Name and Title:
Nancy McCormick, Founder
How many years have you been in business in NYC?
Florence Fancy started organically after I had my second child in 2010. I really wanted to dress my daughter Cyra in beautiful clothes that I simply couldn’t find in New York City.
How did you get your start and what was your initial inspiration?
Florence Fancy grew out of my desire to find more unique, beautiful things to dress my children in. In my travels, especially throughout Europe, I loved all of the small boutique brands that designed beautiful clothing. So I started buying children’s clothing in my travels and hosted a few trunk shows from my home which were a pretty quick success. Soon after, we opened the showroom on East 75th Street where we could really focus on growing the business and expanded to other categories like accessories.
What do you feel differentiates you from others in your field?
After selling other brands for a few years, I wanted to try my hand at designing a line of my own. Our first collection launched in the Spring of 2015. We were very fortunate to launch exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. I really take pride in trying different looks for our little girls…as long as they're fancy! We are all about European craftsmanship and materials, while adding a fun, fresh American twist. The American girl likes to have fun, not take themselves too seriously, but she still likes to dress up. Comfort is also important here in the US so we try to balance all of these things.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part by far is the concepts stage for each new collection. We start with a mood board where we pin various fabrics and textures, pictures from our travels and things I’ve pulled from magazines, along with screenshots from Instagram. We should probably get a Pinterest board going…a project for 2017. After that, we begin design development which my daughter is very involved in. She’s the inspiration for our brand and the resident model. Cyra gets to try on sample in their various stages of development to ensure proper fit and of course, comfort.
What is your favorite secret NYC spot?
Its no secret I can’t live without Sant Ambroeus, SoulCycle and the Valery Joseph Salon. They're not a secret, but rather a must in my daily life.
How do you benefit mamas?
I am a true New Yorker, and I really like to give back to the city. Central Park is one of the most iconic parks in the world, and I have been part of that board for years. I sponsored one of the playgrounds that my children grew up going to like many NYC families. I have met so many wonderful friends in the park, so it felt like natural place for us to give back.
What is the most memorable feedback a client has given you?
I light up when a client tells me how much their daughter likes one of my dresses and how she won’t stop wearing it. To me it means they feel fancy and comfortable, that’s what this brand is all about.
Pay it forward and name your top colleagues in the same field or related field:
One of my friends from high school, Gabriele Corto Moltedo, created a brand called Corto years ago. He designs women’s handbags and accessories, based in Florence. His collection is a pretty big success at this point. Another dear friend, Karla Martinez, is now the Editor-in-Chief of VOGUE Mexico, based in Mexico City. All of my friends really inspire me in one way or another, but these two are pretty big stars at this point.
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you? Or what is your "mantra" / words to live by?
“Don’t take life so seriously.” We all have so much going on in our lives, so much responsibility. I’m a bit of a perfectionist at heart, which is why this helps me out quite a bit. It helps me to enjoy my day, my children; enjoy life really. In the end, what really matters is family and positive memories that you never forget. I find if I’m too busy taking things too seriously, I get lost in the chaos of all that and don’t have fun. Of course, this is easier said than done...
As moms, the day can escape us, what is your best time-saving trick?
I’m a calendar girl, it’s the only way I can function. My day days starts at 7AM, and I usually hit the ground running. By the time noon rolls around, I’m often shocked by the amount things I’ve ticked off the to-do list. I’m not really a morning person so knowing what I have to do the day before is a huge help to keep me organized and focused.