I’ve always been in love with the feeling of old cinema — the kind that makes you want to dress up, cry a little, and believe in something beautiful again.

The vision started with a mood board filled with Audrey Hepburn, vintage theaters, film stills, and that dreamy glow of Old Hollywood. I wanted to create a night that felt like stepping into one of those movies — romantic, nostalgic, and a little bit dramatic.

We made the Sabrina-inspired dress because I’ve always loved that film and the way Audrey carried herself in it. She’s from Long Island, has a poodle, a little dramatic, a little delusional in the best way, and believes everything’s prettier through rose-colored glasses — just like me. It’s elegant, simple, and timeless… everything I want Cry Baby to be.

We started looking at theaters all over Los Angeles, trying to find the perfect one. None of them felt right. They were either too big or too modern, and I really wanted something that matched Cry Baby’s world. Then finally, we found the perfect spot. Everything went smoothly, but the dates just kept not lining up... some dates were booked, and I had to travel.. so we ended up locking in a random Monday in September, the closest one we could do. And I’m so glad we did that date (stay tuned why!).

Once the date was set, everything started coming together. I designed all the graphics — the menus, movie tickets, stickers, and little party favors. I kept going back and forth to find the perfect design for everything. I made embroidered Cry Baby handkerchiefs literally for everyone to cry into, and the cutest little matchboxes with our logo and a scene from Sabrina in her black dress. I also made custom invitations for everyone — styled on a silver platter, because it felt so Old Hollywood and dramatic.

While I was editing the movie ticket, I looked up what year Sabrina came out…..1954…. and saw that it was released on September 22nd, the same date as our event! I had literally chills. It felt so meant to be.

For the popcorn boxes, I first thought about doing our signature branding.. polka dots, but ended up keeping them simple and retro — a little bit of carnival (but classy), a little bit of Old Hollywood. I also made a custom screen image that played when guests walked into the theater — it said “Cry Baby Pictures Presents,” just like the opening credits of an old movie. That part made me so happy to see in real life!

We invited some of our favorite girls — influencers, customers, and friends — to dress up in Cry Baby for the night. Some came by the office to try things on, others had theirs shipped because they were traveling. It was such a sweet mix of people, even our number one customer from California. She’s ordered the most out of anyone, came to previous events, and has been following me for the longest time. Seeing our customers there all dressed up felt so special — like everything came full circle. This is what our brand is about.

The night itself was perfect. Everyone looked beautiful. The energy was so high — girls helping each other take photos, becoming friends, laughing, talking about old movies. I’ve been to so many events in L.A., but this one just felt different. It felt like Cry Baby.

I left that night so crying, happy and proud. All the little details, all the planning… it was all worth it. This is what Cry Baby is all about. Seeing something that started as an idea in my head come to life made me realize how far this brand has come and how far it’s about to go. It felt like a dream I used to picture finally happening — and it’s only the beginning.

Nights like this remind me why I started Cry Baby in the first place… and how much more I still want to do.This was only the beginning… there’s so much more I want to create, and I just hope I can keep bringing a little more Old Hollywood back to life.