Wait... The holidays are around the corner?

Yup, they are and unfortunately we are making history with this failing economy at a time when most people tend to splurge and spend. To stay on the good list with your family and friends, spend your money where it counts by purchasing quality, rather than quantity. For many, H&M may seem like the angel from above to keep them looking good while their back accounts have seen better days. With stores like this, items fade quickly, pill in a minute and last maybe a season, if that. We've pulled a few items off of our Recession Friendly List and thought we would share them with you:

Objets d'Envy is a collection for all budgets and styles, and offers pieces that can take you from day to night, spring to winter and 2008-2010. This is what I mean when I say spend your money where it counts. Buying pieces like Circlet Earrings ( $40) which come in 8 colors shows that you are thinking about something they could where every day, for years to come. The Lavaliere Necklace is a looker ($70) which comes in 14 colors, so you really can’t go wrong- just find out her favorite palette!



For a more vintage flare, you might want to check out Pequitobun Jewelry which features bits and pieces from vintage shows and vintage stores all over the Boston area. The Feathers Earrings ($28) are very funky and will stop people in their tracks; now that’s worth the money!



And if you are a dog lover, owner or know someone who is, the From Scratch Totes and Scarves ($25, $20) will be never forgotten, as they can be reused and re-worn yearly.


We have tons of ideas, and are happy to throw out more suggestions for anyone who is looking. You can email kate@kickpr.com for some ideas. Happy Shopping!

Objets d'Envy: J'aime

I never thought I would love crystal. When I think of crystal I think of my moms little figurines she collected and placed around the house. And I was to never go near them; I have been known to break things.

However, my thoughts on crystal have turned recently, with the introduction of the collection Objets d'Envy. Wow, I could find an outfit for every piece in this collection! Each piece is hand-crafted using Swarovski crystals in bright colors as well as soft and light. I have a few favorites, and if I could wear three pairs of earrings at once, I would wear the Toile, Mini Fleur and Long Crystal Balls. I think it may not look totally normal, but hey, its worth a shot!



Kirsten Goede (first name rhymes with Thurston, last name like Gady) is the talented designer behind this collection. She knows design and color, which is displayed in her palette in the Charm Multi bracelet. Her signature bracelet for $180 has fans- and influential fans at that. Gayle King, Oprah's BFF, has worn this to awards shows and finds it the perfect accessory to many outfits! Also, Stacy London of What Not To Wear is seen wearing this on The Today Show. Signature bracelet in Coral shown here.

Log on to view the look book and browse through some amazing pieces that you could seriously use for the holidays! ModernSparkle.com

The Power of QVC

I have done so many fun things in my career, and I feel fortunate to have such wonderful and fun experiences. My theory is, when I open myself up to new opportunities and say "yes" when you I to say "no", pleasant surprises come my way. Today I look back on my career and take a look over my resume and I am impressed, I have to Say. Because I was curious and wanting to learn more about a lot of different things, many opportunities came my way, and still do! One of my favorite experiences has been a Guest Host on QVC.

How did this happen you ask? From 2005- 2008 Kick PR worked with the fleece and high tech fabric company, Polartec. We focused on their fashion PR mostly, and created some fun fashion events around their brand and their fabrics. Polartec is probably a fabric that most people wear, and dont even know. Big names like Patagonia, The North Face and L.L.Bean all use Polartec fabrics in their lines. In addition to garments, Polartec fabrics also work well as a blanket! For the past five years or so, they have been selling their blankets on QVC, and doing very well.

What happens on QVC, if you don’t know, is that the hosts on the show are live and sell products in 5-7 minute segments, or if you are lucky you get an hour show. Who's watching? People all over the country and the world. The power behind QVC is amazing; their company approach is all about personability and connectdedness via the TV. Their hope is to have the viewer welcome you into their home, and really feel like they are be talked to, not at.

The Polartec blankets are a popular item on QVC and its all about how you sell and who is selling. I was asked by the company if I would be interested in going on the show once a month from Nov- March and helping to sell and talk about the blankets. Of course, I was SO nervous, but said yes and it’s been one of the most fun things I have ever done! What’s so great about selling on QVC is the visual you are giving to people in every state of the US! We sell at 3am or 3pm and people are always watching. With blankets, its fun because in the winter people want something warm AND affordable to have around the home. The blankets by Polartec are amazing, and because Polartec INVENTED fleece, these are no joke.

I wont take up copy space explaining why they are so fab, but here is the link to this mornings viewing, with yours truly talking about the latest Malden Mills ( aka Polartec) Sherpa Stadium Blankets. Click on www.qvc.com, then type "Malden Mills" in the SEARCH box. The blanket comes up and you can watch the video and hey, you may even want one for yourself!

Chloe & Reese Shopping Event

What's better than fancy clothes and jewels around the holidays? Nothing! Come help us get ready for the craziness of holiday season with Victoria Flores and Adriana Carador ( designers of Adriana Carador Collection) who are hosting the Chloe & Reese shopping event on Tuesday, November 5th. Chloe & Reese clothing is available at Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus and Anthroplogie but they will have amazing prices for the ladies that evening. The coats are gorgeous and the dresses are divine!

And being as its the day after the election, you made need a few beverages to take your mind off things... Contact kate@kickpr.com if you are interested in attending!

Kick PR Interview: Crosby Noricks of PRCouture.com

I came across PR Couture a couple of years ago and have been a true fan ever since. It’s hard for me to keep up with all there is to know about PR, and I find that with PR Couture I’m getting tips and strategies all the time. Crosby Noricks, founder of PR Couture, is one of those people who you feel like you have known forever. She lives in San Diego, I live in New York, yet I feel as though we are right down the street. PR Couture went through a little makeover, and has added a few different sections to it that not only help people who are in the industry, but also helps people find jobs, post jobs and offers tricks on how to get into the PR industry ( tip #1, grow a very very thick skin).

Ok, so I follow Crosby on Twitter ( if you are one of us Twitter People, you can follow @PR_Couture for her updates, and mine at @kickpr.) and she seems to really have her finger on the pulse , and she must be doing something right because she has close to 800 people following her updates! So, I wanted to ask her a few questions, get inside her head and give her a chance to share her pearls of PR wisdom with us. So, here it goes:

KickPR: PR Couture stands out for many public relations professionals, specifically in fashion. Did you start it because you felt there was a lack of focus on this area in particular?
Crosby: I think I have always had a penchant toward creating and building communities. In high school and college I moderated a few forums for girls online (fashion, poetry forums) and actually attempted my first social network concept - an online collective of sorts called MessyCloset back in 2001, featuring the profiles and resumes of creative friends of mine (writers, models, musicians) looking for work after college - before Facebook or Linked In provided a means to promote yourself online. Looking back, I can see that PR Couture was born out of a similar desire to create community online .When I was researching fashion PR as my thesis topic for my MA - there wasn't really much showing up - either on Google, PR trade mags or academic journals. The idea that fashion PR wasn't "real PR" showed up in PR academia, when discussed at all, in dismissive remarks about its publicity focus. All this ignores the fact that industries like fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle PR are where a majority of current PR students want their careers in - why are we so attracted to these fields, does the definition or actions of PR fundamentally depend on the industry in which you perform them? Is it possible to perform two-way symmetrical communication in the fashion industry - where can we find examples of this and what is the outcome? All these questions evolved into PR Couture.

K: Wow, you did put a lot of thought into it, and I am glad you did. Great websites come out a lack of focus in the masses, and it just takes someone like you to put it up and get it going! Are there any websites out there that try and compete with PR Couture?
C: When I started PR Couture back in December, 2006 very few PR agencies were blogging; social media had yet to throw the entire profession into a communal freak out and besides Pierce Mattie's The Fashion Rag, there were no blogs talking about fashion PR. Now there are several PR agencies who keep a company blog and there are a few people working in the profession keeping personal blogs, or students who are look at fashion or consumer PR. However, I don't feel any real direct competition - PR Couture isn't affiliated with any agency and attempts to be more like an online trade pub specifically for fashion PR.

K: Well, in my book you've got no competition; I’m all yours. So, I know I was so excited when I came across your site a few years ago, do you get a lot of positive feedback from PR professionals and also, fashion professionals?
C: I hear lot of feedback second-hand. Someone was at a party and my blog came up, or someone references it on their own blog, giving it accolades. I have gotten a few emails letting me know that I have inspired others to create their own agencies, or break out as a solo practitioner. Most of the positive feedback I get comes from students who are thankful for the insight, and I work hard to take time to answer their questions and give them the opportunity to write for me to build their portfolio.

K: I think it’s so great you are reaching out a hand to people new in the workforce. I actually interviewed a girl that writes for you, I wanted to hire her so badly, but it’s just not in the cards for my company right now. But I see she writes great article on PR Couture and that makes me so happy! You cover many different categories on PR Couture, and you offer articles that can be helpful to more then just people in the industry. When you started out on this website, was it mostly articles on PR and then expanded?
C: About a year in, I did have a little sit down with myself and thought about all of the different things we cover and if that made sense. I have since tried to pare down to essential categories. Primarily, PR Couture features interviews with practitioners or those doing innovative things in the space. In addition we cover fashion PR agency news, events and share fashion PR tips and strategy. I have also made it a point to bring in other experts to write posts and to keep tabs on the fashion blogger vs. PR struggle, which has definitely evolved as bloggers have been recognized for their influence and PR has made adjustments. It's not a perfect relationship by any stretch, but the awareness is there.

K: You also have job boards, and intern listings... what is the success rate of that, are people using that to get work or connect?
C: The job boards are somewhat successful - it seems to go in waves. One of the ways I feel comfortable monetizing the blog is through job postings because of the qualified leads a job posting on PR Couture can generate. I also promote our job listings through Facebook, Twitter and a special blog post, so I feel like the $25 is worth it! I haven't heard anything directly but have had some repeat companies, so I am assuming that they felt it was worth their while.

K: You have an extensive background in Public Relations, is fashion pr what you love most?
C: Fashion PR makes sense to me; there is no stretch to understand the product or its benefit. I know the space and I know who the influencers are and well, we speak the same language. With other clients I can learn about the product and I can find a place to be passionate, but for some reason in fashion PR it’s when the ideas flow and I find my stride. I think what I most enjoy about all PR however, is the opportunity to work with clients that I respect and believe in - helping brands I love succeed, making connections for them and enabling them to grow and sustain their business has great fulfillment for me. I think this is a key feature of how I work - I don't aim to do PR for the love of PR. PR for me has always been about my clients, about using my skills to help them succeed.

K: I couldn’t agree more. I get excited for my clients, and I want them to grow and be successful. For you and me we are lucky we get to work in a field that we know and love, most people don’t get that.

K: So, to give us a taste of what people might get from reading PR Couture, what would you say are the top 3 mistakes that many PR professionals often make?
C: 1-Treating journalists like zombies from outer space instead of normal people trying to do a job and get home in time to watch Mad Men, just like you.2-Promising clients the moon with a dash of Oprah when they'll be lucky to get on a local morning show. 3-Forgetting to put as much time into their own brand as those of their clients.

K: So true! If people don’t know your PR firm exists, they won’t know your clients exist!

K: So, tell us what’s it store for PR Couture (ooh, that rhymed!)
C: Well, we just launched the Fashion PR Podcast, taking us into audio territory, which is fun and nerve-wracking - I don't think anyone likes listening to themselves recorded! I am also about to launch a new feature called Show Me The Pretty, which will allow me to engage directly with independent fashion designers, asking them 5 questions about their line and then they get to ask 5 questions of PR Couture. I'm excited about this because all the focus on PR often takes away from my ability to feature all the brands I covet! Also been playing around with a new layout and have recently brought on some additional writers to help with the content. I would love to hear what readers about how they would like to see PR Couture evolve - open to anything. Send suggestions to crosby@prcouture.com or follow us on twitter @pr_couture.

A Necessary Accessory: The Belt

Well, summer is actually gone. For most people, this fact was made clear in late September when they pulled out their winter wardrobe and stored the flowing dresses and cute tanks. This realization however didn’t occur to me until this week, when the temps dropped in my house to below 25, or so it seemed. So I finally stored my summer duds and pulled out the winter collection; it’s always such a nice surprise when you find things you forgot you had! One big change for me this year has been my incorporation of belts by Ann Lansing. While I was pulling out the many pairs of pants I own for winter, I recalled wishing them having a nice belt to pair up with, but didn’t have one at the time.

I've been experimenting this summer with how to wear a belt ( i.e. on jeans, high waist pants, over sweaters, etc...) and I am more than excited to pair up her belts with the dresses and heavy garments. I can tell you this Wave buckle paired with the brown/ tan strap will be getting a lot of use. I have some fantastic pair of wool Michael Kors bellbottom pants in a plaid that are screaming for this belt. I urge you all to reconsider the belt as a necessary accessory, because it really is.

All of Ann's belts can be found at AnnLansing.com. And if you live near or around the Darien, CT area, pop by the Darien Sport Shop for her trunk show premiering all of her current and future belt collections! Ann Lansing Trunk Show, October 25th. Darien Sport Shop.

Kick PR Favorite: IDOM Collection

As many of you know, last year we worked with Portland Fashion Week , the first and largest sustainable fashion week in the world. I was hoping to make it out there for Spring 2009 Collections, but a last minute business trip came up and I was in Northern California for the week it was going on. There have been some great resources for reviews and photos, but still, it's not the same.

Last year, in addition to meeting Leanne Marshall, I also met Modi Soondarotok, the brilliant and very talented designer behind the collection IDOM. When I first saw her collection, I was immediately taken with the fun details and her choice of colors. I never in my life thought I could wear a chartreuse pleated skirt, but it happens to be one of my favorites and most popular piece in my wardrobe! What I saw at PFW was her Spring 2008 collection which featured ornate details like her black velvet skirt which was hand embroidered by the Hill tribe people up in the hills of Northern Thailand, ( in photo on left). You won’t find this in H&M people, you just wont.

Her history in design and fashion is colored with experience at Parsons, working with designers like Peter Som and Twinkle and her travels to Egypt, Israel, Australia, Europe and Asia which inspire her look and the detail she adds into her pieces.

Modi is another client in which we work in a smaller capacity, and again in trade. It’s another designer who stands out in my mind and should stand out in others. We speak often and recently she shared with me her Spring 2009 pictures. This collection, which will be available in March/April, calls out some interesting and unique mixing of fabrics. There are twenty five pieces in this collection and they feature some of Modi's favorite fabric such as hand loomed Thai silk and cotton, Italian and French lace, and graphic and floral printed silk from Japan. Lace plays a big part in her collection; Modi appreciates its femininity in various colors and how it has been used throughout history. She was also intrigued by the construction of the lace and by its texture, which you can see she works wonders with.

On a personal note, Modi dedicated this collection to her mother, grandmother and all the women who have made such a significant impression in her personal life. When designers like Modi take the time to put meaning and soul into their collection, you can bet that it will be some of their best work. For the current collection and to see what is sold at the IDOM boutique in Portland, log onto IdomDesigns.com. Spring 2009 will be available in Early 2009.