#stylelend

Where are you from originally? 

Albania

Education:

George Washington University 2004, International Business/Marketing double major, Hult International Business School 2011, San Francisco base, but able to switch between international campuses, MBA

Our top 10 questions: 

What was the inspiration behind Style Lend?

To create the largest closet to borrow from. I wanted to look look different every day—and didn’t have budget to do so, so basically I created an amazing closet I can borrow from anytime I want to. 

Did you always know you wanted to found your own company?

Yes—always since I was very young. 

What was your dream job growing up?

Olympic athlete for sure, maybe in tennis or volleyball 

What does a day running Style Lend look like?

Crazy! I wake up very early, check email, social media, and my calendar. Then I divide days in terms of what needs to be done. I start with immediate things that need to be responded to. For example, today I have 5 main tasks on my to-do list. Then, I divide weeks into broader tasks to complete, focus on one category each day: marketing, finance, and HR. I also have events frequently and work out during my free time. 

What’s your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part is that there are unexpected days. Every day is different, and I meet with amazing people that are influencers, investors, celebrities, entertainment, and in the fashion world. 

What was the scariest part of starting Style Lend?

Not having an income... and leaving my job where I made 100 of 1000s of dollars then going back to 0. 

When is a time that you felt discouraged in the process and what did you do to overcome that discouragement?

I’ve felt discouraged dozens of times, every month. When people say they will do something and fall through, when someone promises a certain a price then doubles it, when people leave the company. You are constantly let down by others but as founder you have to understand how to not take it personally--this is business--they don't mean it to be mean to me. It’s part of the process, it’s not that i am unlucky. You just need to be persistant because it never gets easier. 

How have you applied your past work experience to your current position?

Experience is very important in starting a company. It helps you better understand the many facets of business--logistics, finance, etc. I have experience in both fashion and technology so I understand what women want and what technology was needed to build the product. 

What’s a piece of career wisdom you could share with young people?

Be persistent and work hard. There are 0.0016 chances of becoming a billionaire and even if you do end up being the one that gets there it won’t matter, you don’t want to do it for the money. Do it because it matters to you and it will make a difference in other people’s lives. If you find users that like your product, you win. 

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? 

Spring is here! Time to bust out those pretty pastels that you’ve been coveting! Pantone’s spring 2015 collection, En Plein Air, is all about light airy naturals with subtle warm tones . The palette has been featured all over the runway from BCBG Max Azria to Rebecca Minkoff.

Below, are some of our favorite looks here at Style Lend. All of the pieces listed are budget friendly and cost less than $100 to rent for the week. Wear them to brunch, take it to your cousin’s chic outdoor wedding, or frolic in the garden, these dresses are just as versatile as your event calendar! Score!

Aquamarine- Lauren Ruched Sweetheart by Donna Morgan Rent $37 Scuba Blue- Azul by BCBG Rent $38 Lucite Green-My Fair Lady by Eliza J Rent $27 Classic Blue- Blue Bodycon by French Connection Rent $28 Toasted Almond- Luna by Alice + Olivia Rent $62

Have a date for Valentine’s Day but no idea of what to wear? We polled eligible bachelors in San Francisco to find out the top clothing styles that guys love. He’s stepping up to the plate with the festivities, why not wear something that’s both fashionable and makes his jaw drop.

#1 Fitted Clothing

Big surprise, right? Here’s the deal – while a guy will almost never remember what you wear, he’s very likely to remember how attractive he found you. Men have a super-human ability to assess proportions – it exceeds that of a professional tailor, or a catty girl. The best fitted garments will emphasize your good assets and not draw attention to any remnants of holiday excesses. We recommend choosing either a fitted bodice or a fitted skirt. You can also wear something that’s loosely fitted all over, rather than skin tight from top to bottom.

Versace Spring 2014

#2 Short Skirts and Dresses

Men in all their hairy muscley-ness love our smooth shapeliness by contrast. It’s important to not take the shortness too far – god forbid you should drop something and have to pick it up! Our recommendation is to combine a shorter skirt with long sleeves, or something that covers you more up top. You don’t want to overwhelm the poor guy!

Versace

#3 Sheer Fabrics

Even if you’re wearing a camisole or a slip underneath, guys like to think that if the light shines at just the right angle they might get a glimpse of something they weren’t supposed to. Pretty under garments are key with this look.

Christian Dior

Versace

#4 Strapless Tops and Dresses

We have to forgive them – they simply can’t help loving skin. It’s your job to figure out the exact right amount to show. Strike a balance between looking hot, and keeping his attention on conversation so that he can find out how smart and funny you are also.

#5 Simple Elegant Jewelry

Men have a completely different definition of beauty than women do. For example, we like super models and they usually prefer pin-ups. Most guys will opt for less make-up, less jewelry, and fashion that highlights your natural beauty, rather than hiding it behind too much artifice. It’s entirely possible to strike a balance and look naturally gorgeous, without going completely sans makeup, sans jewelry, and having to wear a plain-looking frock.

Natalie Portman

Now that you have some additional data on male preferences, you can either toss it to the wind or incorporate it into your own style. In either case, peer to peer fashion lending community, Style Lend, has your covered in the dress department. You can now rent top designer dresses from other fashionistas in San Francisco for roughly a tenth of what you would spend on buying that dress new.

If you’re boycotting Valentine’s Day this year, you can loan your dresses to other girls and make money on the holiday when everyone else is over-spending!

We’re dedicating our post today to a very special Style Lend customer and San Francisco trendsetter, Caity Shreve. Caity is a stylist, fashion blogger, and freelance writer who has a social calendar that would make your head spin. On any given week, Caity attends launch parties, fashion events, museum openings, galas for the arts, etc, etc.

So Many Parties, What’s A Girl To Wear??

When we asked Caity how she manages her fashion needs with such a hectic life, she told us “The need for a constant influx of stylish duds is remarkably stressful! I love fashion and I love shopping, but it’s expensive and time consuming to ensure I’m continually showing off fun new styles and fresh ideas on the website, social media, and at events. Style Lend is an absolute dream come true – I can’t tell you how excited I was when I heard about the company!”

Caity’s Night At The San Francisco Ballet’s Opening Night Gala

Last week, Caity attended the highly exclusive opening night Gala for the San Francisco Ballet. Rather than going out and spending a fortune on a gown worthy of the occasion, she rented one from Style Lend’s dream closet, full of top designer dresses uploaded by stylish girls all over San Francisco. Caity chose this lace-detailed black gown by BCBG Max Azria, and looked gorgeous!

Naturally with a party this glitzy and glamorous, we wanted details… Thankfully, Caity was happy to oblige – “The event was amazing! We started with cocktails in a beautiful room in City Hall before heading across the street to the ballet for the champagne promenade prior to the ballet. The people watching at this event is unparalleled – Everyone is just milling around, checking out the gowns, and full of compliments. The performance was a great combination of classical ballet and modern choreography – everyone did a lovely job.”

Renting The BCBG Max Azria Gown

We were curious how the experience of renting a dress on Style Lend compared to buying something online, or at a store. Here’s what Caity told us: “I loved renting the black lace BCBG Max Azria gown because it was easy, the dress fit like a dream, and I got exactly what I  was hoping for. What I love about Style Lend is that I can pick out what I love, and then try them on before making a choice – no other online store or brand offers that. It’s a fabulous and unique experience – I may never be able to go back to regular shopping!”

Huge thanks to Caity for giving us a window into her beautiful night at the SF Ballet Opening Night Gala! If you want access to Caity’s fabulous taste, you’re in luck! Her blog, Moi Contre La Vie, covers fashion, food, and fitness.

You know you’re not going to wear that dress again, it’s taking up room in your tiny closet, and adding clutter to your already Feng Shui-challenged apartment. While that trend might be disposable, it’s unfortunately not biodegradable. Here are a few disturbing facts to take into account before you throw that 13 gallon bag full of retired clothing in the trash.

s243.photobucket.com

Even if you religiously recycle everything down to your dental floss, if you’re tossing your old clothes in the trash, you’re contributing to one of the largest categories of landfill waste. According to the EPA Office of Solid Waste, clothing and other textiles represent about 6.3% of the municipal solid waste (in major cities like New York and Chicago alone, textiles make up a whopping 10% of all municipal waste). America throws away two quadrillion pounds of used clothing each year!

onegreenplanet.org

Advertising campaigns encourage shoppers to mass-consume everything from electronics to clothing. Retailers like H&M, Forever 21, and Walmart slash prices, further feeding the mania, and ultimately clothing is being peddled as a disposable good. But, it’s not – nylon fabrics take 30-40 years to decompose, and wool emits methane as it decomposes contributing to greenhouse gases.

Sustainable Fashion – Smarter Ways To Be Stylish

Individual clothing and textile waste is a result of mainly two causes – over consumption and subsequently, excess waste. Let’s consider some sustainable fashionable alternatives that keep you looking great, while putting more green in your pocket and in the environment.

#1 Cause – Over Consumption

www.vogue.com

Cures

Buy fewer, but higher-quality items - Even if you can buy 20 cheap polyester sweaters for the price of one cashmere sweater, you’ll get more enjoyment out of the cashmere in its fuzzy goodness and flattering fit. You will also spend less time at the mall, and make your trash bag lighter. Shop smart for better style and less textile waste.

Don’t buy at all, rent! – Fashion rental websites are helping women to not only spend less on clothing, but get access to top designers that would normally be out of their budgets. San Francisco-based Style Lend lets fashionable women rent their dresses to others, instead of having them gather dust on the hanger. The customer gets to wear something beautiful and different each time she goes out, without overstuffing her closet with new things that she will only wear once.

Buy Ethical Brands - ASOS Green Room, Blue Q, Lost Property of London, From Somewhere, and E.A. Burns (jewelry) are just a few high-fashion brands that are using recycled materials and textiles to create everything from gorgeous handbags to Oscar gowns.

Livia Firth’s 2010 Oscar Dress Designed by “From Somewhere”

#2 Cause – Dumping Your Duds

Cures

Penny Edwards From midcenturyblog.tumblr.com

Donate – Nearly every town has a Goodwill store, a church that takes donations, or a clothing and shoe donation bin. Your trash can be someone else’s treasure.

Sell To Consignment Stores – If you have items that are in good shape, you can sell them to a vintage store or on a consignment website. You will likely get far less than they are worth, but it certainly beats tossing them in the trash, making no money, and creating more waste.