Tosha Cole Clemens

We have Moved Websites

2013-09-07T13:14:00.006-07:00

Go to www.NittyGrittyFashion.com

Friday Fun Love: Weekend To Remember

2013-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

I think we all want a weekend to remember in our marriage, don't we? Creating memories is my favorite part of my marriage. Unfortunately for some marriages, the memories we create are not always good. When I get older and look back on my life, I want to be able to say that I had more great moments in my marriage than bad. The truth is, sometimes creating great memories take more effort. Let's not grow lazy in our relationships, instead let's be proactive. A great way to start is by signing up for a Weekend To Remember event. My husband and I have attended a few of these events and each time we are amazed at the outcome. Each time we grow closer together, we discover new things about each other, we get to have time away to focus on each other and escape from life for a bit. Your relationship is worth taking time for!

For more information on the Weekend to Remember events, check out the website below

http://www.familylife.com/events/featured-events/weekend-to-remember

Thursday Thoughts: Royal Affair

2013-09-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

With labor day behind us, it is hard not to be sad about saying goodbye to summertime. However, there’s always that one collection that makes us hopeful for a very fashionable fall. I gotta say that this year Dolce &Gabbana did the job for me.

With a highly embellished and regal collection that even included beautiful crowns, and I’m sure was inspired by little prince George, Dolce & Gabbana sure showed us that you don’t have to be a royal to dress like one; and even better, some more pocket friendly stores like Joie and Topshop show us that you don’t even have to spend like one.

Article by Tatiana Carmona Y.

Dolce & Gabanna F/W 2014 Topshop Necklace $90

TopShop Embellished Top $90 Joie Embellished Top $368

Wednesday Wardrobe: Beanies

2013-09-04T10:16:00.001-07:00

I am so excited for fall! Beanies are one of my favorite accessories, they had color to any outfit. I group beanies into two categories: Light weight and heavy weight. Light weight is worn more as a fashion accessory and can be worn all day. Heavy weight is worn more for a purpose to keep you warm. It's hard to wear heavy weight beanies as a fashion accessory all day, especially inside. However, no matter your location, you can still enjoy beanies! Here are a few of the fall must haves!

Tip: Use bobby pins if you are having a hard time keeping the beanie on.

Fall Trend: Beanies by toshaclemens featuring a brown beanie hat

Tokyo Fashion beanie hat
yesstyle.com

59 Seconds brown beanie hat
yesstyle.com

Tokyo Fashion pink hat
yesstyle.com

Beanie skull cap
amazon.com

Spacecraft hat
usoutdoor.com

Isabel Marant hat
farfetch.com

Agent Ninetynine hat
$18 - generalpants.com.au

Saggy beanie
amazon.com

Tuesday Treasures: Francesca's

2013-09-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

You know that feeling that you get when you walk into your favorite store? You automatically smile, feel happy, feel inspired and love life? Yep! That's how I feel when I walk into Francesca's. What I love about Francesca's is that it feels like a one of a kind boutique. I also love that it has unique gift items. When shopping for others, instead of buying apparel (because you might not know their size) give a cute gift item. Here are some of Francesca's best sellers.

http://www.francescas.com

Why not add a few accessories to your gift purchases. Here are my top picks!

http://www.francescas.com

Friday Fun Love: How to Fight Fair

2013-08-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

What I have noticed over the course of 6 years of marriage is that how you fight is the life and breath of a relationship. Let's be honest, EVERY couple fights or has disagreements. If you don't, then someone in the relationship is not being themselves. As a result, it can lead to one spouse always giving in to the other spouse, which they will eventually have enough of that and blow up one-day.

Since we know we all fight...then how to do fight in a way that won't be damaging to the relationship? Well here are some of the tips I have learned from books and or learning the hard way.

- Don't say YOU, always say I or me. Example, "You always do this" Instead say "When this happens, it makes me feel____". By approaching things this way, it will allow your spouse an opportunity to respond instead of feeling attacked. Men typically will shut down when they feel attacked. If you want your husband to respond to you and engage in the conversation, then make sure you are using your words wisely.

-Try to stop and think for a second... is this fight really worth jeopardizing the health of our relationship? Half the time we fight because we get emotionally charged about something. If we would take a second to really think about what we are fighting about, we would realize maybe it is just best to let it go. Being right is not always what is right for the relationship.

-Watch the tone in your voice. It is hard for the fight to turn into yelling if one spouse stays calm. If you start to raise your voice then your spouse will counter that by raising their voice even higher. Before long, you both won't be able to hear what you are even saying. Yelling turns into anger and anger turns into things being said that you don't mean. Once this happens, it can be VERY dangerous for the relationship. It is best to try and stay calm and talk about how you feel instead of yell it. It's not what you say, it's how you say it.

It all comes down to taking the emotion out of the moment and trying to think logical about the situation (instead of acting out based on how we feel). I know that is hard to do sometimes but it is like anything else, if we practice a lot at it then eventually we will become better at it. That logical reaction will become more of our forefront thought in the heat of the moment.

Just remember, the goal of our relationships is to grow closer together not apart. So everything you do either brings you one step closer or one step further apart.

Thursday Thoughts: What do you think about a LULULEMON warehouse SALE?!

2013-08-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Exciting for people who love yoga and live in the Los Angeles area. Check out the sale in September to get great deals on pants, accessories, tops and more!

http://www.warehouseweekends.com/2013/09/lululemon-warehouse-sale-august-2013.html

WHEN:
September 13, 2013 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
September 14, 2013 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
September 15, 2013 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

WHERE:
Lululemon Athletica Warehouse Sale at the LA Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90015, CA 90015

Brand website: www.lululemon.com

Tuesday Treasures: Home Goods

2013-08-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

Who is #HomeGoodsHappy? I am! Today I went to home goods and got cookware and some cute containers for my dog food. I love this store, the products are good quality at a good price. I love that every time I go, I never know what I am going to find.

http://www.homegoods.com/blog/category/all/page/2/

The website has a great blog, gives you fun ideas for decorating. I'm really into these lanterns below. I will have to make another trip to the store just to go get these!

http://www.homegoods.com/blog/category/all/

I also enjoyed this post, transition your fashion into furniture. Since I am in the process of redecorating my house, this is a great tip. I am going to review my closet for home decor inspirations.

http://www.homegoods.com/blog/2013/06/18/fashion-to-furniture-blue-yellow-white/

Monday Moment Insider: Azadeh Riaz

2013-08-26T15:22:00.002-07:00

I got the opportunity to interview Azadeh Riaz from AZADEH for The Los Angeles Fashion Magazine. Click below to see the interview and learn about the insider secrets of starting her own collection!

http://www.thelosangelesfashion.com/2013/08/24/azadeh-riaz-of-azadeh

AZADEH

Friday Fun Love- “The 5 love languages”

2013-08-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Since my husband is a Marriage and Family Therapist, he knows a lot about relationships and the right steps to take to maintain them. We read a lot of marriage books; attend a lot of workshops and couple retreats. We get asked questions all the time, so I thought I would start sharing our experiences and information with you.

Joe and Tosha Clemens

Have you ever heard of the book, “The five love languages”? It is my favorite relationship book. I think because it personally affected me the most out of any book I have read. When Joe and I first got married, I noticed something was bothering me about our relationship but I couldn't put a finger on it. After reading the book, I realized that the issue was that we weren't fulfilling each other’s love language. Let me explain a little bit more about what this means….We all have a primary way that we want to receive love as well as how we give love. Sometimes the way you show it and the way you give it is the same and sometimes it is different. For me, I enjoy showing love to my husband by physically touch, a kiss, a hug and holding hands. I like to receive love by him giving me words of affirmation. Example, him telling me he loves me. I need to hear the words, not assume that I should already know. Or in the beginning of our marriage, he would show me he loved me by doing things for me, “acts of service”. Like, washing my car or taking out the trash. Don’t get me wrong, I love those things but those are just added bonuses, what I really need is him to tell me how he feels verbally.

If you feel like you would like to take your relationship to the next level and develop real intimacy then I would highly recommend reading this book. To give you a better idea, you will learn about these 5 languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, gifts, quality time and acts of service. After reading it, you will discover that we all need all of these in our relationship but one will stick out to you more than the others, and you will also discover the same for your spouse. Marriage can be a beautiful thing as long as we are willing to work for it!

See below for the book and for more information see the website below:

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Nitty Gritty Fashion- New Name, New direction

2013-08-22T14:28:00.001-07:00

This site will continue to be focused on fashion, I am just dedicating more time to the site and adding new exciting topics. The new format is listed below

Monday Moment s Inside :

“Behind the scenes”, showcasing someone in the fashion industry, giving you a better look into the world of fashion.

Tuesday Treasures:

Showcasing must have products, items on sale, what is trendy and where to shop.

Wednesday Wardrobe:

A look into my style, my inspiration and my closet.

Thursday Thoughts:

Showcasing what is going on in the fashion industry, events, designer highlights and fashion shows.

Friday Fun Love:

The new addition to the site is the relationship column. Since my husband is a Marriage and Family Therapist, we have learned a lot about relationships and I am excited to start sharing that information with you!

Ready for Magic?

2013-08-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.magiconline.com/wwd-magic

Magic is one of the highlights of the year for the fashion industry. Buyers and fashion professionals from all over the world come out to Las Vegas to attend this tradeshow. Buyers are excited to see new trends being showcased in the market as well as what products they can buy for their stores. This is equally an exciting time for exhibitors. If you are a fashion brand that sells to different stores and boutiques then setting up a booth at magic can be a great way to take your business to the next level. Thousands of buyers will walk the floors of the show and get a chance to see what your brand is all about. I have attended this show many times as a buyer looking for new products and new vendors to partner with. What I enjoy the most is getting to meet new people, attending the seminars (in which you learn more about what is currently going on in the industry), as well as people watch. I love seeing what everyone is wearing! Today is the last day of the event. Here are some of the highlights.

http://www.magiconline.com/wwd-magic?page=0%2C4

To learn more about magic, you can see the website below.

http://www.magiconline.com

Insider Secrets with Bebe Designer: Dolly Aquino

2013-08-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

When I started fashion school, I had no idea that I would meet such a great friend! Dolly and I took the same major at FIDM and shared a lot of experiences together. She is a great designer and I am excited that she is sharing some of her insider secrets with us today!

Name: Dolly Aquino

Company you work for: bebe

What do you do for this company: Associate Designer: Day/Evening Dresses

Did you go to fashion school: Yes. FIDM; Los Angeles

How did you get started in this industry: I made the right friend, Tosha Cole Clemens. =) She asked if I was interested in interviewing with the company she was working with weeks before graduation and I couldn’t say no. This was my first job in the industry and currently with the company.

What are the best and worst things about your job? Best part is the hands on creativity. I get to create garments to fit our very sexy and sophisticated woman. Looking at colors, fabrics, random scenery/objects everywhere is what inspires us all. Worst part is all the deadlines we have to meet AND data entry into our system. The non-creative stuff. *hehe

What is a typical day like? It’s a different day every day. No day is the same as the last. There’s no downtime. We’re constantly researching trends, sketching, entering data into our system, communicating with vendors on a daily basis, trying protos samples on models before a presentation. It’s all fast paced and I love it.

What are some of your greatest accomplishments? Thus far, seeing the dresses I’ve designed being worn on all types of women is a great accomplishment. It’s an awesome feeling to know that my work is appreciated and my work makes these women feel sexy/ beautiful.

What’s your philosophy of life? Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

See some of Dolly’s designs below:

ON NEWS REPORTER

(LONG SLEEVE VERSION)

ON A CONTESTANT ON THE XFACTOR

ON REALITY TV STAR JWOWW

ON DANCING WITH THE STAR CHERYL BURKE

ON ACTRESS MAI DAVIKA HOORNE IN THAI COSMO

BLACK VERSION

HONEY DEW VERSION ON DIFFERENT WOMEN

Fashion Insider

2013-08-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Teaser: Starting soon I will be showcasing and interviewing different people within the fashion industry. You will get to see behind the scenes of what they do and how they got to where they are today! Stay tuned....

Lime Green Loves

2013-08-07T13:44:00.001-07:00

Fun Fact: Lime green is my favorite color, so much so that I had to have my wedding ring lime! The color makes me smile. Here are some fun beautiful pieces that have inspired me. I know some people think this color is hard to wear or it is to bold but if you pair it with the right pieces then you can't go wrong.

Lime Green Loves by toshaclemens featuring beading jewelry

Topshop boat neckline dress
$92 - topshop.com

Cropped jacket
celebboutique.com

Charlotte Taylor mid-rise jeans
$92 - youngbritishdesigners.com

Privileged party platform
heels.com

MCM over the shoulder handbag
$720 - bloomingdales.com

La Mer wrap bracelet
target.com

K Amato beading jewelry
maxandchloe.com

Napoli Lime Green Leather Chair
kmart.com

ornate accent shelf, wall shelf, lime green, neon home decor, bright,...
etsy.com

Reef 12x20 Cotton Pillow, Lime
onekingslane.com

Which Fashion School to Attend?

2013-07-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Fashion School: Most popular question of the day. "Which fashion school should I attend?" I always hate getting asked this question because everyone can make it in the industry in different ways. But what I have seen in the last 10 years and what I've noticed personally is if you want to work for top brands in the industry then those companies won't even look at your resume and call you in for a interview unless you have graduated from a top fashion school or have a lot of experience already in the industry. But since everyone has to start somewhere then I believe you should either volunteer and intern a lot or go to a fashion school. Doing both is really setting yourself up for the most success. As for my career- every job I have got in the industry was because I went to FIDM. Here are my recommendations for fashion schools.

FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Fidm is known for being a great fashion school on the west coast. The main campus is in LA and they also have campuses in San Francisco, San Diego and Orange Co. If you want to work for a chain retail company (meaning, a brand that is in malls across the usa) in design, product development, production, marketing, buying.. etc. then going to fidm is a great option for you. The west coast really focuses on the mass market when it comes to fashion.

www.FIDM.com

FIT- Fashion Institute of Technology

Fit is located in NYC. New York is known for more high fashion or designer fashion. So if your goal is to work for a high end designer or work for a fashion magazine then FIT would be the school you would want to choose. Make sure to really think about location because no matter which school you choose, you need to make sure you would be happy living in that area for a good amount of time till you build up your resume and experience. Then once you are established, you can go anywhere!

http://www.fitnyc.edu/

The Art Institute Fashion Show- Nashville

2013-07-12T13:50:00.002-07:00

I attended The Art Institute fashion show recently. It was held on a roof top in downtown Nashville. The students really came out to shine! The styling was very well put together, the fabrics were amazing, the colors were bright and the fit on the models were perfect! Here are my favorite highlights below.

Summer Party

2013-06-27T10:22:00.001-07:00

Summer Party by toshaclemens featuring a red necklace

Timeless patent leather flat shoes
$34 - pret-a-beaute.com

Red necklace
lilacbijoux.com

Humble Chic hinged cuff bracelet
humblechic.com

Ray-Ban ray ban sunglasses
sunglasshut.com

Guess
guess.com

Concept to Creation: Learn How to Effectively Design, Produce, and Sell Your Fashion Collection The Right Way!

2013-06-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

· Have a sketch but not sure what your next step should be?

· Do you wonder if your line is ready to be seen by retail buyers?

· Looking for a factory to produce your line?

· Need samples made for sales reps?

No matter where you are located or what stage you are in starting your fashion brand the basics of building your brand are the same-design, production, marketing, and sales. MOST emerging designers find selling their product andproducing their product the HARDEST part of their business.

Whether you’re an emerging designer, new to the fashion business, or a fashion student thinking of launching your own label, this workshop will give you the practical insight into the production and sales process and the systems you need to have in place in order to avoid costly mistakes and spinning your wheels with no results.

Here are just a few topics we’ll cover:

· -How to create theme boards (inspiration for your brand, color palette, fabrics & CADs)

· -How to prepare a tech pack (the step by step process of making your product)

· -The importance of researching factories

· -How to source materials and keep with your target price points

· -Create buzz worthy marketing materials that will grab the buyer’s attention

· -Making sure your line has flow

· -How to deliver that winning pitch to your favorite retailers and make that sale

Come join us!

When: Saturday, August 3, 2013

Time: 10 am-2pm

(Q&A session will be begin 1:30 pm)

Where: Opulen Studios

1309 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Cost: $49

Limited Seats are available so sign up today! We look forward to meeting you!

About us:

Tosha Clemens has nearly 10 years of fashion industry experience in product development, design, production and sourcing. Tosha has worked for top brands such as Bebe, Wet Seal, Fox and Frederick’s of Hollywood. In addition to working for well-known companies, she has also created her own handbag line, LaBosh. With knowing the step by step process of creating products, she will be able to help guide you in your creation of your brand and the process of product development and manufacturing.

Website: www.ToshaClemens.com

Email: Tosha@ToshaClemens.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ToshaColeClemens

Twitter: @ToshaClemens

Pinterest: pinterest.com/toshaclemens

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tosha-clemens/6/288/402

Melissa McGraw- The Fashion Potential, LLC.

With over 15 years of fashion industry experience on both sides - buying and selling, for known brands such as Calvin Klein, Harajuku Lovers, L.A.M.B. and Joe’s Jeans Handbags along with building multiple unknown brands into million dollar businesses, Melissa McGraw knows what it takes to get your line out there! Melissa will give her expert fashion industry opinion on whether your collection is cohesive, priced correctly, on trend, and fits in with your target market. She will give you specifics on what is necessary to impress retail buyers, sell your effective line effectively and get your collection retail ready!

The Fashion Potential teaches Indie, Emerging Fashion Designers and students the insider tips and tricks they need to create a successful fashion brand. We teach you about the business side of fashion the right way!

Website: http://thefashionpotential.com

Email: melissa@thefashionpotential.com

Twitter: @fashpotential

Facebook: The Fashion Potential

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/fashnpotential/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/fashpotential

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/melissa-mcgraw/4/543/a44/

For more information and to sign up, click the link below.

http://tfplaworkshop.eventbrite.com/

Art2Wear Fashion Gala

2013-05-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

I attended the Art2Wear Fashion Gala (a expo of wearable art) this past weekend in Nashville, TN.

I was impressed by the handcrafted products that were showcased. As many of you know, I love taking vintage pieces and making them look modern. Several designers have done just that. Some of my favorites are listed below.

www.blovintage.com

Blo Vintage- handcrafted lariat jewelry blending vintage and antique whistles from around the world.

www.missfitt.com

Miss Fitt- handmade accessories for uncommon folk. Hand felted merino wool hats, scarves, mittens and other lovely adornments.

www.theredsari.com

The Red Sari- vintage, damaged, re-imagined designs using a process of fusing wool fibers with vintage silk saris to create one of a kind work of art. The company's mission is to create jobs for women in Nepal.

While shopping, we were also accompanied with great music, cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres.

http://www.2wear.org/

Trendy Summer Fun

2013-05-03T22:52:00.001-07:00

Trendy Summer Fun by toshaclemens featuring vintage sunglasses

Mossimo sleeveless tank top
target.com

Flat heels
makemechic.com

The Cambridge Satchel Company leather satchel handbag
modcloth.com

Marc by marc jacobs jewelry
marcjacobs.com

Acrylic necklace
lajewelryplaza.com

KBL Eyewear vintage sunglasses
ahalife.com

Madewell felt fedora
madewell.com

Being a Fashion Buyer

2012-09-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

See the You Tube Video below to learn more about being a Buyer in the Fashion Industry!

Fashion Industry- What is Product Development? By Tosha Clemens

2012-08-01T23:09:00.001-07:00

Click on the You Tube Video

It's All About Lipstick!

2012-07-02T21:47:00.001-07:00

Click the You Tube Video below

Fun colors to experiment with for Summer!

greylikesweddings.com, milkteef.com, fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihdnet, everythingyoulovetohate.tumblr.com

Tosha Cole Clemens in Gossip Avenue

2012-06-20T21:26:00.001-07:00

We Love Gossips!: You know those days where you feel so self-conscio...: You know those days where you feel so self-conscious and unhappy with how you look no matter what you put on? I am having one of them this ...