The Original

The Original
The Original Mini by Mary!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Head Scarves

It’s just me again, wanting to keep you informed on the latest development. I just added a small accessory to the mini skirts. I completed several head scarves tonight and I wanted to share them with you! Head Scarves are the perfect accessory ☺ They are great to throw on when you need to spice up your outfit a bit, they are great to make a look more casual or formal (depending on what you want) and they are a great way to pull your look together as one piece. I know I call them head scarves because that is the main function for them but you can also wear these “Head Scarves” as a belt, as a scarf around your neck, or tie it on to your handbag as a pretty bow. It all depends on what YOU prefer. They too are very versatile and can be worn with practically anything. As you may know, bright pastels are what’s hot this summer so I have a few vibrant head scarves coming your way! The Head Scarves are being sold for $8.00 each or two for $14.00. Grab a few and add them to your spring/summer wardrobe :)
Love Ya,
Mary

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Here we go Mary

Happy New Year Friends! Along with a New Year comes new things! I have been brainstorming for a while now what I truly want next for the Mary Carroll line. I have been up, down, in and out debating what the next hit should be. Like I previously mentioned on my blog, I know I want the "Mary Carroll" trademark to be Mini Skirts but I don't want to be limited to only Mini's. I want to branch out, and expand the line. Well ladies, I am currently modifying what I created and let me tell you.... Its smashing!! I still don't want to reveal what "it is" but soon enough I will. Please hang in there because it will be worth it. Trust me ;) Along with creating a new line other exciting things are happening.
Last night I met with the number #1 fashion blogger in the Capital Region, Fatima. Fatima is a Freelance fashion stylist and Image Consultant. She just released her own lip gloss line, which is Awesome! Be sure to check out her blog at wwww.perceptionandco.blogspot.com where you can see all of her latest happenings. She's just as fabulous as one can imagine and had helpful advice to offer. She will be featuring me on her blog soon so be sure to follow her :)
In addition, a co-worker of mine, Erika Santos, has her own side business as well. Its called Beauty on a Budget. Erika has a weekly show that promotes different ways and techniques to feel and look beautiful without breaking your bank. She just wrapped up her 3rd successful season of Beauty on a Budget and I'm looking forward to what Erika has next up her sleeve. Her website is www.erikajsantos.com. Be sure to check it out ladies!! Whoop whoop!
Also, I'm on the prowl for new fabrics for the spring/summer line. Depending on how things go, I want to have a party/fashion show for the spring/summer line. I'm thinking end of May but we shall see. Now I have had alot of people asking me about my website and girls, trust me, I am just as anxious (if not more) than you are! My web designer, HeeHyeon Park and I have been working soo soo hard on it that I just want to show the entire world but it just isn't quite finished yet. I'm really hoping within the next couple of days I can release it.
Until next time, Ta Ta, toodles, adios amigos, and get ready for take off because HERE WE GOOOOO!!!
Love ya,
Mary

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The Latest

Hey Girls,
This past week a few exciting things have happened! Just recently, a girl from Marist College, Dayna, contacted me and asked to write an article about my minis on her blog. Her blog is where she writes about all different fashion trends, styles and other things that pertain to the fashion world. She also writes for her Marist Newspaper about Beauty and Fashion, as well as The Look of the Week. Be sure to check out her blog at http://daynavasilik1.wordpress.com/. She has a great sense of fashion and writes to perfection. I’ll be sure to keep you posted through my facebook page about when the article is done. I’m very excited for it!
Yesterday I met with a sewing contractor who is going to be helping me produce my minis. Him and his wife own the factory and are the nicest people ever! They will be my major source of production and then my mom and I will continue to sew in the basement sweatshop with smaller orders. This way, we can start spending more time on the creative side of it and focus more on marketing the Minis!
Starting today I will be contacting every boutique I possibly can to try and get my minis in their store! I’m really trying to expand from a small business to gradually a medium size then hopefully one day a large size company! If anyone has any boutiques they think would be a hit for me just give me a holler.
I’m also trying to get photo shoots lined up so hopefully soon I will have new pictures to show you girls!
Okay well I'll keep you posted as new things pop up! Have an amazing day ☺
Love,
Mary

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Mini Take Over

Hey Gals,
So a few things have changed since the last time we chatted... This past week I have "taken over" a few local college campus with Mary Carroll Posters. Now when I say take over I don't mean ya know a casual one or two poster(s) here and there I mean a lot of posters per campus. For example, I put up 75 posters at Union College (located in Schenectady NY) in the student union, in different buildings as well as sorority houses and dorm rooms. I also put 50 posters up at Russell Sage College (located in Troy NY) just in the dorm rooms alone as well as a few up at RPI (located in Troy NY). I have a few other local colleges to hit like Siena, St. Rose, HVCC and SCC and then I want to spread to hit others. I really really hope this gives me good exposure. You might be thinking? Why so many? Well I feel as though the more someone sees a Mini poster the more likely they will check out my blog and what my skirts are about. I mean being a college girl, I truly think Mini Skirts are just great! You can wear them to class or on you big night(s) out! They are just so comfortable right!? Like I mentioned before, my minis are targeted toward high school and college girls so hopefully only good things come from this! As far as high schools, I have been in contact with a few local high schools and were in the works of getting a "Mini" fundraiser together that will benefit their senior class and help them raise money! I will fill you in more once I know more details!
Also, My minis will also be sold at Fly Boutique in Latham NY. Its right on Troy/Schenectady Road. This is a great boutique that offers a wide variety of different designers. Check them out ladies! Hopefully by next week I will hear from these two other fabulous boutiques that might be interested. I'm not saying names but they are also really good ones. So check back next week :)
I am still continuing on expanding my clothing line I just haven't had a second to make my next product. That too you will have to check back on lol ----Sorry :(
Alright well I think thats all the gossip I have for now. If I forgot anything I'll just blog about it later.
Have an amazing day!
Love,
Mary

P.S Don't forget to check out the new Fall 2011 line! Pictures are below as well as on the "Mary Carroll" facebook page! Let me know your favorites:) Love ya!

Monday, September 19, 2011

How to order a mini

Hey Gals!
I just want to give a quick and brief run down on how to go about ordering a mini skirt(s) because I've been getting lots of questions on how to do so :) As of now, just about all the different fabrics I have to offer are posted on my blog as well as my facebook page - MARY CARROLL , http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Carroll/148938478499875?ref=ts. (I have more cute fall prints coming out soon so be on the look out for that as well.) This is how you can see what fabric you like and would be interested in purchasing. Once your done finding your fabric you have to decide what size skirt you are. I usually tell girls to go by their Jean Size (1,3,5,7,9,11,13). Then after picking out the fabric and size you just email me with your order at minisbymary@gmail.com. Orders usually take a week or two to fill so make sure you plan ahead if you have some place you want to wear your mini to. Let me know in your email your address so I can mail it as soon as I'm done making it. I hope this helps with the confusion! Also, I'm currently working on getting a website up and running so hopefully you can order your holiday minis via the new website! Can't wait!! Hope everyone has a great week!!
- If you have any other questions, just ask me :)
Love,
Mary

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Onward and Upward!

Hey Girls!!!
This week was one of my busiest weeks yet! I had two important deadlines that I had to meet by Friday! I had 11 skirts to make for Piper by Wednesday and I had a big order from one of the mini skirts parties, and needed to make around 20 minis just for that party alone. Let me tell you the sweatshop was nuts!!! I had about 4 hours of sleep each night. But hey, a girl has to do what a girl has to do!! Am I right? And I loved every minute of it!! I love being super busy so I enjoyed it!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! My mom was a super help like always, so thank you mom! This upcoming week I have another order of 10 skirts for Piper to fulfill. Piper is amazing! They sold out of all my leather lizard skirts!!! No worries, I just gave them more, as well as the Club Lace mini. I’m now also making Piper an “Exclusive Piper Mini” which will be more of a hip hugging stretchy skirt with bright bold fabric. Super cute! These minis will be delivered sometime this week so be sure to go to Piper and check them out ☺.
Okay so I got to thinking about my mini skirt parties and I’m going to change them up a bit. Ya know how I had “ Host a mini skirt party and for every 10 skirts you sell you get one FREE?” Well now its, “Host a mini skirt party and for every 10 skirts you sell you get one FREE as well as the newest addition from the Mary Carroll line.” Now you may be thinking what is the newest addition? Well….. Every few months I will be coming out with something new. It’s going to be a surprise! Keep an eye out on my blog as well as on the Mary Carroll Facebook page, as I will be sure to let you know when all of the latest additions are coming out. Some of my ideas include a headscarf, a jumper, pants, a vest. Who knows? The possibilities are endless. So if you book a Mini Skirt party in the Month of September (the party doesn’t have to be in September, you just have to book it in September) you will receive a mini skirt for every 10 minis you sell as well as the LATEST ADDITION from my collection. So ladies let me know if you want to host a party!! It can be during the week or the weekend!! I have lots of cute fall fabrics that you won’t want to miss out on. Book your party today!!!
The last thing I want to tell you is that Minis are coming to College Campuses!! The first hit will be RPI in Troy. My good friend Jennie is helping me design posters to post all over the campus so college girls have access to Minis!! Also, if you are a college student and want to host a mini skirt party in your dorm or apartment or even for your whole floor I will be more than happy to make that happen!! It’s a great way to get your girlfriends together before a night out so you can all have new mini to wear for your night out on the town!
Alright well I gotta run! Have a great labor day weekend and remember always dream BIG!
Love,
Mary

Friday, August 19, 2011

Exciting things happening :)

Hey Gals,
Where do I start?! I would just like to say thank you once again for all the amazing support that keeps coming my way from family and friends! You guys are amazing and I wouldn't be as motivated as I am without all the positive words from everyone, so thank you! These past few weeks have been extremely busy for me and I love it! The Mini Skirts are doing great up in Saratoga! All you girls should check out the store Piper! Its a great fashion forward boutique that sells only the latest trends! My skirts are selling great there and they just ordered more for the fall! So please keep your fingers crossed that they keep selling at the rate that they are and check them out. :)
Also, their is a fashion show happening this Sunday August 21st at the Gideon Putnam in Saratoga called the Catwalk for Kidneys. A Mini Skirt or two will be featured in the show which is also very exciting!
I just had my first Mini Skirt party yesterday at my cousin Remy's house and it was so much fun ladies!! I had about 90 skirts laid out all over her house from her dining room table to her couches.(pictures will be posted) I think the biggest hit at the party were the Leather Mini Skirts. I took about 20 orders for those skirts alone. Love it! Please, if your interested in hosting a Mini Skirt party contact me via email, phone or facebook! I would love to throw one for you! For every 10 skirts you sell you get one FREE! Its a great way to get your friends together to chat, have a few drinks and enjoy being a girl!
On another note, I am also very excited because I just purchased my first fabulous mannequin! HAHA I know laugh..but its very exciting to me lol! I'm open to suggestions for names for her LOL.
As far as the near future goes.. I'm thinking about having my own vendor at an October Trade Show in the City! I thought this would be a great way to market my skirts more and branch off to get my name out there! I have to think about it a little more because in order to be ready I have to have at least 500 skirts made! Just thinking about it gives me anxiety lol! But I really want to do a trade show so I have to start looking toward getting more help in the sewing department! Who's in?
Lastly, I'm in the middle of planning a photo shoot for the Mini Skirts. I found a great photographer that's interested and so now I'm starting to plan different venues to have the pictures taken! I will keep you posted as the days go by!
I hope everyone has a great weekend and remember to Always Dream Big!
Love,
Mary