Meet The Designers September 19, 2011

Sometimes I just have to pinch myself.  Am I really here?  Am I really meeting the actual designer of the beautiful merchandise we have at Leigh’s?  I rub my eyes.  The I rub them again…you know how you did it when you were a little kid and you just woke up?  Yes, that’s me.  I try to act cool – like, hey, no big deal, they’re just people like you and I, but inside – my stomach and my heart are giving each other high fives!!

Let’s talk about who we met….Matthew Campbell Laurenza the designer of M.C.L by Matthew Campbell Laurenza.  Here he is pictured with display trays of his gorgeous bangles.  I couldn’t take my eyes of the sparkling sapphires inset in sterling silver and white enamel frames.  He has developed a worldwide following of fans since starting his company in 1998.  Check out our on-line store to see some of his amazing items we have available:  www.shopleighs.com  Then we were in Christian Cota’s showroom looking at his beautiful spring ’12 collection when….he walks in!  Yes, I asked for a picture!  l-r Deb Wurfel, Rebecca Wierda, Christian Cota, Judy Scales. Christian Cota is a talent on the rise and increasingly recognized among both retailers and celebrities since starting his company in 2007. Notable actresses who have worn Christian Cota include Blake Lively, Emma Stone, Eva Mendes, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Tina Fey.  Style.com subsequently named Christian Cota one of their “Ten Newcomers to Watch”.   Then, of course, our most favorite designer we met with was Pamella Roland….Grand Rapids native, Pamella DeVos.  Her spring collecction…left me speechless…..gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!  We were treated to watching the photo shoot for her spring ’12 look book while we were in her showroom. It was just amazing to watch!  Did you see her gowns on the red carpet at the Emmys?  Celebrities LOVE Pamella Roland…as we do at Leigh’s!

As always, what a great trip we had to New York!

Great Trip To NYC August 12, 2011

Start spreadin’ the news..dah dah dah dah dah…we found some great fashion…..sing it with me!!  We just returned from New York this week after viewing some most amazing collections for…..spring ’12!  Isn’t that crazy?  We’re just receiving our fall merchandise and we already need to think about spring!  Some times I can’t keep my seasons straight!  Anyways….when we are in market we are constantly on the go…one appointment to the next, seemingly always running late  because there’s never a taxi when you need one,  totally focused at each appointment looking for the very best each line has to offer, ending our day happy, but exhausted and falling asleep the minute our head hits the pillow, getting up the next day and doing it all over again.  Yes, it’s a whirlwind, but we all love it and there are those moments we  just stop and enjoy little luxuries.  Here are two pictures of me, Judy Scales and Deb Wurfel partaking in those little luxuries.   First, at the RED Valentino showroom.  They treated us to iced mocha lattes…..beyond any comprehension of the word yummy and well worth the photo opt.   Then after our final appointment for the day, we went to the outdoor BP Cafe in Bryant Park  for a very late lunch/early dinner before we headed to the airport.  A glass of wine was in order to toast our good fortune of seeing so many amazing things.   What a great trip!

Judy Takes A Trip Of A Lifetime! July 11, 2011

Ask JudyScales, one of our buyers and fashion consultants, what she did last week and she might reply, “I died and went to heaven!”  Judy received an invitation to attend Rena Lange’s Berlin, Germany fashion show.  Now some people might pass on the opportunity because there happens to be a 9 hour flight involved, but Judy and MaryBeth Meijer said, “Hey, why not!”  Well, they had the most amazing time!  First, let’s just start with the beautiful city of Berlin….WOW…look at the picture of Judy by the canal (ok, I’m a little jealous).  Then, it’s off to the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week tents:  They walked the red carpet, saw an amazing runway presentation (which you can see on this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHJ4q_Lhgfs&feature=email)  and met the in house designer of Rena Lange backstage (ok, now I’m super jealous!!!).  Then to top it off they visited Rena Lange’s flagship store in Berlin.  Are you speechless?  I am – so I’ll write what I’m thinking.  Amazing. Incredible. Fantastic. Over-the-Top.  Yes, those are all words that come to mind, yet don’t fully describe this once in a lifetime trip!

Back From New York! February 11, 2011

What an incredible time we had in market this week!  This might be hard to grasp given that it is February and we still haven’t thawed out yet….but we were in New York to look at Fall 2011 merchandise.  We saw so much incredible fashion!!!  Our week started out with us visiting a new designer to Leigh’s…Shamask…Dutch designer, Ronaldus Shamask, was in the showroom (pic 1) talking to us about his designs – what a treat – loved his designs!  Then I have to tell you about this new restaurant we found (My friend, Patricia, spends a lot of time in NYC for work and recommended it as her new favorite):  Spice Market www.spicemarketnewyork.com.  What a cool spot and yummy food!!  It’s in the Meatpacking District and worth the cab ride if you are coming from Midtown Manhattan.  Lucky for us, we were at Rena Lange’s showroom (which, by the way, looked AMAZING)  for our last appointment of the day and Spice Market was just around the corner….just waiting for us to partake in a fabulous meal after a long day in market (pic 2:  Deb, Patrick, Rebecca, Judy).  Yesterday, we had more great appointments….one being Ralph Lauren Black Label.  Pic 3 is from their showroom.  Let’s just call it chocolate brown, louden luxe  or ” Honey, can we turn the heat down in the house this winter….I’m saving for my Ralph fall fashion!”   Finally, I had to throw in the less glamorous side of buying trips (pic 4:  Patrick, Rebecca, Deb, Judy)….airport boredom.  Yes, LaGuardia (affectionately known as LGA) is not necessarily my favorite part of the trip.  Fortunately, we were on time this go round….so it made for a very happy ending to our very exciting buying trip!!

Grand Rapids Art Museum Centennial Gala November 8, 2010

Pic 1:  Meg Goebel(wearing Isaac Mizrahi) and Brian Einhorn  Pic 2:  Doug and Nancy Padnos (wearing Tadashi Shoji)  Pic 3:  Erin Gravelyn (wearing Douglas Hannant) and Rebecca Wierda (wearing Pamella Roland) Pic 4:  Sue Jandernoa (wearing St. John), Deb Clark (wearing Theia), Patrick Plank (wearing Yves Saint Laurent) Anne England (wearing Theia), Jere Hinman (wearing Peggy Jennings), Judy Scales (wearing Marisa Baratelli) Pic 5: Rebecca Wierda, Meg Willit (wearing Pamella Roland), Tina Segard (wearing Tadashi Shoji)  Pic 6:  Meg Willit, Katie Oostema (wearing Badgley Mischka)  Pic 7: Eileen DeVries (wearing Pamella Roland)  Pic 8:  Mary Beth (wearing Douglas Hannant) and Mark Meijer  Pic 8:  Liesel Meijer (wearing Isaac Mizrahi), Pamella DeVos (wearing Pamella Roland), Rebecca Wierda

The Grand Rapids Art Museum’s Centennial Gala Saturday was an outstanding event!  The event raised over a million dollars for the museum and was the kick-off event to the much-anticipated Princess Diana exhibition.  The gala started at the JW Marriott with dinner and a program and then guests were shuttled over to the museum for dessert and a sneak peek at the exhibition.  Close to 700 people attended.  It certainly was the event of the season!  I couldn’t resist bringing my camera and taking pictures of several of the beautiful gowns that were purchased at Leigh’s.  I wish I could have had a chance to take pictures of everyone wearing a gown from Leigh’s, but the night just flew by!  Please feel free to forward me pictures that you took and I will gladly post them (rebecca@leighsfashions.com).  I also need to take a moment to thank my alterations team for making sure all of our customers were delighted with a perfectly fitted gown.  Our alterations team worked extra hours and did last-minute alts – up until 5:30pm the night of the event!!  You ladies are amazing – thank you!!

Junior League Event with Emily Giffin June 21, 2010

Pic:  Liesel Meijer, Neva Hundley, Stacey Watt, Emily Giffin, Rebecca Wierda, Erin Gravelyn, Judy Scales, Deb Clark.          Leigh’s recently was an in kind sponsor (yes, we did some amazing goodie bags!) for the Grand Rapids Junior League event with guest speaker,  author Emily Griffin.  Prior to Emily speaking, there was an informal meet and greet on the deck at the JW Marriot with Emily.  Ok, she is so much fun….if we lived by each other, she could be my BFF (Best Friends Forever).  She is only 38 years old, married, mother of twins, best selling author and now her books are being made into movies…starting with Something Borrowed starring Kate Hudson.  Yes, I think she’s an over-achiever…but a really fun over-achiever!!  Check out her web site for more info on her charmed life….  www.EmilyGiffin.com  We also received a signed copy of her new book, Heart of the Matter….can’t wait to read it!  Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention she has great style.  Loved the little black dress she was wearing – darling!

What a Party! March 26, 2010

Pic 1:  Our model, Anna.   Pic 2:  It’s the little Lilly girl, Holly…adorable!  Pic 3: Pre-party team photo opt! Back row l-r: Katie Oostema, Tammi Smits, Kati Drew, Carol Slomp, Mandi Lehman, Judy Scales, Deb Clark Front row l- r: Carol Turner, Pat Klimas-Reinhardt, Rebecca Wierda Pic 4: Lilly shop Pic 5: Gracie and Erin check out the Chinchilla Pic 5: Rebecca Wierda & Patrick Plank in their Lilly best!

Thanks to everyone who came to our Pre-Spring Break Party yesterday!  We had so much fun celebrating the opening of our Lilly Pulitzer shop within Leigh’s.  Patrick had our store looking spectacular!  The John Ball Zoo had  visiting animals that the kids loved.  We had live music, yummy food and tax-free shopping!  It was a great day!

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!