Here are some amazing window displays created by Russell Clower’s Visual Merchandising 2 students! The project asked students to create a shadowbox window display for a men’s or women’s fragrance, incorporating a particular period of art history or the style of a particular artist that matched the image of the brand and it’s fragrance. Students drew from a variety of eras and artists – and we’re seriously loving what they came up with! What artist or artistic period would be the perfect match for your signature scent? Tell us in the comments below!

Caitlyn Randrup was inspired by Hollywood director and choreographer Busby Berkeley.

Abilen Mora was inspired by Cubism.

Follow the jump to see more!

I-Chen Wu was inspired by Edgar Degas’ paintings of ballerinas.

Abilen Mora was inspired by Impressionism.

Allison Ferguson was inspired by Impressionism.

Catelyn Lonergan was inspired by the Neo-Classicist painter Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres.

Allison Ferguson was inspired by American realist Thomas Kinkade.

Li Sue Wang was inspired by the work of Maxfield Parrish.

Emi Sullivan was inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe.

Mark Hseih was inspired by fashion illustrator René Gruau.

Nori Ogata was inspired by the work of Titian.

Chenzi Yang was inspired by Andy Warhol.

Yoon Young Choi was inspired by the work of Antoine Watteau.

Tao Chen was inspired by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

For more Student Spotlights, click here.

Not all lies are fabricated to deceive. But all lies by their nature are misleading. Come to think of it, “lies” have been called by many names – fiction, fantasy, and pranks are some common social euphemisms for the word – sorry, I digress.

There are some relationships you choose to keep low-key for reasons best known to you, but recently I witnessed the resultant chaos that occurs when the lines between the lies you tell others and the lies you tell yourself become blurry. One of such lies is found in the concept and principles of “Friends with Benefits” – friends who conceal the actual
status of their relationship (to close friends and family) while they enjoy the benefits of steaming sex in private. Oftentimes both parties are single, or in distant relationships – and most commonly this sort of agreement occurs between neighbors, colleagues, classmates, friends of the family; between spouses and in-laws; between landlord and tenant; between boss and executive assistant; between artiste and artiste manager; between co-stars on a movie set – the variants and combinations are endless.

The reasoning and rationale behind this sort of arrangement is usually based on the fact that both parties (influenced mostly by social or peer pressure) may feel awkward or embarrassed by any overt publicity surrounding the dalliance – or maybe just because they both do not need the emotional baggage that comes with a traditional relationship. At this
point, I think it’s paramount that I point out the difference between having an affair and having an FWB arrangement – affairs are exclusive to married people. FWB arrangements aren’t exclusive to any group.

Okay. What’s my point here exactly?

In FWB relationships, the common understanding between both parties is “we’re not dating – it’s just sex – there are no feelings involved”, but then to the rest of the world, they announce for matters of decency, “We’re just very close friends, and nothing else”. Did you notice the slight difference in what they tell themselves, and what they tell the
world? You did, huh?

But hear the truth about such a gigantic lie: a) most people will tell you men and women can’t just be friends – but the truth is they can, but then most people don’t believe they are – so honestly you’re really not fooling anyone but yourselves, people already suspect something was going on even before it started; b) there’s no such thing as “it’s just sex – no feelings involved” – for a one night stand, hell yeah – but for someone you spend at least 3 days (and sometimes, maybe nights) of the week with – no way – there’s always feelings, especially if you have to keep up the
charade of doing the regular stuff that friends usually do; c) at one point in time, one or two of you will exhibit symptoms of jealousy, betrayal, anger, etc when your “friend with benefits” decides to step out on you with another “friend”, neighbor, or colleague – it becomes territorial – you begin to feel that even if she tells you “oh, we’re just
close friends – nothing more” – it resonates exactly what the two of you once declared to the world – so, you can never believe whatever she says about the friend-on-the-side to be true, ah ha, rancor sets in, doubt, territorial feelings at first; d) sometimes the bond between friends is stronger that the bond between lovers, inadvertently, you begin to feel
closer to your FWB than you’ve ever been with any spouse or date of yours – but there again, you’ve told yourself a lie – because for a split second, you must have believed or wished the FWB were something more committed, but that’s just you telling yourself another lie, if the other party is more interested in appearances and in the sanctity of the original charade you both designed; e) at a point you both discover you’reboth incapable of moving on, or forging emotional relationships, but then again instead of confronting the truth about the lies you’ve designed – you fall into chaos – with oftentimes futile attempts to “break up” with each other; g) you both get so caught up in your lies, you forget to watch
how attached and dependent you’ve become on each other – that when you each try to pull away or sever that bond, someone ends up getting terribly hurt; h) most times when FWB arrangements end, the friends with benefits can never ever be just friends again – so they often mutually agree to be frenemies – or agree never to speak to or see each other again.

So, you see, the truth about this particular lie is that, no matter how well you tell it, never expect anyone to believe you, let alone delude yourself into believing it. Never try to turn a lie into the truth – a lie can never automatically metamorphose into being true – however, a lie may fortunately gain the legitimacy of “acceptance” if the truth about the lie is confronted, evaluated, and embraced before it spins out of control.

That said, know this even before you begin – well, ponder on it if you’re already in it – the truth about this lie is that when it ends, someone, somehow, usually ends up feeling screwed.

~James Amuta

24 days into the year, and I’m writing my first heartfelt piece – finally unblocked. I’m making myself a mug of hot chocolate at 4 in the morning, as a tribute to the days gone by – a relic and maybe a reminder of she who waved goodbye. Some people are victims of pain, but I choose to benefit from it. ‘Cause when you see life from the other side of pain, your untidy kitchenette begins to outclass the Ballagio Penthouse suite as you make that nostalgic mug of hot chocolate. People can offer you forgiveness for
your transgressions but if it’s redemption you seek, you have to find that for yourself – make one like a cup of hot beverage, ’cause no one can make your redemption for you.

Somehow my voice is back, yelling with creative gusto. That it took this time to return goes to prove I’m human after all, and must have done something right by the gods this time. But this voice came with a price – it came riding on the wings of guilt, pain, and an ounce of regret. It charged in like a psychotic ex girlfriend, beating the rebound girlfriend blue-black and tossing her out – it came saying, “don’t worry baby, she wasn’t right for you, and now you’ve got me to care of you, and this time I promise never to walk away if only you promise never to call her again”. Am I happy she’s back? Hell, yeah. We’re like Bonnie and Clyde – me without her is like a classic Western without John Wayne – like a cowboy without spurs on his boots.

But that doesn’t indicate the absence of hurt as I wave goodbye to the rebound. ‘Cause inasmuch as I’m glad a distraction has been gutted out of my life like an inflamed appendix, I’m worried that I’m not hurting as humans are supposed to – I’m worried that the cycle is in motion – the pattern – break up with your heart, and reunite with your mind. It kinda hurts that the end of a human relationship for me usually marks the beginning of a whirlwind romance with my muse. It seems like my creativity is a psychotic, jealous, rage-filled lover who abhors my emotional dalliances with females of the human species. Sometimes it seems like she’s all I’ve got – and sometimes in the ominous boulevards of my thoughts, I think she’s the only one that gets me.

Lovers and maybe friends will often leave you, but a soul-mate will always find (his/her) way back to you. The word, whether written or performed has always been my soul-mate; possessive she may be, but she’s always there for me – she bears no grudges no matter how often I mistreat her; yet sometimes like a woman she flies into a rage at the slightest suspicion of unfaithfulness, but one thing she never does is leave me when I need a friend. She’s my comforter, confidant, and most of all, my therapist.

But if goodbye doesn’t hurt, why do I run to the couch of my trusted therapist as soon as the train leaves the station?

~James Amuta

Support Sea Shepherd with the clothes you wear. For every purchase of the HoodLamb x Sea Shepherd collection, a donation is made direct to the Sea Shepherd charity! Shop online at: http://shop.hoodlamb.com

lo sportweek invernale dedicato all’intimo: è già uscito da un po’, ma, tra una cosa e l’altra, non ho mai avuto tempo di scriverne. lo faccio adesso, con questo post che raggruppa tutta quella produzione.

lavoro che nel mentre è già uscito un po’ dappertutto…però, per i miei affezionati venticinque lettori, comincio con il raccontarvi e farvi vedere una cosina che non è stata mai ne’ vista ne’ raccontata (lo so bene che vi cambierà la vita: dovrete farvene una ragione…).

quando ci è stato dato l’incarico di proseguire l’avventura estiva di SPORTWEEK DREAMS con la versione invernale ovviamente era inevitabile andare a scattare in montagna. in montagna però, al contrario delle spiagge tropicali dove abbiamo ambientato la versione estiva, può fare brutto e freddo. molto brutto e molto freddo. e se devi fotografare delle fanciulle o ancora peggio delle sciatrici rockstar in intimo come fai?!? bisogna avere un piano B. e io lo avevo! ho comprato su internet (!) una bella fotografia di montagna e l’ho fatta stampare su un grande PVC, così da avere a disposizione un bel paesaggio soleggiato se fosse stato necessario. ma non ne abbiamo mai avuto bisogno! abbiamo infatti sempre avuto un sole meraviglioso! visto però che avevamo costruito e portato tutto ’sto ambaradam l’ho voluto comunque usare, in maniera inutile e surreale.

o forse inutilmente no, che così vi presento le nostre due modelle:

lei è alessandra:

lei è ditta:

comunque, andiamo con ordine.

il primo, di nome e di fatto, servizio realizzato è stato quello con la sciatrice rockstar lindsey vonn. siamo andati in austria dove si allenava. è stata molto carina e gentile, ma, per questioni logistiche, avevamo a disposizione esattamente due ore per realizzare il tutto. tra l’altro ho deciso di andare su un ghiacciaio più o meno lì vicino e quindi alla fine ho fatto il lavoro in quaranta minuti, rimanendo esattamente nelle due ore concordate…

la copertina la vedete qui sopra, eccovi qualche scatto in più:

è stato molto divertente dare una versione sexy ad una super sportiva, e penso che anche lei si sia molto divertita.

ecco anche una foto backstage:

dopo la lindsey siamo tornati a milano per scattare al palaghiaccio agorà le nostre modelle insieme ai giocatori del hockey milano rosso blu. anche qui ho dovuto fare in fretta, sia per questioni logistiche e sia per non far morire le modelle (l’ambiente era a zero gradi!): abbiamo fatto tutto il lavoro in due ore.

ecco l’apertura del giornale più alcune immagini originali:

e il video backstage:

complimenti alle modelle, hanno resistito stoicamente senza fare una piega: brave!

finito con il pattinaggio siamo tornati in montagna a cortina, per finire il lavoro, con le due modelle dell’inizio di questo post.

il primo servizio l’abbiamo realizzato nella bellissima baita piè tofane. ecco l’apertura del giornale più qualche immagine originale:

e abbiamo anche un video backstage, realizzato come gli altri da pasquale ettorre:

ed infine l’ultimo servizio, realizzato andando a cercare la neve, in cima al passo giau. anche qui l’apertura del giornale, qualche scatto originale e il backstage:

per tutta la produzione di questo numero di sportweek winter, edizione speciale lingerie, ho avuto l’aiuto di:

luca stefanelli per lo styling

niky epifanio @ coppola per il trucco & capelli

pasquale ettorre per l’assistenza e i video backstage

daria longinotti per la produzione

olè!

School of Fashion alumna Cristina Palomo is launching a shoe line for Fall ’12, in partnership with friend and fellow designer Megan Papay. The Freda Salvador Fall ’12 collection features gorgeous flats and boots – your everyday staples, with a twist! The shoes are made from Brazilian leather and pony hair, and are manufactured in El Salvador and Gautemala. Many of the styles are transformable – a gorgeous oxford becomes a polished loafer by simply unsnapping a leather vamp cover. Perfect for any girl on the go!

Palomo and Papay were inspired by their travels to Italy and Brazil, and the amazing style of the local people. Describing the aesthetic of the brand, Papay said: “We want [the brand] to be fresh based on the look and quality of our shoes, which is very important, but it’s also a lifestyle.” Can’t wait until they hit stores this August!

Follow the jump for a preview of the Fall ’12 Collection!

Styles form the Fall ’12 Collection. Photo Courtesy of John Aquino.

[Source: WWD]

Dear Filep and iDEALS,

I had the pleasure of finally meeting Hong Kong born designer Six Lee during my short visit to Paris. Six graduated from the world famous Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerpen and showcased his Fall Winter 12/13 collection in Paris. His collection marries British clean cuts tailoring with modern twists.

Six Lee FW 12/13 is definitely a step forward in the menswear world of fashion! Enjoy! For more click here:

Matthew Zorpas

London Correspondent

  
and here are some images from two shows I attented. First comes

Bas Kosters

and then Sjaak Hullekes

Dear New Students,

Welcome to the School of Fashion! It was great seeing you all today and we are so happy to have you with us. We know that all of that orientation information can be a lot to take in, so we’ve created a Spark Notes version for you. Since you’re reading this, you’ve obviously found Fashion School Daily – the School of Fashion’s blog where we keep you updated on all of the events happening within the school (as well as fun stuff in San Francisco), post jobs and internships, keep you updated on industry news, alumni updates and feature your amazing work!

You can visit us on Facebook , YouTube and Twitter too!

You also met your Orientation Leaders – current students who are here to help with any questions or concerns you might have. Their contact info is below:

Nikki Anderson-Joy – Costume Design – aauorientationleader4@gmail.com

Morgan Barnes – Fashion Merchandising – aauorientationleader7@gmail.com

Akaila Johnson – Fashion Merchandising – aauorientationleader5@gmail.com

Melissa Charles – Fashion Design – aauorientationleader3@gmail.com

And if you’re ever looking for a little inspiration, be sure to check out Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer’s Tumblr, where she posts illustrations daily.

Good luck on your first days of school!

by: Lexie Tiongson

A couple of aspiring fashion goers gathered on Thursday, January 19^th at FIDM for FASHION+TECHSF’s Workshop: Applying Mobile Tech Strategies to Your Fashion Business. Speakers included Karen Song of Stylematic and Yuan Zhang of ShopNear.me.

Owners of fashion businesses learned how the marketing aspect of fashion industry is what’s most important.

Stylematic introduced their mobile app as a tool that focuses on personalization for shoppers. It is the “Pandora” for personal style. Stylmatic understands your preferences for what you like and what you want to buy. All of you have to do is complete a style profile.

ShopNear.me also announced their mobile app as a tool for shopper to discover what stores are near and what you can buy from a lot of San Francisco boutiques. It showcases what they carry, what style they have and what designers they have. The app also gives shoppers a discount.

A discussion came to follow about how owners of fashion businesses can adopt and implement mobile technology into their business. Discovery becomes the absolute key for mobile app boutiques. Learning about something new excites customers and wants them to involve themselves in the retail store or fashion business.

As technology gets utilized in many businesses throughout the US, mobile technology becomes just as important. Fashion businesses can take advantage of this way to market their brand. Mobile apps are a way for their clients to benefit from potential discounts and discovery of fashion boutiques and retail stores.

In conclusion, applying mobile tech strategies to your fashion business would be a great thing to consider as an addition to marketing and introducing your brand.

FIDM and SFFAMA sponsored the workshop. PR and Marketing done by Owen Geronimo. Hostess: Marcelina M. Burch. Moderator: Nick Frost.

Visit fashiontechsf.org for more info on fashion and technology workshops in San Francisco.

• Lexie Tiongson is a freelance writer living in San Francisco, CA. Her blog, The Elle Tee, is inspired by all her current fashion finds, inspirations, obsessions and trends.  To contact Lexie, please e-mail lexietiongson@gmail.com.

Join SFFAMA, Follow SFFAMA, Like SFFAMA. For media relations & PR/Publicity contact OwenGeronimo

Karl 1:  I have the vision of me in front of me, but I would like You to describe You, three words would be enough.

Karl 2:  Myself in 3 words I need more than that…First I have no opinion, Second I’m never happy with myself…Third I don’t deliver a description of my person, you have what you see, that’s all, there’s nothing behind.

Karl 1: What do you do to stay fresh and driven? …Is there a secret of your–of our–success?

Karl 2: …the only secret is WORK. Get your act together, there are not too many secrets, or perhaps live a decent life: don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs. …It depends on how much you want to do what you do…Don’t think you are a victim of the system, I don’t believe in that at all. If somebody in this business thinks he is a victim of the system, then it means he’s not in a real job, then he should be in another job….

Click here to see the full interview.

Image: Maison Européenne de la Photographie.

Text: Rooksana Hossenally.

The Maison Européene de la Photographie (MEP) is one of those key venues that is internationally renowned for showing work by high-profile photographers. And this week was no exception with the launch of five brand new exhibitions. If you’re going to be in the area it’s worth popping in to see William Ropp’s stunning portraits. But the other works on show, including Götz Göppert’s panoramic night shots of Paris, Dominique Isserman’s Laetitia Casta, Youssef Nabil’s Egyptian mise-en-scènes and the series, Eloges du vertige, might leave you with a somewhat bland feeling.

Ropp’s incredible series of 20 portraits really stood out from the others. A stupefying eye for etching figures out of shadows, he knows exactly how to capture the “…nooks and crannies of our most intimate souls…” (Geraldine Schrepfen – author). His photographs are proof of what Daney, the influential French film critic, describes as “great trust in light” as he makes the invisible visible, using the light to erode away certain parts of his composition burning it like acid. This gives his portraits an appealing yet eerie atmosphere.

There is nothing conventional about Ropp’s portraits. A mishmash of greys, sometimes blurred, sometimes in focus and most the time, a mix of both, he captures his subjects as though they were confiding their darkest secret in him. For example, the print,Orphanage, Russia (2008), in which a child is photographed holding a crow up to the camera, squeezing it just a little too tightly, hints at a possible penchant for killing living things.

There is an unsettling ambiance in most of his work. However, the series, Dreamt Memories from Africa, which is shown as a slideshow on a screen as part of the exhibition, is less dark. A veritable photographic feat, it shows the intimate relationship between two young African brothers – the light here snakes and slides like slithers of silver along the boys’ dark skin, giving his shots a hypnotic poetic quality.

On the next floor up, we found Dominique Isserman’s 33 shots of Laetitia Casta, the famous French model and actress renowned for her unusual beauty, to have an obvious sensuality without necessarily falling into eroticism. Casta is clearly Isserman’s muse. He first shows his anticipation as he waits for her to meet him in the first few shots where the model’s shadow appears on the walls as she approaches him. The model is photographed in hot springs designed by architect, Pete Zumthor (in Vals, Switzerland). The minimalist lines of the spa-building act as a powerful contrast to the voluptuous curves of Casta’s naked body. The work is beautiful, but so clean-cut that it seems that the photographer hasn’t left much else for the viewer to discover.

Eloges du vertige (Institute Itau Cultural collection) is interesting as far as understanding the step away from conventional photography in Brazil, where the pace is slower than in Europe (where experimental photography has already emerged). Some pieces are unusual like Night visions by Luis Braga and Claudia Andujar’s Yanomami dream – a well constructed reflection of a shaman’s state of mind when in a trance. -but it is not the groundbreaking edge of the collection.

Lastly, the first retrospective of well-known Egyptian photographer, Youssef Nabil, evolves very much like a storyboard for snippets of classical Egyptian films through portraits of his friends and celebrities including Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling and Alicia Keys. There is also a series of self-portraits in which it seems the photographer is sharing visual diary entries about his everyday life with the viewer. The quality of the light, the colours and the calculated poses of his subjects give each work an artificiality, which unfortunately is not as moving as one might have hoped.

Eloge du vertige – Itau, Brazil Collection, Youssef Nabil, Laetitia Casta - Dominique Isserman, The Sculptor of Shadows - William Ropp and Four Seaons - Götz Göppert until 25 March 2012 at the Maison Européenne de la photographie (MEP), 5/7 rue de Fourcy – 75004 Paris.

Open daily from 11h00 to 20h00 (closed Mondays, Tuesdays and bank holidays). Tickets: 7 Euros. Metro: Saint Paul (L1) or Pont Marie (L7).

[SAN FRANCISCO, CA]  January 28, 2012 – San Francisco Fashion And Merchants Alliance, Inc. celebrates Fashion+TechSF‘s second year anniversary with a  social networking and boutique shopping event open to the general public from 6:00pm to 10:00 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at The Infinity Club Lounge, 333 Main Street, Level 3, San Francisco, CA 94105.

The celebration event will feature Geek Style Lounge and Fashion Bloggers Connect. Geek Style Lounge is a pop-up shopping event combining fashion, beauty, lifestyle and tech concepts in a social network setting. Attendees will be introduced to the newest mobile apps, enjoy product samples, beauty makeovers and shop from emerging local retailers. Bianca Starr will showcase a wardrobe styling presentation. Fashion Bloggers Connect is a popular workshop featuring influential bloggers Jes Ryzenberg of Ryzenberg On, Jennie Lodge of Going West, Zavan Quezada of  Boyish.TV, Jacyn Sibert of Sugar Lips Lifestyle Tips and Mai Le of Fashioni.st  who will share their blogging expertise and topics in today’s fashion. Tickets are available online at fashiontechsf2ndyearanniversary.eventbrite.com.

FASHION+TECHSF is the longest running monthly workshop and event series in the San Francisco Bay Area focused synergistically on building, promoting and educating the vibrant community of fashion and technology entrepreneurs, designers, developers, bloggers, business professionals, students, investors and numerous enthusiastic companies, schools, groups and individuals who share our vision of a world-class fashion and technology industry that is innovative, disruptive and uniquely San Francisco.

“The Fashion Mash-Up was our initial product presentation and we were very happy with the results. SFFAMA is one of the best resources for anyone in the Bay Area interested in networking with remarkable entrepreneurs in fashion and design. The community SFFAMA is creating in San Francisco is second-to-none, a truly diverse and positive group of fashion savvy doers. I’ve also garnered wonderful friendships and colleagues who continue to inform and inspire. Kudos to SFFAMA! Great Job, Fantastic Event.”  MICHAEL LESNIAK, Founder, OMGiLUV.it

Demos by RAF9, Stylematic and ShopNear.me.  Abrot Bags, Argoz, Boom Tho, GetWear, Malin Namita Couture, Rodan+Fields, SF Estillo, Solz Shoes and The Urban Class Boutique will market their latest retail products.  Beauty makeover provided by The San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, Inc. Gift raffle includes a getaway wine experience from Livermore Valley Wine Country, beauty products from Rodan+Fields and Atelier Emmanuel, and footwear  from Solz Shoes. Sponsored products by SloDOWN Wines Inc., Dry Soda Company, Pretzel Crisps, My Pressi and Cheat-A-Little Catering.  Our exclusive media sponsor is SFStation. Attendees include guests from these companies: Altimeter Group, Alteryx, Brisbane Creative Industries, Buy Ads, Getwear, Funders & Founders, Fuse Project , Hult International Business School, Key List, Mobileccino, Mode Walk, National Newpaper Publishers Association, Premier Staffing, San Francisco Associates, Startup Monthly, Style Pal, Tech Mama, TedxBayArea, The Knot, Zero1 and more.

SFFAMA, INC., a California non-profit organization, is the go-to institution in the San Francisco Bay Area connecting the fashion and technology industries. Through our members and industry partnerships, including Fashion Startups, Fashion Bloggers Connect, Link2SF and our newest east coast satellite group Fashion+TechNY, we have a reach of over 5,000 fashion and technology professionals and enthusiasts and over 2,000 members on Facebook.

For media relations, publicity, product promotions, sponsorship opportunities, and booking info, please email Owen Geronimo at – contact@sffamainc.org

Join SFFAMA, Follow SFFAMA, Like SFFAMA. For media relations & PR/Publicity contact OwenGeronimo

Dear iDEALS, I am in love with 080 BARCELONA FASHION WEEK. Though my hotel's internet connection is not being very helpful (six minutes to upload one single image) I am trying my best to share some highlights with you. The full report will be online starting Tuesday the 31st January. Till then, keep sending me positive energy.

Where do you live? Walnut, IL

Area of study: MFA Fashion Journalism

Day job / occupation: Deposit Operations Officer at a local financial institution

What qualities do you most value in others?

Honesty, sincerity and openness.

Who are three of your favorite journalists or bloggers?

Bloggers Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific and Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere and journalist Maggie Bullock.

List a guilty pleasure: Twitter

What is your present state of mind?

Editorial. Much like a collection preparing for its runway debut or articles for next month’s publication, I currently have a lot of options running through my head. I am focused on evaluating those things that work best together, and how, to help me reach where I want to be.

What is your dream job?

Operating a well-read personal style blog and contributing to the fashion industry as a freelance journalist.

What is the most important thing that people should know about you?

I might be from a tiny town in the middle of a cornfield, but that does not mean my dreams and interests stop at the end of the county line.

When was the first time you recognized your interest in fashion?

I realized I may be hooked the day the post office had to move my mail to a bigger box due to the number of September issues in it.

Where have you found inspiration lately?

My inspiration lately has come from talking to women who want to express themselves through style but are simply unsure of where to begin. There is a world of women completely intimidated by the fashion industry for fears rooted in insecurities. I am inspired to share with them the ease of which they can actually overcome their insecurities through the same venue that scares them.

What is your most valued possession?

A silver bracelet given to me by a friend in college and my wedding ring.

What music do you like to listen to?

My iPod is filled with everything from LMFAO to Frank Sinatra. Music, much like fashion, can be so reflective of my mood, so I like to have plenty of options at my fingertips.

If you had an opportunity to travel back in time, who would you like to meet, and why?

My grandmother. I never had the opportunity to meet her, and I suspect her personality exudes so much more than any memory or story can truly convey.

For more On Online, click here.

We are honored and excited to celebrate and close out January 2012 with Amaete Umanah, an Electrical Engineer and Technology Entrepreneur of Nigerian heritage who has just launched the WHOT! Card game. WHOT! Card game is available on iOs, Android, Amazon and Apple App stores.

Umanah joins a distinguished list of past Ladybrille Men of the Month(s) which includes Hollywood Actor Edi Gathegi, NFL Player Amobi Okoye, Hollywood Actor Jimmy Jean Louis, Author, New TV Host and Matchmaker Paul Carrick Brunson, Fashion Photographer Simon Deiner, Fashion Producer Jan Malan, artists Mateo Vic and Wizkid. Enjoy the interview, please share and do congratulate him!

Our interview was conducted by phone.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Amaete how are you?
Amaete: I am well thank you. Thank you very much for having me.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Welcome. First things first, am I pronouncing your name well?
Amaete: Yes. It is “Ama- a-tay” (pronounces it)

LADYBRILLEmag.com: What is the origin of the name?
Amaete: It is from the South, South part of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom, Ibibio.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: And what does your name mean?
Amaete: From what my father has told me, over the years, it means “I love my father.” So, I am sticking with that.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: (Laughs) Oh! Really? Interesting. That is very unique.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Let’s get into your background. I understand you studied engineering. Tell us a bit more about that?
Amaete: Ever since I was five years old, my mother stuck it into my head that I was going to be an engineer.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: (Laughs)
Amaete: (Laughs) Living in Nigeria, that was the only thing I could think of (because) living in Nigeria at the time, you were either an engineer, doctor or a lawyer. So when I came to the USA, I just stuck with the goal of being an Electrical Engineer.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: What University did you attend to achieve your goal of being an Electrical Engineer?
Amaete: I actually got my degree at Devry’s University.

LADYBRILLEmag: Where is that located?
Amaete: They actually have their campuses all over but I got my degree in Pomona, here in California.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Where did you get your fascination for all things gadgets and gizmos . . .? You have such intensity and love for technology, technology . . . how did you come about having such a huge interest in gadgets and gizmos?
Amaete: Ever since I was a kid, I have always been intrigued by electronics. My parents did a good job of buying me a lot of these toys that intrigued me. When I was seven (7) years old I got my first Walkie Talkie and it was just intriguing to see how that thing worked. (Chuckled)

LADYBRILLEmag.com: (Chuckles)
Amaete: Living in Nigeria I remember wanting a computer so bad. You know when they started coming out with 386 this and 486 this. . . . My parents couldn’t afford it. So, I remember the days when I would just spend hours going through PC Magazine, dreaming . . .

LADYBRILLEmag.com: (In a surprised voice) PC Magazine? The American PC Magazine?
Amaete: I beg your pardon?

LADYBRILLEmag.com: The American PC Magazine?
Amaete: Yes. The American PC Magazine.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: So your parents or somebody consumed a lot of that. Where did you get access to those?
Amaete: We had a family friend that lived down the street that was an electrical engineer and I used to go to his house. He had a lot of these magazines and I would spend hours just going through these magazines dreaming that I would actually have these computers in my room.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Wow! (Laughs) Definitely a freak, a computer freak. (Laughs)
Amaete: (Laughs)

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Beyond your love for technology, I also know that you have a very playful side to you and that includes traveling and running marathons etc. Tell us some of the countries you have visited around the world.
Amaete: Well, just recently, I visited Trinidad/Tobago?

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Was that for the carnival?
Amaete: It was a mixture of both business and pleasure. (I have visited) Puerto Rico which is part of the United States, England, France, Austria, of course Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea are some of the places I have been to and had a lot of fun.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: How exciting!! As someone who loves to travel, I can only imagine how great it has been for you!

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Before we get into a discussion on your innovative launch of WHOT! Card games, I’d like to discuss very briefly with you about social media. I know you are well versed with social media. Would you share with our audience the relevance of social media, especially for the many Ladybrille entrepreneurs, who will read this and can benefit from its use?

Amaete:I look at social media as a means of sharing. . .I come across a lot of things that are very interesting to share. One of the things I like to do is to share. Social media allows you to share on facebook, twitter, youtube etc. When you go online (especially for business purpose), the question you want to ask yourself is, “where do people hangout?” Social media allows you to go where people hangout to showcase your idea, products and whatever you may have.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: As a business owner, could you share how social media has been beneficial to you?
Amaete: We launched our game on December 1st, 2011. Social media has really helped because I have people contact me from twitter because someone tweeted about (Whot! card game) and before you know it, they have spread it to other platforms. We are now on android, iOS . . . it has allowed me to reach an audience that I would never have been able to reach. So, it has helped me tremendously in getting exposure, getting an increase in downloads.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: That is actually a good transition to talk about the WHOT! Card game you launched. First, let me approach it from the angle of African entrepreneurs launching technological innovative products in the American marketplace. You don’t often hear or see that. What was the impetus, why did you decide to launch WHOT! Card game?

Amaete:Good question. WHOT! is a game I played in Nigeria with my friends while growing up. When we came to the US, she would organize this WHOT! Card game nights and we would have about 15-20 people come to the house to play WHOT! Card games. I said to myself this is a great game to introduce on iOS. As of last year, no one really had it on iOS or even had it on Facebook. So, the idea came to me last year. So, when Steve Jobs (may his soul rest in peace), was introducing the IPad 1 and was sharing the numbers on how many people use it, that’s when I thought to create it.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: You have a co-founder who helped create the WHOT! Card game called Ime (pronounced E-May) Etim, correct?
Amaete: Yes. . . that is my co-founder and my cousin as well.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: What exactly is his role at your company?
Amaete: As a startup, we do everything. We really do not have the luxury (yet) of delegating a variety of things. He does design work, marketing, analytics. Everything I do, he does.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: (Laughs) I am sure our Ladybrille entrepreneurs reading this can totally relate to having to wear multiple hats.

How the Whot! Card Game Works

“WHOT! is a classic, fast-paced and an exciting card game for all ages. Get rid of all your cards first and score points for the cards you play. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins!
WHOT! is for Casual Gamers
Played with just one finger!
Very easy to learn… and addictive.
Enjoyable for kids and adults.
Competitive scoring to compete with friends and family.
A true bargain…FREE… what do you have to lose?

How To Play
‘Skip’ – Playing this card causes the next player to miss a turn, and next player in line gets to play.

‘Pick 2′ – The next player must either play another two within the time limit, or draw at least two cards from the stock as a penalty.

‘Pick 3′ – The next player must either play another five within the time limit, or draw at least three cards from the stock as a penalty.
‘Hold On’ – The player who plays this card skips over all other players, and gets to play again.

‘Reverse’ – Playing this card reverses the direction of play.
‘General Market’ – Playing this card causes everyone but the player to get dealt an additional card. The player gets another turn.

‘Whot’ – This card lets the user change the current suit to something else. Cannot be played on a ‘Pick 2′ or ‘Pick 3′ with an active penalty.

Playing multiple cards in a single turn (using ’8′ or ’14′) gives you bonus points. The more cards you play, the greater the bonus!

Game Center Enabled
Compare your game scores to others worldwide on the leaderboard, and strive to complete all the achievements! Some are easy … and some are only achievable by masters!

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Distribution wise, what are your distribution methods and where can our audience access the game?
Amaete: Apple App store, Google app store, Amazon marketplace . . .Kiip networks.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Where have you been able to obtain funding for the game?
Amaete: It is self funded between myself, Ime and an angel investor. We are actively fundraising right now.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Where can our potential Ladybrille investor interested in investing find you?
Amaete: They can contact me at amaete@nkanikan.com.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Is Nkanikan the parent company for WHOT! card game?
Amaete: Yes. We wanted to keep it native. It is Ibibio and means time. That is why our slogan says, “it is time, come play with us.”

Amaete Umanah Gets Philosophical

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Nice. Let’s get a bit more personal. What drives you?
Amaete: Passion. I love doing the things no one has done before. I love doing the impossible. This drives me and I am (driven)to succeed in doing these things.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: What is the kind of legacy you want to leave behind?
Amaete: I want to be remembered as someone that was a hard-worker. I want to take the culture that we have in Silicon Valley (San Jose, San Francisco, Bay Area) and bring it back to Africa. I want to be one of the early pioneers of bringing that kind of technology culture to Africa and specifically Nigeria.

LADYBRILLEmag.com: What are the daily principles you live by?
Amaete: Don’t take “no” for an answer. When one door closes, look for another one. Be consistent. Sometimes not having a lot helps you think outside of the box.

Amaete Keeps it Light

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Deep. On a lighter note, what are some of the places you would recommend we visit in Nigeria for some good times? Restaurants?
Amaete: When I go to Nigeria, I go to Port Harcourt, the South, South. It is pretty much all I know. Chicken Republic is a place I go. (Laughs) Chicken Republic, I love to eat there. (Laughs)

LADYBRILLEmag.com: I wish we had more time to delve into even more with you but we do have to wrap it up. So, one last question for you! What makes a brilliant man?! (Laughs)

Amaete:(Takes deep sigh) Ahhhhhhhh! Good question. I have to think about that for a second. (Pauses) (Pensive) Strong determination, sense of humor, God fearing. (Defaults to being witty and playful) Handsome. (Laughs)

LADYBRILLEmag.com: (Laughs) We already know you are a very good looking man. (Laughs)
Amaete: (Laughs)

LADYBRILLEmag.com: Thank you so much Amaete. I’d love to delve into the fusion of fashion and technology and what you are doing but we will invite you back on Ladybrille once you roll some of those projects out.
Amaete: Thank you so much! I’d love to. I’d love to. Thank you so much for having me.

Congratulations to Amaete Umanah for being our Ladybrille Man of the Month, January 2012!

Please visit www.whotcardgame.com for more information and to download your copy!

-Interview by Uduak Oduok
Courtesy photo

Just launched this month if you want one let us know comes in two colours Black and Turquoise as other saddle bag. Our partners with this project: http://www.tokyofixedgear.com/

Karl Lagerfeld’s collection for Net-a-Porter, simply titled Karl, launched yesterday with pop-up stores and parties in Paris, New York, Sydney, Berlin and London. In an interview with Vogue’s Hamish Bowles, Lagerfeld explained that the collection was an expression of his style and taste – he designed clothes that he likes.

The collection of mostly black and white sleek separates flew off shelves yesterday, and several designs are already sold out online. The price-point is much more accessible than Chanel, but it will still set you back a few (average price for an item is around $250). Proving that the line really is all about Karl, he even interviewed himself in a promotional video.

Which items are you coveting? Tell us in the comments below!

Follow the jump to see Karl interviewing Karl!

Karl Interviewing Karl

Karl Lagerfeld being interviewed by Hamish Bowles

Kenya-based Portland Communications and Tweetminster published findings indicating Twitter in Africa is widely used for social conversation and is fast becoming an important source of information. More than 80 percent of those polled said they mainly used it for communicating with friends, 68 percent said they use it to monitor news and 22 percent to search for jobs, the companies said.

The research analyzed more than 11.5 million geographically pinpointed tweets originating on the continent during the last three months of 2011. That was complemented by a survey of 500 of Africa’s most active tweeters.

South Africans, with the continent’s biggest economy, were the most prolific with over twice as many tweets at 5,030,226 than the next most active country of Kenya with 2,476,800 tweets. Surprisingly, Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, had only 1,646,212 tweets from its more than 160 million people. It was followed by Egypt with 1,214,062 and Morocco with 745,620 tweets.

African tweeters are young, averaging 20 to 29 years, compared to 39 worldwide, the report said. And some 57 percent of analyzed tweets were sent from mobile phones, mainly BlackBerrys and iPhones.

The researchers noted how few African business and political leaders were joining Africa’s burgeoning Twittersphere.

“With some notable exceptions, we found that business and political leaders were largely absent from the debates playing out on Twitter across the continent,” they said. “As Twitter lifts off in Africa, governments, businesses and development agencies can really no longer afford to stay out of a new space where dialogue will increasingly be taking place. . .”

-Associated Press

Dear iDEALS, the annual competition for the ANDAM Fashion Award opens officially on January 27, 2012 The competition was conceived to recognize and cultivate the talent of a world- class fashion designer who is still in the development phase. Entrants can be of any nationality, but must have, or agree to set up, a company in France...

AN EVER-GREATER ENDOWMENT

For its 23rd edition, the ANDAM Fashion Award is increasing its endowment by 15% over last year’s prize, reaching a record total of €230,000. The ANDAM Fashion Award remains the world’s largest single fashion prize, ahead of the CFDA/Vogue Awards and the British Fashion Council/Vogue Fund, thanks to the loyal support of its sponsors: the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, LVMH, thecorner.com (the online boutique powered by YOOX Group), Swarovski, Yves Saint Laurent, Galeries Lafayette, Longchamp, Hudson’s Bay Company and Only The Brave, as well as two public institutions, the DEFI and the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.

Last year's winner, Anthony Vaccarello, photo by Filep Motwary©

In addition to this exceptional endowment, the award winner will also have the opportunity to present his or her collection to the international corps of journalists and buyers during Paris Fashion Week in October 2012.

“For its 23rd year, the ANDAM Fashion Award is taking an even stronger international position, the better to reward deserving talents,” explains ANDAM director Nathalie Dufour.

Download more information on how to submit your work

MORGANISTIK

Current trends are more in favor of the “bare face” look, which, as we all know, requires as much, if not more, work, with foundation and blush carefully applied, minimal eye shades and difficult-to-create nude lips.  Goes without saying that the basic canvas ought to be excellent, but THAT was Mother Nature’s job.

In western society, the wearing of lots of make-up was still a declaration of little virtue at the beginning of the 20th century, later confined to actors, until ordinary women took to wearing lipstick and “rouge” in the roaring twenties.  The sixties brought us heavily made-up eyes and pale lips, with winged eyeliner, false and painted eyelashes, which went very well with beehived hair…for a look most unnatural.  Revivals being very much a thing of the present times, we have seen how the late Amy Winehouse adopted these trends to create her image…and we have also just seen how French designer Jean Paul Gaultier made Winehouse the muse of his  S/S 2012 couture collection.  Below is one of the outfits.

What now, as far as make-up is concerned?  Prevalently little or (apparently) none, heavily made up eyes definitely not being the now thing, but red lips make most women so attractive…didn’t Victorian ladies of proven virtue bite their lips and pinch their cheeks to make themselves even worthier of men’s admiration?

My portrait last night in Barcelona by Nicholas Georgiou©

We will be offering items for humans as well.

Alexa Varis started doing fashion illlustrations in 1991 when she was 8 years old and haven’t really put her pencil down since. Hailing from southwest Colorado, she arrived in San Francisco in 2004 to work in the music industry - which has changed exponentially since then. When that fizzled, she started taking fashion design classes and now consider herself a fledgling fashion designer, semi-pro fashion illustrator and n00b fashion blogger! She’s excited to join SFFAMA as an online art contributor by illustrating her little heart out, cooking up some rad clothing designs and producing fashion, art and music events around town. 

Join SFFAMA, Follow SFFAMA, Like SFFAMA. For media relations & PR/Publicity contact OwenGeronimo

Photo by Filep Motwary ©

Dear iDEALS, Pierre Cardin's finale was truly emotional for me, as he stood up from his front row seat to salute us all guests with a wave. During these moments, I was thinking of how a man can become a man of his own history and heritage. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes... For me, this was one of the strongest moments for this edition of 080 Barcelona Fashion Week.

Photography Filep Motwary ©

Last Autumn we saw a teenage Hailee Steinfried chomping down a pizza in a Miu Miu frock. And we admit, we were pretty jealous of the girl. If we had a $2000 Miu Miu frock for every pizza we ate, we’d be the sauciest (get it?) ladies on the block.

However, despite the cuteness of the 1940s-inspired campaign, spectators had their doubts about the youngness of Miuccia Prada’s muse. After a line of quirky actress-turned-spokespeople (Katie Holmes, Lindsay Lohan and Maggie Gyllenhaal to name a few), this was the youngest to flaunt the title.

Then there was an austere Guinevere Van Seenus for Resort 2012. The lady started modelling before Steinfried was even born. Confused yet?

Finally Miu Miu has found a happy medium, shooting it’s Spring campaign with 22 year old Australian actress Mia Wasikowska.

Looks like Miu Miu’s limited it’s eclectic habits to it’s clothes. Take a peek at these timelessly ladylike snaps!

Photos by Morganistik© for Filep Motwary

Images: Merci

Text: Anne S. Ditmeyer

In recent years in the design community, bikes have been far more than a means to get from point A to B, but part of a style lifestyle. With more choices and accessories than ever, one's bike can be a means of expression. Put a bike into context, and depending on where you live – Copenhagen or Amsterdam – a bike is a necessity of life. But now, in other places of the world, such as Tokyo, there's a movement to live life at a different pace, with an emphasis on quality of life, known as SLOW BIKE.

The timing of Merci's installation, MY BIKE: Transportation Dans la Ville, on January 18 through February 18, is noteworthy, as this past week was the latest edition of the mega design trade show, Maison Objet. Design is not limited to what is in one's home, but rather extends to the world outside (and beyond the expo center).

In typical Merci fashion, their signature red car out from is incorporated into the theme, with an upside down bike on the roof. Go inside, and a ring of massive lights hangs overhead, with several stylish bikes and mannequins below. The main display wall to the right uses tools to create "art" where strong geometrical shapes emerge. Throughout the lower lobby, small accessories from locks to bells and bungees are available for your shopping needs. Unlike most of their installations, this one takes over more of the space and weaves its way upstairs with suspended bikes along a race track, juxtaposed to the cupboards just to the side.

By the end of the visit, you start to see the bicycle as a multi-functional objet. As I was rushing through before it closed, I almost missed my favorite room – just to the left of the check out stand. After seeing bikes, accessories, and mannequins, these portraits (for sale) by Vincent Leroux seemed to capture the very spirit that is the bicycle in design-meets-life these days.

Merci is a constantly changing concept shop with three cafés, located at 111 boulevard Beaumarchais 75003. Store hours are Monday – Saturday 10am - 7pm.

Designer reports coming to you later on Tuesday, 31st January.

Dear iDEALS, I am sure many of you know who Marcela Gutierrez is by now...

Today was our day together, something we have been planning for a while, after the last time we've seen each other which was in Paris during the period we were both working for John Galliano, some years back.

After her major and recent collaboration with PRADA, Marcela is now working on two individual projects that will rock the fashion industry. More on that coming soon.

Yeap! Exactly the reason my blog looks so beautiful!

Girls out on a Saturday night! Everyone else is actually wearing coats and scarves – these girls didn’t even have coats.

Dear Filep and iDEALS,

an 11-minute silent 35mm film projected onto a gigantic white monolith is the twelfth commission in The Unilever Series at Tate Modern. The film by British artists Tacita Dean is projected in standing 13 metres tall screen at the end of a darkened Turbine Hall. Including images from the natural world among others, the film feels like a surreal visual poem. Here are some snaps from my visit today.

For more information click here.

Matthew Zorpas

London Correspondent