NYC Sample Sales: September 24-30, 2012

Who: Suzanna Dai, Alexandra Satine and Dareen Hakim
What: Enjoy a night of shopping new and past season samples from 3 emerging designers at up to 80% off retail.  Snag Suzanna Dai's gorgeous hand beaded costume jewelry - including necklaces, earrings, bracelets. Scope out Alexandra Satine's lovely convertible leather handbags that go from day to night in the blink of an eye and Dareen Hakim's bold, unexpected leather handbags.
When: September 26, 2012. Wed 5pm-9pm
Where: The Soho House, 29 - 35 9th Avenue (b/n 13th & 14th St)

Who: Showroom Seven Sample Sale
What: Up to 80% off designer clothing and accessories at the Showroom Seven Fall/Winter Sample Sale. Featuring Erickson Beamon, Orla Kiely, Issa London, Leibeskind, Denimocracy, Twenty Cluny, JohnnyWas, and many more. Nightly Happy Hour from 5 to 7. Liebeskind Berlin vintage leather bags: $200 (orig. $349). Issa London metallic dresses: $729 (orig. $1,275). Erickson Beamon Swarovski-crystal necklaces: $611 (orig. $1,528).
Where: 263 11th Avenue, 3rd Floor (b/n 27th & 28th St). 212-643-4810.
When: Now through September 28, 2012. Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm

Preview and Interview: Suzie by Suzanna Dai

It's been a while since our interview with friend and jewelry designer Suzie Gallehugh for Suzanna Dai. She just launched a hot new diffusion line, Suzie by Suzanna Dai and I got the chance to preview the pieces a couple weeks ago.

I was super excited for the launch as I love Suzie's jewelry but unfortunately haven't been able to afford any pieces of my own. Perhaps that will change soon :) The diffusion line will retail for $175-200 for necklaces and $65-75 for the earrings. It's hard for me to pick my fave piece but for now I think I'm gonna have to go with the circle necklace pictured above with pewter studs, rhinestones, and brass tube beads.

I thought with the launch of her collection, it would be the perfect time for me to check in with Suzie and see what's been happening since March, about her line, her must buy for Fall and her top 3 NYC things to eat/do. Hope you enjoy!

SRC: Hi Suzie, I'm so glad to have this chance to finally catch up with you. So much has happened since our interview back in March; your pieces were worn on Gossip Girl and featured in InStyle Magazine! What’s been the most exciting part of it all?

SG: I know, a lot has happened - I can’t believe it’s already almost Christmas! I think the coolest part has been that people are starting to recognize my pieces and my line - it’s very exciting.

SRC: I'm in particular excited about your new diffusion line Suzie by Suzanna Dai! What prompted you to start a diffusion line? Suzie by Suzanna Dai seems bolder, chunkier and brighter to me. How do you think it differs from your signature collection?

SG: Well, everyone knows how the economy has been doing, and most people have had to re-adjust their budgets and shopping habits because of it, so it only made sense to offer a diffusion line. The Suzie line still features the same aesthetic, but with a younger vibe...It’s kind of the fun younger sister to the more sophisticated Suzanna Dai line.

SRC: I really feel you've grown so much as a designer with each collection! Has anything in particular spurred your growth or given you new confidence?

SG: It’s very important to me to always maintain my own vision and translate current trends, that I may or may not love, into my own viewpoint, and present them in a way in which I would wear them. I want to be free to explore and create in different ways and not be boxed strictly into a specific category, so my aim is to constantly be evolving. In such a competitive market, I think it is the only way to stay alive.

SRC: Aside from one of your gorgeous statement necklaces, what is one investment piece that every girl needs for her closet this fall?

SG: Obviously, I think a big necklace is neccessary. Other than that, I have been dying for a pair of over-the-knee boots. They look so great.

SRC: You mentioned last interview that your travels were a huge inspiration; do you have any upcoming trips planned?

SG: I have been thinking about going to Russia this summer - St Petersburg and Moscow. I’ve never been, and I took 5 years of Russian in high school and college, so I think it’s high time I go!

SRC: When you're not working what are your top 3 things to do/eat in NYC?

SG: 1) thrift shopping in Brooklyn - I usually go every other month to Beacon’s Closet to trade out clothes and find new projects to work on; 2) LOVE Thai food, so friends and I sometimes meet up at Room Service for dinner; 3) seeing foreign/independent films at the IFC Center, the Angelika, or the Landmark Sunshine.

SRC: Thank you for joining us once again! You’ll definitely have to let us know what you have in store for Spring 2010!

SG: Definitely! Thanks for having me!

Preview: Suzanna Dai Fall 2009

Antwerp Collection

Back in March, I posted an interview with up and coming jewelry designer, Suzie Gallehugh (of Suzanna Dai). She had told us that for Fall 2009 she was going to bring us "more neutral colors, but still with a lot of glitz". Just this week she launched her sophomore effort and I really love the results.

Antwerp Necklace on Blake Lively

My fave piece was actually one I saw on the designer herself a couple months ago. She had told me it was for her upcoming Fall line so I was super excited to see more! The necklace is from the Antwerp Collection, it's a bold piece but is full of intricate details from metal beadwork and delicate chains. If you think it looks a little familiar, perhaps you caught a glimpse it on Blake Lively during Gossip Girl!

I also thought that the baroque feeling I got from the St Petersburg collection would definitely make dark romance kind of statement! The satin cord, jet beading and mesh overlay make it fit for a modern day Czarina.

Finally, I also appreciated the fun tropical but earthy feel of the Amazonia collection which features real beetle wings!

Also important to note, Suzie also brought back my previous fave style the Monte Carlo, in a whole new variety of shades including amethyst, noir and bronze.

The Suzanna Dai collection is currently available at:
Bergdorf Goodman, Takashimaya, Sucre and Debut in New York;
Sassanova in Baltimore and Washington, DC
Fred Segal Rocks (Los Angeles)
Vermillion (Raleigh, NC)
Calypso stores nationwide

Prices start at $165 for earrings, $245 for cuffs and $365 for necklaces. For more info and to see more collections please visit SuzannaDai.com.

Suzanna Dai Trunk Show

I interviewed Suzie Gallehugh a couple weeks back I just updated the post with a new question that I never got to ask about her brand name. Also, Suzie will be holding a trunk show this coming weekend in Williamsburg. It's your chance to meet Suzie and see her Spring/Summer 2009 collection up close and personal. In other news, her collection just got picked up to be in Bergdorf Goodman this May, so expect to see alot more of her going forward!

Who: Suzanna Dai
What: Trunk Show of Spring/Summer 2009 Collection Preview
When: Saturday March 21, 2009. 1-4pm
Where: 93 North 6th Street. (b/n Berry and Wythe) Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Enter through The Lovin' Cup Cafe.

Interview: Suzanna Dai

We took some time to catch up with up-and-coming jewelry designer, Suzie Gallehugh for Suzanna Dai, about her start up story, travels and love of vintage. I actually met Suzie last year as she was freelancing and in the process of starting up her own company. I got to see some of her design sketches, prototypes and works in process, so it's amazing for me know to get a chance to catch up with her about her beautiful and intricate pieces and see her dreams come full circle.

SRC: Hi Suzie, we’re so glad you’re here and doing this interview with us!
SG: Me too!!

SRC: Where does your brand name come from?
SG: Suzanna Dai is my first and middle name. My dad came up with it, and I have no idea where he got "Dai" from or what it means. I asked him, and he said he just liked how it sounds, so that's that. Also, Dai is pronounced like "day," NOT "die." It's easy to get confused about that.

SRC: So your Suzanna Dai jewelry line is going to be carried in CALYPSO Christiane Celle boutiques nation-wide soon, congratulations!!! How did you make it happen?
SG: I walked into the Calypso boutique on Madison Avenue and told them about my jewelry line, Suzanna Dai. They referred me to the jewelry and accessories buyer, who I then contacted about my line. It took a lot of emails and follow-up phone calls, but I was finally able to get an appointment with the buyer, and she loved it! They placed an order about a week later, so my persistence paid off. The line should hit their stores around mid-April.

SRC: You have a background in both Fashion and Home Fashion, what prompted you to go into jewelry design? Also, do your past work experiences affect the way you design now?
SG: I most recently worked for a luxury tabletop design company, whose specialty was beaded placemats and napkin rings. While I was working there, I started making beaded swatches to send to the vendors in India, so they would have a better understanding of the beading techniques I wanted to use on the placemat designs. Then I realized that some of the swatches would make really great jewelry, so I started doing that. I’ve always loved embellishments, as well as jewelry, so it was kind of a natural progression. I think my past work experiences do affect the way I design now. Even though my line is high-end, I still have to pay attention to costs, and I learned this lesson at all my previous jobs. However, I also learned to go with my gut and do what I believe in.

SRC: As an emerging designer what’s the most challenging part of your day to day? SG: I’d say managing cash flow and time. I have to make sure I make the best use of my time, and sometimes it can be a challenge.

SRC: Your collection is said to be inspired by your travels, what is the most fascinating city you’ve visited and why?
SG: I’d have to say Havana, Cuba, simply because it is probably one of the only cities left in the world that has been untouched by American culture. I was there almost 10 years ago, and it still tops my list. The people are so warm and friendly, music fills the air, and you feel as if you have stepped back in time. Once you dig deeper, though, you start to discover the hardships the people have had to endure, and it’s amazing that they can remain so optimistic and happy. It’s an amazing city.

SRC: You are a lover of vintage fashion; you always have some amazing finds! Do you have any favorite places that you shop?
SG: It’s hard to find good deals in the city, so I usually do my vintage shopping in North Carolina or other places outside of New York. I do like Beacon’s Closet in Williamsburg, but you have to dig through a lot of junk to find something good. You’ll also most likely have to make repairs if you do find something, and that’s what gets me into trouble. I always end up buying some ripped, stained dress that at one time was probably beautiful, and of course I imagine returning it to its former glory, with just a few alterations. Then it ends up sitting for months in my “fix it” pile, which has grown so large it’s threatening to take over my apartment! But I love vintage – the thrill of a good find is my addiction.

SRC: Any jewelry trends that our readers should be on the lookout for with their next purchase or hints to what is inspiring your next collection?
SG: Well, statement jewelry is huge now, as I’m sure you know. I think it’s so great because you can really dress up a “down” outfit and change your whole look without breaking the bank. A lot of my necklaces would look just as great worn with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt as with a cocktail dress. I definitely think this trend is going to stay around for a while. For Fall 09, I see more neutral colors, but still with a lot of glitz. I think people are really looking for something special, and I hope to provide it for them.

SRC: Thanks so much for your time Suzie! It was nice to have you join us!
SG: Thanks for having me! Your blog is great!!

To view Suzie's entire collection, please visit suzannadai.com. Or you can stop by Sucre (357 Bleecker) and Debut (298 Mulberry) in New York City and Calypso, Nationwide.

Two of my favorite pieces. Monte Carlo Necklace Right, Salvador da Bahia Bib Necklace Left