Category: NEXTBLUE-Wrangler

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: “Miss Golden” is taking a bite out of the Big Apple. My Manolo’s are packed and I may be kissing my car goodbye… this adventure is going to be its own coffee table book. This will be the first time since I was 17 years old that I have not been employed full-time; it had better be short-lived! New York…put me to WORK!  I have never played with a net. Instead, I have always had to make sure I am prepared to fly every time I jump. You all know that I have enough drive to haul a 16-wheeler and I am not running low on passion. I try to gift my over flow on a daily basis. In the last two years I have thrown myself into the world of social media, worn out a library card and been pulling enough all nighters and drinking enough ROCKSTAR to say” I lovingly work around the clock”. Eight years ago I got on a plane with $3,000 and an acceptance letter to The American University of Paris. It was one of the best years of my life and I learned the most in my educational career. Some couldn’t believe what I was giving up to go… but I gave it everything I had. Today, I purchased a one way ticket to New York City to find my where my contribution lies in an industry that rules my head and owns my heart.  Again, I am giving it everything I’ve got. I fly out September 28th, 2011 at 10:35 pm

Portland, thank you for your endless support in all my endeavors. You have helped mold the person I have become. Thank you to all the businesses that have allowed me to tackle their projects in the US and across the Atlantic; whom have chosen me to execute your vision. Thank you Portland Fashion Week for giving me the opportunity to spend a year collaborating with you, creating the buyer’s market, developing interns and learning how to ask for help- because there is no way I could have done it on my own. Portland Retailers, I applaud you for your participation in be.Portland. I had a vision that was shared with PFW. You have come together for the love of fashion…specialty stores stick together. To my clients whom I consider dear friends; I love you. I am not leaving you. I am in your power tie, your favorite jeans, the shirt you wore on your 40^th birthday and the dress you wore to your rehearsal dinner. You have welcomed me into your life, your family and I hope that I have made the slightest difference in the way you perceive your style and given you the tools the shop with LOVE and rock your bad self – you are beautiful. Over the years I have been part of something amazing. An extended family of retail experts that welcomed me with open arms at 26 and let me tear up the denim wall and help create a department that has the best jeans! Mario’s has been more than an employer they have been my family, my mentors and I have nothing but the up most respect for my colleagues and the art of retailing. Thank you Mario.

If you know me you know my favorite quote: “All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger, but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer” -Niccolo Machiavelli. The only thing that is constant is change… the evolution of experience makes up our life. Take the steps to live the life you want. This move is not going to be as glamorous as it may sound but it will show me truth and provide me an opportunity to see just what I am made of. How successful was I creating my own MBA program? I am ready to find out.

Project Updates

CRACKERJACK+hOUSE has a new Fashion Editor: Jeanne Ivy. She will be keeping you fashionably up to date on industry news, street style, and the “who” & “what” is being worn “where” and shown on the runway. This coming year Providence Fashion Week will be accompanying Portland Fashion Week’s emerging designer coverage because talent counts and I will always support passionate people.

The Butt Therapist will never die because you can’t kill my denim addiction. I hope I will have  special news to share with you in the upcoming weeks. My feet may be pounding the New York pavement but I will remain Butt-Check.org’s Oregon Ambassador and looking forward to joining forces with Kim’s New York Colon Cancer Awareness Ambassador Collin.

For my play by play, NextBlue.com will be featuring my journey “making it” in the fashion industry.

My Autism Awareness is not me… it’s you. You are doing an amazing job with my Global Awareness Project by taking the initiative to share the love, awareness, family stories, parenting tools and support resources. “One cause; One symbol”  InventSuccess.org will be taking an active role in its success and build global support programs.

All right Portlanders there will be a party around the corner and New Yorkers… we’re gonna hit the town and break this newbie in.

I am so lucky to have so many people love and support me. Thank you! I will do my very best to make you proud and stake my claim. Wish me luck!

All my best,

Casey Golden