LANVIN

SHE-BLOGS PHOTO SHOOT

Ok so I loved this look from our she-blogs shoot because it was fun, bright, and transitional. While it is still cold outside as soon as the weather breaks this look could be perfect for a brunch with the girls or a first date. I think I mentioned in another post my obsession with this Anavaa Kisasa red bag. Why? Why does it have to be so gorgeous? Why don’t I own it yet? LOL I am saving for it. It will be in my closet soon…very soon. Our wonderful stylist Chris Law worked his magic as he paired these yellow and black leopard capris with this amazing double breasted cape. The look has a touch of Jackie O with the cape and gloves…love it!
Ally

Glove Love: THE ELEMENT OF ICONIC STYLE

By Monique Johnson

Style icons from Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, to Karl Lagerfeld and Michael Jackson, and Grace Jones to Michelle Obama, all have one thing in common: their love affair for the glove. Gloves are the most underrated accessory of them all. The ultra-feminine sophisticated, chic, accompaniment can take your everyday look to another level just by placing them on. She-blogs sat down with Italian Primoluxe glove designer and entrepreneur, Georgette McGriff and spoke with her regarding her infectious glove passion, definition of style, and entrepreneurial business spirit.

She-blogs: When did you fall in love with fashion?
Georgette: Well, I’ve been following fashion since the third grade. I was influenced by my mom and grandmother’s style. I grew up in New York City, went to school for the arts, and was exposed to fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle at an early age. Fashion was second nature to me. I started following designers around the sixth or seventh grade. I loved Parisian designers featured in Vogue and Elle. I always liked the quirkiness of Chanel, the trendiness of Gualtier, and the abstract design of Claude Montana and Thierry Mulger as shown in the George Michael, “Too Funky” video.

She-blogs: What is your definition of style?
Georgette: Everyone should have their own style. It’s cool to follow a trend but you should make it your own. It should also be age appropriate. Style is who you are. It comes from within.

She-blogs: How long have you been designing and what was your inspiration for starting your line of Primoluxe gloves?
Georgette: I don’t really consider myself a designer, but I know what I want. When I go to the store and can’t find what I am looking for, that creates a void that needs to be filled. Gloves are so elegant. I thought what a great accessory to bring back from Italy for friends. They are small, fashion forward and lady-like. I decided to do my own line where I could be creative and make them more youthful for the fashion forward crowd. I do the driving glove in ten different colors every season. My inspiration comes from just about anywhere but it’s always very clean and classic. Last season, my driving gloves’ neon color combinations were inspired by a recent trip to the zoo.

She-blogs: Did you go to school for fashion?
Georgette: Yes, I attended FIT for one year, but I wanted a “real degree” so I transferred to Fordham University. While attending Fordham, I also worked at Barney’s NY. I was there when the store first opened their doors on Madison. When the Pressman family still owned it, it was the chicest of department stores, which carried very fashion forward collections and unknown designers. I learned to love accessories: the hats, gloves, and bags galore. They had designer seminars where you were able to pick the minds of the designer to understand their line more. Stores don’t do that anymore and it’s a shame.

She-blogs: What does your average day entail?
Georgette: Multitasking is key. I wake up at 5:15am and get on the phone with the factories since they are 6 hours ahead. I spend about 2 hours with them in the morning and 2 hours when I get home from work. I use vacation time from my full time job to travel to Italy to visit the factory, pick out color swatches, look at the inventory and work with the craftsmen.

She-blogs: What advice can you give to aspiring designers?
Georgette: I would advise future designers to go after their dreams. Do your research, be smart, be proactive, and think things through. Have the boldness and courage to do things yourself. Don’t be afraid of risk, go ahead take the chance. Designing your own line and having a business requires a lot of sacrifice, but it’s well worth it. Don’t forget to be knowledgeable about wholesale cost and custom shipping.

She-blogs: Would you recommend going the investor route or using your own money for starter fees?
Georgette: I would recommend using your own money (your own, friends, and family) instead of an investor. Why? You don’t need millions of dollars to start your business. It just needs to be cost effective. Successful ways of achieving this goal are: getting a second phone line at home just for business calls, working from home, maximizing technology and communication via the email and the internet, etc. I am a one women show: I am my own accountant, my own marketing representative, publicist, and researcher. My house is my showroom; I call the buyers, conduct sales calls and go on sales meetings.

She-blogs: Wow! Your gloves sell at Barney’s New York and Harvey Nichols in Dubai? That’s big! How did you feel when you inked the deal?
Georgette: I chose Bendel’s because they’re the accessory hub here in New York. The day I had my meeting with store management, was the same day I was featured in WWD. I was super psyched when they said “We’ll take this and this.” I was so happy! Unfortunately, everyone I called to relay the news was busy and I received their voicemail. That was one of the greatest days of my life because I worked so hard. Harvey Nichols was a store opportunity I got on a whim. The buyers really believed in me and my line and decided to give me a chance.

She-blogs: Why do you love what you do?
Georgette: I am a creative person that loves fashion. Designing is just another outlet that my creativity can flow through. It provides me with a great source of energy!

She-blogs: What inspires your designs?
Georgette: I am inspired by designers. My favorite designers are Giambista Valli, Nicholas Ghesquiere, and the designer of Burberry Prorsum line. I love the opulent of Valli and Ghesquiere. Burberry’s Prorsum collection is always very dramatic and chic, but very luxurious at the same time in detail.

BET RIP THE RUNWAY

So a great friend of mine calls me up last minute and says his friend from VH1 has an extra ticket to the BET Rip the Runway fashion show. So of course I had to hop on the train, go home, throw on something really cute, and head over to the show. I arrive at will call only to find out there is confusion with my ticket. The ticket was missing and they just gave me another one. Anyways I ended up having two so my friend who hooked me up was able to go to the show too…everything happens for a reason. The show was nice but seeing friends and networking was even better. I introduced myself to Michaela Angela-Davis from Black Girls Rock because I would love to feature her on the blog and I saw one of the designers from when I was in Atlanta. It really is such a small world. I had fun!

JOY BRYANT

BOBBY V

BUSTA

Have a great weekend!
Ally

Tags: Christan Siriano, Driving Gloves, Kelly Rowland, Lanvin, Project Runway

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at 6:53 am and is filed under SHE is Fashion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.