Author Archive

His & Hers

Monday, December 20th, 2010

Some work on display at the His & Hers Exhibit

Kathleen Bennett is executive assistant to Mary Baglivo, CEO of SaatchiNY  & James Orsini , Director of Finance & Operations. In her downtime, she’s currently studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She recently attended FIT’s current His & Hers exhibition. Below are her thoughts on the work on display.


HIS & HERS
With most of the students packing up to head home for the holidays, I took the opportunity to take a visit the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Museum one evening this week.  Founded in 1967 to support educational programs at FIT, the museum has grown to house three exhibition galleries, a conservation laboratory, photographic studio, workshops, classrooms and storage.  Currently on display in the Fashion and Textile History Gallery is the His and Hers Exhibition, which explores the relationship between gender and fashion over the past 250 years.

THE EARLY STUFF
Visiting the His and Hers exhibit in the evening was a memorable experience.  With no crowds around me, it felt like I was tucked away in a special, historical closet.  With more than 100 garments on display, the fashion timeline begins with costumes from the 18th century.  These costumes made for men were lavishly decorated with adornments that to us might look feminine, but in the 18th century were considered the height of fashion for the aristocratic society.  During the 19th century the collection showed the difference in clothing worn in the home for both men and women.

THE 20TH CENTURY
Even though men traditionally wore dark, conservative clothes in public and women wore brightly colored dresses, there was a brightly patterned men’s dressing gown displayed next to a woman’s plain, white cotton robe.    Moving onto the 20th century there was a silk checkered day dress by Louiseboulanger from the 1920’s, women’s pantsuits by Yves Saint Laurent from the 60s and 80s, men’s suits from Alan Flusser, and a pastel man’s suit created for the show, Miami Vice.  Wrapping up the exhibit are clothes from labels such as Burberry Prorsum.

VISIT THE MUSEUM!
In addition to the His and Hers exhibition, also on display in the Special Exhibitions Gallery is the Japan Fashion Show, which explores how Japanese fashion has evolved in recent years.  Located on Seventh Avenue and 27th Street, admission to the exhibitions are free to the public and the museum is open Tuesday through Friday noon to 8 pm and 10 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday.

Category: Creative, New York, Our People

King St. Q&A with Kathleen Bennett

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Kathleen Bennett in one of her favorite places - Venice, Italy

Kathleen Bennett is executive assistant to Mary Baglivo, CEO of SaatchiNY  & James Orsini , Director of Finance & Operations.

1. What do you do at Saatchi & Saatchi?

I help out Mary Baglivo and James Orsini (and usually any one else who needs it).

2. What was your first job?

Babysitting. There were a few families on my block that were desperate enough to get out of the house that they entrusted their kids to me….

3. If you weren’t at Saatchi & Saatchi, what profession would you most like to try?

I think I’d like to try my hand at teaching (if the kids would promise not to tie me to a chair and lock me in a closet) or maybe work as a Veterinarian (if the animals would promise not to do the same.)

4. What motivates you most?

To be known as the person who can do something and get it done right.  That, and to be the “cool” person my little nieces think I am (even though they’re cooler than me by a long shot).

5. What blogs, magazines, books, papers or websites can you not live without?

Facebook, Craigslist, PostSecret, Etsy, People Magazine

6. What are your Lovemarks?

Bare Escentuals make up, Sephora, Coach, my Barnes & Noble Nook, The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF)

7. What’s your best “nothing is impossible” story?

I’m back in school at night after being out of it for a REALLY long time. Sometimes it’s hard being the only other person in class who doesn’t need to use a fake ID!

8. What is your favorite place in the world? Why?

I’ve got three – Las Vegas, Italy and Paris.

Paris – because it is where my husband proposed to me.

Vegas – because it is so much fun.

Italy – because it was the first country I visited outside the United States and I have so many beautiful and vivid memories.

9. Who do you most aspire to be like?

I know it sounds cliché, but I’d like to be like my grandmother.  From what I hear she was a powerhouse when she was younger and is even more of a powerhouse at 95.  She has seen and done a lot and has the greatest sense of humor.  Not to mention she is the most organized person I know!

10. If stranded on a deserted island and you could bring only one thing, what would it be?

I should say sunscreen, but if I’m being honest I’d say alcohol!

11. Tell us something surprising about yourself.

I competed in a beauty pageant and won second place (so don’t ask me to sing, juggle or play the water glasses).  I also tried breaking into the plus size modeling biz very briefly back in the day.

12. What’s your DOT?

To walk my dog more often. We both need the exercise and my back yard really needs a break from being his bathroom!  So I guess it’s two fold: walking the dog and stop killing my lawn!

13. What’s your favorite creative pursuit?

I really have little-to-no creativity, although I do like to write.

14. What led you on the path you’re on today?

Frustration with my old job.  I quit my other job in the beauty biz without having anything lined up. A few weeks later, a spot for an assistant opened up at another ad agency and I took it!  The rest, as they say, is history.

15. Do you have a motto?

Yes – What goes around, comes around!

16. What do you do for fun?

Cook, go to the movies with my husband, hang out with friends, play with my dog, travel

17. What’s your favorite client story?

I think clients are like children – they are all my favorite, no matter what they do.

18. What’s your favorite thing to do in NY?

Shop.  Walk around the city at night in the summer time.  Grab dinner outside and people watch, which is one of my most favorite New York past times.

19. Who is your favorite artist/musician/designer?

I guess since shoes are my favorite accessory, I’d have to say Christian Louboutin or Jimmy Choo (even though I own neither).  Since I also love makeup and beauty, my favorite make up artist was Kevyn Aucoin.  My taste in music/art is so varied; I don’t have really any one favorite.

20. When’s the last time you gave a standing ovation?

June 18, 2010 – A New Kids on the Block concert (strange, but true)

Category: King St. Q&A, Lovemarks, New York, Our People