Vanity (clothing)
Encyclopedia
Vanity Shops of Grand Forks, also known as Vanity, is a mall-based chain of clothing stores that sells young women’s apparel and accessories. The fashion retailer’s clothing items range in size from zero to 17 with pants inseam lengths of up to 37 inches (939.8 mm).
In 1960, the store moved to a 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) location and opened a children’s clothing store in the original location. In 1964, the Jahnkes opened a Vanity store in Grand Forks, ND with one-third of the 3000 square footage dedicated to junior women’s merchandise. The Grand Forks store was so successful, the Jahnkes sold their Dickinson locations and opened Vanity 2 in Grand Forks with 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) of space. It was the only junior women’s store in the state at the time.
In 1971, Vanity 3 opened in downtown Fargo, ND. The store was part of a Concept208, which consisted of a music store, shoe store, candle and poster store, young men's store, hot dog stand and Vanity.
In 1972, Vanity 4 opened in Bismarck, ND, Vanity 5 opened in West Acres Mall in Fargo and the founders expanded beyond the borders of North Dakota to open six stores in Colorado. In 1974, Vanity headquarters was established in Fargo.
By 2009, the Vanity chain had grown to nearly 200 stores in 27 states; the corporate headquarters and distribution center remain in Fargo, North Dakota, along with the company's website, eVanity.com.
In April 2010, Vanity opened a new store in the Mall at Johnson City, Johnson City, TN. The store is the first the chain opened in the Tri-Cities.
In July 2010, Vanity temporarily closed its West Acres store while it remodeled.”
The new store design includes tall, glass storefront windows for better viewing into the store, a new lighting system, full-length mirrors, added lighting and wood benches in dressing rooms.
They also built a Premium Denim Collection of 15 different styles of jeans, as well as Vampire-inspired clothing that looked like a dressed-up, trendy version of the gothic style. The style was dominated by combinations of red, black and white with images of crosses and wings. Shirts say things like, “Once bitten twice shy,” “Only vampires can love you forever,” “My boyfriend bites and I like it,” “Boys are whatever, vampires are forever” and “I’m so hot for him, He’s so cold.”
In 2010, Vanity launched a new line of career wear trademarked “Style that Works”. The company also expanded its Vanity Premium Collection to include fashion tops and jewelry.
In 2006, Vanity trademarked the tagline “Fashion that Fits”, supposedly referring to how the Vanity brand reflects its customers body types and lifestyle, as well as its affordable pricing.
Online shoppers are subjected to a frequently changing video representation of Vanity clothing in action. The site is claimed to provide a user-friendly experience with options to shop by featured outfits, clothing categories, best sellers, inseams and more.
eVanity currently ships orders anywhere within the United States; expansion to international market is in the long-range planning goals.
In fall 2009, Vanity and its sister online company, eVanity, teamed up with Cotton Incorporated to launch a nationwide denim drive to help rebuild communities adversely affected by hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters, through the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN. The COTTON FROM BLUE TO GREEN. denim drive began in 2006 and by mid-year 2009, had provided enough insulation to be used in over 180 homes in the Gulf Coast region of the US.
Vanity's role in this community service is to encourage and collect denim donations in each of their retail locations. The denim is then reprocessed to its original fiber state, cotton, where the metal and any embellishments are removed from the denim. After treating the individual fibers to make them fire retardant, the denim is turned into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation.
Food Drive
In September 2010, Vanity and pop band OneRepublic joined forces to help Feeding America “Share the Secret About Hunger” for 49 million Americans through an in-store food drive and CD sales. The "Share the Secret About Hunger" campaign aims to raise awareness about food insecurity incurred by 49 million Americans everyday at a national level as well as provide hunger relief for people in communities across the country.
History
Emery and Ann Jahnke purchased the Vanity name in 1957 from a Dickinson, ND, dress shop where Ann worked. Vanity was incorporated in 1966 and the first Vanity junior fashion store opened in 1969 in Fargo, North Dakota. The first store was located in Dickinson and occupied 900 square feet (83.6 m²).In 1960, the store moved to a 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) location and opened a children’s clothing store in the original location. In 1964, the Jahnkes opened a Vanity store in Grand Forks, ND with one-third of the 3000 square footage dedicated to junior women’s merchandise. The Grand Forks store was so successful, the Jahnkes sold their Dickinson locations and opened Vanity 2 in Grand Forks with 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) of space. It was the only junior women’s store in the state at the time.
In 1971, Vanity 3 opened in downtown Fargo, ND. The store was part of a Concept208, which consisted of a music store, shoe store, candle and poster store, young men's store, hot dog stand and Vanity.
In 1972, Vanity 4 opened in Bismarck, ND, Vanity 5 opened in West Acres Mall in Fargo and the founders expanded beyond the borders of North Dakota to open six stores in Colorado. In 1974, Vanity headquarters was established in Fargo.
By 2009, the Vanity chain had grown to nearly 200 stores in 27 states; the corporate headquarters and distribution center remain in Fargo, North Dakota, along with the company's website, eVanity.com.
In April 2010, Vanity opened a new store in the Mall at Johnson City, Johnson City, TN. The store is the first the chain opened in the Tri-Cities.
In July 2010, Vanity temporarily closed its West Acres store while it remodeled.”
The new store design includes tall, glass storefront windows for better viewing into the store, a new lighting system, full-length mirrors, added lighting and wood benches in dressing rooms.
Specialty Fashion
In 2009, Vanity and eVanity offered new fashions that consisted of products made from recycled materials, sustainable resources, such as bamboo, and organic materials. One thing that sets Vanity apart from other clothing stores is the range of sizes offered. Vanity offers sizes from 0-17 in tops, waist sizes from 25 inches (635 mm) to 34 inches (863.6 mm) and inseams from 29 inches (736.6 mm) to 37 inches (939.8 mm).They also built a Premium Denim Collection of 15 different styles of jeans, as well as Vampire-inspired clothing that looked like a dressed-up, trendy version of the gothic style. The style was dominated by combinations of red, black and white with images of crosses and wings. Shirts say things like, “Once bitten twice shy,” “Only vampires can love you forever,” “My boyfriend bites and I like it,” “Boys are whatever, vampires are forever” and “I’m so hot for him, He’s so cold.”
In 2010, Vanity launched a new line of career wear trademarked “Style that Works”. The company also expanded its Vanity Premium Collection to include fashion tops and jewelry.
Logo Evolution
The Vanity logo has been updated through the years and is currently a berry-colored script. With the advent of its website, the fashion retailer introduced an eVanity logo for all e-commerce communications.| Logo #1 | Logo #2 | Logo #3 |
In 2006, Vanity trademarked the tagline “Fashion that Fits”, supposedly referring to how the Vanity brand reflects its customers body types and lifestyle, as well as its affordable pricing.
eVanity
Launched July 2008, Vanity also serves customers through an online presence, eVanity, LLC. eVanity is a privately owned company offering Vanity branded apparel and accessories. eVanity LLCs services include merchandising, marketing and distribution. Its corporate office and distribution center is located in Fargo, North Dakota.Online shoppers are subjected to a frequently changing video representation of Vanity clothing in action. The site is claimed to provide a user-friendly experience with options to shop by featured outfits, clothing categories, best sellers, inseams and more.
eVanity currently ships orders anywhere within the United States; expansion to international market is in the long-range planning goals.
Philanthropy
Denim DriveIn fall 2009, Vanity and its sister online company, eVanity, teamed up with Cotton Incorporated to launch a nationwide denim drive to help rebuild communities adversely affected by hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters, through the COTTON. FROM BLUE TO GREEN. The COTTON FROM BLUE TO GREEN. denim drive began in 2006 and by mid-year 2009, had provided enough insulation to be used in over 180 homes in the Gulf Coast region of the US.
Vanity's role in this community service is to encourage and collect denim donations in each of their retail locations. The denim is then reprocessed to its original fiber state, cotton, where the metal and any embellishments are removed from the denim. After treating the individual fibers to make them fire retardant, the denim is turned into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation.
Food Drive
In September 2010, Vanity and pop band OneRepublic joined forces to help Feeding America “Share the Secret About Hunger” for 49 million Americans through an in-store food drive and CD sales. The "Share the Secret About Hunger" campaign aims to raise awareness about food insecurity incurred by 49 million Americans everyday at a national level as well as provide hunger relief for people in communities across the country.