Smashing Darling Blog

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For Maresa (Reece) Cogger, fashion is exciting, indulgent, inspiring, theatrical, exotic and daring! She loves the frivolity of it all, especially how the art form fills her with the childish exuberance associated with “dress-up time”. Fashion can be wildly unpractical and she loves to bring these impractical ideas into everyday life! Her boutique and clothing line on Smashing Darling is named Tib Nelson Designs. The name was formed by combining both the names of her grandmothers who continue to inspire her. So read on and join her as she talks about her journey! If you are in the San Diego area, contact her to find out when and where her next trunk show will be.

Reece and Sara @ Magpie a San Diego Boutique for a winter trunk show.

SD: How did you get into fashion?
MC: Sometimes I feel like I just stumbled into this line of work! Growing up, I was always excited about fashion and would often cut up and tweak my clothes here and there so that I had something unique and a little edgy to wear. My mom and sister were always kicking themselves and wondering “Why didn’t I think of that!” I started taking design and construction of garments seriously during my last year as a visual arts student at The University of Washington. I took one surface design class from the fabulous Michael Cepress and I was hooked for life!

SD: When did you start your own line of clothing ?
MC: My first clothing line was a joint effort with a fellow designer and friend, Laura Crimp. We started Red Llama Designs (RLD) in 2005, just prior to opening our own sassy boutique in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle called The Sweatshop. We focused on reconstructing vintage pieces and creating items that were totally handmade and one of a kind. The doors of The Sweatshop closed in 2007 but no worries, we are still best mates! My own line, Tib Nelson Designs, was created in the summer of 2007 and has much of the same vibe as RLD. SD: When did you start your own line of clothing ?

SD: Where do you turn for inspiration for your designs?
MC: I get inspiration from everything around me. Having a background in sculpture makes me think about the pieces I create as individual works of art, only they are functional! How great to have a piece of art that you can show off around town! I am particularly inspired my old photographs of my grandmothers in the 1940’s. I would LOVE to walk around on a daily basis looking so chic and put together!

SD: How would you describe your customer?
MC: My customer started off as just ME! I would walk around in pieces I made and people always loved what I was wearing. Although my current customer has a great range of age and basic style, they usually fall in love with a piece because it is something a bit different and made by my own two hands. Most of the women that wear my clothes are looking for a little something to spice up their jeans and t-shirt lives….and I am excited to be there to help out! When it comes down to it, I wouldn’t create anything that I wouldn’t wear or don’t like. Makes sense to me and I am sticking with it!

SD: How do you market yourself and your label?
MC: When I owned The Sweatshop, in Seattle it was so easy to market my label because I lived and worked in the same neighborhood. I would see girls walking down Broadway in my designs and they spoke for themselves. Since I have relocated to San Diego it is more difficult because I haven’t established that fan/customer base yet. Most of the awareness for TND happens on the internet through Smashing Darling and MySpace. Thank the fashion gods for the world wide web!

SD: What are your wishes for your company in the future?
MC: I would love for TND to grow and become more accessible for women around the country. The only real issue I take with this wish is that it is important to me that every garment that is for sale is made by my own two hands and is one of a kind. When I figure out how to make a huge splash in the fashion world without loosing sight of my basic principles you will know.

SD: What does your average day entail?
MC: I don’t have an average day…but I am working on getting into more of a routine. I tend to design and construct at really random hours of the day and night. I Usually wake late in the morning and depending on how I feel that particular day I will either focus my energy on working on logistical and business type things, or design and construction. Regardless, my day involves lots of coffee and problem solving.

SD: Describe your personal style?
MC: I have always been a fairly eclectic dresser. I love layering and layering as well as pairing feminine pieces with something a bit harder like a leather jacket, something camo or mens wear. As a child my mom always allowed me to dress myself. In pre-school that meant wearing three or four skirts all at the same time because I could and I thought it would be fun! It’s been about two decades since then, but I still try and dress myself with that same sort of attitude.

SD: Who are your fashion icons (past or present)? Do you think they influenced your personal style?
MC: I love the trademark styles of Audrey Hepburn, Alexander McQueen, Judy Jetson, David Bowie and my Grandmothers! They certainly influence me and I think my personal style as well as TND is a subconscious blend of them all.

SD: Do you have any current fashion obsessions?
MC: I am constantly obsessed with shoes and I don’t see that changing anytime in the near future. I do have a side obsession with brooches though. My Aunt’s mother in law had an incredible collection of bracelets and brooches that I was able to pick through and I was drooling. Could you pass up a brass horse pin with glowing red stones for eyes? Not me!

SD: Is there anyone in the Smashing Darling Community you have a question or comment for?
MC: No questions really..I am just happy to be a part of such a great community!

Reese in her design, she calls it ‘Fancy Cake’

Getting your image in that coveted homepage spot is a great way to gain exposure for your store at SmashingDarling, but because it is such a prominent position on the site, only the best images make the cut for consideration. Many have asked, and here’s how to get your images up front on the homepage:

• Sharp focus - to highlight your product’s feel and quality
• Great lighting - to bring out details and create drama
• Resolution - the larger the file, the better. Preferably 700×700 pixels or larger
• Effective cropping - remove any borders around the photo
• No text - Delete any words (photo credits, store name, or item name) or numbers (like the date) from your image. Put the photo credits in item descriptions, not on the photos themselves.

It’s really very simple … if you have smokin’ hot, top-notch images, we will go out of our way to promote them on the homepage as often as possible. This site is all about you, the designer, and producing high-quality photos is the number one thing you can do to increase your online sales.

If you need inspiration here are a few (of the many) that really have great images:

Dina Varano

PINaR ERIS

Krelwear

We’re here to help in any way we can - so let us know what you need! Just leave a comment on the blog or email anytime to julie[at]smashingdarling[dot]com.

Check out Julie darling in her latest purchase from Smashing Darling.

A necklace from Rutigliano Designs.

All the little eyelashes coming off the chain are handmade.

perfect stack of fresh water pearls creates the pendant.

Beautiful photo by her hubby Chris.

Send photos of you, Letting Your Indie Out to:

trish(at)smashingdarling(dot)com

Let Your Indie Out is you, showing off your style wearing

something from one of our Smashing Designers!

The first person to comment on the blog and tell me who said or wrote this quote wins a Student Smash Up item from Smashing Darling!

So dig deep down inside of your brain so you can pull it from the depths. I know you know where or who this came from.

“Suddenly I noticed…that his gaze was catching fire, returning to life, becoming thuggish. And since no one had the strength or the courage to raise his morale, he did it himself.” -?

Now the only thing left to do is go peruse the store to feast your eyes on all the delicious choices and make your selection.

Good Luck!

We had a winner in last weeks quote it was from,

Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, by Tom Robbins.

The girls at Compai in Brooklyn just released their latest book
99 ways to CUT, SEW, & ROCK YOUR SCARF

DAI presents Style Lounge in San Francisco
Shop in style at the W Hotel on Saturday March 29th 2008
Local San Francisco designers will be featured.

treehouse is looking for a few new faces to join their branches.
send them some pics (small ones please!) or a weblink, tell them who you are and what you do. the only requirements are: it’s gotta be handmade, or designed by you (no mass production please)

Del Geronimo an Fashion Replant Magazine present
Savant Garde Fashion show in San Francisco
03.27.08 Door 7 PM $10.00 cover

National and Local Experts Discuss What “Eco-Fashion” Really Means
The Portland Fashion Week event at the Better Living Show will kick off at 5 p.m. at the Sustainable Life Stage with a panel discussion featuring two eco-style experts from New York City and Seattle: Leslie Hoffman and Rebecca Luke. Both will discuss their roles in influencing the global fashion community to adopt sustainable design and manufacturing processes.

Please contact me with your indie fashion event.
I would love to post it in our blog.
This helps the whole community stay informed.
Send event info to trish(at)smashingdarling(dot)com

GET SNAPPING … the more photos the better

This week’s photo tip is one of the simplest thing you can do to drive sales: take plenty of photos, and show different views and angles. When marketing on the internet, we don’t have the luxury of a buyer being able to see and feel our products in person so it’s absolutely key to show as much as possible.

A good formula is to include (at the very least):

• one full front photo
• one full back photo
• an angled shot
• a close-up detail shot (showing fabric texture, or any special details or tailoring that you want to draw attention to)
• a shot on a model
• a shot of the piece against a white background

Remember, unlike just about every other site out there, we place NO LIMITS and charge NO FEES for the images you upload to your stores. So take full advantage, and make sure that you’ve made enough photos to give a strong representation of your fashions.

FashionJunkie.com is the brainchild of Dara Fleischer, a seasoned shopping editor and television correspondent who honed her skills as Fashion and Beauty Editor at LOULOU (Canada’s premier shopping magazine) and Merchandising Editor at InStyle. Recognizing fashionistas’ insatiable appetite for of-the-moment fashion and beauty buzz, Dara spawned FashionJunkie as an online soapbox for sharing her views and news on all things stylish.

SD: How did you get your start in fashion publishing?
DF: With a lot of hard work and persistence! I’ve been a fashion and beauty junkie since the day I was born, so I just followed my heart and fell into the industry. Don’t get me wrong… there were many twists and turns along the way (yup, there were a few jobs that didn’t work out), but I always knew I would create my own shopping business. The bottom line is: if you have the courage to do what you love and stick with it, you will be successful.

I also studied communications and broadcast journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto. While I’ve always loved magazines, my initial goal was to become a fashion reporter. Everyone in school (at Ryerson) assumed I was a fashion design student because I wore such funky clothes (lol). Throughout high school and college, I interned at a number of media outlets, including a radio station, a talk show and a tabloid TV show… remember A Current Affair? After that, I held a few high-profile jobs in beauty/fashion PR and then fell into publishing.

SD: Before making Fashion Junkie full time, what are some of the jobs you have had in your industry?
DF: Way too many to name! I started out in television production at A Current Affair, although not many people know about that (lol). From there, I went into beauty/fashion PR (I worked for a few agencies) and dabbled in online media, where I syndicated my FashionJunkie.com shopping column for New York CitySearch and AOL. Then I managed promotions/marketing for one of Canada’s top national fashion mags (it’s actually called FASHION Magazine). After that, I was recruited to work for Club Monaco Headquarters in Toronto as their Web Editor and Marketing Manager. Then I jumped ship and handled Online Promotions/Email Marketing at Yahoo! Canada. After than, I landed a great gig at In Style Magazine in New York - I was the Fashion/Retail Merchandising Editor. Last but not least, I scored my dream job at LOULOU Magazine - Canada’s premier shopping publication. I also honed my skills at Glam.com, Sephora.com and Full Frontal Fashion (a 24-hour TV channel) and am currently iVillage.com’s Shopping Expert.

After a series of high-profile jobs in beauty/fashion PR and editorial, I inevitably followed my true calling by turning my passion for fashion into a full-time business informing would-be fashionistas about the latest trends, hottest shops and chaperoning clients on tailor-made NYC shopping safaris.

SD: When did you realize you were a shopaholic?

DF: Shortly after I was born. Shopping runs in my family

SD: What is the most fun you have had doing a Shopping Safari?
DF: I have a blast during all of my group and private shopping safaris. Although every experience is different, it always feels like I’m shopping with a bunch of close girlfriends. For example, I recently took an exchange student from Rome on a four-hour “bargain” shopping safari and the afternoon flew by. She bought an amazing pair of suede booties at Shop in the Lower East Side, a funky leopard headband at a nearby hat store on Rivington Street and a metal-studded bracelet at Clarabella on Houston Street, all for under $200! I arranged exclusive discounts for her at select stores and we chatted about everything from trendy boutiques to boyfriends. If a client is happy at the end of the tour, then I’m happy! My next tour is for a couple who are visiting NYC for the first time from Switzerland. They want me to take them to all the hot spots – the best boutiques, restaurants and lounges. I can’t wait!

SD: What is the one item in your wardrobe you can’t live without?
DF: Without a doubt, my wedding dress. It was custom-made at Les Noces de Couture – an upscale boutique in Montreal.

SD: How would you describe your personal style? And who or what influences that style?
DF: I’m a fashion chameleon. My style constantly evolves depending on my mood, environment and, of course, income. Sometimes I’m into reconstructed vintage tops (Pre-Loved makes the best ones) paired with dark rinse Raven denim and Loeffler Randall flats, and other occasions call for fancier frocks like the essential little black dress, sleek metallic clutch and covered platforms. And I’ll never have enough shoes, bags and closet space.

Just living in New York influences my personal style – I love people watching

SD: What is your fashion obsession of the moment?
DF: I’m obsessed with Spanish footwear designers’ Pedro Garcia and Chie Mihara – they make the funkiest shoes every season. And when it comes to contemporary clothes, I’ll never have enough Phillip Lim – he’s a genius!

SD: Who Inspires you?
DF: People who are true to themselves inspire me. Anyone who follows his or her dreams, no matter how big or small.

SD: In your opinion, what trends will we be seeing more of in ‘08?
DF: I’m very excited about Spring ‘08. We’ll be seeing everything from feminine and flirty floral prints, ankle-grazing dresses, ombré (i.e. tie-dye), transparent fabrics, patent leather shoes and bags (again) and tons of neon (even in make-up!)

SD: What does your average day entail?
DF: Writing, writing and more writing! When I’m not glued to my computer screen, I conduct designer interviews, preview clothing/accessory collections at showrooms, go to industry events and product launches, constantly explore the hottest boutiques and of course, lots of shopping!

SD: If you knew then (before you entered the industry) what you know now, what would you do differently?
DF: I wouldn’t change a thing. Every experience has made me who I am today. Life’s a journey and I’m in for the ride!

SD: Can you give the designers on Smashing Darling advice about how to get themselves featured?
DF: Drop me a line anytime! Send your fashion/beauty pitch to contact@fashionjunkie.com - I would love to hear from you!

I was recently asked what I was most passionate about. At first I thought, well fashion, of course. Then, I really stopped to think about it. After two weeks of letting this question ebb and flow in and out of my consciousness I really thought I had the answer. I am very passionate about the journey in life and about being independent. So I thought good, I’ve really thought about it and feel really good knowing I dug a little deeper to figure out my passions and what really makes me tick. At the same time I was also asked to describe myself with single words. What really paints the picture of Trish, in one one word answers. Creative, artistic, giggly, girly, messy, hopeful, helpful…you get the gist. I went to sleep thinking the 20 words I chose were good. I woke up in the middle of the night to the little voice in my head saying, “you forgot opinionated and argumentative.” I could barely sleep the rest of the night because I had to add these to my previous one word answers. For some reason those 2 words made me think about my passions again. Doing these exercises I realized what I am most passionate about. It is, how I think the world should or could work, that there is always more than one way of doing things. I really do believe that Smashing Darling is all of my passions rolled into one. So I am asking everyone to join me in my passion for just a minute. Think about the fashion industry and how it works, how it affects you. This industry is steeped in over 100 years of history and evolving marketing to let you know what is hot this season. Now think about it from my point of view. I voluntarily left the NYC fashion industry because I thought there was a different way of doing things and I was right. The independent fashion design industry is amazing and has some amazing designers in it. I am proud to be one of them. Think about it for just one second. What if it wasn’t one big collection in a season, but a collection that keeps evolving. New pieces being designed and made in small quantities. Imagine buying an accessory or a piece of clothing that only a select few are privy to because you were in the right place at the right time. Now think about how great it would feel to actually be able to have a conversation with the creator of your new favorite item. Imagine being able to hear, right from the designers mouth where the inspiration came from…or that it was actually hard for the designer to part with this delicious piece. He/she explains to you it had to move onto it’s next rightful owner to make room for future inspirations. This is just a glimpse into my world. There is much more to be explored. I will ask you again to join me in my passion of knowing there is always more than one way of doing things. Do yourself a favor and answer these: What are you passionate about? Describe yourself in one word answers. I would love to hear. Leave me a comment.