Fun Fashion Read

Book Review: By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop

On the flight to and from NYC, instead of trying to sleep on those uncomfortable rock-hard airline seats, I read the book: By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop, written by Gilt Groupe co-founders Alexis Maybank and Alenxdra Wilkis Wilson. This is a definitely a must-read for anyone trying to do a fashion start-up. The book goes into extreme detail on starting and building the business from the ground up.  Maybank and Wilson give indelible advice regarding the trials and tribulations of a start-up.  In my opinion, these two women are the ultimate entrepeneurs. They have singlehandedly changed the way millions of people shop.

The company was launched in 2007 by Kevin Ryan, Alexis Maybank, and Alexandra Wilkis Wilkinson. Kevin Ryan was one of the co-founders of Doubleclick and had been heavily involved in the tech space.  Alexis Maybank started up Ebay motors, so she had a very strong tech background as well. Alexandra Wilson worked in the fashion industry, so her network of contacts was certainly indispensable. They had a simple but brilliant idea to bring luxury retail online and boom, Gilt was born!

Gotta love the American Dream!

Look of the Day- You Are Such A Stud

A studded dress is just way too cute to pass up!

Dress: Kain 

Shoes: Bloomindgales 

NYC Trip

I just got back from NYC! I have only been to NYC a few times but I love it so much. I would never knock my hometown (Orange County) or my current residence (Los Angeles) but there is just something about NYC.  Anyways, while I was there, I attended the Luxury and Retail Conference at NYU. The conference was really interesting with many different speakers, from Jennifer Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Rent the Runway to Farooq Kathwari, CEO of Ethan Allen (an NYU MBA alum!). I felt like I learned a lot from the conference about the industry's challenges and opportunities. Personally, I thought the most interesting speaker was Jennifer Hyman. In her second year of business school, she started Rent the Runway, a site I frequent today. The site allows its members to rent designer clothing and accessories at approximately 10%-20% of retail price for either 4 or 8 days. It was so inspiring to watch someone not much older than me discuss going to business school and starting a company, something I aspire to do someday. Her analysis on the fashion industry was so on point and communicated so eloquently (yet concisely) that I was floored. She discussed what she calls the          " Kim Kardashianization" of the world and how her site allows girls who "make 80 or 90 thousand dollars a year who may have some DVF dresses hanging in her closet to maybe rent a Yigal Azrouel dress and experience a brand they never have before".  That description pretty much fits me to a tee! I also loved her analysis of renting vs. owning. One of the reasons she started the company is because she felt the fashion industry was ready " to rent" as a result of observing trends in other industries: now people rent vs. own homes, subscribe to Netflix versus purchase DVDs, and use programs such as Spotify versus buy CDs. I loved her analysis of broader trends and the application of these trends to this niche market that she is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about. Of course, after the conference, I googled her and read many articles about her story. One of my favorites is hyperlinked below.

http://www.inc.com/30under30/2010/profile-jennifer-hyman-jenny-fleiss-rent-the-runway.html

Look of the Day- Tie It Up

I love shirts that have a front tie. It reminds me of  Britney Spears in her "Hit Me Baby One More Time" video. It brings me back to my childhood days. Oh nostalgia!

Shirt: Forever 21

Jeans: Forever 21

Shoes: Aldo 

Enjoying it while I can :)