For a luxe bargain, shop at www.ChristabellesCloset.com, which has been prettying damsels since its debut. Here we interview Christina Carathanassis, the portal’s President and owner.
Do millionaires shop at Christabelle’s Closet? Not just the college kid hoping to save a few bucks?
Sure! We have customers that range from high school kids, up through socialites and celebrities. Everyone is looking for a good deal, but some – more than others – are looking for anonymity with that good deal. ChristabellesCloset.com offers that to all of our clientele, which gives customers confidence in shopping with us (we have many return customers each week). We find many of our consignors (those who consign their luxurious goods for profit) transition quickly into becoming a consignee as well. How can you pass up deals at up to 80% off retail? I know I can’t.
What is the most popular item or request?
Handbags and accessories. We have trouble keeping them on the site long enough to give everyone a fair chance to get dibs on them. Both of these items are so versatile and can be played out with so many different outfits – and are always on trend for the season – people tend to migrate to these sections first.
Naturally, designer brands like Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Marc Jacobs sell out at lightning speed. Sometimes as quickly as we get them listed in the boutique. Coach is also a brand that sells out FAST.
How big are your requests for “pampered pooches”?
What can we say – people love their pets!! We find requests for the Pampered Pooch section escalate greatly during the holiday seasons. Gifts for doggy stockings or kitty Chanukah gifts. It is really sweet! Fortunately, one of our fashionistas is also owner of www.TrishHampton.com – which sells the most ADORABLE designer leashes and collars…so if we don’t have what folks need – we always have a great referral for them!
If you’re throwing a party, what would you recommend from your closet as a lovely “goody bag” item? A wedding favor?
MANY brides contact ChristabellesCloset.com each summer about our custom made flip flops for their bridesmaid gift bags, as well as for themselves for dancing the night away in comfort. Brightly colored flops decorated in grosgrain ribbon are hard to resist – it is an ideal way to show off your pedi! We will be offering these again at the start of the summer.
We also offer tank tops encrusted in rhinestone tulips for Parkinson’s Awareness (half of the profit is donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research). These have sold very well for brides who have someone close to their heart with the disease and want to offer this in lieu of the traditional “wedding favor”. We have done hundreds of these as wedding favors for female guests.
In terms of gift giving in general – people often purchase gift certificates to our site, for their favorite bargain hunting friends. Those are available year round for purchase.
What is something from the closet you can’t stock up fast enough? Can’t live without?
Anything with the name Manolo, Jimmy Choo or Hermes. Customers sometimes think we don’t carry these brands and it is quite the contrary! We sell them a lot – but they sell out in such velocity, you have to be a smart, swift shopper to get your hands on them. We often suggest people signing up for our mailing list, so they get alerts when new merchandise hits “the closet”. (link to newsletter signup can be located in the upper right hand corner of our website www.ChristabellesCloset.com)
When you walk down the street what is the one thing you cringe when you see people wearing? What impresses you the most about an outfit?
Why do men still wear jean shorts? I just cannot even fathom WHY these are even still produced.
Confidence impresses me. There is nothing more refreshing than seeing someone pass you on the street and their confidence actually bounces off of them. It can make or break an outfit and also has the power to make a simple ensemble (like jeans and a white t-shirt) sing in fashion harmony.
I am also incredibly impressed when someone can take a simple item (like a black sundress) and give it a “WOW” factor using accessories in a smart balance. You would be surprised how many people go wrong with the marriage of their accessories.