VC has fun!

Here’s a photo from a recent catalog photo shoot at designer Jessica Wiswall’s house. A few local stylists and corporate coworkers volunteered their time to dress up in Fall/Winter attire on a hot summer Texas evening. Thank you all for your help!

Back row:  Monica Li, Anne Mitchell, Marilee Belote, Roxanne Drese, Karen Landis, Tanya Sides, Shannon Rosiere, Mindy Ford, Christy Ramirez.  Front row: Lisa Welsh, Jessica Wiswall, Erin McKellar, Susan Tierney, Yvette Day, Rachael Tyler

Meet the Staff, Part 2

Every work space has that one go-to-guy, that one class clown, that one friend who never fails to make you laugh. The Vintage Couture office has Aron. In a predominantly female office, you can’t miss him. I think he sounds something like Matthew McConaughey and acts a bit like a harder working Jim Halpert from The Office. He started with the company four years ago and has been nothing but pure support for VC. 

He describes his job role and responsibilities here as “Warehouse Supervisor/IT/Errands/Mini Projects/Photo Assistant/Jokester”. And he’s not joking. The Vintage Couture team must work together like a family and wear many different hats. Fortunately for Aron, he gets to do a greater plethora of jobs, comparatively, doing whatever he can do and wherever he can help.

He’s infamously known as the designer, Jessica’s, go to person when she needs something specific that can’t be assigned to anyone else. You commonly hear throughout the office, “Aaaaarrrroooonn”, before seeing his smiling face by her side. Jessica comments, “Aron always make everything fun and is always willing to do anything we need.” However, Aron is MORE infamous for his entertaining approach at office life. While speaking to Karen, another great coworker here, I told her our next blog post would feature Aron. She smiled big and said that would be great because he’s worked here so long. She further commented about how fun he is and that if he hadn’t pulled a prank on me yet, he was bound to. With that said, Aron has already made my second and third week semi nerve-racking, in a good way, since I’m never sure when he’ll sneak up behind me and scare me from my concentrated state. Aron tells me he partly does this “so it’s not so stressful around here. You have a little fun. But I never do mean pranks… ‘cause that’s mean”. I’m pretty sure I have developed a third ear, just for Aron. It’s true, when I hear him in the office, it’s normally followed by laughs and giggles, and I know I’m safe. If the voice becomes quite, I typically look behind me… just to be sure. All in all, he keeps the spirit alive in the corporate office and I think it’s safe to assume that everyone here enjoys his company and appreciates the work he does. 

Aron originally hails from Indiana. From there he made his way to Ohio and then Texas. He’s been here in Texas since year 2000 with family nearby. Originally an advertising major, he attended University of North Texas where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Radio Television Film. He later got an additional certificate in Audio Engineering. 

When he’s not working, you can find him on the golf course with his dad or out playing rec sports like softball.

If you have exciting VC related news to share with us, or maybe you just want to show off your adorable kids decked out in Vintage Couture, send me info and pictures at monica@vintagecoutureinc.com.

Only 2 Days Left to Enter the $100 Gift Certificate Giveaway Contest!

We can't wait to see who wins...be sure to share with your friends and family. Pair $100 with our 50% off sale and see your prize double!

To Enter: Visit our website to see our spring and summer collections. Come back here and write a comment on this post telling us which collection is your favorite. Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it is visible in your blog profile.

Extra Entries:
1. Subscribe to this blog feed. Must be verified to count.
2. Like our Facebook page and post a comment there telling us what you like about our designs.
3. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway using the text below.
Enter to win a $100 gift certificate from @_vintagecouture on their blog: http://vintagecoutureinc.blogspot.com/
4. Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page.
5. Blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on June 23 at 11:59pm Central Time. The $100 gift certificate may be used on available merchandise and is valid through December 31, 2011. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact us or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents.

Meet the Staff, Part 1

Vintage Couture, Inc. is a growing company, and this blog allows us to include you all in its journey. It's made up of hard working people who still have fun on the job. We believe in our company, its products, and customers. I personally want to share this unique company's best qualities with you.

My name is Monica, and I’m the new Vintage Couture Junior Designer. One of my responsibilities, if you haven’t noticed, is to keep up the company blog.   I’ve been here two weeks and am ready to share the VC experience with you!! I’m excited to start a series of blog posts that will introduce you to the staff here at the office as I get to know them too! It will be a journey we’ll take together, bringing to life the Vintage Couture corporate office. And trust me, it’s pretty lively around here!

I’ll briefly start with myself since you’ll be hearing from me twice a week! 

First of all, I’m a proud University of Texas at Austin graduate with a B.S. Textiles and Apparel Design degree. I walked the graduation stage a year ago but went on to complete one last internship credit last summer in NYC for one of my favorite design houses, Proenza Schouler. I bleed burnt orange (Hook ‘Em!) and indulge myself in the fine arts (Music, Dance, Painting, Design). I love traveling and look at everything through artistic eyes, searching for inspiration. But in the end, I consider Austin, Texas to be the love of my life and Dallas to be my home. 

I am extremely lucky to have this job and couldn’t ask for a better company to work for. These last two weeks have gone by so quickly.  Every day is fun and exciting, and I don’t expect it to ever slow down.  I get to do what I studied and love.  What more could I ask for?!

Now, I’d like to you meet Brinda!

Brinda is in charge of Quality Control for Vintage Couture. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of five! She is originally from Oklahoma but has lived in Texas for most of her life. Something else that has been a part of most of her life is sewing. Brinda remembers how when she was in grade school, she would make very detailed doll clothing. “My Uncle said, ‘If you can make doll clothes that detailed, you can make your own clothes!”, recalls Brinda. With that she laughs at how her uncle bought her yards of a fabric, and everyone in the family got matching clothes! When asked about what she likes best about Vintage Couture, Inc., a fellow employee hollers out from the kitchen, “It’s me!”… but we’ll get to Aron next week. Brinda herself talks about the friendliness in the office and how everyone works together.

        “It’s neat to see Jessica and Yvette stretched out on the floor designing. My boss Yvette, she’s just great to work for. You get to be creative, and that’s one of my passions. I’m always doing something creative at home – making jewelry, recovering furniture, decorating. I’m always doing something. I sew, draw, paint – not houses! My house needs a painting – but I love to draw and paint.” 

She will have been here a year come August and works within speaking distance of me through a nearby doorway, which is probably why she’s the first one for you to meet! Two of her grandkids have been in the office, and I’ll be first to say that Brinda is THE coolest grandmother I’ve seen. She knows what pop culture references they make and sometimes ones them up! She encourages her granddaughter’s passion for fashion and takes the kids shopping! 

I think we’re going to be good friends. :) 



If you have exciting VC related news to share with us, or maybe you just want to show off your adorable kids decked out in Vintage Couture, send me info and pictures at monica@vintagecoutureinc.com.

The Gift of Giving

The gift of giving goes a long way. No one knows that better than Mandie Joy, a volunteer nurse in Uganda. After unexpectedly becoming a foster mother, Mandie is now an adoption advocate and avid blogger, showing the public how the love between child and care taker is not barred by blood relation, where you grew up, or the additional factor of HIV. If you haven’t taken a look at her blog yet (http://www.mandiejoy.com/), I highly suggest you do. She’s quite the writer and photographer as well!



Vintage Couture had the unique privilege to help Mandie spread the love. Back in December, Mandie contacted Vintage Couture to ask for some donations of kids clothing. We were able to give her several boxes of clothing. It was so much that she couldn’t even carry it all back to Uganda in one trip! She was able to bring back enough to clothe the children at an orphanage, but saved some clothing for another visit. You may remember this event with her blog post back in February, http://www.mandiejoy.com/can-we-hear-it-for-ruffles-please/, as well as in our blog post here: http://vintagecoutureinc.blogspot.com/2011/02/family-spirit-orphanage.html

Mandie has now been able to give the rest of the clothing to what girls were left at the orphanage in May. See her new post here: http://www.mandiejoy.com/can-we-hear-it-for-polkadots/

We at Vintage Couture would like to thank Mandie for giving us the opportunity to donate the clothing we love so dearly to children in need. Seeing the children in Mandie’s photos gives us the greatest feeling of all, seeing a purely happy child. Polka dots have never looked so good!

One lucky reader will win a $100 Vintage Couture Gift Certificate!

To Enter: Visit our website to see our spring and summer collections. Come back here and write a comment on this post telling us which collection is your favorite. Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it is visible in your blog profile.

Extra Entries:
1. Subscribe to this blog feed. Must be verified to count.
2. Like our Facebook page and post a comment there telling us what you like about our designs.
3. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway using the text below.
Enter to win a $100 gift certificate from @_vintagecouture on their blog: http://vintagecoutureinc.blogspot.com/
4. Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page.
5. Blog about this giveaway. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on June 23 at 11:59pm Central Time. The $100 gift certificate may be used on available merchandise and is valid through December 31, 2011. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact us or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents.

VC Photoshoot Fun: Take a look behind the scenes!

Get excited, because here at Vintage Couture we’re preparing for the next two catalogs with almost two weeks of shooting at multiple locations. We have a great team that is both professional and fun! Above- you’ll see a behind the scenes picture of Jessica- our designer- in the black baseball cap. Behind the camera is our amazing photographer Robie- we just love him and so did all the models! The kids get to giggle and play as the crew captures their smiling faces and adorable outfits. Below you are seeing sneak peaks of our Winter Café Fleur hostess exclusive collection.

This shoot begins bright and early before the Texas sun is at its best. You can find this cute and quaint old building near the Frisco Heritage Museum. The Museum represents the history and culture of a past Frisco, Texas. Located along a railroad, they have an old locomotive that we also utilized for some great shots!

    

Models have been arriving for their makeup and garments all day and get their turn one by one at the makeup chair, Mom’s and girls alike. Above is our cute friend Lexi, getting ready to model one of our new coats, and Vintage Couture Stylist Tamara Outland of Abilene, Texas. It is always great to have Vintage Couture stylists and their children come out to model. 

We set up camp inside of Babe’s Chicken Dinner House and were extremely pleased with the private room, staff, and food! Babe’s sits right between the Frisco Heritage Museum and the railroad, allowing us a perfect air conditioned spot to settle and hold models till it was their time to go on location. If you haven’t been to Babe’s, we recommend bringing your loved ones and sitting down to a good family styled meal - our Vintage Couture family enjoyed it! 

    

Here is our friend Betsy, modeling a new women’s coat, and Vintage Couture Stylist Megan Eckenrode of McKinney’s daughter Madeline along her side. Be sure to check the blog often- we plan to start posting a lot more- lots going on here to share with you! 

VC Photoshoot site: Frisco, Texas

Check out one of our locations for our Fall/Holiday and Winter 2011 catalogs!  The Frisco Heritage Museum's campus includes several buildings reminiscent of a small Texas town of the past.  The Museum itself strives to teach about the rich history and culture of the now booming city. Sharing the area and aesthetic is Babe’s Chicken Dinner House, full of silly fake chickens, witty and comedic hand painted signs, and some of the best family styled food in the area.  Their chicken is cooked in a plethora of styles and their sides and desserts alone are a great meal!

The locations we chose will capture the rustic and nostalgic mood of a vintage collector or enthusiast.  You won’t be disappointed, so come back to the blog soon to see some great behind the scenes shots!