Emma Nolan, Reporter
@emman_courant
At one point in most girls’ lives they dream of being a famous fashion designer. Junior Sara Brindisi has been able to pursue this dream ever since she began designing skirts, hemming dresses and fixing patches with a sewing machine. “What motivated me was the fact that I want to be a designer when I’m older,” Sara said. “My biggest dream is to be the designer on the Red Carpet that the actresses are wearing when they say, ‘Oh I’m wearing this person’s dress.’”
Knowing that she had the tools and devotion to create clothing, Sara turned her hobby into a career for the future, beginning with a class on the basics of designing at the New England Fashion and Design Association last February in Norwalk. “I took a class and that’s where I made my first skirt, and it was just for myself,” Sara said. “I learned you need a yard and a half of fabric. You fold it into four, and cut a semi-circle. Then when you cut it out, it’s kind of like a big donut, and you add a waistband and a zipper and that’s it!”
Beginning in October Sara decided to collaborate with Caren Forbes, the owner of a fashion boutique in town. “I started selling to Caren actually because my mom’s boss really liked the idea,” Sara said. “She told me I should sell them, but at first I thought, ‘No way, you’re crazy.’”
Although it may have seemed out of reach at the time, Sara took the advice to share her material with Caren. “It was really a no-brainer,” Caren said. “As soon as I saw the style and what she had created, I knew that they would sell here. She was right on pulse for the style that her age group would want to buy.”
As soon as Caren and Sara came to terms with what they would be selling, they decided when the appearance would be scheduled, and what time she would be selling the skirts. On October 4th and 5th, Sara was able to sell more than twenty orders of skirts to buyers from 1-3 pm. Freshman, Cali Brannan, was one of these buyers. “The skirts are amazing because you can wear them with anything,” Cali said. “I can see myself wearing it year-round. The skirt can be casual, but it can also be dressed up.”
Similar to Cali, Sophomore Sarah Van de Graaf also purchased one of Sara’s skirts in burgundy. “I wanted to buy the skirt at Caren’s because I have known Sara for a while and really wanted to support her,” Sarah said. “I had seen the clothes she had made for herself and they were so cute and of great quality.”
Sara, who is busy with current orders and ongoing projects for herself, has been designing more clothing items, in hopes to collaborate with Caren this spring. “I had the idea of doing a shawl,” Sara said. “I liked working with Caren because she actually knew how to sew, so she always told me what I could improve on and how to do it.”
Up to date with the current styles of the fashion world, Caren knows what her customers would like to buy. “I talked with Sara to see if she wanted to do anything in the spring, and I told her I was in,” Caren said. “I love the talent that there is at the high school, because there’s just so much of it.”
Keeping up with the models of NCHS
Anyone who has ever shopped at Caren Forbes in town is sure to have seen many NCHS students working in the store. Recently, Caren expanded her employment of the student body to include student models.
Using her eye for style, Caren chose seniors Chloé Demauro and Jenny Joneja, among others, as models for her clothing and accessories. “Caren summons people in a way: people who she thinks have a good taste and a good eye for her clothing, and would represent her in the best way possible,” Chloé said.
Caren, who opened her store in 2011, has managed to have many customers from NCHS. Not only have students come in to purchase items from the store, but they often pose for photos wearing her clothing, or standing in her store. “The girls love to be on Instagram, and I absolutely love them,” Caren said. “I’m a total fan of girl power, and to me, I don’t really care what they look like. If they want to be models they will send me some pictures on Instagram. I think the process is really fun for everyone.”
Jenny Joneja has been modeling and working for Caren Forbes since spring last year. “Doing pictures is fun because I’m really into that,” Jenny said. “Caren also puts certain outfits together that are my style, or whatever she thinks would look good on me, or would match my personality, which is why I love modeling for her and helping her out.”
