Gone are the days in which women were confined to dull and lifeless pantyhose and the mentality that fish-nets were a fashion faux paus. Australia’s corporate women are ushering in a new era and FS is on the hem front line.
We received the following comments from an anonymous tipster recently on precisely this topic:
Hey, just thought I’d update you on some more Clayton Utz gossip…
FireHosiery Vintage SeamA lawyer called Katie from the CU Sydney competition team left the firm a few months back, and it turns out she has now started up her own online hosiery company, FireHosiery.
There has been a massive transformation happen before my very eyes in the Sydney CU office over the past few weeks: female lawyers everywhere are wearing Katie’s patterned tights! There’s not a bare unadorned leg in sight!
…ooh and her husband, Izhar, still works here as a senior associate in the corporate team, and apparently he gives tips to all the female lawyers (including some of the partners!) on his floor on how to match their patterned hosiery with various outfits!
We immediately emailed FireHosiery to see what the deal was. Katie kindly responded to the questions we asked:
How did you think of the idea?
I came up with the idea whilst working as a lawyer at CU. I had developed a passion for beautiful hosiery several years ago during my travels through Japan and Europe when I fell in love with all the beautiful hosiery that was on offer – from gorgeous patterned fishnets to intricate designed sheers. It was then so disappointing to come back to the somewhat uninspiring hosiery in our Australian department stores. So my initial solution to this problem was to try to bolster my personal hosiery collection by buying up in bulk whilst overseas, so that I would have enough to see me through until my next overseas trip. I
n my job as a lawyer at CU, I used to love wearing gorgeous patterned hosiery to jazz up a plain business suit, and I became somewhat renowned amongst my colleagues for my “hot” hosiery collection. Ultimately, this sparked within me the idea to design my own hosiery to sell online -providing Australian women beautiful unique hosiery delivered direct to their door!
Katie @ the launch of FireHosieryHave you quit your job at Clutz because of the site?
Yes, I left Clutz to work on FireHosiery. I had been planning FireHosiery for quite some time prior to leaving my job, but ultimately I realised in order to give FireHosiery the best chance to succeed, I would need to invest more time that I could commit to whilst continuing to work full time in corporate law.
Which garments are the highest selling?
At this stage, our highest selling styles are: Vintage Seam, Imbroglio and Milano.
Are attitudes changing toward office fishnet-wearing?
Most definitely, I think the modern corporate fashion-conscious female is always looking for ways to add interest and individuality to corporate attire. With fishnet tights, it really comes down to how they are worn. If worn with the appropriate length skirt, and accessorised with the right shoes etc, then they can accentuate a look. The micro-fishnet is a slightly more conservative alternative which is very popular with corporate women these days.
What are some bad looks wearers of hosiery should avoid?
say NO to laddersThe worst look would have to be laddered hosiery, which looks completely unprofessional in business context. I would always keep at least two pairs of spare hosiery in my office drawer to ensure I was covered in any case of any such emergencies!
Who is the model in the photos?
The model is our beautiful Annabel Grimes, the legs of FireHosiery!
Anything funny you could add would be great.
A couple of things –
My husband, Izhar, who still works at Clayton Utz, has received a number of phone calls on his office extension number from women in the firm wanting to place their hosiery orders. Being a time poor lawyer, he kindly directs them on to the FireHosiery website (www.firehosiery.com.au) , but he has on occasion had to take a number of them through the online checkout process!
Interestingly, a Clayton Utz umbrella featured as a prop during the catwalk show at the FireHosiery launch party. We are regrettably unable to advise whether FireHosiery has been used to conceal the identity of any armed-robbers.
FS wishes Katie and Izhar the best of luck with FireHosiery.
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Nice, positive article. Good to see someone chase their dreams.
There was also a female lawyer at Blakes who left to set up Shoes of Prey (where you can design your own shoes).
I see FS has finally found a way to sell ad space.
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The Spy: not yet. If any other corporates (or ex-corporates) are behind similarly inspirational and slightly comical endeavours, let us know and we’ll happily give you a plug.
PS- Katie, if our identities are ever revealed, we hope you’ll see fit to send the team a few pairs of your warmest offering – life on the streets could prove chilly!
Endorsement?
Nice.
Sickening. People leave law firms all the time to follow other dreams, hardly warrants a firm spy article.
Hardly sickening. Lighten up people. Anything that promotes the wearing of fancy hosiery is fine in my book!
Sorry, but since when does this advertisement double as gossip? It might be a firmspy article if the seed capital for the company was stolen from Clayton Utz or if Bridget Styles was modeling some of these fine nylon products or even better if a male Clutz partner was found dressed in some.
Now if anyone does know about any of the above, do let Firmspy know..
Nice Louboutins though.
LBW I have it on good authority Bridgette would happily wear them.
And reminding people that there is more to life than law is important considering the high rates of depression and disillusionment in the profession.
Please find below a summary of the interview:
Q: How did you think of the idea?
A: I came up with the idea whilst working as a lawyer at CU. I realised that I wanted to make more money.
Q: Have you quit your job at Clutz because of the site?
A: Yes, I left Clutz to work on FireHosiery because it would make me more money.
Q: Which garments are the highest selling?
A: At this stage, Vintage Seam, Imbroglio and Milano makes me the most money.
Q: Are attitudes changing toward office fishnet-wearing?
A: If I say yes, more people will buy my products, and therefore I will make more money….so yes, most definitely.
Q: What are some bad looks wearers of hosiery should avoid?
A: Any hosiery which is not brand new. You should buy multiple pairs from me and keep them around just in case… this way I make more sales and get more money.
Q: Who is the model in the photos?
A: Some chick, I have to pay her money… which is bad, but people see the ads she’s in and buys more hosiery…which is good, because it means I make more money.
Q: Anything funny you could add would be great.
A: Here’s a random story which may or may not be true…. and here’s a link to my website, on which you can place orders for hosiery….which results in me getting more money.