The Best Assistants

Yesterday, was the last day for my assistant D. She's moving on to enrich her fashion career. I think this is a good move and I fully support her in this. She's been with me for 3 years. Like my previous assistant Karen, she came over from the Kris + Cris Shoes store when we opened Tru Drama. I've had 2 assistants since my second store and both of them have been invaluable.

The assistant position isn't the same as a store assistant manager. Although at times they've been both. They're really a rare blend of "can do" attitude, brains, maturity and of course fashion ability. My first assistant Karen has moved to Toronto to work in finance. In my last visit to Toronto we had gotten together for drinks and lunch. I'm glad to say she's on the path to mega bucks even though her career is sucking her soul dry. She misses fashion!

D is embarking on a similar one I had made at her age. Trying to make it in fashion. She's got all the right tools to be successful. I hope she finds herself in the right companies that will recognize and nurture her star talents. I'm certain one day I'm going to be talking to a young fresh faced assistant about D, "Yeah I knew her when..."

My assistants are my in-store confidantes, travel mates and fashion buyers. The first time me and D attended our first Vegas show was a great experience. We came back home with our bags packed to the brim with free giveaways from suppliers. Not much can beat free things! The very best times have been sharing meals with them. I've had the pleasure of introducing two "must haves" in LA to them. Homemade Tiramisu at Al Gelato on Robertson and Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakitori in Torrance. The "O" faces we would make while eating would be near pornographic.

It's been an honour to share fashion and food with these two great girls!

More Pics from Bread and Butter Barcelona

Got some more pics from show in Barcelona. I'm seriously considering taking someone to go with me to Barcelona for the next show.

The 2008 Fall fashion buy

I'm finally slowing down a bit from the Holiday retail season. There's always a multitude of things to do and so little time to do it. It's really the most important year for us retailers.

I can't get too comfortable as the spring shows (which are shows for stuff that'll arrive in fall) are coming up and I'll need to attend markets, shows, conventions and a gazillion suppliers banging at my door to show me their Fall wares. In the next couple of months I'll see myself in LA, NYC, Asia (everywhere) and Milan. I was invited as a guest to attend Bread and Butter Barcelona that's going on right now. The supplier was very generous but I've been and and it's really not my kind of show. It is however a incredible party atmosphere. Business before pleasure!

Lots goes thru my mind prior to before doing the buys for the store. What brands to keep, what to increase budgets on and what's up and coming. One of my main things I want to get out of this round of shows is to pick up a new line/brand. Something that would be complimentary to the things we already have. Of course all sorts problems come into play. Like... does the product exist in my market area or what stage product stage is the brand in.

Normally, I poll the girls as to what we should be on the lookout for. This season because of the magic that is the interweb, I think I'd like to hear your opinions on what we should get. I'd love to hear ideas from you gals about the sort of brands/lines we should carry at the Tru Drama store. Email me directly at m@trudrama.com.

Dereon Fashion Show with Beyonce

Having nothing to do before I landed, I was poking around on my laptop looking at pictures. I came across some pics in August from the Canadian launch of the Dereon line. Beyonce attended so it was a big hubbub.

Being a fashion buyer has it's perks and this was one of them. The store sells more Dereon than anyone on the westcoast so we were invited to attend the Dereon launch with Beyonce in Toronto. It was at the swanky Ultra Supper Club on Queen St. Appetizer wise: Super yummy giant seared scallops, tasteless giant thai prawns and cold mini turkey burgers.

We stood in the club for an hour and half before Beyonce arrived. It was wall to wall people in there. Even Canadian fashion staple Jeanne Beker was in attendance. The models and the clothes were stunning, featuring this current season's looks. The fashion show was really well done and better than anything I've seen in Vancouver.

A major embarrassing moment was averted that night, I nearly wore the same gold snowflake dress that Beyonce was wearing!

After the show, Beyonce spoke a few words and then she ducked out the back. There were some gift bags, nothing very flashy but some absurdly huge XL Dereon tank tops.