On the mend

Well hello Lovelies!  It's been quite the busy past couple of weeks for me. I can't believe Christmas is around the corner! I'm so glad I finished my Christmas shopping in October. (Lol)  As you can tell, I am not a procrastinator.  If I don't get to something it's because I'm dead or I already have 500 things going on.

With that said, I've finally started working on new pieces. My new business plan is one I've come to terms with after taking the past 6 months off.  Unlike some of my dear friends whom are clothing designers, I have two little boys and a husband. Therefore, devoting my life to my brand is really not an option for me.  You know that saying, "you can't have your cake and eat it too?" (Umm..wait, that just didn't make any sense to me) Anyways you get the point of that saying, well I'm here to tell you, you can! In other words you may not be able to eat your cake right at that moment you want to but you can lick the frosting while you wait for that moment to come. Is this making any sense at all?!  Well I've said it once and I'll say it again, my family comes before my career. I will be "licking the frosting" until my time comes.  I wouldn't want to miss a moment of raising my sons.

So come Spring 2014, I will be releasing one of a kind pieces in different sizes, colors, fabrics and textures. Not a collection but more of my creativity gone wild. Which in all honesty, I feel collections sometimes limit my creativity all together. I've put aside any plans to wholesale at this time, therefore price points will be low for designer originals. So God Willing, this Spring I'll be hosting pop up shops all around town with all the new stuff. I'll be posting previews till then on Instagram. 

Hope your week is inspirational, Lovelies!

Fashion Friday - Holiday

Halston Heritage, plum halter dress  -Melissa Velia, beaded headband  -Jimmy Choo, leaf heels

Melissa Velia, black lace top -L wren scott, black velvet skirt -Jimmy Choo, lace heels

Melissa Velia, gold maxi dress with a velvet shoulder bow -Gucci, black fur shawl -Jimmy Choo, black platform heels

Melissa Velia, animal print top -Armani Collezioni, leather skirt -Steve Madden, black platforms

Melissa Velia, black halter dress -Rachael Zoe, gold and black maxi skirt -Melissa Velia, beaded headband -Alexander McQueen, black platform heels

-Akris Punto, top -Melissa Velia, red, peplum, skirt -Melissa Velia, gold necklace -Manolo Blahnik, black heels

-Melissa Velia, perfume print, maxi dress -Alexis Bittar, gold bracelet -Prada, red platform heels

-Stella MaCartney, LBD dress -Melissa Velia, gold necklace -Steve Madden, black platform heels

-Melissa Velia, black, tassel earrings -KG Kurt Geiger, gold, platform heels -Melissa Velia, LBD halter dress

-Melissa Velia, LBD halter dress -Vince Camuto, gold black clutch -Alexander McQueen, platform black heels

-Melissa Velia, black sequins dress -Melissa Velia, metallic turban -Vince Camuto, gold cuff  -Gucci black platform heels

Melissa Velia - FALL 2013 COLLECTION Look Book

 

Introducing my Fall 2013 collection!  Although it is not the entire collection, it is the majority of it in it's prints and details.  I decided not to share the entire collection this early in the season due to those who might be "inspired" by my collection.  Believe it or not, but I've already had issues with things like that in the past.  My collections are never inspired by other designers but inspired by the crazy world inside my head. I decided to shoot this collection with a vintage filter and an off-lighting to bring out my inspiration in the collection.  Instead of doing a fashion show this season, I choose to do a look book and a collection video which is scheduled to be released late this summer.  So without further ado, here the Fall 2013 Look Book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big thank you to my amazing team, 

 Models:  Melina Perez and Christa Marlei

Make-Up Artist:  Amber Laws

 *If your a fashion blogger or fashion media and would like to share the pictures above, you are welcome to do so as long as you send a link to the post/ article to contact@melissavelia.com and we will be sure to send you a thank you gift from the Fall accessories collection late this summer.

Xo.

It's Not Easy

 

Melissa Velia Fall 2013 Collection Preview

Heeeeyyy.  Miss me?  Well let me tell you what I've been up to the past month,

-fashion reality show auditions

-sourcing and constructing Fall 2013

-searching for places to shoot the collection

-looking for somewhere to show the collection

- Not finding the right place to show or shoot the collection

-mini vacation

-purchasing a photo studio for my garage

-processing orders

-Losing all funding for any future collections or business. period.

-crying

-more crying

-picking myself

-photo shoot

-editing pictures

-editing Fall 2013 video (coming March 11th)

-wondering were to go from here

-thinking about giving up

-overwhelmed

-moved my studio to a cold, dark place (had too)

-realized I've come to far to give up

-I have a new simple direction, not ideal and a bit backing tracking but still moving forward

What's to come,

-launching Fall 2013 video and look book

-two week hiatus (skipping LA Fashion Week)

-If I disappear in about a month, it's because I've just been offered the opportunity of a life time.

-launching Spring 2013 pieces

-launching new giveaway on our FB page

annnd......s-o   m-u-c-h    m-o-r-e.

 Stay tuned for all the details from my world here.

Thanks for reading lovelies.

xo

Location, location, location!

Fall 2013 Fabric Sneak Peek

What a day!

After weeks of trying to find the perfect location to shoot my Fall 2013 collection, I have finally found one.  I tried everywhere before coming to this conclusion.  I must have called about 10 different location regarding this shoot and every single place was asking for at least $500.00 to shoot for four hrs.  Not only were there fees but limitations on what I can shoot, where I can shoot, what I can touch and so on. Then of course I thought, why not shoot on location somewhere like I've done in the past.  Well you need permits for those kind of things.  I started to feel like I might just do a "photo shoot drive by".  (Can you tell I'm from the ghetto, lol)  Yes, I'd have my model go stand in front of some building, then I'd drive by in a car and take a picture of her.  Then she'd start running!! Ooohhh...I can just see it now.

Anyways, I figured out what I'm going to do.  Got my models lined up, now all I need is to finish my collection, find a make-up artist (getting tired of doing it all myself) and find some props (antique shopping).  All while planning what to do for LAFW in March.  I'll let you know how all that goes soon.  Till next time Lovelies!

Xo

Christmas Fashion

 

Dress from www.LuLus.com, belt from www.melissavelia.com

It's been one crazy month for me and I'm sure it has for you too.  It's been nonstop, from filling orders to events and gatherings.   I truly can't complain because it all has been a blessing but now, I'm just pooped!  And as much as I would love to go into a mental vacation mode, I just have so much more in store in the next couple of months.  With all that said, this gifted dress from LuLus.com was a life saver considering I didn't have time to make myself anything to wear for a family Christmas party. (excuse the picture quality, lighting was a bit of an issue)

 

 

I paired this lovely dress up with a black Slender Velvet Bow Belt (my holiday staple), black stockings and chunky black velvet platforms. I decided not to wear a lot of accessories and let my belt and red lipstick be a statement. Kinda the less is more motto.  Christmas fashion all around me consisted of stockings, dresses, sequins, velvets and lots of glitter.  Also a  lot of black, gold, emerald green and creams colors.

I had a wonderful time hanging out with family and friends.  I truly hope your gatherings were just as blessed.  Coming up later this week on the blog, that awesome gifting bag I got from the Snow Ball and all the goodies inside and what is a must have from the bunch!

Thanks for reading lovelies.

Opportunity

Wow! It's been over a month since my last post.  I know I do this about 3 to 4 times a year, when I just fall of the face of the earth.  Whether it's family obligation or business, taking the time to write or record a video blog just falls of my completely  full plate sometimes.  I ask for your forgiveness, you faithful readers.  Although you all don't leave many comments, I know your out there and I appreciate your time. Now on to the good stuff!

 

Recently, I was given an amazing opportunity from the lovely people at SIMPLY STYLIST to "gift" their event with our At The Opera Earring for NYFW about a week ago.  Although I wasn't able to attend the actual event, it looked to have been a one of the MUST be at places for NYFW.  

 

Yeah, that's Catt  Sadler from E!

It was truly fashion at it's best and I was so grateful to be apart of it even in the smallest form.  A big thank you goes out to Sarah Pollack Boyd, Jackie Chambers and the rest of the SIMPLY STYLIST team.

 

Melissa Velia At The Opera Earrings at the event

pics via Soul Brother and SIMPLY STYLIST