free stylin’

welcome to a new segment on the blog where i ask our stylists what items they love right now! they always have the best taste and what do you know, after talking with them i found myself wanting both of their choices…

their first pick? the rugby match knee sock!

all four ladies present agreed that these socks are the cutest – and incredibly versatile.  they’re super soft and the color combination is fun and new – they add a quirky pop to any outfit.  wear them with shorts and tennis shoes, or dress them up with a skirt and clogs.  it doesn’t matter how you wear them, they are bound to get noticed!

here they are (in navy) in our july catalog- i think they add a really cute boyish touch to the slip:

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their other pick for this week is the capri embroidered crossbody bag!

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they love the tribal print mixed with the leather strap and details, and it is the perfect size to hold everything you need for a quick overnight getaway.  the print is neutral enough that you can wear it with anything – it looks cute mixed with other printed items or just with bell bottoms and a tee, which is what our web stylist says she would wear!

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thanks ladies!

thursday poll – edition 101

have you guys seen our new outfits page for july yet?! it’s awesome – you should check it out, when you hover over the images you can see a really cute little video :)

i love every single one of these looks. which of the following is your favorite??

outfit one:

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outfit two:

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outfit three:

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outfit four:

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outfit five:

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outfit six:

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i don’t know about you guys but i pretty much NEED every item in outfit two. the winner of last week’s bodysuit poll was the solid v tank bodysuit with 42% of the vote!

july catalog: behind the scenes

in april our team shot two catalogs- our first wholesale catalog, which was shot in california, and then our july catalog in colorado.  here are some behind the scenes shots of them at work!

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the july catalog was shot by benjamin alexander huseby and features models noot seear, linda vojtova and izzy marshall.

shop the catalog here.

office space

for today’s office space i thought i’d head over to building 543, where our cafeteria, coffee shop, gym and some offices are located. since i am in this building at least once a day for my daily cup of coffee i have gotten really used to it but the first time i entered its doors it literally took my breath away. it’s a gorgeous space- but i’ll just let you see for yourself…

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the last one is the view out the back window :)

oh and by the way this building is open to the public so if you’re ever down by the navy yard, stop on by!

rose bowl treasures

prior to opening our new store in costa mesa, ca, a couple of our display team members who work out on the west coast made a trip to the rose bowl flea market to pick up some props for the store.  one of them shared her photos from the shopping excursion and i found myself practically drooling over the blankets, accessories and various little trinkets she found.  philly needs a (monthly!!) flea market like this! i would be in heaven.

read more to see lots more photos!

Read More

quilted inspiration

our current creative theme “quilted memories” has had me thinking about my quilt that i started making last year.  i’m ashamed to admit it has been sitting in a box full of fabric for months now waiting for me to return to it, but during sunny spring and summer months i find it hard to spend any time inside working on it.  however, these images are definitely inspiring me to get back to work…


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all of these blow me away. i definitely don’t have the artistic ability to make anything as amazing as these, but they’re giving me some great ideas… have any of you ever tried making a quilt?

click on images for sources.

intern-al affairs

this new series of posts on the blog will explore the world of our interns, brought to you by our concept intern anastasiya!

Here in the office we have a fresh group of interns who, like me, are coming down from the initial flutter of beginning work in Free People. They are settled into their different departments, busy honing projects and assimilating into the working culture. To give you a more thorough glimpse into the experience that is being a Free People intern, I will introduce a talented new intern every week and have them show and tell you a little bit of what they are working on.

Let’s now take a peek into the dazzling world of the Visual Display Department – meet Walker, the Visual Summer Intern!

What led you to intern for Free People?
I have always had a love affair with Free People clothing and when a family friend that works here saw my portfolio, she thought I would be a good fit for the visual display team. In February, I came to Philadelphia for the first time to interview and got the job!

Protos

What has been your favorite part of the experience so far?
It is hard to pick a favorite part because this whole experience has been so wonderful, but I would have to say it would be making the bike wheels and bike horns for the 5th avenue store in New York. I had a lot of freedom to play around with a wide variety of materials and color palettes and got to add my own spin on the summer display. It is also pretty awesome to see something I made in a Free People store!

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What do you think is the most useful piece of knowledge that you have acquired in your time here?
I have learned so much about how visual display works but the most useful piece of knowledge is that people like to see variety. For example, if someone asks you to dye a piece of fabric green, dye ten pieces of fabric all different shades of green so they will have a large assortment to choose from.

Holiday Protos

What are you currently working on?
I just finished working with the visual display team on the Holiday 2010 prototypes which look splendid! There are so many fun elements that will transform the store into a winter wonderland.

Any words of advice to future interns?
Just be very positive and willing to work hard. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions because that it how you are going to get the most out of this experience. Oh, and have fun!
The fruit of Walker’s labor?

5th Avenue Store Display

The bicycle wheels suspended from the ceiling of the 5th Avenue store in New York were so pretty!

july web inspiration: quilted memories

to go along with our july catalog, the new creative concept for our website is called “quilted memories.” here’s a look at the artwork that inspired our graphic designers, and the words fp jemma wrote to describe the free people girl who embodies this trend…

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now go explore our website, it looks lovely :)

4th of July Weekend – Yeaaaa

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It was my first 4th of july and I had an amazing time! Yeah I know a little weird me joining in the celebration but what the heck it was FUN! (I’m British BTW)

Lots of beer, big grill, upbeat music, perfect house setting, a bunch of guys crazy about photography, American flags,  sharpie tattoos American style!

Roof top breeze, Twilight sky,  Warm air, the glow of the lamps made a seductive setting while we watched the sky light up with sparkle.

Hope you guys had an amazing 4th of July too :)

july catalog location: dunton hot springs, colorado

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just across the mountains from telluride, dunton hot springs resort is a romantic ghost town set in an extraordinary alpine valley. it is described as a town that thrives on contradictions. the rugged, hand constructed exterior shields comfortable, exquisitely furnished rooms, and a saloon worn down over time by visitors serves fresh, mouth watering food.  guests can take long, grueling hikes followed by soothing massages and look out at snowcapped mountains while resting weary bones in steaming natural hot springs.

sounds like heaven to me.

all photos taken by our producer.

july catalog inspiration

our july catalog is now out! today i wanted to share some of the images and words that fp jemma put together about the inspiration behind this beautiful book…

the feeling:

wind swept, romantic with a ghostly bohemian spirit. horse riding and voodoo dancing in a wood smoked air.

the personality:

sweet and sultry with a native indian stroke. tasseled windy hair caught with braids of wisdom. they evoke the spirit of the wind, and wondrous journeys.

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the styling  – a mixture of military and american cool. fur, feathers, military tags, horns, work boots, leather bags.

the photographer: benjamin alexander huseby. ghostly and sun drenched. a feeling of nostalgia.

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this catalog will have the impact of a stampede, hitting you right off your feet and into a world of “quilted dreams”

view the catalog; shop the items.