Looking for a little more charm in your life? We’ve got just the ticket for you, dahling.
It’s my great pleasure to introduce Little More Charming™, an online boutique that sells one-of-a-kind studded charms, sequined wristlets, bedazzled flip-flops and other adorable-yet-glamorous items I love. And all of the items are reasonably priced, so I can get my bling without breaking the budget.
Founded in 2010 by Karen Paul, Little More Charming™ has already become a huge success, with trendy tote bags and jewelry items fit for young girls, tweens, teens and women of all ages.
But it’s not just the store we adore here at Holly Pinafore (corny, I know, but it just rolled off my tongue that way). We love and admire Karen, a vivacious mom and entrepreneur who decided she wanted to do something fun for a living. And indeed, she did.
Because, after all, what’s not fun about accessories?
“I do have an addiction to accessories and I have happily passed on that addiction to my daughter,” says Karen with a hearty chuckle. This woman certainly has a great sense of humor and a spunky, energetic vibe that seems to transmit through her products.
Karen explains that she practically grew up in the fashion industry. Her mother worked as Fashion Director for Saks Fifth Avenue and would stage elaborate fashion shows. Karen started helping out at the shows at age 12. “I loved the glitz and glamour,” she says.
But in adulthood, the closest Karen ever got to the fashion scene was by working as a talent agent as well as in the production office for the TV show “Knot’s Landing.” Soon after her daughter Hannah entered kindergarten, Karen and her husband decided that Karen would retire to spend more time with their little girl.
“I have one child and one chance with that child,” says Karen. “It was very important for me to pick her up from school every day. I never miss any of her sports games.”
Many people think that full-time mommyhood leaves no opportunity for a woman to follow her dreams. But in Karen’s case, it seems the decision to become a stay-at-home-mom has brought Karen closer to the fashionista lifestyle she enjoyed as a child. The creation of Little More Charming not only gives her the opportunity to spend more time with her family, but it also allows Hannah and her friends the opportunity to participate in the brainstorming and designing of each accessory.
“I actually bring Hannah and her friends together for focus groups to ask them their opinions on different designs,” says Karen.
But Karen hopes to accomplish more through her business than just sales. “I would love for my daughter to see how you can start something from scratch and grow it into a successful business. I don’t think my business makes a difference in the world, but it is fun. And it lets girls be creative with the charms and the accessories. Girls change accessories and clothes every half hour. This is perfect for them! They can constantly change the charms around – add new ones, come up with different phrases or words to use on the products,” she says.
So,who’d have thought! After years of working behind the scenes, Karen was finally given the chance to shine—to put that extra special sparkle in the lives of girls and women. We’re honored to put Karen and Little More Charming in the spotlight.