Fashion in New York, NY
Continued from last blog…So why was I in New York? As a fashion designer the question should really be why am I leaving New York? New York is the fashion hub of the world. If you want to be a successful fashion designer I highly suggest New York as the place to live, eat and breathe. I’m from but a handful of designers that have actually succeeded at being a designer on a national level without actually living in New York. I can say from experience it would have been a lot easier living in NY and most likely a lot easier, less work and less travel. This trip, I flew to NY because a customer called on Tuesday wanting to see me on Thursday. All customer’s are important however, I only hop on a plane to New York within 24 hours of a customer calling when it’s a customer that can have a serious impact on my fashion business. They wanted to view my line and I was more than happy to show it to them. I could have sent one of my sales rep’s however, with a customer of this magnitude, I felt it was best if I went there myself. I was also able to schedule two other meeting which really made it time worthy.
Some say, “Wow - going to NY must be soooo Glamorous” - not really. I was in the hotel 95% of the time. My meeting with my clients was even held in my hotel. I arrived on Thursday afternoon and flew out Friday night. I did get to see a designer friend of mine who lives in NY on Thursday night for dinner. She designs knits and woven tops for a NY company. She’s doing very well considering she’s only one year out of fashion design school. Six months into her job the head designer left so she took over. Great timing - just enough time to get trained in and then bam - you’re head designer! One thing is for sure, she loves NY. Her only complaint was paying $2000. for a one bedroom apartment that is so tiny her kitchen is the living room. She likes the fact of living on the 2nd floor because most of the apartments she looked located above the 5th floors. Most apartment buildings don’t have elevators and it’s not fun climbing 5 flights of stairs when you have 3 loads of laundry and a gallon of water to bring up with you.
She likes her designing and production job but it wouldn’t be for me. There are many different kinds of designers; furniture designers, backpack designers, clothing designers, etc. Those categories can be further broken down. For example, in the clothing design category, I design strictly evening gowns, prom dresses, and social occasion gowns. My friend designs strictly casual tops made out of knits and wovens. Others may design just men’s suits. I love what I do, as she loves what she designs. It would be really hard to design something that you have no interest in designing.
FASHION INSPIRATION OF THE DAY: The dark blue leather fabric on the chairs of the airplane would make a great corset waistline. It’s dark and sleek enough and the right texture to make a larger waist appear smaller. I’ll have to think about using this fabric look in my next collection.
The dark blue leather fabric on the chairs of the airplane would make a great corset waistline. It’s dark and sleek enough and the right texture to make a larger waist appear smaller. I’ll have to think about using this fabric look in my next collection.FASHION CRITIC: What is it about jean skirts worn with leggings on the streets of NY? This seems ‘so last year’. I saw a lot of people wearing this style as I was eating lunch at the hotel restaurant looking out the window people watching. I do know this, it doesn’t do much for their figures. What am I wearing? Black of course, so I don’t stick out like a sore thumb in NY. I have on a crisp white top with collar and cuffs. Very classic and very safe.