Fashion Beauty Entrepreneurship – Oh My!

Kathlin Argiro in her New York Design Studio

I am excited to be included as the Fashion Expert at the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business annual TrepCon event for aspiring entrepreneurs. I will be joined by beauty expert and serial entrepreneur, Angela Jia Kim, founder of Savor the Success and Omaroma.

Business and entrepreneurship require a great deal of creativity and expertise. Aspiring entrepreneurs are very lucky to have events like this to inspire them and educate them on their journeys. Learning from experts in the field that you want to enter is the very best way to put you squarely (and realistically) on the path of success.

If you are interested in learning what it is really like to start a business in fashion, sign up for my class at FIT: Fashion Design Up Front and Personal: From Creating Designs to Running a Business . It is a no-nonsense, real deal reality check for any designer with dreams of starting their own fashion label.

 

ABC Home Decor = Dress Inspiration

Dreamy romantic “still life” at ABC Carpet & Home

Everyone always wants to know where I get my inspiration. The best answer is everywhere. However, home decor – especially as presented by the masters of visual display at ABC Carpet and Home equates to a Designer’s Dream! And I don’t mean interior designers (that goes without saying – duh!) I mean Fashion Designers.

Here are some of my finds from this palace of Designer decadence….Enjoy! 

Jumbled Letter Industrial Still Life

Vintage Architect’s Drafting Table

Solid Brass Bike

Industrial Lights

Butcher Block Cut Board with Leather Handle

Brilliant colored throw

Lace + T-shirt = T-Chic!

Black T-shirt with black/nude TONI skirt

This is the way I am going to wear my new black/nude skirt. Dressing down a lace skirt with a t-shirt is the ultimate in chic.

Stay tuned for a black charmeuse kimono-inspired top that I am creating to turn this into the perfect understated cocktail look.

Couture inspiration: Black/Nude Lace

ANYA dress with scallop lace edge hem detail

One of my all time favorite classics is black lace over nude. It is the ultimate in chic!

The ANYA dress features a universally flattering portrait neckline that frames the face and can show case your favorite jewels. It is topped off by the delicate scalloped lace hem. Tres couture!

Photoshoot + Brand Refresh = Excitement!

I am very excited because I just wrapped up a photo shoot with renown fashion photographer Paul Sunday. 

Paul has done editorial for all the top magazines including Elle and W plus major advertising clients such as Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales. 

I am one lucky girl! The photos look amazing. This is a sneak peek to get your fashion juices flowing! Doesn’t the model look dreamy??!

As for my brand refresh, I am working with the lovely Clare Bousfield of Bellaphonic Studios. Clare had me brainstorming about cool color combos to use to create a distinct identity for each of my product categories. So far I have chosen pink + navy for White Graduation dresses and teal + navy for bridesmaids.

Stay tuned for more updates…..

Waving from my dreamy studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn! xo

Kathlin

A Fashionable Homecoming

Last weekend I went down to my home town of Alexandria, VA for a trunk show at Zoe Botique to celebrate “Christmas in July”.

We had a terrific turnout thanks to fabulous local bloggers and friends including Pamela Lynne Sorensen of Pamela’s Punch
http://www.pamelaspunch.com/designer-kathlin-argiro-returns-to-the-area-for-christmas-in-july-at-zoe-boutique/
and Kate Coveny Hood of Wishing True and The Big Piece of Cake
http://thebigpieceofcake.com/2012/07/19/attention-dc-fashionistas-kathlin-argiro-trunk-show-alexandria-saturday/.

The Alexandria Times featured a full page article on the event. AMAZING!

I had the chance to see old friends, loyal customers and created  fashion sketches on the spot for Zoe Boutique customers.

It is always such a treat going back to Alexandria. Nothing like local, hometown love!

Kathlin Argiro and Tim Gunn Reunion

While taking some of my FIT students on an excursion through the fashion district we stopped by Mood Fabrics and ran into my old friend Tim Gunn. We first met while I was attending Parsons School of Design and he was working in admissions. He is a very inspirational man and has always supported me as a designer. It was great to see him.

Shopping for a White Graduation Dress

Kathlin Argiro – Fashion Designer and White Graduation dress expert – fits a client at her Design Studio in NYC.

The White Graduation Dress Designer

It is now the HEIGHT of White Graduation Dress Shopping season and there are frantic Mothers and daughters throughout the country desperately seeking the PERFECT white dress that they are required to wear for Graduation.

I am intimately familiar with all of the needs of these shoppers because I  graduated from a private Catholic girls school where we all had to we all had to wear the same white graduation dress.

Georgetown Visitation Class of 2010 in Kathlin Argiro Graduation Dresses

Since I launched my company in 1997 I have designed and made White Graduation Dresses for thousands of girls – including designing a custom dress for each of the graduating classes from my alma mater (Georgetown Visitation) since 1999.

To date, I am the ONLY designer that  has a dedicated White Graduation Dress Collection.

I have sold my White Graduation dresses to countless high end stores throughout the years including Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman. I currently sell them by private appointment at my Design Studio Loft. I also have a program called GRAD ON THE GO  for customers that are not in the New York area.

Dress Designer’s Guide to the PERFECT DRESS in 3 easy steps

I. Finding THE DRESS!!!

a. Bring your MOST trusted friends & advisers

Styles: Blythe, Holly, & Ballerina

 b. Choose unique, meaningful locations to shop like

Kathlin Argiro Design Studio

that will provide expert advice and a memorable experience!

 

Fantasy Couture

 c. Be open minded!

The perfect dress for you may look  different  than you expect!

Modern Chic

d. Explore all options and have FUN!

II.  Dressing your Besties!

Styles: Ballerina, Blake, Tiffany

Choose style(s) and Color based on:

a. What YOU love!

b. What will best suit the body types & personalities of your friends.

III. Brides & Bubbly Appointment

Kathlin Argiro Wedding Sheath

 Sip champagne, celebrate with friends,  and enjoy expert style advice at the Kathlin Argiro Studio Loft  in  Dumbo, Brooklyn.

To Schedule a private appointment contact:

Kat@KathlinArgiro or call 917 543 1773