Fashion's Night Out Will Continue in 2010

The success of Fashion’s Night Out in September not only united the retail community in New York,  it made people forget momentarily about the recession, encouraged consumers to go out and shop, and packed the streets with people who flocked to Madison Avenue in hopes of spotting celebrities who were out to celebrate the cause. More than 1,000 people crammed around the second-floor escalators at the Macy’s in Queens Center to catch a glimpse of Anna Wintour, Diane Von Furstenberg, Kate Hudson and Michael Kors among others. Donna Karan and the Olsen twins made appearances at Bergdorf Goodman, Justin Timberlake was at Saks Fifth Avenue, and Gwen Stefani made a special guest appearance at Bloomingdale’s. More than 700 stores in New York held parties and kept their doors open until 11 p.m. Similar events intended to encourage shopping were being held in Paris, Milan and other cities around the world.

Fashion’s Night Out was so successful that sponsors including Vogue Magazine, the CFDA, Mayor Bloomberg and NYC & Co. plan to do it again in 2010. “The numbers are in, and it’s clear that Fashion’s Night Out was a tremendous success,” Bloomberg said. Anna Wintour agreed, “We were absolutely bowled over by the response to Fashion’s Night Out. It was only 15 minutes after the event began, and we were getting reports about lines around the block at stores throughout the city. It was wonderful to see people embrace this initiative, and we are thrilled that they wish it to return.” CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg added, “To have designers in stores to celebrate and start a shopping season is the best idea for everybody. It creates excitement and lots of business.”

Women’s Wear Daily reports that according to an independent study by ShopperTrak, foot traffic in stores jumped by 50 percent that night. Meanwhile, NYC & Co., the marketing, tourism and partnerships organization of the city, conducted a survey of 1,300 shoppers and concluded that 75 percent of them bought something that night. The survey also found two-thirds of those consumers visited stores they have never been to before, and 61 percent ventured out of their comfort zones, going to neighborhoods outside of their work and living areas. Saks Chairman and CEO Stephen Sadove told Women's Wear Daily,  "There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Fashion's Night Out. We had no idea if it was going to work. We had 40,000-50,000 people show up in the store that day."

Since Fashion’s Night Out many retailers have been meeting with the mayor and other city officials to ensure that a repeat of the event is in the works for 2010. Some retailers are pressing to make the next Fashion Night Out sales tax free. There is also a proposal to stage a fashion show for consumers at Lincoln Center. Like the first installment the 2010 Fashion’s Night Out will extend to the city’s five boroughs and include international cities such as London, Paris, Milan, Moscow, Berlin, Madrid, Athens, New Delhi, Taipei, Tokyo and Beijing.

Photo:Gary Gershoff/Getty Images North America

Girl on Top Book Tour Coming to Seattle

On Friday, November 6th career expert and best-selling author Nicole Williams will be at Westfield Southcenter’s The Limited Store to promote her new book Girl on Top, that turns dating rules into career strategies. Meet Nicole and mingle with fellow Girl’s on Top, get valuable career advice, score a swag bag, receive an exclusive 40% discount at The Limited and sip delicious cocktails at this fabulous event.

Nicole has been featured in magazines such as Elle and Glamour and has made appearances on the Today Show, CNN, and Show Biz Tonight. As part of her nationwide Girl on Top book tour sponsored by Elle Magazine, Nicole is hosting networking parties in 15 cities across the United States, including Seattle. RSVP to reserve your spot now!

What: Girl on Top Book Tour
When: Friday, November 6th
Where: The Limited at Westfield Southcenter
Time: 6pm-9pm
RSVP: Click here.

Insider Tip: Enter sydlovesfashion in the “How Did You Hear about Girl on Top” to get upgraded to VIP status including a premium VIP swag bag valued at over $500.

For more info on purchasing Nicole’s Girl on Top book click here.

The Countdown Continues

The countdown continues and we're just a few weeks away from the November 14th release date of the H&M + Jimmy Choo collaboration. In recent years H&M has done designer collaborations with several big name designers including Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld.

The H&M/Jimmy Choo collection for men and women will launch in 200 H&M stores worldwide and feature shoes, handbags and a capsule eveningwear collection. H&M currently expects to launch around 12 shoe models for women, some of which will be available in two different colors, and four models for men. Prices for most shoes will be priced between $55 and $138. 

Jimmy Choo’s Chief Executive Joshua Schulman said the H&M collection is meant to be “a fun, accessible flash for a moment in time,” and it shouldn’t be viewed as a diffusion line for the brand, whose signature shoes are made in Italy and sold in its own boutiques and select specialty stores. “We know there is a different customer who dreams of wearing Jimmy Choo and this is a fantastic opportunity for her to enter our brand for a limited time only,” he said.

Neiman Marcus 2009 Christmas Book

The Neiman Marcus 2009 Christmas book is out now, so naturally, I’m already drafting up my Christmas list! Here are a few of my top picks from the book.

Suede Christian Louboutin Pumps which are the perfect way to compliment a hot New Years Eve dress.

The Dior 60th Anniversary Book to add to my collection!

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Shoulder Bag will look so fresh a you make that transition into Spring.

Valentino Boots & Hobo Bag. Ok forget the bag. For me, it's all about those BOOTS! Love at first sight!

Fashion Wishlist: Armani Smartphone

Last week Italian Fashion House Giorgio Armani presented a new mobile phone which was designed with the sole purpose of complementing the designer's suits. Mr. Armani made a brief public appearance at the launch of the Armani-Samsung smartphone. The Armani phone has a touch screen, key pad, video player, GPS navigation, and bronze detailing which is said to coordinate perfectly with Giorgio Armani suits.

The smartphone is the third phone Armani has designed for South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. According to Reuters, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, (wearing a tie signed by Armani), said the phone was "a statement of style" and his company was not looking to work with other designers, adding this partnership with Samsung and Armani was "a unique thing."

Fall 09 Trend: Biker Chic

If you are loving the biker babe trend for Fall 09 you'll love these great accessories from 80s Purple. I'm loving the spiked hoop earrings, the silver Nixon Watch, the Report Signature Kane Thigh High Boots, and the Obey Heavy Metal Scarf.

From Nepal, with Love

Women’s Wear Daily agrees: A beautiful scarf is the perfect way to add color to any fall wardrobe, especially if it’s Nepali by TDM Design. Launched in 2007 by Michelle Baldwin and Michelle Taylor-Spearman the Nepali line of scarves and accessories is quickly picking up speed in the marketplace. Each accessory is hand-made using the highest quality fibers in order to ensure the craftsmanship of each piece and pride in workmanship.


Nepali by TDM Design provides sustainable income to Nepalese women and helps weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them above market compensation and access to education and health care. Nepali by TDM Design creates opportunities for women to generate consistent income. TDM’s mission is to bring about social and economic change by allowing women to participate financially in their society.


Nepali’s scarves are made from natural fibers such as cashmere, silk, and bamboo, plus they are available over 30 colors. Right now TDM Designs even has a Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf made from hand-dyed silk chiffon with merino felted edges. It’s beautiful, it’s for a good cause, and 50% of the proceeds will be donated directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. 

The Nepali line by TDM Designs is stylish, eco-friendly, and good for your karma. Shop online now by clicking here.  

Career Advice from a Fashion Industry Insider

My days as a fashion student are officially over and during my years on campus studying for the AAA and Bachelors degree I’ve learned some pretty valuable lessons about life in the fashion industry. The first one is: It’s not as easy (or as glamorous) as it may look. The fashion industry is chaotic, fast-paced, brutal, exciting and draining all at the same time but for the right people it can be absolutely exhilarating! The second thing I’ve learned is that work experience can only take you so far, therefore a degree in fashion is absolutely a MUST. Many fashion enthusiasts often ask me how to break into the industry and whether or not it’s worth it to get a formal degree in fashion and without hesitation I always say: YES! You simply cannot replace the fundamentals you learn in the classroom with anything else.

Let’s be honest, industry experience is great and doing volunteer work at fashion events is a fabulous way to gain insight into the industry but at the end of the day having a solid foundation in fashion through education is the best way to succeed long-term in this business. Fashion school is where you learn about the history of fashion (which is indescribably important when you need to determine how a trend started and where it’s roots came from), it’s where you gain exposure to all the fab designers you should be following during fashion week (hello Zac Posen), it’s where you learn how to operate and run a store should you ever feel the need (it’s not as easy as it looks), how to write a business plan and develop a marketing plan to go with it, how to advertise your business once you start it, and of course, fashion basics like trend forecasting and how to run and manage events like fashion shows. And that’s just the Associates of Applied Arts Program. Having this basic education is fundamental when you jump into the fast pace of the fashion industry because while it may look easy, there’s a ton of rhyme, reason and know-how that go into flawlessly pulling off fashion events and building million dollar apparel programs.

I’ve worked my way up through the retail chain, into the corporate office and behind-the-scenes at premier fashion events and along the way I’ve realized that none of this would have been possible without my educational background in fashion. Your education is what gives you perspective to report on events and interpret what is happening in the industry.

Here’s a summary of my fashion advice, lessons learned and biggest tips to breaking into the industry.

Network- There are so many good reasons why networking should be a high priority on your list. It’s free, it’s a great way to get to know others in the industry, a great way to collaborate with others on future projects and it’s a great way to find out about potential job opportunities. If you’re really serious about networking then you may want to consider joining fashion industry networking groups like Fashion Group International. The Seattle chapter is looking for new members with high energy now! 

Get Experience- No amount of classroom work can prepare you for the real world so it’s important that you supplement what you are learning in school with real work experience in the fashion industry. If you’ve never worked in retail now is the time to get a part-time job. It’s hard to grasp the concept of retail management, merchandising and personal selling if you have never had to actually do any of these things. I can also tell you that most corporate office employees have worked on the sales floor at one point or another so do yourself a favor and gain that entry-level experience now so that it won’t hold you back later.

Work Hard- For some people this may go without saying but for others this may be a new concept. You can’t just skate by in this industry without rolling up your sleeves and working hard, so whether it’s putting in time studying for you classes or working a part-time job to gain experience in the field, work hard. A solid work ethic goes a long way in this industry and high levels of integrity will not go unrewarded. The fashion industry is tough, it can chew you up and spit you out and you have to be strong enough to get right back up and keep going. It often requires long hours, working in multiple time zones, and working to make the impossible happen, so if you’re not prepared to work hard, this may not be the industry for you.

Specialize- Find something you are good at and stick to it. People that claim to be good at “everything” are delusional. The truth is, everyone has a specialty and it’s important that you find yours now so that you can practice, develop your skills and find a niche.

Volunteer- Volunteering is another great way to gain experience so if you enjoy fashion industry events like fashion shows, consider volunteering to help out. This is a great way for you to see behind-the-scenes at your favorite events, network with event producers and add to your fashion resume.

Find a Mentor- I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have strong, intelligent women to guide me along the way and that’s why I suggest finding a mentor who can help you navigate your path to success. A good mentor can give you advice about where to start, what moves to make and what mistakes to avoid.

Do an Internship- At many fashion schools internships are required for graduation but if they are not, consider doing one anyway. They are invaluable and can help you break into the industry upon graduation. I’ve had many interns help out at my current company and we have hired at least half a dozen of them to work for us full-time upon graduation. If you meet someone at a fashion industry event who’s working in a field you are interested in, ask them if they hire interns. Most companies won’t turn down free help. On a side note, if you do decide to pursue an internship, work hard and make yourself shine. Everything you say and do will be remembered and it’s important to be on point and professional no matter how casual the work environment appears to be. It always surprises me when interns flake out, show up late, don’t show up at all or have an attitude problem when asked to do a task. It may be unpaid work but it’s allowing you to gain insight into a potential career path and the company you work for may just extend a job offer when you are done with school. So work hard and stay on good terms with the company you intern for.

Stay on Top of Industry Trends- If you’re going into the fashion industry then it’s important you stay on top of what’s going on. There are numerous sites that compile industry news like Women’s Wear Daily, DNR and WGSN so make sure you check in and keep yourself in the know. You can also check out Style.com, Ny Mag’s Fashion Section, or the New York Times Style Section which comes out every Thursday and Sunday.

Clean up your Image- If you’re all over the web on Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, consider cleaning up your image. Prospective employers can easily search the web for additional information about you and your chances to getting a job offer will significantly narrow if there are drunk pictures of you and your friends all over the Internet. My advice? Keep it classy, and if you don’t, at least set your profiles to private.

The best advice I can give you is that if you work hard and set goals, you can achieve anything. Good luck!

Opulence is always in Fashion

I never leave the house without jewelry…not even to go to the gym. So it goes without saying that as soon as I discovered Atelier Minyon jewelry I fell in love. You may have seen their signature jewelry line in Lucky Magazine, In Touch, Conde Naste Traveler, or Women’s Wear Daily. Celebs are even getting behind the line. Each piece is handcrafted using the finest quality of gold, diamonds and other precious gemstones. They even do custom pieces! There’s something in the line for everyone and each piece tells it’s own story.

Here are my favorite pieces from the line.

About Atelier Minyon
In 2008, Atelier Minyon was created to expand Jewel House of Minyon in the United States. Atelier Minyon is a jewelry design house that melds the romantic history of Turkey with modern design and offers fresh innovative collections never before seen in the United States. In December of 2008, Atelier Minyon opened an exquisite flagship jewelry boutique on Spring Street in Soho, New York. Over the years, Jewel House of Minyon has created dynamic jewelry, handcrafted in 18, 22 and 24 karat gold with diamond and other gemstones embellishments, utilizing the traditions and architectural elements that bring the spirit of Turkey to life. Each item in the line is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. Follow Atelier Minyon on Twitter by clicking here. Or find them on Facebook by clicking here.