DORÉ

This fashion week, we thought it would be fun to follow a some of our favorite people around to see what fashion week looks like through their eyes (you already know what it’s like for us!)– so here is Lisa, she is a buyer for Opening Ceremony here in New York. Here is what her fashion week looks like…

Tell us how you start your days during fashion week? Coffee? Tea? A favorite spot?

I start my days with a few emails before heading to The Smile To Go [Editor’s Note: This is right around the corner from our office too, and we go all the time…] for coffee. It’s across the street from the store, and most days I’ll walk through the store to check on the new season deliveries before heading out to appointments and shows.

How do you plan your day with all the shows and buying appointments?

We have to ensure we have a well thought out schedule and have appointments next to each other rather than heading in too many different directions. During market it can get crazy with our appointments, as well as attending the shows for our current brands and the new brands on our radar, but I work within a great team and we divide and conquer.

I don’t think people are as trend driven in New York, everyone seems to have such a strong sense of style and individuality.

How do you make a selection for your buy? What are you looking for? Are there certain colors for next spring or specific styles?

I have the customer in my head and think about why they would buy it, where they would wear it to, if it would be accessible to them, etc. I try to trust my instincts and be decisive, stick with my initial thought process. It’s a business as well as a creative process, instead cherry picking the ‘best’ styles, I’m analyzing what has worked in the past and understanding the customer. There are so many different ways a collection can be edited, and sometimes it’s immediately obvious when I see the collection how I want the rail to look in store.

I don’t think people are as trend driven in New York, everyone seems to have such a strong sense of style and individuality. At least that is what I see amongst our customers and co-workers. When I think about trends, it’ll be about new shapes rather than big overriding themes.

Do you have a favorite part about being a buyer?

I love working with creative, passionate people. Working with young emerging designers is very inspiring, they are so passionate about what they do and often have a very strong individual viewpoint. It makes my job very fulfilling to give some direction to the young brands that are super creative but might need some advice in building their business and commerciality.

How do you find new designers? Is going to their shows or presentations important?

There’s a real mix of us going to every showroom, new presentations and then also getting emails from new brands. We get a ton of look books sent every season and open every one that’s sent, not wanting to miss out on anything. Sometimes there’s an instant feeling of knowing you’ve opened something special and unique and there’s excitement before even seeing the collection in person.

Working with young emerging designers is very inspiring, they are so passionate about what they do and often have a very strong individual viewpoint.

Is every day as crazy as the last or do you get a break? Where do you go to relax?

I do get a break in New York, it isn’t until Paris market when it gets really intense with no time to switch off. My new favorite place to relax in New York is Great Jones Spa – I’d spend every free moment I had in there if I could. This fashion week I was limited to a Sunday morning massage, rejuvenated for the week ahead and the month ahead of traveling!

What’s a the funniest/best/weirdest/coolest thing that’s happened so far this fashion week?

The OC play was the funniest/best/weirdest/coolest thing. It’s amazing to work for a company that is constantly reinventing and questioning the status quo.