FIDM Debut 2010 Runway Show

It’s on the calendar every year. Those with a passion for fashion on the west coast anxiously await for the Fashion Week every March.

One of the treats leading up to Fashion Week is the FIDM Debut Runway show. It’s an exciting time for the students at FIDM, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles.  Over 10,000 people view the invitation-only runway show over a period of 3 days.

I attended the dress rehearsal along with other members of the Costume Council of LACMA as one our annual events.

The theme this year included FIDM’s Theatre Costume Design presentation: “FIDM goes to the movies – A Tribute to Judy and Liza,” complete with 2 Judy and Liza impersonators, a chorus line,  and film clips from their famous movies including, Easter Parade and The Wizard of Oz.

The event is supported by Industry Leaders and the business community. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the FIDM Scholarship Foundation. The event showcases exciting and unique collections from FIDM’s graduating students in Fashion Design, Theatre Costume Design, Interior Design, Textile Design, and Graphic Design Advanced Study Program.

Along with the excitement and festivities for Fall Fashion Week scheduled for March 17-24, 2010, I think I’ll do a bit of spring cleaning in my closet.

Fringe Frenzy

The fringe look is back in the fashion world, although I am wondering if it ever left.  Accessorizing with fringe can be fun, flirty, and even sophisticated. It’s a fashion statement that you can dress up or down. Here are a few of my favorites to indulge in from head to toe this season. Try wearing one of these styles on your next online date.

Calvin Klein – Tiered Fringe Dress

Minnetonka – 5-Layer Fringe Boot

Rachel Leigh – Set of Three Suede Fringe Bangles

Betsey Johnson – Ski Bunny Fringe Snowflakes Cascading Earrings

Lucky Brand – Foxy Lady Fringe Crossbody (Dusty Lavender)

Ed Hardy – Peace, Love Tattoos Fringe Scarf (Pink) – Accessories

The Perfect Red Dress

They say a man always remembers what you looked like on your very first date. There is something sexy and memorable about wearing a red dress to make that lasting impression.

I came across this Susana Mercedes original piece, which is handcrafted from start to finish.

According to the designer, the fabric, which takes close to a month to produce, is hand-painted and impossible to replicate: each dress has a unique, non-repeating print. In classic Susana Mercedes form, each dress is also finished with a unique set of vintage buttons. There are so many incredible buttons, textiles, trims, and more out there waiting to be rescued – hiding in boxes within boxes in attics and warehouses, clinging to discarded past-their-prime garments … it’s never ending.

A big part of constructing the piece is the hunt – following the scent of inspiration through warehouses, into boxes, out of the design room, and onto you. We know that men love the hunt. Chances are they’d love seeing you in this dress as well.

For more information go to SusanaMercedes.com

Do Guys Undress You with their Eyes?

According to Image Consultant and dating coach Kimberly Seltzer, the answer is absolutely yes! 

Kimberly helps women attract the man of their dreams by addressing the way you dress on a date. She believes a woman needs to dress in a way to honor her beautiful figure, and adds that you should wear only the clothes that make the best of your unique shape. 

Other fashion tips include avoid the trendy looks and buy clothes that you will wear over and over again because they make you feel confident and fantastic. 

To attract the right kind of man, she advises her clients to avoid dressing provocatively. Guys would rather undress you with their eyes and leave things to their imagination rather than displaying it all on a first date. 

At the end of the day, according to Seltzer, you want to attract a guy who likes you for you. Dress sexy, subtly, and comfortably. 

Kimberly suggests visiting her favorite online store looklet.com. This high-tech site lets you style and re-style a model using their clothing pieces. 

For more information on Kimbery, check out her site at EliteImageMakeOvers.com.

BONES AND ROSES – Silky and Sexy

I recently was introduced to BONES AND ROSES – HOLLYWOOD, a lovely silk-charmeuse robe line which was inspired by old Hollywood and designed with the help of Taryn Rose. 

Taryn, who is a board member of Step Up Women’s Network, sold her shoe line business and started devoting her time to mentoring others who were looking to make their mark in the fashion business.  As part of a mentoring program, she helped Emy Hovanesyan, create the reversible sexy line of robes, called Bones and Roses – Hollywood. These gorgeous pieces were mentioned this week in Women’s Wear Daily.

Their sexy, silky robes go from innerwear to ready-to-wear, and have been seen both in the bedroom and at the local club scene. You’ll certainly make a statement on your next cyber-date! Mine just arrived in the mail today.

They make a perfect gift and can be purchased on their website at www.BonesAndRosesBrand.Com

Borrowed Bling – Hollywood’s Best Kept Secret

I recently attended a fashion show at the Beverly Hills Hotel and the highlight of the day was meeting the owner of Borrowed Bling. Their motto is “Shhh…Now The Best Kept Celebrity Secret Can Be Your Secret Too!”

I have always been one to share secrets to help make you look and feel better, especially at bargain prices. Is it time for Last Call yet? Borrowed Bling gives you the opportunity to borrow jewelry, purses, and accessories by joining their service and paying a monthly fee, or by purchasing their “copy jewels” yourself. Yes, I said it, COPY JEWELS! Most of Hollywood can be found wearing stunning pieces made with sterling silver that look so authentic, that you would not believe they are not the real thing. The best part is, that no one will know and you will feel like a movie star on prices similar to your kid’s monthly allowance.

I recently purchased beautiful fun and flirty diamond hoop earrings and receive compliments on them daily.

Here’s how it works. You can sign up for one of three monthly plans to borrow these gorgeous designs or just buy a piece or two to add to your wardrobe.

1. The Countess ($29.95)
2. The Duchess ($49.95)
3. The Movie Star ($99.95)

Each level has a different closet of accessories to choose from. Enjoy the video I have put together and check it out for yourself at www.BorrowedBling.com. Tell them you heard about it on the Cyber-Dating Expert site. You will be both be-dazzled and be-jewelled, with still enough left in your wallet to splurge for that glass of fine French Champagne.

Accessorize it for the Summer

With temperatures hitting triple digits, it is usually the time for those with a passion for fashion to hit the stores looking for new additions to their wardrobe for the season. 

As most of us are holding onto our purses and wallets, it makes sense to browse through your closet and find an outfit or two that just needs a bit of accessorizing to get a new “lift.”  

Why spend a fortune if you can look glamorous and fun without breaking the bank? Now is the time to just add a few colorful accessories to your inventory to brighten up your day.

For the less than the price of a cosmopolitan at your favorite club, you can go to
CharlotteRusse.com and accent your outfit with Beaded Bracelets on your wrist instead.

They are only $4.00 and you will wake up in the morning happy to have something colorful to wear on your next cyber-date.

Find the best trends in Fashion Accessories at CharlotteRusse.com!

If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit, Special Order It!

Starting today, April 13th through May 21st, stop by one of the thirty Stuart Weitzman shoe boutiques for their semi-annual trunk show. This is a fabulous opportunity to view the fall 2009 collection and select your favorite styles in your unique size before they are sold to the public. The first event takes place in Atlanta, Chicago, and Honolulu on April 13th and concludes on May 21st in Nasvhille and Natick.

The best part is if you have a particularly narrow or wide show shoe size, you can special order these designs in sizes ranging from AAAA to C. Believe me, if you fall into that category, your size will not be sold in the local Weitzman boutiques or at the department stores.  For a complete selection of styles and a calendar of events, check out their site at StuartWeitzman.com or call your local boutique.

An Evening at Giorgio Armani

It was a red carpet evening at the Giorgio Armani boutique on Rodeo Drive where members of the Costume Council of LACMA were treated to a private viewing of the Armani designed iconic gowns of the past and present.

Eleven magnificent couture pieces were on display including a stunning black gown with a train worn by Charlize Theron which was one of my favorites. This piece was the designer’s first Red Carpet gown from his Prive collection at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2005. As you walk up the staircase the first gown you see is a drop dead gorgeous royal blue piece worn by Anne Hathaway at the Golden Globe Awards in 2009.  Included in the collection is a gown worn by Alicia Keys at the recent 2009 Academy Awards which came from the Giorgio Armani Prive Spring-Summer 2008 Collection, as well as gowns worn by Heidi Klum at the 2008 Emmy Awards; Halle Barre at the 2003 Screen Actors Guild Awards; and Kristin Davis at the Golden Globe Awards in 2002.

The crowd mingled over champagne and tray passed hors d’oeuvres and even the men enjoyed the upstairs collection of menswear by the famed designer. Many came clothed in Armani designed pieces to celebrate the evening. The collection will be available for viewing at the Rodeo Drive boutique through the end of March.

The Little Black Dress

There is something to be said about a woman wearing a little black dress. We just can’t get enough of them.

I recently found this little black dress, with a twist! This woven silk charmeuse dress from Yotam Solomon is made with an invisible zipper and unique cutouts which define the shoulders.

Yotam selected a combination of materials and designs that are exclusively offered on Shopflick. Yotam was one of the youngest designers to participate in L.A.’s Fashion Week, with his own runway show. He has already been featured in Los Angeles Magazine, WWD, and British Vogue.

There’s no need to worry if you don’t have the perfect figure as each Yotam Solomon piece is custom made to order and you can decide what length is perfect for you. In addition each piece will be accompanied by a signed sketch from the designer himself.

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