The New Black

To those of you who live in Michigan, be sure to check out Grand Rapids Press reporter Tricia Woolfenden's blog "The New Black." The blog is amazing and (gasp!) updated everyday, covering very important issues such as celebrity gossip, fashion, fashion and more fashion, basically everything and anything fabulous.

Tricia was nice enough to feature yours truly in her blog and Tuesday column this week.

I've posted the blog link below.

"Local Fashionista Learns From The Best"

http://blog.mlive.com/newblack/

P.S. Tricia will be featuring a fashion panel on her blog throughout fashion week (Feb 1-8). The panel will be weighing in on all the NYC fashion week craziness and examining the different trends coming off the runway. Again, Tricia has been nice enough to include me as a guest panelist. Check it out! You won't be sorry!

The Mercedes-Benz of Fashion

That's right ladies, buckle up, IMG/Mercedes-Benz fall fashion week is here. Only five more nail-bitting days till 85 of the most to-die-for fashion houses unveil their 2008 autumn collections. Right now, as we speak, over 80 fashion houses are working around the clock to make their final stitch, thread their last bead and pin their last model; all in anticipation of the roughly 20-minute runway roundabout extravaganza.

For those of us that can't attend fashion week, I will make sure to provide a full critique of several different delicious collections. Mind you, the collection overview will only be focused on the designers that provide a realistic view of the modern woman and her fashion desires. Case n' point - if i see a model parading down the runway in a hat made of insects (ehm, Christian Lacroix) you can bet your Manolo's that they won't be featured on this blog (a tragedy, i know).


Meanwhile, I've posted a link to the full fashion week schedule:

http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork/fall2008/schedule/index.html

Stay tuned to Style Junkie for all your fall fashion needs!

If anyone has any collection requests please let me know!

How To Be Glamourous - Rachel Zoe Style

Style A to Zoe - The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour was an overall intriguing read. I slowly worked my way through Rachel Zoe's self-described "glamour bible" making sure to make a fair decision on whether it was actually informative to someone who isn't a millionaire, and who doesn't name their best friend as Katie Holmes - you get the jist.

Zoe (pronounced like "oh") covers everything from how to accessorize correctly to jet-setting in style, and even directs you how to decorate your home (if you're a fabulous millionaire, of course). Much to my surprise, Zoe gives a good amount of advice that us "normal" girls can use. However, there is a fair amount of advice that i probably will not be using - such as: how to dress for my weekend trips to the Hampton's or what to bring in my bag for all those unexpected Europe vacations!(maybe someday...)

But, alas, I have to give Zoe credit. The woman has dressed everyone from the Backstreet Boys to teen queen Britney spears, not to mention our favorite rehab-er, Linday Lohan. To be honest, I can't deny my jealousy. The woman travels the world in the name of fashion and has become fabulously wealthy and well-connected because of it.

However, stardom always comes with a price. Just a few seasons after being unofficially recognized as the woman who single-handidly created the trend known as "boho-chic" (think Mary-Kate Olsen, yuck) Zoe was accused of turning her clients into scrawny, orange skinned, "Zoe-bots." Nicole Richie fired the styling guru last November claiming she needed to be surrounded by "positive people." Is it a coincidence that almost all of Zoe's young clients look like they live on a strict diet of Red Bull and Marlboro's? You decide.

In the meantime, listed below, are the most important take-aways from Zoe's manual - Enjoy!

Five Glamour Essentials Under $50
- Red Lipstick
-Black eyeliner
-Great heels
- Faux fur shrug (not sure this is top on my list...)
- Metallic clutch (Love it!)

Zoe's Red Carpet Must-Haves (Just in-case i have a movie premier tomorrow)
-Classic black dress
-Nude or black patent pumps
-Perfect red lipstick
-Fishnets and black tights
-An all-season wrap or shrug

Day-Off Essentials (Basically a "weekend wear" guide)
-A great fitting pair of jeans (dark)
-A roomy jersey or cashmere constructed top
-A wrap or shift dress in cotton, jersey, or another Knit
-A tote, hobo bag or anything roomy
-Lip gloss
-Rosy cheek tint
-An all season wrap (does anyone recognize a pattern here?)
-Sunglasses (or as Rachel calls them "Sunnies!" - barf)
-Glam-on-the-go footwear (flats, boots, or wedges)

PR Couture

Sorry for the delay ladies, my holiday vacation was filled with millions of family parties and a five day ski trip up north - it was fabulous!

Anyway, let's get down to business. I have discovered the most wonderful Web site devoted to fashion and all its fabulosity (trademark, Kimora Lee Simmons). You can locate this delicious site by typing www.prcouture.com into your nearest search bar.

True to it's name, the page is devoted to showcasing the world of fashion through the eyes of various public relations/marketing experts. Brilliant.

Read PR Couture's mission statement below - and prepare to be amazed.



PR COUTURE is a new online resource for successful, emerging and aspiring fashion publicists, designers, students, and educators to share tips, tricks, challenges, and commentary about the role of public relations in the fashion industry.

A true insiders’ guide to the realities of the job, with real-life examples of the power of smart, strategic PR, we tackle everything from how to self-promote as a designer, to which courses and programs are best for students looking at Fashion PR as a future career.

PR COUTURE was created in response to the lack of a credible, honest, and engaging forum about fashion public relations online. PR COUTURE believes that by sharing ideas and engaging in relevant debate, we enhance our skills, and increase the value of community within our chosen field.

We are also tired of the stereotype that fashion publicists are more concerned with air-kisses than credibility. PR COUTURE aligns itself with the PRSA mission to unify, strengthen and advance the profession of public relations and believes that by providing a forum for the fashion public relations specialty online, we are in service of those goals.

Val - this one's for you - enjoy!