I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Charlie Chanaratsopon, Founder of Charming Charlie.  Opened in 2004, Charming Charlie is a women’s fashion and accessories brand with over 270 stores across the United States.  In 2015, he was named by Forbes as one of “America’s 40 Most Successful Young Entrepreneurs.” Charlie is a first generation Thai-American who graduated with an MBA from Columbia Business School.  He generously spoke with me about the emergence of the Charming Charlie brand as well as the ever changing landscape of the retail and consumer market. Charming Charlie is most notable for its unique strategy in organizing merchandise by color.  My experience speaking with him was a pleasure and I am very pleased to share my interview.

Bianca: What prompted your realization that accessories would be your business? Did you have a sense of assuredness in your vision to supply the market in the way that Charming Charlie does now? Was this because of a lack that you saw in the industry for affordable fashion accessories?

Charlie: At the core, I’m an entrepreneur, and love buying and selling “things” since I was a kid. I’m from Houston, Texas, and grew up in an entrepreneurial family. As for Charming Charlie, I knew that I didn’t want to focus the brand on apparel, as it is a highly competitive and generally difficult category to compete. I was thinking about what product mix to curate for the brand, and after studying other retail concepts, I realized that there was an opportunity in accessories. Charming Charlie could be the one stop for women’s accessories.

Bianca: I love the namesake aspect of Charming Charlie – a reference to you! How did it come about? Likely because of your charming personality?

Charlie: This is a good story!  I never imagined we were going to have stores all over the country, and just wanted to quickly come up with a name and get started. So, I hired a marketing firm and explained that we were going to be selling this type of product and that I needed a name. I recall the first few names that were suggested, and I only remember the awful sounding ones like “Accessory Buffet, ” “Accessories City,” or “Funky Monkey.” I asked if we could explore other names and one of the marketers sitting in our meeting looks at me and says, “What about Charming Charlie?”  That was really catchy and easy to remember, and that was it!

Bianca: The color coordination concept is fabulous; some artists would say that a color becomes a color when it’s next to other colors (the way in which colors affect other colors). Did you consider from the company’s inception that color organization would be an essential part of your brand’s identity?  I remember being struck by how great that was when I shopped in the store.

Charlie: When we had three or four stores, I asked myself, “How do we maintain differentiation/innovation, and give the customer what they want?”  I was standing in a store on a Saturday and speaking to customers. One of our customers told me, “You should present the product by color, it’s how I shop.” We first tried the color coordination in one store. We received great feedback. We then took the three front tables and color coordinated them; the customers loved it. Since then, color is such an important pillar of the brand, and all stores changed to be merchandised by color.

Bianca: Trends, fashion, and timeless style are all integrated into the brand so well, does the design team gain inspiration from a combination of current trends in the market and occasion-oriented wear (i.e. cocktail party, everyday wear, etc.)? There really is something for everyone and it’s a good mix of timeless and trendy!

Charlie: Merchants/buyers need to constantly stay on top of trends and fashion, but most importantly know the brand’s core customer.

Merchants stay on top of trends by following influencers/brands on social media, going through magazines, working with our product partners, attending fashion shows, gaining inspiration from luxury brands, and shopping at other retailers. These activities help merchants quickly bring relevant on trend beautiful product to customers.

Bianca: What points in the history of Charming Charlie do you consider most notable? It has scaled remarkably; I read on the company website that there are ~260 stores?

Charlie: There’s all sorts of milestones, but something that was very special for us was when we first expanded outside of Texas, opening in other states in the US and seeing women smile and their positive reaction as they entered the store; whether it was a woman in Georgia or a woman in New Jersey, seeing that Charming Charlie was not just a local phenomenon. It was really rewarding and exciting to see the brand resonating across the country.

Cinderella is mythical and she is also an image of social mobility; she is the classic tale of “rags to riches” and she also represents something greater than that – she represents a character of goodness and kindness among people who are petty and unkind. When Walt Disney Animation Studios released Cinderella in 1950, there was pressure to succeed given the standard that Snow White set with that monumental film’s release in 1937. Snow White set an animation standard that is still being taken seriously today. With that said, the aesthetic that Cinderella presented is also highly valuable – the ideas presented are original and fantastical, that is why Cinderella has made such a cultural impact and has stayed relevant today.

From the pumpkin that turns into a carriage to Cinderella’s glass slippers, the imaginary comes to life in Cinderella and this plays a vital role in the creative development of young children. Throughout my childhood, Cinderella made a significant impact. My mother made my fourth birthday party theme Cinderella and I still remember parts of that day fondly, and how fantastical I considered Cinderella. Furthermore, in 1997, the release of Brandy’s portrayal of the princess was remarkable and I consider that film to be one of my favorite made-for-TV films of all time.

Later into the millennium, Hilary Duff’s portrayal of Cinderella in A Cinderella Story was also unique; she played a down to earth high school girl who took orders at a diner and was bullied by the “popular” girls in school. I was 12 years old when that film was released and given the fact that I saw this film before I went to high school, the values that it presented (a down to earth nature) impacted me alongside the other values that the Cinderella character represents.

After I graduated UC Davis, I needed to find a job quickly to make a living, so I worked in a bakery; many days I would work shifts that would be closing the bakery and when I would tidy up to close the bakery, bakers who were ending their shift used to call me “Cinderella” because they always saw me sweeping and making sure everything was in order for the next morning.

Cinderella plays a significant role in how people understand social mobility; she is a character that under a set of circumstances is made to be less fortunate, and surely there is much to question about the fact that she needs a prince to become a princess, but truly, Cinderella does represent more than her story line. She represents an opportunity to consider how important your dreams are wherever you are in your life and the importance of how all dreams are valuable. Cinderella has made a significant cultural impact with this premise, more so than other famous Disney Princesses such as Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, and she remains more relevant than ever.

Sometimes the easiest way to have a book capture your attention is the one that you will see on someone’s coffee table. Growing up, my mother always had fascinating books of all kinds on our coffee table – from books about pop culture icons (John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe etc.) to books about Monet, Impressionism, Degas, Matisse (art in general!), to ancient mythology and the ancient world. Coffee table books can be an important part of displaying the interests that you have for your home.

I have included a starter kit here of coffee table books (controversial or not) of books that should capture anyone’s interest, but in this case are geared towards the rosy lifestyle. With the disappearance of bookstores more generally, it’s so important to cultivate a book-friendly culture around you and to foster this with your communities more broadly. Reading unlocks the world for us.

My Story by Marilyn Monroe with Ben Hecht

Classic Beauty: The History of Makeup by Gabriela Hernandez

William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books by William Blake

Matisse by Taschen

Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour by Dita Von Teese

Morning Noon Night: A Way of Living by Soho House

Eat Drink Nap: Bringing the House Home by Soho House

The Queen’s Diamonds by Hugh Roberts

Barbie: 60 Years of Inspiration by Assouline

The Career Code: Must-Know Rules for a Strategic, Stylish, and Self-Made Career by Hilary Kerr and Katherine Power

Vogue: The Covers by Dodie Kazanjian

Recently I listened to an interview with Dita Von Teese where she stated how glamour should not always be equated with being expensive. She stated, “Isn’t running a bath, adding some rose petals, and having a cup of strawberries next to you glamorous? That doesn’t cost much at all.” That is exactly the mindset that I was raised to have and frankly, it’s a good one to have, I’m very lucky that my mother instilled that value in me. You should not hinder your creativity with cost; as they say, “When there is a will, there is a way.” Investing in a glamorous dressing table is part of a lifestyle attitude in my opinion and I am happy to share some of my ideas here.

Have you ever thought about creating a vintage-inspired vanity but aren’t quite sure where to start? Retro style is my favorite style and I think it’s the most timeless style, too. The beauty looks out of the 1940s and 50s are my all-time favorite. Creating a vintage dressing table is a fun project and it’s a gorgeous creation when complete. I’ve curated a few of my favorite products that are perfect for display on a vanity table and are lovely to use!

Almost all of these items are available on Amazon and are not antiques; though, if you have the time and know a lovely antique store in your neighborhood, take a look around and see what strikes your fancy – antique stores are so wonderful. Your vanity table can be found at IKEA: they have a great one here. You can also find dressing tables at antique stores for a more vintage look! All of these items are affordable and ultra-glamorous and they are sure to make you feel like a silver screen siren out of the 1940s.

xx Bianca

Decorations

1. Mirrored Art Deco Inspired Butterfly Box available on Amazon
2. Vintage Inspired Handheld Mirror and Comb available on Amazon
3. Pink Ostrich Feathers available on Amazon
4. Vintage Inspired Makeup Organizer available on Amazon
5. VENUS ET FLEUR Le Mini Round
6. Dita Von Teese Gilded Rose Glamour Girl Vase
7. Bésame Cosmetics Waterfall Mist Fragrance
8. Rose hairpiece available on Amazon

Nail Polishes

1. Revlon Red
2. Essie in Fishnet Stockings

Skincare & Makeup

1. Estee Lauder crocodile print compact
2. Benefit Cosmetics Bathina body oil on Amazon
3. Frederick’s of Hollywood Seductive Shimmering Spray on Amazon
4. Bésame Cosmetics Blushing Rose hand cream
5. Bésame Cosmetics crimson cream rouge
6. Bésame Cosmetics Victory Red lipstick
7. Bésame Cosmetics Mickey Mouse red lipstick
8. Rosebud Strawberry lip balm tin on Amazon
9. Makeup & powder sponges available on Amazon

Total Cost

Total cost of decorations and products = ~$400

Total cost of products w/ dressing table from IKEA = ~$700

Voila! You have an ultra-glamorous DIY vintage inspired dressing table that you can enjoy every day.

In my last blog post, I covered the cultural shifts that brands should be making to stay most relevant. The Mermaid Lagoon collection by Bésame  Cosmetics, in collaboration with Disney’s Peter Pan, is exactly that – the novelty provided by this collection is outstanding. The mermaids of the 1953 film are a highlight and have a remarkable amount of personality for a short appearance; the mermaids are in the film for about two minutes.

These feisty little mermaids embody charisma and attitude that is a lovely choice to inspire a makeup collection. This is Bésame Cosmetics second partnership with Disney. Their first was with Snow White and all of the products are authentically recreated in relation to the color archive.

Bésame Cosmetics is a wonderful company: their founder, Gabriela Hernandez opened the company in 2004 with her family; she wrote a book about the history of makeup, Classic Beauty: The History of Makeup and has a boutique in Burbank, California, that is recreated to be out of the 1930s. Her original 1940s style lipstick is also featured in the 2012 Academy Award winning film, The Artist. Quality, novelty, and history are all provided by this brand, and I am incredibly impressed.

I recently came across an article on Sustainable Brands about the cultural shifts that brands should adopt or focus on more in 2019. The following cultural shifts were listed by copywriter, Henry Richards:

1. Redefinitions
2. Tribalism
3. Activism
4. Naivete
5. Conscious consumption

It almost goes without saying nowadays that the most agile organizations will do better: they are more equipped to withstand unforeseen stormy markets or changes in consumer behavior, etc. However, it is culture that is at the core of an organization; it’s the values that the organization has and furthermore how this affects the services that they provide. This does not always take into account all of the factors that affect why or how services are used.

From the list provided by Richards, his first point is most important for brands to be most thoughtful of: “redefining” can entail roles, structures, and ideas – and it can make or break how organizations are able to adapt to external factors. Through this concept of redefinition, there can also be more emphasis on accountability internally and externally for organizations. That can be part of an organization’s redefinition of self. An ability to be highly adaptable in constantly changing times is what allows for brands to be most formidable.

A sense of extreme adaptability leads into his next point… tribalism. Tribalism is being seen in negative lights because of complex political climates globally. However, it’s natural to rally around something to understand it as part of the cultural ethos of something: for example, Benefit Cosmetics is synonymous with pinup culture of the 1950’s, which is what consumers expect from the aesthetic of that brand. Benefit has also generated a large community of women who are inclusive and support each other. Brands can generate communities for positive outcomes if they are keen to how this plays into their brand’s identity.

Communities beyond brands can be activist communities as well. Never before has it been more simple to generate capital for a specific cause (GoFundMe) or to sign a petition for change (Change.org). The most important aspect of these tools, however, is remaining authentic, though. Richards states, “No matter what your product or service is, there can be huge benefits in aligning yourself with a relevant and worthwhile cause. Meanwhile, the risks of being called out for inauthenticity are enhanced.” His statement is absolutely right; when companies miss the mark, they will hear about it. It’s important to be conscious of what causes you take ownership of.

Last, but not least, Mr. Richards mentions “naivete,” and “conscious consumption,” as important cultural shifts. Naivete presents an opportunity for brands to create joy and novelty in consumers lives, and there is still a plethora of opportunity for that. In hard times, it can be small joys that make one happy. And lastly, “conscious consumption,” is something that brands always need to keep top of mind; this plays back into the accountability aspect of the topic of redefinition. Consumers will hold brands more accountable these days, and it’s a world of opportunity we have towards a more sustainable future.

The RagDoll Pink Palace in Los Angeles is a life-sized dollhouse created by Carol Chavana. The venue has become a premier destination for professional photo shoots and film sets for Hollywood. Inspired by a combination of styles including the infamous Pink Palace owned by the late Jayne Mansfield, The Madonna Inn of San Luis Obispo, vintage Barbie, red and pink lipsticks, and Lana Del Rey’s music, the house is a “girly girl” dream come true.

The origins for what propelled Carol to pursue her creative dreams comes from a tale of horror that she witnessed in 2015. Carol witnessed a car accident where a young man was struck by oncoming traffic and was left paralyzed by the accident. The trauma of the imagery that she witnessed gave Carol the understanding and inspiration that she should pursue her creative dreams.

The house has themed rooms that are meticulously styled with antiques and a clear passion for beauty and glamour. They also include original art pieces by Carol (such as below). I think this brings an especially unique touch to the house that she styled so fabulously! Renting the space for photo shoots and film sets is great, but I also think Carol’s story for how she pursued her dreams is an important one and all the more reason to use her space: our time in life is limited, and remembering to pursue our dreams is all that matters at the end of the day.

Life naturally has an uncanny way of sharing illustrious surprises; a rose garden exists in a palazzo that is situated along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The palazzo and now-famous rose garden are owned by Countess Anna Barnabò, and her property has been described as a “sumptous antique-filled palace with verdant gardens spilling onto Venice’s Grand Canal.” When I first learned about this rose garden in the center of Venice, I could barely believe that it existed – the luxury to have the space and the opportunity to create a rose garden, it’s almost unbelievable! I hope to visit this garden someday.

The Countess has put much effort into tending her rose bushes along the salty waters of the lagoon and making sure that it stays well taken care of: this is a good lesson for us all. We must always bring a caring touch to what we care about most and remember that blooms come from love.

Article reference found here.

Michael Faudet, international best selling author of Dirty Pretty Things, Bitter Sweet Love, Smoke & Mirrors, and his newest book, Winter of Summers, which was released in Fall of 2018.  Michael, truly, is a magician of words and is a natural at expressing and putting a spotlight on how love plays a central role in the human experience.

His writing has captured the hearts of many around the world.  With over one million followers on social media, his books about love, emotion, and the human experience can touch us all.  He has undeniably inspired readers and his talent has generated much-deserved adoration for the mysterious writer.

Mr. Faudet generously answered a list of questions for me, and I am incredibly thrilled to share them here.  From his famous relationship with fellow best selling author, Lang Leav, to reflections on how his writing has spread across the Internet, to how New Zealand and his little house by the sea has been a source of inspiration for him, Michael has certainly brought fragrant roses to Rosy BVM, and I hope you all enjoy this interview as much as I do.

xx Bianca

Bianca: How long have you been writing and did you always want to be a writer?

Michael: I’ve always written in one way or another. Even as a child I had a habit of writing weird and wacky stories. I also enjoyed many years working in advertising as a creative director, creating campaigns for numerous international brands. So writing and playing with words has been an integral part of my life.

In 2008, I walked away from the hype and hustle of advertising and moved to New Zealand. It’s here that I wrote my first book, Dirty Pretty Things, and every book since. And I hope to write many more in this beautiful part of the world. (Including my first novel.) Of course, none of this would be possible without the wonderful support of my readers.  

Bianca: Much of your poetry comes in short bursts (short resonant bursts) and there’s a distinctly human quality to them – themes of love, erotica, and the human experience: do you think this resonates more intensely with readers today because our experiences have become so digitally based?

Michael: I believe it’s a blessing and a curse that so much of our lives have become digitally based.

The internet presents a world of information within reach of our fingertips, which in itself, is truly amazing. Social media allows us to connect in ways that previous generations could only dream about. However, on the flip side, it’s so easy to become sheltered from the real world. To lose touch with nature and relegate the human experience to a handful of clicked emojis.

I think the reason why my writing resonates with readers today is less about digital alienation, but perhaps more due to the fundamental truth that unites us all and never changes. The basic human desire to love and be loved in return.

As for brevity, there are times when just a few words can capture an emotion more succinctly than overwriting an idea to death. Other times, a couple of lines isn’t enough to do a particular piece justice. (Often far too many words to post up online.) Which is why I tend to keep the more lengthy examples of my poetry and prose contained to my books.

Bianca: Your poetry is so compelling and I think there is quite a bit of marketing genius in how your poetry appears across the Internet.  Do you think Internet lore has helped to build your following? Given your experience in the advertising industry, did this come naturally to you or did the spread of your work occur organically?

Michael: There is no doubt the internet can provide an author with exposure and a great opportunity for their work to find a much wider audience. But it’s certainly not any guarantee of success. The same rule applies to writing as for any other piece of posted content. If people like it, they will share it. If not, it goes nowhere.

Any following I have built has happened more organically rather than by intention or some ingenious masterplan. If my experience in advertising taught me anything, it’s that the real power always rests firmly with the customer. Books are no exception. Like I hinted at earlier, it is all thanks to my readers that my books sell and make it into bestseller charts. Something I am truly grateful for every single day.  

Bianca: You and Lang are certainly a literary power couple: do you consider your works to be symbiotic or in dialogue in some way?  I consider this as you write, “I write because you exist.”

Michael: There is no doubt that Lang and I inspire each other in many ways. And yes, a few of the pieces we have written are certainly dedicated to each other. Having said that, we tend to put our creative energy and focus into our own individual books. There are times we discuss ideas together, but on the whole, we prefer to operate as single entities. Lang likes to write at home in her studio. Whereas I prefer to write sitting in cafés with a coffee or a glass of wine. Having a bit of space between us seems to work well. Especially now that Lang is working on her second novel. The less distractions, the better.

Outside of writing, we naturally spend all of our time together. We live a pretty quiet life in a little house by the sea. Which we share with a crazy dog, two cats, and my son, Oliver. I often get to travel with Lang when she does her overseas signing events too. At the end of last year, we visited the United States. Where Lang did sold out events at Barnes & Noble bookstores in LA and New York. (I also got to do some stealth signings, including the legendary Strand Book Store.)

A real highlight of the trip for me was meeting some of my readers at Lang’s New York event. They were just so lovely and asked me plenty of interesting questions. I also got to chat with authors Amanda Lovelace, Cyrus Parker, and Yung Pueblo. Which was a lot of fun too!    

Bianca: Do you have a magnum opus among your works?  My personal favorite poems of yours are “Roses” and “The Gift.”

Michael: To be honest, that is a difficult question for me to answer. My personal favourites change with every book I write. I think I’ll leave that one to you and my readers to decide.  

Bianca: The artwork on your book covers and in your poetry is distinct.  Is there an era in time that inspired your style and aesthetic?

Michael: All the front covers, including my latest book, Winter of Summers, are created by the amazing Tinca Veerman. A brilliant artist based in Amsterdam. I consider myself very lucky that she allows me to use her collages for my books. There is something classical about her work, yet at the same time, the aesthetic is contemporary and highly distinctive. The first time I saw Tinca’s artwork online, I instantly fell in love with it.   

Thank you, Michael Faudet!

Hotel Zhero in Kappl, Austria of the Zhero Hotel Group is truly the ideal setting for the next James Bond film. The style of the property is modern and has a forward-thinking appeal with a monochromatic style. After a day of skiing the slopes, the perfect après ski is relaxing in the calming atmosphere that this 5-star property provides. Whether you have come for relaxation or all of the wondrous activities that Austria provides, you will certainly be given a world-class experience and a lifetime of memories. At the very least, Hotel Zhero provides bathtub goals…