Lets face it, not every woman can be a super model and look amazing in every photograph taken. Some people shy away from the camera because they hate their smile, or because they fear the saying  “the camera adds 10 pounds”, but that is all about to change. Style Caster tells woman 12 Tips to Look Skinny in Pictures in the Lifestyle sections written by Perrie Samotin. Follow these tips and you will never have an unflattering picture taken of you ever again! (You’ll thank me for this one, xoxo)

1. Stick your chin out or use your tongue. As odd as it sounds, sticking your chin or head out slightly will ensure you don’t look like you have a double chin.  Another trick is to put your tongue on the roof on your mouth while smiling.
2. Say no to below. NEVER allow the photographer to photograph you from below. It is the most unflattering angel there is and can add weight to you. Having the camera slightly above you is the best angel but head-on is okay too.
3. Dress accordingly. If you know you’re going somewhere where photos will be taken, make sure to dress flattering. Wearing all one color is a good idea, it will translate onto the camera and be more flattering.
4. Turn your body. Slightly turn your body sideways (towards the camera) planting one foot in front of the other. Then point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot. Looking at the lens head-on usually makes you appear larger.
5. Position your arms. Notice how celebrities pose with their camera-facing arm on their hip? It ensures that her upper arm isn’t smooshed against their body making it look flattened. If you find the hand-on-hip pose to be a bit forced, try holding your arms out from your sides ever so slightly.
6. Make sure your hair isn’t too wild. If you’re wearing your hair up, make sure it’s not too crazy. For example; buns, braids, or ponytails that are too tight can cause your face and torso to look larger.
7. Sit pretty. If you happen to be sitting when someone walks by with a camera, be sure to cross your legs at your ankles- your thighs and calves will look slimmer.
8. Fake a tan. Things like spray tans can make your legs, arms, shoulders and neck look slimmer. If you’re only showing your face, a small amount of bronzer will do.
9. Avoid direct sunlight. If you’re shooting outside, direct sunlight can make you squint, which can plump up your jawline. Not to mention direct sunlight can sometimes make it appear as if you have no nose!
10. Distance counts. Whatever is closer to the camera will appear larger- its a basic rule.
11. The old bag trick. If you’re wearing something that’s tight, bulky or detailed around the middle, it could look expanded in photos. Hold your bag directly in front of the area to mask it in pictures (it is the oldest trick in the book)
12. Don’t yell cheese. It is just lame. And you can end up looking either way too happy or a forced smile. Just smile naturally.

Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away so it is time to start planning your romantic day. From romantic dinners to a quite night in, you should make the evening memorable. I will give you a check list to help you get the perfect Valentine’s Day outfit together! Happy Valentine’s Day to all you love birds out there xoxo.

Dresses– Make sure you look the part! TT New York has a wide selection of cocktail dresses that are perfect for a fancy dinner or night on the town . From casual to fancy, you will look gorgeous in one of our dresses. With sizes from 0-30, we can guarantee you’ll find something you not only love but can wear again! Cocktail dresses start from $99.99 and go up. (Sign up for our email list on our website to receive weekly discounts!!) 

Nail Styles-  Pair your dress with some cute holiday nails. From the classic white tips with a small heart design, to pink nails with a little sparkle. It is not only nice to pamper yourself, but when you look your best, you feel your best. Spend a day at the spa to get all dolled up and look amazing for your significant other! (Check out my how-to blog on DIY nail designs!)

Hair Styles- Sexy and simple hair styles that tie the whole entire outfit together. If your dress is more simple, do some tight ringlet curls and maybe a bow to add a little detail. To add a different touch, attempt a waterfall braid (far left picture) to make curls a little different. Take a sparkly headband and tuck hair into the headband to create a nice bob if you wanted a look to keep you hair back. If your hair is naturally curly, try straightening it and french braid your bangs. There are so many different options to do with your hair! (Check out my how-to do easy hair styles blog for tips and ideas!)

Accessories- Accessories are my best friend, so always accessorize an outfit! Since it can still be cold in February, a fur wrap is a good add on to your attire, especially if you are going out for a fancy dinner. If you’re wearing a simple dress out to dinner, try pairing it with some tights to keep you warm.  Add on your favorite jewelry, grab a clutch and some pumps from your closet and you will be warm and look like a million bucks.

Did you know that they are different ways to care for every item in your closet? Most people believe if you just machine wash everything and care from them that they will last long, but there are other steps you can take that will help items last even longer. Style Caster has a blog of “101 Tips to Care for Every Item in Your Closet” and they touch base on care tips you never thought of before. I won’t bore everyone with writing out all 101 tips, but I will list a few tips per item that I feel everyone can relate to! I definitely learned some new things I never knew before from this article. For more care tips, click on the picture below to get forwarded to Style Casters site!

SILK

1. While dry-cleaning is fine for basic silk pieces, it is even better to hand wash them in order to keep them in good shape.
2. Never wring out silk to dry! Instead roll the item up in a towel and gently press the water out.
3. Always store silk in a dry dark place, and never keep it in plastic since the fabric needs to breath.

JEANS

1. To zap odors: hang jeans in the bathroom before a shower (the damp steam will keep them fresh between washes), or freeze them in a plastic bag for two days.
2. Add a 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle while doing laundry to maintain the wash of your favorite pair of dark jeans.
3. Fold jeans like a pro: lay jeans on a flat surface, fold in half from left to right. Grab the stacked jean legs and fold them in half so the hem of the jeans lines up with the waistband. Fold the jeans in half one more time.
4. Always wash jeans inside out in cold water on the delicate cycle, or by hand with Woolite. (If you actually want denim to fade quickly, wash once in hot water)

CASHMERE

1. Never hold up a wet cashmere sweater by the shoulders, it’ll stretch it out. In fact, keep your cashmere in a lump when you go to pick it up when wet.
2. Always fold cashmere sweaters in thirds so you don’t get a fold line running down the front of the sweater.
3. Always clean cashmere before storing it for the winter, as moths are attracted to our everyday scents, such as perfume, food, deodorant, and smoke.

COTTON

1. When keeping cotton towels, robes, and washcloths fluffy, use half the amount of detergent and run them through an extra rinse cycle (detergent residue can diminish softness)
2. For best results, machine wash cotton items in warm water on a normal wash cycle.

VISCOSE/RAYON

1. Hang wet items totally wet (no wringing or twisting) as this will help remove creasing and ensure the garment doesn’t lost its shape.
2. Viscose has a silky appearance and feel, it breaths like cotton, can be easily draped, and it’s lightweight. However, it wrinkles very easily, so it’s advised to use an iron’s medium setting with steam.

LEATHER JACKET

1. Never use a hair blower to dry wet leather.
2. Before wearing a leather jacket, treat it first with scotch guard or a similar spray to help prevent the ingress of water, stains or grime.
3. Leather jackets are more prone to water stains when they’re not properly treated, and while you should avoid taking them out in rainy weather, it’s also important to hang your jacket in a dry, well-ventilated closet.

POLYESTER

1. Polyester is easy to care for, but locks stains. To lift a stain, rub stain remover on the area and allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes before laundering.
2. If the stained garment is white, consider soaking the fabric for 24 hours in a gallon of water and 1/3 cup of automatic dish washing soap before throwing it in the machine.

SWIMWEAR

1. You never should use a washing machine for bathing suites, but there is one exception: at the end of summer or your vacation, you can wash swimwear in lingerie bags on the machine’s gentle cycle with a bit of Woolite, but only after many wears.
2. While your swimsuit doesn’t need to be washed with detergent every time you wear it, it should be rinsed in cool tap water every time you take it off after swimming or sunning to remove most of the sunscreen, dirt, sweat, and chlorine.

DOWN COATS, VESTS, AND BLANKETS

1. It’s key to use a front-loading washer, as a top-loading machine can damage the down item.
2. Don’t add more detergent than necessary- residual soap prevents down items from getting fluffy.
3. If your garment is really dirty, stop the machine mid-wash for an hour or so and simply let it soak.

DELICATE LINGERIE 

1. Silk, satin and lace lingerie should always be hand-washed and left out to dry, as machines can damage small bits of high-quality fabric.
2. For bras and camis, don’t throw them in a messy drawer- keep them organized and folded properly to maintain the cups.
3. Try not to wear the same bra two days in a row, as it needs time to regain its shape after wear. (I am victim to this!!)
4. For padded or under-wire bras, fold them in half with the straps tucked under the cups.

WORKOUT CLOTHES/SHOES

1. After working out, always shake two or three tablespoons of baking soda into each sneaker, as this eats up excess moisture and odor.
2. If your gear is super-sweaty, wash them immediately after wearing. If you don’t have a machine nearby, hand wash them to stop stains and smells from setting.
3. For sports bras and clothes that still retain the scent of perspiration, soak them in the sink with either one part vinegar to four parts water, or a quarter cup of Borax mixed with water. Let them sit for an hour before running them through the wash.
4. Air-drying spandex and lycra workout clothes maintains elasticity, but if you decide to use a dryer, make sure it’s on the lowest setting.

WOOL COATS, SWEATERS, AND PANTS

1. Remove light stains on wool by blotting (not rubbing!) with cold water or club soda using absorbent cloths or paper towels.
2. To actually hand wash, use a mild detergent and lukewarm water to let the item soak for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing in cool water. To dry, gently squeeze the garment and lay it flat.
3. Never use scolding hot water or bleach on wool items.
4. Allow 24 hours between wearing your wool sweaters or pants after washing, as this allows wrinkles to dissipate and the elasticity of the fabric to bounce back.
5. Wool coats should be dry cleaned at the beginning and at the end of the season.

DRESS SHOES

1. Maintain the shape of soft leather or suede shoes by loosely packing them with clean tissues.
2. Leather shoes should have a full day to dry out from natural foot perspiration between wearings.
3. It pays to condition expensive leather boots and shoes before wearing (and every few months) to avoid drying, cracking, and water damage. Remember, leather is skin.

VELVET

1. Never iron velvet, as the fibers will get crushed and the iron will leave an imprint.
2. Never fold velvet when storing. Instead, gently stuff items with tissue paper and lay flat inside garment boxes.

BONUS TIPS AND TRICKS!!

• Use white wine to remove red wine stains. (Every woman should know this trick!!)
• Remove white deodorant marks from a garment by gently rubbing the protective foam used on hangers against the fabric.
• The best at-home method to keep diamonds sparkling: liquid dishwasher detergent and an old toothbrush.
• To stop angora or mohair from shedding, fold the garment and place it into a zip-top bag and freeze it for at least three hours.

Are you looking for different ways to design your nails without spending money going to a nail salon? Well Pinterest has a whole section on nail designs with step by step instructions! Here are a few that anyone can do and still look like you got them done professionally! Check out our Pinterest page for more nail designs!

Thin Stripped Nail: Nail polish (2 colors), thin ribbon and scissors.

1. Paint your nails whatever color you want the stripe to be (if you only want one nail stripped, paint just that nail the color you want the stripe to be)
2. Cut small pieces of thin ribbon and lay across your nail in either a horizontal or vertical pattern
3. You can use a coat of clean nail polish to help keep the ribbon in place
4. Paint the color you want the nail to be over the ribbon
5. Wait about a minute for the polish to dry before lifting the ribbon off the nail (add clear coat after to give a shiny overcoat)

Ombre Stripped Nail: Nail Polish (3 colors), clear tape

1. If you are going to make your nails ombre (light from dark) paint your nails with the lightest color first.
2. Once dry, place a piece of tape at a slant over the nail (showing however much of the light nail color you want underneath the tape)
3. Paint the remainder of the nail the second nail color (darker than the first polish, but not as dark at the third)
4. Repeat step 2
5. Paint the remainder of the nail the final color (the darkest of the three)
6. Add a clear coat over entire nail once polish is dry

Ombre Nail with Makeup Sponge: Nail polish (3 colors), make up sponge (one used with foundation)

1. Paint all nails with a white/nude base coat polish
2. Take nail polish and paint onto make up sponge (look at picture if you are confused)
3. Take sponge and place over nail and hold for 10-20 seconds (you may have to do a few times to get enough polish onto nail)
4. Once polish is dry, go over with clear coat to make polish shiny
5. Use a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover to go around edge of nails to get polish off your finger
6. Have one finger be painted in sparkles to make the ombre pop!

 Nail Polish Remover Jar: jar, 2 sponges soaked in nail polish remover

And if you want an easy way to remove nail polish without wasting tissues or cotton balls, create a nail polish remover jar! All you need to do is place two sponges inside a jar (after they have been soaked in nail polish remover) leaving a hole in the middle of the jar. Rub your nail back and forth along the sponges and the polish will come off!! It is easy to store, doesn’t make a mess, and so simple to make. No more worrying about spilling remover and runing your counters or wood tables!!

Have you ever been in a hurry and haven’t been able to do anything presentable with your hair? Or maybe your hair is difficult and will never hold a curl? Or styling your hair just takes too much time? Well I am about to share with you 3 simple and easy hair styles you can master in no time! All three styles can be done within 10 minutes or less with very easy to follow instructions. Any hair type from straight to tight ringlet curls can rock them! Click on the pictures for a more a detailed description! (All pictures were taken off of Pinterest)

Style #1- High Ponytail: If you have long thick hair like me, then you know the pain of trying to wear a high ponytail. You need to double up on ponytail holders and have a killer headache at the end of the day when you let you hair down, well no more of that! This simple and easy trick will help make rocking a high pony that much easier and make your hair look longer!

1. Split your hair into two sections, one for the top half of your hair and one for the bottom.
2. Put the bottom half into a tight pony tail right in the middle of the back of your head
3. Take the top section into a high ponytail on the top of your head
4. The top ponytail will cover up the lower ponytail and you will now have a long, sleek ponytail without the headache!

Style #2- Top Knot Sock Bun: Every woman loves to wear the messy bun when they are being lazy or have a bad hair day, but messy buns aren’t always appropriate. If you are having a bad hair day but need to do something with your hair for either work or going out, try these easy to follow steps to master the sock bun!

1. Take any old sock and cut off the toe part (try not to cut off a huge chunk)
2. Put your hair into a high ponytail at the top of your head
3. Roll the sock into a doughnut hole and stick over ponytail holder with the hair through the sock hole (see picture #2)
4. Take hair and fold over sock until the whole sock is covered with your hair
5. Take another ponytail and use it to keep the hair secure over the bun (see picture #4)
6. You can take the access hair and either twist or braid it around the bun to add an extra touch!
7. Use bobby pins and hairspray to secure the hair in place

Style #3- Braids Overnight to Create Natural Waves: Since my hair is so unbelievably thick, I barley ever blow dry my hair when I get out of the shower. One of my favorite tricks to save me the hassle of styling my hair and takes no time at all is to put my hair into either pigtail braids or a single braid while still wet and sleep on it overnight. If you have thinner hair, you can do a twist instead of a braid. Put your hair into a low ponytail and then separate into two pieces of hair and twist.  I will sometimes spray some scrunch spray into my hair before braiding it to help hold the curl. When you wake up in the morning, take out the braid or the curl and you have effortless beach waves! It is so much easier than using a curling iron and you don’t damage your hair from the heat either!

Have you ever had a last minute dinner reservation or been invited to a wedding a few days before and have absolutely no idea what to wear? Well, I had a situation like that over the weekend. My family loves to make last minute decisions and on Saturday they gave me about an hours notice that we were going to Tempo for dinner.  Tempo is a five star restaurant on Delaware Ave in Buffalo, so you have to dress the part. Before panic mode stepped in I went to my closet and the crisis was adverted!  Follow my two rules to live by listed below and you can avoid a fashion crisis in this situation like I did!

Rule #1 Always have a versatile LBD/Go-To cocktail dress in your closet.

Thank goodness, I have a wide collection of TT New York cocktail dresses in my closet. Especially because my sister also needed a dress to wear.  TT New York’s dresses are so versatile, they work for both of us even though we have completely different ideas on what fashion should be. We both chose dresses that were from TT New York’s NikiBiki collection. As women we are constantly shopping even when we don’t have an occasion coming up. I don’t know how many times I have purchased a dress telling myself I will wear it somewhere just to have it sit in the closet, well it is crisis’s like this that make me happy I bought those dresses! If you make sure that you always have a spare dress in your closet for spur of the moment occasions like this, you will never have to stress out about what to wear last minute. If you have a simple LBD but want to make it look like you’ve never worn it before, follow rule #2 to complete a whole new look!

Rule #2 Always have Go-To statement accessories that can be added to any look.

Since my sister and I have opposite tastes in fashion she grabbed one of my favorite versatile LBD’s and added her own accessories completely changing the look! Thank goodness for TT’s classic styles!! Having a simple black cocktail dress that you can accessorize to make your own is always a great way to rock a new look every single time you wear it. I love to pair a LBD with chunky necklaces in fun colors like fuchsia or turquoise to make it more unique. Or you could style a bright colored or printed purse and matching pumps if you aren’t into accessorizing with jewelry. Throw on a black leather jacket, blazer or a trendy pea coat to seal the deal! If you want to play it safe, nude heels and a simple gold purse are always a great go-to idea. Remember, accessories are a girls best friend!

Crisis adverted!  Invest in your fashion future and you will never have nothing to wear!  If you don’t currently have a go-to dress in your closet or a favorite accessory for emergencies stop into TT New York today and let us help you!

It’s that wonderful time of the year again, prom season. From February to late June, high school girls are going crazy over making sure their junior or senior prom is perfect in every single way. They will spend weeks or months making sure they have the perfect dress, the best hair do, the prettiest makeup and of course the best looking date. I guess you could say it is the second most stressful day of a young girls life, first being their wedding day. They need to make sure everything is perfect, and I have to say, it is extremely stressful to plan a night together with all your friends. Who’s house are pictures going to be done at? Are you going to rent a limo bus? Where do you go after prom? And being typical teenagers, plans are always changing from one minute to the next.

Before I began working as the Marketing Assistant for TT New York, I was a sales associate at one of their locations and by far all of the staff’s favorite time of the year was prom season. I can honestly say that if I didn’t have TT New York during both my proms, I probably would have thrown a fit and decided not to go due to the stress. Shopping there made everything so simple for me, I knew what was the “it” look for the year because TT is always up to date on the latest trends, and I loved the fact no one could have the same dress as me because of the event tracking. For junior prom I bought two prom dresses, yes two. The first one was more simple and I loved it until we got a brand new shipment in with a cut out leopard printed dress in it, and it was love at first sight, so yes I bought that leopard dress the day before prom as well as all of my jewelry. But I couldn’t help myself, looking at all those gorgeous dresses week after week, I just needed that dress, and it is still hanging in my closet because it was so beautiful. Senior year I was way more prepared and made sure to buy my dress with time to spare. The fact I could purchase my dress and get it altered at right at TT New York saved me a big headache. I didn’t have to go out searching for a tailor because each store had one seamstress on site every day. I could easily match up my dress to shoes and jewelry because TT offers such a wide variety of necklaces, earrings and bracelets, it is truly a one stop shop.

When I went to prom, most girls wore full length gowns that were patterned and beaded, but over the past few years there has been a huge demand for short prom dresses. Now we carry everything from short poofy prom dresses, to tight fitted ones with beautiful open backs. Walking into TT New York you will see new styles that you didn’t know existed. I remember when we got a shipment of high-low dresses and all I could think about was how creative and gorgeous they were, and boy did they sell out quickly. With new changes to dresses there will always be styles that remain the same. Princess ball gowns, mermaid cuts, and the popular empire waisted gown are some of the constant favorites throughout the years. Every year brings some sort of change from either the material or the design, but no matter what there will always be the perfect dress out there for every girl.

The best thing about high school, besides graduation, is getting to spend a night dressed up with all of your friends where you sing and dance all night long. It is the last major event you will have with your friends before everyone goes off to college and begins their future, so enjoy it to the fullest! (the pictures on the bottom is from my senior and junior prom!)

Even though the snow is falling and it is slushy and gloomy outside, you can still dress fashionable and comfortable with the low temperatures. I am always looking for ways I can keep my outfits up to date while still keeping me warm as I am out running errands or at work. Glamour Magazine has a whole section on how to stay fashionable in the winter, so here are a few looks!

One look that is very professional as well as an everyday look is to layer a simple button up shirt under a cashmere sweater. Pair the layers with a pair of black dress pants and heels and you’re ready for the office, or style the look with some jeans and you are ready for dinner or just for running around. A look that I love is bright colored coats; it adds a touch of color to make a simple outfit more extravagant. Even if it is winter, a beautiful royal blue or coral colored pea-coat would turn heads instead of the typical black or grey color. Wear it over a dress while you’re enjoying a night out or just over some leggings for a more casual look.

Another great look, that can also be paired with a pea-coat, is knee high boots or boots that hit just below the knee. They are a great everyday look that you can wear for any occasion. If you’re like me and normally only wear skinny jeans, theses boots are the perfect shoe to wear. They keep you warm and you can easily layer leg warmers under them if they are baggier on your thigh. A good pair of leather boots will last you throughout the winter and they are also perfect for fall weather too. If you have a fancy dinner to go out to and decide to get a little daring, a knit dress is another style must-have. Wear black tights and booty heels to turn the dress into a night time outfit or just a scarf and leather boots to make the look more winter friendly.

The last look, which I do about every day in the winter, is to accessorize with printed or colored scarfs. I just love them! If you’re wearing jeans and a plain shirt, throw on a funky scarf or a bright color. Not only are the fashionable, but they keep you warm! The knitted ones are especially my favorite and you can wear them with basically any look. Pair a leopard scarf with a little black dress and a red lipstick and you just created a fun and flirty look. Though all this nasty weather makes everyone want to bundle up in blankets and not move from our warm houses, there are ways to make sure you stay warm and fashionable during the flurries!

(Weblink to Glamour article: http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2009/10/how-to-stay-warm-while-still-looking-cool#slide=9)

While 2013 slowly comes to a close, I wanted to recap some of the top trends we have witnessed this year. Some trends made a comeback while others just began and I am excited to see if they will continue into the New Year. Glamour Magazine did an article, written by Megan Gustashaw, of the “Spring 2013’s Most Wearble Fashion Trends” but I decided I would write about the top 5 to keep this blog short and simple. The first look the article says was a hit for 2013 was the Bermuda shorts, which run longer than normal shorts and hit just above the knee. Though Bermuda shorts were always a big hit for males, it appears that woman became bold and started rocking them both on the runway and on the streets. They are both comfortable and fashionable, pair it with a simply t-shirt to dress it down or a florescent blouse and heels to dress it up.

The second look Glamour recognized was the color black and white, every woman’s favorite color mixture. They called the colors combination “appropriate to wear year-round” and the facts are obvious. Black has always been the go-to color because it makes woman feel skinner, but add some white into the mix and it makes a normally dull black piece of clothing into something classy and fashionable. The combination has continued to remain one of the top trends for the past years and will probably be around for many more to come.

One of the looks that have had a huge impact on fashion this year, which is also the third top trend of 2013, is peekaboo pieces. Anywhere you go to shop these statement pieces are hanging everywhere. From mesh cleavage to cut outs on the sides and back, this is a piece I can defiantly see in the New Year. Most little black dresses this New Year’s Eve will probably be sporting some sort of peekaboo.

The fourth top trend is something that has been around for generations and probably will remain for many more to come, statement sunglasses. Who can forget the black cat like sunglasses from the 60’s? As the years progress, the sunglasses get bigger and bolder. There are some with chunky gold chains hanging off them, or a funky design with bright colors. They are a fun accessory to make a simple outfit more vibrant! Add a bright pair of colored sunglasses to a plain outfit and it will give you that edgy look.

Lastly, the fifth trend that everyone is familiar with is bold stripes. Both men and woman are rocking the stripes for sweaters to full suits. In plain black and white, and now in bold colors also paired with black. You can wear stripes for any profession and for everyday casual wear. Check your closet and you probably have more than one stripped article of clothing. It’s a trend people love and continue to keep alive. From vertical stripes or horizontal, you can guarantee this trend will be around as long as fashion is. Knowing how many trends stuck around through 2013, I am excited to see if they will survive 2014 and also I can’t wait to see what new fashion trends the year has to offer everyone. If you want to see the other 5 trends I didn’t touch base on, check out Glamour Fashion on their website!

(weblink to Glamour article: http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2012/09/spring-2013-most-wearable-fashion-trends#slide=1)

To introduce myself, my name is Nicole, and though I don’t consider myself a fashion guru, I have a lot of firsthand experience in the world of fashion. I have worked in retail since I was sixteen years old and now I am currently almost twenty-one. The past five years have taught me what goes into retail, everything I need to know about fashion shows and more. I want to tell you my story of how I got to where I am in the industry and share with you all of the wonderful experiences I’ve had in my five years.

When you think about your first job, I bet most of you don’t imagine being there almost five years later. Well in my case, when I was offered my first job I thought it would last me through high school and then I would move on to something different. That wasn’t the case. In 2009, as a junior in high school, I started my first job at TT New York as a model. It was the dream job, surrounding myself with beautiful dresses every day. Not to mention my job was standing outside of the store in a gorgeous prom dress saying hello to everyone walking by. What teenage girl wouldn’t love that job?!

Fast forward a couple months and I got promoted to work inside the store as a sales associate. It was a big deal for me, considering most of my friends at the time either didn’t have a job, or worked in fast food like normal 16 year olds. But not me, I had higher expectations for myself. For the remainder of high school, I worked at TT New York selling dresses to everyone from prom girls to mother of the brides. Right after graduation, I again got promoted to key holder, which meant I was allowed to open and close the store. I loved receiving more responsibility. When most people rush off to college after graduation, I decided to hold back a year. But I didn’t sit home and do nothing in that time. I picked up more hours at work and eventually started working at multiple locations for TT New York. Seeing myself make hard earned money became addicting and I wanted more. Any extra shifts I would snatch up and I never called off. I love to consume myself in my work, and I loved knowing I was succeeding. Now it is almost 2014 and I am currently the Marketing Assistant in the Corporate Office as well as the manager at one of our locations. The things I have accomplished while working for TT New York made me the person I am today. I am extremely driven and don’t see myself slowing down anytime soon. Since I graduated high school, I have been working full time every week. If I have less than five days of work a week, I don’t know what to do with myself. Maybe I am stretching the truth a little bit, of course I love having days off to spend with my friends and to go on vacation, who doesn’t! I can only see myself growing as the years go on, and I am excited to see where I will be in a year from now. The opportunities I have received in the past four years are beyond my wildest dreams. Most twenty year olds aren’t managing their own store as well as working in the corporate office. In my mind, I have achieved so much more than I ever thought I would working for TT New York. I can say with confidence that working at TT New York has completely changed my life.

I know I don’t work at Vogue, or live in New York City where fashion is everything, but I believe that I can relate to many young females as well as many other people. I am a simple girl fulfilling her dream in the fashion industry and I want to share my experiences and thoughts with you. I hope you enjoy!  xoxo