About Town: Marissa Kraxberger

I had such fun with Marissa Kraxberger last week over lunch at Andaz.  As the Head of Creative at Oscar de la Renta she is an incredible example of a chic working mom.  She also pens Oscar's new children's blog George & Ruby.  Below is a Q + A with her.  Enjoy!

How do you balance a successful career and being a mom?

You can't be too hard on yourself.  Having a great support system, an incredibly supportive husband and a great team is key.  Both roles - career woman and mom - define who I am and I try and give both 100%. I get home kick of my heels and color with the kids.  

Favorite Oscar de la Renta piece for mom? For kids?

Oscar's Cabochon earrings. There is also an evergreen bejeweled dress from the fall collection that I love. I wore it to our most recent fashion show and Oscar told me I looked elegant... that was a dear diary moment for me.

For the little prince – cotton piqué polos for boys - amazing fit and craftsmanship.  For the little lady - pleated tunic dress in colorful florals, easy to dress up or down.  I love to mix high and low...Key Oscar de la Renta pieces mixed with Zara and Crew Cuts. 

Upcoming trips?

The south of France.  We are renting a house and bringing the kids. Since I don't have much time with the kids during the week I didn't want to take a vacation without them. My mom is coming with us so we can enjoy the kids during the day and have date nights in the evening. 

Why George and Ruby?

We wanted something catchy and playful. George and Ruby are Alex + Eliza Bolen's dogs. Oscar and his family love dogs and felt that it was personal and family oriented.

What can’t you leave the house without?

My iPhone 5. It holds pictures, schedules. It's my direct connection to the kids. 

What’s your favorite social media channel?

Instagram. no question.

What is your favorite ASHA piece?

I LOVE the zodiac pendants...I love wearing items that remind me of the kids.  

About Town: September Rinnier

Meet September Rinnier; co-founder of Tuckernuck.  Tuckernuck is one of our favorite sites because it is always beautifully curated with classic staple pieces like this Barbour jacket and these Charles Philip loafers.  In addition to clothes and shoes, the site carries jewelry and home accessories.  We love the lifestyle shoot Tuckernuck did with our jewels.  Remember when we posted it here?  See what inspired September to start Tuckernuck below!

What inspired you to start Tuckernuck?

Tuckernuck grew out of our love for clean-cut, classic American style.  We were constantly finding cool brands that appealed to us, but they were primarily sold offline.  We wanted to create a one-stop shop to aggregate the heritage and up-and-coming brands that define and celebrate this traditional look. To us, Tuckernuck is much more than a collection of designers who make quality clothing, accessories, and home goods but a story of living in good taste, elegance and good company.

We spend most of our time creating rich lifestyle content by merchandising and photographing everything we carry on our friends in natural destination settings rather than on traditional white backdrops.  Our goal is to create the best online shopping experience with an interactive gallery of Tuckernuck Style photos that will allow you to shop by models you can relate to, friends you may even recognize, destinations, events, and traditions within this lifestyle such as horse races and regattas.

What is the best part of working at Tuckernuck?

The people!  Our team is made up of incredibly smart and creative ladies that make each day so much fun.  It's amazing how we can continue to unveil skill sets we never knew we had because we have focused on staying lean, which has caused us to be very successful.

What trend do you think is going to be big this Fall in terms of jewelry?
Deco. Bold necklaces will also continue to be strong.

What are your favorite designers?
For Fall, we love Ali Ro anoraks, Pink Pineapple cashmere sweaters, and Devon Baer skirts and dresses.  For Spring, we're obsessed with Annie Griffin's new collection and Project Alabama.

What is your favorite ASHA piece?
The zodiac ring and zodiac pendant!

About Town: Alex Pethtel

I had so much fun getting to know Alex from Treillage. I love her passion for design and style. While I was there we talked about her arts education background and her love of jewelry. Read about her life in New York and working at Treillage.

Who are your favorite interior designers, other than Bunny Williams...
Mark Hampton, Steven Gambrel, and Joseph Dirand.

And lastly, she isn't a designer, but my mother has an amazing eye. She has really inspired me in many ways. I love the way she has put our home together!

Favorite part about living in New York...
How eclectic the city is. It's almost like you are in 100 different places at once. You can be on the Upper East Side and 20 minutes later transport downtown which has a completely different feel.

Where did you study...
SMU (Southern Methodist University), Pratt Institute, and Christie's.

Favorite place to shop...
Escada for clothes and Flair for home.

Favorite restaurant in New York...
Bubby's.

Favorite ASHA piece...
Zodiac Ring.

Favorite part about working at Treillage...
Obviously an enormous bonus to working at Treillage is the exposure to Bunny and John. Their design and aesthetics are amazing, of course, but their business savvy and people skills are enormously impressive as well.

I love seeing all the goodies they bring back from their travels and interacting with people in the store. You meet some really interesting people.

About Town: Emily Kellam

We are so excited to have Emily working in the ASHA office this summer as an intern!  Read all about her favorite things and must haves below.

Favorite place to travel...
My favorite place to travel is Oahu, Hawaii.  I have been going there my whole life with my family and grandparents.  My grandfather grew up in Hawaii and I love learning about the culture, and of course tanning on the beach :)

Favorite clothing designer...
Joie is my current obsession. The pieces I own from them are such staple items.  It is a mix of casual and formal.  Everything is so cute, flattering, and classic - you can never go wrong!

Favorite perfume...
My favorite perfume these days is Stella by Stella McCartney, it's sweet, floral, and very feminine.  I never leave the house without it.

Favorite purse...
My favorite purse is my Foley + Corinna classic mid city tote in grey.  It's medium sized, but you can carry anything.  It goes with almost any outfit and never goes out of style.  I will never stop using this handbag.

Favorite nail polish...
My nail polish is always changing, however, the one polish that stays constant is Essie's "Hi Maintenance."  It is described as an innocent, and sheer pale pink.   I say that it is wearable and everyday, the perfect polish when you can't decide on one.

Favorite ASHA piece...
I love everything ASHA, but my favorite ASHA piece is the Giselle earrings.  They are absolutely beautiful and can spice up any outfit.  They are perfect for the summer and a definite must have!

About Town: Patty Wu

PR professional Patty Wu, works at Linda Gaunt Communications; a top NYC PR firm whose clients include Trina Turk, Hunter, Swarovski, and ASHA just to name a few.  Patty recently got engaged (very exciting!) and was kind enough to share a few of her favorite things with us.

Photo taken at The High Line by Kenny Kim Photography

Favorite place to travel and shop...

I love to travel AND shop so picking a favorite is difficult.  Portobello Market in London is fun to peruse.  I also loved Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Tokyo (especially people-watching in Tokyo!)  Also, the little tailor shops in Hoi An are a must - such a fun experience to have pieces custom-made while you relax on the beach!

In general, I like to seek out the small boutiques and independent designers in every new city I visit.  It's inspiring to see collections I've never seen before, learning their stories...and they always make the best souvenirs.

Favorite lunch spot...

During the week it's difficult to get away from the office, but there's a cute little Italian place called Piccolo Cafe, which is great for lunch.  Everything is so fresh and they have daily specials...pasta, sandwiches, salads - yum!

Favorite ASHA piece...
Since my wedding is quickly approaching, I have been eying several ASHA pieces as I gather the "perfect" looks for rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, etc.  I'm in love with all the moonstone pieces and the delicate lace-like border of the Ines earrings are a beautiful, refined statement.

The ivory zodiac ring would be my favorite every day piece. So chic and it makes the perfect gift!

Favorite part about living in NYC...

I love how easy it is to walk around the city.  There's always something new to see, taste, hear - never a dull moment!  One of my favorite places to get away from the buzz of the city is at The High Line.  My fiance and I often take walks there to feel like we're escaping the city (even though we really aren't!)

Favorite part about working at Linda Gaunt PR Firm...
I get to work with some of the most talented designers in the country - that is such an honor and a treat! I'm also surrounded by beautiful jewelry and accessories - pretty much a dream come true for any woman who loves fashion.

The Showroom

Just a peek inside the ASHA Showroom located in the heart of the Garment District.