unnamed-12

unnamed-5

Retail industry expert and professional, Suzen Kingston runs the show as store manager for L.K. Bennett London at their Troy, Michigan (Somerset) location.  She gives us a peak into her retail background, what it's like to work for classic and very chic brand. She also shares some of her favorite items from L.K. Bennett this season!  
Read the interview below:

{SS}: Tell us about your background, how did you get into retail?  

{SK}: My first job at 16, was with Alberts.  From my very first day there, I knew that retail was going to be a career for me.  I was in ladies ready-to-wear for the first 12 years of my career.  In 2006, I was given an opportunity to leave ready-to-wear and enter into the world of ladies shoes for Stuart Weitzman.  I opened the first Stuart Weitzman store in Michigan in 2006 and stayed with them until 2011.  I decided to to accept a position with Omega watches and I realized I had to get back to what I loved best, ladies ready-to-wear and shoes!  I waited patiently for the right opportunity to present itself again, and one day I received a call from a recruiter.

unnamed-13

Suzen and her Assistant, Ashley.

 LK Bennett was new to the US, as well as Michigan and they were looking for a store manager.  I was so excited because finally I would be with a company that offered not only shoes, but ready-to -wear also!  A dream come true!  I have been with LK Bennett since April 2013 and my passion for the brand only increases as time goes on.  I consider myself very fortunate to have landed at LK Bennett London.{

SS}: What is your current position?

{SK}: I am the Store Sales Manger for LK Bennett.

unnamed-15

{SS}: What do you love most about your job?

{SK}: I LOVE making women feel beautiful!  So many women come in to shop, criticizing themselves about their weight, their shape etc.  Our goal is to turn that around and put them in the correct styles for their body type and lifestyle.

When the right items are selected and they see how they look in them, all of the negative self talk stops and their whole demeanor changes.  I know I have done my job well when a client leaves feeling much better about herself than when she came in!
 
Guiliana and Bill Rancic from Mothers Daughters Sisters Friend.  Team members, President , Vice President and Suzen's regional!
 
LKBennett-300x300 
lkbss14_templatemainline_a_copy_0
 
 
{SS}: Four words to describe the LK Bennett brand? {SK}:
 

Contemporary, Ladylike, Classic & Polished

 
{SS}: What are the "must have" items for this winter season?
{SK}: A cashmere and wool poncho style wrap that we have in 5 different colors.   It is the perfect go to item for her wardrobe and can be worn very casually or a bit dressy.

poncho

poncho grey
These wraps are a great investment and will always be on trend!  Perfect addition to any woman's wardrobe.
My favorite pieces change each season and I gravitate toward our fabulous, fantastic fitting dresses.  I consider us one of the best "go to" places to find the perfect dress.
This season one of my very favorite pieces is a jacket called the Malden. This is the perfect jacket to wear at the office, to dinner, and even with skinny jeans and a pair of booties.  It is classic in styling, yet contemporary in fit and detail.  I especially love the zipper detail on the sleeves.
AW14_JK_MALDEN_TWEEDa AW14_DR_FIJI_BLACKa
Another favorite is a perfect "little black dress" called the Fiji.  It sells for $475 and can be worn for dinner, cocktail, black tie and even for the office with a jacket.  With just the change of shoes an a bag you can go from desk to dinner.  It is a classic contouring silhouette, that is truly timeless in its styling.
 
Our Shearling coats are fabulous! The "Darwin" and "Casper" are my  favorite shearling styles. 
They are both relatively the same, but the Casper is a bit longer.  They are sheepskin
unnamed-7
with a luxurious shearling lining.  One of these is a must have!
The price point for the Darwin is $1250 and the Casper is $1495.
Princess Kate often wears the Darwin Jacket in Chocolate brown.

5952152Screen Shot 2015-01-14 at 8.53.40 AM

Suzen's Product Picks for the Styleshack Ladies: 
{SK}: I picked a few pieces that would fit with a few of the Styleshack Archetypes.
  • Edgy chic girl: Mongolian sheep/shearling wrap.  It comes in grey, black and wine.

 edgyunnamed-28 

  • Classic gal: our basic LK Bennett Clutch called the Leonie.  A classic clutch with an optional strap in patent leather.  It comes in many different colors, I think the essential two colors are black and nude.

STYLESHACK_CLASSICScreen Shot 2015-02-09 at 2.42.41 PM  

 
 
  • Professional chic gal should have one of our Kelly Bags.  It is convertible and can go from purse to Tote in seconds.  It is made with Saffiano Leather, which is scratch and water resistant.  It comes in many colors – black , pewter, british tan, Ultra blue, Red and Navy.
professional_chic unnamed-21
 
 
 
 
 
{SS}: What is your Style Archetype?
{SK}: Classic.
classic
 
 
 {SS}: What is your signature accessory?

{SK}: My signature accessory is my MK watch.  I never leave home without it.  I wear it for casual, dress, dinner, cocktail, professional etc.

Screen Shot 2015-02-09 at 2.49.57 PM

{SS}: Can you share with us YOUR personal favorite piece(s) currently from LK Bennett? 
{SK}: A dress called The Marissa.  It was part of our Black Ribbon Collection.  It is the perfect classic, yet edgy dress to wear day into night.
unnamed-30
Another one of my favorite dresses is the Lamar in ruby.  My favorite LKB skirt is the Lander skirt.  It has a front slit and an exposed zipper in the back.  Fantastic pencil skirt.  My favorite pump to wear is the Florisa.

unnamed-24 
My favorite flat is the Sissy flat featured in black.
unnamed-26unnamed-15
 
unnamed-14
Grace-Kelly-classic-movies-9449831-1792-2200 {
SK}: My style is inspired by Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Old Hollywood
 
{SS}: Secrets to work/life balance?

 

{SK}: Balancing life and work is not as difficult as it would seem.  I have a passion for what I do and for the brand I represent.  It is very easy to incorporate it into life without feeling like I am working.  As far as not working too much, I make sure that I surround myself with very capable, like minded team members!

 

{SS}: Words to live by?
 

{SK}: My favorite quote to live by is by Albert Camus.

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."

"And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”

   

SHOP & socialize with Suzen Kingston & founder of Styleshack.com, Rachel Schostak, at LK Bennett (Somerset Collection) on Tuesday, February 10th, 2015!  RSVP: Suzen.Kingston@lkbennett.com

 
 
unnamed-3
 
 
 
 
lkbss14_templatemainline_a_copy_0
ABOUT LK BENNETT LONDON:
 
LK Bennett London is a luxury brand defined by its unmistakable British Heritage.  Underpinned by a desire to offer beautiful, well-made, accessibly priced designer wear; L.K. Bennett collections have a distinct blend of femininity, style, and color.  Founded in London in 1990 Linda Bennett as a concept shoe brand, L.K.Bennett rapidly became the ultimate destination for feminine footwear, beloved by celebrities and stylish women alike – most notably recognized for its take on the modern kitten heel. This success lead to the introduction of womenswear collections in 1998 – followed later by handbags, accessories and jewelry, appealing to women seeking the perfect wardrobe for any occasion.
 
With its distinct design philosophy, L.K. Bennett is an international label offering stylish yet wearable clothing and accessories for women of all ages, with a luxury twist.  The distinctive handwriting stays strong with a dedicated in-house design team creating looks that appeal to our expanding customer base.
 
2006 saw the launch of L.K. Bennett's website lkbennett.com -an eCommerce site offering the brand's collections to customers around the world.  In February 2013 us.lkbennett.com followed – a site catering specifically to American and Canadian customers and trading in USD.
 
The modern L.K. Bennett encompasses three distinct collections: L.K Bennett London, Black Ribbon and Limited Editions.  L.K. Bennett London, the mainline collection, offers signature styles, accessible luxury, desk-to-dinner looks. Black Ribbon, the brand's luxurious capsule collection, sees directional styles, refined materials and more fashion-forward approaches.
 
Limited Edition collections offer fashion innovation and a sense of fun.  The recent collaboration with style icon Caroline Issa-offering colorful, Thai-inspired shoes and clutches – was received internationally with high acclaim.  A Vintage collection follows this spring, inspired by floral prints from the L.K. Bennett archives.
 
LK Bennett is available in standalone stores across the US, Europe and the Middle East, lkbennett.com and in select department stores worldwide.

10888360_10152626095066560_3580510743087959433_n