As
soon as I was about to turn my back on Richmond’s Fashion Scene, I find recent
fashion events, stylish street walkers, and new boutiques to be projecting
things HAUTE! I had a chance to
speak with Ronnie Beale, owner and founder of Sophisticated Ignorance
Boutique. Ronnie was Born in
Jersey City, NJ and raised in a single parent home in Norfolk, VA. He started
his post-secondary education at Norfolk State University and finished at
Virginia Commonwealth University(VCU).
At VCU he received his Bachelors of Science in Business with a
concentration in Marketing. He is
also member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. I recently talked with Ronnie
about the vision of the boutique and I am excited about what’s to come.
Sophisticated
Ignorance Boutique is what I will call a gift, from the fashion gods to men’s
fashion. The online boutique, www.sophisticated-ignorance.com,
sells “timeless pieces, as well as trendy accessories with an urban perspective
in mind for the aesthetically pleasing male of today.” These accessories
sharpen and complete men looks from the day life to the nightlife. Of course I believe in accessories! I
love the ease of layering and stacking them, adding character to a look. The boutique has a great selection of
bold and unique bracelets, necklaces, rings, bags, hats, and suspenders that
would look great on today’s stylish man. What I like about this boutique is
that a diverse group of men can all shop here. I wont even limit the customer to men, because I know some
lesbians that can rock these accessories and look HAUTE sporting it.
Sophisticated
Ignorance’s website is easy to navigate and also has models rocking the look. I
love a lot of the merchandise that the boutique has to offer. I adore the skulls, crosses, ropes,
chains, and feathers, along with vibrant colors and textures that can make a
look pop. These accessories can be
paired with anything that a guy wants to wear: a v-neck, button up, or even a
tank top. Slide on a couple of
bracelets, a watch, and a ring and be merchandised for the day! To Ronnie, thank you for sharing your
vision with the world.
Below
are the questions that I asked Ronnie in a phone interview. Ronnie’s vision, professionalism, and
eye for savvy trends makes him a step ahead of the rest. Read the Q&A session and get to
know more about this up and coming business owner.
1.
Who is your favorite designer?
Jeremy
Scott is my favorite designer because of his bold designs against the
norm. I love the way he brought a
breath of fresh air and sense of playfulness (with all due respect) to a dull
and boring Adidas brand. He has
made a once lower picked brand one of the most expensive and highly demanded
footwear out right now.
2.
If you could describe Sophisticated Ignorance in 3 words, what would they be?
Craftsmanship.
Quality. Distinction.
3.
Where do you seek inspiration?
Due to
technology, I seek many inspirations from the highly fashionable Korean
community. Korean fashion tends to
focus on intricate detailing.
I also seek
much inspiration from simply people watching. I like to blend ‘looks’ together. To me, my key to a great outfit is simply the clashing and
blending of traditional pieces with non-traditional pieces.
4. Are
you considering opening a brick and mortal store?
Yes, I plan
on having a big store for men to shop at, but first I’d like to have small
kiosk in different areas introducing the brand.
5.
What trends have you seen for the spring and fall seasons?
With the
recent economic crisis of 2008, a new sense of pride in appearance and image
has surfaced among men worldwide.
With a weak job outlook, men became more aware of health and physical
appearance. There has been a spike
in male grooming (hair cuts, tanning, salon visits,spas,etc.) as well as an
increase in retail spending. In
particular men have banked on accessories. Once, something only a woman
traditionally did, men took a liking to.
With funds running low, but a drive to make a name for one’s self, how
else could one achieve a fashionable look for a cheap penny?? The answer is simply to accessorize. It’s pretty inexpensive to revamp an old
suit with a new button or new tie.
Or how else could a $6 t-shirt look cool? Throw on a few necklaces or some nice wrist wear.
We will continue to see the stacking
of bracelets for some time. Make room for patterned and colored quarter socks,
to accompany the revisited demand of limited and rare sneaker releases.
6.
What is the most difficult part about owning a boutique?
Inventory
Management!! With such a variety
of items, it is very difficult to successful manage web stock, warehouse stock,
and the constant process of having “new” fresh stock. It is a very difficult task indeed, but I believe this will
be our key to success in establishing a global brand identity.
7.
If you could choose a celebrity to become the spokesmodel for Sophisticated
Ignorance who would it be and why?
Andre 3000 hands down. I’ve always
believed he was the most stylish figure since the Atlanta braves fitted hat
with matching David Justice jersey (*chuckles). Andre has become not only a style icon, but also as a
musician and lyricist. The content
of his music is not the usual tale of street life, drugs, and partying. Rather
his music is similar to his fashion sense…against the norm and in a lane of its
own. Recently Gillette has even
featured Andre in several of their ‘Style’ commercials. Andre embodies
everything that Sophisticated Ignorance exudes.
