100 Fifth Ave, Suite 614
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
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Shadyside's Vintage Mecca
Shadyside's resident vintage boutique, Eons, is a cramped yet cozy treasure trove with clothing, jewelry and other accessories ranging from the 1940s up until the 1990s. Owner Richard Parsakian is usually found laboring behind a glass counter that functions doubly as a display case, where he has stood since the shop's founding. Eons was not his first foray into the world of consignment items: Parsakian moved to Pittsburgh and helped his friend open one of his own in 1978, one of the first in the city. From that point forward, he "enjoyed the social aspect of the business and then just became more interested in fashion".
In addition to fulfilling Pittsburgh's period clothing needs, Eons has had its fair share of Hollywood costume designers and celebrities walk through its doors. "I don't get credit, but the most recent one was
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
. David Robinson, who was the costume designer, bought a ton of things from me.
Mindhunter
season 1 and 2 [was the] same thing," Parsakian explains. He loves to see his clothing appear on the big screen and answering any questions the designers may have.
With over 40 years in the industry, Parsakian has observed the cyclical way in which fashion evolves. Rather than embracing completely new styles, he believes that "most designers will copy vintage and will take it to a different level, maybe with material, adding a little this or that, and the price will be quintuple of an original piece." He has also seen the comeback of padded shoulders this year, which was originally a fad of the 1940s and then again in the 80s "on steroids." Furthermore, bohemian chic consistently returns to the forefront of fashion, but "with a new word for the same thing just to make it sound a little trendier." Parsakian theorizes that the reason for boho's popularity is "because it's so relaxed and very comfortable. A lot of people can wear it. "
Parsakian hopes that as "more and more guys are looking for a little dash of better style," a greater range of retail options will open. He notes that there aren't many places fulfilling this demographic besides "very high end [stores] or Target". Eons hones in on this empty space in the market with its various secondhand bowties, jackets and accessories, along with women's hats (there are no women's millineries in the city either), which is where Parsakian sees the largest demand.
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Serving Notice
by Frank Schipani
(reprinted with permission from Larrimor's Magazine)
People judge by appearance. Be sure to send the
right message and dress for success.
In a biography about Aristotle Onassis, I read a great anecdote on image. Onassis
was in a cocktail lounge in Monaco having a drink with friends. At the end of the bar were two young men, glancing at him with admiration. One of the young menchallenged his friend to approach Onassis and ask him how to look successful.Standing tall, the friend moved toward Onassis. "Excuse me, sir. I've admired you for a long time and would love to ask you just one question: How can I look as successful as you?" Onassis paused for a second, then responded with a smile. "I will give you three tips: One, always be exquisitely dressed. Two, always be tan; and three, buy drinks for nice people in nice places." The young man thanked him, and as he strode back to his seat at the bar, Onassis asked the bartender to send the young men drinks on him.
I believe this story speaks volumes about image and perception. Maybe you can't be tan all the time but good grooming and modern quality clothing (and eyewear) are givens. At home, you can kick back all you want but in the outside world, you are what you look like. Fair or unfair, people make silent judgments on your appearance all the time. I've been in the men's fashion business for almost half a century and have lived and shared this philosophy when conducting professional workshops, seminars and career preparation talks. Three months ago, my son took on a VP sales position with a major financial company. He and I agreed that he needed to upgrade his wardrobe from casual looks to suits
and ties. More recently, he and his boss visited a Fortune 500 client and presented to the CEO and several associates. The office was total opulence: 50 stories above the southern tip of the Hudson River, modern furnishings, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the New York bridges and Statue of Liberty.
During the meeting, the CEO, himself elegantly dressed, suggested a break. While
the group was waiting for water to be delivered (no one requested coffee), the CEO looked at my son and said, "Joe, I love what you're wearing! Great shirt and tie! And what kind of suit is that?" My son explained that the suit was completely unstructured with a "shirt sleeve" shoulder (no padding). His rounded spread-shirt collar exposed some of the tie underneath,
which was tied in a "four-in-hand" with two dimples, a distinctive look no doubt. The CEO thanked him
and the meeting proceeded.
That afternoon my son texted me to say he never felt as in command as he did when this CEO admired
his sartorial style. And yes, he successfully sold his service to this company.
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The Importance of Videography
Society is changing, and so is how we get our information. Now more than ever, video serves as one of the best ways to get a message across. Every medium has its own strengths and weaknesses, but a benefit of video is the unique ability to visually show a story. It requires a passionate and knowledgeable mind, like Stephen Kraus's at Pittsburgh's own Anthem Video.
Stephen Kraus is the founder and owner of Anthem Video, a unique business that combines both a traditional video production company and a media agency. It's a small creative company that makes videos for clients and helps them get those videos the views they need in order to be fully immersed in our technological culture. Anthem doesn't just make the movie, but facilitates its movement to Facebook and other digital platforms. Kraus takes special care to listen to his clients and what they want so that he can work with them to make sure that all the bases are covered-- from conception to completion.
Anthem stemmed from Kraus' love for video. A recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, Kraus was able to use his background in IT and business to supplement his video agency and provide clients with the best of both worlds-- creative and technical. The process seems simple to an outsider, but Kraus puts in a lot of effort into understanding what the client wants. It starts with an idea which sets the foundation for everything else. The next step is the pre-production, where
what
the video will look like is established, whether it be an interview, a commercial, a demonstration or any other style. This is the stage where Anthem figures out what needs to happen to get the client's message across. Then comes the production stage where a small crew goes to make the video using professional equipment, honing in on what is most important. Next comes editing, where the video's professional touch is added and it is cleaned up to meet the high standards Anthem has set for itself. Finally comes distribution. This is perhaps the most important stage other than making the video itself. This is where Kraus and his team work to make sure that the video gets maximum engagement, which includes making sure that people see the video and working together with the clients to make sure that they have a solid grasp on how to promote the video.
Kraus says that he draws inspiration for his videos from the city itself. There's so much happening in Pittsburgh and so many communities doing interesting and important work, and tapping into that spirit is what gives Anthem its heart. Beyond that, their vast body of work shows off the spectrum of work they can produce, from an animation for People's to a recent comedic (and viral) advertisement for King's Restaurant reintroducing the Frownie Brownie. Anthem Video serves all a client's videography needs while keeping the diverse, innovative spirit of our city well and alive.
To find an archive of Anthem Video's work, go to their website at: http://anthem.video
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From manicures to massages, The Verve 360 Salon has a service for everyone. This chic and inviting downtown business offers residents and visitors of Pittsburgh a unique take on wellness. Co-founded by Micah Grubbs and Aubre Stacknick, Verve 360 has been open for over eight years. "We work with a lot of different clients...hotel, corporate, residents...we cater to everyone in Downtown Pittsburgh" says Grubbs, "We try really hard to accommodate the entire city."
Verve 360 offers a variety of services for every client that walks in the door. The salon features hair services, including cuts, styling, and blowouts using Bb products. The salon also includes three manicure stations and three pedicure stations. Located just upstairs from the salon, the spa features multiple on-site massage therapists, facials, waxing, laser skin care services, and more. "We are set up well for parties and large groups because of how much space we have," says Grubbs, "that makes us really unique in Downtown Pittsburgh." Verve 360 also provides off-site services such as bridal party hair and makeup, as well as chair massage and nails.
"I love having the ability to help clients out in any way" says Stacknick, co-owner, massage therapist and pilates instructor. If you're looking for a mini getaway or just a fresh haircut, you can check out Verve 360 at
http://www.theverve360.com, on Facebook, or on Instagram @verve_360.
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220 5th Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-394-3400
An enticing menu comprised of Vallozzi family traditions such as homemade pastas (including Helen's gnocchi) and the pizza that made them famous, as well as fresh steaks and seafood. The menu also boasts a number of Italian meats and cheeses flown in from Italy weekly and served from their 'Fresh Mozzarella' bar.
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*Photography and media sourced from 3rd party sites in no way implies support or affiliation with the Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corp., or any partners.
Copyright © 2019 PDCDC, All rights reserved.
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