Sunday, March 31, 2013

CC Book Review: Lolly Clothing

From Fishing to Fashion: Reeling In an Unlikely Fashion Success
By: Jeff Stewart
Publisher: Myrtle Street Publishing

Based out of Seattle and Los Angeles, and started by brothers Todd and Chad Kimball (Broadway star, and Tony-nominated lead of Memphis); Lolly Clothing has been adorned and loved by fashionistas from around the country. From urban trend-setters to career women, from working moms to travel aficionados, Lolly Clothing has quickly emerged as one of the fastest growing West-Coast based clothing brands in the US. Just three years after its launch, Lolly is carried by over 500 boutiques across the country. The brand has proven that you don’t need to stick to traditional models of fashion merchandising, seasonal collections and mass retail to be successful.

So how did it happen that Lolly succeeds where others fail? For young entreprenuears hoping to get into the business of fashion, what is the key to creating demand in one of the most notoriously difficult and fickle industries in the world? How did a group of fashion misfits – including a group of Alaskan fishermen – find success?

The Lolly implementation though was not easy and not without its ups and downs. Lolly: From Fishing to Fashion – Reeling In An Unlikely Fashion Success, is a book by award-winning author Jeff Stewart, about the dreams, heartbreaks, and the beginning process of an unknown fashion company started by two brothers with a drive for success, a penchant for unconventional methods and the most unusual group of executives imaginable.

Summary:

The gulls glide on the wind and land on the famous rock planted in the tides while the ocean reaches for Asia.

In a pub one mile inland and north, a writer’s chance meeting with the owners of a clothing company ignites an agreement that plants the seed for a novel about the blood, work, fate, and unyielding vision that confounded the fashion industry and left it examining the path of Lolly.

Jeff Stewart navigates us through the start, deconstruction, and rebirth of Lolly Clothing, the salvation from the bottom of survival to the methods of their success. Told in a beautifully raw, stripped-down style, Lolly: From Fishing to Fashion, Reeling in an Unlikely Fashion Success takes us through the insides of the fashion company and their people with humor, heartbreak, and prose that introduces the fashion process through the world of the writer; moving us along from the effects of guts and consequences to the cathedral of Lolly, and the power of never listening to the odds.

Excerpt:

There’s a storm in the Bering Sea.

The boat is roughly 75 feet and the swells are tossing it around like a plastic ball. The boat crashes through the center of the storm, its eye beating down upon the deck, and the crew pulls together to keep the haul secured and the nets and ropes from being absorbed by the ocean. The captain screams into the storm from the wheelhouse, the crew bites down on their cigarettes and clutch their rosary beads. The storm began as a light rain before sunset, and now its arms and breath are dealing blows into the boat without mercy.

The sea rages beneath the roar, and they ride the storm out for hours and sit in the galley. A bottle of whiskey is produced and the shots get poured, cigarettes get lit, and the cards come out of the box for a hand of seven-card. The captain has nothing past the ante, but his mind is on the ocean, their slip of fate from the storm behind them, and talking to his men about investing in a high-end contemporary women’s fashion company...

CC Review:

Absolutely adored this book!  Beautifully told in a stream of consciousness style that makes it easy to read and hard to put down, the Lolly Clothing founder tells lovingly and honestly of the genesis of the company and the family ties that bind.  CC highly recommends this little novel to her fellow fashionistas!

Happy reading, darlings!

xoxox,
CC

Marvelous Marloes

Darlings, how magnificent is model Marloes Horst?
These photos are from her campaign for Nordstrom.
She can really rock a Leger dress!





Which of these looks are you loving, darlings?
Who are some of your favorite models?
xoxox,
CC

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bold Shoulders

Darlings, check out these looks from Balmain's Fall 2013 collection!
Are the 80s back... again?
Photos via style.com.











What do you think of these bold shoulders?
Would you wear any of these looks?
CC is not so sure... but she loves the silhouette and the big belts!
xoxox,
CC

Friday, March 29, 2013

Spectacular Stripes

Darlings, CC loves decorating with stripes!






Which of these spaces are you smitten with?
CC adores the canopy beds!
xoxox,
CC
P.S.  Photos via Dreamy Decor on Pinterest.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Pretty Pastels

Darlings, how sweet are these nail polish colors?
Celebrity manicurist and owner of As “U” Wish Nail Spa, Skyy Hadley, shares her expert tips on how to bring chic fashion trends to life on your nails: "Recreate the bright pastel trend for spring on your nails with the Zoya Lovely Spring 2013 Polish Collection. I love how the purple and pink shades have a slight metallic hint that are great to wear out on the town or stick with the peaceful pastels of the blue, green and yellow shades. Remember to always start a manicure with clean, filed nails."
Fab advice, right?
xoxox,
CC

Sweet Street Style

Darlings, how sweet are these street style selections from Milan Fashion Week?
Photos by Tommy Ton for style.com.















CC is smitten with all the haute handbags!
Which look(s) are you loving?
xoxox,
CC

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Pretty in Pink

Maria Menounos looking gorgeous in a Romona Keveza gown at the 2013 Oscars.
Beautiful color and silhouette!
xoxox,
CC

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Monday, March 25, 2013

Pretty Plaids

Darlings, how perfect are these plaid pieces from Fausto Puglisi's Fall 2013 collection?
Photos via style.com.









CC especially adores the plaid caps and pumps!
Which look(s) are you loving?
xoxox,
CC