Business of the Month - December 2003
Van Dam's

What will you be wearing? Not just for the holidays, but throughout the year when you get together with your friends and you want to be envied by all? Van Dam’s has a beautiful selection to dress and accessorize you for the holiday and New Year’s Eve parties and for anytime you want to look your best without looking like everyone else. Featuring unique pieces from a variety of small designers from the United States and Canada including Animale, Willow, Rico, and K. D. Spring, you are sure to be the hit of the party wearing one-of-a-kind ensembles. Whether you want to be elegant or casually elegant, you are sure to find what you are looking for at Van Dam’s. Sizes range from extra small to extra large. To accessorize you will find fun earrings and necklaces by Bulatti and Teresa Goodall and pins by Cah Ching and Whitney. Finish the look with a festive felt hat, silk scarf, and purse.

Van Dam’s is not just clothing. Say thank you to your host with a gift selected especially for them. Make that ordinary bottle of wine extraordinary by giving it in a beautiful wine box. Not a wine enthusiast? These decorated boxes are also perfect for liquid soaps or bath oils. Woof & Poof is especially fun at holiday time! Whimsical santas, angels, snowmen, and jesters. . . each piece handcrafted by California artists from wool along with fleece, boucle and berber. These soft, plush pieces will give you a warm holiday feeling. Woof & Poof also has adorable bibs, hooded blankets, and santa hats for the littlest member of your family and aprons and hot pads for the chef. Mark Roberts has a wonderful line of beautiful santas in velvet robe, jesters, menorahs, stockings to hang from the mantel, and ornaments for the tree. All would be wonderful additions to your holiday collection.

Ladies, do you want to get exactly what you have been hoping for? Take time from your busy schedule to browse Van Dam’s, try on your selection, and mark it on your "Wish List". Van Dam’s will hold a second Men’s Nite on Wednesday, December 10^th. Gentlemen, with her wish list in hand you can’t go wrong this holiday season. Avoid the crowded malls and enjoy stress free shopping. Enjoy Van Dam’s friendly, personal service, receive 10% off your purchases, and have your gifts wrapped free of charge. For the ultimate shopping experience, wine and cheese will be served.

Have you seen the ladies strolling through town in their fancy red hats? These ladies are all members of the Red Hat Society "greeting middle age with verve, humor, and élan". The Red Hat Society was begun by Sue Ellen Cooper of Fullerton, California when she and a few friends took inspiration from a popular poem entitle "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, which begins "When I am an old woman…" Since the poem mentions wearing a red hat and purple attire, she and her friends formed a group that met on a regular basis for tea in their hats and purple dresses – in public, of course. Van Dam’s carries a selection of red fedoras, note paper, and Red Hat Society mugs which come in their own decorative box and carry the Red Hat Society poem.

Located in the midst of Northville’s downtown shopping area, Van Dam’s has been dressing and accessorizing women at 111 East Main Street for 3 years. Van Dam’s previously enjoyed a long history at the Renaissance Center where Christine Van Dam opened Van Dam’s in 1977 selling lingerie and loungewear. After Victoria’s Secret invaded from planets unknown, Van Dam’s switched to clothing . . . fun, unique clothing. Christine Van Dam is a City of Northville resident, a DDA and Chamber of Commerce member, and current treasurer of the Northville Central Business Association.

Join Van Dam’s for their fashion shows, many of which benefit area charities, and other activities presented throughout the year. Stop in for a schedule of what’s going on. The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is pleased to have Van Dam’s as December’s Business of the Month.

"One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art."
Oscar Wilde