Chantelle & Cadolle
The Salon de la Lingerie is a large venue anchored by key French foundation brands and surrounded by labels with global distribution though not necessarily in North America. There is a great deal of showmanship. Lingerie is showcased as art. It can be very inspirational. For my part, the messages were not all that new, but they were there in force. The two standouts for me were … Read More
One of my favorite books is the 1997 historical novel by Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain. The tale, as often been compared to Homer’s, The Odyssey as it tracks the journey of Inman, a Confederate soldier as he walks for months returning to the love of his life. Just as Homer spends 10 years travelling back to Ithaca, both characters, evolve into heroes as they rebuild themselves overcoming multiple obstacles on … Read More
I have been watching a lot of HGTV lately. It’s my newest television obsession besides my occasional Netflix binges. I am completely mesmerized by the way these entrepreneurs take houses with great potential and transform them into intelligent investments. Most of these dwellings have innate character, perhaps visionary at their birth but now in need of a contemporary facelift. It’s fascinating to see how subtle changes can change the entire … Read More
I drove down to Maryland this past weekend to visit my sister. With my 2 ½ year old grandson in tow, one of my objectives was to see my nephew’s family, including his 2 year old daughter. When you are living with a live-wire, ball of energy, obsessed with trucks and anything in motion, it is somewhat of a culture shock to experience a quiet, doll carrying, tutu wearing babe … Read More
Every August of my childhood, my family would pack up the station wagon and drive north for a 2 week vacation camping on the islands of Lake George. My memories of these trips center on my dad. His approach to the entire process taught me important lessons on preparation and attention to detail. Even though we were isolated outdoors, without plumbing or electricity, he was able to transform an ordinary … Read More
Some years ago, at the end of June, I went on a mini-cation to Nantucket with my oldest friend; I call her Buzz. It started a tradition we sustained for some years that excluded family and work obligations. Lucky for us that particular week-end was blessed with perfect summer weather and we spent 3 full days bicycling around a rose laden island to different beaches. Everywhere we rode, we came … Read More
In the nascent days of my retail career, I had a brilliant mentor who guided me through my basic training. I credit much of my success as a merchant to his vision and expectations. One lesson that has never left me, particularly as I rose to management positions, is that excellence in merchandising depended on a combination of Picasso and Einstein. One needed vision as well as sterling analytical skills. … Read More