TSC Interviews

Do you die for Rebecca Minkoff? So do we. Her hot Spring 2011 collection was previewed during Fashion Week, which sadly ends today **sigh**, but lucky for The Stylish City fashionistas, you can order two of the most lusted after pieces from her Spring 2011 collection! The pieces include the black Quilted Affair bag with a cross body gold chain as well as the beautifully colored Rumi Dress, modeled by, and named after, Rumi Nelly, fashiontoast blogger.

The Stylish City was lucky enough to talk to the wonderful Rebecca Minkoff amidst the hectic throws fashion week has to offer. She tells us what inspires her to design the bags and apparel we all love as well as what’s new for her ever evolving brand.

TSC: You are a California girl but your first success is attributed to an “I Love NY” t-shirt. Why New York?

RM: I’ve always had an admiration for New York, even when I was very young- it was the place you went to “make it”. In high school I was a dancer and my dance teachers would tell me that I was too tall, too long, and I threw off the symmetry of the group. Because of my height and my long arms, they put me in the costume department. It was a performing arts high school and had an intense costume department- so I started learning in depth how to make patterns, construct and drape garments. By the time I was 17, I wasn’t interested in college. My brother knew Craig Taylor (a fashion designer) and contacted him to get me an internship for the summer. At 18, I moved to NYC to begin the internship and I worked with Craig Taylor for two years- they allowed me to work on my own clothing line when I had free time during the day and then the rest is history…

TSC: You became successful very young and without following the usual FIT path. Do you think successful designers are born or made?

RM: I think everyone is different in terms of what suits them, whether it’s being self taught or receiving a college degree. At the end of the day it’s about passion and being driven. If you are passionate and driven, I think it leads to success.

TSC: Aside from being completely obsessed with your designs I also love the names you give your bags, do you come up with them?

RM: I like to have a playful take on my bags. My bags may be named after a girl or a story- each season has a theme, and bags named after that theme. I think a girl can buy into an experience. Inside each bag, there is a card with a picture of a boy with a phone number, so that every girl has a number of a guy to call. It works too! You can call and leave messages to Vincent, who has a sexy French accent.

TSC: Do you find yourself having a different inspirational theme each season?  If so, where did you find inspiration this past season?

RM: My inspiration comes from travel. I’m constantly taking pictures and absorbing cultures. I recently came back from a vacation in Turkey and being exposed to the different cultures, I think is pretty inspiring.

The Spring 2011 collection is an homage to the ultimate femme vagabond—a woman yearning for glamour and transfixed by reconstructed vintage and 70s-inspired frocks that include traces of seductress Bianca Jagger and the late, soulful Janis Joplin.  

TSC: You have a large celebrity following, which is sought after in fashion PR. Do you accredit a lot of your success to the recognizable names who are faithful to your brand?

RM: I am very fortunate to have such an incredible fan base and we have an amazing celebrity following. I’m always flattered when they wear the collections.

TSC: After four years of accessories you returned to your original passion for apparel design in 2009 with a ready-wear collection. What is next for Rebecca?

RM: For the spring 2011 season, the Rebecca Minkoff brand has launched two additional collections: women’s shoes and men’s accessories! The women’s shoe collection will consists of booties, platform pumps, flats and sandals- totaling 25 various styles and color ways. The men’s accessories collection, under the Ben Minkoff label was inspired by my grandfather Ben Minkoff and his career as a combat fighter pilot in WWII. The pieces were created around the early map, messenger and motorcycle bags used in the air force during the 1940s. Overall, the possibilities are endless for the brand and I’m so excited to see what happens next…!

By Caitlin Colford

Dressing for work can be daunting. So we went to Manhattan’s most sought after image consultant, Lori Silverstein for her advice on how to power dress. Lori offers her exclusive roster of private clients, many of which are high power executives advice on their personal appearance, image, grooming and wardrobe. “I believe the best strategy for women dressing in today’s work environment is to embrace a tailored silhouette which is feminine, classic and clean and modeled on the European approach to dressing,” says Lori. We sat down with her to get her fabulous tips on how to dress for work in style.

What are some of the essential items a woman should own in her work wardrobe?

I strongly encourage my clients to invest in classic but stylish pieces. Basic items in the fall wardrobe should include: streamlined cashmere coats which fall right at the knee and are perfect for skirts, dresses and trousers; pencil skirts in beautiful wools and cashmere or cashmere blends; fitted blazers with narrow shoulders with a cinched or defined waist; cashmere sweaters; beautifully tailored trousers and pantsuits with a well proportioned leg, paired with a beautiful silk blouse; and tailored shift dresses (both sleeveless and with sleeves) that follow the contours but are not “too” form fitting. Good fabrics are key and contribute to a rich, elegant and timeless look.

What types of accessories should a woman opt for when dressing for the office?

I believe accessories complete and enhance a look, and a good shoe, handbag, belt, scarf and jewelry are essential.

Shoes
For the work environment, I love a kitten heel or a 2-3 inch heel, and prefer a good classic pump with a bit of twist, as well as a sling back. My favorite shoe designers who have the perfect pump and sling are Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin. The shoes are beautiful, sleek, classic and subtly sexy. They are absolutely worth every penny of the investment. A good suede or leather boot with a narrow toe box and a 2-3 inch heel is also beautiful and classic.

Handbags
Handbags you can never go wrong with the Prada leather tote which comes in a few basic colors such as black, brown and tan, and holds enough items without being oversized and cumbersome. I also love the Chanel classic handbag and tote.

Belts and Scarves
For belts, I steer my clients towards a black, chocolate brown or rich tan belt, preferably in leather or skin and for scarves I favor Hermes. They have so many wonderful designs and colors to choose from, and there are so many flattering ways to tie the scarves that will make every woman look chic, stylish and pulled together.

Jewlery
When it comes to jewelry, I emphasize that simple is best. For earrings, diamond studs or larger classic pearl studs look beautiful and there are some great copies out there that could fool anyone! Depending on the neckline, a scarf could look great, or perhaps a nice pendant or a pearl and gold necklace which is long enough to wrap a few times around the neck and sits up by the collar bone. I do like enamel bracelets (my favorites are designed by Hermes and come in different widths, design motifs and colors) and gold or silver link bracelets with a fob closure. I do stress that one thing to avoid at all costs is wearing large dangling earrings as well as glittery and over-sized pieces. Simplicity is key and contributes to a very polished and stylish look.

When it comes to hair and makeup, what works?
Regarding hair and makeup, the overall look should be neat, polished, well groomed and not overdone. I favor a soft palette for makeup. The first step is to ensure that one takes good care of their skin by using good products diligently (I love Biologique Recherche, La Prairie and Clarks Botanicals) and visiting an excellent facialist. My favorite facialist is Natalie at Yasmine Djerradine. A good, light foundation is important (such as Armani Face Fabric or the Fluid Sheer Foundation, or the new Guerlain Fundation) and a soft, neutral eye (mascara and lightly lined upper lid) combined with a soft cheek blush (the best colors are by Chanel) and a soft lip (Chanel lipsticks and glosses have the prettiest colors). Hair should be worn loose either straight or in soft waves, or held back in chic low ponytail or soft chignon. I strongly discourage hairstyles which are very exaggerated or messy. Everything should be soft and feminine…no overpowering colors or heavy makeup application.

What are some things to keep in mind in terms of dress code for work?
Overall, when dressing for work, I advise my clients to dress in a clean, tailored and polished fashion that is very stylish and flattering. I discourage them from dressing in fashion trends that will detract from a polished look, and look inappropriate for the office. It is important not to wear anything that does not fit well and having access to a good tailor is essential to ensure that each piece fits perfectly. Another item to bear in mind is not to wear anything that is too short, too tight, too low cut, too clingy or too bright, glittery or overly patterned. Femininity is key. Lastly, it’s extremely important to be respected at work by clients and colleagues and a beautifully polished look will keep you on the right track!

For more information on image consultant Lori Silverstein please visit (http://lbsimageconsulting.com)

By Millissa Mathai

Savvy & Co. President and CEO Ann Taylor knows sample sales; as she should. The 13 year fashion industry veteran remembers the start of sample sales in the early eighties. Sample sales, a Manhattan brainchild of an idea, started as a way for the “have nots” to sample designer goods hoping to wet their appetite to purchase items largely out of their budgetary reach.

How was the L.A.M.B. / Harajuku Girls sale in L.A. last week?

It went over really well. Gwen Stefani has a strong following on the West Coast, so it was a no brainer.

How does L.A. compare to New York in terms of sample sales?

L.A. is probably fifteen years behind New York in regards to sample sale scope, size and frequency. New York was the original sample sale city. Sample sales started here around 1982…1983. And for the most part, sample sales have remained unique to New York.

Why?

Because garments were manufactured in New York, designers lived in New York, it held the market. Even consumers who couldn’t afford retail prices where familiar with the designers. The demand was there. Especially in the late eighties and early nineties, there was a such a surplus that designers needed a way to unload a previous season’s product.

When did you start Savvy & Co.?

In 1997. I’ve been in the industry for twenty years and had this company for thirteen.

How have sample sales changed since then?

With the emergence of online private sample sales like those you find at Gilt.com, and the popularity of sample sales in general, there is more competition for product. In the past few years, especially in the recession, designers are making less product, but more consumers wanted to purchase from sample sales. So the demand continues to exceed the product.

Will other cities start to see an increase in sample sales?

L.A. yes. More designers are living and and working in L.A. and the fashion community there has become familiar with the concept of the sample sale. Other cities, possibly, but a successful sample sale requires working closely with the designer and having the market for it. New York will always be the sample sale leader.
Savvy & Co. continues to be the New York City leader in brick and mortar sample sales, carefully selecting the most premier designers. For more information on designers they are working with and upcoming sales, visit www.thesavvy.com.

Written and edited by Emma Dinzebach

Ford model and blossoming philanthropist Lane Carlson talks like he’s reading an article about himself out of a magazine. His sentences are planned and descriptions of his meticulous charity work reminiscent of the back of a fundraising pamphlet. But strip away the beautiful externalities and there lies a children’s cause worth supporting.

Your interest in charity work started at a young age?

When I was fourteen, my family took in a severely handicapped year old who was labeled autistic, severely handicapped, partially blind and deaf. Her own mother was not in a point in her life that she could care for a child who needed specific care for proper development. My mom saw her deterioration and didn’t want her to be ostracized. We took her in from the time she was 3 1/2.

How did your mom know these people?

She was my aunt’s daughter…my cousin. Within the first six months of living with us, she started to walk and crawl. We gave her care to become part of this world. It made me realize how important it is to provide basic survival needs.

And that translated into your charity work now?

In 2004, I teamed up with a fellow model who wanted to start a charity in California. We both had something in our past that made us want to start a charity. We brought it to New York in 2006, and have so far helped 14 organizations.

Especially then in the last couple years, don’t you think the funds you raised could have an impact on children here at home?

The last couple years have been really tough in terms of sustainable donors and keeping people on. It’s not easy to get money from people who don’t have any, and even when they do have it… We’ve always been global. We partner with NGO’s that focus on countries overseas where there is much more lack of opportunity and access to help these children. I’ve seen it first hand.

So how much time do you spend on this?

Everyday I work on it. It doesn’t matter where I am traveling or what I do, I have my Blackberry and constantly making sure everyone is on cue. It’s a bit of problem actually; but we don’t have money consistently coming in, so we have to work for it.

How much money on average do you raise per organization that you support?

It depends. We’ve done small, affiliated events and large galas that raise $400,000 for [Sunflower]. Fundraising doesn’t have to be boring cocktail hours. I like to step outside the box and think of ideas that are fun and different.

And is the SEAPaddle NYC one of these affiliated events?

SEAPaddle is an opportunity to raise money for various organizations that support autistic children. My fundraising efforts to paddle around Manhattan will support that. Then later in day we have a charity poker benefit. The proceeds for that benefit Sunflower Children Charity.

To support autistic children and to get to know Sunflower Children Charity, join Lane on his trip around Manhattan this Saturday. Support Lane in his fundraising efforts at https://seapaddlenyc.dojiggy.com/carlsonlane and to purchase event tickets https://seapaddlenyc.dojiggy.com/registration. It might be the most beautiful thing you do all summer.

Emma Dinzebach