 I love it here! I’ll have to make a special trip to New Jersey to come back here again,” says Tory Burch, New York City fashion icon and the guest of honor at a brunch reception and fashion presentation to showcase her Spring/Summer 2007 collection at Neiman Marcus in the Short Hills Mall. Tory, a newly crowned fan of the Short Hills shopping mecca, enjoyed an all-class showcase attended by more than 100 women on April 17. Why did the toast of New York City’s fashion scene cross the river? “We have a great relationship with Neiman Marcus,” says Tory, “so this was an opportunity to come out and meet everyone, and they did everything beautifully.”
If you haven’t heard of Tory Burch, you just can’t call yourself a fashionista. Tory burst onto the fashion scene when Oprah picked her company as “the next big thing” in 2005. “Oprah’s crew came out to film at my New York City studio, and then we went out to Chicago to tape at her studio,” says Tory. “Oprah loved our spring spotlight tunic that year, so she chose to feature us on her show. And that was a big help.”
A 38-year-old New York City resident, Tory Burch is known for her classic, chic collections inspired most recently by blending the famous styles of female icons. This spring, her inspiration was “a mix of Grace Kelly and Edie Sedgwick,” and her fall 2007 collection recalls the smooth and effortless class of Catherine Deneuve. Tory’s line of modern, classic sportswear, outerwear, and accessories attracts women in all stages of their lives. “While we say our general demographic is women from 30 to 45, we’re finding that fourteen-year-olds are wild for our ballet slippers, while young mothers and working women are attracted to the designs,” says Tory. Tory’s lines have been called “easy-chic,” and at the considerably affordable price points, this is the designer wear that today’s fashion-forward woman craves. Tory’s philosophy is all about comfort within yourself as well as with your clothing. “Make sure you dress for who you are, and don’t take trends so literally,” she advises. As such, Tory’s philosophy defines the modern woman whose goal is to invest in herself without losing herself.
Will there be a line of her clothes in Target, in the way that Isaac Mizrahi has brought designer fashion to the bargain-seeking masses? “Not right now,” says Tory, and who can blame her for pacing herself? She’s at the top of her game, the toast of the fashion world, having been awarded the coveted Rising Star Award by The Fashion Group International in 2005, just one year after launching her own line. As a regular on the fashion scene in New York City, she worked as an assistant fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar, and in the in the publicity departments at Ralph Lauren and Vera Wang, after graduating from Penn State. “New York City is a great place for launching your own business. Meeting new people is great,” Tory says. Much has been written about her presence in the socialite stratosphere of Manhattan, and the sophisticated way she mixes bold colors and patterns surely educates everyone in the room, whether it’s a ballroom or a boardroom.
“I didn’t start off studying fashion design, and I never designed before launching my collection,” says Tory. “In college, I was an art history major, and I am evolving in the world of fashion as I go along. I’d say my creativity is as much in the business end as in the designing part of my work.” One without the other would surely pose a challenge. Luckily, Tory has that rare blend of capability in the diverse worlds of imagination and industry. “I’m really finding that I love the business end,” she says.
When Tory first started in the business, she faced a challenge that many women can relate to—she is a mother of three, and stepmother of three as well. Yes, the numbers add up to a Brady Bunch comparison, and Tory states: “My kids come first. Period. The challenge is doable; you just have to make it happen.” Tory’s daily routine shows that her sons and stepdaughters take priority over the siren call of a red-hot career. “I wake up at 6 am and work out—that won’t get done if I don’t do it then,” Tory laughs. “I take the kids to school at seven, go to work, and I’m home by 5:30 pm for my family life. In the beginning, yes, I would put the kids to bed and get on the phone to do business with China, answer e-mails and work into the night. But now that I’ve collected a great team, it’s all much easier and functions smoothly with lots of e-mails.” Clearly, the hard work paid off, and like any fearless entrepreneur, the long hours gave way to a streamlined machine.
For the fall line, recently showcased in a West Side loft (and viewable on www.style.com as well as at www.toryburch.com), the buzz is all about the unexpected accents to modern sportswear informed by vintage style and touches inspired by Tory’s love of travel and books. Transporting her admirers and the media to Paris and Cherbourg, Tory presented peacoats and trenchcoats with great handbags. For evening looks in her Ready-To-Wear line, the showstopper was her light blue and silver sequined mini dress. Tory’s name has become synonymous with classic, and each season promises a surprise inspired by an iconic woman or a romantic or exotic locale.
What excites Tory about her current projects? “I’m designing ballet flats together with designer Vince Camuto, which has been very exciting. We go with our gut, with what we’re feeling.” And it’s Tory’s new ballet slipper line ($195), as well as her new Tory Tote in brightly colored patent leathers ($295) that she calls “very exciting.”
While Tory’s lines are carried at her flagship store in New York City, as well as at showcase stores in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Greenwich, and the South Coast, as well as in select Saks, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and specialty stores and department lines overseas, the woman herself stands smiling in Neiman Marcus at the Short Hills Mall, talking about how she really must come back to New Jersey. “This is a fantastic mall,” she marvels. “I really have to come shopping out here.” Since many of her friends live in the Garden State, we’re sure she’ll be back soon.
Distinctly feminine with a tomboy edge
 Leather in patent, animal print, and metallic hues- Bold florals and soft geometrics
- New neutrals: gray, camel, brown, and navy punctuated by bold shades, such as lipstick red, mustard, aubergine, and teal
- Pencil-thin skirts
- Printed jersey turtlenecks
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