Out of Town... Visiting Another Blog!

Well, it's 2 weeks post show... amazing how time flies!  I'll get back to my regular blogging very soon -- I may even have to comment on some shows in Milan.  Versace looked FAB, by the way, don't you think?

But, before that, I wanted to share this interview from "Shoe Daydreams."  Most of you know Princess Poochie (the author of that blog), but those of you who don't... you should!  You'd never know that this stylishly hot redhead is "living in fashion exile" (as she puts it) because she looks like she is on the pulse of fashion... she looks like, well, a New Yorker!  I adored her trompe l'oeil dress she wore to my show, so I thought I would post it for all of you to appreciate!


Princess Poochie interviews me at my show!  See the entire article on her fabulous blog, Shoe Daydreams.

Princess Poochie in trompe l'oeil, Katie in leopard and Celine (The Shoe Girl) in a fab pistol print

STACY LOMMAN : NEW YORK -- Spring 2011 Collection


New York Fashion Week -- Monday, September 13, 2010

A Designer's Dream

I had a dream... OK, I won't go there!  But, the truth is that I did, in fact, have a dream to be a designer and to put on a show (well, many shows) during New York Fashion Week.  So, a young girl from Amish Country, PA came to the big city with stars in her eyes and passion in her heart.  Sadie (my dress form that I bought for $15 in 1985 and wheeled out of a store in the mall that was going out of business) and I, settled in NYC after finishing design school.
The "Anna" dress -- sponsor JEC

The "Emilia" dress -- sponsor JEC

Immediately, I got into a pattern (or a rut as it proved).  Upon graduating from F.I.T., I needed to land a job within two weeks so that I could pay rent on the apartment that I managed to get... otherwise, I'd be kicked to the curb.  So, I took what I could get in the world of fashion and started as an assistant in an outerwear company and barely scraped by.  I continued down this path for many many years, leaving companies for better opportunities and bigger paychecks, but I never had the time or the means to actually venture out on my own.  As I say in the video (below) while backstage at my first show, "It's more than a 24/7 undertaking." 


Since, I found myself with ample time recently (as the job market has all but disappeared), I decided it was the perfect moment to launch my line.  Crazy?  Maybe.  But, it worked!  The problem had always been financing -- how do I pay NYC rent and other expenses at the same time that I'm trying to put a collection together (which requires a lot of capital)?  I needed a miracle.  An angel.  Well, I found several angels.  Sixty-five to be exact.

The gorgeous "Gwendolyn P" dress -- sponsored by Taffetadarlings reader and major supporter, Christine (note the Wendy Brandes "Cleopatra" earrings)

The hot "Elizabeth" dress -- sponsored by fellow blogger and huge supporter, Elizabeth

One day, I decided to raise money through sponsors to start my label.  Knowing that my concept for the collection was metal (titled "Precious Metal") I boldly approached Goldschläger Liqueur.  Liquor companies love getting involved with these kind of things, I thought.  They crave having their name/logo plastered all over the place and being that Goldschläger has flakes of 24 karat gold floating around, I didn't see how they could resist being part of my "Precious Metal" collection.  Well, they resisted.  They never responded to me.  OK, I won't hold it against them... they obviously don't know a good thing when it drops in their lap.  No offense taken!  So, what were my options?  Fabric companies?  They weren't giving me a dime.  What to do, what to do.  Enter social media expert, jewelry designer and blogger extraordinaire, Wendy Brandes.


The sexy "WendyB" dress -- sponsored by the sexy WendyB!


Most of you who read my blog are familiar with WendyB, her jewelry and her blog.  In fact, most of you who read my blog found me through WendyB!!  After my failed attempts to get sponsorship through companies, Wendy mentioned a website she had heard about called "Kickstarter," which provides a platform for all kinds of artists to generate funding for their projects.  I filled out all of the pertinent information, stated my case and submitted the forms to Kickstarter.  After four days, I received a notice that I had been approved and that I could launch my project.  Not sure of how this site would work for me or how many (or few) people it would actually reach, I set my goal number fairy low.  The catch is, if you don't reach the goal, you don't get the cash.  Even if you're $5 short.

The "Jocelyn" dress -- sponsor, Jocelyn Jeffries-Bruno


The "Melissa O" dress -- sponsor, Melissa Offenhartz

To my surprise, my project took off at a blazing speed.  I received emails from people I'd never met wishing me well and rooting for me.  Many of those people became my sponsors and generously opened their wallets in the worst economy ever (well, close) to cheer me on and offer their help and support.  I admit, there were a few times I became completely overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude.  The outpouring of positive energy propelled me forward and helped me to put together my first collection under my own name! 

The "Melissa DC" dress -- sponsored by fellow blogger, Melissa Doan-Cenker

Everyone who stood behind me is an angel!  And not just my sponsors... my friends at Bernhard Link and Bricco Restaurant couldn't have been more helpful.  Randy, Steve, Christy, Sylvia, Ernest and David were troopers.  And of course, the brilliant, WendyB, mom & dad and my cool as hell sister, Kim!

The "Suzette" dress -- sponsored by my mommy!

The "Kimberly" dress -- sponsored by my sis

Hope you enjoy all the photos and the backstage footage.  I'll post the show tomorrow!

I'm gonna HUFF and HUFF and blow your socks off!

OK taffetadarlings, as promised, here it is!  Check out the video report from the Huffington Post.  What a great job they did with the story.  I was flattered to be approached by journalist, Samira Nanda, who climbed the five flights of stairs (6 months pregnant to boot!) to my work space without a smidge of complaint!  She and videographer, Hunter Stuart filmed me working on my samples, doing a fitting and talking about the power of social media.  Media Power!  Hunter also came to my show on Monday and got some backstage footage (pretty much me being a nervous wreck) as well as the actual presentation.


Take a look at the edited 2 minute clip.... it's fantastic!  Also, please leave your feedback/comments!

Show Press!!

Okay, okay, have patience my taffetadarlings!  I've been running around like crazy and just picked up the CD from the show photographer... pictures coming soon!  Meanwhile, I wanted to share a couple of pieces from the press... pretty exciting, huh?

I am so proud to be in a video interview in the Huffington Post!  Take a look...

And read about my show in the Lookonline...

24

This is it.  Just one more day.  I am busy tying up all kinds of loose ends (some of them threads, actually!) for my "big reveal" tomorrow evening.  I can't express how excited I am to be showing my debut collection during New York Fashion Week.  This has been a dream of mine (and Sadie... my dress form I've had since 1985) for so long, I can't even begin to process that it is happening...TOMORROW!


This is how I feel with just twenty, twenty, twenty four hours to go...
I have to thank all of the incredibly positive and supportive people who sponsored me and stepped up to help me realize my dream.  There is no question that I would not be here, just 24 hours away from my first showing at NY Fashion Week without their help.  Thank you a million times over!!

Where Have You Beene?


I was reminded of the late Geoffrey Beene in a post yesterday in lovely Madeleine's Blog, In New York Paris Tomorrow.  Glovemaker extraordinaire, Daniel Storto shared a piece that captures so vividly, a period in his life in Los Angeles and what it was like to live and work there during that time.  He mentions Mr. Beene.  He describes their first meeting and tells of how creatively connected they were and how free and trusting their working relationship was.  Beene was one of my earliest fashion inspirations, but sadly, I never had the opportunity to meet him.  The best I could do was write a tiny little article for the Lookonline's Daily Fashion Report in October 2008, after the book launch of "Geoffrey Beene An American Fashion Rebel," written by PAPER Mag's, Kim Hastreiter.  The book is fantastic AND the cover photo is shot by talented veteran fashion photographer, Randy Brooke, who just happens to be the house photographer for my show this season!