Fashion heirs who inherit family businesses have big shoes to fill
2014 August 8. | Szerző: shannon
A couple of years ago, luxury fashion tycoon Bernard Arnault installed his son Antoine as CEO of menswear brand Berluti, and his daughter Delphine as executive vice-president at Louis Vuitton – both brands, among a prestigious plethora of others, that make up Arnault’s LVMH empire.
Fashion watchers interpreted the move as significant: could Arnault, now 65, be pitting his son and daughter against one another to potentially fill his own shoes once he steps down?
Arnault’s perceived quandary, such that it might be, is one that could be understood by a number of high-powered luxury brands that continue to be controlled – whether creatively, financially or both – by families. Ferragamo, Missoni, Fendi, Zegna, Bulgari, Swarovski, Hermès – some of the most stellar labels in the style universe are now in the hands of descendants of the founder, and these young people are being entrusted with maintaining the aesthetic and legacy of an ancestor’s vision.
In a 2011 edition of Universia Business Review, the European business publication, Italian management academics posed the question: “Why are luxury firms often family firms?” The article surmises that succession from one family member to another works when there is a successful family strategy in business, which researchers describe as “the four Cs”: continuity, community, connections and command. “It has been proved that family businesses tend to exist longer than their counterparts, which are more subject to [mergers and acquisitions].”
Certainly, there are storied family firms that have had to become part of a larger machine: Gucci, which was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci, fell prey to infighting, and family members ended up selling off their shares. It is now a subsidiary of French conglomerate Kering, helmed by François-Henri Pinault. On the other hand, Pucci, run by the founder Emilio’s daughter Laudomia, sold 67 per cent of its brand to LVMH in 2000 – but she retains creative and image control.
For families who have been successful at keeping their luxury brands not just alive but thriving, the term “inherited legacy” means everything.
James Ferragamo is the group women’s leather director of Salvatore Ferragamo, the Florentine fashion and accessory brand; he is also the grandson of Salvatore and the son of Ferruccio, the company’s CEO. He represents a new breed of fashion heirs – smart, accomplished, refreshingly lacking in any air of entitlement – and seems to know what it takes to make stepping into a family business work. “I would say, stay true to the values of your family, and work hard to bring your own original contribution, because you’re not there to reproduce what others did before you, nor to subvert it, but to develop and enhance it,” he says.
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Indeed, various family members still sit on the board, including Salvatore’s other children, Leonardo, Fulvia and Giovanna. And a recent handbag launch was inspired by James’ late aunt Fiamma, who died in 1998 and who designed the footwear and leather accessories for the brand for 40 years.
“[It] is dedicated to all the women of our family who have always played central roles in the development of our business,” Ferragamo says. “Fiamma embodied our brand at its best.”
Family businesses that have successfully passed the baton from one generation to another need to be savvy enough to choose the best candidate for the job, same last name notwithstanding. Margherita Missoni is known widely as a model, actress and heiress to the brand founded by her grandparents, Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, in 1953.
But the 31-year-old graduate of Columbia University is far more than that: she is in charge of the accessories, beachwear and children’s lines while retaining her position as “brand ambassador” – a role she stepped into seamlessly when she was 18 and wearing the Missoni label at all the hot spots. “I began hitting the party scene, and people were seeing this fresh, reborn brand on me,” she says. “The clothing and me were well-suited for each other.”
Still, Missoni says she struggled somewhat with her heritage in her early years, and decamped to New York for a while to get into acting and modelling.
“Clothing and design have been part of my life since I was born, and I kind of wanted to get away from it to understand who I was,” she says. “Now with my responsibilities, I’ve found that I have more drive than ever before. I respect the family I come from and my job. I know I wouldn’t be in the place I am if I hadn’t grown up in this family, but this is also the reason why I can be good at this job – I was born into and grew up surrounded by the Missoni vision. So I don’t need to adapt my taste to its aesthetic, because I have integrated it into my own self since I was a child.”
The greater challenge would appear to be for a family member to maintain an entrenched aesthetic when new owners take over. Last year, brothers Sergio and Pier Luigi Loro Piana, descendants of Pietro Loro Piana, who established the brand in 1924, sold a majority stake in their company to LVMH while staying on in advisory roles. Pier Luigi says the decision to sell off most of his family’s business to the LVMH empire was based on it being “for the best of the company”.
“Considering the family story was to secure the company’s success … LVMH was the group that has more vision and capacity to develop Loro Piana into the future … not always [can] the story of the future of the family be exactly the same as [what] is best for the company.”
In the meantime, members of families involved in the business are resigned to the fact that their personal, family and business lives are intertwined – and they do feel the weight of responsibility of maintaining a generations-old reputation.
“On a personal level,” Ferragamo says, “it means having the courage and capacity to act with self-assurance and coherence, a passion for my work, pride in belonging to the world of Ferragamo, and a sensibility towards individuals and respect for their needs.”
Steve’s New Girl… Aquazzura Takes Hong Kong
2014 August 4. | Szerző: shannon
Peace Sign
Steve Madden is California dreaming. The namesake exec has a new blogger collaboration, this time with Shea Marie, the Los Angeles-based designer behind Peace Love Shea. “I had never met him, and I thought they just wanted to give me a pair of shoes,” Marie recalled. “I didn’t expect Steve to be there or want to work with me. I tried to play it cool and said, ‘Yeah, okay, maybe.’” The partnership eventually worked out — and seven styles will launch at select Steve Madden stores and online on Sept. 4. Retailers such as Shopbop , Nordstrom and Macy’s will stock the line beginning Sept. 8. The collection features boots with pony hair touches, stilettos with lug soles, a mixed-material loafer and a studded sneaker. “I bring a bit of laid-back cool, edgy and a little bit grungy,” Marie said. To fete the Peace Love Shea x Steve Madden collaboration, the brand will host an influencer party to kick off New York Fashion Week. Here, Madden gives his two cents to Spy.
1. Why were you drawn to Shea Marie?
“She’s an American girl, she loves fashion and [likes] to vamp it up. I really connected with her after the [campaign] shoot. She was sharing her texting secrets, but I can’t tell you [what they are about].”
2. Shea is based in California. What is your favorite part about the West Coast?
“I love to play golf in Southern California, and I like to drive around — it’s physically beautiful between the mountains and the ocean and the canyons. It’s really unbelievable, very different from New York City and this concrete jungle we live in.”
3. What excites you about bloggers, and who could be next as a partner?
“We just did a great collaboration with The Blonde Salad [Chiara Ferragni], and we have Man Repeller [Leandra Medine] for Superga. We’ve been very lucky with it. They all get Gucci and Louboutin, but they also understand Steve, so I appreciate that. I really like Cupcakes and Cashmere blogger [Emily Schuman].”
Shopping Spree
Aquazzura’s Edgardo Osorio recently ventured to China for an event at Lane Crawford’s IFC Mall store in Hong Kong. Consumers came ready to shop the Aquazzura x Olivia Palermo collection. “One customer arrived and bought everything available in size 35. Another arrived with her personal assistant and managed to shop the collection, pre-order and get her shoes signed in under 15 minutes. Now that’s power shopping,” Osorio said. Then he added, “Another person saw that I posted I was at Lane Crawford on Tuesday, flew to Hong Kong and went to the store — but she was two days too early for the event!” The fashion designer said he “was amazed by how young and fashion-forward the [Hong Kong] clientele is. They responded incredibly quickly through social media.” Plus, he had the chance to reunite with his muse. “It was a pleasure to see Sarah Rutson, [Lane Crawford] fashion director, who has always been in my mood boards and whose style is always an inspiration,” he said.
Wild West
Welcome to Hollywood, Danner Boots. This December, its Mountain Light Cascade style will make its film debut in “Wild,” starring Reese Witherspoon. Based on the best-selling book by Cheryl Strayed, the movie takes its heroine on a journey of self-discovery across more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. “The costume designer reached out to see if we could replicate the boot [worn] in the book, and we came up with this style based on our original [circa-1980s] Mountain Light style,” said Will Pennartz, senior marketing manager. More than 20 pairs of the look were ordered for Witherspoon, who, in one scene, throws one boot off a cliff, according to Pennartz. For those who want to walk in Witherspoon’s shoes, the hikers will be available in October at retailers including American Rag, James Perse and REI for $299.
Tall Order
Talk about workplace perks. REI head Jerry Stritzke said he didn’t have to go far from home to plan for an upcoming trip up Seattle’s imposing Mt. Ranier. The CEO — who’s set to summit the 14,410-foot glacier-topped mountain this month — sat in on an in-store class at the retail co-op to help prepare. “I went to one of our classes in our flagship store in Seattle — I was there with about 150 people,” he told Spy. “The only downside as I looked around is I was probably the oldest guy in the room.” Stritzke, who joined REI last year from New York-based Coach, said he’s appreciating the Kent, Wash.-based retailer’s outdoor culture. “We have some phenomenal athletes, and so that’s kind of one of the neat things about being here. You have a lot of people who enjoy doing the kind of things that are intriguing to you,” he said.
LFW Winter/Festive to see Sonaakshi Raaj’s fusion line
2014 July 30. | Szerző: shannon
Designer Sonaakshi Raaj with sister and muse Malvika Raaj, was present at the curtain raiser of Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2014, at the Palladium Hotel, Mumbai.
Sonaakshi Raaj is geared up to showcase her latest fusion line ‘Rebel With A Cause’, at Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2014.
‘Rebel With A Cause’ – The newest collection by Sonaakshi Raaj is a dichotomy of opulence and luxury, yet being edgy. The essence of the line is to create glamorous ensembles catering to women’s couture wear, with a design philosophy that is distinctly feminine and refined.
Malvika Raaj looked stunning dressed in Sonaakshi Raaj’s creation. She sported a nude and metallic black hand embroidered mesh work backless tunic with palazzos.
The key concept of the collection is the usage of traditional drapes and silhouettes, with a twist for the new age woman, who likes to experiment and is no longer bound by the stereotype. By combining tailoring with drapery, the garments are meticulously crafted to styles that are luxurious yet understated, with strong emphasis on fabric, cut and colour.
Says designer Sonaakshi Raaj, “This season, my line is intricately designed as a toast to the bold, beautiful and independent new age woman, who knows her mind and is not afraid to experiment and create her distinct style statement.”
About Sonaakshi Raaj:
Designer Sonaakshi Raaj is a graduate from SNDT University holding a Degree of B.A. in Apparel Manufacture & Designing.
The Label came into existence in 2009, by winning the University’s Best Collection Award. Thereafter, bagged the 1st position by winning the prestigious “CMAI APEX NATIONAL AWARD” for the “Best Upcoming Designer of the Year.”
Sonaakshi Raaj is predominantly recognized as the Sari-Gown specialist and has been rated as the top 25 young designers on Vogue’s radar. She is a pioneer in her field with her highly popularized Sari-Gowns and contemporary Indian wear for the new age women.
Sonaakshi is one of the very few Indian Designers who has been featured for her popular work on the website of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week.
Elemis Biotec Sonic Skin-Radiance Facial
2014 July 24. | Szerző: shannon
Elemis has developed five, result-driven “Biotec” facials using a fusion of three targeted stimuli — actives, touch and electric technology — to enable the skin to renew and repair.
Dodging the chaos of Causeway Bay’s shopping district, I make my way to 10/10 Space to meet Helen Brown, senior UK and international trainer, who is in town to introduce the facials.
First up is a skin consultation. Brown positions my face in front of the skin imager to detect imperfections such as dehydration, oiliness, enlarged pores, UV exposure, and signs of ageing. The skin around my cheeks and eyes shows dehydration, with a few oily parts (extreme dehydration causes the skin to over-compensate with oil, she explained). She advises hydrating the skin with moisturiser every day, and exfoliating, as my skin has some blocked and enlarged pores.
She opts for the Elemis Biotec Sonic Skin-Radiance Facial to re-energise my skin. The facial begins with cleansing and toning to prepare for the treatment. The first part of the facial is exfoliating the skin using ultrasonic peeling technology.
Brown works the tool across my face and neck with upward and sideways strokes. Apart from the high-pitched noise and the vibrations, the sensation is much like an electric shave, and there isn’t any pulsing or prickling.
A hydra active gel soothing mask is then applied to my face, and around my eyes. Cooling eye pads are placed on each eye to relax them.
Brown also uses Elemis Skin Lift Touch therapy, a series of massage techniques to relax and prepare the skin for the ensuing treatment. While I wait for the mask to settle, I am treated to an exceptional neck and shoulder massage, which unknots my shoulder muscles and sends me off into a relaxed stupor.
My brief nap is interrupted by the cool sensation of galvanic rollers. The second electric technique used for the facial, the galvanic current, is a two-step technology which is said to use the current from positive and negative charged ions to push bio-active formulas deeper into the skin. A Pro-radiance Illuminating Flash balm finishes off the facial. The immediate results are quite noticeable — plumper, cleaner, fresher skin, which feels extremely light and soft. It has hydrated my skin, without making it oily, and lasts for the next few days.
Messy, wavy hairdos replace sleek sculpted look
2014 July 21. | Szerző: shannon
Now seems to be the time to bid adieu to perfect Victorian ringlets and immaculately tied French knots and go all messy with respect to hairstyle.
Fashionistas and filmstars ranging from Bollywood divas like Deepika Padukone to those from Hollywood like Cheryl Cole are preferring stunningly messy dos, a transition from neatly styled tresses.
“A messy hair bun does not imply a look achieved out of the turmoil of wind, it is still fundamentally a bun but the thing is to keep the hairdo as natural as possible. The idea is to work with the hair and not against it,” says celebrity hairstylist Rod Anker.
Anker, who was recently appointed as a brand ambassador of haircare brand Schwarzkopf Professional lists boho chic braids, messy hairbuns and natural curls as three most popular hairdos for the season.
“Girls do not want the conventional straightening or neat buns anymore. Rumpled up pixie look, random twists and turns to a messy bob, asymmetrical side bangs with natural wavy look are very popular with women who visit us,” says Hassan, a senior hairdresser at Anker’s Monsoon Salon. The vintage braid or the French plait, say stylists is also seeing a return but with a twist. Also wavy hair accompanied by a side swept fishtail braid seems to be another latest trend for fashion forward women.
“A lot of girls are going for buns and plaits nowadays. Earlier, a lot of them feared that this would add more years to their age by giving them a mature look but now with a ruffled tinge to the bun, wavy and scrunch look back in fashion, they are no longer shying from them,” says Jeet Singh the head hairstylist at Showstopper Salon in Preet Vihar.
Anker says there is talk about bohemian chic “It is a more 70s look hair style with a natural make up and nude lips. One hair style is a combination of neat and clean with a little bit of texture through the braids and not over done with the messy hair look,” he says.
Also women, say stylists, are experimenting with their hair owing to the rise in their awareness of internationally popular hairstyles and even hair colours. “Creative chunks especially in deep red or burgundy and champagne highlights are also a lot in demand” says Hassan.
Anisha Khanna, a masters student from Jesus and Mary College says, “I am a big fan of updos where twirling the hair and braiding them are involved. I want to look different and I do not care if I do not fit a quintessential homely girl type. I know the ombre hair colour technique is really in and I intend to try it out soon.”
How to take a good selfie for your Facebook profile picture
2014 July 17. | Szerző: shannon
Let’s face it; first impressions do have tremendous staying power and profile pictures can make or break first impressions. Find out how you can pose your way to that perfect profile picture that’s bound to invite a deluge of ‘likes’, with a handful of tips and tricks.
Needless to say, girls love their pictures and quickly step into the ‘secret-angle’ that always works for them. The perfect click is nothing less than a fun game with ample factors to be played around with.
The basics: Don’t think you can fool people with a fake smile. A fake smile has no takers. When it comes to expressing your emotions, your eyes can be truly revealing. As pretty as you might be with that lovely broad smile, don’t just rely on your pearly whites. This also means you got to know your smile. Sometimes a lop-sided or half smile fits just right. You can choose to flash your teeth but don’t overdo it. Let your upper teeth show but don’t open your mouth all at once.
Pouts don’t work for everybody. They surely are an attention seeker, but not all attention is good and you certainly don’t want to feature on someone’s ‘fail’ list. Some women or even men just have pout-perfect lips and can pull off such pictures effortlessly. Even if you get down to giving it a try, something could go amiss. Any discomfort on your face or in your body language is captured as is, so it’s probably best not to risk it.
Make-it-up: It’s safe to say, another very dear friend of a girl is her make-up. Make-up defines your features and with some camera-friendly techniques can do you proud! You’ve heard this before – while applying foundation, don’t cake up thinking your dark circles and spots will be completely hidden. Excessive make-up can just make you look outlandish. You could look out for studio-finish foundations.
You may have often noticed this annoying shine in your pictures. It’s the oil glossing out on the flash. If you suffer from an oily T-section, it would be convenient to brush on some loose powder or dab it off with some oil-blot sheets. Blot-sheets also spare you from the sweat that turns up as unnecessary shine in pictures.
Focus on either your eyes or your pouty lips. The prospect of using eye make-up may be quite enticing, but try not to get carried away; do it up as per the occasion. Eye-make up also comes into play if you are being clicked for a close-up. Paying attention to your eye-brow arch and shape is necessary. Usually, mascara works really well to make your eyes look bigger. It’s safe to go for one simple colour and spread it out just below the eyebrows. With lipsticks you have got to be careful. With darker, bolder colours, your teeth end up looking a shade yellow unless you have sparkling white teeth! Pinks, whether light, shimmery or matte, can save your day. If you are a diehard red lipstick fan, pick out the perfect shade for your skin tone and more importantly your teeth shade.
Touch it up: The right angle is one key factor that can change the way people look at you in a picture. Tilt your head slightly on either side. This is particularly helpful for anyone with a double chin. You would get a flattering angle if you’re not facing the camera directly. If you can edit your own pictures that could be quite a life saver. Ensure you are exposed to the right light and are not against it. Lighting, if treated well can compliment your face instantly. At times, close-ups work better for some of us, while others are better suited to full profiles. A last minute teeth-glossing secret is to wet them with water right before your click.
This should get you all set, for a 100+ likes on your profile picture and tons of friend requests.
Get glowing skin with these tips
2014 July 11. | Szerző: shannon
There isn’t an elixir which will help you get glowing skin in a day but following a good skincare regimen definitely will! Here are a few steps which will ensure that you have glowing skin always.
Drink lots of water: Every system and function in our body depends on water. Skin is no different. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling, so ensure you take in enough water to reach your skin and keep it hydrated. Two to three litres a day is usually about right.
Multi-task: Looking after your skin doesn’t have to stop at home, so carry a multi-tasking quick-fix with you in your handbag for dewy skin on the go. A water spray can be used to cool and calm even the most sensitive complexions. Not only does it tone the skin, but it can also be used to set make-up and refresh skin on a hot day, as well as soothing and softening skin on the go.
Always remove make-up: It sounds obvious, but one in five women still admit to sleeping with make-up on when away from home. During summer nights, one is naturally warmer and sweatier and if make-up is left on overnight, and bacteria is more likely to develop, leaving pores blocked and resulting in an increased chance of waking up with bad skin outbreaks.
Stick to products meant for your skin: The internet can give out weird and wonderful information, but not all of it is accurate. Be aware that not everything you read will work. A common mistake is using toothpaste on spots – toothpaste is meant for your teeth which are one of the hardest surfaces in your body. Using a product on your skin which is actually intended for the teeth will damage your skin and cause it to completely dry out.
Fashion Talk with Laura Byrnes: Exclusive Interview with Pinup Girl Clothing
2014 July 4. | Szerző: shannon
Located in the heart of California lies the best selection of vintage designs and representations of the retro era, Pinup Girl Clothing. As one of the best places to shop, they offer an extensive selection of timeless classics that have been modernized to captivate your inner and outer hauteness. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with the woman who started it all, the amazing Laura Byrnes. Here is what she had to tell me…
(Q) Hello Laura. How are you? It’s great to finally talk to you. I am a big fan of your work. First and foremost, I just want to say that everything at Pinup Girl Clothing is just so fabulous. It’s almost as if it brings me back to a different time. The timeless designs are classic, but yet have such a modernized appeal to them which I truly love.
Hello Sarah. I am great. Thank you so much.
(Q) For all of those fashion fanatics reading this interview, can you tell them a little more about Pinup Girl Clothing? I am also curious to know, what inspired you to create this store? Tell me a little more about this…
We started in 1997, but we didn’t launch the website until 1999. I was pregnant with my first daughter in 1996 and I received some baby clothes from my aunt for my baby shower. I thought they were gorgeous and adorable. It turned out they were homemade. I was so intrigued that I decided that I wanted to make clothes for my baby. So, I had my husband’s mom give me a couple of sewing lessons, so she did. After I learned the basics, I decided to get a sewing machine and just started progressing from there. So, at first I was just making baby clothes. Once you learn how to make a pattern for baby clothes, you tend to learn more from there. Babies are great to start on. I truly recommend that if anyone wants to sew, definitely get a baby.
(Q) Hahaha, that is so cute. I love this story!
They are little barrels with arms and legs. You don’t have to worry about their shape. You can learn from there. I didn’t start out using a lot of fabrics, while learning to sew, so in case I would mess it up because if you mess it up, you can start over. So, from there, I started making my own clothes. It was the late 90s and I’m a punk rock chick, and I couldn’t find anything in the stores that fit my style, so from there I decided to make clothes for myself. I have been into fashion since I was 13. From that point, I actually got pretty decent. I was starting to make my friends clothes. It just kind of snowballed from there. The first 2 years, one of the reasons we didn’t launch the website was because I was very busy, doing commissions for people. I was making clothes. I really enjoyed swing dancing designs. If you have ever watched the movie Swingers, it is pretty much the precursor to big pinup, vintage scene that is happening now.
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It just kind of grew from there. So, then I launched the website. We grew really slowly. We were making clothes custom up until about 2003, I think and then we switched to production. We did that because we were getting so busy and at that point we were losing money. Trying to do so many custom pieces, it took too long so sew each piece and we only had 6 in-house seamstresses. They were constantly busy. We did everything from clothes for burlesque dancers to swing and exotic dancers, you name it. So, we just kind of grew from there. It’s interesting, I remember getting interviewed by a local paper about vintage inspired clothes. They called me up and proceeded to ask me questions. One of them was something along the lines of “what are you going to do when this trend is over?” and I told them that I don’t think that this is a trend. There is always going to be a market for well fitting, classic, high quality clothing that flatter people’s figures.
(Q) Most definitely. It’s “in” forever. I agree with you.
Exactly. So basically, the classic 50s silhouette has actually never gone out of style. It’s been reinterpreted, but there has never been an era since then when the basic shape disappeared. Even what Dior was doing with the wasp waist. If you read his biography, you will realize he was born in 1905 and his mother was a Victorian woman. And she in the early turn of the century would wear corsets and very structured clothing. Dior was inspired by that. You know, the corseted waist and he just put full skirts on everything along with the corseted waist. That was his innovation. The fitted bottom full skirt, fitted waist, aesthetically has not gone out of style since the 50s. Maybe in the 70s people were going in another direction, but even then you could find the wrap dress. But that is how we started.
(Q) I have to tell you Laura, I truly love that you got so in depth with this. When it comes to fashion, you truly know what you are talking about. That is so impressive.
Thank you. I am obsessed when it comes to fashion. I take it very seriously.
(Q) You know, I can tell by not only talking to you, but looking at your website and your work. It shows in your work, as a result. So, I wanted to tell you that I am amazed at how gorgeous the designs are. I wanted to ask you, currently, what are best selling pieces right now?
We have a lot. We actually got to a point where we had to separate the lines. Internally, we have a category called “Classics” as these are styles we cannot keep in stock. They sell out so quickly. We started to budget to keep those in stock as much as possible. I would say the top sellers would be the “Monica Dress”, which I find amazing because if you look at the Monica it is this super sexy, fitted wiggle, cocktail dress and you think to yourself where would I wear that? It is our top seller right now.
My “Laura Byrnes Trousers” were a sleeper in the beginning. At first I think people were afraid of them because it’s so hard to find a good fitting, pair of pants. I think women wear jeans because they will accentuate and mold to your body over time. Denim tends to give over time, so it kind of keeps that shape. People buy denim because it’s easy and they can get it to fit. It is really hard to find a pair of good fitting trousers. I just want to say that we are so lucky to have such a strong social media following. We interact with them, as much as they interact with us. We love our customers as much as they love us. When the customers started posting photos of themselves in the trousers, it was amazing to see. The woman in the 2X looked amazing and the woman in the extra small looked amazing. I love to see women of all sizes wear them. We did the trouser in about 9 different colors and patterns so far, I think.
The “Vamp Dress” along with the “Vamp Top” which is a basic wiggle dress, with a cute bra top. We can’t ever keep it in stock. So, to be honest, we have quite a few top sellers, but the trousers, the Monica dress, the Vamp dress, and top come immediately to mind.
(Q) That is amazing. I was going to tell you too that I absolutely love the Birdie Dress, the Jessica Dress, the Heidi Dress, and the Vamp Dress along with the Gia Dress. All gorgeous. I wanted to ask you, where do you get the inspiration to name these dresses?
The very first dress I named was when I realized I had to go into production. I had to stop making custom because I was going to produce my very first line of dresses. I had to choose 6 or 7 styles at that time, so I was sitting with a friend of mine at a diner actually. We were talking about how we wanted a basic dress. The “Nettie Dress”, a cute little sundress with spaghetti straps. The woman I was having dinner with was named Jeanette, but we called her ‘Nettie’ for short, so I am drawing out the dress. She says to me that she always wanted a dress made out of the candy dot. You know, the candy sheet of candy dots? Well, I thought it would be so cute to have little dots of all different colors. So, she came up with the print for the very first Nettie. That was when I said to her that this will be called the Nettie Dress. So, we named that particular dress after her.
I love it because usually when manufacturers do a design they give it some sort of weird letter or number designation. I am a very visual person and I am terrible with spreadsheets and numbers. I can do geometry and all of that abstract math. I find it easier to identify the dresses by names. So, we started naming them after models, friends, and even customers. The “Heidi Dress” is named after pinup model Heidi Van Horne who was modeling for us at the time. We have so many dresses named after our models. We have a “Micheline Dress” as well as a “Masuimi Dress” and much more. The “Ella Dress” is named after a customer. I’ve named a dress after my sister, as well as, my mom. A lot of our dresses are named after people we know, etc.
(Q) That is amazing!
Yes, it is a great way to identify the dresses. We also try to envision the person inside of the dress. Sometimes it will be a classic celebrity. For instance; the “Sophia Dress” was named after Sophia Loren. The “Rita Dress” was named after Rita Hayworth. So, we imagine and envision the woman in the dress and that is basically how we kind of do it. It’s very creative and a lot of fun. It’s also very easy to remember.
(Q) Wow, that is amazing. I wanted to tell you that your styles are so cute and timeless, but I truly see a modernized appeal that is so unique and haute.
I am always inspired. In fact, I have a ton of reference material. I actually collect old magazines, catalogs, and so on. It’s very easy to open up those books, take a look at a vintage dress, and copy it. But to me, it’s well, 2014. Hahaha. There is a lot of variety and different styles out there, but I find it easy and fun to take them and update them for the modern woman. Sometimes the styles from that generation were odd. If you look at the sleeves on some of the dresses from that time, you will notice how some are almost down to your elbow, so it’s not really a half sleeve or even a quarter length sleeve. I don’t know what kind of sleeve it is. So, when I see a beautiful vintage dress and I get inspired, the first thing I correct are the sleeves.
(Q) That is fantastic. You are truly talented.
I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I consider myself to be a designer. I learned to make patterns and from there, I executed those patterns into my designs. I don’t consider myself to be a manufacturer.
(Q) You know, that doesn’t sound arrogant at all because you are just telling the truth.
Well, sometimes women kind of get shamed for telling the truth. I don’t know if you have ever noticed that.
(Q) I have noticed that. I think that definitely has to change.
Initially and also as a designer, I have had some dresses that were very close to inspirational pieces. Sometimes you look at something and you think you can do something to better to it. To me, if you are going to call yourself a designer what you need to be doing is taking your own inspiration and creating your own items. It is ok to base it on anything. No one creates something from nothing. When I read about Christian Dior, he was heavily influenced by my other favorite designer Charles James. He isn’t as well known because he was very difficult to work with. Dior had the personality. Charles James was an engineering genius, but he was difficult. He always came in after deadline and over budget. When you look at Charles James work 10 years before Dior, you can see what Dior took inspiration wise and as a result, he credited him. So, to me everyone takes inspiration from something or someone. You want to be identifiable. When you see a woman walking down the street wearing our dresses, you can tell it’s our dress. We wanted the dresses to be modern, but also harken back to its roots and original silhouette from the middle of the century.
(Q) That is amazing. You know, I wanted to tell you that the first thing that I noticed about Pinup Girl Clothing is the fact that you have collections, as well. Everything from ‘Party Glamour’ to ‘Spring Fling’ etc. I am looking at all of the dresses and they are so original, so classic, and so unique in a sense where it’s current and haute. I also love the fact that you use all different kinds of patterns too. I also love the fact that you use models with all different types of body types, as well. There is nothing more shameful and sad than fashion and brand discrimination.
I have a little problem with that, with discrimination. I hate hearing when it does come up. When mainstream designers are asked about it, they always come up with the crappiest reasons. They are just cop-outs. They say “well, that’s the sample size and that can’t change.” Why do you have only these models that are tiny? The magazines say “well, we have to use a size 0 because the samples from the designers are a size 0.” It is just wrong.
(Q) I agree with you 100% Laura.
It’s like a whole entire circle jerk just circling the drain. They always go with a size 0 and don’t know why. I’m sorry, but you know why. You know why? I will tell you why. Because it’s all about high-end fashion and the only people who are buying it are very rich people. Very rich men, in particular with their very rich girlfriends or wives. Do these very rich men require their women to be that size? They are dressing their trophies. The consumer, the average woman who is buying clothing is all different shapes and sizes and that is the reality of it all. I recommend the book “The Theory Of The Leisure Class” by Thorstein Veblen. He is the man who coined the term conspicuous consumption and he speaks about this in his book that whenever the elite do something, everyone below it starts to copy it because they want to be seen as better than they are and it creates this kind of feedback, this kind of pattern of the only thing anyone ever wants to do. Then, people are scared to change it. Going back to the models, if they use a model that is a different size (say a size 10) than the average model (a size 0), what is going to happen? Well, the truth is the woman who is the size 10 will be happy and she is going to look at that size 10 model and know how the clothing is going to fit her. To me, it’s logic and has always been logic.
(Q) That is so amazing and I have to point out that I love the way that you think, as well. You definitely lay it out there in a sense where you can speak for the vast majority of status quo society. We live in this society where people believe a woman should be a size 0. Sometimes even lower than that to look beautiful.
Women should be “screw you”. We don’t sit there and criticize men. We don’t sit there and say in order for men to be accepted they should be this height or this size, etc. No one sits there and criticizes the man if he doesn’t have a wash board stomach. It just doesn’t happen, you know. The fact is, women are pressured. When a woman starts criticizing another woman it is one of the most damaging things ever. This creates tension among women and how they view each other. Then, they try to police and judge other women. When something goes against what is accepted as normal, they find themselves feeling inferior. When society in general turns against someone because of how they look, that is wrong.
(Q) Most definitely.
When I started my company, I didn’t start it to become rich or famous. Sure, it was nice to have the means to put food on the table and a little bit of money into my daughters college fund. I didn’t come from a family with money. I started it because I just wanted to be secure and just be happy. I also started it because I wanted to make other people happy. In fact, that has always been the ultimate goal for me. I want my customers to be happy and it certainly doesn’t make them happy to only see one type of woman to represent a brand. You hear all of these people making excuses for why this is happening. So, I felt that if I was going to do this and I was going to sell clothing in all different sizes, I had to put my money where my mouth is and feature models of every single size.
The same goes for ethnicity, as well. I see people who make excuses why they won’t use a model of a certain ethnicity. To me, that is an element of racism there. They are afraid of using a model who is not white is going to bring down their brand. “Oh no, it’s going to appeal to the urban people” and so forth. No, it is not. Use the Latino models, use African American models, use everybody. Using all ethnicities will bring you a lot of customers and I welcome anyone and everyone to shop with us.
(Q) That is so great. For all of those fashion fanatics and enthusiasts reading this interview, what would you like them to know? What is next for Pinup Girls Clothing?
We try not to think too far ahead. We are always constantly creating something new. This year has been all about polishing everything. We are working effectively, as well as, efficiently. Getting everything done that we need to do. Our customer base in the last two years has really expanded. It has been great, but does take a toll on our production capacity to keep up. So, this year we have been concentrating on increasing production and so, we do look ahead, but we kind of let our instincts and our customers guide us. For instance; we hear from customers “well, why don’t you have this?” or “why don’t you have that?” One thing that is coming up soon is that we are launching a maternity line within the next couple of months.
(Q) That is amazing!
I was pregnant in 2012 and in 2013, so every time I posted a photo of myself in Pinup Girl, fans and customers would ask for a maternity line. Some of the clothing already works, however; once I got a little bigger, I had to alter some of the styles. And as a result, everyone suggested that I start a maternity line. So, that is what is coming soon and I am very excited about it.
We would also like to open up a couple of new stores. That is on the back burner right now. It is something we want to focus more on in the future. We are kind of just letting our instincts guide us. We also don’t believe in growing super quickly.
Audrey Hepburn is named the UK’s ultimate timeless beauty
2014 June 27. | Szerző: shannon
Her gamine looks, trademark fringe and strong eyebrows made her loved by men and admired by women, and now Audrey Hepburn has been voted the UK’s ultimate timeless beauty.
The star of classic Hollywood films Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday and Funny Face beat Kate Middleton and Holly Willoughby to the top spot in a survey by Pears soap.
In the nationwide poll, more than a quarter of women (26 per cent) chose Audrey for her perennial appeal, far ahead of edgier beauties Cara Delevingne (1.15 per cent) and Kate Moss (0.75 per cent).
With her elfin features and tall, slender body, Hepburn broke the mould when she took her first starring role in 1953’s Roman Holiday. The film’s director Billy Wilder remarked, “After so many drive-in waitresses becoming movie stars, there has been this real drought, when along came class.”
The Hollywood photographer Leo Fuchs, commented on her sophisticated European-inflected looks, “Audrey was a singular person, there ain’t many like her. ‘Beautiful woman’ is very difficult to explain but she certainly was beautiful. She was very enticing at all times.”
The star herself said: “Whenever I hear or read I’m beautiful, I simply don’t understand it … I’m certainly not beautiful in any conventional way. I didn’t make my career on beauty.”
And she’s reported to have said, “Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside, but it doesn’t help if you’re ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the make-up.”
Pears commissioned its Timeless Beauty report to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the classic, transparent soap.
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In a poll of 2,000 British women, respondents were asked the traits they believed defined the notion of timeless beauty. Three quarters (75 per cent) named confidence, followed by 67 per cent who said happiness, while 58 per cent said having a sense of humour makes someone’s beauty timeless.
Audrey Hepburn’s fawn-like looks shot her to the top of the list, ahead of the Duchess of Cambridge who earned 16 per cent of the vote, and legendary Hollywood beauty Grace Kelly, who earned just 8.4 per cent of the vote.
This Morning co-presenter Holly Willoughby came in at number four (8.2 per cent) and Emma Thompson who possesses confidence, happiness and humour in spades, was voted fifth in the timeless beauty list.
Cosmetic surgery disqualifies someone from being a timeless beauty, according to the survey. For instance the likes of The Only Way Is Essex’s Lauren Pope and former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan failed to make the top 10 list, suggesting that natural looks are more appealing.
Interestingly, when it came to beauty routines, mothers had more influence on the women surveyed than celebrities. A fifth (20 per cent) cited their mums as their main beauty influence, and only four per cent said famous women or glossy billboard ads had an effect on their routines.
Many of us still swear by beauty tips passed on by our mothers and grandmothers and a third (31 per cent) say they still use tried-and-tested beauty tips from the older female members of their family such as taking a walk every day and using warm, then cold water to open pores.
No doubt delighted to hear that the nation’s women shun beauty fads for iconic products, Pears UK ambassador Naomi Isted said: “Beauty trends come and go but timeless beauty is all about taking care of yourself both inside and out.
“The list of timeless beauties reflects the values and ingredients British women told us they deem beautiful. Audrey Hepburn, the nation’s favourite, exuded confidence but also her long standing humanitarian work showed her to be kind – another top ingredient to being beautiful.
“Equally, we see Holly Willoughby, who came fourth in the poll, smiling every morning on daytime TV and we know that being happy is another top factor in appearing beautiful.”
3 Neem Oil Uses For Skin That Will Have You Hooked On This New Natural Beauty Must-Have
2014 August 20. | Szerző: shannon
When I was small, I was terrified of new things and any type of change. When my mother cut off her afro and replaced it with long, thick straight hair, my older sister cried first, spiraling me to come out of my bedroom and sob in unison with her — to be honest, I actually thought she was a new mom and didn’t understand that our hairdresser merely changed her hair type and not my mother. When my parents got a new car, I followed my father around the house, softly sobbing over the change. “But..I loved the yellloooowwwww car!” I’d bawl, wiping my nose on my trusty doll that went everywhere with me. That habit has stuck with me, so when I recently heard about neem oil skin benefits, I was wary to abandon my old faithful oils for something new.
The fear was and is about the loss of something old, it has more to do with not wanting to commit or experience something new that may or may not be as good. Being a natural gal means I had to welcome all that change, not only is trial and error key for natural ingredients, there is always something new that nature has to offer. Ingredients that grow naturally cannot be patented and therefore the incentive to pay for research on many of our fave essential oils is non-existent. For a natural routine, trust and research is another important factor.
Take the aforementioned neem oil for instance: This essential oil has been around for thousands of years, but has just recently become popular in European and American beauty care. Neem is an evergreen tree, also known as Indian lilac, the oil is made from crushing and pressing the kernels. Neem is definitely an oil that you should take a chance on; it’s anti-bacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-viral — all the things that make for a rejuvenating, cleansing experience. The natural fatty acids, vitamin E, and anti-inflammatory properties are so extraordinary that few pimples and acne scars will survive a beauty routine with neem. In fact, synthetic forms of linolenic acid are often used in OTC beauty products because the acid is known the offset signs of premature aging and acne: Neem is naturally high in these Omega-6 fatty acids.
Let’s talk oil safety before we jump right in: Like most essential oils, neem oil needs to be diluted with your fave carrier oil and shouldn’t be applied liberally on its own to your hair, skin, face, or gums. It’s incredibly potent. In addition, raw neem oil smells like a mustard and garlic sandwich. It’s really gross. But the amount of healthy benefits in unprocessed neem is no joke, so plug your nose and get to it. These recipes below are safe and have some nicely scented ingredients to get rid of any hesitance about trying out a new, brilliant oil.
1. Skin Toner
I’m always on the hunt for ingredients to add to my toner which is usually 100% lemon juice. During the summer it’s NBD, but my face does not need to be rockin’ an astringent in the winter. Neem oil can lighten acne scars and other dark spots from our face that show up after our summer tan leaves. The oil is soothing and healing, which is exactly what my personal toner was missing. Add a few drops of essential neem oil to lemon juice for a true brightening experience.
2. Anti-Aging Serum
Those highly coveted fatty acids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties are all present in neem, plus it’s rich in vitamin E which is a proven ingredient in reversing sun damage and keeping away free radicals. Here is what I’m currently using around my eyes to make sure I have an AARP card before I ever use the words “crow’s feet” to describe my skin. Use this treatment twice daily for best results.
1 teaspoon of jojoba oil
1 teaspoon of orange peel
3-4 drops of neem essential oil
If you are making a batch of this serum, instead of for one time use, shown above, store in a dark container to prevent turning. Think neem oil smells already? Wait until it goes bad…
3. Bacne Spritz
A few weeks ago I happened to catch sight of my back in my reflection in the mirror. I had to get a closer look. “Whose back is that!?” I asked myself. Apparently, my back did not have a fun summer and I have the scars to prove it. This caused me to changed out of my backless shirt and immediately look into a nice evening spritz that could lighten scars and fix my back’s attitude. If you only have a clear spray bottle, do not fret, you can paint it with black nail polish like I did. Fill up your spray bottle with 2 parts apple cider vinegar, one part neem oil, and one part grape seed oil.
This remedy can also be used to fight serious infections and heal skin lesions, yes, that means it’s very serious! Definitely do a test strip on the inside of your arm to be sure this remedy isn’t too extreme for your bacne needs.
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