Glamorosi Giveaway: Wearable Art Buckle from BeltEnvy

BeltEnvy Logo Buckle and designs from their Summer 2012 Collection
By Glamorosi

Jackie Fagan and Nicole Potnick had been friends for years, but something special happened in 2011 when Fagan, an aspiring accessories designer, asked Potnick, a graphic designer,  to craft a logo for her fledgling company. While collaborating on the design they realized they had a similar aesthetic and work ethic; from that moment on BeltEnvy was a two-woman operation with one fashion-forward goal.

Working out of their studio in Villanova, PA, Fagan and Potnick create eye-catching buckles with colorful graphics, studs and Swarovski crystal rhinestones, and a variety of interchangeable leather and suede belt straps.  In the short time since the company was founded, BeltEnvy buckles have been picked up by numerous Philly-area boutiques including Skirt, Gingys, Fiore and Coco Blue.  For Fall 2012 they expand into Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and Charleston. All this in addition to their newly launched website, BeltEnvy.com

We caught up with the busy BeltEnvy duo to find out the inspiration behind their wearable art buckles.

Debut Darling Buckle, 2011
Why belts?
Jackie Fagan: I have always chosen to wear belt buckles and belts to make a personal statement. As a mother of four children, now ages 15 to 20, I was pregnant for 6 years. I would walk into a room and instead of focusing on my friends hair, makeup, and clothing, my eyes would immediately be drawn to their belts. This is what I would refer to as my “BeltEnvy”. I have always wanted to elevate the belt buckle and strap from a mere accessory to the focal point of an outfit.

How many collections do you do a year?
Nicole Potnick: We do two larger collections, Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer - each includes around thirty designs. This year we added two mini collections, Holiday and Resort, which will include three to five additional designs. Many of the pieces are offered in multiple color ways, and all are offered on silver and antique bronze. Then we have an ongoing collection of Buckles for a Cause, some of which include breast cancer, childhood cancer, domestic violence, and animal rescue.

BeltEnvy Studded Buckle - Fall 2012
What is BeltEnvy's focus for Fall and Holiday 2012?  Got a sneak preview for us?
NP: Our Fall Winter 2012 collection is broken down into two parts. The first part is entitled “Pretty Woman”, and focuses on “pretty” geometric patterns and vibrant colors. It has a very contemporary feel. We are also excited to debut the new buckles with studs. The second part is entitled “Wild One” in reference to our whimsical use of animal shapes & prints. They are classic designs with a nod to the seventies.

How does working in Villanova, a suburb of Philadelphia, affect or inspire your collections, if at all?
JF: I think living in the Philadelphia area definitely inspires our collections. There is myriad of fashion and art in our city to absorb, but we also draw huge inspiration from the people themselves. Although many women are consumed by trends, the women in the Philadelphia area are distinctive. We design for all of them.

Duchess of Cambridge Buckle
Do you have a dream client? Who would you most like to see wearing a BeltEnvy buckle?
NP: Jackie and I both immediately said the late, great fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis embodies who our “dream client” would be. We also agreed that it would be completely fabulous to see queen bee fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg donning one of our buckles! Also on our wish list: Julia Roberts, Rachael Zoe, Alicia Keys, BeyoncĂ© and Salma Hayek.

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Can you guess who else the designers behind BeltEnvy would like to see wearing one of their buckles?  A Glamorosi reader!  That's right, Jackie and Nicole have offered to give one lucky reader from the Glamorosi blog the buckle of their choice from the BeltEnvy Spring/Summer 2012 Collection!  Here's how to enter:

This giveaway is now closed
A winner is named below

  • MANDATORY ENTRY: visit BeltEnvy.com, click on "Shop" and check out all of their fabulous designs, then come back to this blog post and leave a comment telling us your favorite buckle from their Spring/Summer 2012 Collection - that is the buckle that will be sent to you if you are selected as the winner of this giveaway. Please post the NAME of the belt buckle, NOT the link to it. You must complete this step to be entered in the giveaway.
  • BONUS ENTRY #1: Follow BeltEnvy on Twitter, then come back to this blog post and leave a comment letting us know. If you are already following BeltEnvy, leave a comment telling us that for your bonus entry.
  • BONUS ENTRY #2:  Sign up to receive the monthly Glamorosi newsletter (it's in the left-hand column of this blog), then leave a comment on this blog post letting us know you signed up.  If you are already signed up for our newsletter, leave a comment telling us that for your bonus entry.

Entries may be posted all in one comment, or in three separate comments. Please be sure there is an email address in your comment or posting profile so I can contact you if you win. The winner will be notified by email and announced on this blog.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. No purchase necessary; a purchase of any kind will not increase your chances of winning.
2. Giveaway begins on Monday, August 6, 2012, 2:00 PM EST, and ends on Friday, August 31, 2012, 11:59 PM EST.
3. One mandatory entry and two bonus entries per person/household, entrants must be 18+,  USA only.
4. For the mandatory entry visit BeltEnvy.com,  then click on "Shop", view their designs, then come back to this blog post and leave a comment telling us your favorite buckle from their Spring/Summer 2012 Collection - that is the buckle that will be sent to you if you are selected as the winner of this giveaway. You must complete this mandatory entry to be eligible for this giveaway.  For bonus entry #1 sign up to follow BeltEnvy on Twitter, then come back to this blog and post a comment letting us know.  For bonus entry #2 sign up for the Glamorosi newsletter, then let us know you signed up by posting a comment on this blog.
5. One winner will be selected by random drawing and will receive the one buckle from BeltEnvy's Spring/Summer 2012 Collection (ARV $60-80) that they indicated as their favorite in comments on the Glamorosi Giveaway post. The winner will be contacted by email, and their name (screen name and/or first name and last initial) will be announced on this blog and/or in our newsletter, and may also be announced by BeltEnvy on their website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms. The winner should allow 4-6 weeks for their prize to arrive.
6. PRIVACY POLICY: I will not trade, share, or sell your information, except for the winner's name and address, which will be provided to the prize sponsor for the purpose of shipping the prize.

Comments on this blog are moderated; some contest entries may show right away, but on days I'm working with clients or covering events outside of my home, entries will be updated the following day.

GOOD LUCK!  

The winner of this giveaway is... KAREN
Karen chose a "Pearls of the Sea" buckle in Navy

Thank you to all who entered
Stay tuned for our next giveaway coming soon!
Collage by Glamorosi
All photos ©BeltEnvy 2011, 2012

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