Daywear Back on ETSY

I just uploaded some daywear options back on ETSY. Please visit www.courtneybrookedesign.etsy.com. They are made to order, so you can pick any color you like.

New Images and New Gowns

It has been a little while since the last post. I have just been so busy. I had another photoshoot a couple weekends ago and photographed new gowns. The ones shown are a silk and tulle overlay gown-super princess and sparkly (I love it), lace and silk dupioni vintage inspired gown, and an elegant, simple strapless gown that is totally customizable (ie: beads, lace, pearls, chiffon, etc can be added for an additional fee). All of the gowns can be found at www.courtneybrookedesign.etsy.com and are made to order. They are truly beautiful.

I am in the process of booking trunk shows and should hear back next week. Can't wait to showcase the collection at a boutique. The photos do not do the dresses justice, so I can't wait to show them in person.

I am working on recovering my antique chairs and settee with white leather and refinishing the wood to an antique walnut glossy finish. I should have them done this weekend, which is exciting. The next post I will post pictures of before and after. I am totally in a home improvement mood. :) I guess that is what spring does.

I am starting to design and sketch my Spring 2011 collection. New York is inspiring, especially in the summer.

PHOTOSHOOT, PRESS KITS, TRUNK SHOW

I have another photoshoot this weekend and I can't wait. I have new gowns and am rephotographing some other gowns. I get to work with a great model and photographer. I am looking for a make-up artist and hairstylist, so I hope I find one asap.

As I have been writing I am sending out lookbooks and press kits as soon as my new books are printed after the shoot this weekend. I took pictures of my press kits. They include items that represent me as a designer: Earl Grey Tea=British schooling/Influence, Local Connecticut Honey= I support local vendors and manufacturers (no outsourcing), Antique milk glass tea cup and saucer=vintage/antique styling, Godiva White Chocolate Pearls=I only use the finest materials (ie: south sea pearls, Italian silk), and all of my info (about the designer, brand, lookbook, etc) will have a hand made garter around it. I hope it gets the attention of an editor.

I am hoping to contact boutiques next week to set up a time for a trunk show. Check back soon with an update of when and where I'll be.

I am pushing to get new orders as much as I can. I have started Google ad words and I have a Facebook ad. I am getting clicks, so I hope I get some orders coming in soon!

It is spring in New York and it is just beautiful outside. Everyone is looking much happier. Winter here is brutal, so when a hint of summer comes the city lights up. I feel blessed to live in such an amazing city. I can't wait for the true summer. Summer in NYC is like nothing else!

Added afordable accessories to Etsy!

Hi all. I just added affordable accessories to Etsy. I added silk chiffon hand painted scarves in various colors for only $35.00. These are great gifts or great to add color to any outfit. It is a way for everyone to have a CourtneyBrooke original! Please visit www.courtneybrookedesign.etsy.com.

Radford Fashion Show

Last weekend my roommate, Shannon, and I took a trip down to Radford University for their annual Undergraduate Fashion Show. We were asked to be judges for the show, which was very exciting. This is from an artical written for the university, "Class of 2007 graduates Courtney Yates, owner of Courtney Brooke Designs, and Shannon Moulton, a technical designer for Charlotte Ronson, came from New York to judge the fashion designers’ garments. They credit RU for successful careers. “The interior design and fashion design program here is one of the best. It’s a wonderful learning environment in every aspect,” said Yates whose specialty is wedding gowns." To read the the full article see the link: http://www.radford.edu/NewsPub/March10/0325fashion.html. While there we also spoke to the sophomores, juniors, and seniors about our experiences and gave them our contact information for the future.

To get there was hilarious. We took a 5:30am bus to Manhattan from queens, then a 6:30 am bus from NYC to DC (4 hours), then the metro from the bus stop to the airport, then a shuttle from the airport to the rental car, then 4 hours in the rental car to Radford. It was quite and experience!

Overall, we had a great time and are looking forward to going back. We were asked to join the advisory board and gladly accepted. We will get to take part in curriculum changes, engaging the students, and other opportunities to better the school. We will also be critiquing student work.

After that weekend I was so tired, but I needed to finish a prom gown. I finally got that out this past week and have been working on more wedding gowns to add to etsy. Please continue to visit www.courtneybrookedesign.etsy.com for updates. I started google ad words this weekend and have a list of items to send in my press kit.

This week I am working on press kits, trunk shows, and wedding gowns to add. Lots to do as usual, but exciting!

Images: The dress was one of the gowns in the RU fashion show.

Reorganize

This week I had a little bit of down time, so I reorganized my sewing stations and my MANY magazines. I subscribe to Vogue, Elle, W, and now the newspaper WWD, which was on sale this month, so I needed to get all of my back issues organized (I keep them for reference). I treked down to Ikea (I've never been there before) to get cheap organizational stuff. They had magazine holders 5 for $2.99. Although I felt very frustrated, I did find a lot of great stuff. Do not go there if you need help. The employees are not there to help you. They are there to stock. They were nice, but just not knowledgeable. I also went to the container store and got some pretty office things for my desk including a desk file box made of metal (see image). All in all I had a great week. Back to the busy time again as my dresses from the seamstress should be coming in this week for me to finalize and fit. I'll have new pictures up of the new dresses in the next couple of weeks. My goal for next week is to start contacting boutiques to get the gowns in. Let me know if you have a contact with a small boutique owner. :)

New Website and Seamstress

This week I sent a few dresses to my amazing seamstress and worked on getting my website, blog, and twitter. Its been busy, but I am so excited because I am cutting back to 4 days a week at my freelance job, so I have more time to work on my business. I am thinking about getting an intern for Fridays, so hopefully I can find one soon.

My new website is up. www.courtneybrookedesigns.com. Please visit. I am still working with the website designer to update "formal" and change the "bridal" to be clickable. Stay tuned. Marketing starts this week. I am going to send out lookbooks, add google ad words, and contact boutiques. Can't wait to see the new business I get through marketing. The picture is a detail shot of one of my wedding gowns you can see on the new site and the other picture is me doing a fitting.

Thanks for all the encouragement and support. Keep spreading the word. :)