Urban Betsy: Seasonal Whispers x Urban Betsy

One of the main goals when I started this blog is to be able to immerse myself amongst a community of rising, established, and pioneering designers --with that said, I couldn't have been happier when approached with the opportunity to feature Seasonal Whispers on Urban Betsy. Its fresh and fun designs go hand in hand with the culture and aesthetics that Yafit (CEO, Founder, and Designer) envisioned when starting this NYC-based company. Many of my readers know I am a very monochromatic dresser (as with most New Yorkers). So I rely on statement jewelry to add a little oomph to my outfit more often than not. You like how the crystals pop against the grey background here? Yeah, shooting in the middle of an impending rain storm was totally premeditated.

As I trekked to the brand's Soho location to interview Yafit one cloudy Thursday afternoon, what caught my attention most when I stood at the intersection of Grand and Canal were the beaming colors of the gems and jewels from the storefront. The decor is minimal, allowing the pieces to speak for themselves. Greeted with a warm hug and a huge smile from Yafit herself, she quickly pointed me towards the new summer collection --I had no shame playing dress up with all the colorful, gypsy, almost bohemian, one of a kind statement pieces. As Yafit piled one on top of another onto my wrist and neck, she took the time to explain the background and inspiration behind them. I snuck in a few questions I had for her as well:

Liz: So what inspired you to create Seasonal Whispers?

Yafit: I moved all the way from Israel with a dream to create something beautiful, something to make women feel good about themselves. It's important for women to look good, whether it's for themselves or for others. I wanted to create something that's fun for women, something that won't cost them an arm and a leg, something that's practical and you won't have to worry about it when you wear it--a brand that has a little bit of me in it, too. I have a background as a Violinist, but the classical music community definitely wasn't for me. I set up shop in an apartment in New York, and with the help of friends, I created a collection that I marketed to boutiques and department stores. Macy's was the first to pick up my collection, and it's been snowballing from there ever since. My Mother then moved from Israel to help me.

Liz: I can't believe how quickly your brand has grown over the years. From your store and factory in Tribeca, to this successful store in Soho, where do you see Seasonal Whispers going the next few years?

Yafit: We're opening up a Seasonal Whispers Museum very soon near Opening Ceremony in Soho and another retail store in the heart of Soho in the next few weeks. Things are happening very fast around here. I am lucky to have the help of family as well. My daughter helps with the photography, my mother with the designing, it's all very family oriented. In addition to our retail stores, we're found in a lot of New York's major boutiques. What women love about us is that we're affordable and we focus on interchangeable/mixing-and-matching fashion. We give them what they want, and it's been working so far. I am very excited with the launch of the Museum and future licensing deals.

Liz: If you could personally pick one piece from this Summer's Collection for my readers to buy, which would it be?

Yafit: I would have to say the bangles in the Love Stone. (last picture). I love the color because it's not quite pink, and it's not orange. It's fun and it matches everything. The bangles are flexible and you don't have to worry if they'll break or not. The crystals are from Swarovski and the bangles gold-plated, so you know it's of quality. You can mix them with other colors depending on your outfit.

I can truly say that after meeting Yafit, I was inspired by her success and drive. That's gotta be the most exciting part about being a blogger. Thanks so much for your time, Yafit! I can't wait to check out your new stores soon and collaborate more in the future!

Find Seasonal Whispers in Soho : 330 West Broadway
and in Tribeca: 71 Murray St.
and also ONLINE

Jewelry: Seasonal Whispers // Blazer: Helmut Lang // Blouse: Helmut Lang // Pants: All Saints // Wedges: Jeffrey Campbell

Photos by Michael Ha