So I have to brag….Patrick Plank, Leigh’s fabulous and oh so talented Creative/Visual Merchandising Director has been asked to be a guest speaker by Kendall College of Art and Design for their Window on Fashion and Jewelry Design Career Event. Patrick is one of five speakers who also include….Maria Pinto (we hosted trunk shows for this exceptional designer), Brian Weaver VP Creative Services at Kenneth Cole, Elad Barouch Original Product Designer and Alan Lugo Designer and Global Product Development at Wolverine World Wide. The event will be Wednesday, March 21. Congrats Patrick! Click here for more information! Fashion Metals Career Day 2011-2012
Ahhh…Dazzling Window Displays! November 29, 2010
The holidays are here! The holidays are here! Hopefully everyone enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving! I certainly ate in celebration of my steadfast thankfulness…and boy was I thankful…..I think I’m going to have to size up in my pants to accommodate!! Whew! Well, this discussion of my eating habits was not my intent for this post. My real intent was to discuss the holidays. Look at these pictures - the first is one of our amazing store window displays and the other is a display within the store. This is the creation of our wonderful creative director, Patrick Plank. Look at the detail! Each window is creatively different and certainly worth you coming to see . The two main windows were inspired by two fashionable holiday film classics: “Bell, Book and Candle” from 1958 and ”Auntie Mame” also released in 1958. Both windows will have a framed “explanation of the inspiration” in the corner area of the window with a miniature movie camera light focused on it. Honestly, I walk through out our store and I am just dazzled by Patrick’s work. And more importantly….because I haven’t even started….it gets me in the mood to shop, Shop, SHOP! And after all my feasting this past weekend – I needed that little extra inspiration to get me in the festive shopping mode! I haven’t ever looked it up, but I bet you can burn a lot of calories when you shop – BONUS!
Great Job Patrick! May 18, 2010
Our fabulous creative director, Patrick Plank, was one of of 12 designers or floral artists selected to participate in the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s inaugral Art in Bloom competition. The event took place last weekend and invited participants to create floral pieces inspired by works from GRAM’s permanent collection. Patrick was assigned the Calder sculptures Red Rudder and Animobile. Personally, I think coming up with a floral arrangement for these works of art would be highly challenging!!! But, leave it to Patrick to come up with something amazing….I knew he would! And his talent and effort was rewarded….I am excited to report that Patrick won one of the People’s Choice awards! Congrats Patrick!
Fun from NYC September 28, 2009
Our buyers had a great market trip last week in New York. The top picture is from the Ports 1961 showroom. Their deck overlooks the Hudson River. We (Deb W, Judy S, Patrick & Rebecca) couldn’t help ourselves and take just a moment for a beautiful photo opt! The middle picture is Nina Garcia, one of the judges from Project Runway. We ran into her at the Calvin Klein showroom. The last picture is of Patrick looking at collection sketches in the Isaac Mizrahi showroom. We will be having a trunk show with Isaac Mizrahi on October 7 & 8 with the ability for you to order from the Spring 2010 collection. Also, a little restaurant note if you are going into the city…check out Pescatore Spuntino at 957 Second Ave between 50th and 51st. Yummy Italian…www.pescatorerestaurant.com.
To Market, To Market! July 27, 2009
It’s time for us to head back to New York for market! I can’t wait! It’s hard to believe we’re going to be looking at Spring 2010 already when we are just receiving Fall 2009 in the store. Deb and Kati R will be there next week and I will be there the following week with Judy S and Patrick. I promise to send some tweets from Twitter while we’re there! You can follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/LeighsFashions if you want to stay posted! Also, always an open invite….if there are certain lines that you love that we don’t carry at the store, let us know….we’d love to check them out!
Pre Spring Break Party was Beachy! March 30, 2009
Pic 1: Judy North and Judy Scales offered to be back-up singers with our guitarist/singer. Pic 2: Leigh’s customers enjoy refreshments at the Tiki Bar with Patrick.
Thanks to all of our wonderful customers who joined us for our pre spring break party on Thursday. Our store was decked out in a tropical, beach theme, we had live music, yummy refreshments and lots of great fashion to take with you on spring break! If you weren’t able to make it to our party, don’t worry, we still have lots of goodies for your suitcase, too!
We Had A Great Evening! February 27, 2009
Pic1: Customers Darcy Critchell, Danelle Kistka & Sandee Waddell Pic 2: Anna models Alice & Olivia as Patrick discusses trends Pic 3: Neal Fenkell from Prada eye wear
Everyone enjoyed a fun “girl’s night out” last night at our Wine, Women and What to Wear. Patrick Plank discussed the best in new spring trends. Our beautiful models, Anna, Sam, Anda and Senika looked amazing in all of their different fashion looks as well as showing the latest in spring make-up trends from YSL, Trish McEvoy and Laura Mercier. We also hosted trunk shows from Prada eye wear, Mycra Pac & Prosecco NYC. Thank you to all of our customers for joining us. We appreciate you shopping locally with us!
We’re Back! February 21, 2009
pic1: Pamella Roland runway show…my favorite look! pic2: Paris Hilton at Pamella Roland pic3: Kellie Pickler and Rebecca Wierda pic4: l-r Judy Scales, Rebecca Wierda, Patrick Plank, Erin Gravelyn & Deb Wurfel
We had a great week in market! We had a itinerary that was jammed. We started our first appointments at 8am and finished most days at 7-8pm. However, we did manage to go to a few runway shows. Of course, we wouldn’t miss Pamella Roland. I have pictures above. Her collection looked amazing! She also had a lot of celebrities in attendance. It was crazy when Paris and Nicki Hilton walked in…photographers swarmed them! Kellie Pickler was also there and I was able to take a picture with her – fun! She is so sweet!
I also am showing you a picture of us at dinner. We finished Wednesday night down in SoHo. We were exhausted and wet….we had been walking in the rain all afternoon and never had time for lunch. We treated ourselves to a fabulous dinner at Cafe Falai. It’s an Italian restaurant known for homemade pastas and pasties…mmmm!!! I would highly recommend it to you if you’re going to be in NYC soon.
This week we will be placing our orders for fall…I can’t wait for you to see the best of the best this fall!
l’amour de Leigh’s February 12, 2009
Pic: Patrick Plank and Carol Slomp with “love potions”!!
Valentine’s Day is only days away! Leigh’s has fun in store for you. Patrick Plank, our Creative Director, is creating personalized Valenitines for you or your cheri while you shop today. This has been a tradition that Patrick does every year….the cards are amazing! We also have a Trish McEvoy event on Friday and Saturday (2.13 & 2.14) to get a fresh look for your love. Call Carol S. in cosmetics at 616.942.6300 to schedule your appointment. And finally, we have love potions for you! Sip a Valentini and enjoy chocolate fondue while you shop an exclusive assortment of seductive fragrances, including YSL’s Elle, Prada and Marc Jacobs. And because it’s all about chemistry, we have fragrances for the special man in your life as well. We’ll even give you 10% off fragrances now thru February 14! Happy Valetine’s Day! We LOVE our customers!
Myth #47 December 2, 2008
Myth #47: Never give a pet as a gift. Patrick has been at it again…our store windows look amazing! Cleverly, he has come up with myths that can be dispelled such as giving a pet as a gift…well, of course you would be pleased to give or receive a ”pet” if it were a Judith Leiber crystal handbag in the shape of a dog. Santa’s treasure chest opens and closes revealing our little pooch. This dog even comes with papers! If you haven’t seen our windows in person, it’s worth the visit…it will put a smile on your face!
