Connecticut Women Are First to Experience The Connaught Group’s New Line, With Roll-Out to Other Markets In-the-Works
The Connaught Group, a leading Manhattan-based direct sales fashion corporation, debuted its newly expanded Per Se Collection in select Connecticut markets. Per Se (www.persecollection.com), which had previously been a smaller offering under Connaught’s well-respected Carlisle Collection, will now be available additionally via appointment-only trunk shows hosted by Per Se wardrobe consultants.
“We have designed Per Se for modern, confident women who want to create their own style,” says Bill Rondina, Chairman and CEO of the Connaught Group. “They’ll mix vintage with new and designer with brand-x. Whether they tend toward the trendy or the tried-and-true, these women know what they like and are comfortable making their own fashion rules.”
Connaught chose to launch the expanded Per Se Collection in Connecticut because of its proximity to New York and its initial popularity there. The line was quietly introduced in 2005 as an edgier, European-style compliment to Connaught’s Carlisle Collection. Season after season, the Per Se pieces sold out, and Rondina saw an opportunity to create a whole new generation of enthusiasts.
“The Per Se line, with its playful-yet-sophisticated offerings, has proven to be very popular with Connecticut women and is poised for future growth,” explains Rondina. Throughout 2009, we will continue to expand the line in key markets across the U.S. by recruiting the best wardrobe consultants around to be part of our team.”
Per Se’s Manhattan-based design team will create four collections a year – spring, summer, fall and holiday. Fabrics are sourced from the finest mills in the world, and each garment is meticulously and thoughtfully constructed, customarily incorporating details such as sculpted waistbands, careful darts and flat-stitched pleats. From the superior quality clothing to the personalized selling process, Per Se offers its customers an experience unparalleled in the clothing business today.
Beginning January 27th, wardrobe consultants based in Greenwich, Westport and Stamford will showcase the collection in their homes for a week at a time, through the end of February. The clothes are shown by appointment only, and consultants may be contacted through the corporate office at 212 246-2555, ex 3653 or via email at myconsultant@persecollection.com
“Connecticut women are sure to appreciate the extraordinary personal service and wardrobe-building expertise we offer alongside our beautifully made and eminently wearable clothes not found in stores,” explains Caroline Bowen, President of The Connaught Group.
The launch of the new Per Se line and growing team of direct sales consultants is quite timely given the current state of the economy. Indeed, as brick-and-mortar stores go by the wayside, direct sales fashion – estimated to be a $30.8 billion industry by the Direct Selling Association – is experiencing a renaissance, with further growth expected. By comparison, Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, recently forecasted that, “by the end of 2009, the number of retail players will be down by at least 25%.”
SPRING 2009 SERVED-UP PER SE STYLE
The Per Se Spring Collection features a number of MUST-have trends for stylish women this season including:
- Pan For Gold: It’s all about a metallic patina this season as you find subtle gold, silver and copper in fabrics, prints and accessories. The Fame skirt captures that light and shine.
- Find a Pattern: Big, bold prints rule this season. Whether woven or printed, abstract or floral, unconventional patterns that seem a little off are oh, so IN! The Daisy jacket, with its jacquard weave of jumbo blossoms, creates a shadowy effect of color and line.
- Opposites Attract: Choose topsy-turvy, high-contrast silhouettes – wear small tops with full skirts, lean legs under swing jackets. Don’t be afraid to choose daring combinations that break the rules — pair soft and flowy with structured and concise.
- Boy Meets Girl: This season continues the feminine twist on masculine dressing. Wide-legged trousers like Premier have form-flattering stitching and a close-fitting hip to lengthen legs and keep you looking great coming and going.
- City of Sirens: Show ‘em what you’ve got — go for the curves. This season’s va-va-voom dresses and pencil skirts create sensual silhouettes that stop traffic. The fashion police are sure to say the Chic dress is just the ticket.
- Belt It Out: Waist away with this season’s bold belts and accessories. Careful tucks and a wide elastic belt make a shapely statement. The Aristocrat jacket says it so well.
- Play Dress Up: What’s your type – Audrey Hepburn or Bridget Bardot? No matter your muse, this season’s easy-to-wear dresses offer classic lines and a feminine fit. The Milano dress will keep you looking camera ready.
- Make Them Go Green: Friends and enemies alike will envy signature pieces such as our Apple Green, a fabulous croc-embossed bag of Italian leather. Don’t look back — forge ahead with accessories in bold colors and great shapes.
- Do the Wave: What’s spring break without a trip to the beach? Dive into the watercolor blues and teals of the Bonnie skirt. This season it’s all about Nantucket, a nifty little swing jacket of blue glazed cotton with gunmetal gray hardware, the colors of the ocean just after sunset.
- Gloss Over: Patent leather shine isn’t just for shoes anymore. This spring, look for high gloss glimmering jackets, shirts and accessories. See yourself in Hudson, a tissue-thin jacket with a watery patina — the perfect topper for the Gemini jeans.
Images from the Collection featuring these trends can be found on the newly launched Per Se website at www.persecollection.com
A SHOPPING EXPERIENCE WORTHY OF THE WOMAN
Here are just a few things that differentiate the Per Se Collection and client experience:
EXPERIENCED DESIGNERS: The Per Se management and design teams possess an outstanding fashion pedigree, having gained experience at Christian Dior, Bill Blass, Tahari, Ellen Tracy and Burberry, among others. Each collection is the result of this collective knowledge, intuitive design sense and studied understanding of the perfect fit and function.
PERSONALIZED SERVICE: The Per Se Consultant acts as personal stylist, using her fashion expertise to develop and customize a fun, functional wardrobe tailored to the client’s personality and lifestyle. Consultants keep records of all clients’ purchases for easy coordination of existing and current pieces. Many consultants even make personalized “closet calls” to help clients maximize their wardrobes by putting things together in new ways.
GREAT PRICES: Because the Per Se Collection is sold only through trunk shows, the conventional and costly retail overhead is eliminated. This direct-sales model allows Per Se Consultants to offer superior quality clothing at extremely competitive prices.
The Spring Collection falls within the following price range:
Jackets/Coats: $395-$595 (with leather coats starting at $995)
Pants/Skirts: $285 – $295
Knits/Tees/Blouses: $195 – $395
Dresses: $350-$495
FABULOUS FABRICS: The Per Se designers are fabric snobs and proud of it! While each season’s collection is stylistically distinct, all offer couture-caliber textiles from the best mills in England, Italy and France. Whether it’s a rich boucle for a jacket, a silky charmeuse for a lining or a high-tech stretch for a pant, our fabrics give our pieces quality and character.
QUALITY MANUFACTURING: From the design to the finishing, each Per Se piece is impeccably made, down to the very last detail. From linings and seams, to zippers, buttons and trim, each perfect garment is the product of our longtime relationships with Hong Kong’s most discerning manufacturers. This ensures a level of consistency that is rare among design houses, but customary for the Connaught Group, Per Se’s parent company.
BUILDING THE PER SE TEAM
The Connaught Group is actively expanding its Per Se team with the launch of Per Se Consultants in Connecticut and further expansion planned. Candidates interested in joining the team should contact Edie Dance at (850) 484-8120, or send an email to edance@connaughtgroup.com. Women interested in booking an appointment with their local Per Se Wardrobe consultant can do so by contacting Per Se at (212) 246-2555, ext. 3653, or by sending an email to myconsultant@persecollection.com.