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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Michelle O's Fashion Designer Going Out of Business
2010-05-01
And none too soon.
Fashion and politics are seasonal and unpredictable, yet the two came together quite well here for the hometown designer Maria Pinto and Michelle Obama, whose first memorable bursts onto the national scene were often in Pinto creations.

Remember the purple sheath Mrs. Obama wore the night of the fist bump heard round the world? The teal number at the Democratic National Convention? Or the red dress she wore to meet the Bushes on their way out of the White House? Maria Pinto all, designed right here where both women were born and raised and, over the course of one remarkable election, became stars.

So when Ms. Pinto abruptly put up a “closeout sale' sign in the window of her West Loop boutique and announced that she was folding her fashion business, Chicago — and Pinto devotees all over — reacted with disbelief: What in sartorial heaven happened? “I pushed as far as I could,' Ms. Pinto, 53, said in her first lengthy interview since the demise of her store and wholesale operations in mid-February.

Just back from a month's break in Barcelona, she pointed to the strain that a sour economy had placed on her business just as it was expanding and gaining major traction beyond a loyal Chicago following.

But Ms. Pinto acknowledged having made some typical startup mistakes in building her brand, in areas like financial management and operations.

After 16 years of designing out of a somewhat anonymous atelier, she opened the boutique, named after herself, in August 2008, capitalizing on a wave of enthusiasm for her work, as displayed mostly by Mrs. Obama on the campaign trail. She also increased her wholesale operations and had been maintaining a showroom in New York.

While Mrs. Obama diversified her style after becoming first lady (she has been drawn to high-end designers like Jason Wu and Narciso Rodriguez, as well as brands like J. Crew), she still sported Maria Pinto every now and then. But even high-profile support of the brand, priced in the hundreds and thousands of dollars, could not save it from the reality of the Great Recession.

The real problems started right after the introduction of the spring 2010 line in New York last September, Ms. Pinto said. “They loved the line,' she said. “I was like, where are the orders? O.K., this is not a good sign.'
No, it started long before then.
Pinto was carried at stores like Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue and Takashimaya — a store whose New York location will soon be closing its doors, another victim of the recession.

“She's such a highly regarded talent,' said Anne Brouwer of McMillan Doolittle, a Chicago firm that specializes in retail analysis. “It was certainly a really difficult time to open.'

Still, fashion watchers said her style helped define a moment. “As a fan of the first lady's, I was discovering Michelle Obama's style influence, and Maria Pinto was part of that story from the very beginning,' said Mary Tomer, creator of Mrs-O.org, a blog devoted to Mrs. Obama's clothes.

But Mrs. Obama chose from the conservative end of Ms. Pinto's collections, which also included pieces like leather jeans, dresses of sassy feathers and kangaroo jackets. There is so much more the designer wishes she could have been known for.

“Yes, it was heartbreaking and very sad,' Ms. Pinto said of the last few months. “The good news is that my creativity goes with me anywhere I go.'
Great. Why don't you start by taking your creativity to Kenya where they can appreciate it better.
For now, it will go into yoga, gardening, painting — and a lot of soul-searching.
Posted by:gorb

#15  "Michelle O's Fashion Designer Going Out of Business"

There are so many things wrong with that sentence.

The pathetic crap she's been wearing ain't fashion.

And I have a hard time believing anybody deliberately designed anything that looks that bad.


"So many artistes consider themselves above vulgar financial things."

Hell, I consider myself "above vulgar financial things" - but the bank and the power company, etc., keep sticking their noses in and reminding me I'd better not be. :-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2010-05-01 23:41  

#14  Damn! Chez Gigantic Ass is going outta business?!
Posted by: tu3031   2010-05-01 22:49  

#13  What no bailout for this failed business?
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-05-01 16:27  

#12  So much for the second-coming of Camelot.
Posted by: Pappy   2010-05-01 16:03  

#11  So,....how 'ya likin' that hopey-changey thingy....?

Posted by: Uncle Phester   2010-05-01 15:04  

#10  Perhaps the slightly skanky middle school teacher demographic doesn't have as much disposable income as Ms. Pinto's business plan predicted.
Posted by: SteveS   2010-05-01 11:40  

#9  If she was responsible for that horrible red & black number, she should go out of business.
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2010-05-01 11:34  

#8  Oh Noes! Is this the death of the boob belt?
Posted by: ed   2010-05-01 10:53  

#7  Indeed Shipman.

Still, not one of the successful entrepreneurs I know takes a month off, ever, and especially not during the startup phase or if the business is in trouble.
Posted by: lotp   2010-05-01 10:46  

#6  #1: Ms. Pinto acknowledged having made some typical startup mistakes in building her brand, in areas like financial management and operations.

Typical socialist. Couldn't make a profit at a lemonade stand. Posted by: gromky|| 2010-05-01 06:47 ||Comments Top||

#2: Just back from a month's break in Barcelona, ....In 1935, you ran guns to Ethiopia. In 1936, you fought in Spain, on the Loyalist side.

She never was much of a business woman. Mebe she could design bullfigher attire?


Expected. We're moving into the world of self-parody now. Bodes well for November.
Posted by: Shipman   2010-05-01 09:52  

#5  So many artistes consider themselves above vulgar financial things. The smart ones bring in a partner with that expertise. The few who have both abilities, they fly very high indeed.
Posted by: trailing wife   2010-05-01 09:09  

#4  when you post an ad on a semi-trailer you get attention.

Moral: Might wanna make sure it's an attractive ad, and an appealing semi-trailer
Posted by: Frank G   2010-05-01 08:51  

#3  Paging Stacy and Clinton, white courtesy phone, please.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2010-05-01 08:32  

#2  Just back from a month's break in Barcelona, ....In 1935, you ran guns to Ethiopia. In 1936, you fought in Spain, on the Loyalist side.

She never was much of a business woman. Mebe she could design bullfigher attire?
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-05-01 07:25  

#1  Ms. Pinto acknowledged having made some typical startup mistakes in building her brand, in areas like financial management and operations.

Typical socialist. Couldn't make a profit at a lemonade stand.
Posted by: gromky   2010-05-01 06:47  

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