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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
For Matthew Anderson, fashion has always been instinctual. "When I started to express myself, and focus on my image, I would make things and people would say, 'Can you make me one?' That was when I knew, I was 16 or 17," he says.
So it's no surprise that Anderson, who was raised in St. Louis' Northwood and Normandy neighborhoods, has gone on to work for some of fashion's biggest names, including Marc for Marc Jacobs and Swiss luxury brand Bally, where he's a sales consultant at the company's Madison Avenue store. While the brand is more well-known in Europe and Asia, Anderson sees its potential in the Midwest market. And so does the Saint Louis Fashion Fund's Susan Sherman. She walked into the aforementioned New York store in search of a new bag, and "came out with a trunk show," she says.
Sherman, Anderson, and a regional manager began to talk about the Fashion Fund, about pop-ups, and the conversation led to Bally coming to St. Louis.
Talk about a win-win, especially for St. Louisans who can attend the show this Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bruno David Gallery (7513 Forsyth).
Established in 1851, Bally may be "sleepy in America," says Anderson, "but it’s about to get loud."
Bally was recently purchased by Chinese-based Shandong Ruyi Technology Group Co.
Fashion enthusiasts can expect to see a range of Bally's Spring/Summer '19 collection this week, including shoes, clothing, and handbags, as well as other evergreen and one-of-a-kind pieces in sizes 36-44 (2-10).
Some of Anderson's favorites include a women's winter-wear piece in a trench-style with black-and-white fox fur. For men, Anderson likes the leather, leopard-print high-top boots.
Both speak to the Bally aesthetic, "a little bit of flash but not too much," says Anderson.
The Bally woman, he adds, is refined. "She likes quality but doesn’t like to be too loud."
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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
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Photography courtesy of Bally
Twenty percent of the trunk show's proceeds will benefit the Fashion Fund. More than that, Sherman says it's always a benefit to the community to have someone from the St. Louis area come home. "It's a selling opportunity for sure," she says. "but it's also great for the Fashion Fund that we use people that are associated with these brands as mentors for young designers. Oftentimes they'll come to the Incubator and talk to [them] about merchandising or the business of fashion."
The return home for Anderson is unusual for the time of year. While he makes it back to the Lou two to three times a year, he rarely makes the trip during the busy holiday selling season. "I’m always working," he says. "Fashion is a lifestyle."
