worth the wait

Posted by Gina
Sunday, October 25, 2009

image via henribendel.com Go to the website to watch the video!

Bendel’s. One of my faves. If you’ve been, you know. Twice a year, at the Fifth Avenue flagship store, Henri Bendel opens it’s doors to up-and-coming new designers from all over the world. It’s called the Open-See and it’s like a casting call for designers. Because it’s based on a first-come-first-seen basis, people hoping to show their accessories start camping out in the middle of the night before the doors open at 9am. I joined the excitement this year:

Here I am at bendel’s and it’s only 5:45 am.

There weather is absolutely perfect and it still dark outside. When I arrive, the line is already about 25 people deep. Some come well prepared with portable chairs and reading material. The guy in front of me looks more like a lumberjack and I am dying to see what he designs. There is a woman 5 people behind me that has a large stuffed animal? Why?
I hope that the alarm on the windows of Harry Winstons are not pressure sensitive because I am using the ledge as my seat.
A girl in 5 inch stilleto platform pumps just got in line. Is she nuts?
Uh oh. Stomach is growling and I’ve only been here for 1/2 an hour.
Wind is picking up. Getting a little chilly. Wonder if any one in line designs fur lined gloves?

The streets are getting busier as it gets closer to 9:00am. People passing by are staring at this line wondering what is going on?!
The girl next to me gets excited because she swears she just saw one of the wives from The Housewives of New Jersey. I drew the line at The Housewives of New York, so I have no idea who she is talking about.

Finally ! The lines is moving in.
Here we go!

Sign in and then sit in the waiting room until they call my name.

Run into another jewelry designer I know. Hope she does well. I realize that the cool tassel necklace I had admired in the dark while I waited in line is actually made of hair. Hmmmm....

Get in line to wait to enter the “evaluation” room. 6 hopefuls go in at a time and present to the 4 or 5 buyers on the other side of the tables.
I hear a lot of “nice but not really the Bendel’s style”, or “the concept is good but i’m worried about the quality"… Uh oh.

My turn ... Long story shortened.
I don’t want to bore you with details but let’s just say I left very happy!

A Charmed Circle Holiday trunk show at Bendel’s! Date to be announced.


Comments

Yea Gina!!!!  That is so exciting.  I guess I’d better get 2 more birdcages before you are only catering to the stars!

By Jennifer Willis on 2009 10 25

Go Gina, go Gina, WOW!!  As I was rushing to read the end of the story I anticipated the exciting end…
Sooo happy for you, keep up the hard work… the finesse and great taste, are innate!!
K.

By Kenya on 2009 10 25

Thank you , thank you , thank you girls for your support!
xoxo
Gina

By Gina Cartwright on 2009 10 26

This is AMAZING news! I am so, so happy for you! You deserve this success, and I can’t wait to hear what happens next…

{xo} Sarah

By Sarah Klassen/Haute Design on 2009 11 05

That is SO cool!!! You told me you were doing a trunk show, but not Bendel’s!!!!
SO proud of you!

By Jennie Cotrino on 2009 11 07

I read the post. It is nice and enjoyable. I bookmarked the site and want to read the stuff that you will post in future. Los Angeles Public Relations

By Los Angeles Public Relations on 2010 03 07

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