Countdown!

OMG...1.5 hours before the show starts...looks like we're ready!  More soon...

Yikes!

Shoes are always an issue. The goal is to find the best deal for the best shoe possible. When I lived in New York it was a little easier - there were shoes stores all over the place and I could go a day or so before a show to pick up any shoes I needed. It’s harder now; one, because I’m two hours away from the city and two, because a lot of those stores I shopped at are no longer in business. I did my best yesterday, but I really couldn’t find anything I liked for the right price. We’re down to the wire so I’m heading to an upstate mall this afternoon to see what I can find. It would be great if I could hire a stylist to do this for me, but it’s not in the budget. Plus I’m not doing a shoe show; I don’t need “statement” shoes, I just need beautiful, simple shoes.

I was able to find jewelry that works with my theme - actually, a ton of it - so that won’t be an issue. I was also able to pick up the final buttons that I’ll need. On a side note, I also found a button vendor that does wholesale - and I love his assortment. That’s one more step to getting this stuff to the stores.

I made a quick stop at The Metropolitan Pavilion. It was just a last minute check on the space and a couple of details about bringing the clothing into the space. I met with a very helpful, very nice women who gave me some great suggestions about the show setup. Boy, it’s a thrill to see the space - that’s when I feel that all of this is real.

Today has been crazy. We’re working on the layout for the Coterie. There are a ton of details that need to be gone over and answered today. Yep, it’s crazy time!

I’ll have more to report later.

Accessories!

This will be a short post today. I am off to New York City to pick up some jewelry and shoes. I hate to be away from the room in these last few days before the show, but the models have to have shoes to wear!


Yesterday was very productive in the design room - many things were finished, or at least got closer to being finished. I’m very happy with the way the dresses are shaping up - I feel like I’m striking a balance between youthful and chic.

I had a second editor from WWD confirm yesterday—at least I can relax a little about that.

All for now.

Ups & Downs

What a rollercoaster! We had a fantastic fitting today. The clothes are coming together, and we now have almost enough finished for a fashion show of a decent size. In my experience, a show needs at least twenty outfits to make sense. I may have twenty-six or, if I’m lucky, twenty-eight. So the fitting was great, and I’ll only get to work with the model one more time before the show. That’s one big drawback of not working in New York City. My fit model comes from the city but we have to plan well in advance to get her up here. Anyway, on Saturday, I’ll focus on last minute fittingsand a few corrections. And, I’ll have her try on all the outfits that will be in the show just to make sure there are no surprises. Plus that’s the time when we add accessories. Ordinarily, I would try to keep accessories to a minimum, but my theme or inspiration calls for more. (By the way, I’ll talk more about the inspiration as we get closer)...

Fitting With the Model

Requests for seats at the show are coming in nicely. The press has been a little slower than I would have liked but we are getting them. I did have one major disappointment - Style.com won’t be at the show. However, we did get a positive response from WWD - and I’m thrilled about that.

Checking a hemline

One thing I did realize today - I was working on a dress and I said to the pattern maker “when we go into production”. That was new. Until now, I was focused on the show primarily. Although I am scoping out factories (and I think we’re finding the best of the best) I wouldn’t let myself think about the selling of the clothes. I know that sounds strange, but now I think I’m ready. I think I’ve done some really pretty things and I want them out there in the stores! So there you have it.

More, later!

Countdown!

Ten days until the show and things seem to be humming along. The design room is really throwing everything into it - I think they’re enjoying themselves but that just may be wishful thinking on my part.


I did get away this weekend. I attended a wedding at the Sagamore Hotel at Lake George in upstate New York. The lake and hotel were spectacular as was the wedding. It’s been my only time off since I started this adventure, and I sure needed it.

This is going to be a very busy week. I’m trying to cram in at least two fittings with our model and I have to finish getting all the shoes and accessories. I’m working on the music for the show too - which is kind of fun. The music is all about trying to evoke a mood and reflects the feeling of the collection. I’ve picked a few tunes that I like but there’s a lot more to do.

I mentioned a fitting. I think fittings are the hardest and yet the most rewarding thing about putting together a line. Fit is crucial, both for samples and for stock. I’m working with a great model - her name is Aida. The relationship with a fit model is so important; a good model can help with construction and fit, and more importantly, act as a muse. I’ve always done my best design work with I work directly with the model. I’ll see about getting pictures of the fitting up on the blog sometime on Wednesday.

The RSVP’s for the show are coming in every day and so far I’m getting a nice response. I’m holding my breath about responses from Women’s Wear Daily and Style.com. Both are so important to the Fashion Industry….

My posts may tend to be a little more frantic in the next few days - and if they are you know why!

Later!

Coterie 2010 Spring Summer Collections

Good news yesterday. We were accepted into the Coterie! I was sure sweating this one. The Coterie is a trade show for fashion and, being a brand new line, I don’t have a lot of options when it comes to selling the collection to the stores. I mean, there are reps and showrooms, but I feel like I need to get out there and meet the customers before I turn the line over to anyone else. The Coterie is a well respected venue - it’s a juried acceptance to the show - so I’m thrilled that we made it. After all, making the clothing is fun but it will be even more fun to sell them.


The crazy part of this whole adventure is the fashion show. So why do it? I wouldn’t have had to - and I was advised not to by a fashion “insider”. I just feel like I didn’t have time to waste. You do a show for the exposure (for better or for worse) and I just feel like that kind of “fast tracks” the process. We’ve received a lot of calls from the press asking about the line and the show - so even before I do the fashion show, there is attention just from the announcement.

Doing the line does add a lot of stress to this place, however. Pretty much everyone is on board; I have a very supportive group here - but I’m sure they’re still wondering what I am getting them into now. I think probably the least enthusiastic person is our accountant. I do cause him a lot of anxiety. Well, such is life.

Guess that’s all for now. I’ll post more about the show soon.

Okay, so what the hell am I doing?

I left the fashion industry in 1990 and I swore I’d never go back. It wasn’t that I didn’t like designing - it’s really all I’ve ever wanted to do. It was the fact that I hated the business of fashion or at least what I perceived that to be. But fashion itself is in my blood. When I left, I felt I could still design - on a much smaller scale of course (dolls and action character figures) and , for a while that was fine. I’m also a sculptor and I love sculpting so doing both seemed to me like the dream job. But you know what? I really never lost the desire to design real clothing for real women. And I discovered one other thing…I liked building my business - that too has its creative side. My collectible business is one of the most successful in the field.

So, you may ask, why start something else? Well, that is what I ask myself when I wake up in a cold sweat many nights - what the hell am I doing? I certainly didn’t need to start something but I just think it’s the challenge. I’ve been told I’m too old, that it’s a bad time - all of that and more. But that just makes me more determined to do it. So, I’m doing it.

So what about the blog? I’m not much of a writer, but I think this is a story that might be worth telling. I’m going to record my thoughts as I go through the process. It will certainly help me sort out stuff and maybe it will encourage someone else to try something he/she really wants to do in spite of a long shot.

Enough for today, more later!