A group of young designers originating from Parsons School of Design are launching a new boutique at 616 E. 9th Street in the East Village, entitled “Absolute Beginners.” The store opens September 2nd, 2009 at 12pm. Hours: W, Th 12-8pm; Fri, Sat 12-10pm; Sun 12-6pm; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Reception to follow on the evening of Friday, September 11th.

This venture has been organized by rising senior Fashion Design students and faculty in Parsons’ Integrated Design Curriculum. Students Michael DiPietro and Rebecca Lesesne collaboratively wrote the business plan and organized an extensive renovation process for the space at 616 E. 9th Street, the former office of the HDFC building which houses the shop. Viewing each step of the process as an experiment and learning opportunity, the students found the store’s mission on the guiding philosophy of the IDC program: “demystifying the established commercial model to create pieces, events and interactions that have an expansive energy to them.”

The boutique will house clothing, jewelry and art all created by young designers, for many of whom this will be the first entry of their work onto the market. For the several students involved from Parsons’ IDC program, it will be an application of their wide interdisciplinary skills in the fine arts, business management, marketing and merchandising, as well as designing. The store is viewed as a work in progress, and its installation and interior will be constantly evolving. Absolute Beginners also plans to host a wide variety of art parties in the store throughout the year. The founders hope to create a platform for fresh new design for years to come.

For more information, please contact the store’s press managers below:

Michael DiPietro
mdipietro_arts@yahoo.com

Rebecca Lesesne
rebecca.lesesne@gmail.com

If you’re not familiar with this 28 year old whimsical yet highly feminine designer Ashleigh Verrier, you should be. She graduated from Parsons School of Designs three years ago, and Saks Fifth Avenue bought her entire collection, plus a limited production run.

Designer Ashleigh Verrier was one of the designers that brought out the pink lips on the runway for her Spring 2009 collection. Makeup Artist Gregory Alt really focused on the models lips by using bright pink lips and pearl eye shadow…Seedy Pearl from M.A.C. Cosmetics on the lids and a small amount of teal in the center of the lid. I like Verrier’s style and most of her collection and I also really like this look for spring…check it out.