My friend and fabulous frock fabricator Melissa Bell and I decided to try our luck at the Henri Bendel Open See this morning. Essentially the designer’s version of a cattle call, it attracts scores of attendees from far and wide (I mean, dude, Melissa and I schlepped to the Upper East Side all the way from Carroll Gardens!) . Knowing this, we decided to splurge on an Arecibo car service and arrived at 5:30. There was already a line, but not a ghastly one. We took our spots behind Beetle who took pity on my shivering and lent me her leg warmers. The lovely Canadians of Tenielle showed up right after us and graciously shared their chairs.
Definitely the biggest surprise was just how nice the other designers were.
At nine-ish, they brought us into the basement from out of the cold. (I think everyone who was in line by noon got to go in, but I imagine their wait was way longer.) They numbered us, (I was “10,” which was flattering) lined us up, and then we signed in under our category.
After signing in, we got to wait in the break room for the runners to wrestle with the lists of our hard-to-say and illegibly written names and lead us into a third line.
It was at this point in the proceedings that a began to feel I flutter of nervousness: Once in the third line, I stood at the threshold of the buyer-filled room, able to watch as the young lasses (for I saw no buyer who was visibly male) patiently and – for the most part – politely interacted with the designers.
The jewelry buyers were swift and merciful, enthusiastic about my creativity and products, but apparently the typical Henri Bendel shopper is not in the market for decoupage earrings on dimes. Even if they’re on sterling silver!
Anyway, I knew going in that the best case scenario for jewelry is to be invited to do a trunk show, and I wasn’t even expecting that. The most salient feeling I experienced in the immediate aftermath of the rebuff was…relief.
And exhaustion. For some reason I awoke at 2 this morning.
And now, it is time for the traditional post-Henri Bendel Open See nap.
Click here to see more pics on flickr.
6 comments
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March 31, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Dalton
You are a superstar and a trooper. Enjoy your well deserved nap!
March 31, 2008 at 2:29 pm
wabisabi
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
April 1, 2008 at 9:13 am
Brooklynbee
Love the shout-out to Arecibo car service.
- a fellow Brooklynite
April 1, 2008 at 9:17 am
wabisabibrooklyn
I know – Arecibo is the best!
April 1, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Joanne
I arrived at 8:30 and was on the other side of the building. I was out of there by 11:20. So I think no matter what time you arrived, you waited the same amount.(although part of my wait was in the rain). The buyers were very young and I’m sure were only screeners to pass on to the real buyers if they were interested. I did get really good feedback on my jewelry. The person I saw said they were looking for bangles (go figure). I did a wonderful women from Staten Island- jewelry too, so the time went fast. I’m from Lenox MA, so it was a long day. Today I can barely move.
October 16, 2008 at 6:33 pm
rusty
Hey, I hope someone gets this in time, as there is another Open See on Oct 27th and I’m wondering if it is worth my while for a hat designer like me, to fly from Florida to attend this thing. I’m just back from Stockholm , where talked to an older woman on a boat, who told me of these Bendel Open Sees. The timing is not perfect, really, as well as spending more money to fly to NY. But, what , exactly, happens? I did call and talk to someone at Bendel, who told me about a trunk show. But, Wabisabibrooklyn makes it sound as if there is more opportunity than just a trunk show , if a buyer likes your stuff. I mean, is this an opportunity for someone, like me, to get noticed by someone, like a major designer ? Are you just selling what you have made -or will make, or are they prepared to buy your designs, or will they – best case senario, higher you to design for them?
Sorry, for the ignorance :/