First in a Series of Fashion-isha It-Girls: Elizabeth Savetsky

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

With the impressive architecture of the Plaza Hotel and Bergdorf rising in the background, Elizabeth Savetsky waves to me across the Avenue at what is famously the most glamorous intersection on the East Coast: 5th and 57th in New York City. Sporting Chanel, Zara and a huge smile, her contagious positive energy and radiance looms even larger than our eminent surroundings.
Photo Credit Keith Morrison

Elizabeth is the first in a series of Fashion-isha it-girls that I will be featuring, who encompass genuine inner beauty and depth, not to mention a talent for creating and styling the most innovative and fashionable (mostly modest) outfits. And as glamorous as this all may seem, they're also real women, wives and mothers, who live real and busy lives.

Several minutes later, while sipping afternoon cocktails at a cozy corner table in Bergdorf's basement cafe, Elizabeth shares her small town Texas background, her love for more-is-more fashion and accessories, and her inspiring philosophies on life and being a working woman in New York City.

So grab your own cocktail of choice and take a moment to eavesdrop into our conversation....

Fashion-isha: So tell me a little about yourself and your background...we want to get to know you!

Elizabeth: For as long as I can remember, my favorite part of the day has been getting dressed in the morning.  I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where I often returned home from the mall with something outrageous like high heeled silver sneakers and my mother would say, "LIZZY, WHAT are you going to wear with THAT?!" I even had shoes as the theme for my Bat Mitzvah. I didn't grow up religious.  In fact, I grew up singing on a country music show every weekend, and I was a cheerleader, and I may have even made top 5 in the Miss Teen Texas pageant ;)  I wouldn't trade my upbringing for anything because it's molded me into who I am today.  I came to NYC to study music and music business at NYU when I was 18.  I fell in love with the energy of the city and of course the fashion, and I knew I was home.  Towards the end of college I got involved with MEOR, an amazing Jewish outreach organization and I began to feel a stronger  Jewish identity and a taste to learn more.  I ended up going to Israel for the year after I graduated college, where I learned at Neve. When I came back, I married my amazing husband, took a small detour---getting a masters in education, and FINALLY ended up in the fashion world.  I miss singing every day, but working in fashion really helps fill that creative drive I have.

Every outfit is like a performance.


F.  What's your job in fashion?  

E.  I was initially hired to manage Beyond 7, the retail division of Showroom Seven/Seventh House PR/Erickson Beamon (All of these companies are owned by the Erickson family--the multibrand showroom, fashion and lifestyle PR company, and luxury jewelry company and they're all housed in the same building in West Chelsea).  I became the face and voice of the company over time, mostly because nobody else wanted to be on TV and I really enjoyed making the appearances.  I also got to do celebrity styling (if you want to know who you have to ask...haha) and personal shopping.  

Unfortunately, right as I went on maternity leave, Hurricane Sandy destroyed a large part of our building and Beyond 7 has been closed ever since. It will be back up and running soon! After I had my sweet daughter, Stella, Showroom Seven/Seventh House PR brought me on to freelance for them in sales, event production, and social media. I am also a brand ambassador for Erickson Beamon.  I am all over the place and I  love everything I get to do, including attend New York Fashion Week.  My colleagues, friends, and family have been encouraging me for a while now to start my own accessories blog.  I'm proud to say, after some hard work it has finally launched! 

Check it out here: www.excessoriesexpert.com 

F. What would you say is your personal style?

E. This answer changes daily.  Truly my style evolves on a daily basis.  I hate what I wore  yesterday because I am already thinking about tomorrow.  The one thing that stays constant? I am an avid over-accessorizer and I always have been.  I think it's because I was forced to wear a uniform to school from the age of 6 and I had to squeeze all of my favorite trends into the weekend.  I love piles of yellow gold jewelry.  I have very little self-restraint when it comes to jewelry.  I'm not into dainty and delicate.  I like BIG (I am from Texas, after all) and flashy.  I also love looks that incorporate juxtaposition like, tough-girl, edgy sky high booties worn with girly dresses.


Photo Credit Fabologie.com

F. What are some of your life and fashion philosophies?

E. Fashion is supposed to be fun.  Sometimes working in fashion, I find myself taking it so seriously, or getting stressed out about it.  I would rather take risks and look back at pictures of myself and laugh about how crazy the trends were, than look back and be in a boring black dress...blah.  That being said, I don't think fashion is superficial at all.  I think your body is your canvas to portray your image to the world.  You are in control of how people perceive you based on what you choose to wear.

Why wouldn't you want to be beautiful or interesting or send some sort of message about who you are on the inside with your clothing? 


F.  So who is your favorite designer?

E. Chanel for bags, Pucci for prints, Balmain for beaded jackets, Oscar de la Renta for gowns....oh sorry, was I supposed to pick one?

Photo Credit Fabologie.com

F. How do you balance being a wife and mom with being a busy it girl in the fashion world?

E. I order in a lot hahahaha. My schedule is different every week, but I'm lucky that for the most part, I work part time and can spend anytime NOT working with my daughter.  Sometimes I even bring her to the office with me and everyone there is supportive and loves it.  I try to do it all, but I definitely don't always do the best job. What is balance anyway?


F. Here's a loaded question...what's your attitude when it comes to modest fashion?

E. A tough question for me.  I believe with my whole heart that Hashem wants us to be beautiful inside and out.  We are supposed to feel good about ourselves and the image we portray to the world and that is a very individual, subjective thing.  For me, I need sequins, heels, and lashes to feel my best.  Others are lucky and feel good without all of that and that's ok too.  I think now is an amazing time in fashion for the tznius lady.  There are so many beautiful options and affordable options from Zara, ASOS, Topshop, etc...  I always try to be respectful of my environment when I get dressed.  I would never want to say that what I do is right when it comes to halacha or modesty, but I do the best I can and I know Hashem understands my journey.  (I love this!)


F. Do you feel it's possible to dress fashionably on a limited budget? What brands/stores would you recommend for the fashionable girl on a budget?

E. YES! This is what I live by! I like QUANTITY so I need to be on a budget.  I believe it's more important to spend the big bucks on the accessories (bags, coats, and shoes) and spend less on the actual outfit.  I live in Zara and ASOS.  My company also has an AMAZING sample sale, the Showroom Seven Sample Sale, four times a year where I get amazing Issa maxi dresses, Erickson Beamon for wholesale prices, and a bunch of other great stuff.  If you live close to NYC, sample sales are GOLDMINES.  I got like 7 dresses and jackets at the Alice and Olivia sample sale last year for like $80 each.  GOLDMINE!

F. What are some of your favorite easy styling tips for the girl who wants to look great but doesn't know how.

E. ACCESSORIES.  I'm not a believer in less is more.  More is more, but it has to be the "right" more.  Get a leopard scarf, a long gold coin pendant necklace, a pair of over sized sunglasses, and a felt fedora or floppy hat and you will look like a million bucks no matter what you're wearing with it. 



F.  So tell us about your new blog!

E. My blog is a guide to making impractical, over-the-top accessories into practical everyday pieces.  My colleagues have been encouraging me for the past couple of years to start a blog because they were always amused by my style.  I toyed with the idea for a while, but I didn't have the confidence to do it right away.  Adi (from Fabologie.com) and I became friendly and she asked me to write a monthly Accessories Report for her site, and although I was really nervous to do it, I did it,  and it was a lot of fun! Adi was very instrumental and encouraging to me in my decision to start Excessories Expert.  I hope people have as much fun reading it as I do writing it.

I hope to spread my message of excess by encouraging women everywhere to put on that feathered-fedora and fur vest and be the most fabulous mom in the carpool line.  


F. What are some of your dreams and goals for the future.

E. I'm still figuring out my goals for the future. I'm enjoying the journey.  A friend recently told me a quote: "The mission is the journey itself." That's how I feel about my career in fashion.  I am very excited about my blog though, and I hope that will do cool things.  My biggest goal is always just to be happy and do things that make me happy and to make other people happy.  Family will always be my first priority and I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, a gorgeous daughter, and parents that I am very, very close to.

Photo Credit Fabologie.com

F. This has been so fun, I feel like we've been friends for a while! Tell me, if you could send one message to the women out there what would it be?

E. I think we should live every day like it's our wedding day.  Dress like a princess, dance like a fool, and love with a full and open heart. 

Follow Excessories Expert on the BLOG and on Instagram!

Until next time...

xo

Sharon

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15 comments

  1. AWESOME PICTURES, THE SHIRT WITH THE BOW IS SPECTACULAR !!! :)





    http://style-squared.blogspot.ca/
    https://www.facebook.com/StyleSquaredByZM

    ReplyDelete
  2. These ladies are all so fabulous! Thanks for sharing Sharon!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  3. had never heard of her and I thought it was awesome to learn more about her! thanks for sharing this. can't wait to see the next one. xx. gigi

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  4. It's so inspiring how she makes an entire career out of something she's so passionate about. Can't wait to read more in this series!

    ReplyDelete
  5. we absolutely love her style! what a beautiful and inspiring woman!
    Great post, Sharon!!
    xx Vera & Rony
    http://wattwewear.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great Q&A Sharon! Lovely lady and she has amazing style. Thanks for sharing she is very photogenic too.

    XO

    Maria
    http://www.onestyleatatime.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gorgeous style, so many great outfits!

    Kendra
    xx

    Blog: Stolen Inspiration
    Instagram: KendraAlexandra
    Facebook: StolenInspiration

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gorgeous style, so many great outfits!

    Kendra
    xx

    Blog: Stolen Inspiration
    Instagram: KendraAlexandra
    Facebook: StolenInspiration

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Sharon,
    A wonderful interview and I love her thoughts on dressing on a budget, accessorizing, and modesty!

    xoxo
    Karena
    New_2013 Designer Series

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  10. This is awesome Sharon. I love this opportunity to take a peek into the world of fabulous and passionate women. Kudos for that!!

    xx
    Abby Klein

    www.alamodesty.com

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  11. What a pretty woman. She has great style - lots of vibe.
    Elizabeth wears colour and pattern mixes so well.

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  12. She's so stylish
    her outfits are fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an awesome woman and I completely agree, more is more and I absolutely cannot resist yellow gold jewellery either ! I just LOVE it! :)

    Hayfa
    http://www.londonloafers.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. hi mom can i just let you know that the place i went to for shabbas was this girl's roomate in neve...hashtag small world! okay cool love you talk to you soon

    ReplyDelete