The high fashion consignment shop, Second Time Around is the subject of a reality show which premiered last night on Bravo TV: Fashion Hunters. The show is based in the New York City store. Tara, Ambria and Katrina run the store and welcome "already been worns" to STA's racks, including a Thierry Mugler gown worn by Jennifer Lopez to the 2000 Latin Grammys. New sales associate Wilson comes on board and his first order of business is to revamp the men's section. Here Ambria must authenticate a Carolina Herrera dress and a labeless Oscar de la Renta before accepting them.
A dilemma you will face as you start to sell your designs is pleasing yourself vs. pleasing your customers. When you began you delved into your work. Maybe you didn't consider the economics of your production process. You paid too much for fabric because you "just loved it" or spent hours intuitively sewing stuff together, creating and enjoying yourself. Maybe sometimes you even flubbed up bigtime, a yard or two of fabric wasted. With a sigh you chalked it up to experience and moved on. You didn't have to answer to anyone. Then maybe you decided to open a little online Etsy shop -- "Just to see what happens." You got a sale or two -- your confidence surged and why not? Someone thought your design was nice and was willing to pay for it! Some of us stop here. We sell something occasionally to supplement our incomes. But even at this level the dilemma starts. You still don't have to answer to anyone but yourself, you still only design when inspired. But as you turn what you love into a business you must start to consider your target market, what will sell, your marketing approach, analyze the response to your ads , customer service, customer complaints, etc... While the internet has certainly leveled the playing field in most industries earning a living with your art is hard work. At the point where a designer begins to consider the financial feasibility of his work artistic compromise is necessary and will be from now on until you reach the ranks of Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen or Gianni Versace. |
| Tory Burch Andres Pant In which Fashion Week did these appear? |
 |
| Chloe Colorblock A-line Skirt |
 |
| Marc Jacobs Metallic-finish hoodie |
 |
| See the Paris Fashion Show Video Permission obtained from the Iris van Herpen Company to republish this photograph. |
 |
| Dress by Elie Saab |
How does a company not only survive but thrive in the fashion industry during an economic crisis? Take a hint from Inglot Cosmetics: intensive customer service and personalization. At the suggestion of one of Petit Poix's teenage readers, Alexandra, we discovered the Inglot Cosmetics Freedom System. Inglot is a Polish company which has been in business for 25 years but only recently has caught on in the rest of the world. Wojtek Inglot is the chemist turned entrepreneur who continues to develop new products, working with make up artists and color consultants to keep up with the latests trends. Just launched is the world's only breathable nail enamel. At Inglot the customer can freely experiment with mix and match bases, eyeshadows, blushes, mascaras, nail enamels, liners, lipsticks and more to develop her own personal makeup palette, placing her choices in unique magnetic trays. There is even a fake eyelash wall with dozens of different style eyelashes! With 280 retail locations worldwide - more than 160 of them in Inglot's native Poland - only five retail stores are located in the U.S.A., four in Canada and 17 in Australia. Others are sparsely scattered throughout Europe and the Middle East and one location in Capetown, South Africa. What is Inglot's secret marketing plan? Give the customer exactly what she wants. |
