I’ve always loved jewelry. I spent hours in Claire’s as a kid (sorry, mom!), fell deep into the beaded + string jewelry phase, and even took metal smithing + stone setting classes in high school. My love could be innate (my 18 month old niece already loves to accessorize!), or it could be a product of the hours I spent watching and helping my mom pick out the perfect pieces while growing up.
Although my taste has changed over the years, I’ve never been one to have a huge collection- I stick to a few pieces and wear them over and over. I feel naked without my constants: a watch, my rings, and a few bracelets, and I swap out my favorite earrings and necklaces each season. Something about jewelry makes it feel more personal than anything else I wear, so I like my pieces to reflect that. I can’t add jewelry to my list of items that should always be bought in America, because I love finding unique pieces when I travel, but I believe that jewelry should always be special, and ideally hand-made.
Some of my current American made jewelry favorites… I own everything on the bottom row and wear the bracelets and rings daily. I’ve been wearing the earrings most days (alternating with these) and am debating which of these three necklaces to add to my collection this season… which one do you like best?!
After years of sleeping in anything and everything that i could find/that was clean/that was soft, I finally realized it was time for me to get some new sleepwear. Like the rest of my wardrobe, I wanted fewer, better options – who wants to think about what to wear, to sleep?! The caveat – the sleepwear had to be comfortable, it had to be cute but not overwhelmingly so, and it had to be easy to care for. I went through multiple brands that were not quite right – too delicate, too warm, etc., before I discovered Maison du Soir. The sleepwear is incredible, of course, but, even better, designer Courtney has such a vision and is so passionate about what she is doing that I know the line will just get better. Read on to learn a little bit more about Courtney and Maison du Soir and then go check out the rest of her collection!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
In life…people’s unique stories and the idea that anything is possible. Life can be harsh but it can also be so breath taking. In art…beautiful photography and that both the simplest and most complex emotions can be portrayed without speech. In design…Contrasts …I love old mixed with new, soft and subtle with hard edges, blush pink with ink black, rose gold with black diamonds, pristine white walls with reclaimed wood. I find beauty in simplicity and respect for things with a deeper meaning.
WHAT MADE YOU START MAISON DU SOIR?
I knew there was something bigger out there for me. After establishing brands for companies I have worked for, it was time to make my own vision come to life. I also found an appreciation of beautiful sleepwear and couldn’t figure out why it was so hard to find a quality sleepwear brand that was also fashionable.
WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND MAISON DU SOIR?
The name Maison Du Soir is French for “House of Evening”…the use of “house” is an ode to the old European fashion houses and “soir” beyond it’s direct meaning, has a notion of party and fantasy in the word “Soiree”. Beyond the name, the design inspiration started at common sense…why didn’t current sleepwear offerings echo our changing trends in daywear? Why were the silhouettes boxy when my jeans were skin tight and my blouses flattering? The collection is an attempt to bridge that gap. It’s also an attempt to show people that they should be treating themselves as nicely when they go to sleep as they do when they go to work. You shouldn’t be blog worthy by day and ragamuffin by night.
WHAT DRIVES YOU?
The stories of others who have started small and through hard work, have accomplished great feats.
WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY?
A good cup of coffee and good person.
WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE ESSENTIALS?
Unique jewelry can make any plain outfit look that much better. I’m a fan of K/ller jewelry.
WHAT IS NEXT?
Maison Du Soir growth…possibly unisex travel accessories and MDS for men. The boyfriend has asked for that next!
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?
I’ve learned that there are ups and downs in a new business. You just have to weather the downs and remember the ups. Hoping that next time you ask me what I have learned, I say “eventually the ups and downs even themselves out ”
WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE HAS BEEN MOST HELPFUL TO YOU / WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER MAKERS?
“Don’t give up” covers a lot…if your factory sucks…find another one, if someone doesn’t like your product…take good notes (and then tell your BF they are stupid!), if you want to throw in the towel…don’t. Sometimes you just have to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and that can truly help.
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP?
I shop my favorite brands in many different places and for unique pieces in boutiques. Some of my best finds have been Court in NY and Satine in LA.
WHY DO YOU MAKE MAISON DU SOIR?
Because it’s something that I believe is missing and that women deserve.
WHY DO YOU MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA?
Because it’s home. Simple as that. You start where you feel most comfortable and my intention is to stay as long as America will have me. The ultimate goal is to give back to a place that has given so much to me.
WHY DOES MANUFACTURING IN AMERICA BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS?
It allows me quality control, to see the factory conditions first hand, reduces shipping fees, no duty fees and shorter leadtimes to name a few.
WHY IS MAISON DU SOIR DIFFERENT/SPECIAL?
It’s different because there is not much else out there like it. It’s a sleepwear collection that echoes designer daywear style and aesthetic. The pieces are designed with the intention to look as good in sunlight as they do in moonlight.
It’s special because it was born from a vision, a passion and an understanding of what could ease the pains of a difficult day.
I can’t decide if my favorite part of this series is the introduction to new brands or learning why my friends buy American made… so many good items and such thoughtful perspectives! Lauren Smith is the author of Seventeenth and Irving. Thank you, Lauren!
Earlier this week, I was interviewing someone for an upcoming feature (a good one that I can’t wait to share with you!) and she said that someone had given her an important piece of advice: when you are having a bad day, look back on where you were six months ago, and you’ll realize that you are in a completely different place.
That insight has stuck with me throughout this week. Where were you six months ago? The world of entrepreneurship is incredibly future focused – we’re always wondering what’s next and we know (really, believe) that we are only as good as our last sale/post/product/etc. so we often forget to celebrate how far we have come.
I think that the would-be-entrepreneur also gets caught up in this future focus, and as a result, forgets to just START. People think, I can’t start a business till I have $XX saved, or I’ve hit this milestone in my current career, or until the time feels right or everyone I know is on board. But really, you never know what will happen until you start. If you have an idea, try it out. See what your friends and family think. See if people are interested. Find out if you love the idea after six months or if you’re ready to move on to your next big idea (as Meg said earlier this week, if you aren’t obsessed, you won’t stick with it! I’ll add, you won’t know for sure if you are obsessed till you start!).
Nothing will be perfect at the beginning. But you’ll never have the chance to find out what perfect could be if you don’t start.
some reading for the week:
Olivia Wilde has started Conscious Commerce, an organization with a goal of changing how people shop. If you purchase this Anthropologie dress, proceeds will fund a school in Kolkata, India.
what do you think of domino 3.0? (thanks to Alex for sharing this article!)
Brand Strategy from Idea to Profit: do you know what a minimum viable product is? this article just may help you get started on your next big idea!
Have a great weekend! xx
follow along for more TAE! I’ve been helping open a new shop in Minneapolis – the grand opening is tomorrow and I’ll be sharing some sneak peeks on insta!
