Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Joanne Teichman - Why I Love Retail: David Rees; Ron Anderson; Irene Neuwirth; Cathy Waterman; Gurhan, Fiona & Tipsy; Catherine Michiels; Jamie & Jeremy Joseph, and a Cast of Thousands

Cheers!
Celebrating Von's Birthday
Jamie, Alysa & Jeremy (September)
Since college, I have worked continuously in one career after another, and for the most part, loved them all. But this fall -- amidst the start of our holiday trunk show season -- I am reminded why I love retail the best. Being around talent, creativity, amazing senses of humor, passionate staffers, happy florists, my family, treasured friends, devoted clients and an occasional 4 legged friend convinced me that nothing holds a candle to my cozy spot at Ylang 23. Where else can you find Jeremy Joseph helping to perfect Jamie's display cases, and our daughter Alysa showing up to shop the show for a special Jamie Joseph ring. Or surprise birthday celebrations for staffers which seem to be coming at a fast clip. Some friends just can't resist the invitation for cupcakes (and you know who you are!). 


Staffers & Irene & Woju
It was really fun hosting Irene Neuwirth & her stabilizer Woju, and "throwing Irene under the bus" when a TV crew dropped by to film the store and me, and I inserted Irene instead. So sorry for that but it might be retaliation for last year's event called "Need to adopt a dog in Dallas in the middle of a trunk show". Eddie is still waiting for you to bring Teddy back to his home state.


Lights! (No Makeup) Cameras!
Everyone loved getting the scoop from Ron and David (Ten Thousand Things) about helping Gregory Parkinson with his New York Fashion Week show for Spring 2011 (it rocked!) and mooning over Ron's shoes, bags and their new tattoos, not to mention cooking up new uses for their just released enamel necklaces (bracelet? anklet! let's just make dining room chandeliers out of them!).
Ron & David & Fans & Staff - September




Enamel Cups & Me
I have a love affair with my four legged friend Tipsy who I photograph every year in Vegas, oh, and I like Fiona and Gurhan too! Eddie's feelings are hurt that Tipsy rejected his friendship, since Fiona and I had planned a meeting of the two. It was fun last week when a client called and I handed the phone to Fiona as a surprise. And I see a sense of wonder (WOW@!) when friends and clients take their first look at a trunk show collection; that makes all the work it took to get to that moment worthwhile.

I am not the earliest of risers but love it when uber talented Rick & his boss Jeff bring the newest floral installation. That and a Starbucks rock my day! 




I could go on and on and on -- about so many design and tech talents, including Evan & Danny (and the rest of my other Geeks at Insite) who respond immediately to my panicked messages in the middle of the night or help in a non-web project (Hint: bag); Candace who makes house calls to go over ads; designers' staffers who are now friends and make me look good (Melanie, Meegan, Dana, Gretchen, Jackie, Melissa, Michele, Naomi, et al); my Twitter and Facebook friends who keep me connected even though my family grumbles; a new set of talents in Colorado who are working on the most incredible project to be launched in November; and most of all, the many friends I have made along the way. 


But wait! There's more! We look forward to visits from Cheryl Finnegan (aka "Finn", designer of Virgins, Saints & Angels) in her first ever trunk show visit in the United States; Todd Reed (master of rough cut and mogul diamonds and such a nice guy!); and my friend Cathy Waterman who makes holiday happen with a special appearance in December.          


From Arkansas to Cincinnati to New York, from soap bars at Procter & Gamble to being one of the "Mad Women" in advertising on Madison Avenue in the '80's, working with some of the top creative minds on the planet, and then moving with Charles 25 years ago to Dallas and my cozy spot at Ylang 23. There's no place like retailing for me.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Joanne Teichman: My Glorious Day as Style Editor for Polyvore, Partnering with Stand Up to Cancer to Raise Awareness for Breast Cancer

A Contest Entry from "Show Her Some Love"
I had serious fun yesterday as Style Editor for the day at Polyvore, in conjunction with our partnership with them and Stand Up to Cancer to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Little did I know when we discussed with Polyvore on the project, that I would even be Style Editor for the day, but with a quick tutorial from Jen, Milee & Nadia (my Polyvore lifelines!), I was up early with a triple Starbucks and at my computer answering fashion questions.

A Contest Entry from "Show Her Some Love"
Polyvore had challenged the Polyvore Community to ask me about how I "stay strong and fashionable throughout it all", referring to my breast cancer experience 8 years ago.
Truth be told, no one asked me that. But I had a blast with the Polyvore Community all the way to 11:30 pm when I folded, having answered almost 100 questions.

- Do you know that your 12 year old daughter might be in her closet with her computer at 10 pm asking anyone in the Polyvore Community what she should wear to school the next day?
- Are you ready to help someone decide on black vs. brown boots?
- Can you help a teenager decorate her room with a zebra theme to impress her sleepover friends?
- Can you tell a teenager what to do with a blue sweater her Mom bought her without her consent?

How would you answer these questions?

- What do I put with this floral skirt?
- What do I wear with my Sperrys? (This was obviously a problem last night as I got several requests)
- Should I stop shopping at Forever 21 and switch to Zara?
- What do I wear on my one month anniversary date with my boyfriend?
- How do I dress pretty and trashy at the same time?
- What can I wear to school with a Bat Mitzvah T-shirt we have been asked to wear?
- What would Ken (as in Barbie) wear on a day to day basis?
- What should I wear on Halloween?

I had a blast, and if you want to see my answers, here's the link (which is only good til they name a new style expert, but after me, can anyone follow?) http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/advice.browse?type=expert

A Contest Entry from "Show Her Some Love"
This is absolutely the most fun I've had all week, oh, that and making Polyvores. Please, if you haven't already made one to honor the special woman in your life, Grandmother, Mom, Sister, Friend, anyone.....it is free and fun and you will be entering a contest for prizes and fame. As I write this blog entry, I am staggered by the 1047 Polyvores which have been made to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. You should see them and be touched, and you should add yours to this amazing wall of creativity: http://www.polyvore.com/show_her_some_love/contest.show?id=214779

A Contest Entry from "Show Her Some Love"

Entries from "Show Her Some Love"

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Joanne Teichman: October = Breast Cancer Month, Polyvore, Ylang 23 and Stand Up to Cancer


October is for: crisp weather; turning leaves (unless you live in Dallas); post season baseball (please, another day? when it comes to the Texas Rangers); the Texas State Fair (which I am dodging due to the seduction of funnel cakes, corn on the cob and cotton candy); Breast Cancer Month; and my own diagnosis 8 years ago. This year will be especially sweet, as we are partnering with Polyvore and Stand Up to Cancer to raise awareness for Breast Cancer through a contest which starts tomorrow, October 11 and ends midnight October 18 with prizes and a donation we will make to this amazing organization.

You might ask, what's Polyvore? Polyvore is the leading community site (1.2 million registered users worldwide!) for online style where users curate fashion items and set trends around the world. Remember making paper dolls and dressing them as a kid? In a way, that's what it is, 21st century style. This is so much cooler. The Polyvore contest will challenge everyone to make a Polyvore set in honor or memory of a loved one who was touched by breast cancer. I'm ahead of the game and have already made one in memory of my Mother, and will also make one in memory of my Mother-in-Law.


This October, I give gratitude for my health and for the many sweet occasions I have celebrated with my family in the last 8 years: graduations, trips, and special friends I have met along the way, including Jenny Birge, who made the same journey after me and with the same amazing oncologist, Joyce O'Shaughnessy (they are pictured together at an event to benefit the Breast Bridge Network in Dallas) and friend Priscilla Beshears who chaired the event.

Alysa's High School Graduation
Family Trip to Normandy
Visiting Christo's Gates in NYC
Jenny Birge & Dr. Joyce O'Shaunessey
On my surgery day in 2002, Jake got a crab. The diversion worked!!

Stand up to cancer by creating a Polyvore set to show an important woman in your life - whether mother, daughter, or friend - that you care. Write a nice note in your set description, submit to our contest, and share your set... via Twitter or Facebook. Also, tweet your set to @polyvore and Polyvore will re-tweet it to help spread the love! Together we can succeed and find a cure. It is time to Stand Up 2 Cancer! To enter, please visit the link below from 10/11-18:
http://bit.ly/9aS6xn