DC - Summer 2010 Photoshoot

This past weekend, Collier (my new partner in crime) and I drove 10 hours from Atlanta, GA to Washington DC for my Summer 2010 photo shoot.
I should mention, Collier Broadaway is my new sales representative for Smitten by Smith! Collier is more than qualified, having had several jobs in the fashion industry - including working for PUCCI. We were KDs together at Alabama.

Smitten is very glad to have her!

Anyways, we have been traveling a lot spreading the word of Smitten by Smith.
We are getting pretty good at whipping out the rack, popping the clothes on, and tootling along into stores.

With all of this traveling, I have learned many things.
First and foremost, I have come to the realization that satellite radio makes songs popular because they repeat songs over and over. The good and the bad... to the point where you sing even if you don't like the tune.

Another road trip routine has been "dinning-in" at the best fast food restaurant IN the WORLD...Chick Fil A. I love the service there...they are always so friendly and they even ask if you want a refill when dinning in. That’s huge, right?

When we arrived in DC, we met my parents and headed to The Tombs for a delicious first meal in Georgetown.
The next day we wondered around Georgetown and located several spots for the photo shoot. That afternoon, we met my parents at The Hay Adams Hotel and walked over to The White House. It was Collier's first time in DC, so seeing The White House was a must on our agenda. For those of you who do not know... I was born in DC and moved to Florida when I was 4. Most of my Dad's family still lives there, and I grew up visiting.

The photo shoot began at 5:30 pm so we started prepping Margaret Leigh (my talented sista and model) around 4:45 pm. This was a very late start (as far as getting her ready), but she looked like a Vogue model rather quickly. A better introduction: Margaret Leigh is my younger sister who attends Georgetown University. She modeled for my Holiday/Spring collections as a favor, but did such a wonderful job that I really
hoped she would model again for round 2.
We did the shoot all around Georgetown which was wonderful because it’s such a beautiful place. The brick townhouses and bright colored doors made the perfect setting for the Summer 2010 Collection. We finished shooting around 8:30 after three long hours.

Collier and I headed to The Bethesda Crab House for dinner where we
became knee deep in crab claws and shared an over due pitcher of Stella beer.
It was a long eventful day!
I am so excited to see how the pictures turn out. My sister was such a trooper and did an
incredible job.
I never listened to my Mom when I was younger when she said that my sisters would be my best friends when I grew up. She would always say it when we were in the middle of a fight... we would all be like, "yeah right Mom..."
But she was so right... sisters are built-in best friends.
Starting a business has made me realize how supportive they really are.
I have one sister who sat through hours & hours of meetings in Thailand, I have another who helps me with all of my promotional items (including this blog), AND another that has given up hours of her time to model for me… when she has plenty of other things she would rather be doing.
If any of you read this...which I hope you do...I love you all and I couldn't do this
without you.
I am headed home to Florida tomorrow for a trunk show, Thursday morning at The Market & Mainly Shoes in Pensacola!
If you are a local please come by to see my latest designs!

-Smith

Recap: Birmingham Trunk Show

The trunk show in Birmingham was wonderful. We had a wonderful turn
out and the food was so tasty!
My friend, Virginia Harkins, was such a lovely hostess. The appetizers were delish.
Thank you so much!

The Birmingham trunk show was extra special, because it was the first official “sneak peak”
of my Summer 2010 collection!

Check out these Smitten by Smith cupcakes, made by my friends Avery Henry and Ruth Wood!

Smitten by Smith in Bella Magazine

Check it out... Smitten by Smith is featured in Pensacola's Bella Magazine!

Smitten By Smith
Pensacola designer creates party-perfect style

Whether you’re headed to a holiday soiree or on a girls’ night out, you can look party-perfect with a color-drenched cocktail dress that’s festive and fashion-forward.

These short and sassy styles are not only handmade, but they are designed by someone you may know: Smith Sinrod, a budding designer who grew up in Pensacola. She is introducing her first line, Smitten by Smith. The holiday and spring collections consist of cocktail dresses and separates that are full of girly glamour.

“They are made to perfection,” said Peggy Woolverton, owner of Mainly Shoes, an upscale boutique in downtown Pensacola. “Not only are the shapes fantastic, but the fabrics and construction are unbelievable.”

The Market/Mainly Shoes is the only local boutique that is carrying the line, and Angelique in New Orleans also picked it up. The pieces start at $200 and up, and sizes run from 00 to 14.

Bella caught up with Sinrod, who recently moved to Atlanta. Here, we ask her about her line and about her passion for fashion:
Q: Tell me about your line.
A: My line consists of classic pieces with bright colors and bold patterns. Each design allows the everyday women to look her best while feeling sophisticated and sexy.
Q: Who are the women you envision wearing Smitten?
A: Women who have a sophisticated style and aren’t afraid to wear bright colors. Both of my collections consist of novelty pieces that can be versatile for many types of occasions, whether it’s a cocktail party, family wedding or just a night out on the town.
Q: What was your inspiration for your line?
A: Fabric has always inspired me when I am working on design ideas. I went to Thailand with my design silhouettes sketched and sewn samples. Once I found my manufacturer and fabric source, I was able to pick my fabric for each design, bringing the collection together.
Q: What does creating your own line entail?
A: I went over every inch of each design with the owner of my factory. She would make the patterns, and I would approve each one. The next step was the creation of the samples. Once the samples were produced, I had my photoshoot in Pensacola for the Web site.
Q: What was the hardest part about creating your own line?
A: Getting my foot in the door with boutiques has been hard, right off the bat. I guess it can be hard for people to take me seriously when they first meet me: I’m 23, but I look 16. But once store owners and buyers have seen my collections, they seem to believe in me a bit more.
Q: What has the response been to your line?
A: So far, I’ve gotten a really good response to my line. The quality of my dresses is the best it could possibly be. Every dress is fully lined and has a hand-stitched hem.
Q: How does it feel to have you own line?
A: It’s very exciting! There were a lot of people along the way that discouraged my starting a line right out of college, but I’m so glad that I did. I feel that because I just graduated I have an edge. My life is Smitten, day and night, but it’s worth the hard work.
Q: How and when did you get your interest in fashion?
A: I’ve always been interested in fashion. When I was a little girl, my mom let me dress myself for school, which was probably a mistake because I had some pretty wild outfits and hats. I wore a different hat to school every day because I liked feeling unique. I was called “the hat girl.”
Q: What are your long and short-term professional goals?
A: My long-term goal is to make Smitten a household namebrand. Eventually, I’d like to produce a casual line for Smitten. My short-term goal is to have a photoshoot for the summer 2010 pieces I just designed, and then put them on the Web site. Also, I’m working on selling the line to other boutiques. I have meetings with stores across the Southeast.
Q: What was the best advice you got that you could pass on to other aspiring fashion designers?
A: One of my teachers recently told me, “Of course, it’s hard, difficult, time-consuming, life changing. If it weren’t, everyone would be doing it.”

About Smith
• Summer 2008: Smith lived in New York City and interned for Mary Howard Studio. Howard is a set designer whose ads appear in Vogue. At the studio, Smith shopped for props, organized the studio and helped on set.
• May 2009: Smith graduated from the University of Alabama, where she majored in Apparel Design. After graduation, she traveled to Thailand to create her clothing line, Smitten by Smith.

Want To Go?
• Oct. 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A trunk show of Donald J. Pliner shoes and handbags, and Smitten by Smith
designer Smith Sinrod for holiday and spring fashions.
• Oct. 13: The Bobbi Brown Artistry Team from Saks Fifth Avenue, New Orleans, by appointment.

• Where: The Market and Mainly Shoes, 248 W. Garden St.

• Details: 434-3012.

• Online: Smittenby
smith.com/portfolio, or Smittenbysmith.blogspot.com.

• Upcoming: In addition to the trunk show, Smitten by Smith will be featured in The Market/Mainly Shoes’ Fashion Show on Nov. 5, a fundraiser for Ballet Pensacola. Look for more details in the next
issue of Bella.

PULL QUOTE

“The quality of my dresses is the best it could possibly be. Every dress is fully lined and has a hand-stitched hem.”
– Smith Sinrod

Smitten comes to T-Town

This is Smith's sister.

I am guest blogging since Smith has been out on the road for the past few days.

And what a successful trip!

Smitten's found four, yes four, new boutiques in two days.

I want you to know that Smith is so thankful for your enthusiastic response and overwhelming support.

I am SO excited to announce that...

Smitten by Smith will be sold at Solo Boutique in Tuscaloosa, AL!

Check it out &

Roll Tide!

Smitten in South Alabama

Smitten's been hittin' the trail, fellas.

We are excited and proud to announce that Smitten by Smith will be carried in two new boutiques:

CK Collection in Fairhope, AL

&

Holiday, Inc. in Mobile, AL

!

Funny misunderstanding

Today I was informed that I had a package from Thailand that could not clear customs because it needed to go through U.S. Agricultural inspections. The package invoice listed "Black Tea, Ginger, Jasmine, Chamomile" and the inspectors figured I was importing a large quantity of tea from Thailand-also known as a very sketchy package. I cleared up the problem today when I told them that I am a fashion designer with a line that consists of designs named after different flavors and types of teas. I thought this was very very funny...and thought I should share!