CAbi Spring 2013 Collection Getting 'The Scoop' In San Diego

Second City Style was invited to attend the CAbi Spring 2013 Collection Fashion Show in San Diego last Thursday. I was bummed Lauren could not go with me, so I left freezing cold Chicago and headed for sunny California on my own. (The rough things we do for fashion!) I was vaguely familiar with CAbi, and learned it is one of the largest direct sales apparel companies in the nation. I like the idea of home shopping parties and…ones where we can buy clothes really hit home for me. Women I know who have attended CAbi parties feel the clothes are both fashion-forward and well-made. CAbi was founded by women’s apparel designer, Carol Anderson, who previously sold her collections in high-end department stores, like Nordstrom’s, and specialty boutiques across the country. CAbi (Carol Anderson by invitation) was launched in 2002. CAbi is a lucrative career opportunity for women that brings Carol’s designs directly to the customer. I learned that some women only shop CAbi through consultants and  home events, because it is convenient, private and there are a wide range of sizes (0-16). CAbi offers two collections a year, a Spring Collection and a Fall Collection which are available exclusively through the company’s Independent Fashion Consultants. With several other fashion bloggers I was treated to a viewing of the Spring 2013 Collections along with 3,000+ CAbi Consultants at ‘The Scoop’. The Scoop is a few days of robust professional development, training and education for the Consultants. The CAbi Spring 2013 Collection was totally on-trend drawing design inspiration from Paris. Bright poppy red trench coats, nautical stripes, mint green and mixed prints were included in the collection. Carol Anderson and her design team greeted the crowd of consultants as they saw the collection for the first time. I was impressed by the watercolor prints, pencil skirts and longer appropriate shorts. The collection offers something for everyone and with just one or two pieces a woman can do a quick wardrobe update. Many of the pieces are machine-washable, too. And stay tuned for CAbi Fall 2013, because the consultants were thrilled to learn they will be able to offer activewear for the first time in the history of the brand. Visti CAbi to learn more about the business or to find a CAbi Consultant.  

 

After the show, we were treated to dinner at El Vitral in the Gaslamp District, where we filled up on delicious pastas, steaks, wine and desserts. Then we went on to a CAbi shopping event at the San Diego Convention Center which was open until 11 am!

The next day we met for breakfast with the bloggers and I noticed they were all into wearing large watches and/or multiple bracelets. I enjoyed meeting them and talking about fashion, food, pets, books, and circled back to fashion the whole time! Visit Sally McGraw – Already Pretty; Marie Coleman – CAbi Canary; Casie Mase – Whipped Style; Cassandra Altman – San Diego Style Examiner / Fashion with a Passion – Carol Calacci Photos: CAbi and Second City Style