Jill Evans

4th of July is coming! YAY!

Be ready for our most important national holiday – July 4th! Here’s several adorable graphic tees, cool mugs and a glitzy flag bag for the big day! Order now in order to get it all before the 4th of July! Here’s what I bought this year to splash red, white and blue all overContinue reading “4th of July is coming! YAY!”

C’est So Good!

When Thomas Dutronc posted the teaser for this single on Instagram, I was psyched! “C’est Si Bon,” by Dutronc with Iggy Pop and Diana Krall sounded like the best of all worlds. And it hits all the right nerves and notes. It’s sophisticated and hip and so easy to love. Each lending their signature soundContinue reading “C’est So Good!”

A Legend Retired Last Week

For sure you know his name from the famous torso shaped perfume bottles, but Jean Paul Gaultier has had an effect on you even if you are not aware of it. He was the “enfant terrible” that brought the corset-look, or bustier, into mainstream fashion. He was the first to send men down the runwayContinue reading “A Legend Retired Last Week”

Fluffy Faux Fur Is Always A Good Idea!

The 1965 classic film Dr. Zhivago conjures up so many things. “Lara’s Theme,” tragedy, revolution, endless winter and most especially Geraldine Chaplin’s glamorously fluffy wardrobe. Each year, we stock up on all sorts of faux fur items. Scarves, gloves, wraps, ponchos, capes, vests and coats. So many of these looks are so reminiscent of theContinue reading “Fluffy Faux Fur Is Always A Good Idea!”

Good Ole Pre-Pinterest Days — Jill Evans Travel Studio

“Back in the day,” magazines were coming to our house daily! We all had subscriptions to something. My Dad had medical journals, my bro – rock music mags, my sisters – Vogue, Glamour and Elle. I had Majesty – the homage to England’s royal family. But my Mom had Gourmet and Bon Appetit. Those mags […]Continue reading “Good Ole Pre-Pinterest Days — Jill Evans Travel Studio”

Now that the Christkindl Markets are over…

Two friends who visited the Christkindl markets in Vienna and assorted ones in Austria and Germany this year gushed so much that I kicked myself for not heading downtown to the Chicago Christkindl Market which is always “wunderbar!” And a very good friend, a native of Vienna, related to me that he visits the ViennaContinue reading “Now that the Christkindl Markets are over…”

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Overkill! And we love it!

This year is the 35th anniversary of the release of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” In 1984 when it was recorded, we were importing records, books, magazines and vhs tapes from England. We sold them thru a mail order catalog company which we ran out of our house. The morning after it was recorded, weContinue reading ““Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Overkill! And we love it!”

Mona Lisa Christmas Music

One of our favorite Christmas songs is “When A Child Is Born.” There are so many beautiful versions of this song. But the most famous is the Johnny Mathis version. The origins of the song are a bit bizarre. It was originally an instrumental written by Ciro Damicco for the Brazilian film from 1974 titled,Continue reading “Mona Lisa Christmas Music”

Mona Lisa Christmas Music

It’s December 1, 2019 and this will our 28th Christmas at Mona Lisa. At this time of year, some customers are very stressed and we do what we can to create a calm but upbeat atmosphere in the boutique and we pay special attention to the music that we play. We try to stay awayContinue reading “Mona Lisa Christmas Music”