Category Archives for fashion

Brand Friend Spotlight: Danielle Murdock

With the launch of our Brand Friend program, we’ve been able to connect with others who love the art of the handwritten note, our products, and our brand. If this sounds interesting to you, learn more about how to be a Dempsey & Carroll Brand Friend on our website!

We’re thrilled to introduce you to Danielle Murdock as part of our Brand Friend Spotlight series. Based in Connecticut, Danielle just completed her Masters in Education at the University of Hartford and is an avid blogger, traveler, and fashion aficionado.

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How did you learn about Dempsey & Carroll? Are there any particular collections that stood out to you?

I originally learned about Dempsey & Carroll through Instagram. I knew that there was something innately charming about the Dempsey & Carroll “look,” and once I experienced the quality of the paper myself, I was sold!

I was first intrigued by your beautiful holiday card collections because I love classic stationery and Christmas is extremely important to me. There are so many family traditions around the holidays, and handwritten Christmas cards are always an essential part of the season. A handwritten holiday card is a personal well wish to a loved one to let them know that you’re thinking of them during that magical time of year.

 

 We’d love to hear more about your love of letter writing! How do you make traditions modern during the age of instant communication?

I have always been a paper person, particularly when it comes to handwritten correspondence and journaling. There’s something refreshing about writing a letter; it provides a more personal touch than an email or text. My boyfriend and I write thoughtful cards for every birthday, anniversary, or “just because,” and each one is really special to me. It’s far more romantic and meaningful, and it serves as a reminder of what we mean to each other.

 

Can you recall the most memorable letter that you’ve received (or sent)?

One of the most memorable letters that I received was my acceptance letter to New York University (my dream school) back in 2013. It was a stressful time as I was in the process of transferring schools, but I will never forget the shock and happiness I felt when I saw the word “Congratulations” on the page. Receiving that piece of mail changed my entire life and it gave me the opportunity to fall in love with New York City. Although it wasn’t the most personal letter I’ve received, it certainly had the most impact!

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Where is your favorite place to write and catch up on correspondence?

My favorite place to write is my vintage desk that was given to me by my boyfriend’s mom. She’s an expert on all things vintage, and this piece was such a special find for a history-obsessed girl like me. It’s the perfect area to store my pens, stationery, and journals; it’s my go-to spot for letter writing, blogging, and more. The desk is in such pristine condition, and it makes me feel like I’m in a different time period.

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 What are a few of your favorite things to do in your spare time?

I really am a writer at heart–I love to blog and read in my spare time. Fashion is important to me, and my joy in clothes was actually the basis for starting my blog, The Minty Pink. Trends come and go, but classic pieces never go out of style!

I spend a lot of time hanging out with my family and friends; I’m quite social and seeing people I care about is a must! My friends and I have a lot of game and movie nights and we take weekend trips in the warmer weather. Just like everyone else, I enjoy my fair share of TV in my downtime – Game of Thrones, The Crown, Crime Documentaries—the staples, of course.

 

We’ve heard that you’re planning moving closer to New York City (our home)! What are a few of your favorite things about New York and what made you want to move back?

I’m head over heels for New York City. Having gone to NYU for undergrad, I really was able to take in a lot of different parts of the city during those years. I consider it my “second home” and have yet to find anything that comes close. For starters, the food is unbelievable! I have a handful of favorites, like Patsy’s in Harlem for pizza, and the Union Square Greenmarket for fresh produce and local goods.

One of my favorite things about New York is being able to take long walks from the east side to the west side to take in the history and beauty. Exploring the streets of NYC is such a fun activity because it changes so much from neighborhood to neighborhood. Although I don’t know where I’ll be moving, being closer to the city is an absolute must in my book!

 

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Danielle! Keep up with Danielle on Instagram @danimurd, Twitter @themintypink, and The Minty Pink blog!

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Learn more about being a Dempsey & Carroll Brand Friend!

A Look Back at our 2018 Partnerships

As we look back at another great year at Dempsey & Carroll, our partnerships remain some of the most memorable highlights. 2018 brought several new collaborators into the Dempsey & Carroll mix, as well as some of our old friends who we were delighted to work with again. Our collaborations allow us to push ourselves in new directions – experimenting with new techniques and designs. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work alongside these visionary and truly wonderful brands this year. 

 

Caitlin McGauley 

Having worked with Caitlin in 2017 through our partnership with The Maryn we were thrilled when she decided to introduce stationery to her own business. Her whimsical, bright, beautiful designs have been favorites of ours since we began working with her in 2017 and we absolutely adored translating some of her famous animals and animal-inspired prints into stationery. Who can resist her charming fox or a pink cheetah with red spots?!

Shop the collection here

Caitlin McGauley Fox
Caitlin McGauley Fox
Caitlin McGauley Cheetah

 

Sister Parish Design 

We have been following Sister Parish Design for years now as admirers of their stunning prints, so you can imagine our delight when they approached us about developing a line of Sister Parish-inspired stationery. As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Sister Parish herself, Susan and Eliza Crater lead their amazing brand and embody Sister’s vision. We took two iconic Parish Hadley prints, Serendipity and Desmond, and highlighted these motifs as classic stationery sets.

Shop the collection here

Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Desmond
Sister Parish fabrics
Sister Parish x Dempsey & Carroll Serendipity

 

Whispering Angel 

Who doesn’t love a little something pink? We absolutely adored working on this collaboration with the winery behind our favorite rosé. Two charming angels engraved in Whispering Angel’s signature pink adorn the top of the luxurious 4-ply note cards we created for this wonderful winery. Time to drink pink!

Shop the collection here

Whispering Angel x Dempsey Carroll

 

Life Itself 

We partnered with the team behind Amazon Studios’ Life Itself this year to create a set of stationery reflecting two of the beautiful locations featured in this film. The stationery set showcases New York City and Carmona, Spain alongside a charming engraving of a fountain pen. The collaboration was inspired by the reasons we write, and connecting people in places thousands of miles away from one another.

Shop the collection here

 

Lingua Franca 

We could never in our wildest dreams have imagined that one day we would be selling stationery that had been embroidered and even more so,  embroidered with the coolest phrases like “booyah” and “everyday i’m hustlin’,” and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it. Hi, it’s us, Dempsey & Carroll, a 140-year-old stationery brand just selling cards with Rick Ross lyrics on them! How cool?! We loved every second of working with Rachelle of Lingua Franca and her truly amazing team. We are so happy to be able to offer these amazing note cards and delighted to partner with Lingua Franca, a company whose work we admire and are proud to be affiliated with.

Shop the collection here

 

J.McLaughlin

Third time’s a charm (though we loved the first and second ones too!)! This holiday season we released our third collaboration with famed ready-to-wear brand, J.McLaughlin. We shifted towards playful prints inspired by the season and created by artist John Pirman paired with cheery engraved phrases like “What a bright time,” and “Cheers.” We’re certainly cheersing a few of our friends this December with these note cards

Shop the collection here

J.McLaughlin x Dempsey & Carroll Holiday 2018

We always love collaborating with other brands to bring new designs to our paper. In some cases, our partnerships have resulted in multiple collections over the years.

We were delighted when our friends at J.McLaughlin approached us earlier this year to collaborate for the third time.  Once the design process began, we knew that we wanted to try something completely different!

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When the J.McLaughlin team showed us the geometric prints from their fabric collaboration with Florida-based artist John Pirman, we were absolutely charmed! The pops of red, gold, and blue would translate beautifully to the linings of our envelopes, and engraved holiday sentiments would tie the collection together.

 

We’re thrilled to ring in the holiday season with our J.McLaughlin Holiday card collection!

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Shop the collection: J.McLaughlin Holiday 

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

With Mother’s Day coming up in a little over two weeks, we wanted to share our top gift picks from our collections. Whether your Mom favors bold colors and patterns or more subtle tones, we’re certain that you’ll be able to find something to fit her personal style!

Jet Set: Paris

Paris

Jet Set: Paris 

The City of lights comes alive with our Eiffel Tower motif and dreamy vignettes of Paris. C’est la vie! $60 for a set of 10 cards and envelopes, shop here.

Caitlin McGauley Cheetah

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Caitlin McGauley Cheetah

Mom will love the whimsical Cheetah and bright patterns by Watercolor Artist Caitlin McGauley. $55 for a set of 10 cards and envelopes, shop here.

 

Monogram Cards and Sheets  

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Custom Monogram Stationery

You can choose from our standard monogram templates or create something completely new depending  on your Mom’s taste. Pricing begins at $375 for 100 cards and envelopes, shop here.

 

The Maryn x Caitlin McGauley  

Stripes

The Maryn x Caitlin McGauley

Our nautical collaboration with The Maryn Shop features original art by Caitlin McGauley. Take a trip to the seaside! $55 for a set of 10 cards and envelopes, shop here.

 

J.McLaughlin Correspondence Cards 

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J.McLaughlin Correspondence Cards

The classic prints by J.McLaughlin take on a new form with this fashionable collection. $25 for a set of 5 cards and envelopes, shop here.

 

Custom House Vignette Stationery

Home

Custom House Vignette Stationery

Your Mom can work with our team to create a custom motif inspired by home (or anywhere meaningful). Pricing is available upon request and it is dependent on the intricacy of the project. Please contact us at info@dempseyandcarroll.com to learn more. 

J. McLaughlin x Dempsey & Carroll

We absolutely adore when we get to partner with other brands to produce a stationery collaboration. A sprinkle of this, a dash of that, and suddenly you have something amazing that truly speaks to both parties involved. We were tickled pink when the team at J. McLaughlin got together with us earlier this year to begin designing our newest collaboration with them. 

With a J. McLaughin just 2 blocks away from our office, we are constantly watching what new and exciting prints and patterns they’re introducing.  You can imagine how difficult it was for us to narrow down the collection to only a handful of our favorites. After a few snacks from our neighbor William Poll it was decision-making time and we landed on a resort theme. 

Pops of aquamarine, coral, a flash of wicker and we were ready to go to production. With the weather in New York dropping more and more each day, our warm, breezy, balmy J. McLaughlin stationery has us dreaming of island getaways that are only a few weeks away. 

Spotlight on: Christos Dovas

Celebrated designer Christos Dovas is your first stop for a celebration in unforgettable style. Dempsey & Carroll’s Austin Ackles sat down with him to discuss how Greek origins formed a great New York talent.

 

QUESTION: You’ve been involved in garment design and construction since an early age. Can you tell us about those beginnings?

CHRISTOS DOVAS: I believe I was born artistic – The fact that I grew up with a father who was a shoe designer was a coincidence of destiny. I first learned to design from picking up the leather scraps from the floor, and making small wearable pieces. As a child, I watched my father buy raw materials and deal with market professionals – This taught me about business. watching my father work at the bench itself taught me how to pull the grow and straighten the fabric. I would say I was most fortunate to see my dad working original designs from the 50’s 60’s 70’s in leather skins, fabric and laces.

QUESTION: When we think of your work, what images would you like first to pop into our heads?  Light? Air? The sea? How has your Greek heritage informed you design?

CHRISTOS DOVAS:  I am a dreamer. I want my designs to conjure up the imagery of books, sculpture and paintings– secret stories all through the medium of my pencils and threads. It sounds funny but I get inspired while in New York; blending my past work experience and the city’s active lifestyle results in contemporary, artful pieces. My creations are influenced by pure poetry, clarity and symbolism. I love to design, create, and ultimately make women feel beautiful.

QUESTION: What thrills you most about Greece? And what do you find most exciting about New York?

CHRISTOS DOVAS: In Greece, it is exciting to be surrounded by time. History and Art have left marks with the Ancient Greek artifacts that inspire me daily. In contrast, New York’s contemporary presence is alive with a melting pot of different cultures.

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QUESTION: You’re an amazing colorist! When you use color, it feels at once bold and yet gently nuanced. Are there colors have you not been using that you are becoming more and more interested in?

CHRISTOS DOVAS: Since childhood, I have loved to draw with my pencils in black and white, along with watercolor and wax. I love gentle, smooth, soft pastels in combination with strong, dark, powerful hues. There are many different ways that color and fabric can be combined to create unique creation. The personality of someone is definitely the most important factor to consider when applying color onto fabric.

 

QUESTION: What’s it like to work with you and your studio? Can you tell us a little about the experience of commissioning your work?

CHRISTOS DOVAS: I am an old fashioned designer, which means that I like to show personal interest in the commission of a dress. Once we agree on the design, I begin to drape the fabric and bring to the drawings to life. Lots of hand-stitching is involved in the execution, and many fittings will happen to perfect a bespoke design.

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QUESTION: Can you give us a tip? What design elements should be avoided for practicality reasons?

CHRISTOS DOVAS: My philosophy revolves around beauty and timeless elegance. I would rather stay with simplicity instead of opting for a design with lots of lines and shapes.

 

QUESTION: When you’re seeking inspiration and renewal, where do you head?

CHRISTOS DOVAS: I often seek inspiration through books, art history, paintings, and sculptures. I always like to head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art here in New York and I love reading biographies of artists and designers.

 

QUESTION: Before we go, will you please share a sweet story about one of your favorite clients?

CHRISTOS DOVAS:  Every moment is a special occasion, though weddings take the cake. When designing a wedding dress, the mother is always the biggest advisor to the bride.  When it comes to details, there are usually different ideas and opinions to be had, especially when choose sleeve embellishments. A bride-to-be chose one ribbon with embroidery as the finish detail, and the mother chose another ribbon with bugles and crystals. There were a lot of hard decisions to make on their end in terms of which ones to choose. The final creation was beautifully stitched with attention to detail to make both the bride and mother happy with the design!

Learn more about Christos Dovas at http://www.ChristosDovas.com 
Credits:
Photography: Manuel Vasquez and Stephen Shadrach
Model: Jackie Swerz
Make Up artist: Alison Cornely,
Hair: Abby Ballin
Portrait credits: Francois Legagneur

 

 

 

#DestinationDempsey

When creating our Jet Set collection, we wanted to honor four iconic cities that would resonate with locals and travelers alike. Each unique city features engraved correspondence cards and envelopes that are hand-lined with city maps and vintage artwork. 

We worked with four influencers from around the world to create a blog post with their top hidden gems and experiences with our Jet Set Collection.  Follow along to discover Paris, London, Los Angeles, and New York with highlights from our #DestinationDempsey campaign.

Los Angeles
Paris
New York

 

Paris

We started in Paris, as Emily Jackson (@theglitteringunknown) shared her five can’t-miss places in the City of Lights on The Glittering Unknown. From strolling through the popular Marais neighborhood, to enjoying a cocktail on the Seine River by Le Pont Alexandre III, the “Je ne sais quoi” of Paris was beautifully captured.

Pont Alexandre III
The Eiffel Tower
Le Marais

 

London

We then took a trip across the English Channel with Andrea Cheong (@fleurandrea) as she wrote about her favorite places in London, a bustling metropolis that juxtaposes historic sites with modern architecture and technology. We followed her handwritten clues on The Haute Heel to discover instagrammable hot spots like Plum Spilt Milk, along with classic spots like The Victoria and Albert Museum.

King’s Cross
Rosewood Hotel
Restaurant Ours

 

Los Angeles

We flew across the country to sunny California to meet Caroline Juen (@loveandloathingla) in the City of Angels for her guide on Love & Loathing LA. Whether you’re soaking in old Hollywood glamour at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, or cheering for a baseball game at Dodger’s Stadium, there are plenty of great experiences to be had by Angelenos and tourists alike in Los Angeles.

Dodger Stadium
The Beverly Hills Hotel
Manhattan Beach Pier

 

New York City

What better way to end Destination Dempsey than Alyssa Ponticello (@runwaychef) as she shared her love letter to New York before beginning her cross country trip to move out west? Alyssa’s guide on Runway Chef brought us all over our home city, from brunch at West Village hot spot Buvette, to taking in skyline views at Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO. New York is, after all, the city so nice they named it twice!

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The Marlton Hotel
Ludlow Coffee Suply
Brunch at Buvette

 

Where are your favorite spots in Paris, London, Los Angeles, and New York? Discover our Jet Set Collection to inspire your next trip and use the #DestinationDempsey hashtag on social media to share your travels. 

The U.S Postal Service honors Oscar de la Renta

Fashion meets mail with the beautiful new stamps honoring fashion icon Oscar de la Renta. The official Dedication Ceremony on February 16th, 2017 was a momentous occasion that brought together people from all different industries in honoring the late designer. We were thrilled to attend the event, which featured remarks by Oscar de La Renta CEO Alexander Bolen, Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Artistic Director of Conde Nast and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Anna Wintour, and Secretary Hillary Clinton.

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Photo: U.S Postal Service

Janice D. Walker, Vice President of Corporate Communications for USPS, led the official stamp dedication and lauded de la Renta’s innovative designs and leadership in the fashion industry.

“Like Oscar de la Renta, handwritten letters never go out of style,” remarked Walker. The timelessness of handwritten letters rings true as we head into our 139th year as a proud New York company.

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(l-r) Alexander Bolen, Michael Bloomberg, Anna Wintour, Hillary Clinton, Janice Walker, Anderson Cooper (photo: Getty Images)

Following the ceremony, we had a chance to learn more about the stamp design process from Xavier C. Hernandez, a Communications Specialist and spokesperson for the USPS.

Can you tell us a bit more about who decides on the new stamps that are released?

 The stamp development team vets the ideas and does the design work, but the Postmaster General ultimately decides the next catalog of stamps for the year.

 During Anna Wintour’s speech, she exclaimed that de la Renta wasn’t a big letter writer, but how does the USPS see the connection between writing and fashion?

 The greater picture is that the Postal Service likes to honor American icons and their influence on American culture, especially for our commemorative stamp series.

 We’ve found that there is definitely a younger generation celebrating the art of letter writing in the age of emails and text messages. How does the USPS work to keep people interested in sending mail?

 There are so many great stamps out right now because we want to encourage people to write as many letters as possible. We have a JFK stamp coming out on President’s day and we just released new stamps for the Chinese New Year. We like to incorporate all different facets of American culture to be as inclusive as possible.

 It was incredible to see the turnout for this dedication event with people from all different industries!

 It’s wonderful to see a turnout like this for the official release of these commemorative stamp because our goal to bring everyone together. We are lucky that this wound up happening during Fashion Week so it has some relevance to timeliness.

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Thank you to the U.S Postal Service for the beautiful new stamps honoring Mr. de la Renta. We look forward to adding a fashionable touch to our envelopes!

What Are They Packing?

July 4th Weekend is a wonderful time to take a long weekend to travel, whether it involves hiking in Aspen or relaxing on the beach.  Sometimes the most difficult part of traveling is the packing, so our  Creative Director, Leo Mascotte, and CEO, Lauren Marrus, have graciously shared their essentials for their summer destinations.

Leo’s Aspen hiking essentials

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A Fourth of July Parade in Aspen

 

Lauren’s Beach essentials

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Sandy Hook Beach, New Jersey

A Spotlight on Isaac Mizrahi

Dempsey & Carroll curator, Madeleine Garone, chatted with Isaac Mizrahi to hear about his inspiration and favorite things. 

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MG: You are an icon in the fashion industry. Where do you find your inspiration when you begin a new design?

 

IM: I am inspired by so many things. I love music, dance, art, film, my dogs, New York City! I find great inspiration in juxtaposition in this city – a gorgeous luxury building being built next to one that’s completely run down or condemned, or a completely manicured garden next to a lot that’s overgrown and unmaintained. There’s so much of that in New York. Also COLOR. Colors that I see in my everyday world and in nature.

 

MG: Do you think the artistic process for designing fashion differs from paper?

 

IM: Designing fashion and designing paper have a lot more in common than you would think. Because it’s about being inspired and creating something you love and can really stand behind – something that expresses your personal style no matter the product.

 

MG: Writing notes is as timeless as a crisp white blouse or a little black dress. If you could write to any person in history, who would it be?

I would love to write to Sergi Diaghilev or Elsa Schiaparelli.

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MG: Colors play such a significant role in style. What’s your advice to those seeking to create or reinvent their own personal style?

 

IM: I think taking risks is really important. Especially in dressing oneself, taking a risk is FUN! Try a bold new color, or a long skirt if you like short skirts, a flat shoe if you love a big heel!

 

MG: As someone who loves to entertain, I have to ask – do you have a signature dish when company comes over?

 

IM: ICE CREAM! It’s so much fun to make and who doesn’t love ice cream?

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MG: Throughout your career, you’ve managed to cross into several other outlets, including television and publishing. What is next for you?

 

IM: I’m presenting a mid-career survey at the Jewish Museum in New York City opening in March 2016, which I’m thrilled about! It will encompass my work in fashion, film, television, and the performing arts. It has been an incredibly fun process thus far, and I can’t wait to see it all come together.

 

MG: Every collection always has its own unique story. What inspired the prints in your Spring 2015 collection?

IM: I have always loved florals, stripes, and gingham- they’re classic, iconic prints that have been my signature to collection since the beginning. In these bright colors, they’re perfect for Spring, Summer, and beyond!

 

MG: Handwritten notes hold such a special place to each of us. Do you have a signature way to sign off the notes you send?

IM: I always sign “xIsaac” or “xxIsaac” and usually add a few hearts, too!