Life With Carol Han and Alexandra Weiss of CA Creative!” y 11 mas |
- Life With Carol Han and Alexandra Weiss of CA Creative!
- Net-a-Porter’s Menswear Site Will Launch in January
- Proenza Schouler’s Fish Print Bag And Wallet Are On Sale Via Their Online Shop, But Hurry!
- Our Visit to Alexis Bittar’s Jewelry Heaven
- Street Style: Emily Does Summer Blues
- Up-and-Coming Model Dorothea Barth Jorgensen Blogs About What Really Happens Backstage
- Five Things We Can Stand About Courtney Love
- Racked Dealfeed: L.A.M.B., DvF, Ralph Lauren, And More
- Zara Will Finally Offer E-Commerce, But Not To US Customers
- Thank You to Our Advertisers!
- Fashion News Roundup: Andy’s Autobio, and Male Models on the Web
- Exclusive Video: M.I.A. by Rankin for Dazed and Confused
| Life With Carol Han and Alexandra Weiss of CA Creative! Posted: 10 Jun 2010 07:30 AM PDT
That’s kind of how Carol Han and Alexandra Weiss came to form CA Creative, a two-month old consultancy that, in the simplest terms, advises brands on how to use the Internet. Carol, previously StyleCaster’s fashion director, and Alexandra, who worked in marketing at Ralph Lauren, realized that, as 20-something fashion people plugged into a specific scene, they could offer designers and retailers insight and advice on how to market to the current generation. First up? A project with Club Monaco, in which Garance shot New York scenesters for the retailer’s fall look book. Carol and Alexandra have a ton of other projects going on, so they invited me to their work station at The Smile last Friday to talk about what it’s like to launch a business.
Okay, the recorder seems to be working, so let’s get to it! Do you guys work from here a lot, from home or do you have an office? Carol: We meet everyday, so we don’t work from home a lot. And we either meet here or the Soho House. Mostly the Soho House. When I was freelancing, I was this close to getting a membership there. Simply because it’s just just so convenient, and they’re fine with you being there all day. Carol: All day–it’s great. You’ve been doing this for how long? Alexandra: We’ve been official for two months. Obviously, there was planning behind it, but that’s when we started. So, why don’t you give me a little summary of your backgrounds. Carol: My background is heavily editorial. I did a quick stint at Lucky in the closet and then moved over to Elle, where I was a fashion market assistant and then the fashion market editor at Elle.com, where I worked under Keith Pollock [current editorial director of Elle.com]. I stayed at Elle for two years, then I got approached by StyleCaster. While I was there I built their entire content strategy. I was there for two years–I have like, a two year track record. Anyways, in the last six or seven months I was at StyleCaster, I was being approached by brands who were trying to build an editorial voice online. And there was enough consultation work to do it full time. Carol: Exactly, so Alexandra and I decided to come together to form CA Creative, which does just that–builds online strategies for companies. What about you, Alexandra? Alexandra: Well, I wanted to work in fashion like every other girl, so I got an internship in the fashion closet at Elle. Carol and I actually started there on the same day. I was there for few months and started to get a little freelance work–I helped out in the closet of W, helped out Tina Chai, worked on a T shoot. I was sort of just bouncing all over the place. I had a friend at Ralph Lauren, and they suggested that I come and meet everyone. I ended up getting a job in the global marketing department, where I first worked for the VP of marketing, who was really forward-thinking about the Internet and had launched Polo.com. I was just really interested in how these different brands at different price points maintained their brand identity. While I was there they did so many great things–the big iPhone app push around the US Open, the interactive fashion fashion show on Rugby.com. I became really interested in that aspect of the industry. Carol and I had always wanted to work together, so this seemed like the perfect way. Obviously, you have a ton of contacts, which helps when you’re starting out. But what was kind of your initial strategy when you were pitching companies? Carol: We sort of kept it in the family initially. We’ve been lucky enough that we’re able to only approach brands that we really want to work with and we really believe in. What was your first project? Alexandra: Club Monaco–we did an event with them around their 2010 lookbook. They really wanted to differentiate the brand, put a different spin on Club Monaco. Carol: They approached us, actually. Someone over there reads my personal blog, where I post random pictures of my friends. The person from Club Monaco said, “These are the people that we need to come to our event.” That’s another thing Alex and I bring to the table. We have great contacts, and really active social lives. We get approached by a lot of companies and retailers to do partnerships that don’t go with our brand at all. Do you find that some retailers and labels don’t get what fits with their own brand? Alexandra: I think that the trick is that you can do interactive, as long you keep your brand identity consistent. Carol: I think a lot of brands struggle with finding their identity–who they should be. Sometimes you’re so entrenched in the brand that you can’t really see it objectively. Do you think every fashion brand should have a blog? I think it’s a super-important tool. Alexandra: Yeah, they have such great personalities. Carol: Retailers like Shopbop are doing such great editorial content. The difference between them and a lot of brands, though, is that Shopbop has the resources to hire an editorial team. Most designers don’t have that. Carol: Exactly! Alexandra: We meet everyday around 9.30 or 10am, talk about what we’re preparing for–if we need to do a proposal, we’ll review the brand’s history. Also, we’re currently running designer Kimberly Taylor’s blog [which launched this past Monday], so we’ll check in with her. And Canon Vodka is another retainer client, so we’ll check in with them as well. Carol: It’s a lot of connecting the dots–sorting out the design and everything like that–we work with everyone from a design team to developers on different projects. Is it weird just working with each other and no one else? Do you have time to work on separate projects? Carol: We do a lot on our own, because right now there’s only two of us. But Alex and I have been best friends for so long, our social lives are really intertwined, so we see each other a lot. Alexandra: One day, I picked my head up randomly said, “Do you hate me yet?” And Carol said, “No! Do you hate me?” And I said “No!” But we get along so well–we don’t get sick of each other. Alexandra and Carol: Thanks for coming!
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| Net-a-Porter’s Menswear Site Will Launch in January Posted: 10 Jun 2010 04:40 AM PDT
In honor of entering double digits, the famed internet retailer announced today that it would launch Mr. Porter, a site dedicated to men’s clothing, in January 2011. “We have a ready-made customer base for our men's business,” said Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet of the new venture. “100% of Net-a-Porter customers have a man in their lives in some capacity and 59% of them are married or living with their partners.” (We doubt all of Massenet’s customers would agree with that 100% figure, but we digress….) Launch partners include Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Lanvin, and John Lobb, which is owned by Hermes. While the site has been in the works for some time, there’s no doubting that the big injection of cash bestowed upon the company by new owners Richemont–as well as the success of already-established sites like GILT MAN–helped to speed it along.
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| Proenza Schouler’s Fish Print Bag And Wallet Are On Sale Via Their Online Shop, But Hurry! Posted: 09 Jun 2010 03:01 PM PDT
They’re a great way to get your hands on the PS style at a fraction of the price of a runway dress. Not to mention, they’ll add a pop of color to your everyday life! The tote, priced at $325, and the wallet, priced at $125, are bound to go quickly, so hurry up and buy yours already! Go to Proenza Schouler’s exclusive online shop ASAP to get the goods.  
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| Our Visit to Alexis Bittar’s Jewelry Heaven Posted: 09 Jun 2010 02:30 PM PDT
Last Friday I was lucky enough to visit the studio of newly crowned CFDA Accessories Designer of the Year Alexis Bittar. The giant, sunny space in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood is equipped with two production rooms, offices for sales, shipping and PR, and an office filled with more gorgeous jewelry than you could ever imagine. Why so much space, you may wonder? Because every piece of jewelry is made on site, by hand. That’s right: Everything is handmade. Every clasp, hook, pendant, bracelet, and earring is handmade by artisans employed by Alexis Bittar in Brooklyn; nothing is purchased except the raw materials. I watched artisans shape Lucite, Alexis’ signature material, into bracelets using some crazy machinery I didn’t think existed outside of How It’s Made. I even caught Alexis using the machines like a pro (he did invent the technology himself back in the ’90s). Each piece of jewelry is handled by a myriad of artisans, each adding a special detail like the ribbing on the lucite, Swarovski rhinestones, or shaping the metal. After being awed by the incredible production of each item, I was shown the stock room, which doubles as a PR office. All I could think was: “If this were my office, I’d get no work done at all!” Three of the walls were dripping with jewelry from the designers three lines: Miss Havisham, Lucite, and Elements, as well as custom pieces for “Grace, Marie-Amelie, and Carine.” There were some giant, geometric cuffs, silver bows, a metal helmet, and a pair of Michael Jackson inspired knee pads currently in the hands, or on the knees, of Lady Gaga. At the time of my visit, Alexis was planning for the CFDAs, which he attended with the glamorous Iris Apfel, who is a huge Alexis Bittar fan. By the end of the visit, my love for Alexis, his staff, their designs, and the gold pyramid earrings I was allowed to keep–and haven’t taken off since–was sky high. I’m planning on loading up my summer wardrobe with Alexis Bittar pieces, which miraculously retail from $70-$700. Watch the video to hear Alexis talk about the history of his brand and show off some of his favorite pieces.
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| Street Style: Emily Does Summer Blues Posted: 09 Jun 2010 02:00 PM PDT
Age: 24 Occupation: I work for a fashion show production company. What is your favorite movie? Rear Window What is your current favorite song? Well, lately I've been listening to Johnny Cash’s American IV: The Man Comes Around. If you were to get a tattoo right now, what would it be? I would never get a tattoo, I'm too fickle! What is your favorite flower? Poppy Who are your shoes by? Rachel Comey **All photos by Ashley Jahncke.    
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| Up-and-Coming Model Dorothea Barth Jorgensen Blogs About What Really Happens Backstage Posted: 09 Jun 2010 01:15 PM PDT
In her work, Ashley caught model Dorothea Barth Jorgensen shooting and filming backstage and on the street. So she asked why, and found out that Dorothea has her own blog, Displaced Bones. Dorothea’s blog tracks her travels as a model, from backstage, to parties, to hanging out with her model friends including Hanne Gaby and Valerija Kelava. We like her blog because it gives models, who are usually seen and not heard, a voice. It also gives us normal folk an insight into this crazy world.    
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| Five Things We Can Stand About Courtney Love Posted: 09 Jun 2010 12:15 PM PDT
So, in an attempt to stay sane as Courtney's face continues to plague us, we proudly present: Five Things We Can Stand About Courtney Love. (And they said it couldn't be done!) 1. She shops indie. 2. She introduced us to the feathered ankle cuff. 3. She did head-to-toe beige before the rest of us. 4. She sews. 5. She knows her look.
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| Racked Dealfeed: L.A.M.B., DvF, Ralph Lauren, And More Posted: 09 Jun 2010 11:45 AM PDT
Ralph Lauren C&C California
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| Zara Will Finally Offer E-Commerce, But Not To US Customers Posted: 09 Jun 2010 10:52 AM PDT
Zara’s–and H&M’s–lack of internet presence, particularly in the US, shocks us. (H&M has limited e-commerce, but it isn’t offered over here.) The excuse? Well, in the beginning, it had to do with sourcing and logistics. The clothes offered up by these retailers are presumably manufactured and sold within weeks, which they claimed meant there wasn’t enough time to sell them online. It’s not a completely bullshit response. Brian Sozzi, a retail analyst, says it really is hard for such a massive apparel company to sell product via the Web. “I think the core thing with the fast fashion guys has been their inability to localize product by specific region. The way I think about H&M, Zara, Forever 21 is that they make a broad bet on fashion, allowing them to receive good costs,” he says. What’s more, “these companies have been very focused on growing square footage, devoting capital to selling the store experience instead of the Web.” But today, everyone from Topshop to Mango to Stella McCartney offers e-commerce, which means Zara must compete. Hopefully, unlike Uniqlo and H&M, the Spanish store will accommodate its US customers sooner than later. The store’s parent company, Inditex, announced the news after a particularly successful financial run: Sales increased by 14% to 2.66 billion euros (about $3.2 billion) in the first quarter of 2010 from the first quarter of 2009.
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| Fashion News Roundup: Andy’s Autobio, and Male Models on the Web Posted: 09 Jun 2010 09:01 AM PDT
Boysblog: Here are five top male models and their blogs. No orange mocha Frappucinos here, this is the real deal. {Refinery 29} Sex and the City, Ew: Garance weighs in on SATC2. Like Garance says, “Not much sex, and even less city!” {Garance Doré} Daring Di: Princess Diana’s dress that earned her the nickname “Daring Di” sold at auction for £192,000 yesterday. A small price for a piece of history, right? {Vogue UK}
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| Exclusive Video: M.I.A. by Rankin for Dazed and Confused Posted: 09 Jun 2010 08:37 AM PDT
Legendary photog and Dazed and Confused founder Rankin shot M.I.A. for the July cover of the British mag. A full film by Rankin will air on Dazed Digital next week, but until then, check out this gem.
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Sometimes life positions you in the right place at the right time, and there’s nothing else to do but go with it.
First off, happy 10th birthday to 
Proenza Schouler’s fish print is among our favorites for SS10, so we jumped for joy when the shopping tote bag and wallet hit the label’s Web site today. 
Name: Emily
Our savvy photographer, 
With the recent release of Hole’s first album in 12 years, and new(ish) ramblings about being Kate Moss’s lover, it seems that 
Starting September 2, fast fashion retailer 
Famous Forever: The Autobiography and Sex Life of Andy Warhol is being re-released (it was first published in 1971). Written by Andy’s close friend John Wilcock, it chronicles Andy’s life, the Factory scene, and offers insight on the man underneath the wig. {
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