ArtPrize – What a Success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic 1: Leigh’s customers, Julie DeLanoy & Madelon Hassberger Pic 2: ArtPrize afterglow party Pic 3: Rebecca & Scott Wierda
Last night was the big announcement everyone had been waiting for….who would win ArtPrize. Kudos to Ran Ortner’s Open Water No. 24 – our first ArtPrize winner! I personally loved all of the top 10. What a wonderful conversation for Grand Rapids!! My husband and I were downtown last night for the announcement and the afterglow party which was sassy chic attire. Everyone stepped it up and there was lots of fun fashion to see…I’m proud to say that I saw so many great looks that came from Leigh’s!!

Fun from NYC

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!

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!

Another Great Trip to NYC!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were in NYC last week checking out resort collections for delivery October – December.  Above is a picture of me at the Cole Haan showroom.  If you’re looking at beautiful merchandise, you might as well have some fun with it.  And, of course, I can be a big ham if need be!  Also, double top secret, but I am going to share with you…we are bringing 3.1 Phillip Lim into our store starting in November.  You’re going to love it!  The rest of our buy will have to remain under wraps so that you have some surprises when you come to see us!

Shopping with my Sister

I am so proud of my team. I have to share with you. My little sister, Amy, was in from Minnesota and asked if I would take her shopping. She deams herself a hard fit because she carries her weight in her lower body…a blessing from my dad. I had on the agenda to bring her to Leigh’s on Saturday. In the morning she informed me that I probably couldn’t fit her and that we should look at a local department store. So, begrudgingly, I take her to a local department store….remember…I never shop anywhere but Leigh’s, so this is killing me. After 30 pairs of pants, gobs of tops, we walk out with two pairs of pants and a few shirts. Amy then tells me that she needs to get more of the perfume that I gave her for Christmas…Trish McEvoy Sexy 9…and can we go to Leigh’s. I, of course, am most agreeable. We get to Leigh’s and we start out in cosmetics. Carol and Riese suggest to Amy that for summer she should try a lighter fragrance such as Trish’s Sexy 4. Amy smells a sample and loves it and appreciates the suggestion. While she’s over in cosmetics having fun, I share with Gail and Pat my frustration at the department store. Not one person helped us and I’m not even thrilled with the fit of the items we did get. They then suggest that Amy tries Tribal and Not Your Daughter’s Jeans (NYDJ). We take 4 pairs of pants into the fitting. Amy puts on the NYDJ….oh my word….she looks hot! I told her she has a Beyonce’ butt. These jeans make her curves look great! She is just thrilled! Then we try on a pair of capri’s from Tribal. Now, Amy does not own a pair of capri’s because she thinks they make her legs look thick. Well, not these capri’s, they are a perfect fit. We then start looking at some great little jackets to pair up with her new pants. We make sure things are interchangable, so she can have several different looks. It was such amazing service. Amy was having fun and finding looks that really flattered her figure. And my team was having fun. My mom called me later to tell me that Amy had the best time ever, most fun shopping ever and that she was made to feel so special. Kudos to my team. I am so proud of them!
PS: We did make a stop on the way home to the local department store to return the items we purchased there earlier in the day.

Greetings from Florida!

Thank goodness that my children have spring break! It makes for a wonderful reason to go to Florida to enjoy warmth and sunshine! It was so easy to pack my suitcase….Michael Stars t-shirts, G-1 shorts, J Brand boyfriend jeans, Vince boyfriend T’s, two cute ensembles from Alice + Oliva and capris from Vineyard Vines. Shoes that made the trip consisted of sandels from Stuart Weitzman, Cole Haan and Donald Pliner. Yes, it is true, everything – don’t forget accessories and make-up- came from Leigh’s. I am proof that Leigh’s can be your one stop shopping experience! Hope to see you next week when I get back.

We’re Back!

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!

Couture For A Cure Is A Huge Success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic 1: Live runway shot.  Pic2:  Deb Clark, Leigh’s Lead Buyer, our models for the event and Patrick Plank.  Pic 3:  Designer Brian Wolk, Carol Van Andel, Designer Claude Morais, Rebecca Wierda, Patrick Plant  Pic 4: Guests enjoying lunch.  Pic 5:  Behind the scenes, Mandi, Laura Mercier make-up artist and Leigh’s Carol Slomp get the models looking their best

What an amazing event Couture For A Cure was today!  Some 175 guest attended the fashion show hosted by Dave and Carol Van Andel and Leigh’s.  It featured the best of fall from Leigh’s and a sneak peek at Ruffian’s 2009 spring collection.  Today’s event was to raise funds for important research and science education at the Van Andel Institute.  It was held in the grand gallery of their facility.  Huntington Bank was the lead sponsor.  Guests enjoyed Naya’s bag lunches around bistro tables, were able to get their make-up touched up at the Laura Mercier table and purchased raffle tickets for a beautiful brooch from Hoffman Jewelers. Then everyone took their seats and were treated to a New York style runway show!  Great fashion!  Great Food!  Great Fundraiser!

Nigel Barker and Laura Mercier’s Luis Soto Visit Leigh’s!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic 1:  Betsy, Pamella and Elissa DeVos with Nigel Barker. Pic 2: Luis Soto consults a customer.  Pic 3: WLHT DJ Kim Carson, Luis Soto and WLHT make-over winner.  Pic 4: Rebecca Wierda, Pamella DeVos, Nigel Barker before stepping out into the party. Pic 5: Joe DeVries mixing some music. Pic 6:  Party pic!  Pic 7:  Maria and Pamella DeVos, Nigel Barker and  Kim Schermer.  Pic 8  Katie and Anna Oostema with Nigel.  Pic 9:  Mimi Amash with Nigel.  Pic 10:  Meg Willit get’s an autograph from Nigel for a Make-A-Wish child.  Pic 11:  Steve and Julie DeLanoy with Nigel.

Thursday was a big day at Leigh’s!!!!  We started the day off with our Laura Mercier make-up event featuring Global Make-up Artist Luis Soto.  As the day progressed, anticipation ran high for our cocktail reception in which Designer Pamella DeVos of Pamella Roland and Nigel Barker (noted fashion photographer and judge on America’s Next Top Model)  arrived to meet and greet with our customers!  Leigh’s was rockin’!  We had a male model greeting guests at the door, a DJ mixing music for us, Erika’s Deli Bistro Market served fabulous drinks and hors d’oeuvres, Laura Mercier make-up artists were giving everyone fresh fall looks, Cynthia Rose and Pamella Roland chiffon gown collection trunk shows for everyone to view and then there was Nigel totally game for taking pictures with Leigh’s customers and friends.  I’ve been getting e-mail after e-mail on how much fun everyone had and what a great party it was!!  I have lots more pictures than I’m showing, so if you want to have yours, just stop by the store and I’ll have them ready by Monday afternoon.  Thanks to everyone for attending and making it a successful event!

Go to Nigel’s blog to see Nigel’s perspective on his visit to Grand Rapids for the Grand Rapids Art Museum

http://www.nigelbarker.tv/blog/index.php

 

Yes, There Is A Stuart Weitzman!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuart Weitzman and Rebecca Wierda

Last week was great, I was in New York at the Stuart Weitzman showroom buying shoes for spring and in walks Stuart Weitzman!  He took time to speak with me about the collection and his inspiration for the design.  Look in the background  of the picture – all those fabulous shoes!   I know spring is a long way out, but you are going to love the spring shoes that we selected!  Oh, and by the way, come in now and see the amazing fall shoes we have for you!