GirlsGuideTo | Girl We Love: Alexis Cozzini

A few days ago, I had the chance to sit down with the lovely Alexis Cozzini, the owner of one of my favorite fashion hotspots in Chicago, Sarca. Her boutique is nothing short of amazing and I pretty much want to steal her dog Otto. Just kidding…maybe. We talked about what it’s like to run your own business, how she deals with traveling all the time, and her fashion “must haves.”Check out her insight and life lessons – you’ll see why Alexis is a girl we love!

You founded Sarca, a fantastic boutique in Chicago. What’s it like to run your own business, especially in a competitive retail market?
Running Sarca is tons of work, but equally as rewarding. Luckily, I chose a career path that combines a very fun, fast-paced, and interactive environment. There is always something new and exciting happening, and no two days are the same.

That being said, you do really need to be on top of your game. The market is very competitive and it’s important to recognize attributes that will allow you to excel and stand apart from the competition. It is especially important to foster and maintain relationships with our clients and within the design community. Sarca strives to create a comfortable, personalized and relationship-oriented environment for our clients. We recognize their need to always look their best, stand apart from the crowd, and be the trendsetter among their circle of friends. Sarca excels at uncovering the hottest, up-and-coming international designers, and introducing them to the Chicago market. We specialize in providing a number of exclusives to Chicago, and often to the U.S. We have also been able to capitalize on the best of what our local designers have to offer. That’s how we stand out.

What influenced you to start the store?
I have known since I was in high school that I wanted to have my own business someday. I worked for my mother’s friend who owned a boutique in Lincoln Park when I was younger. I was never an athlete, and wanted to work, so after school, I would work at the store from 3pm-6pm three days a week, and a full day on Saturdays. I loved it because I felt like I was so much more mature than my friends who didn’t have jobs yet, or didn’t care about making money. Of course all of the money I made, went right back into the store because of my shopping habit, but that’s beside the point, haha!

Aside from honing my fashion skills at my first job, my father was a huge influence on me when it came to owning my own business. I come from a family of extremely hard-working entrepreneurs and to me, it seemed like that was the only way to go. My sister, Camille, owns her own business as well -- a children’s clothing store located next door to Sarca. If you have it in you to be a hard worker, you actually enjoy working, then to me, it just seems natural that you would want to be in it for yourself.

What is a typical day like for you?
My daily routine is not as glamorous at one might want it to seem in this industry. Being surrounded by fashion and shopping is of course the high point, but behind the scenes work is what’s really important to making the aesthetic function and be successful. I wake up around 8am, check my emails while struggling to keep my eyes open in bed, and then take my dog Otto for a walk. At 10am the store opens and from open to close, I find myself doing everything from juggling appointments with clients, to all of the back of house work -- responding to emails from clients and vendors, to working on buys, entering orders and shipments, maintaining our social media initiatives, developing new marketing and event tactics, merchandising the floor, changing the mannequins, etc. I like to be very hands on, otherwise, there wouldn’t be anything for me to do -- ha! Of course the stylists at Sarca have a hand in all of the above as well. It’s a team effort, but their forte is in clientelling and assisting their clients. They are great at what they do!

Obviously you have worked very hard to get to where you are today. What advice would you give someone who wants to start her own business?
First I would say just do it -- go for it! There is no “right” time to start a business per se… similarly to how people say there is no right time to have a baby. If you have an innovative idea that’s well thought out, and that you believe in, you should make it happen. You really have to jump in with both feet, and allow the process to just kind of happen naturally. When you set out to start a business, it can be daunting trying to determine exactly where to start, or what the next step should be. But once the ball starts rolling, the process just kind of naturally flows from there. I do recommend creating a detailed business plan. It will help you to convey your mission to investors, vendors, future clients, etc. And it’s a great tool for you to refer back to from time to time as your business grows.

Having your own business also involves a great amount of risk and that’s something that you have to be comfortable with, although realistically it’s also very nerve wracking. For example, Sarca opened almost 3 years ago, in the height of a terrible economy. Retail was suffering the most, and not many people were looking to spend on “frivolous” or luxury items. It was a huge risk for us, but there were also advantages that we knew we could capitalize on. Many businesses were failing, which gave us an opportunity to fill a dying niche. It also presented opportunities to negotiate better rent rates, construction rates, discounts with vendors, and most importantly, allowed us time to build our business without the risk of failing in a booming economy where we could be eaten alive by competition. Now we are more established, and while the risk still remains, we can rely more on our foundation, having grow from what we learned through that experience.

Overall, I have learned that hard work truly pays off. The more you strive to make your dream a reality, and the harder you work to maintain it, the ultimate outcome will only be that much more successful and rewarding. It’s also important to acknowledge that you can’t do everything on your own. It’s a team effort from your family, to your employees, all the way down to your clients. In order to be the best, you have to create the best. It is a constant effort to hopefully achieve and maintain that status.

Your job requires that you travel to meet with designers a few times a year. Umm, we’re all a little jealous! Do you have any smart beauty secrets for girls on the go?
Traveling to phenomenal locales, and buying for the store is definitely one of the best parts of the job. But it is very stressful -- I often complain about it, although I shouldn’t. There is a lot of planning involved when buying a collection a year in advance, so you really need to be on your game and know your customer. When I travel for market and buying trips, it’s very important to try to always look my best, because I am meeting with people who are the best in the industry -- I mean they literally create the fashion industry, so you better make an effort when you meet with them, haha!

As far as beauty secrets go, I keep my regimen the same as when I’m not traveling. My makeup looks the same -- not a good time to try anything crazy. And my face routine stays the same. Sometimes I break out when because of the stressful, and just being in a different environment. So Pro-activ is my new best friend. And I always use moisturizer after I wash my face because it’s generally dry.

In terms of wardrobe tips, I am guilty of recycling looks. If you’re meeting with different people on different days, varying your look only slightly saves you from having to put too much thought into it, or worse, being late to your meeting because you’re trying to come up with the ultimate look that isn’t quite working out. When I travel to Europe, surprisingly I find that I can be a little more relaxed in my wardrobe than in New York. The environment there is more easy-going. I still spend a lot of time selecting the perfect look for an evening out while traveling though. And recently I have started packing by outfit -- meaning I’ll put a look together, and pack it together so that I know what I will wear to whatever appointment or outing on whatever day. Time consuming before you leave, but a time saver when you’re there!

How would you define your style and what’s your “go-to” look?
My style is pretty classic in the sense that I don't tend to wear anything that is super trendy. However, that doesn't mean that iIm conservative. I love to stand out with a statement piece; or keep my outfit simple and pile on the jewelry. I don't own a basic black shoe. The more colorful/crazy the shoe, the better. I like bold pieces that I know I can pull out ten years from now and not worry about them looking dated. My signature piece is a statement blazer. I definitely own too many, and probably wear one 4 days out of the week. They make a casual outfit look elevated, and I like how they tailor your body. If I don't have to be anywhere that requires dressing up, I'm into flat boots, leggings and tunics (leggings will never go away so apologies to the legging haters), or just skinny jeans and tees. Always with a statement necklace though. Sundays are my days off, so I keep my look casual comfy. If I’m attending an upscale event, I definitey try to be as fancy as I can while still being appropriate to the occasion. I love a killer dress. {Editor’s note: Who doesn’t?}

While we wish we could splurge on designer goodies, we're girls on a budget, so if you had to name 3 top things every woman should invest in, what would they be?
My top 3 investment pieces would be a fabulous designer bag. I mean a great, top quality, top notch bag that you can wear everyday and will get tons of use out of. I have 3 designer day bags, and I’ve had them all for years. I can wear them day or night, they will fit my computer, and all of my makeup, and they never go out of style. You know you’re getting your money’s worth.

My next piece would be a pair of great quality, nude colored pumps. You can wear them to work, wear them out, wear them with jeans, and they always make your legs look great. They are the new basic pump because they are more flattering than a heavy black pump.

My last piece would be a really great leather jacket. Let’s face it, leather jackets are generally pricey, and yet you see them blowing out of your favorite shopping locale every fall. That’s because they never go out of style, they go with everything, they look better with time, and you need one. I say stick with a black, tailored moto style. You’ll wear it for functionality (to keep you warm), and you’ll wear it to make a statement (paired with your super girly tutu dress). This is a piece that doesn’t have to be simple, to always be “in”. You can get the crazy jacket with zippers and studs, and not have to worry about it going out of style.

What is the biggest fashion “don't” you think women make?
I don't understand the concept of spending tons of money on clothing in an attempt to look dirty and disheveled, or unattractive. I also don't like Mariah Carey style denim cut-offs (I mean shorts that are basically underwear), harem pants, crop tops, muscle tees, and clear bra straps (as if we don't see them). I also think lots of women are caught up on the “size” of a garment. You should always pay attention to the fit of the piece, not the actual number of the size on the tag. I see tons of thin women with amazing bodies, who could still stand to go up a size in their dress simply so that the piece drapes more beautifully on their body. You have to let the piece perform its job. Recognizing that many designers don’t run their sizing consistently from one brand to the next is also important -- just another reason why “fit” over “number” is a great concept by which to style yourself. This really rings true for denim. You can be a size “0” dress, and a size 27 jean. Denim sizing has nothing to do with your total body fit. It’s all about the hips and the booty and the legs.

Who is your style icon? Favorite designer?
I say it a lot, but I really do admire Olivia Palermo's style. She has never looked bad, and is always appropriate. I'm also kind of into the Eccelstone sisters right now -- Yamara and Petra (daughters of Formula One president). They are interesting to see and read about in the press. They are like the new Hilton sisters, but with actual jobs, and more class. My favorite Sarca designers are Samantha Sleeper, Atelier Azza and Essential Antwerp. I do tend to have a thing for YSL shoes and bags, and anything by Matthew Williamson.

Did you ever imagine this was what your life would be like? How do you imagine your life to be in 10 years?
I don’t know if I ever had a clear picture of what my career life would look like, or where I wanted to be at a particular age/point in my life… but I’m very pleased with the way things are going, and have played out since I opened Sarca almost 3 years ago. I always dreamt of being in the fashion industry and owning my own store, so I am grateful that my dream became a reality. As far as the future is concerned, there is always room for growth. Sarca’s website will soon become shopable, so I am really excited for that launch. I’d also love to open Sarca in another location outside of Chicago. Recently I have really been looking into the idea of expanding our brand into a home store concept as well since I’ve always been interested in interior design. It would be great if any of the above came to fruition! I’d also love to be living in London or Rome at that point, hahaha!

What is your favorite quote or “little life lesson?”
I think that’s the toughest question you’ve asked me, haha! I always think to my dad when it comes to life lessons and words to live by. He would say something like “no risk, no reward” or “hard work always pays off.” My boyfriend also gives great advice like “you need to relax” -- lol! They are both right. I know how to work hard because of my dad, and I have learned to stress less because of my boyfriend.

What are your favorite hotspots? (ie: vacation spots, cities, restaurants, stores, whatever)
Cities:I grew up in the city of Chicago and thought I was “over it” when I graduated high school. So I went to college at Fordham Univeristy in NYC, and then lived there for a few years after I graduated. Now that I’m back, I don’t know if I could live anywhere else in the US. That being said, I would drop everything and move to London or Rome in a heartbeat.

Vacation spots:I will never turn down a trip to Europe. My favorite destinations there are Rome, Venice, Madonna di Campiglio and Sardinia. The food at all of those locales is obviously amazing, but each region has it’s own specialties. Experiencing artichoke and truffle season in Rome is an absolute must if you are a foodie. And of course there is nothing like Italian culture, history, shopping and cuisine.

My boyfriend, Craig, and I are traveling to Napa Valley and Cabo san Lucas next week. We have both never been to either location and are so excited. We are lucky enough to be able to take a 10 day break and just relax. We both love Mexican food so we are excited to actually experience the real deal. I also can’t wait to work on my tan…at the end of summer, haha! As far as Napa goes, we are really looking forward to learning about the process of wine making, taking in the views, and experiencing the farm-to-table concept at it’s finest. We read about the Bardessono hotel recently in Town and Country magazine and Architectual Digest. It’s a certified green hotel, and has it’s own garden that the hotel uses for it’s restaurants. Craig is in the restaurant business so he is constantly looking to broaden his knowledge when it comes to epicurean concepts.

Restaurants:My absolute favorite restaurant of all time is Mr. Chow. But I’m talking about the Originals -- NYC and London only. I first went there with my dad when I was 10 years old. We were in London on a family vacation. It’s also one of my dad’s favorites, so when he would visit me in college, we would always go to the New York location. I have always said I want to rent out Mr. Chow Tribeca and get married there. Then a miracle occurred, and now Mr. Chow is coming to Chicago…. Dreams do come true Dad! Lol! I’m only joking. But Christmas definitely came early when I read about the amazing news in Eater Chicago. Balena and Piccolo Sogno are my two favorite Italian spots in Chicago; and you can never go wrong with Avec.

I’m also a huge Jean Georges fan and try to always eat at his restaurants and if I am traveling to a locale where one might exist. Clearly Pump Room in Chicago is a must. ABC Kitchen in Soho is so good I could eat there for all three meals of the day. I feel the same way about St. Ambroeus restaurant in Manhattan’s upper east side. Whenever I’m in New York for market my restaurant agenda is always the same!

Stores:Obviously Sarca is my all time favorite shopping destination, and the majority of my wardrobe consists of Sarca merchandise -- naturally. When I’m in New York for market, I really like shopping at Five Story, and at the local boutiques on the lower east side. I’m always looking for something that can’t be found everywhere else. So while Madison Avenue and Soho are definitely on my list of amazing shopping destinations, I find that I tend to make the best purchases at the other locations. There is a really cool taxidermy store in Paris called Deyrolle -- and I’m not talking racoon roadkill. They house everything from an African elephant to an ostrich. It’s amazing and a must see. I also really love shopping in London. I think it’s probably the best destination for me, in terms of where I like to really shop-til-I–drop. The independent boutiques are just great -- I find a lot of lines for Sarca through shopping at them; and the high street fashion shopping is one of my favorite things to do there. Grazia magazine does a phenomenal job of capturing the best of the high street shopping destinations, and fashion picks -- I wish it was available to purchase in the US! Definitely my favorite magazine.

Hotels:when I travel to NYC, I usually stay at the Mark Hotel on the upper east side. It’s a boutique hotel, but definitely full service, top notch, and consists of a high profile, international clientel. It’s always a really interesting people watching scene. Yet private and not trendy at the same time. The Hassler Hotel in Rome, at the top of the Spanish Steps, is like living in an Italian palace. Stepping outside of the front doors and strolling down the Spanish Steps every time you exit the hotel is just once in a lifetime. The Villa d’Este in Lake Como -- I can’t say enough. I wish this place was my house. When I travel to Paris for market, I have stayed at Le Meurice. I don’t even know where to start. This hotel is the best thing about traveling to Paris. The food…the people watching…the scene during fashion week…somebody needs to write a book just on the scene at Le Meurice hotel during fashion week.

Thanks Alexis! If you’re in Chicago and would like to visit Sarca, check out their website here, find them on Facebook, and check out their Instagram feed (ShopSarca) and Pinterest boards (ShopSarca)! So much pretty inspiration!