Thursday, August 30, 2012

Running A Small Business While Trying To Have A Life



So the month of August is practically at an end and so far this is only the third blog for the month. Who would have thought when we started this blog a few months ago full of zeal and ideas, writing mutiple blogs a day that it would all slow down to not even a trickle... but a DROPLET!.

The hope was always to be consistent, after all we are creative people constantly thinking and finding interesting new things to share.... but life has a way of being anything but consistent. It seems inevitable that you'll start something only to be thrown a curve ball and no matter how hard you try the simplest things become a problem.

This past month has probably been the hardest of the year to date. Everything seemed to go wrong ... family health crisis... personal health problems... computers crashing... and so on and so forth. It seems like just yesterday we felt so inspired and ideas were flowing and then all of a sudden we found ourselves asking the question.. "why do we always seem to go down the hardest path with everything?"

The reality is,  there are no easy answers. Starting a business and trying to drum up support takes alot of time and effort. Staying inspired to create for that business takes alot of time and effort and then inbetween, life has a way of ...well, getting in the way.

As a small business you don't have the support of many hands and many minds to take care of different aspects of the business. You are the creative force, designer, manufacturer, promoter, marketer, photographer, financial advisor and then you blog, tweet, facebook and still have to put on a load of washing.

Does it sound like we're complaining? Well not really. This month has just been a reality check. At the end of the day there is no greater feeling than finishing something with your own hands from conception to end product. Even if it takes others a long time to see the value in what you do!

Here at GoS our business is about NOT throwing things away, NOT giving up on something when there is still so much potential in it. It's about creating pieces that are individual, for individuals and that will be treasured for years to come.

I guess our philosphy for what we sell should apply for everything... even ideas and dreams. Don't be so quick to give up on things and throw them out. Sometimes things need a little reworking and sometimes it just takes a while for people to appreciate them. Just don't give up yet... even when life kicks the poop out of you get right back up and show it what you're made of!

R&M @ GoS
xox

P.S. When all else fails remember... it could be worse! ;)

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Sneaker Wedge Trend

Here at GoS we are very girly but we have always had a soft spot for sneakers. We've seen sneakers reinvented in so many ways whether it was bold and unusual colors, prints or cuts and yes we even own some serious spiked heel sneakers ourselves.

Over the past few months we've seen the trend grow and reinvent itself yet again. It seems sneakers are all the hype, but we're not talking about your funky pair of gym trainers as seen at the Olympics. It's all about the sneaker wedge!! Isabel Marant ushered in the wedge sneaker trend with her Willow sneakers with their 3 inch wedge as seen on a multitude of celebrities. These kicks started out at about $760– that's if you can still manage to get your hands on a pair. They are currently selling on ebay for 1k!! YIKES



Isabel Marant - Perkins
Then there was Marc Jacobs who took sneaker wedges to the runway at fashion week for his Spring 2012 collection. As Spring approaches us in Australia we wonder if the local fashionistas will get in on the trend.


Marc Jacobs


But don't be disheartened if you're still keen to own a pair of sneaker wedges without breaking the bank similar styles are flowing through without the extra expense. Asos has their very own version in the asos ark for less than $160!

Nine West Original Sneakers have the Perri wedge in a range of colors for $85!


I'm sure we'll be seeing many more of these coming through our chain stores as the weather heats up in Australia. So for that effortlessly cool look grab a pair to wear with your colored jeans or a cute skirt!

Enjoy!
R&M @ GoS
xox


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

YSL Set For Name Change

Iconic fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is set to undergo a change of name after fifty years under the supervision of new creative director Hedi Slimane. In future, Yves Saint Laurent will be known as Saint Laurent Paris (inspiring thoughts of a Catholic Saint??). The name change is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, for Hedi’s 2013 spring collection. The YSL logo will remain unchanged. 
Slimane says he joined the YSL at the beginning of this year and assumed “total creative responsibility for the brand image and all its collections”, including store concepts.
 
We are keen to see what the name change will bring for this much loved brand. Generally speaking when brands change name they also change direction so we wait with bated breath to find out exactly what Saint Laurent of Paris is all about. Personally we will always love Yves Saint Laurent as it rolls of the tongue and inspires images of romance and luxury in the city of Paris.....
 
What do you think of the new name??
 

Enjoy!
R&M @ GoS
xox