2012 was an exciting year for me, mostly for two reasons: 1. I opened my first stand-alone CV store, and 2. I got to see so much of the world. It was the most traveled year of my life.
We started the year in Italy. The picture above of Oscar running through the skinny streets of Venice is one of my favorites.

Portes Ouvertes. Doors Open.

This was the invite we sent out to VIPs for the store opening party.

Final touches happening on the window.

Architect Barbara Bestor was such an amazing partner to work with on the store. So happy to have nice and talented people in this community of Silverlake.

Right around this time last year, I went to Ojai with girlfriends. Here HBT has a little quiet time with her weaving. I like this picture because it speaks to rest and relaxation and doing more things for pleasure and craft.

Our designer/friend in Texas, Kerry Franz, designed this CVLA logo that we love.

Sophia Bush finally stopped by our studio for a few hours and just hung out! She’s a pleasure, we talked politics, fame, social media, fashion. Smart, smart girl and I’m so happy she’s a fan.

We turned our studio into a photo studio while reshot our entire collection for our upcoming website.

Should be launching soon!! Is there anything more painstaking than a website overhaul? Never painless.

At Jeana Sohn’s baby shower for her beautiful boy Oliver Moon, all the ladies received these pochettes.

In June, I went to Turkey! My first photo from the taxi window of the colorful windows of this building in Istanbul.

Istanbul from the roof top. So many wonderful rooftop cafes and bars.

We got to know the beautiful model Hye Park this year. I love this picture of her holding the leopard duffle!

From a trunk show in Laguna Beach. I sold this cute denim printed clutch I was wearing to a woman. Literally dumped my stuff out and she bought it.

Melissa Coker, wearing her prints and mine.

Tout va bien became our de facto motto – which we printed on our totes, clutches, matches, greeting cards.

Travel bag arriving in Paris for our summer vacation. I took this picture for a feature on Thread NY.

No words.

Our first cafe in Italy with friends.

The view from our auberge in Piedmont, Italy.

This pretty woman, actress Amber Heard, was caught carrying our oversize leopard clutch.

I had the privilege of going to Gwen Stefani’s house this summer with my sister and her two daughters for an event with Michelle Obama. I tweeted this picture and news organizations – the Huffington Post, CBS LA and the Daily Mail UK used my photo.

I got a personal note from Jenna Lyons!

Red and blue. Our custom made, duo-tone zips became our obsession at the studio.

Monogram everything.

Reese’s best friend ordered her a custom “not-baby-bag” and she carries it! So cute.

My Westbrook Maker hat – hand made in Venice, CA – along with my monogrammed large duffle were my staples on a Fall trip to New York.

Caroline, my trusty PR, hauled colorful Weekenders filled with bags as we dodge taxis and rain drops on press days.

The view from my room at Hotel Americano. Good morning New York.

We went to visit the set of Parks and Rec for some private shopping time. Here, Kathryn Hahn gives me the finger. I worship her.

Election day was made all the more exciting by the fact that Vogue chose our clutch as the carryall to the polls.

A fine array of CV bags pose as I catch my breath from hurrying around NY like a traveling salesperson.

We have to buy the latest Apple technology. It’s only so we can size our cases properly, I swear.

Heather Taylor debuted her linen line at our store and Greta debuted it at her home for Thanksgiving dinner. So pretty.

A moment in the restroom with my black and white snake clutch at a black tie affair.

Lil’ CV moved in among the majors at the Grove!

Jessica, Heather and Jocelyn looked lovely at the CV at the Grove opening party.

This was a big year for Katie Holmes! She became a CV fan.

China! I went to Beijing – NOT for production. We’re made in LA, yo.

We went to the Great Wall on a very crisp winter day and it was almost empty. I hear that there are seasons when this is thronged with people. So happy to have seen it like this because we could actually appreciate the beauty and magnitude of it.

Visit to Conde Nast China. Vogue China. Ahh…

Designer Chris Benz was on the trip to China. He and Susie, who works with him, were hilarious travel partners.

Who sent me these?? I love them. Perfect floral arrangement.

Oscar in noodles at LACMA.

We started our collection of leisure pieces with Backgammon! More to come…

Close up of the dice. They are so cute that Casey said, “if I were you, I’d just carry these around in my pocket all the time.” Close, they’re in my bag.

Major fashion moment when Meredith Melling Burke – senior market editor at Vogue, Instgrammed this pic of Waris loving up her CV duffle! I died.

Cute-preppy baby iPad moment in green with navy racing stripe.

Another very exciting moment when Sophia’s CV bags made it to her Coveteur profile. 

Here’s a little monogram madness. It instantly became known around the studio as the disco bag.

This made my week (and was impetus for my and Greta’s entire winter wardrobe): Vogue’s adorable, nice, and smart fashion assistant Emma Morrison walking through Chinatown with our suede simple tote for Five Days feature on Vogue.com.

I’ve posted this before, but I posted it on Insta this holiday season and I got a ton o likes. It’s just a perennial favorite – my mama, as beauty queen.

Trudging through the MN snow at Christmastime in my ducks (and white jeans, thank you Emma. See above.)

Photos out of order here, because my birthday was in January, but I just love this hand made envelope from Erica, our graphic designer here at CV.

In case you missed it, here was our Happy New Year card to all of the people in our community. It’s a growing community and a growing company – we have 15 names on this card! Just 3 years ago it was just me and Jocelyn. 2012 was a wonderful year, and with January almost over ’13 is looking good too.

with love, xoxclare

If you’re reading, thank you! I know it’s been a while since I updated and that’s really annoying. I’ve taken some time off to keep up with the business and I’ve missed being in blogtown! Also, my Instagram has really taken a chunk of my social media energy. And while I love Insta, nothing compares to the full-size images and in-touchness of the blerg.

Lots of stuff is happening, I continue to snap pics around the studio (just rarely get to posting it.) But here’s something great: Westbrook Maker. If you haven’t heard of them yet, you will soon, they’re about to be the milliners of choice. The girls above are not wearing Westbrook as far as I know, they are just fabulously chic ladies Casey has pinned to our CV Pinterest boards. And they are perfect examples of women owning the hat and not the reverse, if you know what I mean. There is something so very chic about a brimmed hat. I’ve put them here to remind you that you may want to consider wearing a proper, brimmed hat this fall/winter.

Westbrook Maker hats are handmade in Venice, California.

We just got our first delivery of them to be sold at the CV shop soon, I cannot wait.

I even love their western logo and hatboxes. 

They are beautifully crafted pieces of art, made with the highest quality felts, silks and leathers, which you will own forever and will only get better with age.

Cocotte, on the arm of Nicolas Fouquet, the designer behind Westbrook, is the nickname he has for his sister, Charly. I’m not showing you all of him, because I don’t need to take your attention away from the hats, but let’s just say he’s tall, blond, blue eyed and he speaks French. In other words, 100% dream boat. But lest you get get ahead of yourself, he’s dating a pro-surfer.

I will post more images of the hats or people wearing the Westbrook hats asap. 

In the meantime, remember, my best piece of fashion advice – Own the Hat. Whatever your hat may be.
p.s. I just found this great post from Lizzie at Tomboy Style on Westbrook.

CFP

Chic Fanny Pack. 

On our spring line – this will be your next summer staple. Or ok, it’ll be our next summer staple.

It’s part of our Spring Summer ’13 collection.

Here’s Jocelyn looking so super cute trying on our sample.

IWIN for I want it now. There’s a new one for you.

HBT

 is for Heather Beth Taylor, gallery owner, blogger, fashion influencer, and just simply one of my besties, she’s a force with which to be reckoned. And with all of her new projects coming down the pipes, including a series on YouTube (click here to see the one on our new CV store!!) I have a feeling more and more people will be familiar with these three letters over the coming year.

I LOVE these pics of her with her CV leopard duffle, wearing Wren and (Prada sunnies, above) from Refinery 29

JK

is for Jesse Kamm.

Clothing designer JK stopped by the studio last week to grab a weekender for her trip to NYC.

We offered to monogram it for her and she chose the light blue with I think was such a beautiful choice.

These pictures of her bags and hat packed up and ready for the solo voyage to the big city are from her great blog.

I love this picture of her new weekender on the country road as she was about to embark on her own after having dropped off her boy at her parents house in the midwest. I’ve done that with Oscar a few times too on my way to NYC. It’s called babysitting at a distance. Good thing Delta stops often in MN.

Working mamas, we do what we can.

JDR

is always for Jessica De Ruiter. She’s a stylist and a friend and speaking of working mamas, I’m pretty sure these pictures of her at fashion week NYC were during one of her first trips without her sweet baby daughter James.

Jessica stopped by the CV store before she left and picked up a black basket weave fold over clutch. 

And I love how she doesn’t fold it over. Just a chic square clutch for her. She pulls it off with unparalleled class. Muah!

Heading to New York for a few days. As usual, when heading to New York, there was the prerequisite shopping spree at Lake boutique in the neighborhood yesterday. A pair of shoes and leather-like jeans, and cute vest later was all I could rustle. However, at the studio today, I was able to make a few old things new again with a little monogram magic.

 I will be very happy to walk the streets of New York with my grey suede simple tote which got a pick-me-up with gold CV today.

 And my well-loved & beat-up navy iPad case looks amazing with red mono.

 One of the things I’ll be doing while in New York this time is attending this party at Steven Alan’s new store in Chelsea on Thursday night:

And in honor of being invited to this party as a featured designer, we’ve made this special edition chain print market tote with undyed leather handles and bottom. 

This is what a picnic looks like at the CV studio.

Please stop by the party on Thursday, enjoy the music, the Steven Alan Spring ’13 film and introduce yourself! Would love to meet you. xo