Meet Ann Luly

We were lucky to catch up with Ann Luly recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ann , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
Being positive has always been my Modus Operandi, I wake up with Love in my Heart and excitement for my day. I come from a family of five siblings and was always the child that tried to bring Laughter & Love to my cantankerous siblings.
We all have a choice in this beautiful wondorous Life we are privileged to have been given, I always say to my friends when they say they are depressed…that they own the control buttons.
My MoM was a very spiritual and positive force in our lives and I believe that was one of the reasons I choose Positivity, Positivity, Positivity. It’s fun to be happy it’s not fun to be sad or disgruntled.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I was raised in San Diego and taught myself how to sew at age 6. I came from a family of five, and I was the second youngest. Having the ability to sew my own clothes was a way of not wearing hand-me-downs. I would create an outfit the night before school and wear it the next day. During my teen years, I managed a Swiss Colony delicatessen; I worked the night shift. After I closed, I would receive the inventory for the shop. The driver became a pal and asked if I would like to learn how to drive his 15-gear, 45-footer diesel rig. Of course, I reacted positively toward it. Every time he came to drop off inventory, he would give me lessons in the mall parking lot. With those lessons under my belt, I moved to Los Angeles in my 20s and became one of the first 10 women Teamsters in Local 399, which represents Teamsters in the Motion Picture Industry. I drove movie stars, diesel rigs, and motorhomes on TV and film productions.

In the ’80s, I was married to a comic, Bobcat Goldthwait. We made a movie called ‘Shakes The Clown’; he wrote, starred, and directed it, and I produced it, along with one other feature. I also produced a few TV specials. While still working in the entertainment industry, I opened ‘Hoity Toity’ 29 years ago, a boutique in Studio City that features my designs, custom-made clothing, bags, and functional art. When people walk into my atelier, the words they express are pure love to my heart. Their mouths drop, or they have an expression of delight. They say, ‘I feel as if I have been hugged and loved,’ or ‘Did they just go down the rabbit hole, or have I been transported to Paris?’ I explain to them that I design my clothing, sew some of the one-of-a-kind pieces, sew all of the purses and bags, and create my functional art, which are bodice lamps. They are in awe and inquire how I do it all. I tell them I love what I create and that my brain does not stop creating. I am crazy but not insane, and Hoity Toity keeps me sane. If everyone did what they loved in life, this world we are blessed to live in would be such a peaceful and loving place with no room for greed because their hearts would be overflowing with love.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Always have confidence in yourself and never stop believing
2. Love what you create in life
3. Fill your heart with love and happiness and bring positivity to yourself and the people you encounter

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

“The past few years have posed unparalleled challenges, starting with the pandemic-induced shutdown that many small businesses are still valiantly striving to overcome. Over the past 148 days, we have also grappled with the enduring Writers’ Strike, marking one of the lengthiest work stoppages in Hollywood’s history, followed by the Actors’ Strike.

In the face of these trials, it has been disheartening to witness the downturn in sales. Nonetheless, I have adopted an innovative approach and persisted with unwavering determination. I maintained regular communication with my longstanding clients, providing them with creative ensemble ideas for their wardrobes. Whether it was through personal delivery or convenient pickups at Hoity Toity, I ensured their needs were met.

Moreover, I dedicated consistent efforts to conduct photoshoots, showcasing myself in my latest designs, and leveraging social media platforms to attract out-of-state sales. Additionally, to nurture my passion, I indulged in the design and creation of unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, keeping my creative spirit alive.

Contact Info:

  • Website: www.annboothdesigns.com
  • Instagram: #annboothdesigns
  • Facebook: Personal FB : Ann Booth Luly which I mainly use to publicize my designs….. Business FB : Hoity Toity Studio City
  • Yelp: Hoity Toity Stiudio City

Image Credits
Cathy Nelson-Arkle : Graphics, photography & Soul Sister

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