MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Liz Walker, Director of Public Relations at Tibi

Whom You Know readers KNOW that Peachy Deegan just loved the Tibi show during fashion week-see February article and February video on it- and it is due to the efforts of fabulous people like Liz Walker that fashion week goes so well.

Liz Walker was born in Boston in 1975, but spent the majority of her years growing up in Palm Beach, FL since the age of 13. She was fortunate enough to go to a great private high school in CT (Kent) and received her bachelors degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. [Whom You Know highly endorses those prep schools! Whom You Know would not have existed without one in particular!] After graduating, she spent 6 months experiencing Spain, living with a family in Granada and traveling around the country improving her Spanish. Liz moved to San Francisco in 1999 at the height of the internet boom and became involved in the online advertising industry. Liz lived there until December 2002 (so experienced the crash as well) when she moved to NYC and began temporary work with a friend who owned her own PR agency, Emilia Fanjul Communications. She fell in love with the field and stayed with her for 4 years before moving in house with Tibi. Liz has been with Tibi for 2 years now and absolutely loves the environment, atmosphere and most importantly, the collections more and more every season. In her off time she loves to travel, ski, play tennis and golf. Liz is involved with charities ASPCA, Operation Smile and New Yorkers For Children. Peachy Deegan recently chatted with Liz Walker of Tibi.

Peachy Deegan: How did you get your start in PR and how did you end up at Tibi?
Liz Walker: When I moved to New York, one of my best friends Emilia Fanjul mentioned I could help her out at her PR company while looking for a position in advertising. I arrived in nyc the night of January 2nd and began working the next morning. I didn’t take my job search too seriously because I was interested in learning more about the PR business. When it looked like my first interview 2 months later was going to turn into an offer, both Emilia and I realized how well our situation was working out and she offered me a full time position. Tibi had been a client of Emilia Fanjul Communications (EFC) for 5 years. When Emilia shut the company down to devote all her time to her first born I interviewed with Tibi and was offered Director of PR. This was a new position for them as they had always worked with an agency in the past. I think it’s worked out very well for both of us.

What are the most unusual aspects of PR?
I’d say some of the personalities you encounter. Dressing celebrities, it can be a little surreal. Although I have to say for the most part, they are very down to earth.

What did you like best about fashion week?
I like the excitement and fast pace of the work. I tend to steer clear of the actual shows myself and review the collections from my desk on Style.com. But this was Tibi’s 7th season showing in the Bryant Park tents and the first time we have taken the task in-house (we have always hired an outside specialty firm) so there was a lot of unknown territory for me making sure the press, tent, check-in etc went smoothly. Trying to seat close to 800 people with another 300 in standing can be tricky and political. But the fact that this was new for me made it all the more exciting when things went well and the show was a success.

How much work goes into the Tibi show?
A very large amount. Everything from invite design to stuffing, sealing, stamping 2000 envelopes to making sure you haven’t missed even 1 of the 2,000 rsvp’s, arranging press, seating the guests, making sure the check in line doesn’t get backed up, that VIP’s are found and escorted in and so much more. The last 20 minutes are the most hectic with editors trying to get to their front row seats only to find they’ve been “poached” by someone else. We have a great team here that really did a good job in keeping everything as relaxed as possible.

What is the funniest request you've gotten in doing PR?
I’d say not so much a request but when I was with EFC we worked on a beautiful lingerie client who had introduced a line of pleasurable “toys” designed each season by a hand picked and well-known artist around the world. Obviously it was my job to get as much press on these as possible which meant drafting press releases and pitching to my editors. It was a bit funny and awkward to be writing serious emails regarding the “beautiful aesthetic yet discreet functionality” of these toys that could “be viewed as art forms on your bedroom dresser or fireplace mantel”. But I suppose they were!

What is your favorite place to be in NYC?
Central Park

What is your favorite shop?
Tibi, of course!

What is your favorite drink?
White wine spritzer, I get made fun of all the time but I’m petite so this is a good drink to sip on without getting too tipsy. Second up would be Guinness.

What is your favorite restaurant?
I absolutely love great wine and cheese. I live next door to Otto and am always there at the bar. That’s my casual favorite. If I were to choose a formal favorite I would say Nobu.

What is your favorite thing to do in NYC that you can do nowhere else?
I haven’t found anything yet that I can’t do anywhere else but I would say the theater scene is incomparable. I grew up coming to NYC with my parents and grandparents and we would never leave without seeing a show or two. Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable, Starlight Express, Cats etc. They were amazing to see as a child and still stand out clearly in my memory.

What do you think is most underrated and overrated here?
Underrated – the close proximity of some great areas right outside the city. I don’t think a lot of people are aware of the wine country (it’s not Napa but it’s still very beautiful) and surrounding areas that have so much to offer.
Overrated – I cant think of anything overrated. Nyc has it all and it’s all the best!

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
Even though I’m very much a city girl, I am absolutely a “country” girl at heart. You could put me in the remote mountains of the West and I’d be happiest. By my initial appearance, some might assume I grew up and will always live in Nyc but if they see me on the tennis court or ski slopes they’re surprised at how much more I’m in my element. I also have an abnormal love of animals. It would be my dream to establish an animal sanctuary out West (similar to BestFriends.org) and rescue / help adopt any kind of animal. It’s a distant goal so maybe one of these days I’ll just pick up an move. Not for a while though. I still have much more to experience here.

How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
Lizwalker88@yahoo.com