Sally Miller

New Shades Coming Soon!

2011-07-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Ever since the launch of my 'Undercover' Bra and Hipsters line I have been getting requests for Black and Rose colored products. I'm very excited to tell you I've heard all of your comments and that they'll be coming to your local store soon! Our samples just came in and they look terrific! I just couldn't wait to share them with you so here is a sneak peak of our two new bra shades and hipster combo! Hope you are all as excited as I am!

And don't forget out our rockin' 'Undercover Girl!'

Look out for a guest blog coming from her soon!

Fall Fashion Preview!

2011-07-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome back from the long holiday weekend everybody!

Yesterday was 4th of July and we had a great, 4 day weekend here at Sally Miller. It was wonderful and relaxing, but now my team and I are working harder than ever to get our Fall 2011 line looking it’s absolute best for all of you fashionistas out there!

Speaking of our Fall 2011 line, here is a sneak peak at one of our dresses!

How fabulous is that?

Our Window Design Winner!

2011-06-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Over the last two weeks we've been taking submissions for our first ever window design contest here at Sally Miller. It has been so exciting to see all of the fabulous designs that have been flooding our inbox! It was a tough choice but we narrowed it down to two spectacular designs that we've combined into one 4th of July window display. Our team has been hard at work making the designers, Micaela age 9 of Milltown and Melanie age 12 of North Brunswick's designs a reality. Congratulations, ladies! You Rock!

Check out their original designs and final window display below.

Melanie's Original Design

Micaela's Original Design

Attention Window Designers!!

2011-06-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

I'm writing to announce the first of many contests I'll be holding in the upcoming months. My Milltown store is in need of a fabulous window display for the 4th of July and i want you to design it for me!

The materials you can design with:

Construction paper, markers, window markers, recyclable materials (think boxes, bottles, bags, newspapers, etc.), spray paint and paper mache.

Think you're up for the challenge? Email your ideas to patty@sallymiller.biz by Friday June 25th. The winner will receive a couture dress of their choice and they will be featured in our window and on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Window Dimensions: Length 97" Width 57" Height 77"

Good luck everyone!

Ciara Bravo

2011-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone has been asking me about the dress I designed for Ciara Bravo.
Thank You!!!
She wore it to the Kung Fu Panda Premiere.
It is a one of a kind dress.
I did not put it into my Spring Collection yet.
So what do you think, should I add it to my new line up?
Ditsy florals are still so in.....

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

With only an hour left before midnight, I wanted to acknowledge Mother's Day.
I woke up to Brownies!
Homemade brownies with sprinkles and red hots for letters...
Happy Mother's Day!
Home made cards, a key chain, coupons (redeemed one of the "hugs"), and a beautiful Lily flower next to my bed with a bow wrapped around it.
It does not get better than this.

Sweet Dreams!

Push Up Bikini Tops for Kids is Crossing the Line

2011-03-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

The news reporter called me at 2:30 this past Friday and asked me to comment on Abercrombie’s latest marketing blitz. As the world knows by now, Abercrombie Kids posted “Ashley’s “push up bra” triangle bikini top” on the website, marketing to 8-13 year olds. As I was talking to the reporter, I typed in and got to the page they were all buzzing about.

There it was, for all of the parents to buy for their young girls, a push up bra bikini top! They have since taken down the words “push up”.
But then, the reporter turned the focus on why he wanted me to come up to the studio to go live in three hours…they wanted me to throw my support behind Abercrombie!

“Are you kidding me? Did you not take a look at my site?” I said.

Ironically, he was not aware that I had just launched Sally Miller Undercover, with Nordstrom, an age appropriate line of bras and underwear for tweens!! They just re-ordered, so I know that the Moms out there are like me, in need of this product!

After 20 plus years working as a fashion designer for the girls 8-14 market, it wasn’t until I was looking for age appropriate tween bras for my own girls, now 11 and 13 that I knew it had to be created. I could not find non-wire or strapless convertible bras anywhere that had the right amount of padding for the girls to feel safe and for me to feel ok about sending them out without cleavage! Necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes..and so it went. I set out to work with the best in the field, and there she was, Roslyn Harte, winner of 4 Life Achievement Awards for her contributions to the intimate apparel world. After 60 plus years in the business and still working everyday, we set out to fill this very important need in my market. Just as importantly, I made sure to create colors for different skin tones. Finally, in the year 2011, “Girls of Every Shade can go Undercover™”!

So you can imagine, being an inclusive and diversified brand that is all about promoting self-confidence and nurturing self-esteem, I get this call! But just to be certain, I first sent my assistant out to buy the bikini top just to see if it was really as bad as everyone was saying. It is worse than I thought! Now, I am not a prude, I am the girl who promotes self-expression!! But where do we draw the line?

By creating a push up bikini top in the first place to promote fake cleavage to tweens is unconscionable. I hope that all parents unite and do not buy this product. Now that I have seen it with my own eyes, I will be returning the bikini top to the store.
And just as a side note, my 13 year old just read this and said to me that I was being mental, taking it too far. I asked her how she would feel as a CIT this summer at camp with her 3rd
graders parading into the pool all with fake cleavage. The look I got back was all the confirmation as a Mom and as a fashion designer for Tweens could ask for.

NYC Showroom!!!

2011-03-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe what can happen in a few short months.

One minute I am writing about Trust being a five letter word and the next month I am writing to share that I have just moved into my first NYC Showroom!

This past Thursday, in the rain, (which I heard was suppose to be good luck for moves and weddings) my team and I landed at 11:30 with two suitcases, a few bags and a rolling rack on Seventh Avenue in the Fashion District.

At 1 pm I had my first sales meeting at my new space with Nordstrom!

That is how we roll and that is how it is going to be from now on. It is moving fast, but I feel like I am moving slowly, Finally. A dear friend told me once that the more you have to do the slower you have to go.

I get it!

It took all of these years to realize that I do not have to push so hard. It all unfolds at is it is meant to. It has not been easy to stay with it, to Trust, to really Let Go...

I am Content, Grateful and Sleepy.

Trust is a Five Letter Word

2011-01-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

The theme of my latest Life Lesson these days seems to be Trust.

Not just any ordinary Trust, but the kind of Trust where you know that no matter what, all is working out for the best, all is well and in fact it will be better than what we could ever imagine.

Maybe I should re-title this to Blind Trust.

That is really what it is.

There is also another kind of Trust along the same lines but slightly different.

This is the kind of Trust I am struggling with but thought I had mastered, Hah.

And believe me, when the Universe decides it is time to master the Life Lesson, I get blasted from all sides. And I am.

It is the kind of Trust when my Intuition says something to me, even if it does not make sense at the time that I listen to and most importantly honor. I would like to believe that I do. But the Universe does not totally agree with me.

I have read that just when you are about to master a Life Lesson it revisits you, a test.

Oh, I hope this is just the Final Test because this one has come around more than a few times.

Please let this be the last time!

On Being Bold

2010-10-11T20:26:00.001-07:00

I've had this idea for along time.

I have listened to the idea get louder, then softer , then louder than before.

I have played with trying to manifest my idea for years. But it never really worked out.

Then the Red Sea parted. It was time.

When something is suppose to come to fruition, that is how it usually happens for me.

After all of these years what feels like swimming upstream, I finally decided (eight short months ago) to stay in the boat and face down stream. No more holding onto the branches on the side of the banks. I even made a pact with my team to stay in the boat and make sure no one was going to paddle the other way.

So far, it is working.

Things are popping.

I met this guy who introduced me to this other guy, who told me to call this woman who was an expert at what I wanted to learn, and needed to learn to get this thing going.

And now, I am sitting at the Westin in Seattle, ready to present my idea, my new product tomorrow.

I feel excited, scared, and ready.

But mostly, I feel Bold.

Just staying in the boat...

Terry Hatcher Rocks...

2010-10-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, so who's the Bravest girl I just saw on Oprah?

Terry Hatcher.

There she was, a gorgeous 45 year old, single Mom letting us all in to her world at 5 am..

Watching her self made video of getting up while still in bed was shocking.

I could feel my nose start to crinkle up and my eyes go narrow.

Was I cringing?

Did I want to see her without any makeup?

Yes and No.

It was that similar feeling I get when I know I am about to see a car crash.

One eye is open and the other is kinda shut and yet I can't help but look.

I wasn't sure I wanted to see the real thing.

Did she just shatter the Hollywood Bubble that no one ever really shares about?

And on Oprah no less?

Uh Yes.

So there she is, makeup free.

Suddenly, I start to feel braver myself and I have not done a thing!

I travel with her to her set where I watch her transform to her Susan character on Desperate Housewives.

I started to feel liberated!

How many times this past week have I asked my 11 and 13 year old, "don't I look better like this?" as I pulled back my skin by my cheekbones, trying to reverse gravity.

"Windblown , Mom, stupid idea", they said every time.

"But technology is there for a reason", I wimper, knowing that I doubt I could really go through with it.

Then Linda Evans said something spectacular on the same Oprah episode.

She said that, it is easier to become less critical about yourself then change what you are critical about.

I felt one of those Sighs coming on, the exhale when you know you are hearing the Simple Truth.

The absolute irony is a few hours before all of this, I was at the NY Fashion Trade Show launching my new Spring 2011 Collection. I saw someone who I know had "work done".

She still looks like herself, quite amazing and "fresh" as people like to say.

I actually went up to her and asked her for her doctor's name!

She gave it to me and I quickly jotted it down on a napkin and tucked it away in my bag feeling like I may have just won the secret lottery.

I was so happy just to have it, like fresh ammunition to fight against another day of aging .

And yet, deep down inside, I can't really admit that I would use it.

After watching Terry, I felt more courageous again. I love that when one of us does something brave, we too can feel more brave.

So tomorrow, I will head back to my Fashion Trade Show again.

But this time, I will not be as nutty about my laugh lines, eye lines or any lines!

I have people like Terry and Linda to thank for that who remind me what I already know.

It will always be an inside job.

And right now, in this moment we are Perfect in our Imperfectness.

9/11

2010-09-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

There is not a cloud in the sky today.

The sun and breeze makes me feel like summer may linger just a little longer. This is exactly how I felt nine years ago.

It was a day where I felt safe leaving my apartment is Astoria, Queens.

I loved my Patriotic outfit, that day. I was wearing my new Fall red 3/4 jacket, favorite white button down shirt and navy flare bottoms. I had no idea how meaningful that would become to me a few hours later.

There was a bounce in my step as I was walking around the city, running to a meeting at the Empire State building. I saw people gathering but had no idea why. I even took a swim before my meeting. It wasn't until I was walking into the changing area and saw people crying that I had a clue of what had just happened. In total shock, I swam a few laps until it suddenly crashed into me. the thoughts were so horrific, I tried to block them. I jumped out of the pool feeling incredibly guilty and full of shame for swimming in the first place! What was I thinking?

I went from shock to clarity and ran out to meet up with my husband (married at the time) on a street close by and made a plan for me to head back to Queens to get to our children. I remember him saying that I should stop and get food, water and cash in case we needed to leave for safety with the kids. He was staying behind.

Right at this very time as I write this, nine years ago, I was walking over the 59th St Bridge with a group of survivors covered in light grey ash back to Queens. There were hundreds and thousands of people walking. There were no cars, only buses and a few vans on the bridge going very slowly.

I was listening to everyone's story and was amazed how they made it up 60 blocks to get the bridge. There was a real sense and understanding of how we are all Connected. A beautiful black van with gold lettering called Golden Touch (the name was not lost on us) picked us all up to drive us to the other side. As we landed in Queens and started walking, four fighter jets came out of nowhere and swooped right over us. We hit the ground as we were all not sure if they were on our side or not. There was much confusion at the time as there was talk of more planes in the area that were not accounted for.

I walked this young girl home, who was a graphic artist who happened to be working near the Towers that morning. I felt so grateful to be able to walk her home, knowing she was safe.

There were people that I know, one dear friend who lost their lives this day, nine years ago.

I know it touched all of us no matter where we were on that day. If you're like me, you know what you were wearing, who you were with, and who you spoke to.

It was a day that we remembered what was important to us, our priorities were clear and our hearts were open, full of Compassion and a sense of Great Community.

To all of the people who lost their lives and to their families and friends that were touched by this hideous and tragic event~ my Prayers, Thoughts and Heart are with you today. You are not alone.

Up Late..

2010-08-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

Up and cannot sleep.

The rain is finally here!

Never thought I would be so happy to hear thunder coming.

We need it.

I've been wondering if grass that turns to straw ~ will it ever be its green fabulous self again?

I am also wondering why I cracked open the baked Ruffles (sour cream and cheddar no less) this late. Midnight Snack..gotta love it.

xo S

Designing on Deadline

2010-07-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

Each day I tell myself that I have to block the time to be creative.

Sometimes it works.

Tick Tock is so loud in my ear, that I find myself doing everything but sitting down and getting to it. Like right now.

I have a show in less than three weeks and I have only a few samples back out of 23 that I put in so far.

Not a lot of time to make any changes, plus make an extra sample set for LA.

But in that soft quiet spot, I know it will all get done.

It always does.

I am told I design best under pressure without too much thinking.

So off to sleep I go.

Its Launched Me! Fashion Academy Inc. Begins....

2010-05-04T21:02:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe three months have gone by, it's past midnight and I feel like writing again.

I have been in launch mode for a few months now with Fashion Academy Inc.

It has been just one of those things, as usual, bigger than me.

From having the requests to teach a little over four months ago to actually having it all come together as well and smoothly as it has happened makes me realize, once again, that I am here to show up, pay close attention and do what feels right~ TRUST!

I have said a gadzillion times to anyone who will listen, "Follow your golden gut". Lillian Vernon said those words at The Learning Annex many years ago. It made quite an impression on me. I have followed that advice sometimes out of being Bold and sometimes out of complete Fear and not knowing what to do next.

It works either way.

So that is how it all happened.

I had a Top Designer Contest for tweens and teens back in November. Parents and their daughters came to me asking me to mentor, teach what I know about the industry and fashion design. From there, it was so easy writing the curriculum . I tweaked it as it went along and I am a fly by your pants kind of girl anyway..so it just worked. My team of incredibly talented women and men rallied and here we are in the midst of the first Workshop after selling out pretty quickly. I spoke at all of the local High Schools. I was a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, Channel 1, The Weekend Today Show, which helped tremendously. The Newark Star Ledger was very generous in doing a write up as well. I am very grateful for their support!!!

Just posted the next workshop for July 24 and 25th on my website as we had a waiting list! I had no idea that in this small town of 7500 people, we could bring people here for these workshops. Seats are still available. I love that people want to travel from Texas to Milltown New Jersey!

Check out www.sallymiller.biz for more info and register now!!!

This is a fun ride....

I LOVE Wendy Williams and her Team!!!

2010-02-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

I just had the BEST time on the Wendy Williams Show.
She is REAL DEAL and her staff reflect that in every way.
Check it out and look for the video clip on my site soon..more to follow on this..

Getting ready for Wendy Williams

2010-02-02T22:12:00.001-08:00

I really wanted to have something posted for tomorrow.

I will be getting up before the crack of dawn as a car service is picking me up super early to avoid any delays due to a snow warning. Wendy Williams, here we come!

Just so we're clear, I am not a morning person and no, I don't drink coffee anymore.

Had to give the good stuff up over a year ago. Boo hiss, so have a cup for me.

I'll be sipping on my green jasmine tea.

I have only heard the BEST things about Wendy. I have heard that what you see is what you get, and that she is the Real Deal. Her staff LOVES her! The fitting last week could not have gone better.

I should have been in bed an hour ago just to get a decent amount of sleep.

But just wanted to share, that I am really pumped.

Live tomorrow...here we goooooo...how fun is this?

Balance for the New Year, Ha!

2009-12-20T20:55:00.000-08:00

When Liz Lange announced on "The Big Idea" last August that balance was a Unicorn, I could hear the chatter from Donny's guests but could not make out what they were saying. I was being beamed in Skype Style and could not see anyone! Did they agree with her? Was Balance just an illusion to be laughed at? I did hear one of the guys chuckling.

The show was about the ever so elusive word Balance, and without much of a Social Life, I was hoping to get some answers, or at least a date.

I even blurted it out, asking Donny for help in that department!

In the end, I received a few snapshots of bare chests and some pretty questionable emails.

Fast forward 16 months later and I am still scratching my head.

Will I ever achieve balance as a single Mom with two kids and a new business (in the middle of a crashed economy no less) to run?

Here it is past midnight and I just took the last round of chocolate chips out of the oven.

'Tis the Holiday Season!

Today alone was digging out of 15 inches of snow, running to get pet food and putting the jungle gym together.

But unlike last year at this time, I am not feeling like I just survived a car crash.

I did not fall down the stairs because of sheer sleep deprivation.

I did not make presents for ex in-laws til the wee hours.

I am actually talking about getting my butt to the gym today.

I slept in.

And although I do not have the fullest of social calendars yet, I am creating more time to let it happen.

Little by slowly.

Is this balancing? Not sure, but maybe.

Do I want more of it? Yup.

So Cheers to all of you!

Have the Happiest of New Year's Ever and why not, just a little more Balance!!

Watching Sasha Obama Twirl with her Dad in My Dress!

2009-10-31T08:26:00.000-07:00

I was on my way home from The City when I heard.

To be specific, I was driving my car down Main St. feeling a bit sorry for myself that I had to drop by my office at eight o'clock at night and finish up some work for a deadline. Fashion deadlines, as ridiculous as it sounds, are taken pretty seriously.

I heard my phone text ring.

Moping into my office I checked to see if it was my kids, but suprisingly it was someone I work with. She sent me a link to check out with the question "Is this our dress?".

I sat down at my desk, and watched the You tube Link.

I watched Gloria Estefan introduce the President of The United States.

I watched the First Family stand up from the audience and approach the stage.

I watched Sasha Obama turn from Jennifer Lopez and stand proudly in front of everyone.

The girls have such grace and confidence!

I watched Sasha Obama move in front of everyone, standing center stage. She was in my grey chiffon number! I yelped! Then I heard myself yelling, "Sasha is wearing my dress!" She hugged her Mom and I watched her Dad twirl her around and dance with her as the music played. I had to watch it a few times to comprehend that I was watching the President of The United States dancing with his daughter wearing a dress from my Sally Miller Couture Collection.

Having been a dance teacher to children and being so passionate about self expression through movement, the moment was not lost on me that she chose to wear my dress on a night that was all about Celebration with Music and Dance!

Funny, how moment to moment Life can unfold with such surprises.

Last New Year's, I made a public announcement to my girlfriends, that I would ride the Roller Coaster with my eyes wide open and my hands in the air....it's mostly working. I cannot lie. There are times I still find myself with hands clenched tight on the safety bar.

But I do know that when I Let Go, I have so much more Fun!

Making Changes means Changing my Hair First

2009-10-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

I do love my wrinkles, aging spots (called beauty marks) and body parts.

And if I don't love them I pretend to. I am disciplined that way to make the effort.

BUT grey hair is not an option, no way. Never.

So how can I say that I accept all of me and really mean it when I am changing the color of my hair. And with such giddiness.

The first attempt last week was what you would call a "Glowing Lucille".

About an hour after the transformation, I headed for the gym.

Bathed in bright lights, my trainer took one look at me and shook his head.

Not even one word for a full five. He just kept shaking his head!

Then he mumbled how much he hates red heads. The Punk is only 22 I kept telling myself. What does he know?

My kids loved it and called me "Harvest Red".

I kept telling myself, "its Fun, its Alive. I am Reborn!

Kids love bright colors in general and love colored hair in general. Pink, Purple, Green and Red.

Four days later I went back to the hair salon and said "darker, more Renee in Thomas Crown Affair" Ta da..it worked! I really love it.

So off I went to my Fashion Trade Show launching a New Collection and a Dangerous New Do.

It was the best show I ever had and I never felt more like My Self.

PS: I only wore high heels one out of the three days, so change came faster than imagined.

The Night Before the Launch.....

2009-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Usually, the night before a Trade Show I am running around doing last minute everything.

Not the case entirely this time. I am still cooking at 9:30 pm for the week...(cannot stomach the food they serve at the Trade Shows). Roasting Butternut Squash with Sage and Herbamare, Sweet Potatoes..Fennel and Chicken with Brown Rice...Yum. I need the fuel of Good Food. I can't get away with much anymore. My body demands it and is very loud about it. Inside anyway.

It is the launch for Spring 2010 at Jacob Javits which starts tomorrow and goes through Tuesday. Right about now I am usually wondering why I decided to become a fashion designer at all and wish I had time to chuck everything and start again.

But tonight it is different.

I feel like there is always room for improvement, but I am not putting my Self under the bus this time. I feel like I have a nice mix of casual and dressy. Well, I will still be designing more dressy for later deliveries, but for now I am going with it.

I will take pics and learn how to upload so I can share them with you. Computer Geek I am not.

Gonna go figure out what I am going to wear for the next few days....I hope I don't pick out high heels again. I think I will though. I always do. What's so bad about 5'4"? Nothin' ~ I just LOVE being 5'7"....xo

Slowing the Heck Down

2009-09-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

I believe in signs from the Universe.

I get them on a regular basis, probably because God knows I need them!

Two days ago, I got my biggest reminder of who is Really in Charge while I was driving my kids to school.

You have to know that I live in a small town with two main streets to it. I was on one of those main roads coming down a hill to the light. It is a two lane road that crosses the railroad tracks so the speed limit is 25. Everyone goes 25 because at 27 MPH you are likely to get a speeding ticket.

Halfway down the hill we see this biker jump off ahead and flag us down to stop.

We obliged.

Looking down, we see this beautiful Big Turtle crossing the road!!!

How on earth did a Turtle land in our small town crossing a busy road? And right in front of us?

It's one of my favorite animals on earth!

Of course, I took it as a sign. Isn't everything?

The message that came through loud and clear was an easy one~

Slow down Sally. Remember who wins the Race?

Later that day, I found myself in my Banker's office in NYC.

They wanted a lot of information and a better understanding of what my plans were, very banker talk...Very Serious!

It was tense and I didn't have a whole lot of information. They wanted it Fast!

What better time than to launch into my Magical Turtle Story!

The Banker's looked at me, a little perplexed but also with a bit of "Wow" in their eyes.

They Got It!

Mr. Head Banker started making calls on my behalf to people he thought could benefit my company!

We ended the meeting with Hugs and Good Cheer.