Living in New York has it’s highs and lows. It is definitely a high stress environment that can get the best of you if you let it. But, it’s also an amazing city with lots of fun events and activities. In fact, one of my goals for this year has been to take advantage of as many activities as possible, including weeknight events. This time last year I rarely left the office before 8pm and went straight home, exhausted from the day.

This year, I’m working more efficiently while at work and I’m practicing a healthy work life balance. I left work at 6:15 in order to meet Theodora, Grace, and Meg, Bo’s little sister, for a special event at Florence Gould Hall.

More than 300 women and men came together to hear Tory Burch talk about her time in the industry as part of the French Institute’s Fashion Talks.

I honestly have a girl crush after tonight’s event. Tory was poised, family focused, inspiring, and is very self aware.

(Thanks Theodora for this crystal clear picture!)

While the event only lasted 45 minutes, her insights and comments have left me thinking far longer. Here are a few of the highlights from tonight:

• Tory had no fashion background in college
• She has built her brand from the ground up in 7 short years
• Her mother, Reva, was the original inspiration behind her lifestyle brand
• Her goal was to answer an unmet need for quality fashion at an affordable price
• “If you find something you’re passionate about, that’s a great thing.”
• “I get to be a business person but also be creative”
• Her original 5 year plan was to have 5 strong stores. She had 45 by the end of the 5 years and will have 60 by the end of this year.
• Her flagship store opened during Fashion Week in 2004 and sold $100,000 during the first day alone.
• She attributes her success to her time management skills
• They look at the web as their largest store and know this is where they make their first impression to the consumers.
• This September, Tory Burch will have it’s first fashion show. Up until September 2011, they’ve always had presentations due to cost constraints.
• She was a tomboy growing up in Philadelphia suburbs, but her first fashion memory is her YSL prom dress and her parents’ impeccable style.
• She chose her logo from a list of 250 options a design firm provided her after she requested they build a logo around her initial, T.
• She is very focused on her family of three sons, three daughter in laws, and her husband. (See video here where she addresses phones during dinner.) Tory Burch at Fashion Talks

• She understands the importance of social media; and has even used Twitter to pitch product ideas to loyal consumers. Their first great success from Twitter was the Tory Travel Socks.
• Her #1 fashion necessity which every woman should own is a classic trench to “cover it all up.” I’m not sure why she’d want to cover her gorgeous clothes but it doesn’t stop me from lusting over her Quincy trench!

Question: What would you ask Tory Burch if you had the opportunity?