part of “Idols for Haiti.” The show is at 8 PM at 3rd & Lindsley and features our dear Ricky along with other American Idol alums Brent Keith, Felicia Barton, Anne Marie Boskovich, and Alex Wagner-Trugman. As if seeing Ricky and the other Idols live isn’t enough, they’ll also have a Haiti donation center, and all money collected will go to “Buckets of Hope for Haiti.” And that’s where we all come in! We will be donating 10% of our proceeds from today and Monday at Ricky’s show that night. So, if ever you were thinking of dropping by, today or Monday would be the day to do it, because not only will you walk out with a fabulous new treat, but you’ll also know that you’re doing a little something good for the world.

So, join us at the store, join us at the show, and join us in doing our part to help!

ERIC’S STORY

Once upon a time, there was a man, with one red shoe.

The tide came in and washed his heart away.

During this wintry weekend, while all of you were out playing in the snow, Becca and Rachel were doing a little spring cleaning. Not only did the cleaning provide for colorful photo opps, but it also helped us uncover some treasures that we then put on sale. Did your favorite chucks make the sale cut? Now that the snow has melted, you should drop by and check it out! And don’t forget we’re still accepting entries in our Converse Contest. Click on the Converse tab on the right to read about the contest, see what stories have been told, and then tell us where your chucks have taken you!

Everyone knows that bunnies like to play in the snow, so Stephen eyed the Rubber Duck snowboots with child-like wonder. Come play with us & warm your feet with Rubber Duck. The boots, btw, are only $30! Aaah, the winter wonders abound….

1. We actually kind of like it here. Truth be told, covered in snow or not, we enjoy our little wonderland and see no reason to attempt to get out of work.

2. We actually kind of like you, too. Perhaps you have the day off today due to these wintry conditions, and we’d like to be the brave little souls here to make you happy!

3. Snow is beautiful! Although we love the look of a sunny, bustling day at the Hill Center, we’re kind of enjoying the white glow that today has bestowed upon us.

4. Our store is beautiful! As January draws to a close, our winter sale is almost over, and we’re not going to let the snow cut it short!

5. RUBBER DUCK SNOWJOGGERS! Really, that’s the secret to our success. Snow can’t stop us with these guys on our feet!

So….what are YOU doing Thursday night?????

You COULD be going to the Dear John sneak peak at Green Hills Cinema, like Ricky & Rachel. Here’s the deal: we only have 15 passes, so the first lucky 15 purchases today and tomorrow will get a Dear John Thursday night pass. And each pass admits 2, so it’s not too early to think about finding a special someone to treat to a movie with Valentine’s Day right around the corner. Ricky will be purchasing today and taking Rachel, but he promises to have her home in time to catch the second half of the Suns-Mavericks game. What about you, Nashville? What will your next 2L purchase get you?

Friends, we’ve been so obsessed with this Converse Contest that we forgot to outfit you with what you actually need RIGHT NOW!  These Rubber Duck snowjoggers are not only colorful and comfortable, but they were designed to put a hop in your step in even the toughest of snow. And because we care so much about your warmth, we find it necessary to inform you that Nashville’s 10-day forecast includes highs of 30 degrees and a wintry mix of rain and snow. If your little feet freeze in the snow, then you surely won’t be able to enter our Converse Contest, so for you loyal blog readers, we’re willing to keep those toes warm for a mere $30. Oooh! And these beauties also come in purple and silver, so take your pick! Just make sure to tell us the code word to get your deal: S N O W !

CAROLINE’S STORY

While I still call Nashvegas home, a tiny town in North Carolina called Winston-Salem (more affectionately known as “The Dash”) is where I spend most of my year as a college student at Wake Forest University. Upon first introduction, I am not what would appear to be a stereotypical sorority girl. However, second semester of my freshman year, surprisingly, one called my name, and I became a member of the Rah Rah-ing, girl bonding, chuck wearing sisterhood. My ears instantly perked up when I heard about the tradition. Stemming from the local sororities that used to dominate Wake’s campus, all girls affiliated with Greek life wear Chuck Taylors in their sorority’s colors with writing on the toes. On bid day, I laced up my new navy blue chucks, scribbled on the toes, and trembled with the fear that I wouldn’t find my place amongst the Glamazons I was now forced to call my “sisters.” Since then my Converses have turned a rather unfortunate shade of purply-gray after a much regretted splash in a fraternity pool but that doesn’t make them any less comfortable. They’ve seen their fair share of late night dance parties, early morning study sessions and treks across the mud-filled quad with girls who I’d mistakenly thought were so intimidating. My old faded blue chucks have taken me on a three year journey of higher education outside of the classroom — I’m just hoping they make it to graduation without disintegrating!

Friends, any of you who know Danny know that he is a Converse man to a fault! As such, he eagerly awaits market season so that he can catch up with the Converse by John Varvatos team, check out what’s new and improved in the line, and, of course, make nice with the people who truly understand him….the mannequins. And why shouldn’t he enjoy a little one-on-one time with them? They’re perfectly styled, certainly not as clever as he, and they’re always willing to give him the clothes off their back. It’s a rare moment, once a season, that Danny gets to stand in such good company.

And if you, like Danny, want to stand out among your own crowd of mindless friends, impress them by winning our Converse Contest. Not familiar? Click on the Converse tab under the categories on your right to read about the contest and view the front-runners thus far. There’s still time to qualify for the $10 gift card, so we recommend acting fast before Danny gets witty with his mannequin buddies and submits an entry that blows away the competition.

Before many of you even had a chance to finish reading the rules of our Converse Contest, we received this submission that combined 3 of Rachel’s favorite things: Converse, Betsey Johnson, and TAYLOR! …

TAYLOR’S STORY

My chucks walked me right into 2010! On New Year’s Eve I posted a twitpic with the caption, “Nothing feels sexier than my chucks.” And it’s true! I never feel more “me” than when I wear these bad boys — whether it’s with a dress, or jeans — or jeans AND a dress (yeah, I break the rules!). Love me some chucks!

Rachel’s Journey to the Sunshine:

Last week, my chucks took me home to Phoenix, Arizona, the Valley of the Sun. While Nashville was suffering its worst snow storm yet (what was it? 3 inches of snow?), my brother Mikey and I walked the Mexican tiles of our front yard to snap some pictures of cacti and blue skies. We were on a mission to capture the beauty and spirit of those sunny days, and we then sent those photos to Kristin. Now, whether or not we did this to make her jealous or to warm her heart is entirely unclear, but one thing is certain: a journey home in January is so much sweeter when your home is Arizona.

Friends,

As often happens in families, we feel the need to start off the new year with a little healthy competition. Because all of us wear chucks, and because we all embark on such creative adventures, we’ve devised a little Converse contest that we like to call “Where Do Your Chucks Take You?” Here’s how to get involved:

1. Take a picture of where your chucks have led you.

2. Write a story explaining the nature of your journey (as short & sweet or as long & dramatic as you choose!).

3. Email your picture as an attachment along with your story to info@twoelle.com.

4. The first 20 submissions will automatically receive a $10 two elle gift card!

5. We will also be selecting our favorite submissions and posting them here on the blog. If chosen, not only will you & your chucks be super famous, but you’ll also receive an additional $10 gift card!

6. At the end of the contest, a grand prize will be awarded. The size and nature of this prize depends on how many submissions we get. The bigger the applicant pool, the bigger the prize! (We’re thinking something like a free pair of chucks for new adventures, parties for entire groups of participants, a spotlight night on our stage for musicians with Converse stories to tell….it could be anything!) So…..get your friends involved and then reserve bragging rights when you win.

To get this little contest rolling, Rachel will be submitting her most recent Converse journey, but after that, it’s up to you! Oh, and if you don’t have that perfect pair of chucks that will lead you to greatness, it should be fairly obvious where you can get them….

… is a good day for you! Although he’s been our super star all season, it’s finally time for Frank to retire. As his swan song plays, he took a moment to pose with some other family members who are about to depart. The WeSC green sweater, the Modern Amusement button down, the Steven Alan shirt dress, the Steven Alan floral organic button down, and the WeSC plaid coat have all been marked down, and given their sale price, we imagine they’ll be leaving us soon. Please come by and say your final goodbyes to Frank this week….and maybe pick up some amazing fall finds at low prices while you’re here.

As the holiday festivities die down and we settle into this thing called 2010, a bit of a lull emerges. The snow is falling, and we all start to search for a way to make 2010 newer and better than 2009. And of course, what better way to reinvent than a wardrobe makeover? We want to help you on this path of new year reinvention, so not only are we here to offer our expert advice, but we’re marking down our Fall 09 leftovers, too! First up, in honor of Britten’s CD release show tonight, is WeSC mens. The bold cardigans and Superlative Conspiracy hoodies (Rachel lives in hers) can keep you warm through the winter and transition into spring as well, so they’re a great place to start. So, begin the year in Superlative Conspiracy territory with us, and follow us on twitter (@twoellerabbits) to see what’s next!

Friends, I’m writing today, as I sometimes do on special occasions in the first person, as it’s time to ring in the new year. I could write to you about the sales we’re having or about the perfect New Year’s Eve dress (it’s the Modern Amusement Lou Lou dress, btw), but instead, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on our most exciting and exhausting year yet. 2009 will of course be remembered as the Hill Center year for us. Our Hill Center grand opening was one of the most monumental experiences of my life, and I had all of you there, standing by my side, to share in it. Any of you who know me well, however, know that the monumental is never as significant to me as the little things. And 2009 was a year full of lots of little things. It was the year that brought us Ricky. It was also the year that Ellie left. It was the year that Amanda went off to New York. It was also the year that she came back. It was the year that Stephen reclaimed his post as my Saturday right-hand-man. It was also the year that Kristin joined our family in an official capacity. It was the year that I had to say goodbye to Frothy Monkey as my local coffeeshop but took a piece of them with me in the form of Becca. It was the year that my family spent more time in Nashville than they surely ever imagined as they joined me in this giant leap of faith. It was a year of music; Britten, Pico vs. Island Trees, Kopecky Family Band, Laura Sweeney, and Newmatic have all graced our stage. It was a year of adventure and discovery, and, as I examined my desktop for a picture that captured my 2009, I came across this one that littlest brother Adam sent me of the pair of chucks that got him through his first semester at RISD. These star players were our 2009. They’re tattered and covered in the marks of fresh starts and creativity, but they still sparkle as only a true classic can.

Thanks for 2009, everyone. See you next year!

xoxo

rachel

Friends, we have learned the following:

1. We love chucks. All chucks.

2. You love chucks, too. All chucks.

As such, our once-fully-stocked rainbow of Converse is beginning to sell out! The navy extra hi tops have sold out, as have the gold ones. We only have one pair of neon green left, and our stock of sequin snow leopard is seriously low. As the year winds down and more gifts are given, your favorites could be the next to go. So, if ever you were considering a piece of our rainbow, we suggest you act now….while supplies last.

How could we forget the gift that stares us in the face everyday? The Retro Super Future and Rubber Duck sunglasses are unisex, and, with every color of the rainbow available, they’re sure to brighten up anyone’s gloomy winter. Plus, you can pair them with these new Wildfox unisex zodiac t-shirts. Each shirt has its sign’s symbol on it and a short description of how that person tends to behave. Rachel’s Aquarius shirt, for instance, says “my way or the highway.” No comment yet on how accurate the shirts are….