Inspired Travel: New York City

EY’s heads of marketing and design, Colleen Hall and Celisha Racicot are fresh with inspiration after a recent trip to New York City where ELISABETH YORK was on display as part of the NY NOW summer show. While attending the show, Celisha and Colleen had an opportunity to mingle with other vendors, and attend an awards show, but what’s a trip to New York without a little retail therapy?

Below, Colleen and Celisha share their best style tips and experience finding inspiration in the Big Apple.

What tips can you give us on staying fashionable while working long hours at a tradeshow?

Colleen: Embrace the athleisure trend. A fashionable pair of sneakers is a must when walking through NY City, tending your display booth, and walking the aisles at a show. But, always bring your heels for a quick switch at parties and meetings.

Celisha: Always have a chic cover-up for the fluctuating temperatures and blasting AC that is common at shows. Great jewelry can elevate any outfit from boring to fab.

Can you share some things that inspired you on your trip and how you are you planning to apply them to the future of the ELISABETH YORK brand?

Colleen: Although we are in home fashions, we gain plenty of inspiration from the clothing industry as well. New York is certainly a fashion hub, so just walking down the street and viewing people’s outfits is inspiring. On the marketing side of things, we visited some luxury furniture and home stores getting ideas for photo shoot staging, packaging, and observed shopping habits. Discretely eavesdropping, or as I like to say conducting market research, on shopper’s comments about products and settings is a great way to start internal conversations and brainstorm sessions.

Celisha: Almost every trend starts at the street style level and New York has no shortage of different styles and innovators. It is always inspiring to be on the same stage as some of the big names in the business and that can be a good push to find ways to step up to that level.We couldn’t do what we do without our customers so their feedback and interpretations of our product play a huge role in our designs.

Speaking of shopping habits, did you pick up anything special for yourselves while in New York?

Colleen: Of course, we had to take an evening to hit up some of our favorite shops. I left with a new pair of embellished jeans, a soft pink suede duster, blue faux leather (animal lover here) skirt, some leopard print peep toe booties, and new shade of lipstick, perfect for fall. You know just a few essentials.

Celisha: Not as much as I had hoped for but a new pair of cutout nude pumps and a beaded hooded sweater made their way home with me. I always manage to find room for new shoes.