Hello again New York, I will see you soon and stay for a long while.

Image by Sartorialist

image via people magazine

Taken on Greene St.

As cosmopolitan and style savvy as you might be I bet you can still spot a stranger and wonder, who is that beautiful person and where does she shop?  The Co-CEOs of Beautiful Stranger.tv Abby Wallach and Melissa Fedor have created a solution for your endless fashion curiosity.  Using streaming videos their website brings real and professional fashionistas to you, revealing exactly what you want to know. 

Abby Wallach has been wonderful enough to share her concept and business history with me, starting from the very beginning.  Not only is she one smart individual, she is laid back and very easy to talk to.  She has definitely inspired me.  If you want to know what it takes to be a business owner and how to get there, then listen up ladies!

llM: What is beautiful stranger.tv?

AW: Beautiful Stranger.tv is an online media brand that selects stylish people from streets around the world and features them as stars in a one-minute video as well as still content online. We find out what they are using, loving, wearing, how they are going green and more. We then link to every product and service that they mention.

llM: When and how was the idea of BeautifulStranger.tv born?

AW: I have spent my career in entertainment (Moscow Circus, Showtime Networks and Nederlander TV and Film) and my partner, Melissa Fedor in magazines (WWD, W, Glamour, InStyle and Real Simple). Together we have merged magazine content and TV programming to lead the consumer to shop online. We came up with this idea many years ago and realized that as technology finally converged we could launch the brand online. There were no barriers to entry and no one else was doing what we we were doing in regards to video online with links to product and services.    

llM: What compelled you to start your own business?

AW: I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. I love creating new ideas that that will inform and entertain the consumer. I have always had a strong interest in business because I come from a strong line of women entrepreneurs starting back with my great grandmother who built a very successful catering business and sleep-away camp business in new york.

llM: What did you find to be the most difficult part of planning and launching the website?

AW: The most difficult part of a business is getting it off the ground   

llM: Once launched what was the biggest realization you had regarding every day operations?

AW:  Watch your bottom line very closely and always be prepared to evolve with the times. Stay focused with your goals, but be open to different opportunity and change. A business evolves. A lot is trial and error. You have to keep trying until you get it right.  

llM: Who is or can be a beautiful stranger?

AW: Anyone who’s got a handle on style can be a beautiful stranger! It is a person, of any age, who has a look that you want to know more about! A person with an individual sense of style and the confidence to where what they love.  

llM: What kind of a team did you build and now employ to help you run beautiful stranger.tv?

AW: We have a fantastic team of technology and design experts, as well as production team. Everyday we find new people in different industries who want to be involved with the Beautiful Stranger brand. We have very dedicated interns and will be launching a university platform for college students to be a part of this growing brand. The team is very important and crucial to the success of any business. Melissa and I have been partners for over 12 years, so we have an unbelievable working relationship. We both have our expertise and respect each others’ decisions.

llM: Where do you plan on taking the concept of your business in the future?

AW: In the future where do you plan on taking the concept of your business? Beautiful Stranger.tv is a global media brand that we hope to have on a global platform in all mediums including tv, mobile applications, in store events and tours across the country, on the look out for the next Beautiful Stranger.    

llM: What are some of your favorite reactions/answers people have when approached on the street?

AW:  Cute question!! The first thing people say is what a great idea. That name is awesome!!

Our Beautiful Strangers are so flattered when we stop them. Because it is all authentic (no pre-arranged interviews except for our celebrity expert content) we get the nicest compliments. Some include: Can’t wait to see who will be in my inbox tomorrow with beautiful stranger of the day. Keep them coming. I shared with all of my friends and family. It’s awesome. You made my day!! How can I be Beautiful Strangered? Great concept. Wish I had thought of it! Our greatest satisfaction comes from our audience and the Beautiful Strangers themselves. We have built such a strong network and community of people whom we continue to speak to on a regular basis. They share so much information with us. Also, it is so important for us to provide the ultimate service to the consumer at home, who can’t get enough of the daily eye candy and information we provide. It is truly inspiring to our team that we are getting such a wonderful and positive reaction on so many levels!  

Also, we created a User-Generated section where you can submit yourself to become a Beautiful Stranger. You can also sign up for a daily dose of style and receive a Beautiful Stranger of the Day in your email box three times a week. It makes us very proud to have created something that people around the world want to be a part of.

llM: What advice would you give to young women who aspire to being small business owners?

AW: Follow your passion and your dreams. Set simple goals so you can accomplish them. Create a business plan and guideline for your business with financials. Most importantly, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and NEVER give up!!!

To get your daily dose of beautiful strangers and fashion/beauty advice go to http://beautifulstranger.tv  Images taken from beautifulstranger.tv 

How would you describe your style and who or what inspires you?

 A few things about me..

Antonia

Schindle

I’m a 20 year old fashion blogger, quintessential shopaholic, and self-proclaimed fashionista from Winnipeg, Manitoba – Canada. I’m going in to my 4th (and final year) of the University of Manitoba’s Textile Sciences (Product Development Stream) program where I’ve learnt the essentials on fashion and apparel design. I love fashion design and creating beautiful clothes and would love to someday sell my designs in my own boutique!

In December 2008 I was chosen out of 116 applicants as one of the 25 finalists for the Telio Design Competition 2009 (www.telio.com) and earlier this month had the dress I designed and created in the Telio fashion show during Montreal Fashion Week! It is one of my proudest accomplishments to date – nothing compares to the rush and excitement of a fashion show- especially when it’s your design coming down the runway!

One word could not sum up my style, but if I had to choose one it would be ‘ever-changing’. I’m inspired by new things every day. My family is a big inspiration; my dad is an entrepreneur, my mom is extremely artistic, and my brothers are musicians. My boyfriend is an artist and he inspires me every day. I love travelling to Europe and have gathered inspiration from the places I’ve been; Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Greece, and Cyprus. Fashion bloggers across the globe inspire me! I have an obsession with clothes and am constantly adding vintage pieces to my wardrobe – I don’t believe style and high price tags go hand in hand. To be honest, being a full time student I’m forced to be frugal but can still remain fashionable!

More Photos of Antonia-click on image to enlarge

Kristina O’Connor is a perfect example of a fashionista who is a leader and as a result is well on her way to becoming an icon.  She refuses to let the latest trends wear her and in her own words she does not believe in being the kind of girl who “dresses to impress”, but rather “dressing to express”. Kristina is the creator of StoreSociety and this is her philosophy.  One only has to go to her website once and you will instantly be hooked.  

There are many websites out there who let you upload photos of yourself but her concept is fresh and unique because it combines all the best of google, flickr and the very addicting facebook.  There is something new to discover every day and the inspirations are endless. I can safely say that I have seen a lot of things related to fashion but even I was instantly intrigued by Kristina’s individual style and once I discovered that her passion exceeds to creating a website I knew I had to interview her.  

Interview with Kristina O’Connor-fashionista and the creator of StoreSociety.com 

Kristina: You’ve found the site right at the very start. The guys are working on ‘Store Pages’ – this will let stores, from tiny boutiques to large chains, upload their stock and let StoreSociety members know when they have hot new items, and when they’ve got sales running. We’ve also just appointed a graphic company to inject some real design values into the look and feel. I also have a plan to support new designers and design students. It’s all really exciting! 

Kristina: Well, to young girls who aspire to an individual style, naturally I would encourage them to get onto the website and explore! I would also say that they should dress to please themselves and no one else, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks! In terms of business, you need to start with an idea. Everyone has them… it’s just noticing them and then having the confidence to say “I believe in this and I’m going to try to make it work”. Then it’s just important to maintain that determination and to keep on going, no matter what. You never know until you try.  

1. Unless you have a private jet and a chauffeur comfort is key

2. Do not sacrifice your shape for comfort and loose yourself in your outfit

3. Take flip flops to change into in case the airport security is feeling generous and will not make you walk barefoot

4. Big sunglasses-check

5. Pashmina or large scarf-check

6. A fab drink in your hand when seated-check