Kell On Earth, a review

Yesterday I was perusing the reality show selection on Netflix, and came across Kell on Earth, the fashion world insider featuring the hard-working Kelly Cutrone. She is an upstate NY native, and went to Syracuse U., I have loved her since she wrote the epic, If You Have To Cry, Go Outside.
 In Season 1, E. 1 of Kell on Earth, Kelly immediately lets the viewer understand that she doesn't take any prisoners, she does not fuck around. 
 The first episode starts at the beginning of fashion week, which is the most stressful time and also when Kelly's backbone gets shit moving, and mistakes are quickly handled.
 However, you also get a sense of her realism, how she says what needs to be said, yet is a caring person who fiercely guards her tribe.
 Her aforementioned book first introduced me to the concept of having and developing a strong tribe. Your tribe has different circles of increasing circumference, with the smallest circle made up of those that are closest to you in your life- family, best friend. "If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people." Same concept- your tribe needs to have strong, specialized members that will give you the support you need in the different sectors of your life.
  A good many of the fashion industry's secrets have been aired over the last decade, especially with the help of movies like The Devil Wears Prada, and the Project Runway franchise. Here's another peek, at the less-than-glamorous PR side of the industry.
  The members of People's Revolution mostly look exhausted and malnourished. But I get it, they work their bony asses off and live off of diet soda and Adderall.
 I cannot imagine working in that chaotic, cutthroat environment, as much as I would love to be more deeply involved in the industry. 
  One amazing way that Kelly has organized her work life to work with her family life is to have both encompassed in the same building. A giant building in NY houses several floors for People's Rev., while her apartment is on a floor nestled in between. Quite brilliant, plus saves on subway fare. 
  I only got through a bit of S1, E.2 before the fiance started objecting, so I will have to pick it up when he goes to work. I love watching Kelly at work, and I chuckle over the daggers she has to occasionally throw. She's an amazing, intelligent, down-to-earth woman and one of the most important cogs in the fashion industry wheels.

Independent Fashion Site Review: 9th & Elm

  I recently stumbled upon a gem of an indie designer website, www.9thandelm.com. Here’s a website that brings up-and-coming talented designers center stage, flash sale style a la Gilt or Hautelook.  9^th & Elm’s slogan, displayed across the top of the site, is right on: “Handmade, Independent, or Otherwise Cool”.

   It was started spring of 2013 by serial entrepreneurs, Clay and Elly Bethune, who had a mission to build a selling platform for the best independent designers of the creative and handmade. 
   I love the clean, simple navigation of 9^th & Elm’s website. They ask for you to join (which is free) and then they offer an awesome referral program- for every person who makes a purchase due to your referral, you receive $25 towards shopping the site’s goods.  I know plenty of people who would love to peruse and purchase most of what 9^th & Elm has to offer.

  9^th & Elm’s color palette of grey, white and pink makes the site easy to navigate, and each designer is allotted one page, so you get only the best products from each one.  The sales start with 10 days of allotted buying time, and the time left for the flash site pops up when you hover over a designer’s square.

  The thing I most love about this site is the support & love for original, independent designers. If you do a little research, you’ll discover that a lot of the designers have Etsy shops, and they’ve curated their handmade collections to put the best of it up on 9^th and Elm.

It’s a beautiful meld of indie designer, creativity, and the entrepreneurial spirit!

Check it out:

http://www.9thandelm.com