Calendar days

My dad gave me this calendar, I guess they were gifts at the Waterman's Ball this year, where he was honored with a lifetime achievement award. Kinda cool. This picture was a page in the calendar, it's Channel Islands in 1976. I'm the baby in pink! xo

Christmas Shopping.

A facebook friend of mine said he was doing all his Christmas shopping in local stores, with all cash and wanted to buy only things made in America. Bravo. He was able to do 2 out of 3. The one he couldn't do was buy something made locally. So, I remind you, my customer: The Heidi Merrick collection is not only made in America, but made in LA, not only made in LA but made within walking distance from our studio. That's local.

Alive.

Somedays, if feel more alive than others. That is to say I'm happy. I woke up good with the circumstances that are uninvited in this life and pleased with the pursuit of others. Maybe we'll have champagne in the studio today!

Poolside pillows.

Suddenly the winter sun won't stop pouring into the studio, it's the joy and bain of South facing windows. It just makes me want to be in Palm Springs where direct sun feels more appropriate because of the presents of bikinis and pools... Am thinking of my friend Maeve who patiently named the home collection with me while pool side at the Korakia.. oxox

Day dreaming...

Hiver just left the studio to spend the afternoon with her dad... and I already miss her. Everything reminds me of her and her sweetness. Here's a picture of our Spring 11 model, Jeanne Johnston on Hiver's bed, isn't she lovely? It breaks my heart to think that one day Hiver will be that big of a girl. Will she still have her canopy?

Tailor made

Making the decision to be locally responsible has to be made and made everyday in this business. It really steers the company for me. I still find it really important for all my contractors to be with in walking distance. I still find exceedingly important to keep everything made in the United States. And I still find it really cool to keep craftsmanship alive in my community.

C magazine

I love C magazine. Here's the details on our expedition into home. I love Florence Kane. I love Samantha Traina. And, of course, I love Jenny Murray Hooks!

Musing

Been realizing life doesn't really have perfect times to succeed. It's kind of about how you react and how you keep going.

Seven Years!

Today is our seven year wedding anniversary! It seems like yesterday. Wanted to post a picture of us in wedding garb since my wedding dress is the first dress I'd ever made but am too crazy to search for photos! Here we are, I don't know how long ago but I know it was 1 week before I got pregnant with Hiver. Maybe you can see her here too as the glimmer in our eyes.
p.s. Terrible picture of me but great of JJ. I think it captures his sweet and goofy heart.

Elle.com

Did anyone see my Elle.com piece. It was a super quick phone interview and very exciting for me! I think she must have seen a photo of me and assumed I was in my early 20's blah blah bc the article read like I moved back from NY a few years ago and started my line... Well, I did move back from NY but more like 10 years ago?? Maybe more? I'm going to start being more mysterious with timelines. Wait, I just ruined that mysterious timeline didn't I?

i love fashion week.

I love fashion week. There is a buzz in our world. Everything is more exciting. But I do always marvel especially in the age of internet, which are we more excited to see; the spring 2011 collections, or the girls on the street in their brand new Fall 2010? I'm anxious for the ladder. It's one thing to see the clothes styled on the runway or the look book and very much another thing to see them come to life -living on the streets of NYC. We'll be watching! oxxo

Back to school.

I'm trying to fight through the gloom today to find some semblance of *wheeee!*. I've decided it's going to be in creative fall dressing. Now that Hiver is 7 months old and am fitting into my wardrobe for the first time in a year I'm rooting through the old stuff. Boring. I'm going to listen to Anna Wintour and buy something amazing and full price. What you ask? I've my eye on a certain Helmut Lang sweater that may or may not have fur. Am going to wear it with these sparkly leggings. *Wheeeeeee!*

Studio daze.

Once a collection is finished a calm seems to fall over the studio. It's lovely. But we still have our oars in the water, lots of exciting things happening. I can't wait to share them with you all. xoox Heidi

One of our favorite fashion mavens, Dena from Dluxelist, is doing a give-a-way with us. Her blog is a chic guide for beautiful things and we couldn't agree more. We are giving away the Vernazza top in Orange Swirl. See the details below on all the different ways to enter.

Do one of the following or do them all to increase you chances:

Follow @heidimerrick + @dluxelist on Twitter and RT the contest info (once a day only, please).
Like Heidi Merrick and dluxelist on Facebook.
Sign up for the Heidi Merrick mailing list (lower left corner of our website) or the LuxeLetter email on dluxelist.
Comment on dluxelist's post and tell us what you'd wear with the Vernazza Top or where you'd wear it.

Celebrate Freedom!

Hooray, Hoorah! We are having a 4th of July sale. 25% off the entire website with the code "freedom" at checkout... xo

Summer.

Summer's here, officially, and so is our assortment of Heidi Merrick summer dresses. We have drapey drapy gauze, soft silks and metallic hints. Flowing dresses and easy shirts. I think it's simple and easy to wear and I hope you do too! Our mailing list will see it first.

The business of extraordinary living...

I just saw my husband's email tag it says "The business of extrardinary living." We don't email each other often, we try to talk face to face. And if I do have something mundane to tell him, I have my assistant do it. This is not the point. I saw his email tag and thought to myself, why isn't he in business with me? I'm for sure in the business of extradinary living. Moments later I realized -oh yes, we are in the business of extrodinary living together. Case in point, Hiver.

Tag

We are changing our original hang tags. They were charming when first penned in my West Hollywood bungalow but now they don't apply. Here's how they read:
You have a Heidi Merrick Dress. It is not perfect. Chances are it was made right in our studio. Much like a couture house. Only we are not a couture house. We are just a house.
We still make a good amount of garments in our downtown studio, but it's not just me and an assistant in my house nor am I exclusively a line of dresses. So, if you know anything about our collection and have an idea for our tags -I welcome it. If we use your wording I will reward you with a dress, or tank or whatever it is from the collection you really want.
Email us at info@heidimerrick.com

East/West

It's pretty cool to have Refinery 29 on the West coast. We are super excited to be a part of their launch, so join us this weekend at Space 15twenty on Caguena and Ivar. xoxo

The world is changing,

I can feel it in the air. I was about to say a bunch of blah blah stuff about this generation but everyone's saying it. No need to repeat. Let's think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, lets think on these things!

über sale.

In my family's surf shop, my mom always had a "friends and family" rack where you could get lovely things for an outrageously low price. In honor of my mom and Mother's Day, welcome to our Friends and Family Sale. It's under über sale on the website. We had to regroup and add pieces this morning so enjoy.
p.s. this is model Natalia Bonafacci -isn't she amazing?

Dutton

Here is the Dutton in Vogue Turkey. Sexy, right?

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Pretty dress.

Here's our Sinnett shirt. U Magazine is a Brazilian fashion and art website. It was styled by Jules Wood. Kinda cool. xoxo

Vogue

Turkish Vogue to be exact. It is a gorgeous issue and I am so excited to be in it! It is a two page spread and so sexy, I will post it as soon as we get a proper scan! oxoxo

ALLURE!

Oh my my... Our Vernazza top as a must, and next to Dries Van Noten. I love being mentioned next to Dries, amazing! Thank you so much, Tanama!

Thank you Julie Gilhart...

She's the fashion director of Barney's and so sensible, so chic, doesn't really wear makeup and she surfs. Here's part of Gilhart's Q&A about the future of fashion.

"I think it’s actually about being conscious. Green, eco, all those words—it’s just about being more conscious. [Take] somebody like Isabel Toledo, who’s doing everything in New York…and only buys fabric to order and knows exactly where everything is being done and pays fair wages and is doing everything in a very sustainable way, as much as possible. It’s not easy to be completely conscious in the way of sustainability and organic and eco, because not all of the materials are available yet, and the resources aren’t there. "

-That's what I've been talking about. Julie, you can come to our studio anytime and see how we do it -and after that I'll take you paddle boarding. xoxo

Over the weekend.

This is my main shirt right now! And I've been getting a lot of attention -from men! Alright I was at home depot, that's the type a place to get attention. I'm pretty sure it's the shirt. Having not left the house for 9 months makes you really notice... Wear this shirt!

Beautiful Covers...

I'm a sucker for beautiful covers. I love fashion to be glamourous. This one delivers! Here's our Mayfield skirt (named for the model Amanda Mayfield) in their April issue, very cool!

Southern Belle

Well, market is over in LA and heading to Dallas... All you Southern girls out there tell your boutiques to look for Heidi Merrick!

Splatter.

You'd think our studio was covered in paint but we are very neat (when we need to be). We've been splattering the skirts for the last few weeks... Here is our Dossi skirt in this month's Self Magazine

Online exclusives...

The design process really never stops. Theoretically, I designed Spring 10 last summer but in reality as we are cutting for stores and in the middle of production we are always adding pieces. If something would be beautiful in another color or fabrication and we didn't make it for our retail market, we make for our website. And it's fun bc then we get to say "online exclusive". And it is, oh so exclusive.

New Muse...

Since my last post life has completely changed for the Heidi Merrick studio. We have a new muse -my precious little girl, Hiver Psalm von Johnston.

Bundling...

We sent little scarves to some of our friends for Christmas, and this is the best use of one I've seen. ox Happy New Year everybody!