Describe
your blog in five words or less...“Chic & Stylish
Inspiration for the Busy City Bride.” Hmm, that’s more than five words. But
it is Merci’s tagline.
Aside
from blogging, what do you do? Be as general or
specific as possible. Believe it or not, the blog is only one half of my
business. Merci New York is also a styling house for the city bride.
From full-scale event design and fashion styling to small yet important
details, such as chic guest gifts and bespoke paper goods, Merci New York works
hand in hand with brides, event planners and photographers to develop flawless,
cohesive and beautifully styled events that showcase our clients' style and aesthetic.
How
does your day begin? How does it end? After a quick run
though Central Park, I read my favorite fashion, wedding and news sites with a
chai latte in hand. Then the day can take on two separate paths… I spend
about two days a week on shoots for various fashion styling gigs, which take
place around the city. For the days I am not styling, a typical day could
involve an appointment with a bridal styling client, followed by coffee with a
vendor, then a showroom appointment or site visit for the blog, and finally,
propping and scouting for future projects. I end each workday writing my
blog post for the next day before I settle down with my husband for the night.
I certainly have a busy life, but I love every second of it!
What
are 5 objects that you keep on your desk? A
Japanese quince candle by Seda France {so invigorating!}, a gilded mini gumball
machine {for my insistent sweet tooth!}, a short stack of my favorite fashion
magazines {a necessity!}, my maternal grandparents’ wedding photo, and my cat
Heidi, who does a fantastic job of plopping herself atop all my paperwork.
What
did you want to be when you were younger? A ballerina,
a fashion designer and a writer.
When
did that change?When I couldn’t find a way to combine all three. But
honestly, now that I think of it, I suppose the aesthetic of the Merci New York
blog lends itself to all of three loves: a penchant for pretty, chic
elegance, a love of all things fashionable, and a desire to write about it all.
When
did you start blogging? Why? I went to journalism
school, but when I graduated I decided to immerse myself in the fashion
industry, rather than just write about it. After several years working
for some wonderfully prominent designers, I got engaged and began planning my
wedding in New York. Having leaned on several New York City fashion,
event and social sites during my time in Manhattan, I assumed I’d quickly find
a similar site for the city bride… something that showed her the ins and outs
of how to create a fashionable New York Wedding. My search came up short,
so I scouted everything out on my own. After my wedding, I went back to
work and inadvertently began fielding wedding questions from friends and
acquaintances in the fashion industry and beyond. So I set off to start
what we were all looking for – a chic and stylish resource for the busy city
bride.
Do
you have more than one blog? Just the one! I’d
love to have a pure fashion blog as well, but right now Merci is my only child –
and a spoiled one, at that!
What
do you enjoy the most about writing a blog? The least?
I adore conversing with different people and crafting a platform to share
creative ideas. I cannot tell you how fulfilling it feels when a planner
calls to tell me her bride loves my blog, or a photographer sends a note saying
that his published work landed him a fabulous new wedding! I’m lucky to
have fostered a place where inspirational ideas meet the eyes of a receptive
city community, and I cannot wait to expand the concept into the future.
What
was your favorite part about the B List Meeting?Finally getting to meet at the
wonderful, inspiring women whose work I have been reading for ages! It
was fantastic to connect, though I already felt like I ‘knew’ most of them
already.
Who
and/or what inspires you the most? My husband, Mike, is
the most supportive, loving and caring person. His belief in me is
inspires me to push my limits more and more each day.
If
you could invite five people to dinner (living or not) who would they be?
Oh, what I would do for a champagne infused style-roundtable with Edie
Sedgewick, Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Jackie
Kennedy and Bianca Jagger!
What
do you do or where do you go when inspiration has difficulty striking? I
always used to say that if you were bored in New York City it was your own
fault! I think the same holds true for being uninspired. Whenever I
need a creative push, I always head to some of the more offbeat museums like
the Museum of Arts and Design. Or, I hightail it down to the Angelika
Film Center and buy a ticket for whatever the next art-house showing may be.
Sometimes you just need to move your brain in another direction to come back
full circle with a clear mind.
What
is your favorite quote? “Success is often achieved by
those who don't know that failure is inevitable.“ – Coco Chanel
If
you were to be given an award (think Oscar quality) who would you most likely
forget to thank? I wouldn’t … I’d probably be that
girl that gets cut off because she thanks EVERYONE.
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