Fashion E-commerce and street fairs go hand and hand.  Today's economic and global warming disasters are a downer.  So why not get shopping and help our fellow citizens of the world by purchasing goods made in third world countries.  What makes America unique is while we are consumed with day breaking news covering all of our woes, more than 3/4 of our total population has some sort of protection. Either limited, we're all far more comfortable than the rest.  Although much is changing in our own world, I think its time we move on with our lives by finding small solutions as we enjoy our lives.  Fashion should not be about arming ourselves in mere statements, strew on blue body paint and a David and Goliath panties, but lets not forget that for decades fashion meant to be frivolous...At least seen through the eyes of geeks and politicians.  Nowadays sans 9-11 everything is mayhem and so I ask, are we supposed to forget about how we to decorate ourselves?  In light of the traumas surrounding us, Americans should be happy that we can get dressed up and go out to dinner or shopping.  Even if it is only to McDonald's and K-mart!  Instead, lets put some TLC into our purchases....local vendors in NYC are bringing out the best in African and Indigenous Latino arts and crafts.   

No one seems to mind so much that I am the stylin smarty pants at the meetings.  Much can be said about our technical experts wardrobe and there traditional dress shirts.  In case you weren't aware, on most occasions, ties and matching suits aren't necessary in today's conferences.  In fact, the more comfortable you dress, the more confident you appear.   Although, we can do without the manicures.  

I am constantly impressed by a certain official, now retired, VP of a public business that loved shopping more than I.  And, his taste and practicality in dressing all in black rewarded him with both admiring women by appreciating his savvy fashion look and men for his elegant and non threatening turtlenecks.

Clean shaving goes a long way as long as you dress not to impress but because it suites the clients.  It comes across as non threatening..

Take advantage of our online styling seminars...learn how to become a fashion syling professional and avoid making common mistakes...stand out amongst the crowd.

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Fashion is cleaning up after themselves.  After years of neglecting the environment, clothing designers are conserving trees and finding solutions to recycle materials.   At Haute House PR, an LA based PR showroom for innovative designers, a variety of super cool t shirt makers and clothing designers created a venue to help out  the looming destruction of our planet by either forging a relationship with local factories both saving on freight on boat costs or by partnering with NGO's for several third world countries public policy issues.  Visiting their pop up showroom here in NYC this week, I caught a glimpse at a new set of designers people aught to know about.  Vuori - has announced working with LifeStraw, which is a point of use microbiological purifier that
allows for clean and safe drinking water in developing nations to design a collection for fall 10 season.  These collaborations result in custom T-shirts, artistically drafted to symbolize the individual’s efforts, which are summarized in an informational bio printed on the inside of the shirt. The bio also includes an introduction to the individual’s donation organization of choice, to be presented to the end customer upon purchase.  Bumboolife offers wonderfully cumfy high grade bamboo t's while MikeLanes Jeans makes his denim designs here in the USA ( and just an FYI-most people LOVE shopping for things made in the US, particularly if you aren't from the US of A).  I too designed a denim line back in Fall '06 but I can't be stopped from shopping other lines!  After all, we can't stop shopping just because we are suffering from the worst economy we've ever lived through.  Developing countries rely on our goods and services more than you know.  Particularly exports....
 Mike Lanes Premium Denim and Bumboo life.com photos curtosy of Haute House PR

To all Friends:

Started a page for up and coming fashion stylists and for those professional stylists and costume designers that are interested in learning best practices.  Fashion Stylists, and wardrobe department professionals are lucky to find work from print to television/ film and video.  Although, at times we need a little advice on keying a job such as dealing with strobing to prevent moray, and navigating around alterations without a needle and thread. 

And, Its sometimes best to open the discussions with others that have not found a gig that pays them well, or sometimes need a little advice on how to bid rates for work on a commercial. 

Join my pages and stay tuned for an upcoming webinar as I discuss techniques and professional rate cards for non union gigs.

Media and Fashion Branding

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Awaiting in the luxury of Moet Champagne and Mercedes Benz VIP Lounge hosted by Bryant Park for New York Fashion 2010's collection, I sat next to Rosario Dawson.  This sister Boriqua, graciously allowed me to take a picture for blog.mildredbrignoni.com.  And, I didn't even have to butter her up.  We shared idle chatter, learning that she was a guest of the classic designer Tommy Hilfiger.  Maybe shameless, but at least I demonstrated the ol saying "seize the moment " and took the chance at getting rejected in front of our peers.  Alas, I silenced my audience and it seemed all other conversations stopped for those moments as everybody was obviously very interested in our interaction.  Afterwards, editors Daniella from The New York Times, Rebbecca from Wall Street Journal and others commended my brilliance and courage in asking her to pose for me.   Daniella even gave me a shout out and picture-tweeted to her 3,000 twitter fans.  This picture-tweeting Rosario inside the private lounge was re-tweeted as Daniella shared crediting me to her followers. 

On to real fashion news under the tents...was the show by the most exciting designer  Naeem Kahn. Loved by loyal Hollywood actresses such as Misha Barton and Heather Graham and as a new comer to the scene, I am certain his luxurious bejeweled gowns will be worn this Sunday during the Academy Awards.  Oscar night fashion shouldn't be boring.  I predict that most of the gifted designers are not to be sensible when in comes to red carpet garments.  Both Kahn along with Jason Wu prove that to be the case.
I hope we have more to see than frocks from Michael Kors and Donna Karan.  Underrepresented designers such as those I am covering here is precisely the reason why I blog.  Keep up with me and subscribe to this feed.

As it turns out, I actually ran into my pals I haven't seen in years.  Mila Hermanovski from Project Runway and Celia San Miguel of Latina Magazine.  Its good to see my peers doing well as the attending and voice reporting the Bryant Park New York Fashion week in the tents.  

Funny how you know people for years and literally a decade will pass before you see them again.  These ladies both have triumphantly succeeded in making it to the top of the fashion flood gates.  YAY for them.  Powerful ladies such as them are changing the game. And, while join me, Mila and her boyfriend watched her idol Alexander Hercovitch show last night.  She is taking her craft seriously as I didn't see any of the rest of those Project Runway contestants in the tents!!  Good for her as she learns the art of high fashion showcases she is destined to make it.  And Celia, an ivy league grad such as I and Latina paving the way in blogs after working from urban and high fashion magazines to now her own online editorial.

Mila and I worked on low budget really independant projects as she assisted me on movies, while Celia used to hire stylists such as for Latina and Complex magazines.  Now, Mila is starring in a Lifetimes Project Runway, with a few wins and finalists and Celia as her own blog covering both fashionable products for her own sickathanaverage blog. 

As if it couldn't get any better, Sometimes I am happily surprised.  Today as an attendee during Michael Kors fashion show and again yesterday at Thuy show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Fall 2010, I found wearable, relatable and truly well made clothes.  My friend Lydia once said to me, I am not a designer-rather I am a clothes maker.  And successful designers like those aforementioned made that statement true. 

I found the Thuy collection sexy without being overtly sexual because of the layering aspects of the drapes as well as her vivacious jewel toned colors with cool shaped jackets and focus on the waistline...  Meanwhile, this mornings depiction of Michaels lady was long, and refined.  Lots of Heather Grey, Sensual silhouette's, and again the seasons trend- Belts are all the rage.

Black seems consistent throughout the shows and thats why I may prefer to have these designers' new wears in my closet. 
They are well made, beautiful textures and feminine.

No pictures today ....

"Talk About Love", What made me state this was conjured up by the insurgence of 80's goth / punk LnA show at MILK studios, and not to mention that once again its the day single girls hate most - Valentines day.  This look ala Annie Lenox made a come back, at the fall 2010 fashion shows here in NYC.   LnA's styles, from- LA, of course,  mirrored my high school friends looks of those that were fortunate to have white skin and blond spikey hair.  When I was growing up in my native Los Angeles, we dressed in stripes and leather jackets, took the bus with the rest of the punks from both Fenders Ballroom to the gigs at the Olympic Auditorium to see Love and Rockets.  After leaving my beach town of southern California and set off to college in northern California at Berkeley, I never thought I would see these outfits relived again. Alas, I was wrong and fond memories.

Its simple, if you do not have web presence, you won't be seen nor heard.  While most designers start off thinking they have to achieve a huge level of success before they launch a site, much less a good ecommerce site, they make poor choices by spending on thier design and product development.  The idea that a good sense of knowing your customers needs are important and achieving recognition by flattery from celebrity fills thier ego, it will not monetize unless you have spent time developing a strategy to draw your customers in from off the cyberstreets...

Its clear that most people are not able to purchase items if they can't see them physically, but a just a small step can monetize faster than branding on the backs of your fav celeb.  We are now a culture of what they see they must get, so if planting your seeds to get noticed means spending on optimizing your site and defining your brand from partnerships built with bloggers and talented directors and producers of the web means you have a small collection, than I say go for the visibilty. 

I talk to so many fashion professionals that work in marketing and design and they seem not to realize the vital importance of websites and WOM.  Gee!  I am somewhat of an expert on clever distribution and marketing and by no means do I have all the answers, but people in fashion have to start defining thier strateges a lot more cleary to be either a brand people just talk about vers. a brand people talk about and actually can purchase.  Waiting for a buyer from a boutique in Atlanta when you are in NYC or LA, won't get you anywhere because brick and morters stores aren't even able to pay thier own bills.  I have close sources from major department stores confiding in me that they ask thier vendors to pay them back 30% just to continue to do business with them.  The outrage can go on, and the little designer man / woman will not survive without selling themselves straight to the consumer.

I can't stress enough how, when walking the floors of Magic last season, so many marketing pros had no idea what in the F' I was talking about. when I mentioned I worked for a new media firm that could possibly become a solution to thier sales and marketing eifforts.  And, so if they aren't willing to bring in the big experts in new media and WOM marketing teams,  I pray that we have luxurious and fashionable clothes to buy from an actual store because no one actually has the money to pay their own bills.  Alas, since the majority of fashion labels are too reliant on buyers to make thier decisions, retailers should do the same, become thier own designers and stop trying to sell out designers from thier own stocks. 

Plenty to be said about this, but that is enough for now.

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