S+S Week 10

This week a new luxury apparel collection called Figue, which is a brand Snap+Style partners with, has agreed to lend us sample clothing in order for us to photograph the pieces and post them on our social media.  The goal is to promote both brands as we are both very new to the fashion industry.  This is very similar the the Ann Taylor shoots I spoke about a few weeks ago. This time, I have been one of many chosen to model the apparel and was so excited to be given the opportunity.  First, I needed to choose merchandise that I would want to wear during the shoot, so I chose a pair of printed pants that I fell in love with.  The next step was to take items from my own closet as well as items from our other brands and create a total outfit that our users would find appealing but that also stayed true to my own personal style.  With help from our stylists, this look was complete and we were ready for the photoshoot.  We walked over to Madison Square Park and shot a few photos there and the end result was really great.  We are now just waiting on the photo edits and in no time you will be able to see my face and the beautiful Figue merchandise on the Snap+Style social media pages!

S+S Week 9

This week we were planning for an event with Theory, which was similar to the event we had a few months ago with Rebecca Minkoff. Only this time we invited around 400 people instead of 30 like last time. We provided champagne and snacks while our guests shopped all of Theory’s merchandise for 30% off the original price.  We were hoping to have a large turnout, and were very pleased to see the store packed with friends and coworkers from affiliate businesses.  The goal for this event was to connect with theory and show them what kind of a customer we can offer them in hopes that they would agree to partner with us. Many purchases were made during our event and Theory was very excited about the clientele we brought in.  We have scheduled a meeting with them in the New Year and are excited to see what 2016 has in store with our brand collaborations.

Week 12 @ Freedom Rains (Final Post)

For my last post this term, I thought I'd do something a little different! Instead of lamenting about how I had to go to Mood a million times this week or how we had to figure out every zipper that would be used for each coat, I'd recap some of things I've learned thus far on co-op: 

1. A conscious designer is a good designer. Often times I think people overlook all the tiny details that go into making a piece of clothing - and I'm not just referring to things like color selection or shape. We have to consider so many things like zippers, fit, how durable a certain fabric is going to be, the list goes on and on... At the end of the day, we're not always making an art piece. The design element is the first step and any issues we cause will only trickle down. A real person needs a functional garment that can survive the real world and we should be able to give that to them. 
2. A perfect pattern makes the perfect piece. I don't know how many times I've heard this from our lead designer (I'm not referring to prints here, know the difference!). When you're working with different factories, there can be numerous opportunities for miscommunication. When you're not in control of making your own patterns, the work you'll get back will never be up to  fit standard. Save time by making and perfecting your pattern early on so you'll save your company money later. 
3. Fabrics come first. Oddly enough, we sourced most of our fabrics and determined our color story before we even began sketching and looking at different coat bodies. In my head it still seems weird; one would think that you would sketch first and then decide which fabrics to use. Everything works out in the end, however. Once all the sketches are complete and we know what we're putting into work, we can distribute color evenly across the line and make sure we're using a variety of different materials. Everything must be merchandised to create a consistent story for the line.
4. Vogue is not your bible, tech packs and line sheets are. I mean, I'll still be a lifetime subscriber and WGSN will always be one of my favorite websites to browse. This is the real world though, and it's easy to get lost in the fantasy land that the rest of the world thinks our industry is. A lot of times, our design team is spending hours inputting measurements into Excel spreadsheets or recording every single trim that will be used in one of our coats. It's definitely not as glamorous as it seems from the outside, but these are things that are vital to our process. 
5. Inspiration can come in unexpected places. One of things that I think will stick with me for the rest of my career in the fashion industry is my mentor telling me that "Any dress can become a coat if you just use your imagination." I just think that's absolutely genius and I think it'll influence the way I take inspiration from the rest of the world. 

I'm so excited to continue the rest of my journey on co-op! I'm really proud that I pushed myself to take a fashion design job instead of doing something like PR or marketing (I think I would have been really bad at packing gift bags anyway). Not only am I witnessing the growth of a company and brand, but I'm seeing the lifecycle of a product and the infinite amount of care that goes into planning a line. This whole experience has opened my eyes to things I would have never learned otherwise and I know I will only continue to learn over the next few months. I wish everyone the best of luck on the rest of their co-ops! 

Rhinestone designs

My boss is finally back from Los Angeles, California and it's actually quite exciting to work with her again. I was held responsible for a lot of things by myself which taught my a lot of responsibility and I eventually got the hang of things. There was mistakes made on the way but it only inspired me to work harder and learn harder. This week I was assigned to pull together a collage board of accessories for the Chanel runway show in Rome. This was actually really interesting to notice that the accessories are all thoughtfully put on the models to compliment the runway outfit. A lot of these jewelry pieces also showed the current resemblance to the jewelry that was trending in the fashion world. As a jewelry company, it was important to gather this type of research so we could keep posted with the latest styles that could possibly inspire future designs. I was also assigned to create several ring pieces with rhinestones, which was a fun exercise to practice my creative side. I used Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create some designs on my computer. It was not only stimulating my mind but it also felt like an accomplishment for me to be able to use these programs. I'm looking forward to the other design tasks that I will be assigned! Already three months down, and only looking forward to the continuation of my co-op experience!
 

S+S Week Eight

This week we were extremely happy to learn that Ann Taylor will be giving Snap+Style sample merchandise so we will be able to dress our stylists and shoot them for our social media advertisements. Ann Taylor is the first of many brands that have recently agreed to lend us their merchandise, and since they are trying to rebrand themselves, they were just as enthusiastic about this opportunity as we were.  We chose a few of our stylists to wear the Ann Taylor apparel but asked that they make the clothes look like their own personal style.  This was extremely fun as I was able to see the same article of clothing worn in many different ways, which reflect what Snap+Style does for our users.  Although the photoshoots were incredibly chaotic and physically draining, the end result was remarkable and I cannot wait for the photos to be posted.

S+S Week Seven

As the year-end quarter comes to an end, we felt is necessary to gather for a team meeting.  This entails all the in-house members of the New York office as well as the D.C. office where the company originally started. Due to the small size of our office, we needed to book a conference room big enough for the entire team and making sure it was a more corporate setting. As always, tasks like these are left up to the intern.  So I decided to book a conference room in the Pillsbury Law Firm found in the heart of Times Square.  This location was sure to wow the team and keep them comfortable and organized during their eight hour meeting.  I got to the office before anyone arrived so that I could make the necessary arrangements such as making sure the space was clean and orderly, checking to see the projector was working and ready, collecting the wifi information, and that the breakfast and beverages were hot and awaiting the team. As everyone filed in, I handed them a lunch menu and collected their orders so that their food would be waiting for them when their 11:30 call finished.  During their lunch break, I ran over to The Skylark where I made arrangements to have drinks and appetizers after the meeting.  I wanted to see the venue in person and make sure the team would be pleased with the menu and the scenery. Although I was running around the city most of the day, I learned so much about the company from what I did hear.  It was amazing to sit in a room with so many brilliant people who had so much experience in entrepreneurship. The biggest thing I learned however, was planning.  I normally play things by ear, but this situation required me to plan everything very strategically, and this will absolutely help me in the future.

S+S Week Six

As our social media has been growing, Snap+Style decided we needed a better way to track our growth more efficiently. This way happens to be manually, and this task was assigned to me to be completed on a weekly basis. We have five different forms of social accounts; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest. It is my job to write down the information and track our growth.  I compare the number of likes received, the number of comments received, the amount of traction gained from week to week to be sure the company is making progress.  In order for our social media accounts to be successful, we really need to understand the demographic of each site.  For instance, Facebook and Pinterest advertisements attract women 40 years and older where Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr attract a younger crowd.  Each advertisement is designed for the specific viewer which tends to be a little difficult for a start-up to distinguish.  But so far this has been a great learning experience for me!

S+S Week Five

This week we were preparing for a large meeting with a potential business partner in Germany.  This is a huge step for Snap+Style as we begin our international outreach.  It was left up to me to research the company and their existing partnerships and create an outline for my bosses to speak about during their meeting.  This was a big project for me as it was not only time consuming, but there was a lot expected from me.  I came up with three pages worth of bullet points about the German company and gave multiple ideas of how our companies could partner together.  I was very nervous that my bosses were conducting such an important meeting based solely on the notes and information I suggested. I later found out that the meeting went extremely well and they have decided to work together and move forward with a business proposition. It was such a good feeling to know that I contributed to the success of the meeting.

S+S Week Four

This week I have been focusing heavily on social media and helping to improve our sites so they are user friendly and appealing to the eye. We are looking to launch our website very soon and have been over analyzing each aspect so we are sure the finished product is perfect. This is very tedious as I need to pay attention to every detail to make sure everything's running smoothly and that is can easily be used by the clients. This also involves looking at other websites to decide which aspects we look to recreate and which aspects are too difficult to use. I have done a lot of research on the top most successful fashion blogs and Instagrams and look for ways to incorporate their strategies onto our own. I fix and update everything from web design to which links the buttons send you when activated. The website is predicted to launch in a few months and we are all very excited.

Christmas Time in NYC

It's starting to feel like Christmas more than ever in New York right now. Walking home from work is way more interesting than it was in the beginning with all of the lights on the trees and the stores playing Christmas music. Along with all the eye-catching scenery in the city, it's also the time of year the office seems to be the most hectic. People were running around like crazy just trying to get mailings done in time for editors. It's nice to be able to help, although sometimes I think I can put too much on my plate at one time. I don't think I've ever done as many mailings as I did this week. One for Dollar Shave Club, two for Kerastase, one for Laura Geller, one more for Blushington, and 2 others for Urban Decay. That day I don't think I sat down even once other than lunch. But the next day was relieving seeing as I got that done all in one day and had much simpler things to do the next few days.
All of my intern friends that I've made and gotten so close with are leaving this week and I'm so sad to see them go, but I'm beyond happy to have been able to meet them and have gotten as close as we did. Hopefully the new batch of interns are just as awesome as they were.
Other than work related things, my boyfriend came to visit me and I got to show him around the city and get dinner. It was really nice to have a relaxing time after a crazy week. At night we walked around and got to see all of the awesome Christmas themed windows on 5th Avenue, something I've been waiting to do. Next on my to-do list is to definitely see the Christmas tree!

Weeks 10 + 11 @ Freedom Rains

Week 10 was cut short due to the Thanksgiving holiday. I only worked two days that week, which was mostly us getting ready to host a sample sale in our office. Then, of course, it was nice to go home for the rest of the week. Hopefully everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

Coming back into the office this week was absolutely crazy! We hosted a sample sale in our showroom in order to get rid of some left over stock from this Fall. The sale got busier as the week went on and our entire office was pretty much consumed by boxes and women fighting over shearling coats. With all of the distraction, not much got done. However, on Thursday myself and the two designers holed up in our office, away from all the crazy, to finalize all of our fabric choices. When planning a line you often have to order all of your fabrics before you even know what the designs are going to be. Now that we have most of the sketches complete and we've started to see prototypes, we can work out where each fabric will be used. We also have to pay close attention to our color story, so that when placed together the line looks cohesive. Our meeting pretty much lasted all day because of all of the other nitty gritty detail we had to discuss, like lining fabrics and trims.

I feel like time is flying by! Co-op is almost halfway over, but I'm loving every minute of it. It's been such an honor to work under the Zac Posen design house, to which I have so much respect and admiration for. I'm also really excited to be in New York over the holiday season. All of buildings are being decorated so beautifully and I love seeing all of the store window displays! 

Week 11: Star Wars force4fashion

This week was extremely busy at the office. Most of the workers were at the Skylight Modern setting up for the Star Wars event. The other interns and I were taking care of all of the office work. It was very stressful to have such big responsibilities, but I really got to learn about a full day in the fashion PR world. I think it is important to experience this and learn a lot while on co op.

On Wednesday, I was able to attend the Star Wars launch event for Force 4 Fashion. It was hosted by Bloomingdale's, Disney, and Bollare. I was super excited to be invited to such an amazing event in New York City. There was a huge guest list and a lot of different people there including designers, actors and actresses, and fashion bloggers. The cast of the newest Star Wars movie even attended! Fashion designers such as DVF, Rag & Bone, and Parker New York created Star Wars themed clothes, which were showed at the event. I had an amazing time walking around the event with the other interns and networking with people.

Weeks 9, 10, & 11

These past few weeks have been all about planning for an event that's happening in the Boutique. This Thursday night is a champagne and cupcake kickoff event for our weekend long trunk show featuring New York based jewelry designer Stephen Dweck and a local handbag designer named Conrad Booker. There's just been a ton of promotional work to do for the Boutique itself as well as the trunk show/kickoff event. Hand in hand with postcard and flyer design is dispersion, sometimes including a welcome office break to run around the Bellevue and surrounding restaurants to drop off some postcards.

Additionally, my boss and I are working on redoing a curio display case in the lobby of the Hyatt at the Bellevue as well as a shadow box display by the Bellevue's Walnut Street entrance. Lots of wintery decorations have been ordered/put up in them and we're currently working on pulling products from the Salon & Spa as well as the Boutique to match the color scheme of them. Let's just say that during all of this I've become very framiliar with glue dots and glitter.

I can't believe that co-op is almost halfway done! My boss is phenomenal and just today was helping me aggregate projects to add to my portfolio --- we've done so much! I'm exited to see what winter term holds for the Salon & Spa, Boutique, and my role in both of them.

week 10!

I can't believe how fast the weeks have been going while I'm on co op! My week 10 was cut short because I had Wednesday off for Thanksgiving. The week mostly consisted of checking in samples and preparing for an event involving Star Wars. Bollare has been having many meetings about incorporating Star Wars into fashion. The event is called Force 4 Fashion. The president of Bollare came to the office along with girls from Los Angeles and London to plan the event. It was really cool to meet the president of Bollare. She is super nice and proud of her company! I am not a big Star Wars fan, but I am excited to see what the event and clothes will be like.

Working in New York was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I feel like I am getting the best experience in my industry. There is nothing like being in the city and working in fashion. I am proud to tell people where I work and what I'm doing. I've been using my free time to explore and travel through the city. I love trying new things and going to new places. This weekend I went to Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas Spectacular. It was an amazing show that I really enjoyed! I also went to the top of the Freedom Tower, which was a really cool experience that I'll never forget! I'm so excited for the next couple of months in New York and working at Bollare!

No Breaks Week 9/10

This past week was insane for me at work. I worked late and helped as much as I possibly could. The beginning of the week consisted of giant mailing to editors for Gwen Stefani's new palette for Urban Decay. I set it up as told to and then moved onto the next mailing. This one was special because it was our client Blushington's first product on the market, a lipstick. I had to set up the inside of the box and print out what felt like a trillion FedEx labels to send out. The last send out I helped with was probably the coolest in my opinion. I had to go on a website my company is a member of and locate famous celebrities publicists addresses to send an Aeropostale PJ set to. From people like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, to Ellen Degeneres and Taylor Swift. I was awesome (yet a little creepy seeing as I has to research addresses) helping with this send out from start to finish.
I also was asked to work an Old Navy spring collection event which was beautiful. I never knew how cute Old Navy's stuff was until attending this event. I got to sign in editors from Vogue.com and Elle and at the end of the day I even got a free tote, sweater and workout leggings from the event! I'm loving my job so far, it's a lot of hard work with little time to sit down and relax, but it's so exciting. PR is now a definite option for my future.

week 9 &10

I was given the daily tasks of getting packages and sorting them back to inventory or repair. Like the usual, I was ordered to open up packages and keep log of the items that were received for repair or return. This week I got a lot of stylist pull returns which was pretty cool to see what magazines used the jewelry for their spread. Other than keeping track of inventory through received packages, I was also in charge of keeping track of the new collection. I had to figure out the missing pieces and send new pieces to the people who put the designs together. It was interesting to see the process of putting the jewelry together. My boss also gave me an interesting task of creating several email subscription layouts. I collected images from the website and used my resources to pull together 4 layouts. I used Nordstrom, Macy's, etc as inspiration for the layouts. It was fun to use my own ideas to create designs on InDesign. It's exciting to know that my designs could possibly be a part of the email subscription or as an inspiration. As this company is becoming bigger, it's exciting to see the growth of this company even as small as sending email subscription advertisements to customers.

Week 10

The events in Maryland this past weekend were a lot of fun. Thursday I got to the store where the event was going to be held and had to help get everything set up and ready for that night. I helped bring things in and out of the truck my boss drives for wholesale and helped clean and set up the store. The event and trunk show started around 4:45 pm where VIP guests were invited to a cocktail party at the restaurant across from the store. During that time, I was in the store assisting people and changing the model every 20 minutes or so. Since this store was in my hometown, I ran into some familiar faces and even saw my friends mother working at the store. It's such a small world! Then, the cocktail party moved to the store where people were trying clothes on and buying items while the press and other bloggers were roaming around the store. Finally, Nicole Miller showed up and it was so cool to be able to see her in person. Unfortunately, I was really busy, and the store was super crowded, and didn't get a chance to meet her. The night finally ended around 9:30 pm and my boss and other women who I work with went to the restaurant across the store and ate a late dinner. 

The next day was a lot slower and not busy at all. It was another trunk show and I just ran some errands for my boss and then helped them load the truck back up with our Nicole Miller samples. The pictures below are a little sneak peak of the inside of the wholesale truck. Unfortunately, I was unable to take a picture of the store and the event and I'm really disappointed about that because it looked so pretty! 

Wholesale Truck (pt. 1)

Wholesale Truck (pt. 2)

Week 9 @ Freedom Rains

This week was pretty cool because we got in the first prototypes for a few of our designs. It's definitely exciting to see a drawing evolve into a physical coat. Of course, however, prototypes are not without their flaws, especially since they're the first iteration of the design. We had a few different fittings this week to figure out what we need to improve on and what needs to be taken out. Sometimes details will look good in a sketch but don't necessarily work in real life, or vice versa. There's all these little things that we have to think about when creating a product that will be sold out in the marketplace. For example, we found that on one of the down coats that came in the nylon fabric kept getting caught in the zipper. If we left it as is and it ended up staying in the line, there would probably be a lot of returns on that particular coat because of ripped fabric and zipper jams (which would be unacceptable anyway considering the coat's price). Then, the buyers would be unhappy because we sold them something that caused them to lose money. So, in order to avoid all of this, we're going to have another sample made in a heavier nylon that won't rip as easily and decrease the down filling around the zipper so it lays flat. I'm definitely learning to be a conscious designer by attending these fittings. We have a responsibility as designers to always be aware of what we're creating/selling and how it effects the consumer.

On a happier note, the owner of our company took our whole office out to lunch this week, which was really fun. Everyone, especially the design team, is starting to feel the stress of needing to have everything completed within the next couple of weeks. It was definitely nice to go out with everyone and not talk about work and I was definitely grateful to be included.

week 9

This week was a bit slower in the office. We are working with some new brands and getting a ton of shipments into the office. I have been helping the fashion team hang up all of the samples and steam them. I also am in charge of adding the samples to the inventory. Along with the samples, came tote bags that we sent as gifts to editors and bloggers. I was in charge of the gifting. My job was to write personal notecards, wrap each sample, tie bows, and take pictures. I have always loved arts and crafts and really enjoyed decorating the gifts.

I really feel like I am getting more comfortable around the office. I know exactly what to do and where everything is, which makes me feel like a hard worker. I am getting really close to my boss and to the other interns and workers. I really enjoy going to work everyday because it is such a great atmosphere. I'm excited to see what other events are in store for the next couple of months.

Events in Maryland

Since the holidays have been coming up, I've also been really busy in the office and store. I've been learning a lot and still have so much to learn. I helped out with inventory in the store, setting up new items in the system, handling making orders, and so much more. I'm excited to learn even more these next few months on co-op!

This Thursday and Friday I will be working events for one of our vendors, Panache, in Maryland. What's nice is that the events are only 10 minutes away from my house and less than a minute away from where my high school is! I'm glad I get to sleep in my own bed and also attend these events with my boss. Nicole Miller is even going to be there on Friday! I will be helping with the trunk show and then there is also going to be a cocktail party that I will be able to attend. I've been really excited for this event and can't wait to learn more about wholesale from this experience. 

Finding Balance

One of the best aspects of working in PR in my opinion is being able to go to a bunch of events and seeing the work we put in to promoting our clients to editors. On top of that, meeting tons of editors from magazines I know really well. Having a role to play during the event, even if it is just checking in editors and bloggers, still feels like a good experience to say I've done. This week, I was asked to work a SkinCeuticals event, promoting one of their products. Special guest, and Olympic 2008 gold medalist, Nastia Liukin, was there to put on a performance on the balance beam. The event took place in the meatpacking district, which was really cool to finally see. It's a place that I absolutely need to go back when I have free time.

I had to arrive at the studio around 8 am to help with final touches. The place looked modern and fresh, perfectly fitting for the brand. There were two time slots for the event, which meant that I was lucky enough to witness Nastia perform twice. Working here so far has been such an experience and some of the ABPR employees even said they will teach me to write press releases soon enough! I can't wait to learn as much as I can while I'm here and challenge myself to do bigger tasks in the office.

Week 8 @ Freedom Rains

This week started out really exciting! One of the fabrics I've been developing came in and I got to physically see it with my floral print for the first time, which was really, really cool. Although I'd love to post pictures of fabric and show what I've been working on, I'm unable to due to privacy reasons. We're using it for a few of our Fall '16 styles and I'm excited to see the garment samples when they come in during the upcoming months. We've been busy sending our sketches and tech packs out to our factories and developers, so we should be getting the first prototypes fairly soon. Also, this week our company decided to establish a ZAC Zac Posen diffusion line, which will offer cheaper versions of our higher end outerwear and will be sold in off-market stores like Burlington Coat Factory. This is a great way of promoting Zac's name and expanding our audience. There may be a lot of people who admire his couture ball gowns or watch him as a judge on Project Runway, but can't necessarily afford to purchase from either of his lines. This is a great way for them to do so!

Tech packs are vital to our design team; they're just part of being a designer. I have to deal with them pretty much every day, whether it's creating them or organizing which ones have been sent out to our factories and which ones need to be sent out. As I've mentioned in a previous post, tech packs are pretty much like instruction manuals and have to be highly detailed but easy to read. They contain a detailed sketch of the garment being created, a complete list of all materials that will be used, measurements, comments on the design details, photos ... the list could go on and on. Although our company is most known for doing the ZAC Zac Posen outwear line, we also occasionally take on private label projects for other brands. This week I was in charge of creating for tech packs from scratch for one of these projects. It was a little different than what I normally do, since it involved leather and suede skirts and tops rather than just coats - that was a nice change of pace! The company sent us samples of the pieces they want reproduced, so I needed to look at them and figure out how they can altered as per the company's wants/needs.

Also, I just wanted to take a minute to say hi to the freshman (I think you're freshman?) that have been keeping up with all of our blogs! Co-op is definitely an exciting and rewarding time and you should absolutely be looking forward to it. Start building your portfolio now in Design I and always remember to save the stuff you've created moving forward!! Your classes will unfortunately only get harder, but they will challenge you to not only think outside of the box but also problem solve - and in my opinion you can't really do one without the other. As you take Design I, II, and III try to think about how the work you're doing could be applied to a garment. I know, at least for me, that made all of those extremely tedious painting projects seem more meaningful.

week 8

This week was pretty much easy and comfortable. It didn't help that the weather was bipolar and it was raining but it was a pretty lenient week. I was expected to do the usual duties like receiving packages and sending them off to get repaired or sent back to the inventory. I kept the excel sheets updated of the inventory which were returned, exchanged or repaired. This week definitely consisted of a lot of research to create inspiration boards. My boss wanted me to look up 1920, 1930 and art deco themes. I was unfamiliar with these themes besides the one time I watched Great Gatsby. It was definitely fun and inspiring to look up these jewelry themes. It probably took a lot more effort to put them all in Indesign and organize them to different categories. But it was definitely worth it knowing that my boss will use these as inspiration for her new spring and summer collection for 2016.

week 8

This work week was a bit short because I had off on Wednesday for a holiday. I am really starting to get the hang of things around the office and am now really comfortable at my co op now I have been there for a couple of weeks. I am getting a lot closer to my co-workers and the other interns. I feel like I can have any conversation with them about anything and ask any questions I may ever have. I am included in all meetings and conversations around the office, which makes me feel like a big help because I am able to give my opinion on important things.

As we have been getting more samples into the office, I have been in charge of inventorying them into the system. This teaches me a lot of organization skills because I am dealing with hundreds of samples from different designers. It is a great feeling to know that my boss and the fashion team trust me with this. I also enjoy sometimes dropping samples off at other offices because I am able to see other companies and how they work. This week I dropped samples off at Blank NYC and Net-a-Porter, which are companies and brands that I have always admired.

I also am getting really used to navigating New York City. I have visited many restaurants and beautiful areas that I will remember for the rest of my life. I am making great memories in this wonderful city with my friends. The top image is a restaurant that I went to for lunch in SoHo, which had an amazing atmosphere. I took the image of the Flatiron Building while on a lunch break with my friend. I am looking forward to exploring more in New York City!

Weeks 7 & 8

These weeks have been really busy for me at the Bellevue as everyone has been in full merchandising mode for the new boutique. All the products are in and being set up in the space, along with some great display pieces and furniture. After re-doing the services menu and releasing the promotional postcard last week, this week for me is all about in-store signage. I'm using picture frames leftover from Bellevue Gets Engaged to create vendor "nameplates" to display on the shelves beside the products.

Oddly enough, one of the challenges I face about co-op is figuring out what to wear! I usually wear nice black pants, Chelsea boots, and a tucked in blouse, but as the weather gets colder I'm craving sweaters. The problem is, my office is a sauna! All in all, not the worst problem to have about work --- going to have to utilize lots of layers!

Unfortunately there was some severe computer trouble that was inhibiting my productivity the past two weeks, so some display signage took much longer than expected to be created. Despite that, it has just been approved to be released to the printers, I'm so happy it's finally done! I'm excited to begin being productive again, though my boss and I are anticipating things to slow down to a more normal pace once the boutique is open. I'm interested to see what the next project will be.

Week 7

This week has felt a lot easier with the workload than other weeks. Maybe it's because I've been getting the hang of things, but I'm glad that things are finally becoming more routine and regular. The beginning of co-op was difficult for me because I didn't really get trained before work started. So it's definitely a great feeling that I'm more comfortable doing things by myself and knowing that I'm doing it right. These past two days I've been on the computer a lot doing most of my work, but I'm looking forward to going to Maryland next week for work! I get to go see two of our accounts and help out with a trunk show and attend a cocktail party where Nicole Miller will be attending! 

This past weekend was a nice break from campus because I went home. I got to go to DC, where my parents' new condo is, and then got to spend the other two nights back home in Maryland. I got to see my dogs that I've missed, hangout with my parents, and see some of my friends back home. I even got to take some neat pictures while I was away! To the right is a picture of my parents' new condo along with some &pizza on the table. My brother works for a new pizza company, called &pizza, where he is the community manager. The pizza is amazing and you can create your own as well, just like how chipotle works! 

To the left is a picture I took of Loch Raven Reservoir in Maryland. This weekend I got to enjoy the beautiful weather before it got cold again. 

Relaxing Week 7

Mailings, mailings and more mailings this week in the office. The intern office was packed full of boxes and gifts that we were in charge of figuring out went to who and then making them all pretty for the people receiving them. I actually got to send one large mailing to people such as Olivia Munn, Lily Aldridge and Julianne Hough. It's funny to think that they receive what I put so much hard work into looking appealing. This week was pretty simple, helping my mentor with things around the office, and this was the first week with no events for the beauty team. As the holiday season approaches us, I can already tell things are going to be hectic in the office, but I'm excited to lend a helping hand.

This week my friends from school actually came to visit as well. We got to go to restaurants I've been dying to go to, like the adorable cafe Penelope on the corner of 30th and Lexington. That is probably one of the best things about living here, finding the most interesting places to eat. I can't wait to find more places to go with friends in this wonderful city.

week 7

This week was a little easier than the rest of the weeks. I was still in charge of inventory and returns/exchanges. I was held accountable to record where and when the inventory was received and to keep track in a excel sheet. Dylanlex wanted to start gifting pieces to bloggers so we could spread the word about it through social media, which seems to be the most popular way to advertise merchandise. I was in charge of getting contact information from these fashion bloggers and fitting the most appropriate style of jewelry that we had in stock for them. It was even more exciting when I was in charge of gifting items to Rihanna. Every piece that was shipped had to be perfectly boxed and wrapped which took a little longer than I thought it would but I was definitely excited to know that all these fashion bloggers and even Rihanna is going to open these boxes with jewelry that I chose for their style.

Week 7 @ Freedom Rains

I started out the week going out on a wild goose chase for a particular ski jacket we needed to a model a men's Delta coat after. We figured we'd be able to find one at the Macy's on 7th Ave, but I ended up having to go all the way to a sports store in the Flatiron District. Luckily, the weather has practically been like summer! I definitely enjoyed getting out of the office and exploring Manhattan, but of course walking over twenty blocks in heels was not as enjoyable.

This week we also realized that the pattern I had been working on last week needed to be re-designed. We were trying to use the print I created for a fabric that's being put into development, but the floral motifs were too small and delicate. The appliqués we're trying to create will be cut and stitched by hand, so they need to be larger and less complicated. I had to redraw the floral elements and spend more time placing them onto our jacket pattern. It took a lot of experimentation and redoing to get right, but we were finally able to send everything out for development. I'm excited to see the prototypes since I've put so much time and effort into perfecting this piece! I'm hoping the end result will be just as I imagine it.

week 7

This week at Bollare consisted of sending out the spring samples to the editors who came to the preview. They took pictures of the new clothes and accessories that they wanted to borrow and use for shoots. This week, my job was to inventory all of the new spring clothes into the system. I have to take pictures of each item and write the name, style number, color, and size. It is really cool to be able to see the spring designs before anyone else is able to.

At the end of this week, Bollare held a halfway checkpoint meeting for all of the interns. We met in the conference room and each employee told us about their experiences in the industry and gave us tips and advice about how to be successful in the industry. They each told their story about how they got to where they are today. It was extremely interesting to hear about how young girls get jobs in the industry. They each gave very helpful advice that I will use for the rest of my life.

I am also enjoying exploring and living in New York City. The fall is a beautiful season to be here for because the weather is perfect and everyone is outside. This week, I visited Central Park. The trees were colorful and leaves were falling. I also went to an amazing restaurant in SoHo with my family. So far, I am really loving my co op and living in New York City.

Week 6 Already?!

I can't believe how fast these weeks have been flying by during my time at co-op. This week has been pretty calm so far and I've gotten to do things outside of wholesale such as helping around in the store, taking pictures for social media, and so much more. Today I didn't do that much with wholesale and instead got to work with another intern from Drexel. I had to wear different outfits, wearing new Nicole Miller clothes that we had just gotten in, and take pictures around Manayunk. I felt pretty awkward at first but we got to roam around the town and find neat places to take pictures. Some of them turned out nicely and hopefully we will be able to use them for our social media! It's nice to get out of the office at times and work on other things and I'm glad I get to have that experience with my co-op. I've also been getting close with some of the girls in the store, which is nice as well. Sometimes there aren't a lot of people in the office, such as today, and knowing the other girls that work in the store most of the time is nice.

                          

Week 6 @ Freedom Rains

Compared to last week, this week was lot more relaxed. I spent the majority of my working on another version of the floral print I already created, which is currently being turned into a fabric. Now I'm using a similar floral motif to design appliqués which will later be bonded onto a jacket. Normally we would render prints on the computer, but this technique requires me to hand place every component onto the pattern for the jacket. The team is really excited to be introducing new design techniques into the line in order to make more expensive looking pieces that are better suited for high end retailers. Although it's complicated and requires a strong eye for placement, I really enjoy being able to get away from the computer and work with my hands for a change - since I much prefer hand drawing to using Adobe Illustrator.

We also had two production fittings this week, which I know seems strange considering we have yet to actually put anything into production. We have to double and triple check all the measurements on sample coats that are similar to what we're making and include them in our tech packs. It is important for us to figure out things like the length of the coat, sleeve length, pocket placement, and where any other details might go so we don't have to make too many changes later on. Sometimes it's hard to imagine what everything is going to look like since we really only have a sketch to go off of. Even though we use samples of other garments for initial inspiration, the end result will be completely different.

As some of you may have heard Zac Posen has a new partnership with Delta airlines and is overseeing the design of their uniforms. As we're involved with House of Z our design team was asked to provide designs for any outerwear components. This week we got back some of the first samples of these designs and we're all really excited to move forward with this! Creating these uniforms challenges us to think differently. Instead of just style, we're asked to think about more practical needs and how a garment can benefit the wearer.

Week 6

This was a much more relaxed week for me at the office. I set up and sent out mailings and tried to help as many people as I could. One of the interns on the fashion team was swamped with one of the biggest mailings of the year, so I was happy I could lend a helping hand. I've gotten pretty close with all of the other interns at ABPR and I'm going to be sad when the time comes and they have to leave next month, but I'm happy I got close with people at work, it makes everything so much more comfortable and less stressful while I'm there.
On Thursday I was asked to work an event for the Spring/Summer line at Aeropostale. I helped editors pick out a pair of shorts that Aero was promoting, and helped them design and order a personalized embroidered message on whatever pair of shorts they wanted. It was really neat being able to get personal with so many editors and bloggers. It was an event that I'm so happy I got asked to work, and at the end of the day I was even able to get a monogrammed pair of shorts of my own!

Week 6: Spring/Summer Preview

This week was the Spring/Summer 2016 Preview. It took place in a penthouse studio in midtown. We spent all day Monday at the studio setting up for the event. We were steaming and hanging all of the clothes on the racks. I also assisted the accessories team in designing the set up. It was an extremely long day, but I was really excited to see how it would look in the end. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I had to wake up extra early to go and help the teams set up and get ready. Editors started arriving at 8:45 am to look at the samples. We were showing Spring/Summer clothes, sunglasses, shoes, watches, etc. As editors arrived, it was my job to greet them and direct them to where they needed to go. We offered coffee, juice, and mini donuts for everyone to enjoy. This was an amazing hands-on experience for me because I was able to participate in everything that my bosses did. I was glad to help and be able to be there for this amazing event!

week 6

This week was interesting and fun. This week, my boss assigned me to create several flat layouts. She allowed me get creative and create layouts according to my own taste and style.  I was allowed to use plain black/ white background and arrange the jewelry or use images that I chose to set as a background. So I picked images from Tumblr and Pinterest and arranged the images in the background of where I placed the Jewelry. I found that from my past class, Presentation Technology, it was easier to set up how I wanted the images. This project was very similar to all the boards we created in that class. The way of arrangement was very important to the viewer, so I was able to incorporate the skills I learned in that class to this assignment.

Weeks 5 & 6

An update on the Boutique: definitely happening! Products have been purchased from vendors and showrooms in New York, signs and fixtures are being installed tomorrow, and promotional giveaways   are on their way to the office. Blood sweat and tears is bringing this boutique to life but happening it is! Currently, I'm working on a promotional card to be handed out to all of our clients as advertising for the boutique, a blog about facial peels (I got one for free!), and in-store signage for the boutique.

The big thing that I worked on last week though was our main event of the season: Bellevue Gets Engaged. It's a bridal fashion show held by Nicole Miller (check out Sydney's blog post for more on their role!) and lots of different companies have booths and giveaways there to attract the business of brides-to-be. The Salon & Spa had a huge booth there --- right next to an amazing seafood one --- as we cater to brides and bridal parties for hair and makeup and did all of that for the show. With everyone stopping by the rent went very quickly, and it was a ton of fun. Yes it was also a ton of work, but looking at gorgeous engagement rings and schmoozing with ladies on cloud 9 is always a good time. Of course, the dresses too were spectacular.

Bellevue Gets Engaged was such a fun time and I'm looking forward to the next fashion show we're a part of!

I'm having difficulty with adding pictures now but they'll be on here tomorrow morning, also all pictures from BGE can be found on the Salon & Spa Facebook page!

Bellevue Gets Engaged

These past two weeks have been pretty busy because there were two big events for Nicole Miller. Last week was the XIX Most Fashionable Women event that I talked about. The other event, Bellevue Gets Engaged, was this past Sunday for the Nicole Miller bridal line. I was there the entire day starting at 9AM, preparing for the show and getting everything set up. I helped with the goody bags, putting stuff in them and then organizing all of them in a room, and then helped getting everything else ready. There were a lot of vendors there such as cake and bakery vendors, photographers, and whatever else a couple needs for a wedding. Finally at 2PM the fashion show began and right before it started one of the employees asked me to sit VIP front row because there was an extra seat and I was in Nicole Miller clothes. It was such an awesome opportunity to be able to sit front row and watch the show. The dresses were beautiful, bride and bridesmaids dresses, and I was so grateful to be a part of this entire event! It's pretty cool to say that I helped for an event from start to finish.

Yesterday I was back in the office and got caught up on my work, and also had to steam all of the clothes from the event that came back to the Manayunk store. I definitely know that I like working events more than being in an office but I'm glad I'm getting experience on both sides of this business. 

Back to Back Events

This was an extremely eventful week at the office for everyone. I felt like there were events every day of the week, with more than one at a time. Wednesday I was sent on a mission to find wigs that resembled the New York Met's pitchers for one of our clients who was giving away costumes of the players. It was probably the most random request I've ever been asked of, but after running in and out of what felt like 30 different stores, I found a few wigs that worked. At the end of the week, the woman who had asked me to do that ran up to me and told me that the wigs I found and the story I was helping made the New York Post, so that felt like a huge accomplishment. Overall, Wednesday was just the busiest day of running around and helping as many people as I could.
On Thursday, I was asked to come in earlier than usual to the office to help for an Undies.com event, and to stay late and travel to the Time Warner building to help work a Sugarfina event. Although it felt like the longest day of my life, both events were a lot of fun! For the first event I kind of worked as a bartender, packing people gifts of the panties and bras they picked out from the "bar". It was fun to interact with all the editors and get to hear more about this new client of ours. I even got to take some free merchandise home with me afterwards. At around 3:00 pm, I followed an account executive from the lifestyle team to the Sugarfina event at the Time Warner building. I would be helping to set up goody bags of the candy, and check people in as they came to the event. It was the launch party for the first NY Sugarfina location, and it looked amazing. It was a glorified kiosk that was seen immediately when entering the building. I worked with a lot of the employees at ABPR, and was able to get to know them better, which was great. Waiters were walking around serving the guests champagne and gummy bears with 24K gold flakes in them, and now I can say that I've eaten gold before...never felt so fancy. The event perfectly fit the type of brand the company aims to be, and I was happy I was able to attend the private event that was such a big step for the company. Even though it was the longest day of co-op so far, I feel like I got so much out of it and can't wait to see what the next few months bring!

Week 5 @ Freedom Rains

I really can't believe that a month has gone by! Just like last week, everyone is really working hard to finalize all the designs and sourcing for Fall '16. We're hoping to complete everything by the first week of November that way we can put prototypes into production. The designers finally had sketches ready, so this week I got to edit those and create tech packs to be sent out to our factories. Since we are obviously unable to create each piece by hand we need tech packs to act as instructions for our factories. Initially, they contain detailed sketches of the garment, a list of materials being used (including fabrics, trims, fusibles, etc), specific construction and sewing details, and measurements. It's a lot of work and everything has to be very precise or else our coats could come out looking completely wonky!

While we're mainly working on next fall right now, we also can't forget about Spring '16. We had another fitting this week to finalize the measurements for some of the Spring coats. Even though we're a contemporary line, I think it's great that we try to fit for the average woman and we're always adjusting to make sure everything is as perfect as possible. Getting the fit and silhouette right are definitely vital when thinking about our different customers. Not everyone is a 5'9, size 2 model who wants to wear a super fitted coat. We need to have something for everyone and cater to different body shapes. Furthermore, I also got to accompany the lead designer while running some errands to our pattern maker and some of our textile manufacturers' offices. I really appreciate that she values my opinion and we've been bonding over our shared Drexel experiences since she's an alumni! I also just feel like I'm learn a lot from watching her work and being able to sit in on meetings with her. I also found out this week that a color palette I developed for a line of packable raincoats at Saks Fifth Avenue while the designers were away in Europe got approved! Even though it seems kind of nerdy, I still think it's really cool that they liked the colors I chose for them.

To top off this week, my Mum came down for the day on Friday and we were able to go shop our showroom for coats. While the company is giving me one for free, I couldn't resist buying two more because my discount is so good! I really can't wait to wear them this winter. Of course, my Mum was also excited to see where I work and meet everyone. And speaking of Mom's, Zac Posen's own Mom came in earlier this week to pick out coats for herself! I was surprised at how normal she was considering her son is so fabulous (we even found that she takes the bus around New York). It was really cool to meet her though and she even welcomed me into the House of Z family!

I feel bad that I can't take a lot of pictures at work, so here's a photo of the view from my rooftop! Living in Manhattan really goes hand in hand with my co-op experience. I've gotten to do a lot of exploring and I feel more and more like a New Yorker everyday.

Week 5: Preparing for Spring Preview

This week at Bollare consisted of preparing for next week's preview. The past three days have been very busy and pretty stressful. The fashion team and I have been steaming and packing away all spring samples in the showroom bring to the preview. We are constantly getting in new shipments that need to be sorted through to see what will be shown at the preview. It is a great experience to get to see how such amazing events like these are prepared for. The events team has also been working extremely hard to plan the entire two days by ordering decorations and food. We will be having pastries and refreshments, such as donuts, for the editors coming to the event. The event will take place on Monday and Tuesday of next week. I'm very excited to be preparing for it and attending it. I am very appreciative to be able to play such a large role in helping out with the event!

Week 5

This week definitely needed my computer skills to complete the tasks that I was assigned this week. My mentor/boss was sketching up new jewelry sketches for her spring/summer line and I was asked to research inspirations for her new line. I was able to use Drexel resources, and was able to access Fashion Snoops. This website is the most helpful and should be used to its advantage because it helped a lot with my research. Fashion Snoops had detail shots of every designer that did the spring 2016 and resort 2016 runway. I was able to gather enough images for several inspiration boards. Once   she finally designed new designs, she asked me to color chart all the different pieces that belonged to the jewelry. This allowed it to be easily interpreted to her manufacturers. In order to complete these tasks, I had to use Adobe Illustrator and photoshop. Thank goodness all those computer design classes which helped me a whole bunch in completing these tasks. Not only did I brush up on my Adobe skills, I impressed my boss even more by completing the tasks she didn't even think I was capable of!

XIX Most Fashionable Women : Nicole Miller

I can't believe it's the 5th week of co-op already. Yesterday I helped out at an important event that Nicole Miller has annually that recognizes 19 women who are fashionable and philanthropic in the community of Philadelphia. I got to help set up for the entire event with other interns and volunteers, greet people, set the gift bags and other goodies on each chair and so much more. I only helped set up for about 2 hours and we got so much done in that time. It's crazy how hectic it can get when planning events but I definitely know that I like being on my feet instead of being in an office all day. It was also fun because I got to wear my Nicole Miller clothes and got to see everyone's gorgeous outfits. This definitely makes me more excited for helping out with other events, especially the one I will be going on in November in Maryland! This Sunday I will also be helping out at another event called Bellevue Gets Engaged. It will show off all the new Bridal wear and I'm so excited to see all the beautiful dresses. 

Week 4

At work this week, it was a lot slower, but a nice break from the typical pace of things. I found the most delicious bagel and coffee shop only a few blocks away from work on 3rd Avenue so I've started to make that a morning routine before heading into the office. On Wednesday I was sent to a Kerastase event, but only to help pack everything away; although I did get to take home the left over desserts, which wasn't too bad. My mentor surprised me with an ABPR bag full of products from our clients, including a hot pink Clarisonic Mia which was so nice!
The rest of the week consisted of me meeting up with friends and walking around the city. Christina whose also interning in NY, and I went to the adorable restaurant Jack's Wife Freda and spent the entire day walking around Soho. It's so fun exploring this new city, yet so nice and easy to commute back to Philly to visit other friends whenever I'm a little homesick. I can't wait to see what other amazing places I'll wonder into.

Week 4 @ Freedom Rains

With the design team back from Europe, things have picked up a bit around the office and everyone is motivated to get ahead on the Fall '16 line. It definitely feels more normal to have everyone back and working in one place again, though I was excited to see the results of the trip. The designers returned with thirty sample garments that we'll be taking inspiration from in regards to fabric, trim, silhouette, etc. We had a long meeting with the entire office discussing the success of the trip, modeling the samples to everyone, and showing the takeaways of each piece. Although they largely bought coats from brands like Moncler, Max Mara Weekend, Vivienne Westwood (which we sadly cut apart to take fabric samples from) and Versace, but also dresses from Stella McCartney and Jill Sander. Our lead designer explained that any dress can become a coat if you just use your imagination, which is so clever and I never would have thought of! It was definitely fun to try on and photograph all the samples, as well! I think having all of them in our showroom gives a more solid vision to what next year's line might look like.

I'm also really excited because the floral print I've been working on is going to get produced into a fabric, which will obviously be turned into a coat later on! This is definitely something I will be adding to my portfolio and I feel like a small piece of me will be going into the collection. I also get to work with the mill that will be developing the fabric and handle the order, which is a great learning opportunity. This week we've also been finalizing which fabrics will be used for the line, which is a bit strange because the designer's haven't really started sketching. In a way, we're pretty much working backwards.

Week 4

This week at work was a bit slower for me because I only had to work for two days. Now that the Valentine's Day preview is over, we are starting to prepare for the Spring preview. A bunch of new samples have been coming in everyday. It is really awesome to be the first to see what will be popular in the Spring. I have been working with the fashion team to check in all of the samples so that editors are able to look at them. I'm really excited for the Spring preview because it is going to be a large two-day event. I am also adjusting to living in New York City, which is a really great experience. I got close to a lot of new people and explores a lot of new places.

Week 4

So far my week on co-op has been better. My boss is on the road at trunk shows all week so I'm in the office alone but I'm finally beginning to get the hang of everything. Yesterday I learned more about the behind the scenes with the business. I was trained on working with quickbooks, which is an accounting system for businesses and keeps everything all organized. I learned how to add new items from our open orders to the system so that the store is able to sell those products and also how to make sure packing slips get received, etc. It's pretty interesting and I'm glad I'm able to learn so much from all different ends of the fashion industry.
I'm also getting really excited for November because I am going on the road with my boss in for a trunk show/event in Maryland right by my hometown! It'll be fun to be able to work with my boss on the road and see how the business works. I'm also excited because it's right by my high school so the town will be familiar and I will get to work with a store that is so familiar and close to where I lived.

S+S Week Three

This was an exciting week of improvement as we upgraded to a huge corner office in the 79 Madison WeWork building where Snap+Style is located.  As the rest of the office continued on with their normal day-to-day work tasks, they left me in charge of ordering all the necessary supplies from desks and chairs to pens and pencils and everything in between. After everything was ordered and waiting to be delivered, I began working with an interior designer preparing to personalize our new office further. Interior design has always been a passion of mine that I never pursued, so I was thrilled to be given the chance to work in that area for the week. After many ideas were thrown around within the team, we decided to leave it all up to the designer to produce an office worthy for Snap+Style, with the hope that the new space will promote inspiration.

After hours, I had the opportunity to experience a Flyers vs. Rangers game in the one-and-only, Madison Square Garden.  It was so nice not to worry about homework assignments and to have the free time to explore the city and everything it has to offer.  

S+S Week Two

This was the week of the Rebecca Minkoff Event which I worked so hard to plan my first week.  The turnout was better than we could have imagined. Not only did the majority of people from our guest list attend, numerous more from the street came to participate in our event where we promoted 25% off all merchandise purchases. I learned all the benefits from holding an event such as this as we watched our popularity on social media grow. Later we celebrated with lunch at Laduree, a french restaurant which specializes in macaroons.  I was able to enjoy the luxuries of The Big Apple and had entirely forgotten I was working.

Later in the week, I experienced my first photoshoot with Snap+Style.  It was everything I imagined a photoshoot in New York to be, extremely hectic and stressful with a sudden lack for time.  Thirty minutes before it was time to leave for the shoot, we came to the alarming realization that co-founder Anna Jensen (model and my head boss), was unhappy with the dress we had selected for her to wear.  The only solution was to run to the nearest All Saints and buy a dress she would be pleased with.  It was only my second week on the job and I already found myself running through the city in heels with a garment bag in my hand.  I thought a situation like that was only true in the movies, I was wrong! In the end, it was neat to experience the ‘behind the scenes’ aspect of a photoshoot and to see the beautiful end product.