“If a design is truly elegant, classic and pure, it will remain so forever.” - Adrienne Vittadini
As Adrienne Vittadini's Director of Visual Merchandising from 1990-1998, Mark oversaw the following efforts:
Conceptualized and communicated the brand's image for all retail stores and shop-in-shop programs
Designed visual installations for all retail stores
Styled Adrienne Vittadini for many of her public appearances, and acted as her interior stylist for all photography and filming of her office and homes
Assisted Adrienne Vittadini on all QVC appearances and collaborated with the QVC team to create all set designs
Oversaw the brand’s presence in Mexico City by staging a fashion show, creating shop-in-shop concepts and supervising the local Brand Manager
Collaborated with Larry Laslo on many interiors and retail environments
Coordinated licensees to ensure consistent brand image and standards
Hired, trained and directed Visual Managers within each store
Supervised and trained all Retail Coordinators and Selling Specialists
Inspired by travel, art and pop culture, Adrienne Vittadini established knitwear as an important sportswear category that offered designs with a sense of sophisticated ease. The Adrienne Vittadini brand has been described as Effortlessly Elegant since its launch in 1979.
As Kensie's Director of Visual Merchandising from 2007 to 2011, Mark oversaw the following ares:
Kensie is a lifestyle brand for edgy 20 something's with a yearning for feminine looks that are subtle and sensual or bright and bold, Created in 1994 by Lani and Eric Karls in Vancouver, the Kensie brand is now available all over the US and Canada.
As Kensie Girl's Director of Visual Merchandising from 2007 to 2011, Mark oversaw the following ares:
Collaborated with design director and founder, Lani Karls, to conceptualize and communicate the brand’s image across all showrooms, shop-in-shop programs, tradeshow installations, and outlet stores
In-house stylist for all ad campaigns and fashion shows; collaborated with creative director, Jocelyn Fortier
Launched Kensie Girl in Mexico City by staging a fashion show and creating shop-in-shop concepts
Designed seasonal visual installations for each showroom, specific to each brand’s identity
Coordinated licensees to ensure a consistent brand image and standards for all products and showrooms
Supervised all public relations efforts for all press opportunities, brand launches, and in-store events
Supervised and trained all Retail Coordinators
The little sister brand of Kensie, Kensie Girl is a contemporary line targeted to teens. The Kensie Girl motto is “Let’s hang out and make pretty” and she enjoys dressing in the latest trends. Kensie Girl clothes are soft and whimsical, yet edgy or vintage inspired, but always pretty and suitable for the girl who isn’t quite sure what mood she wants to dress in that particular day.
As Mac & Jac's Director of Visual Merchandising from 2007 to 2011, Mark oversaw the following ares:
Originally started as a line for 30-50 somethings, Mac & Jac stood for timeless yet fun sense of elegance for nearly 20 years before its recent shift to target a more contemporary market. The creators of the brand, Eric and Lani Karls, also brought the Kensie and Kensie Girl brands to life. They named the brand after their daughters Mackenzie and Jacqui, who are now in their mid-20s.
Opened in 1996, the founding location for Mecox is in Southampton on two acres of a former garden center. Its expansive grounds and charming rural architecture help guide the Mecox philosophy of taking inspiration from both the exterior and interior. Attracting many Hamptons and New York City based interior designers, the original location has evolved over the years and now includes the largest display of outdoor garden vignettes with outdoor furniture, garden ornaments and some select boxwoods. Mecox Soutampton's interiors show their now signature interior home furnishings offerings complemented with many accessories and fine art.
From 1979 to 1987, Mark held various key roles at Saks:
Visual Director at the Boston store, Assistant Visual Director at the Chicago store, Fashion Coordinator for all windows at the Fifth Avenue flagship store
Mentored by Robert Benzio, VP of Visual Merchandising and collaborated with Fashion Director, Ellen Salzman and her team
Collaborated with leading fashion designers to ensure that the vision for Saks’ windows came to life on-brand; worked with designers such as Geoffrey Beene, Donna Karan, Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta
Designed and sourced costumes for all mechanical figures for holiday window installations, while collaborating with Tom and Linda Platt on costume design
Saks Fifth Avenue is the successor of a business founded by Andrew Saks in 1867 and incorporated in New York in 1902 as Saks & Company. In 1923, Saks & Co. merged with Gimbel Brothers, Inc., operating as a separate autonomous subsidiary. On September 15, 1924, Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel opened Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC.
“Being a child of the ’60s, I still have that idealist in me that I think I can pull it all together and give people an uplifting, positive message, and still be an entrepreneur and a capitalist at the same time." - Sigrid Olsen
As Sigrid Olsen's Director of Visual Merchandising from 1998-2007, Mark oversaw the following efforts:
Evolved the brand’s “Vision, Art, Clothing, Life” concept
Created showroom environments with a lifestyle look that spoke to each monthly delivery of clothing
Styled and organized fashion shows on 7th Avenue as well as numerous shows around the United States
Conceptualized and collaborated with several ad agencies on the brand’s image
Collaborated with the store planning and retail divisions to help communicate a consistent yet ever evolving brand message across all retail stores and shop-in-shops
Coordinated all aspects of styling for lookbooks, mailers, and photoshoots
Oversaw licensees to ensure a consistent brand image for all showrooms and photoshoots
Managed the Senior Marketing Coordinator and Marketing Assistant
“It was her art speaking to you through her clothing, I would put on tops of hers and felt like I was wearing a piece of art.” - customer Kathy Hazel
Jude Connally - Working closely with the founder to better develop the brand’s image through all aspects of visual merchandising including trade show booths, freestanding and shop-in-shop concepts as well as styling ad campaigns
Rafaella Clothing / Perry Ellis - Creating showroom installations and styling seasonal ad campaigns
Nic + Zoe - Envisioned the NYC showroom and designed the corporate offices
The Elegant Setting - Designed all windows and merchandised the table top boutique in Southampton for 7 years, as well concepted an entertaining segment for Open House New York
Izod / Phillips Van Heusen - Created the look and feel of all showrooms for the womens collection
Design interiors for private homes across New York City, The Hamptons, Connecticut and New Jersey
