“If it doesn’t scare you, you’re probably not dreaming big enough.”
~Tory Burch
When we need a pick me up, we reach for our no-fail, True Fashionista designers like Tory Burch. Featuring classic lines with modern sensibility and a no-nonsense aesthetic, Ms. Burch’s designs have amassed a following rivaling that of Chanel, Gucci, and Dior. Consignors love her too, as evidenced by the collection you’ll find at Southwest Florida’s largest designer resale and consignment store, True Fashionistas. Ms. Burch is also a dedicated philanthropist, focusing on empowering women to succeed via her nonprofit foundation.
HISTORY OF TORY BURCH – THE BACKSTORY
Born on June 17th, 1966 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to Reva and Ira “Bud” Robinson, Tory Burch grew up in a 250-year old house in the prestigious Main Line area just west of Philadelphia, a quietly affluent locale established by wealthy businessmen in 1823. To put it bluntly, the term WASP was coined to describe the old-money families of Philadelphia society, many of whom lived in Main Line.
This was where Tory dwelled, inheriting much of her True Fashionista chic from her parents. She admits that both had impeccable taste in clothing and style and that she soaked up plenty of it. You’ll catch that vibe checking out the selection at Naples’ best consignment store, True Fashionistas. She enjoyed riding horses and was also captain of the tennis team at the Agnes Irwin School, the top-rated private girls’ grade school where she attended.
Following graduation from University of Pennsylvania with an art history major, Tory moved to new York, where she worked for Zoran, a Yugoslavian designer, then Harper’s Bazaar magazine. She then held public relations and advertising positions at Vera Wang, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Loewe while preparing for her next career move as a designer. She did this by putting together scrapbook collections of pictures from fashion magazines and old pictures.
HISTORY OF TORY BURCH – LAUNCHING THE BRAND
She also got married to William Macklowe, the son of a real estate mogul, in 1993. The marriage lasted less than a year. Then in 1996 she married investor J. Christopher Burch. This marriage lasted 10 years and resulted in three children. Post-marriage, Tory continued to live in their New York city apartment, launching her first collection from said Manhattan apartment before opening her first downtown boutique in 2004. After briefly dating Lance Armstrong in 2007, she dated and eventually married Pierre-Yves Roussel, former chairman an CEO of LVMH in 2018. The following year he became CEO of Burch’s company and Burch assumed Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer titles. Titles aside, this is Tory’s brand and passion, very much on display at True Fashionistas, the best designer consignment store.
HISTORY OF TORY BURCH – THE LOOK TAKES OFF
Her fashion label, initially called “TRB by Tory Burch” then shortened to “Tory Burch”, launched from the above apartment in 2004. Burch’s True Fashionista fashion style is often referred to as “preppy-bohemian luxe and preppy-boho.” Her easy-to-wear designs show off her famous flair for turning the t-shirt into a fashionable item of clothing. At one point early one, there were actually waiting lists for her 50s and 60s-inspired clothes! In 2015 she launched a separate performance activewear line called “Tory Sport”, and by 2020 there were over 120 Tory Burch stores in the US and 300+ stores worldwide. Burch’s True Fashionista clothing, footwear, accessories, fragrance and beauty products are carried at over 3,000 stores worldwide. You can find a varied collection of Tory Burch’s work at True Fashionistas, where accessories like authentic designer handbags on consignment are always available.
HISTORY OF TORY BURCH – AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
FamousEntrepreneurs.com shares that Tory has won several awards for her work, such as the 2005 Rising Star Award from the Fashion Group International for the best new Retail Concept in 2005, the 2007 Accessory Brand Launch of the year award from the Accessories Council of Excellence, and 2008 accessory designer of the year from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Her spring/summer 2018 collection is currently on view beside fellow lauded designers in The Costume Institute exhibition In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.
HISTORY OF TORY BURCH - PHILANTHROPY
Burch’s drive to give back manifested itself with the founding of the Tory Burch Foundation in 2009 to encourage the empowerment of women in America by giving them small business loans and providing them with entrepreneurial education. Burgeoning small business owners can access resources, advice, capital and more through her Foundation. Giving back and supporting other True Fashionista women was part of the plan when Tory started her company in 2004. She is also on the board of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
More room means more stuff! Head on in to the new, spacious 13,000 sq. ft. location of True Fashionistas consignment store, Naples. Discover our expansive Tory Burch collection, authenticity guaranteed. Not in Naples? No worries! Shop and consign with us 24/7 online!