sick bed

Today is the first day I have to call in sick. I hate having to do this, but little things like life happen, and there's no stopping them. You know something's off when I'm awake at 5 am and the first thing I think to do is write a blog post to get my mind off how sick I am. The movement of my fingers on the keyboard is about as much as I can take right now, even that is strenuous. So today I will spend my day going to the doctor hoping they can fix me. I am opposed to taking unnecessary medication but in this state, I am pro medication if it can speed up my wellness process (hopefully without doing any adverse effects in the process). Today is forecasted to be the hottest in Rhode Island that it has gotten so far: 90 degrees. Which is kind've nice but at the same time I will admire from afar, through the barrier that is my window, though I may venture to the backyard to breathe some fresh air into these weakened lungs. It's funny because yesterday one of the girls at my office did a "smudge." Sounds funny, right? That's the first time I've ever heard that word in context other than nail polish. Basically, a smudge is a burning process of sage (maybe other ingredients as well) that rids the space of negative energy. It looks like a huge ass joint (think the kind Snoop Dogg/Lion would be stupid enough to smoke) and the smell is strong and distinct. She walked all around the headquarters wafting the steroid joint sage and look where it got me, at home in my sick bed. Jokes, I really enjoyed being able to experience a moment like that in the office. I love being exposed to rituals rooted in a greater good, and I'm interested in what else will come my way. At least it got my mind right, let's hope body will follow suit! 

Breakfast with Jane Cosmetics

Last week Linda Gaunt Communications held a small private event for the re-launch of Jane Cosmetics that will come out this Summer. This event was held on the roof of a hotel in midtown. The decorations were bright and colorful just like the Jane summer products.

All of Jane's new products are under $10- great for college students on a budget! These products include lip glosses, eye shimmer, eye shadow, concealers and many more.

It was a great experience to see this through the planning process all the way to the day of the event. The team did a great job with presenting the brand in a new and positive light. While interning I have learned that it is important to make your brand memorable to others and LGC and Jane did a really great job of this. Jane Cosmetics is sure to be the new summer must-have.

My New Quiet Office Space

What a difference a week can make! In terms of work and the weather! Last week it was in the 50’s and 60’s, and now it’s in the 90’s!!! The Memorial Day weekend has officially kicked off summer! Everyone and everything around the city has changed, and just in a matter of days. After doing a lot of graphic design work and making signs for future pop up shops last week, I’ve had a lighter load this week editing designs and making plans for future events created by Pop Shop. The past three years at Drexel and I have never noticed how the city changes once the weather becomes warmer and schools are out. I primarily meet with the creators of Pop Shop in Center City on location, or in Starbucks on University of Penn’s campus. Now that most colleges in Philadelphia are out for the summer, there is a very eerie feeling doing work at Starbucks. I can concentrate my focus more on my work because there is practically no one studying at the coffee shops, and I can beat the heat at the same time! As most Drexel students begin to stake their place in library and study for finals, I’m enjoying doing my work on U Penn’s quiet campus. My new “office” space is quite nice!

Blog

As I have said before, I was (and am) a huge fan of Free People and check their website and blog multiple times a week. The format and content of their blog makes them a true lifestyle brand, which is one of the big reasons why I love them so much and was so interested and excited to get this opportunity. Every week one of the bloggers, Jana, does an “Office style” post showcasing a trend that is big in the office and pictures some of the employees. The other week I was one of the lucky few selected to be featured! It was awesome to see myself on the blog that I so often frequent. Even though it is something seemingly small, it was a nice reminder that I am proud to have gotten this position at a company I had much desire to work for.

In other news, last week was a short week with having Friday off for the holiday. Nonetheless, it was busy as usual. I completed my regular tasks and worked on a few projects. There was another big ideas meeting, showcasing upcoming product and merchandising ideas, which was interesting as always. All in all, everything was good in Building 25.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday!

(Photo Credit: Jana, Bldg 25 Blog)

Lost in the moment!

This city can be so obnoxious at times that it forgets to welcome the people who keeps it thriving.  The little people like us  from the small cities with big hearts.  Our original plan was to go to Brooklyn to this diner that was featured on "Diners Drive-ins and Dives".  but the city was being stubborn and decided that wasn't what it had in store for us.   Unfortunately "we out of towners" did not know what a sneak Bitch she "the city" could be.  Therefore we blew two hours trying to configure another way to get to Williamsburg, Brooklyn without using the L train, which is a major direct route to our initial destination.  Our persistence with finding another route only resulted to being even more lost.  Although we were lost, it was a good lost.... the lost that kept us still while everyone around us was moving at a rapid pace. We ended up walking the streets of Soho blowing down a sweet cigar that put out sour unhealthy chemicals into the air but who cares its New York.

Where did everyone go?

Well as you know today is Memorial Day. A day where most people do not have work, go the beach, travel, or do anything with their free time. Well in New York City, that means getting out of the city, something that I will notice a lot more come the summer months. This morning I was going for a run, my normal route along central park, and noticed a huge difference in the amount of people. As I ran past the underground Apple store and Bergdorfs, there were very few people compared to the typical mob scene of tourists and New Yorkers. Even the line to take your picture with the Abercrombie model was non-existent. You would think a day like today (usually being a long weekend for families and great opportunity to travel to the city) would be crowded with people, but it was kind of empty. As I ran into central park I found more people enjoying the day, but it still was not as packed as normal weekends. I have come to conclusion that I am baring witness to the typical flee the city when ever you can summer effect. I would say who would blame them, but I am just getting used to and being able to explore this city! Why leave it?!

Here comes market week!

The new Elie Tahari line is coming! The line was just presented to the staff last night and it is amazing! So you are probably thinking, "what does this mean for intern Hannah?". Well this means I need to first empty out the entire sample closet. Get rid of all the spring samples ( February, March, April, and May) for both collection and T Tahari and send them off to the warehouse. Sending racks and racks to the shipping room, to make space for the fall samples that were in the showroom. Then once I am done with that I will move the Fall samples that are currently in the showroom to the sample closet. Where then we can move the new line into the showroom. You would think that I would be dreading this process, but I am kind of excited for it. It comes with the whole excitement of handling any Elie Tahari garment. Bring on the samples!

Everything has Potential????????

Anytime someone bumps  into you in early morning rush hour in New York City, and  apologizes for it is a great sign.  A sign that the day has potential to be better and that New Yorkers might have some inkling of decorum. Usually I get really irritated when people bump into me on New York streets because it throws off your whole body placement and then you have to configure a new path to get around the daytime zombies.  Which are the people who emerge to the edge of the corners and scheme of ways to get around the masses because they are in such a rush.  It is the most comical thing to see and is actually a great start to the morning watching these dumbies go through the extreme to avoid the impossible in NYC (people).  It makes me giggle the whole walk to work until I reach the downstairs lobby where I begin to inhale and exhale as I press the elevator button to go to the 16th floor.  During this time I also say a prayer to get me through whats to come.  I take my last breath as my normal self as I step into the world of stares and side eyes!  But as the day went on and new faces arrived the morning tension always settles because people become more friendlier when they need your help.

What to do on a rainy day in new york...go to the movies!

The summer weather of the east coast is slowly but surely arriving, but spring showers are inevitable. So what do you do when it rains and you are stuck inside? Walk through it and go to the movies! So I walked to the theater in the rain and waited in line to get my ticket. You are probably thinking... oh she went to see The Great Gatsby, well you are wrong. I saw Scatted My Ashes at Bergdorf's! It was truly spectacular!

Throughout the movie different fashion designers and employees of Bergdorfs were interviewed, sharing personal stories and connections they have with the store. My favorites included hearing about Linda Fargo and watching how she finds new designers for the store. The best part about her interview was when she told the story of how she was mistaken for being Anna Wintour. She talked about how she is no where near like Anna Wintour, in that she is friendly, doesn't need a army of body guards, or needs to wear sunglasses inside. She sounds like a normal person! Other stories you hear are how Michael Kors was discovered, the importance as a designer of having your clothes at Bergdorfs (Isaac Mizrahi says that you aren't anything if your are not at Bergdorfs), and the evolution of a family who created a destination that people flock to!

The most important aspect of the movie for me was the evolution of how the holiday season windows get put together. The movie features the whole process from brainstorming ideas to the actual installation. Anyone who has ever seen a Bergdorf window knows that these windows are not just windows, they are ART. Seeing how much craft and detail that goes into the design and execution of these master pieces is amazing.

NOW GO SEE THE MOVIE!

Fun Tasks with Pop Shop

What a busy time for Pop Shop! The start up company has been acquiring online-only brands to sell products in boutique stores in Philadelphia. At the same time, Pop Shop is also getting boutique stores in Philadelphia to come on board and house a pop-up shop. Combining the perfect store and the perfect brand is difficult, because every company has it’s own market segment, and they want to make sure they are capturing it to maximize consumer awareness and profits.  One brand that we are very excited to be working with is Milk & Honey. They are a customizable shoe brand based in California which has received a lot of attention lately, being showcased on the 4^th hour of the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. I’ve created a mock-up display for a Milk & Honey pop up shop this summer. Their pop-up shop is going to be great to create the perfect summer wedge and sandal.

I have also been creating many display sign templates for Pop Shop to use universally at different pop-up shops in the future. Creating universal signage for multiple stores and having it be engaging is a difficult task. I’ve created more than 20 different options so far, and I am still editing them to create the best signage possible. I’m learning that I am a perfectionist more and more, because every option I make, I find that I’m not 100% happy with the final product. There is always room for improvement.

I’m looking forward to my new task with Pop Shop. I will be going to a boutique outside the city to look at the store set-up, and mapping out how I would display the pop-up shop. I will be taking dimensions, and mocking-up a display on photoshop. Many new endeavors for myself with Pop Shop!

Inspiration

Last Tuesday we had a company wide quarterly meeting. This is exactly what it sounds like—everyone in the company attends to review the previous quarter. We all gathered in the lobby of Building 25 where bleachers and benches were lined up for the occasion. First to speak was the president of the company, followed by several department heads. They shared with everyone how the last quarter was and how much growth we have had. After this, there was a fashion show with real FP girls (store stylists and a few real customers) wearing clothes they styled themselves and some of our best sellers. The whole meeting was a great experience. I loved hearing from some of the higher up people in the company talk about their views and ideas. It was a great way to make the company feel like a big family. The theme of the meeting was “What inspires you?” and the entire experience certainly was inspirational. At the end of the fashion show, balloons fell from the ceiling. We had all written what inspires us on a balloon the week before so it rained down with inspirational thoughts, literally. After the meeting the balloons were put on a wall to create an inspiration wall, which is pictured below.

So, what inspires me? The meeting got me thinking. What I wrote on my balloon was, “family, friends, and nice weather.” All of those do inspire me to be positive, and move forward in life. All three things remind me that happiness is important and therefore inspire me to achieve happiness through whatever I am doing. In addition to these things, this job has been very inspirational. On a fashion front, I love seeing everyone in the office get creative with styling. I’m constantly noting cool things that I’d love to try pairing together with pieces in my own closet. Looking past inspirational fashion, everyone in the office seems to love their job and what they are doing. Every single person I’ve met has been positive in attitude and supportive in working as a team. This is truly inspirational. 

NYC Recommendations

This past Saturday my friend and I decided to spend the afternoon shopping in Soho. I hadn't been there in a while so I decided that it was essential that I make my way down there. We took the NQR train to Prince St. which was a quick and easy trip.

We spent the afternoon exploring small boutiques and occasionally making our way into the crowded tourist infested chain stores. While Soho is a very nice area full of unique shops and one of a kind restaurants, it is best that locals avoid the main streets. I walked right out after seeing the checkout lines in a few of the stores.

After shopping we made our way back to my apartment to get ready for dinner. After a great deal of searching on my part I ended up choosing a restaurant that I had been to before, Penelope's. Penelope's is a cute little restaurant located in Midtown that reminds me a lot of Sabrina's at Drexel. Penelope's has a rustic vibe with amazing food. If you're looking for a tasty reasonably priced meal in NYC Penelope's is a great choice!

An afternoon at the Met

This past weekend I went to the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) to see the two fashion exhibits: Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity and Punk: Chaos to Couture. Both installations were practically next to each other so I decided to start off with Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity. This exhibit features numerous Impressionist paintings and the actual garment that was featured in the painting. When you really think about it, the concept is amazing! You are seeing a dress, first hand, that a women was wearing when posing for artists like Renoir, Manet, Morisot, etc. Then putting in perspective of the craft of these dresses, hats, corsets, and other accessories was truly a sight to see. I must say it was extremely distracting when groups of older women (sorry to offend, but that was who it was) were literally screaming and being extremely disrespectful to all those who were trying to enjoy the exhibit. Yes I know I was in a museum and not a library, but for some reason I just wanted everyone to be silent, no noise, just you and all the beautiful works of art and fashion you were surrounded by. Beside the loud women, the exhibit was truly spectacular. But I knew that the Punk: Chaos to Couture exhibit was going to be more up my alley.

And indeed it was!
You walked in and there was punk music blasting and two mannequins in Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood. I myself have never been a punk music lover, but I must say I did enjoy the music, the atmosphere, the culture, and history of the punk movement and its relations to fashion. The whole "I don't give a shit what you think" attitude was in full force. There were garments (GOWNS!) made completely out of trash bags, graffiti inspired clothes, bottle caps, safety pins, it was so awesome. The funny thing about the exhibit were listening to people's reactions. Most people came to see this exhibit and knew what they were getting into. Some of the older crowd ventured from the Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity exhibit to see what they Punk stuff was all about, and they were in for a real treat. I was standing and admiring a huge lace black Dolce & Gabbana gown and an older woman was standing next to me looking so confused and almost frightened. Out of no where she says, " wow it's actually quite beautiful!". Seemed liked she was glad she came over to see what the big deal was. Another reaction by two girls probably my age or maybe a little older opened my eyes to how narrow minded my generation is. One of the girls said, "This is like Lady Gaga". Yes this girl was comparing punk to Gaga, wow. Maybe she thought that when she saw the vintage Gianni Versace dress that Lady Gaga wore...as seen in this photo. But I highly doubt that's what she meant by her comment. Plus most of the clothes shown (if this girl had been reading anything) were pre Lady Gaga...way pre Gaga. But no matter any ones reactions, this exhibit was AMAZING and worth the trip to NYC to see it.

Intern Life

Last week I went to get just one tooth pulled and ended up having to remove all four.  Therefore I was out of work for a week which makes me wonder whether or not my employer believes that I am really dedicated to the job.  The working world for an intern is totally different compared to those who have a permanent position. You are always on edge in constantly concerned about how people view you and see you in "their environment".  Although you work the same long days as the permanent crew I refer to it as "their environment" because you are like the new kid trying to belong.   So that means that sometimes you have to do extra work that you may hate just to prove to them that you belong there but who is to say that they will agree.  As an intern I feel like you are faced with test each day that place you in uncompromising positions.  You want to protect yourself  from doing that extra task that is not in your job description which may be a headache however it may gave you a one up.  But where do you draw that fine line???
Especially when they always ask you to do task politely " Do you mind" as if you can object!!!!!

Things I’ve been thinking of….

Dogs

Last week was yet another great week in Building 25 (the Free People building at the Naval Yard). I completed some on going projects, learned to set up product placements, and continued to track Free People features. Friday was a beautiful day, with a wonderful lunch enjoyed outside. Another fun part of Friday was the presence of Marley sitting at my feet all day (pictured below). I would love to get a dog but unfortunately can’t make that investment right now. Hopefully some day soon!

Drives

I get to work each day by driving. Initially I was worried that this would be a drag and I’d get stuck in traffic everyday, but luckily, I somehow have managed to avoid any major backups (knock on wood). I find my drive to and from work to be peaceful. A nice 15-20 minutes where I can clear my mind. I listen to music, and open the windows, and enjoy having some down time to myself each day.

Clothes

So we all know one of the best benefits of working for a retailer is the discount. This creates a dangerous habit of spending a good portion of each paycheck on clothing. Trying to justify everything as if you’re saving money since it is discounted is something I’m sure we have all done. And of course, we want so many things since we are exposed to so many products everyday. I’m no exception to this, and when I receive my second paycheck this week I will be making a nice hefty purchase from FP. I deserve it, right?

Realizations

So today I had another realization that is blatantly obvious but hit me like a concrete wall. 

I have a full time job. I am a full time employee. And though my title may include 'intern,' people expect just as much from me and want me to deliver it. I have just as much responsibility as my coworkers, just in different tasks. I am pretty much solely responsible for all things social media when it comes to Colour of London and though it seems fun, it is quite a demanding task. It actually is quite a challenge to get people to like your page and comment on your posts, and I am constantly experimenting with posting dates and times, different language, and various content (pictures, video, text posts, etc.). I am trying my best to be engaging but at the same time formal because it is constantly being monitored. To ensure more of a success rate of engagement I am going to tone it down a little and be more conversational/down to earth in the hopes that it will work. I had initially tried to separate my own voice from that of Colour of London however I am learning more and more that people do not want to read an automated message and the most down to earth content (such as me posting a picture of one of the guys from the band redoing his floors) get a good amount of feedback comparatively. Though they are nevertheless a talented band, they are up and coming so the main struggle with engagement is that the people that are following them are more so supporters than fans. So, I am going to use my judgment more, I have gotten more length on my leash and I have gotten this far with the same head on my shoulders. 

On another note, my boss told me today that I better be coming back after I graduate and I thought to myself wow that was awesome to hear. He always is appreciative of everything I do but very rarely gives feedback so that comment was enough of a validation that I am doing a good job.

ALSO, if anyone has any social media tips or any advice of what I should do/start implementing, please let me know! It does not matter if you are experienced or not, the knowledge that I have comes from my own personal use, experimentation, and suggestions from the Social Media Managers here at Alex and Ani. If you guys want to get an idea of what I have done so far check out the Colour of London Facebook page (www.facebook.com/colouroflondon). I do a lyric of the day post everyday along with some other additional content, usually a picture collage the guys send me or a live performance video. I also personally respond to any comments or messages we receive if the guys have not already. You can check out their music if you click the image that says BandPage, we have 2 songs up and more coming ASAP. They are releasing an EP within the next couple of weeks along with the launch of their website (which looks INCREDIBLE by the way), so until that exciting stuff is ready to be released I am down for any suggestions! 

The moment you know you picked the right co-op!

Going through the beginning stages of the co-op process was crazy! I took co-op 101 (learning about the co-op process and tip/tricks to use when on co-op), I got my resume together, and finally began applying for positions. Along with that process, the interviews (back and forth from Philadelphia to NYC), and waiting to hear back, I finally got to choose. I found myself making Pros and Cons lists between working at Elie Tahari and another company, asking myself where would I get the most out of  my six months of unpaid experience? Would I just be getting coffee and making copies or would I be learning how this industry runs and works. Well as you know I made the decision to work for Elie Tahari.

More and more, I have been doing a variety of small projects for Vice President of Sales, Debbie Elmore. This includes pulling samples for Top 10 meetings (to show Elie Tahair and Bob Galvin [CEO of Elie Tahari] the top 10 garments by season, that are doing the best), pulling a variety of reports to see how the company is doing, etc. That moment when I knew I had made the right choice was when I was going over a report with Debbie. Debbie said to me that in order to get the most out of my experience here at Elie Tahari I needed to learn and understand (key word: understand). You can do so much, but not really understand what you are doing. What's the point of that? We then sat down together and she taught me how to read and understand the reports that I was pulling. Even though I was about to ask her what all of it meant and its purpose, I was so taken back that a VP would be so invested in my understanding of the company. Being only an intern, you would think I would just be expected to do this or that (hearing all those horror intern stories). But by investing your time (unpaid time) with a company, you better be taking advantage of everything and anything. So far I've learned not to be afraid to ask anything, especially asking how to learn and understand new things. Also do not be afraid or think higher up employees will ignore you. They might just turn out to be a mentor and help you learn and understand, just like Debbie Elmore. Who by the way wears the fiercest stilettos everyday!

Graduation and the Changing Retail Enviornment

This past week, I’ve finalizing new versions of website page designs for Pop Shop. After doing a lot of research of existing companies, and seeing their “About” and “How It Works” pages, I think I have narrowed it down to one streamlined design. It has been really fun being able to have a lot of freedom doing graphic design for Pop Shop, especially because it is enhancing my Photoshop skills.

I am a graduating senior, in exactly one month (eek!) and can’t believe how the time has flown by! Its really hard to think that when I first came to Drexel, that I would be graduating with two internships under my belt, a job at a luxury store, and have been able to learn skills like Adobe Creative Suite and apply them to many projects in and outside of class. All of my experiences have pushed me to be better in the design & merchandising field. When I first came on board to help Pop Shop, a start-up company started by two very smart entrepreneurs at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, my role was the visual merchandising intern. But this internship has been so much more than that. I’ve been able to help at a trunk show event, network with boutique owners, and learn about the exciting development of pop-up displays. Technology is a driving force behind the changing retail shopping experience. More and more retailers and stores are selling online to compete with e-commerce sites. I found a great graphic this week when researching pop-up shops that I would like to share. Pop Shop is using tablets to complete in-store purchases of online-only brands. I hope it interests readers of the blog.

Congratulations to Allison and Shannon of Pop Shop. They have worked very hard getting their MBA's, while building Pop Shop.

Already...?

Wait. It’s the end of my fourth week at Free People? That’s a full month! No way! Time is flying. And it’s week seven of my last spring term at Drexel? Oh boy. Maybe it was being on coop that made coming back to classes fly by. I know we always talk about how fast terms go by here, but usually there’s a little week 4 slump…followed by what seems like an eternity until we reach week nine, when things then move too fast with projects and finals. But not this term. Things have been steadily moving, for me at least. The past two years, spring term has always been the toughest to stay focused in. Seeing that most schools are taking finals when we take midterms, and then the weather gets nice and you get that beach fever. This year, however, I’m very happy to be in the city still, working, and dare I say it, in classes.

Despite my enjoyment for how things are going this term, I still am very excited about studying abroad this summer. I love to travel and I can’t wait to be in Europe for more than a month! I am excited to explore new countries, meet new people, and learn about other cultures. What a great way to learn new things—with experiences!  

Sample Sale Madness

This past week I attended my first sample sale in NYC. This sale started at noon so I decided to stop by during my lunch break. Little did I know I would not just be "stopping by". The line for this sale was insane. I decided to wait for a few minutes and then realized that the line was not going to move any time soon and no way was I going to sacrifice eating lunch to purchase a new handbag.

So here is some advice for those attending their first same sale- don't go on the first day unless you absolutely NEED whatever they are offering. And if you do end up going, make sure you set aside the whole day to wait in line.

I ended up going back a few days later at an awkward time. I walked right in, browsed for a few minutes and then checked out with no wait.

Since I am the most impatient person, I don't see myself attending any more same sales any time soon. Not many of them are worth the wait or the stress. But if any of you are looking to attend some sample sales check out this site- NY Sample Sales.

Financial Independence

Every so often comes a feeling that you have never felt before, something that comes along and surprises you. Something that excites you and something that gets added to the vast inventory of memorable feelings and states of mind. Day after day comes the same feelings that we know all too well; hungry, tired, happy, sad, aggravated, stressed, even indifference. However, though we feel these emotions each day, oftentimes we misinterpret what we are really feeling for something else; we think we are hungry when we are actually tired and we become angry and aggressive when we really are feeling fear. Lately, I have felt the privileged feeling of what it is to be financially independent, a feeling I can easily recognize because it is one that I have not known until now. I have had part time jobs before to collect pocket change however what I made in a month I make in a week and a half now, and it feels good. It feels good to be able to help my mom out by paying a month of my rent and taking over some of my own bills for her. I want to give back to her as much as I can and the more I get the chance the more independent I feel. It is strange to think all of the emotions that money provokes, money truly is power, but what is more powerful is the feeling that I can take care of myself. It is nice to be rewarded for my hard work however though you cannot put a price on the feeling of independence, I can not only attribute it to the check made out to my name but the opportunities that come along with it. 

Lèche-Vitrine!

Two summers ago, almost three, I went to Europe with my mom, making stops in Paris, Nice, Venice, and Florence. When in Paris we walked the Champs-Élysées and browsed through a bunch of the designer fashion houses. It was clearly apparent that my mom and I were not the target customer, nor were we purchasing anything, we were just admiring the beautiful clothing and accessories. Some employees were nicer than others. I will not mention names. Who knows, maybe one day you will be my employer. But the best experience was at Fendi. The lovely sales associate was so kind and repeatedly said to us, "Lèche-Vitrine! Lèche-Vitrine!", the French phrase for window shopping. My fluent-in-French mother then told me that the phrase literally means, "to lick the window". Yes, it is a little weird to be saying something like that, but some of their windows were that beautiful.

This now brings me to my New York City window shopping/ Drexel visual merchandising experiences. Thanks to Kristen Ainscoe, my visual merchandising professor, I will always analyze and critique a window display. This was a skill and learning tool frequented in her class. Since moving to New York, I have been trying to sight see as much as I can. I have found the best way is when I go for a run. As I run I can see multiple things, while getting some exercise! The best time is when I run down Fifth Avenue, past central park. 59th and 5th Ave....the Mecca of amazing window displays.... more like works of art.... BERGDORF GOODMAN!! Known for their amazing displays, they are sure to never disappoint and they make any person stop and take a look. So of course I stopped, stared, and began to analyze. The theme of the window seemed to be the 20s. The back wall featured old rotary phones! An issue I picked up was the breaking of the rule of thirds. In class were taught to keep this rule in mind because it creates balance, rhythm, and can usually be found in mannequins, lighting, props, you name it. The Bergdorf window only had two mannequins, leaving some awkward empty space on the left side. You are probably thinking, "Who is this girl to judge a Bergdorf window?! She has little experience compared to the visual merchandiser who designed and executed the display". Yes I agree that I cannot fairly critique this window because of my experience, but thanks to Kristen, you put my mind to work any time I see a window display, and I'm sure that is the case with your other past students. 

Moral to the story... To everyone who knows they cannot afford the beautiful (expensive) designer clothes.... Lèche-Vitrine!!

Sample Closet: My New Home?

As you know, my main job at Elie Tahari is managing samples from the showroom ( Fall collection) and the sample closet ( Spring and Trans collection and T Tahari). I send the garments to different accounts (mainly department stores), Public Relations, and to the other Elie Tahari building. But the closet is a whole other world! Tons of styles coming in and out, it can get a little crazy. Recently I organized the Spring and Trans collection side, spending 20 minutes at a time in the closet. One of the other interns said (jokingly) that I should put my desk in there.

Because I have spent so much time handling the samples, I've really been able to memorize the garments. The other day I had to pull looks from the showroom for a PR event. The other intern I was helping was amazed that I knew where each garment was and their names. You are probably thinking "of course she must know the names, there has to be tags with the garment name attached to the garment!". But most, if not all garments in the show room do not have the name of the garment on the tag. So by handling the samples, going over line sheets, and order confirmations I have really been able to learn (memorize) the Spring and Fall 2013 line.

Growing

As soon as my alarm went off this morning I was telling myself that I already did not feel like being bothered with today's task which includes: my morning commute to the city, the job and lastly my commute home.   I set my alarm clock for ten more minutes trying to buy me more time for no apparent reason when I know inside it was not going to make any difference. Especially when I looked up and noticed there was no sun shining through the blinds and realized there wasn't any and wouldn't be any because it was pouring down raining. It was then when I tried to think of every excuse not to go to work.  I even got up and went so far as to asking my aunt for excuses for me not to go in.  However she had ran out of all good excuses and it was then when I realized that work is not like school you can't just call out when it is raining or make excuses in the real world because you don't feel like doing something.  And that very thought is the motivation and the positive thinking I needed to get to work. The day here is slow even with all the work supplied.  I have sent out plenty of packages and have completed numerous task but not enough to keep the day moving fast enough.  Therefore I try to make myself look busy but even so there is always that one colleague who is constantly concerned with what your doing as if they don't slack when your not watching. 


Until next time...

Third Week

So, being a few weeks into this internship, things are beginning to become routine. I know my duties, I know my deadlines, I know where everything is, etc. At this point I’ve started to be given small projects to undertake. I like these new challenges and the opportunity to use my organizational skills and be exposed to different aspects of the department. This week, my big project was to make contact lists on excel. We use a website that stores contacts but I’m organizing lists so it’s easier to edit and update on a weekly basis. Working with thousands of contacts can be overwhelming so this system will hopefully help make organization of those much better.

Another new task I tackled this week was sending images to publications in response to requests, which is called “placements.” I communicate with the contact on details of the article and shoot and send them high res images to best fit their needs. Then I update our record so we can track of it once it runs. Such a big part of PR is exposure and so it’s always interesting to see how such a small placement will get such a great response. (Or vise versa if a big placement doesn’t perform as well as expected.)

Sunny days at the Naval yard are the best. The building I work in has high ceilings and walls lined with windows so when the sun shines in the whole room is filled with sunshine, creating a bright and happy working environment. Also, sunny days mean eating lunch outside. Eating by the water with the sun and the breeze makes for the perfect break in the day. I’m looking forward to more days like this to come. :) 

Photoshop landed me the job

Last Thursday, the Entertainment Department at Alex and Ani provided a live concert by our featured artist Colour of London at Rhode Island College's annual end of the year Block Party. Along with providing the staging, equipment, and talent, A&A also provided a photobooth with free unlimited access for the students and concert attendees to enjoy. What's cool about this photobooth was that it came equipped with an iPad so that the photos taken could be directly uploaded to Facebook, Twitter, or Email. This not only allows engagement for the participants but allows us to gather data from those who used the photobooth as well as social media advertising for the company. Basically, it combines the tradition of a photobooth and photo strip with new updated technology, photos to not only have in physical form but digitally as well. I did not have a chance to use the photo booth however I admired from afar and actually was responsible for designing the banner displayed on the outside. I cannot tell you how many times I am asked to compile something using Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustator, and as the only person in our department who knows how to use the programs, I am solely responsible for being able to execute the task. It is critically important for me to be able to use these programs for my job, and luckily, A&A was kind enough to provide me with a work Mac laptop complete with all of the Adobe software. The best thing about my position is that I offer my superiors a skill that they themselves do not have, I am valuable and appreciated in my knowledge of the software. I am so thankful that we used these programs so much at school because I can proudly say that my education is being put to a good use. It is one thing to design a small advertisement for class, but to see your design blown up the side of a photo booth larger than myself is incredible. 

Photo booth with my design

A poster that I made advertising the photo booth

Colour of London on Alex and Ani stage

Free at Last

When I initially arrived to New York City I was always curious as to why it was considered "the City that Never sleeps".  However from being here I have learned that saying does not just apply to the convenience of everything being accessible at all times.  But to the lifestyle of the people.  As a New "New Yorker" I find myself having a hard time assimilating to the long days and short nights that the workers of New York city are accustomed to.  When I work at RT for my two days out the week I literally feel like there is not enough time to do all of the necessary things that need to be handled in my personal life.  For example sleep is a big topic I am up from 7am to 12 am, non stop all day and even when I would like to fall asleep I can not.  I think that all New Yorkers encounter this sleep deprivation.  Thus they are cranky and are always  in a constant  rush.  It is now apparent to me why this is the "City That Never Sleeps",  the work days here are so long and stressful that you never can wind down.  Which is why this week My trip to Rhode Island was a great juxtapostion to the hectic environment of NYC. I stayed there for about three days with a good friend and as each day went by so did my physical presence, then poof I was gone back in New York City.  However although it was brief it will be everlasting in memory for it has brought me an abudance of peace to last me for the months to come.

The Power of Networking

People have always emphasized to me the importance of networking. Only recently have I realized that even your friends can be used to network for your career. Thanks to another D&M student at Drexel who is also someone in my sorority, I am now completing another internship at Elle magazine this summer. 

I will now divide my week up; half at Elle and half at LGC. This makes for a very busy schedule, one with long nights at times, but one that will ultimately pay off in the end. I am so glad that this opportunity is allowing me to get two different experiences. One at a fashion PR firm, working with clients and designers and the other in editorial, seeing the development of a magazine. 

Not many people get the opportunity that I have been given so I am planning on taking full advantage of it. Learning from each experience and discovering where my passion ultimately lies. But I urge everyone to network as much as you can and never underestimate the connections and opportunities that your friends can give you!

9-5

Having a full time job means being a slave to the clock, ruled by time. The pressure of a job is intense but the reward is that much sweeter because of it. 

I often find myself dwelling on the days where my schedule was ruled by myself. Having a full time job is different to say the least, bittersweet to put it best. I do miss school, I miss the constant learning, freedom to experiment and to express at all times, whether it be through clothes or through words. I haven't quite fully left the stage of my life where I can say I am ready to move on from school, a process that I have known my whole life. It's a little scary to think that in just a short year I will close the book on schooling, even daunting.  With everything, however, it is critically important not to let the present fly by being consumed with thoughts of the future or past. It is coming whether we like it or not, and what we do have control over is laid out in front of us, the present. And right now, I have to say I love the people I work with. I am not even close to being able to absorb all of the invaluable information that these people store in their minds and it's necessary for me to be around such intellectual capacity, talent, and professionalism. At the end of this experience I can proudly say that I'm on the road to being an adult- a feel no age can capture, a lesson that can only come unexpectedly and through own personal experience. 

I am trying my best to embrace and enjoy this experience at all times, as I know it is temporary. Life is an endless ebb and flow of the wave of being at the top one day an the bottom the next. I can't say it is fun to be an intern, the mere word reflects connotation of young, naive and inexperienced. Nobody asks for the opinion of an intern, but as a student that is all that is expected from you. 

What I have learned this past month in the working world is that timing is everything, and every second counts. Never underestimate the power of a minute and all that you can accomplish in a short amount of time. If you focus on a task, you will surprise yourself at what can be done in just a few short minutes. I usually take long to do everything because I like to be precise and accurate, however, at work I am fast and efficient and it is so amazing for me to see my performance in a different environment, one that I would not necessarily expect from myself. Never limit yourself to a category because you have not yet found your place. Try everything once. The most important lessons in life are learned in the discovery of the self. 

Differences

There are so many differences between this internship and my coop. To start, the companies are very different. My coop was at a small business and there were no more than a half dozen people I communicated with daily. It was more of an everyone do everything situation just so it gets done. Free People, being a much bigger company, is not the same feel. Everything flows well from one department to the other; if you need to know something, there is someone to ask who knows that information. There is even a difference in small things, like shipping a package. Free People has a mailroom in the building; print your slip, stick it on, and sit it in there--you’re set to go. At coop, walking to Fed ex or UPS was sometimes a several day occurrence, which was only after attempting to print the slip on three different printers.  

I’m really happy and lucky to be getting these completely different experiences. It’s nice that I know how two very different companies run, and to see how things work on different scales in the industry. The experience will be beneficial and prepare me for whatever company I might work at in the future. It’s nice to find out what I like and dislike before graduating, in order to help in the job search. 

Lots of New Developments at Pop Shop

This week I met Drexel’s Visual Merchandising Class to discuss the details of their term project. The class is helping Pop Shop to create a retail display for future pop-up shops. The display should incorporate different elements to house apparel, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. The display should be roughly 20 square feet. Many of the stores that Pop Shop is going to work with in the near future are located in Old City and Northern Liberties, so the designs of these fixtures should incorporate elements of vintage and rustic charm, but they should also be generic enough that they could be placed in any store with any product. I’m excited to see the student’s visions for the displays!

Right now, Pop Shop is in the works of getting brands on board as clients. Some of the brands are established online-only companies that I would be ecstatic to work with! I can already visualize how I would display some the products in a summer-themed display!

I am starting to work on the website development of Pop Shop with the creators. I am flexing my creative muscles, making visually appealing and eye-catching graphics for the “About” webpage and the “How it Works” page. I never thought I would be doing so much graphic design as my job. I really love being able to do work on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. It really doesn’t feel like work at all because I get to be so creative! Once I create a few options for the webpage layouts and have approval of the finished designs, I will share with the blog.

Week Two Highlights

After finishing my second week at Free People I’m feeling more comfortable with what I’m doing, as expected. Familiarity is always something that helps make things easier. I am now comfortable with the websites I’m using daily, my weekly tasks, and even remembering everybody’s names…mostly.

On Thursday, at the end of the day, there was a meeting called “Big Ideas.” The meeting is held for all of the marketing department to see what is coming up for the next month, in this case for June. In the conference room they hang up new product and tear sheets separated by week. Then it is presented and explained. This meeting was so fun for me! Being such a Free People fan, I loved this sneak peak at what was coming. (Already making mental notes on what I definitely will be buying.) It was so cool to hear the thinking behind decisions made on the buying end of the company.

Friday, again at the end of the day, there was another meeting I attended. It was similar to “Big Ideas” but was focused on the email aspect. They reviewed numbers and successes of this month’s emails, which I found extremely interesting because that was something I dealt with at my coop. Then they spoke on the plans for the upcoming month’s emails, with format, product, and dates in mind. I loved seeing departments work together and effectively communicate in meetings like this.

Another highlight of the week was on Thursday when someone in my department, Naomi, brought in her dog, Marley. URBN allows pets to come to work so every day I get to see a whole bunch of adorable pups. I loved having Marley around, looking up at me and placing her head on my lap while I ate lunch. So cute!