If the shoe fits RUN with it!

I believe for some women shoes are a vulnerability.

This weekend I watched as women eagerly pulled off their winter boots to try on colorful spring shoes. One nice weekend in New York City and the crowds were flooding the streets and my NoLita EMc2 boutique.

Ruth, my intercontinental best friend and muse arrived on Wednesday from Holland to run the New York Half Marathon.
Formerly, Ruth was a shoe buyer at a chic department store in Holland. She is a tough critic but if I can convince Ruth then I know it will sell. I rely on her help as a merchandiser, because she is knowledgeable of the business, and her vulnerabilities are accessories! She packs a bag for her shoes, or she buys them and asks me for a bag to carry them home in.

Ruth has a special formula, (she earned a Ph D) that she can justify spending, for example; on a business course by the denominations of handbags and shoes. “That course will cost me about 4 bags and 5 pair of shoes.” I think to myself, damn her math is good!

Right before my eyes I can imagine the unfolding of an episode of “Sex In The City” when Carrie is trying to buy an apartment and is counting her shoes in her closet and mistakenly thinking she had $4,000 worth of shoes and on recount realized she had about 10 times that!  Thankfully, Ruth manages her money better, but never lacked in courage to take a risk on a bag or a shoe she loved. She gets her moneys worth out of each accessory as she enjoys them and wears them.

Last Friday I received an email requesting line sheets, before I make a presentation to an online retailer that is interested in the EMc2 shoe, handbag and apparel collections. I asked Ruth to look over my designs and concepts, and help me tighten the concepts so I can successfully convey my brand perspective through product.

But first the New York City Half Marathon Challenge:  Ruth decided to run and train for long distance running. Imagine this: last year, Ruth did not even run!  Ruth ran the half marathon on Sunday morning, the first day of Spring! Coincidentally the day of her parents wedding anniversary. She finished in 2 hours 6 minutes as she RAN the last mile! Tonight, over dinner at the “Ace Hotel” Ruth said she could not believe it was only 32 hours after the race.

Congratulations Ruth for turning your dream into a reality!

Ruth and I for years have shopped tirelessly around New York City, Miami, Holland, France, Italy, Belgium and Bali together. Bazaars, Vintage stores, boutiques, we’ve ventured to all the unknowns many times at Ruth’s insistence to check out the “fabulous” places. We are a perfect power shopping duo. I don’t know of many opinionated people who could get along so well without killing each other. We complement each other. When one is hopeful the other is doubtful, when one is enthusiastic the other is underwhelmed, when one is practical the other is impetuous. Our chemistry works well together. If we had a reality show if pressed we  could pull rags out of a Salvation Army box and coordinate a fashion show. Ruth and I pulled together an EMc2 fashion show/fund raiser for Housing Works in New Haven last December. It was fun to be back home with a friend with whom I have seen a lot of the world with.

We evaluate trends, set a plan and find inspiration in far reaching ends of the world to bring back to Nolita’s home EMc2 boutique for translation and fabrication.

We worked on the shoe presentation this evening. Ruth knows from experience: if the EMc2 shoe fits (and looks fabulous) run with it!

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  • Shop at EMc2

    EMc2 New York Boutique

    240 Elizabeth Street
    New York NY 10012

    Tel: 212 431 4134

    Hours:
    Mon - Thu & Sat: 11am-7pm
    Fri: 11am - 8pm
    Sun: Noon - 6pm