The Fashionable Collegian

Fashion SparkNotes 1/30/2018

2018-01-30T08:15:00.000-05:00

The New York Times covers another round of fashion musical chairs. Hedi Slimane moves to Celine.

Get inspired by Katrina Lake’s retail uprising on Fashionista

Read The Cut’s review of Constance White’s book, “How to Slay.”

The Business of Fashion lists the best luxury brands of 2017.

Are the merchandise from The RealReal really real? Racked further investigates.

W Magazine: Move over French girls, Stylish Scandinavians are on the rise.

Check out StyleCaster’s review on the best red carpet looks from the 2018 Grammy Awards.

A Fashionable #FBF

2018-01-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday Fashionable Collegians,

I hope all is well. I took a trip down memory lane and came across this picture of my younger sister, Sade and myself at her graduation from UPenn’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Prior to attending UPenn, Sade attended Cornell University as an undergraduate. This Fall, Sade will be heading back to UPenn to begin her career in law. So proud of her! I know graduation day is a few months from now for some of you, but wanted to share this picture for inspirational purposes. Graduation day is just around the corner. Please remember to savor these last few months, strengthen your friendships with your peers, be diligent about your studies, and try to explore the things you’ve been putting off for ages. Trust me, you’re going to miss these moments when they are gone. “Adulting" is no joke! Ha!

Have a great weekend!

XO,

Bisi

Fashion Internships

2018-01-16T09:53:00.002-05:00

Morning Fashionable Collegians,

I hope your year has been off to a great start. If you haven’t already begun looking for summer internship opportunities, this is the perfect time to begin researching and applying to internships before the Spring semester gets a little hectic. Though most fashion internships aren’t as structured in comparison to finance and tech internship programs, I strongly suggest working on securing your summer internship soon rather than later, as most of the well-known internship programs have earlier deadlines and limited spaces. On the contrary, if you prefer to intern for a small boutique company instead of well established one, then it is possible to wait a little longer. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to get this squared away so that you have one less thing to worry about! lol!

Below are some helpful tips and tools to get you started on your successful journey to find a fashion internship.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me or leave a comment on this blog post.

Good Luck!

XO,

Bisi

Searching for an Internship:

Though you can apply for an internship directly on the company website, I’ve listed some of the popular fashion internship search engines that are super useful in helping you find an internship:

Indeed

In addition to reaching out to career counselors at your school, you can also look in the TFC Career Development Center section of the blog for additional resources.

Established Fashion and Beauty Internship Programs:

Retail - Macy’s, J.C. Penney, and Nordstrom

Magazine and PR/Marketing and Media - Time Inc., KCD, HL Group, and Factory PR

Beauty - Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Glossier, and Shiseido

Financial Upkeep:

Finding paid internships is an arduous task. While some companies offer small to generous internship stipends, most fashion internships are unpaid (which sucks, I know). Thus, I strongly suggest working an on-campus job and saving as much money as you can to help maintain yourself while interning for a company over the summer. I would also look into applying to the Ed Trust Fund, which grants $1200 to unpaid interns. Be sure to read the eligibility requirements before you apply!

Internship Etiquette:

When writing cover letters, please be sure to address someone in human resources or a manager of some sort. Companies want to see that you’ve taken out the time to fully research their company. Use resources such as LinkedIn, to find an HR contact if it is not noted in the internship posting. I know that writing cover letters is a tedious process, and thus, you’re inclined to cut and paste, but please make sure you accurately write/spell the name of the company to which you’re applying to.

If you have an upcoming interview, please make sure that you’re dressed appropriately. Though fashion is considered a “creative” field, I think it’s best to wear sleek black and perhaps have a little “fun” with your accessories. I’ll be posting interview outfit ideas in a few. Stay tuned!

For those who have secured their internship. First, congrats! Second, please make sure you’re on your best behavior while interning. To stand out, try to be resourceful, proactive, and be a problem solver. Fashion industry professionals love interns who possess that “can-do” spirit as no day is a typical day and there will be a bevy of new problems to tackle each day. Akin to what you may have seen from the Devil Wears Prada movie, fashion is very unglamorous, and as such, requires a lot of time and effort. Be ready to work!

Fashion SparkNotes: 1/10/2018

2018-01-10T08:48:00.002-05:00

Business of Fashion: H&M apologizes over racially insensitive, “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle” Ad.

#GirlBoss crush. The Cut interviews Anastasia Soare (aka the Queen of Beauty).

WWD: The future of retail.

The NY Times: It’s bigger, deeper than "Street Style.”

Fashionista discusses the implications of NOT asking, “Who are you wearing?” on the red carpet.

Check out Racked’s review on Universal Standard’s plus-size activewear collection.

The Cut covers Cardi B’s style evolution.

Fashion Books to Read During J-Term Break

2018-01-07T06:59:00.000-05:00

Hey Fashionable Collegians,

Happy New Year! I hope all of you had an amazing time ringing in the new year with your loved ones. January Term Break (oh, how I miss thee), is a perfect time to read for leisure. Below are some books I would like to recommend reading while you’re on January Term Break. I grouped the books based on informational books on how to get into the fashion industry, biographies of notable fashion industry insiders, and fictional books with a fashion flair to them.

Happy reading!

XO,

Bisi

Fashion Career Advice:

Still trying to figure out what you want to do in the fashion industry? There’s loads of different career paths in the fashion industry from working at a magazine to working in corporate retail. Below are some really good books to help you navigate the right career path for you:

1-Mary Gehlhar, “The Fashion Designer Survival Guide.”

2-Leslie Davis Burns, Kathy K. Mullet, and Nancy O. Bryant, “The Business of Fashion.”

3-The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider’s Guide to Careers in Fashion.”

4-Annemarie Iverson, “In Fashion: From Runway to Retail, Everything You Need to Know to Break Into the Fashion Industry."

Biographical Books:

I love reading biographies of fashion industry insiders as it most often than not, provides inspiration on how to navigate the fashion industry. Plus, I love hearing nostalgic stories of the inner-workings of the fashion industry 20, 30, 40 years ago. Below are some of my favorite biographies:

1-Diane von Furstenberg, “The Woman I Wanted to Be.”

2-Andre Leon Talley, "A.L.T: A Memoir”

3-Sophia Amoruso, “#GirlBoss.”

4-Grace Coddington, “Grace: A Memoir.”

5-Diana Vreeland, “D.V.”

6-Alicia Drake, “The Beautiful Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and the Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris."

*Kelly Cutrone, “If You Have to Go Outside.” This book is both bigraphical and offers great career advice. It’s a must-read if you need you still need some guidance on how to have tough skin in the fashion industry.

Fashion Fiction Books:

"Fashion fiction" is one of my favorite genres of books to read as it gives me an opportunity to escape (adulating is no joke. lol). From carefree characters to cheeky anecdotes, check out my list of books you’ll enjoy reading:

1- Sophie Kinsella, "Confessions of a Shopaholic.” (This is actually a series of books. Once you read the first one, you’ll want to read the others.)

2-Anna Mitchel and Michelle Sassa, “Copygirl.”

3-Kevin Kwan, “Crazy Rich Asians.”

4-Lucy Sykes and Jo Plazza, “The Knockoff.”

5-Tia Williams, “The Perfect Find.”

*MIchael Tonello, “Bringing Home the Birkin.” This book isn’t fashion fiction per se, but the story reads like a fun movie of some sort. Either way, you’ll have a good laugh at reading this book.

#WhatIWoreToWerk In 2017

2017-12-29T20:40:00.000-05:00

Took a trip down memory lane on the last Flashback Friday of 2017. Above, is a compilation of some of my best #WhatIWoreToWerk outfits this past year. Cheers to an even more FAB year in 2018!

XO,

Bisi

Quote of the Day: Ralph Lauren

2017-12-28T22:13:00.001-05:00

As 2017 begins to wane away, I was thinking about some of the fun experiences I had this past year. I vividly remember seeing Ralph Lauren in person, giving a speech during Terry Lundgren’s (i.e. Macy’s longtime former CEO) retirement party earlier this year. I was so geeked out by his presence and genuinely felt inspired by Ralph Lauren’s ability to maintain longevity in the retail business. I spotted this quote from Ralph Lauren and felt compelled to share with you. Hopefully this quote will inspire some of you to set your own trends in 2018!

I’m sure many of you now who Ralph Lauren is, but for those who don’t, Ralph Lauren is an iconic American designer known best for his multi-billion dollar eponymous fashion brand that covers apparel, accessories, footwear, fragrances, and home product categories. Lauren is a native New Yorker and began his career in fashion working as a sales associate for Brooks Brothers. In the late 1960s, Lauren ventured out to establish his own line of men's neckties that were sold in Bloomingdale’s among other luxury retailers. In 1972, Lauren designed the “Polo” shirt, which remains to be one of American fashion’s most iconic clothing item. In addition to working in fashion, Lauren also has ventures in dining, film, and philanthropy. In 2015, Lauren stepped down from his position as CEO.

New Year's Eve Outfit Ideas

2017-12-27T11:34:00.000-05:00

Morning, Fashionable Collegians! I hope all of you had an amazing time spending the Christmas holiday with your loved ones (and I hope you received awesome Christmas gifts too! lol). New Year’s Eve is our last celebration of the year. Still have nothing to wear for an upcoming New Year’s Eve party? No worries. I’ve got you covered. During this time of the year, you’ll find that most retailers tend to offer some of the same deals you’d see on Black Friday/Cyber Monday. H&M, Charlotte Ruse, Forever 21, Zara, BooHoo, Asos, among other fast-fashionable retailers all have a ton of affordable clothing perfect for New Year’s Eve parties. Below are some outfit ideas ranging from super dressy to casual fits. Happy Shopping :)

XO,

Bisi

Merry Christmas XOXO

2017-12-25T11:17:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, Fashionable Collegians! Wishing all of you great health and happiness. I hope you enjoy spending time with your loved ones during the festive holiday season.

Cheers!

XO,

Bisi

Quote of the Day: Rachel Zoe

2017-12-14T21:07:00.000-05:00

Rachel Zoe is a notable leader in the fashion industry. Best known for styling some of today's top celebrities, Rachel also designs for her eponymous fashion line, had a hit reality show on Bravo, "The Rachel Zoe Project" and also wrote a book, Style A to Zoe, that landed on the New York Times best-sellers list. Be sure to subscribe to her daily newsletter, "The Zoe Report," wherein Rachel features key style, beauty, and lifestyle tips.

Fashion Sparknotes: 12/11/2017

2017-12-11T13:24:00.001-05:00

Refinery 29 Weekly Horoscope

Check The Cut’s picks for some of the best street style looks spotted at Art Basel

Tick-Tick-Tick...Still haven’t finished Christmas shopping? Racked lists online shopping deadlines from some of your favorite retailers.

Ultra-violet, Pantone’s new color of the year. Check out Fashionista to see next year's new exciting color!

Laura Brown (EIC at Instyle Magazine) talks to Refinery 29 about her unique journey into the fashion industry.

WWD: LVMH unveils the date for their fourth annual, “Les Journées Particulières” (i.e. an event that showcases the best artisanal talent from each LVMH fashion house. This event takes place in Europe and is open to the public).

The Best in Boots

2017-12-07T13:10:00.000-05:00

Braving the Fall/Winter weather isn’t the easiest, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look cute as we overcome the gruesome weather that’s upon us! Unlike, 5-10 years ago, there’s so many stylish (and affordable) options out there today. Sequins, beading, embroidery, intricate hardware are all new design details that many brands are experimenting with - and I'm loving it! From over-the-knee boots to over-the-top boots, check out some of my picks of the best in boots this season (all boots currently retail for under $100).

Booties:

-I’m just loving this trend of dressing up the heel of boots. Below are some cute booties with great heel design details:

1-Libby Edelman “Vana Beaded Butterfly Bootie”, 2-Michael Kors “Sabrina Chain Bootie”, 3-Liz Claiborne “Gina Glitter Bootie”, 4-H&M “Glitter Heel Bootie”, 5-Charlotte Russe “Gored Pearl Heel Bootie”, 6-DKNY “Corrie Ankle Booties”

Over-the-Knee Boots:

1-H&M "Knee-High Boot", 2-Kenneth Cole “Adelynn Boots”, 3-Charlotte Russe "Faux Suede Studded Boot",

4-Guess "Vianne Boot", 5-Charlotte Russe “Zipper Trim Moto Boot”, 6-Charlotte Russe “Faux Suede Boot"

Over-the-Top Glitter Boots:

The Saint Laurent “Niki Crystal Boot” was this year’s most talked about boot. Even with the $10,000 price tag, literally every fashionista has been desperate to get their hands on these ever so sparkly boots. Trust, fast fashion retailers such as Forever 21 to sell a similar (but much, much cheaper) version of this over-the-top boot. It’s the holiday season. Why not go over-the-top?!

1-Forever 21 “Faux Crystal Knee Boot”, 2-Nine West “Sarvita Bootie", 3-Rue 21 Glittering Thigh High Boot”, 4-Steve Madden "Wifey Bootie", 5-Express “Glitter Pointed Boots”, 6-Guess “Nakitta Slouchy Bootie"

Holiday Festive Boots:

1-Betsy Johnson “Jax Boots", 2-Express "Sequin Reverse”, 3-Guess "Lucena Military Boot", 4-Libby Edelman “Sullivan” Boot, 5-Rue 21 "Embossed Knee Boot", 6-Circus by Sam Edelman "Vikki Bootie"

Riding Boots:

1-Tommy Hilfiger “Iona Riding Boot”, 2-G by Guess “Harson Riding Boot", 3-Unisa “Trinee Riding Boot”, 4-I.N.C "Riding Boot”, 5-Karen Scott “Deliee Riding Boot"

Happy Shopping!

XO,

Bisi

Makeup Review: ColourPop No Filter Concealer

2017-12-05T00:16:00.003-05:00

Cult favorite, Colourpop, has once again changed the game by adding a new realm to their makeup repertoire - concealers! After hearing so many stellar reviews of the No Filter Concealer, I just knew I had to give it a try. For $6 dollars, I was a bit skeptical on if this concealer would well, conceal? Like most people, I had acne for the majority of my teenage years and throughout adulthood. Unfortunately I still have scarring as a result :( My makeup routine usually involves color correcting with the ABH Contour Cream Kit in Deep and then using Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Amande to conceal. The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer does the trick, but the price tag warrants that I use this product sparingly and perhaps should consider other options.

I bought 2 concealers: The top swatch is #70 Deep and the bottom swatch is #65 Rich Tan.

Pros:

-The No Filter Concealer is creamy and has a great consistency (not too runny or too thick)

-Blending the concealer is super easy and doesn’t require a lot of work irrespective if you’re using a beauty blender or brush.

-The coverage is great as well. You can choose to conceal prior to or after your foundation application.

-The $6 price tag makes this product affordable and accessible, which I’m sure as a college student this is a major plus!

Cons:

-I’m darker skinned, so perhaps this may be relevant to women with similar skin tones, but I don’t like that the top of the concealer is white. When using makeup, you’re bound to get product on your hands. This leaves ample opportunities for the cap to get dirty.

-Though I’m sure this is in the works, I still would like to see more shade variation, especially for medium to darker skin tones.

Overall, I think this is a great product and recommend Fashionable Collegians to add this to their Christmas list.

Looking forward to seeing what other great items Colourpop has in store!

XO,

Bisi

Sephora November 2017 Beauty Haul

2017-11-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

Hello, my name is Bisi and I'm a certified product junkie. lol Lately I've been on this beauty binge. Thanks to Sephora's recent November VIB sale, I've kinda gone a little overboard (don't judge me!). Like many of you, I'm an avid viewer of Youtube makeup videos and thus, I'm prone to purchasing tons of beauty products that some of my favorite Youtube "beauty gurus" review on their channels.

Given that we're approaching the Winter weather, I've been focusing a bit more on skincare as my skin is super sensitive around this time of the year. I'm not necessarily ready for my Youtube debut just yet, thus this blog will have to suffice. Ha!

Below, is a list of my November beauty haul and my reviews on some of the products I've used thus far:

SKINCARE:

-Tatcha - Rice Enzyme Powder: I haven't tried this product just yet, but I heard great reviews from my best friend, who's skin looks like butta btw. So I'm looking forward to trying it. Apparently, this powder when mixed with water aims to exfoliate the skin to smooth your skin's texture.

-Laneige - Pore Care Trial Kit: Laneige is a "K-Beauty" fav, so I'm looking to try this ASAP. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

-Drunk Elephant - Night Bright Duo: Drunk Elephant is a relatively new brand that's on the rise. This item is comprised of a serum and facial oil. I've used the serum for about a week and have noticed some of my hyper-pigmentation wane away.

-Origins - Retexturizing Rose Clay Mask

-Boscia - Detoxifying Black Charcoal Cleanser: I've used this product for almost a month now and will say this product does an amazing job of cleaning your skin. Give it a try!

-Too Cool For School - Egg Mellow Cream: Great moisturizer that will leave your skin supple and smooth during the winter.

FRAGRANCE:

-Gucci - Gucci Guilty EDP 2.5oz.: Though Chloe Fleur de Parfum, is my favorite fragrance of all time, Gucci Guilty is a close second.

-Viktor & Rolf - Flowerbomb Travel Duo: This is currently the top-selling fragrance in today's market. It smells so good. Definitely a great gift set for a loved one for the holidays!

MAKEUP:

-Fenty Beauty - Stunna Lip Paint, Full-Bodied Foundation brush, Match Stix (Espresso): By now, I'm sure ALL of you have heard all of the raving reviews regarding Rihanna's new beauty line, Fenty Beauty. Red is my favorite color, so I had to run out and purchase this liquid lipstick (even though I already own 30+ red lipsticks and glosses). Akin to MAC's Ruby Woo, FB's Uncensored Lip Paint looks great on nearly all skin shades.

-Becca - Ever Matte Poreless Primer: A ton of beauty gurus swear by this primer, so I'm looking forward to trying it out as well.

-Stila - Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick: This is one of my ultimate favorite red lipsticks. It's currently on sale for $12.00.

-Marc Jacobs - Lip Creme Lipstick in "Infamous." This colors is a little more on the pale side, therefore I suggest wearing this lipstick with a brown lip liner. MJ Beauty products are on the pricier side, but the quality on par with other luxury beauty products. It's the holidays, splurge a little if you can ;)

-Marc Jacobs - Snake Lip Lacquer Collection: The colors in this collection are beautiful.

-BeautyBlender - Trying to achieve a flawless beat? The BeautyBlender is arguably one of the best beauty tools that will help to perfectly blend your foundation and concealer.

Phew! What a haul? Stay tuned for my December beauty haul.

XOXO,

Bisi

Fashion SparkNotes: 10/30/2016

2016-10-30T23:10:00.000-04:00

See Highlights from Lagos Fashion and Design Week #LFDW

Gucci Strikes Gold! Read about How the Luxury Italian Brand is Dominating the Fashion Global Industry

Jackie O, America’s First FAB First Lady

Taking Steps Towards a Healthier Ecosystem: A Roundtable Discussion About the Lack of BlackWomen in Business

The Rise of Black Travel Groups

Kenzo x H&M: It’s Going to Be Bananas

Western Chic

2016-10-21T09:28:00.000-04:00

#WildWildWest: Went for a Western inspired look for Fall.

Found this cute off the shoulder denim top from Macy’s, American Rag and paired it with a pleated full skirt from Forever 21. Bought my first choker over the weekend and now, I’m obsessed!

Spotted some cool chokers at the following stores:

Affordable Options:

Forever 21

LoveCulture

Moderate Priced Options:

Aldo

Expensive Options:

Free People

Nordstrom

Fall Edgy Look

2016-10-20T09:26:00.000-04:00

#WhatIWoreToWerk: "Bad Girl Bisi. XOXO"

Top: LaneBryant

Leggings: Forever21

Booties: AvePlus

Necklace: @BaubleBar

#WhatIWoreToWerk: Dashiki Queen

2016-09-14T11:37:00.001-04:00

Wore a Dashiki African print dress with matching headpiece to work. Felt like an African Queen for a day. Ha! XOXO.

Fashion News Round-Up

2016-09-14T11:08:00.002-04:00

Rebcca Minkoff Revolutionizing the Business of Fashion: WWD

BoF Announces Panelist for VOICES December Conference: BoF

As the World Turns…Coach’s On-going Comeback Story: BoF

J.Crew Normalizes Diversity: Fashionista

The Importance of Music + Fashion: The Cut

Brown Beauties Spotted at Brandon Maxwell’s SP 17 Show: The Cut

Flower Power: Michael Kors Chic 70s Floral Collection: Vogue

#WhatIWoreToWerk: "WerkFlow: How I Do Business Casual"

2016-09-11T23:11:00.000-04:00

Wore a #Forever21 light blue button up shirt and a leather and chiffon dress by @WetSealPlus

Perfect outfit for interviews, conferences, career fairs, among other professional environments.

Leaping LEOPARD!

2010-08-27T16:41:00.002-04:00

Dear Fashionable Collegians, Summer is coming to a very near end. Don't fret. Instead, let this be a reminder that you need to update your wardrobe for the upcoming Fall semester! In addition to buying Oxford shirts, polos, new jeans, and of course a fresh new pair of Old Navy flip-flops, be sure to add leopard to your Fall 2010 wardrobe! That's right, LEOPARD!

In the Harper's Bazaar August 2010 issue titled, "First Look At Fall," the fashion editors of the mag shared their insight on what to expect for the season-Feline Fetish. Some of our favorite fashion labels such as Longchamp, Ralph Lauren, Christian Louboutin, Dolce & Gabanna, and of course, feline print extraordinaire, Mr. Roberto Cavalli, are all using leopard print this season. Check out some of the leopard print items I found in the magazine!

Leopard print is so chic and fabulous! I'm craving that Yves Saint Laurent bag (Price tag=$2,995) Ouch! Guess I need to start saving up my coins to purchase that bag ;)

Take heed to this advice: Fashionable Collegians, it is important that you ONLY wear ONE article of leopard print! Two or more, automatically makes you look T-A-C-K-Y! #NoBuenoBaby!

Ciao Bella,
Bisi

*Double click on the magazine scans to see them enlarged.

Crave CHANEL?, There's an app for that...

2010-08-26T20:50:00.001-04:00

In addition to attending fashion shows, and reading both fashion related magazines and blogs, fashion enthusiasts are now able to use iPhone apps as another means to get their own fashion fix, while on the go! World renowned French fashion house, CHANEL, was one of the few fashion labels to first release an iPhone app.

The CHANEL iPhone app allows you to see exclusive videos of recent CHANEL fashion shows, various behind the scenes footage (i.e. some of the footage includes Monsieur Karl Lagerfeld aka my favorite uncle "in my head"), and there's also an easy to use CHANEL global store locator.

There's also a section of the app labeled, "CHANEL News," which gives "CHANEL Cravers," like myself, up-to-date information regarding the fashion house. Expect to read exclusive news about new CHANEL store openings around the globe, pictures of some of your favorite celebrities wearing CHANEL on the red carpet, and even some pictures of Coco Chanel's famed apartment in Paris!

Be sure to check out the free CHANEL iPhone/iTouch app on iTunes to satisfy your CHANEL craving.

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."
-Coco Chanel

Bisous,

Bisi

Samples, Savings, and FREE food!!!

2010-08-26T19:26:00.000-04:00

Samples, Savings by Abisi123 featuring fleece tops

Hello Fashionable Collegians! I'll make this quick....

-Click here to receive a free sample of AVEENO's new Nourish+ Shampoo and Conditioner.

-Between August 26th and 29th, Gap Inc. is offering a 30% off coupon called Gap Give & Get. 5% of what you spend goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Make sure you spend A LOT of money for this cause.

-Lastly, the food. Domino's is offering FREE Cinna Stix. Use the coupon code, EBCS at checkout. You don't have to purchase anything else. Here's the link to the Domino's website.

-Bisi

What I've Been Up To

2010-07-21T21:13:00.001-04:00

Photo Source: some art fabric

Hey Fashionable Collegians! I hope you’re having a great summer :) I’m saddened that it has been a month since I’ve updated this blog. Je suis désolé-très désolé. Pardonnez-moi *Freetranslation.com is your friend* Truth is: Job searching has been a job in itself. Again I say, job searching is a job in itself. No bueno. All I want to do is work in Fashion *that’s Fashion with a capital F*, but it’s insanely COMPETITIVE. At this point, I don’t even care if I obtain a position at the bottom of the Fashion totem pole. Just to get my foot in the door would be AMAZING!!! I’m trying hard to remain confident, but it’s a little discouraging when the economy is sucky, companies are firing instead of hiring, and furthermore, companies basically want you to have a PhD-No bull.

Nonetheless, aside from my depressing life *I’m dramatic like that, feel sorry for me. lol*, I had an AWESOME time last week. An alumna of Mount Holyoke is in the process of launching a Fashion collection this Fall and allowed me the invaluable opportunity to experience this with her. Last week, I made the hour-long journey from Long Island to the very exuberant NYC (the Garment District), to meet with the MHC alumna.

When I arrived, I met a kind, soft-spoken man named, Walter Foster. Mr. Foster is very well known amongst the Fashion elite and has been in the Fashion industry for years working with an array of top-tier apparel companies. He will be producing the clothing samples for the MHC alumna’s Fall collection.

 As I entered Mr. Foster’s workspace, I was met with an immense amount of clutter. Different types of fabric, dress forms, sewing machines, and flat sketches were everywhere in the tight workspace. Mind you, I’m semi-claustrophobic, but for some reason I felt invigorated walking into the room.

 While Mr. Foster and the MHC alumna were talking, I sat in a chair and observed EVERYTHING in the room. I was essentially a sponge, soaking up everything to append my knowledge regarding pattern-making, sketching, fabrics., etc. It simply felt good being in an environment that I’ve been longing to be in. Mr. Foster was generous enough to allow me to take pics for my blog and furthermore, shared his insight about being confident in what you aspire to do in life. I took Mr. Foster’s advice and open opportunity to meet with him again, with much gratitude.

On the way home (courtesy of the good ‘ol LIRR) I felt different. Re-energized. Admittedly, I am not completely clear on how I will reach my goal of being a Fashion designer, Women’s clothing Buyer, and/or Fashion Editor *I love all things fashion* but I do know that it is safe to say that I’m at least on the right path. And I seek solace in that.

Bisous Chicas, 

Bisi

'88 Was Indeed A Good Year :)

2010-06-19T09:35:00.006-04:00

Happy Birthday to MOI!!! Today is my birthday (June 19th). I'm now 22 years old (Realization: In 8 years I'll be 30! Yikes! No bueno. LOL!) I know it has been a while since I've blogged. Sorry about that, I've had some personal thangs to take care of. Since my last blog post, a lot has happened. I attended an incredible amount of events, had to pack up my things in my dorm, say my goodbyes, and more importantly, I GRADUATED!!! I'm officially an alumna of Mount Holyoke College!!! It has been a tough road, but I made it through. Congrats to all the Fashionable Collegians who recently graduated. Class of 2010!!! Woop!!! We Did It!!!

In May, I attended The Senior Ball, which was held at the Willits Hallowell. The theme of the event (I think), was "Alice in Wonderland" inspired. Everyone both looked amazing that night and had a great time. Take a look at the pics, 'cause the Fashionable Collegians did NOT disappoint!

Crystal looked amazing. Her "Billie Holiday" inspired outfit was complete with a luscious red rose in her hair.

Like always Miss Grape always gives us the fierceness!

Love the RED dress Steph!!!

Kati Stadum looked very beautiful. She wore a juicy green dress (notice the turtles that look like stars) and RED pumps.

Indeed, they all are...

Kristen sashayed in her elegant dress.

Tania and her hubby were the cutest couple of the night!

Obligatory "Shoe Shots." Hehe...

Smiles :)

Marsha was Best Dressed of the night, hands down!!! She looked like she was going to the Oscars. So beautiful.

*Click on the photo collages to see them ENLARGED!

You like? Leave a comment below!!!