Article by Margot de Boer
Scarsdale benefitted bigtime when Sandy Krupkin decided to leave corporate fashion in pursuit of creative freedom and a better work-life balance. Building off her experience as the SVP of Sales & Merchandising at Nicole Miller, Sandy launched Sandy Krupkin Consulting in 2017 to discover and launch emerging women’s fashion designers into the US market. Luckily for us, she shares access to these up-and-comers – as well as her favorite well-known brands – right here in Scarsdale through Popup Westchester, a curated retail platform and personal styling company. Keep this Greenacres mom of 2 in your back pocket for all your summer wardrobe needs!
Tell us about your family and life in Scarsdale, please!
My husband Michael and I have two boys; Maks is in middle school (6th grade) and Alex is a HS freshman. Both are very active and play basketball and football.
I’m from Chicago originally, but spent most of my adult life in NYC before moving to Scarsdale in 2011. There’s a misconception that Scarsdale is not diverse, but the dynamic mix of people in the community is one of the best parts about living here. I’m really excited for all the new restaurants that are starting to open in town, and I have to give a shoutout to Barry’s, my fave gym ever – I’m a workout fanatic and have made many friends through the Barry’s community!
What made you decide to strike out on your own after 20 years in corporate fashion? How did you get started with your consulting biz? What do you love most about working for yourself?
I was missing out on family time and never made it home at a decent hour to have dinners with my kids. I was on call 24/7 and traveled every month – sometimes weekly during the busy seasons – and was always stressed. I needed to balance out my life for my personal health and for my kids. So I decided to take the leap in 2017 and had a few brands & showrooms interested in my services; I started consulting right after I left my corporate job. I love the flexibility and creativity that I receive from my clients (brands, showrooms, and individual clients that I can help style).
My advice to anyone looking to do something different or adjust career paths would be to find something they’re passionate about so it never feels like work. There are easy ways to “dip your toe” into something new, even on a part time basis.
Can you give us the scoop on some of the emerging designers you’re loving right now? How do you find designers to work with?
I’m most excited for 2 new brands that just launched this year in the states: Australian brand Boteh along with a great contemporary Israeli designer Hevron. I sought Boteh out directly after discovering them on social media and made an appointment during their first visit to New York for their resort 23 collection. I typically work with around 20 brands at any one time – overseeing all facets relating to sales, pricing, merchandising, and brand strategy – and am constantly researching and tapping my network to find emerging talent. I found Hevron from a friend who owns her own showroom and was launching the brand. It’s always great to see and share clients’ enthusiasm to new emerging designers.
Where did the idea for Pop Up Westchester come from?
My corporate background is in sales – previously managing over $300M in revenue – and as I was consulting for a couple new brands, it was a no-brainer to test the market reaction with real women by launching and selling them at my popups. I immediately sourced additional brands to create a fun, exclusive shopping experience and invite everyone I knew. While most of the events are in Westchester, I’ve hosted events all throughout the tri-state area.
In addition to hosting seasonal pop up events, I also offer personal styling appointments year round where clients get exclusive access to my brands. This week a client was referred to me who wants help with her summer wardrobe and buying a couple special occasion outfits; I usually do these appointments at my house but I can also come to you. I work with women of all ages and have so much fun seeing people discover new favorite designers and pieces!
Any favorite summer fashion trends? How would you describe your personal style?
I am loving longer silhouettes in both dresses and skirts – not moo moos – rather more slimming cuts. I would describe my style as more tailored, versatile, and eclectic as I always buy into the trends. I look for silhouettes that are more complementary to my body and try to “dress” for the occasion and lean more dressy.
What’s next for Pop Up Westchester? How can we get invited to events?
I usually host two main events a year at my house, one in the spring and one in the fall. You can get invited through me personally or through a friend who attends, but appointments are always a must! The best way to keep up to date with events is to follow us on Instagram (@popupwestchester) and DM me for an invite or to inquire about a personal styling session.
Can you spill the tea on your favorite…
Book you’ve read recently or Bingeworthy TV show: Citadel on Prime with Priyanka Chopra
Splurge shopping destination (local or not!): Bergdorfs
Date night spot: any new place in the city, and my new fave spot is Casa Cruz
Bagel or brunch spot: I love Terra on the avenue in Greenwich
Ladies night out destination: Hinoki in Greenwich or Sappori for local
Meal out with the fam: Sappori or Moscato
Place to treat yourself to something nice: Pamela Robbins
Outing with the kids: the boys are foodies and we recently did a hunt for the best of the best food to try in Chinatown Manhattan; it was a huge hit trying the best dumplings, pork buns, noodles and desserts (all recommended on TikTok)!
Hidden Westchester gem (any place you think we should know about!): a great restaurant outside of Scarsdale is Sergio’s in Porchester (not to be confused with Pelham) as the service and ambiance is exceptional! I’m also excited for Michelin restaurant Augustine’s in Mamaroneck that just opened up last June.