Meet Mara Novembre, The Designer Behind Allure Novembre, and Her New Drop: Gold Rush
Oh, who is Mara Novembre? Mara is the type of person to launch a kickass retail collection in just a few weeks when she’s stuck at home during a global pandemic. She is the type of person who decides one week before that drop to livestream a launch party for the anticipated collection with a small gathering of her closest friends. Mara’s the type of person to hit a tiny roadblock with her original event venue and turn that small gathering into a chic-ass dinner party at an apartment-turned-restaurant-for-Covid-reasons run by her close friend “Chef John.” She’s the type of QUEEN we all want to be, one who Facetimes her florist, who she is also tight with, for advice on how to make her own centerpieces. Mara is the type of gal who has friends flying in from Miami and driving from Maryland to support the much awaited launch of her jaw-dropping GOLD RUSH. People in Mara’s life show up because they have complete and boundless faith in Mara.
You are a designer, but you also work tirelessly as a wardrobe “dresser” on the set of hit films and television shows. What has been your most memorable job in the film industry, and what made it so great?
Season Five of Madam Secretary. Definitely. I dressed Téa Leoni, the show’s lead actress, and she was an absolute delight. I enjoyed every second as her on-set dresser. We still talk all the time; she supports my business and genuinely cares about others. I even sent her photos of my Gold Rush collection before it went public. While dressing Téa was a highlight of the season, I loved coming to work everyday because of my incredible team in the wardrobe department. Sure, I may have had a few off-days that were a little rough, but every night I’d still go home and think, “It’s all okay because I love my team, I love the actors, and I feel supported.” Honestly everyone on that crew was amazing: the grips, cameramen, props, ADs, CRAFTY--I’m talking best pancakes you’ve ever had in your life. I had them three or four times a week. Always well done, extra butter. Anyway, Madam Secretary was on its fifth season as I mentioned, so the majority of the crew members had been together for ten months out of the year--five days a week, twelve hour days--for five years straight. Joining them, even for just that season, was unforgettable. They welcomed me into their family with open arms.
How do you manage to look cute everyday in an industry that has thirteen hour days in the middle of winter? What motivates you to keep dressing up?
I feel like when you work in the wardrobe department they expect you to look a certain way, to be honest. You just can’t go in looking crazy in our department. Because I deal with clothes and I’m dressing actors everyday, I have to look good myself. If I don’t, then there goes the trust. I’m representing the department when I’m on set, so when they ask for a wardrobe check, they should see me and say, “Wardrobe department, yup, they’re out here.” And when I do just throw something on, I feel like crap because I don’t feel like myself. I always think about that standard, especially during quarantine. Like today, I have this long flowy dress, it’s a total house dress, and I was going to wear it to get my hair done, but then I stopped myself because I can’t let my good habits slip away.
How do you balance two jobs AND a social life in industries that are so time consuming?
It’s really, really hard. First of all, I hand sew all my pieces. Everything in my collection is pretty much made to order--I don’t have stock or inventory--so that’s probably the most time consuming aspect of Allure Novembre. During the week I don’t want to spend hours sewing because I’m coming home late from my day job. I usually want to work on my designs during the weekend, and on the weekends, sometimes I’d rather unwind or hang out with my friends. Or I might have an event (because I’m also an event planner). When someone pays me to do something, I’m accepting the responsibility that I am going to deliver good quality work. That has really been the priority to me lately. So yes, sometimes I do have to miss out on social events. But prioritization, time management and communication are the keys to balancing it all.
When did you start your own business, and why?
I started Allure Novembre in 2012, when I was in college studying International Business. Before I left to study abroad in South Korea, I had told my job, “Hey, I’m going to South Korea for 6 weeks, hold it down.” When I came back, they had not held it down. I came back to no job. At that point, it was the summer before my senior year, I was bored and without a job--and once I feel like I’m doing nothing with my life, I immediately start to freak out. So, I had these floral sheets I loved, and had a thought to make something out of them. The first thing I ever did was add floral pockets to a pair of my shorts. Now that I’m thinking about it, they were not cute at all. But I soon got the hang of it.
When I got back to school, I started making headbands out of necessity. I’m from Boston and I went to school in Providence, at Johnson and Wales University. My most-trusted hair salon was in Boston, which really isn’t that far, but it still took me about an hour to get to the salon. And when I get my hair done, I’m there for HOURS. I just didn’t have the time anymore, so I had to figure out a way to look cute while I was on campus, going to class, attending sorority events, and keeping active. That’s why I started making headbands, and they quickly became a thing. I started making them to match my outfits! Everyone started saying, “Oh, wow, that’s so cute, where did you get your turban from?” And when I responded that I made it myself, boom! “Can you make me one too?”
I turned my dorm room into a Mara sweatshop, with my sewing machine and all my fabric spewed around. At the time, my turbans had different fabrics on either side, which was my signature style. My turbans gained popularity, mind you I was attending Johnson and Wales University, but I found myself at Brown University setting up shop in their dining hall with my sewing machine, fabric everywhere. Brown students would come by, choose their fabric combinations, and I would make their turbans right then and there. That’s how I made money senior year, and that’s how Allure Novembre was born.
How has your brand evolved since starting your business? And how were you able to adapt to the global pandemic?
Well, turbans turned into more things. I wanted to learn how to make dresses, skirts--I really was learning everything from YouTube. I learned the basics of sewing in high school, because I went to a performing arts school, but I needed to brush up. I’ll never forget a time in college when a fraternity at my school was having a toga party, and I approached them like, “Hey, I can make togas for your party… if you put me on the flyer.” I’d have people over to my tiny dorm, I’d size them, and make their togas. At that point, I was gaining traction and I knew my business needed a name. I chose Allure Novembre because I felt like my brand was alluring. Whenever I made something, people wanted to know where it was from because I always made pieces I couldn’t find anywhere else. Allure Novembre (Novembre is my last name) had a great ring to it.
For a while, I stopped designing because I was working in a corporate environment and didn’t want to go home and sew in my free time. I was making custom dresses for people and it was tiring. Last November, however, I relaunched my business. Then, as you know, the pandemic hit in March. At that time I had a whole collection ready to launch, so I had to adapt. I started having sales, which really helped me gain momentum. I was selling half-priced turbans, I had giveaways, just to get people more engaged. I added masks. I’m rolling with the punches. I try to figure out what people need, while remaining in my lane. I have always focused most on headwear. Yes, I used to make dresses and custom pieces, and I still can and will do that, but I personally love headwear. I feel like when it comes to a hat, you are showcasing your uniqueness and personality. Everyone wears hats differently. My hat is like my crown, I want it to be beautiful and make a statement.
SHAMELESS PLUG! What have you been working on lately? What do you want people to know about Mara and Allure Novembre?
I’ve been working HARD on my Gold Rush collection for what feels like years. Gold is my favorite color, and I’ve always been working toward this release, so I’m excited for the world to see it. As for me, I want the world, my clients, to know that everything I do, I put my all into. My whole heart. And I would never release anything that I wouldn't personally wear myself. I want the world to know the Allure Girl. She is fierce. She is a go-getter. She loves to travel. She’s fabulous. She knows her worth. When I start designing a piece, I think about the Allure Girl. Does this piece embody what my brand represents? If it doesn’t, I’m not going to make it. My brand is so important to me.
Next time you need a new headpiece, event planner, custom face mask, or jaw-dropping swimsuit, Mara Novembre is your girl. And if you need an event space, personal chef, florist, PR person, real estate agent, DJ, photographer, or dentist, Mara has the rolodex of the best in New England. And one last reminder to check out the new Allure Novembre collection, released today, Gold Rush. She is live and she is sexy.
Keep up with the latest and greatest from Mara on Instagram @allurenovembre, and her personal account @maratheexplorer.
