by Mo on May 8, 2009
Vintage, sweet vintage, wherefore art thou vintage….are you in love with all things vintage? Well, my darlings, then you must go check out Market Publique! This online, vintage-only marketplace for people to buy, sell and discuss vintage fashion will surely make you drool…as well as bid away on your favorites! We met co-founder Pamela Castillo back during NYC Fashion week, go see her (and her crew) rock their vintage wears here, and check out what she found to love in the Darling world below.
Tib Nelson Designs Lucky Penny Romper: I am all about rompers and jumpsuits this season. They have the ease of a complete outfit just like dresses, but you can sit on the grass and picnic without worrying about wardrobe malfunctions. This romper is especially cute because of its flattering cut and sailor-style buttons.
Hello, Fabulous Vintage Fish Pendant Necklace: I always wear at least one thing that’s vintage. I’d accessorize that fabulous romper with this vintage 60’s fish pendant necklace and keep the look ocean-themed.
Nothing Simple Earthy Citrine Cuff: One accessory is never enough. And I like my jewelry to make a statement. This cuff does just that. The bigger, the better.
Bronwen Handcrafted Red Leather Mac Case:
With our new site and the blog, I am always online; which means carrying around my computer everywhere. I am loving this red leather case which is not only much more fashionable than your average neoprene sleeve, but also keeps your mac padded with luxurious faux fur.
Adolfo Sanchez Alexander Tote:
Totes are my handbag shape of choice: they fit your entire Brooklyn apartment, are easy to carry, and this black croc one goes with everything.
Brooklyn Royalty Metallic Leather Fleur Barrette:
As you may have guessed by our name, at Market Publique we love all things fake French. One of those things is this fleur de lys barrette. And since it’s from MP’s hometown, Brooklyn, I love it even more. The red color makes it pop with brunette or blonde hair, so it’s perfect for anyone.
by Mo on May 5, 2009
Don’t you want to know more about Nolcha and what this Fashion – Business – Network is all about? We have been posting Nolcha opportunities here in the Smashing Blog to entice you to jump in and see how Nolcha can help you and your business. Some of you have done just that…congrats go out to Kimberly Hendrix, we’ll be seeing her designs hit the Nolcha runway this Fall during New York Fashion Week and we can’t wait! In the meantime, get to know Nolcha better below.
Darlings: Give us the skinny on “Nolcha,” and the meaning behind it.
Kerry: Nolcha provides business resources to the emerging fashion market in a professional and sophisticated manner. Although our resources and opportunities are cost effective for the emerging and independent fashion designer, this does not reflect in our events, materials or programs. We are aiming to be the one-stop destination for new fashion designers and retailers to grow their brand whether through promotion, marketing, sales and business connections. Networking is key to Nolcha. It has got us where we are today and we encourage all members and associates to do the same. Nolcha means sun in the sky in Native American. This is not why we chose the name, but you could say we are the enlightenment of the emerging fashion market (grin). On a serious note we chose a unique name that allowed us to create our own brand association and mantra.
Darlings: Where did the inspiration come from to start Nolcha, and how did the project come together?
Kerry: My background is in business communications, marketing and events. I moved to NYC from UK after college and quickly learned that there is a huge gap in the fashion industry for those starting out – they need business advice and support. I provided consultancy to brands but knew there was a larger demand and decided to grow an online network. I met Arthur Mandel, current President and Co-Founder of Nolcha, and we have grown Nolcha to what it is today.
Darlings: When was the first fashion show produced?
Kerry: It feels like many years go, but the soft launch of Nolcha was September 2007 at the Maritime Hotel in New York City. We did fashion shows for new designers in New York, London, LA, and Miami. Looking back it was a rather courageous thing to do with only enough money for our plane tickets, staff and solid relationships in these fashion cities!
Darlings: What is the most important thing you learned from doing that first show?
Kerry: Plan ahead, protect yourself with contracts and always be ready for the unprepared.
Darlings: What’s the criteria for a designer to be considered for a Nolcha fashion show?
Kerry: We are looking for designers that are bringing something new to the marketplace. A fresh eye with a strong business plan and a willingness to succeed. If they have the basics implemented we can do the rest but the designer needs to be ready to produce and sell once Nolcha Fashion Week is completed. An oooh factor from the crowd is always something we look for as well. Will the garment be show-stopping in a good way? Good cut, good drape, and great fabric choice is also very important. There are a lot of young designers that produce 20-30 looks with cheap fabric when they should be producing 15 with finer materials
Darlings: You recently opened your first retail space, will the designers change from time to time? If yes, who should designers contact to be considered?
Kerry: Yes, the designers can rotate every six months however the original eleven have first right of refusal. Designers should contact retail@nolcha.com.
Darlings: You are launching a new online resource, can you tell us a little bit about it and how you see it being used?
Kerry: The online retail portion is how we keep ahead of the trends before they even happen. We like to think of ourselves as trend makers, so if a piece by one of our designers makes it on a celebrity or in a magazine we can post it online for sale before anyone else can, giving our loyal clients the first pick. It is a new evolution in “get it while it’s hot” almost a “pre-press” instead of “hot off the press”. In the in between time we will have bi-weekly features of products that adhere to the current trends seen in the likes of the major fashion magazines chosen by some of NYC’s top stylists just to keep consumers ahead of the pack. All items will be available only for a limited time.
by trish on May 4, 2009
We were perusing our favorite blogs for posts we thought would be particularly important to our community. We found this post by Nancy for PR Couture. It was originally posted April 7, 2009. Not sure how we missed the original issue… but anyway, better late posting than never, right? We found the info not only priceless but timeless. Enjoy.
When it comes to reppin’ your fashion brand or label, strategically partnering with other brands, especially on events, can help turn a lackluster event into a star-studded affair. Not to mention that there is power in numbers, banding together can help encourage press interest and you can combine PR efforts and share contacts for greater reach. The occasional partnership, whether its with a local fashion magazine, a jewelry designer to accessorize your line, a fashion photographer working on her portfolio or up and coming club looking to make its name as the must-go venue, sponsorships and collaborations exposure your brand to new audiences, expand pitch opportunity and can generate additional revenue. – Read Full Post Here.
by Mo on May 1, 2009
Amy Schroeder is a New York writer, DIY culture expert, and consultant for indie entrepreneurs. She not only founded Venus Zine (in her university dorm room we might add) she also writes for Nylon, Time out, Chicago Magazine and others. We are delighted she found time to peruse Smashing Darling and share her shopping theories and fave treasures with us. Amy, many thanks to you!
Maybe the economy is getting to me, but I’ve become a smart shopper. Gone are the days when I approached fashion like an Ikea tourist. I no longer empty my wallet on all-too-trendy flimsy stuff that’s rad today, gone tomorrow. The new me has cleared out my closet to get rid of racks of clothing that I haven’t worn in years. Inspired by a clean slate (and the money I’ve made in selling my wares), I’ve created space for what I call Investment Items — high-quality basics that are versatile and classic enough to wear for years to come, yet stylish enough to bypass the boring card. The best part is accessorizing the Investment Items with affordable, colorful accessories.
