NOGOODFORME.COM: the nogoodforme interview: Erin Whelan of Clarabella, NYC

If it's possible to have a crush on a place, then my current place-crush would be on accessories boutique Clarabella -- probably one of New York's hidden retail treasures and a prime source for some amazing wardrobe accents. We've given shout-outs to the space before, but can you blame us? Being inside Clarabella is a bit like stumbling into the private dressing room of a particularly well-lived dame who's managed to acquire all sorts of gorgeous bijoux and accoutrements during some amazing adventures and travels. (But because it's a store and not a closet, you get to go through everything and take home whatever you can buy!) The selection of accessories within this music box of a boutique is well-curated, high quality and generous in its aesthetic diversity -- there's something for any discerning woman, whether she's an old-school romantic looking for a future heirloom or an edgier rock 'n roller with a thing for Victoriana and fierce shoes. What ties it all together at Clarabella is a friendly intelligence and genuine charm, which reflects in the warm, polished woods of the decor to the beautiful art on the walls to the encouraging DIY spirit of its jewelry-making classes. All of which, of course, echo the spirit of its owner, Erin Whelan, who started the store after spending time in the trenches of the music industry. Don't be surprised if you get the urge to start your own cozy little enterprise after reading our interview with Erin -- the true warmth of Clarabella and its owner will inspire you with pioneer spirit and a passion for independence.

Tell us a bit about how Clarabella was born. What were you doing before Clarabella, and how did it get started? What was your original vision and inspiration for the shop?

My clients actually ask this a lot and I think they're always a little surprised. Before taking this leap, I actually worked in the music business for about 8 years. I even interned while I was in college and was certain that it was the career for me. I'm not entirely convinced that I'll never go back, but aside from working in music, my other dream was to be my own boss... Have my own business. I'd been thinking about it for years and went through a number of different ideas before settling on accessories. It was the first idea that got me really excited, that made me want to take the leap. As the music industry twisted and turned and frankly got a little lost, I was approaching my 30th birthday and decided 'what the hell... If not now, then when?. It was risk time! My original vision for the shop isn't all that different than what it is now. I love what it is and what it's become. I love supporting independent designers and artists and think that my clients truly appreciate the opportunity to buy something that they won't see on 5 other woman walking around their neighborhoods!

I love stopping into the shop; it's such a warm, lovely space. What were you going for in terms of the decor and interiors? And how does the gallery fit into this?

I wanted the space to feel comfortable, inviting and friendly. I think I've achieved that. I grew up in Maine in an old house that was built in the 1920s. It had dark wood walls and floors. We had an fantastic combination of fine antique and country chic decor. I took inspiration from that to decorate the shop... Dark wood flooring, warm colors, antique display cases, an antique console as a counter. I put a big armchair in the corner as a place to relax. I lucked out with this space. I started with a white box... Drop ceiling, grey floor tiling. It was mine for the decorating and I really had the chance to do whatever I wanted. The resulting space is very me, very much my personality. It's one of the things that friends and family told me when I first opened up. That really makes me happy! The gallery wall was actually the final addition to my plan for the shop. I love what artwork can do for a space. It can add to the warmth, change the tone, add character.

I come from a long line of strong and independent women. Women who also seemed to have a penchant for a great pair of shoes or 10 and always knew how to properly accessorize. I'm not sure I inherited much of the 'proper' but I did manage to grab the love for the shoes, the bags and the jewelry. I wish I had some of the designing talent as well, but having taken a few classes, I know that it's my place to remain focused on and fascinated with the skilled designers I represent. I love the way a great pair of earrings or a necklace can change the entire tone of an outfit. I love that New York is one of those unique places where women carry their lives around in their handbags. It's a true representation of style. I don't have any plans to expand into clothing. I love fashion and certainly have a weakness for clothing shopping, but spotting the styles and working with them isn't really my forte. If I do expand, it would more likely be into home accessories, but don't expect that to happen anytime soon!!

I focus mainly on independent designers and try to stay away from anything mass-manufactured. It assures great quality and also allows me to meet and develop relationships with most of the designers for the lines that I carry. Really, I pick only things that I like. I'm very rarely swayed by trend. I think that ensures that the shop is full of simple, timeless and elegant pieces. I do take a few leaps here and there, trying out something a bit more daring, more cutting-edge. But it still falls in the range of things that I love. I won't ever try to sell something that I wouldn't want to wear myself.

She is a unique and independent woman. It's hard to classify too much as I've got a very strong range in my clientele. Most simply, she is someone who values quality and great style. And maybe she keeps coming back here because we had a great chat and I smile a lot! ;-)

What are some of your favorite shops, restaurants, or places (in NYC or in the whole world)?

I'm a bit New York-centric as I've lived here for about 9 years now! I get coffee at Piada on Clinton Street every day. The guys are incredibly sweet and the coffee is the best I've had around here. Honey in the Rough is a gorgeous dress shop down on Rivington. The owner, Ashley Hanosh, has this unbelievable knack for picking out the one thing that makes me look like a rock star. I always end up leaving with something that she's picked out for me rather than anything I've picked out for myself. I'm a dedicated fan of the Frank/Frankie's/Supper trifecta. All in the East Village, all with consistently great and affordable Italian eats.

That's a tough one -- maybe Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston for some of the classics and the classy... Maybe a little Kate Hudson for some boho chic... Maybe Carrie's closet from SATC, but mostly for the shoes!!

I wear a gorgeous bracelet from Judith Haas every day. It's super sturdy as it's made with brass and then dipped in 14K gold. It looks unbelievably classy and completely changes up any outfit I wear. I'm also in love with Anthropologie dresses. I just bought two yesterday and can't wait to wear them both in the shop. They have such a great selection -- gorgeous colors and unique designs paired with classic solids. I can always find something I love!

It's hard to choose from my accessory designers as I love them all. But you can see all of them by coming by the shop. Right now, I'm carrying a Tracey Tanner bag and I wear a bracelet by Judith Haas, rings by Zoe Chicco and a necklace by Paige Sargisson. As for clothing, no one particular designer. I'll go for anything that fits my style and flatters my figure. It's not as important to me who made it. That said, I do love supporting the independents in clothing as well. One of my favorite dresses right now is from Built by Wendy.

I suppose this changes daily... Could be The Black Keys or Datarock, or more lowkey with Ryan Adams or Great Lake Swimmers. I'm a music junkie and try to change it up as much as possible!!

Name a record you loved when you were a little kid that you still listen to today.

Paul Simon's Graceland -- came out when I was 9 and is just as good today as it was then. I still know all the words!

Haha - if only I had the foresight to put on mood music before the making out ;-). Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days is always good. Or maybe Ray Lamontagne or AM? Again... If I manage to get any music on, whatever is playing instantly becomes makeout music.

Oh - it changes all the time. I'm a sucker for a handsome face with a great voice and a strong melody.

Pretty low maintenance here... I use face cream every day. In the morning after the shower and at night after washing my face. I'm hoping it scares away the wrinkles. That and the eye cream!! I'm a HUGE fan of Lancome products, but also default to the good ol' Oil of Olay.

Making it through year two and then year three. Eventually turning a profit. Finding new and promising talents. Selling more artwork. Doing well enough in this business to eventually expand. Working every day for myself in a job that I love!

Say something so insightful and witty, it will blow us away. (No pressure.)

Got something to say? We'd love to hear it! Name, email and "type in the weirdo drunken text" thingie are all required to comment; don't worry, we won't email you or anything, we just want to make sure you're not an evil spambot. Keeping in mind the good-times mentality we like to keep going here, we've worked hard to keep NOGOODFORME.COM as fun as possible. We welcome all kinds of comments, but insults/abuse/general bitchery are not tolerated. In other words, we put the smackdown on evil troll posts. If you want to be a hater, please go elsewhere. Now, as Salt 'N Pepa say, "Only the sexy people..."

;





	Thursday , July 24, 2008 the nogoodforme interview: Erin Whelan of Clarabella, NYC If it's possible to have a crush on a place, then my current place-crush would be on accessories boutique Clarabella -- probably one of New York's hidden retail treasures and a prime source for some amazing wardrobe accents. We've given shout-outs to the space before, but can you blame us? Being inside Clarabella is a bit like stumbling into the private dressing room of a particularly well-lived dame who's managed to acquire all sorts of gorgeous bijoux and accoutrements during some amazing adventures and travels. (But because it's a store and not a closet, you get to go through everything and take home whatever you can buy!) The selection of accessories within this music box of a boutique is well-curated, high quality and generous in its aesthetic diversity -- there's something for any discerning woman, whether she's an old-school romantic looking for a future heirloom or an edgier rock 'n roller with a thing for Victoriana and fierce shoes. What ties it all together at Clarabella is a friendly intelligence and genuine charm, which reflects in the warm, polished woods of the decor to the beautiful art on the walls to the encouraging DIY spirit of its jewelry-making classes. All of which, of course, echo the spirit of its owner, Erin Whelan, who started the store after spending time in the trenches of the music industry. Don't be surprised if you get the urge to start your own cozy little enterprise after reading our interview with Erin -- the true warmth of Clarabella and its owner will inspire you with pioneer spirit and a passion for independence. Tell us a bit about how Clarabella was born. What were you doing before Clarabella, and how did it get started? What was your original vision and inspiration for the shop? My clients actually ask this a lot and I think they're always a little surprised. Before taking this leap, I actually worked in the music business for about 8 years. I even interned while I was in college and was certain that it was the career for me. I'm not entirely convinced that I'll never go back, but aside from working in music, my other dream was to be my own boss... Have my own business. I'd been thinking about it for years and went through a number of different ideas before settling on accessories. It was the first idea that got me really excited, that made me want to take the leap. As the music industry twisted and turned and frankly got a little lost, I was approaching my 30th birthday and decided 'what the hell... If not now, then when?. It was risk time! My original vision for the shop isn't all that different than what it is now. I love what it is and what it's become. I love supporting independent designers and artists and think that my clients truly appreciate the opportunity to buy something that they won't see on 5 other woman walking around their neighborhoods! I love stopping into the shop; it's such a warm, lovely space. What were you going for in terms of the decor and interiors? And how does the gallery fit into this? I wanted the space to feel comfortable, inviting and friendly. I think I've achieved that. I grew up in Maine in an old house that was built in the 1920s. It had dark wood walls and floors. We had an fantastic combination of fine antique and country chic decor. I took inspiration from that to decorate the shop... Dark wood flooring, warm colors, antique display cases, an antique console as a counter. I put a big armchair in the corner as a place to relax. I lucked out with this space. I started with a white box... Drop ceiling, grey floor tiling. It was mine for the decorating and I really had the chance to do whatever I wanted. The resulting space is very me, very much my personality. It's one of the things that friends and family told me when I first opened up. That really makes me happy! The gallery wall was actually the final addition to my plan for the shop. I love what artwork can do for a space. It can add to the warmth, change the tone, add character. Why do you specialize in accessories? Any plans to expand into clothing? I come from a long line of strong and independent women. Women who also seemed to have a penchant for a great pair of shoes or 10 and always knew how to properly accessorize. I'm not sure I inherited much of the 'proper' but I did manage to grab the love for the shoes, the bags and the jewelry. I wish I had some of the designing talent as well, but having taken a few classes, I know that it's my place to remain focused on and fascinated with the skilled designers I represent. I love the way a great pair of earrings or a necklace can change the entire tone of an outfit. I love that New York is one of those unique places where women carry their lives around in their handbags. It's a true representation of style. I don't have any plans to expand into clothing. I love fashion and certainly have a weakness for clothing shopping, but spotting the styles and working with them isn't really my forte. If I do expand, it would more likely be into home accessories, but don't expect that to happen anytime soon!! How do you select the lines that you carry? What do you look for? I focus mainly on independent designers and try to stay away from anything mass-manufactured. It assures great quality and also allows me to meet and develop relationships with most of the designers for the lines that I carry. Really, I pick only things that I like. I'm very rarely swayed by trend. I think that ensures that the shop is full of simple, timeless and elegant pieces. I do take a few leaps here and there, trying out something a bit more daring, more cutting-edge. But it still falls in the range of things that I love. I won't ever try to sell something that I wouldn't want to wear myself. Here's a cheesy fashion question: who's the "Clarabella woman"? She is a unique and independent woman. It's hard to classify too much as I've got a very strong range in my clientele. Most simply, she is someone who values quality and great style. And maybe she keeps coming back here because we had a great chat and I smile a lot! ;-) What are some of your favorite shops, restaurants, or places (in NYC or in the whole world)? I'm a bit New York-centric as I've lived here for about 9 years now! I get coffee at Piada on Clinton Street every day. The guys are incredibly sweet and the coffee is the best I've had around here. Honey in the Rough is a gorgeous dress shop down on Rivington. The owner, Ashley Hanosh, has this unbelievable knack for picking out the one thing that makes me look like a rock star. I always end up leaving with something that she's picked out for me rather than anything I've picked out for myself. I'm a dedicated fan of the Frank/Frankie's/Supper trifecta. All in the East Village, all with consistently great and affordable Italian eats. Whose closet would you love to raid? That's a tough one -- maybe Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston for some of the classics and the classy... Maybe a little Kate Hudson for some boho chic... Maybe Carrie's closet from SATC, but mostly for the shoes!! What's your favorite item of clothing or favorite accessory lately? I wear a gorgeous bracelet from Judith Haas every day. It's super sturdy as it's made with brass and then dipped in 14K gold. It looks unbelievably classy and completely changes up any outfit I wear. I'm also in love with Anthropologie dresses. I just bought two yesterday and can't wait to wear them both in the shop. They have such a great selection -- gorgeous colors and unique designs paired with classic solids. I can always find something I love! Who are some of your favorite designers, both clothing and accessories? It's hard to choose from my accessory designers as I love them all. But you can see all of them by coming by the shop. Right now, I'm carrying a Tracey Tanner bag and I wear a bracelet by Judith Haas, rings by Zoe Chicco and a necklace by Paige Sargisson. As for clothing, no one particular designer. I'll go for anything that fits my style and flatters my figure. It's not as important to me who made it. That said, I do love supporting the independents in clothing as well. One of my favorite dresses right now is from Built by Wendy. What music do you like to listen to when primping? I suppose this changes daily... Could be The Black Keys or Datarock, or more lowkey with Ryan Adams or Great Lake Swimmers. I'm a music junkie and try to change it up as much as possible!! Name a record you loved when you were a little kid that you still listen to today. Paul Simon's Graceland -- came out when I was 9 and is just as good today as it was then. I still know all the words! Favorite makeout music? Haha - if only I had the foresight to put on mood music before the making out ;-). Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days is always good. Or maybe Ray Lamontagne or AM? Again... If I manage to get any music on, whatever is playing instantly becomes makeout music. Who is your #1 all-time music crush? Oh - it changes all the time. I'm a sucker for a handsome face with a great voice and a strong melody. What's one beauty secret you'd like to share? Pretty low maintenance here... I use face cream every day. In the morning after the shower and at night after washing my face. I'm hoping it scares away the wrinkles. That and the eye cream!! I'm a HUGE fan of Lancome products, but also default to the good ol' Oil of Olay. What's next for Clarabella? Making it through year two and then year three. Eventually turning a profit. Finding new and promising talents. Selling more artwork. Doing well enough in this business to eventually expand. Working every day for myself in a job that I love! Posted by Kat in Interviews Permalink \| Stumble This! \| Digg This! \| \| Leave a comment \| + Contact Us + HOME Say something so insightful and witty, it will blow us away. (No pressure.) Got something to say? We'd love to hear it! Name, email and "type in the weirdo drunken text" thingie are all required to comment; don't worry, we won't email you or anything, we just want to make sure you're not an evil spambot. Keeping in mind the good-times mentality we like to keep going here, we've worked hard to keep NOGOODFORME.COM as fun as possible. We welcome all kinds of comments, but insults/abuse/general bitchery are not tolerated. In other words, we put the smackdown on evil troll posts. If you want to be a hater, please go elsewhere. Now, as Salt 'N Pepa say, "Only the sexy people..." Name Email Address URL Remember personal info? Comments (You may use HTML tags for style) Captcha: Type the characters you see in the picture above. © K. Asharya, L. Barker and L. Faulds. All rights reserved. All content cannot be reproduced without prior written permission. ;						Search this site: We are now powered by Movable Type 4.1.