To begin with…according to the Urban FLRT site

The Urban FLRT brand provides quality, fashionable street couture at an affordable price point.  Many of our shirts incorporate a unique treatment that infuses the dye into the shirt as the designs are printed.  No cracks, no bleeding, no fading, what more can you ask for?

Agreed. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to find that perfect shirt that you love to mix and match with your favorite jeans, blazers, and skirts, only to see it fade and crack after a few washes. That’s why I feel it’s always important to take just as much time and effort in finding that perfect tee , just as you would for a dress, jeans or shoes.

Corey Wesley

The man behind the brand Urban FLRT, COREY WESLEY is no stranger to hard work and what it means to go after your dreams. Born and raised in New York City, Corey is fascinated by pop culture.

He loves living in the urban environment and regularly draws inspiration from all that urban living has to offer. COREY had a successful career in the financial industry as a senior corporate trainer, however, with the downturn in the economy he had to switch gears.

He turned being laid off from his position into an opportunity to create his own job and pursue one of his passions, fashion.

 Photos By: Deborah Clark Fairfax.

What does fashion mean to you?

I believe in the notion that fashion is more than just articles of clothing put together. Fashion is an art form; an art form of self-expression whether you’re expressing something personal, cultural or economic, the clothes we wear reveal more about ourselves than we know.

What’s your favorite part about conceptualizing a design?

My favorite part of conceptualizing a design is developing a concept that is going to provoke thought and inspire the public. I am driven and inspired by the ability to bring my concept to fruition. It’s the overall process that I enjoy the most. I like to take pop culture influences into consideration and those feed what is ultimately created.

What are some of your accomplishments as a business owner and designer?

After a lengthy and successful career in the finance sector, I’m most proud of being able to take a risk and pursue my love for fashion and creating and developing concepts. I’ve been able to create a business platform that is solid and promotes success. Building my company BlackOutEndeavors from the ground up has been a major accomplishment for me.

What is the best advise you’ve ever received?

I gave myself this advice, “Trust yourself, love yourself, and believe in yourself.”

How would you define your city’s fashion?

Fashion in New York City is about individual style and being who you want to be. New York City has always been an inspiration for me because it’s a canvas that is forever changing especially in the spring; a splash of color here, a splash of color there. The colors of the city represent the energy of the season and the various cultures that make it an exciting environment in which to live. That’s why I call New York City, a canvas of colors.

How would you define the style your line exemplifies?

FLRT stands for Freely Living Real & True. It represents living a life that is of your own free will and living a life that is genuine, true, and done in earnest.

When it comes to “Urban” we think of the hustle and bustle of the city; diversity; exploring new neighborhoods; taking advantage of all the activities that are at our finger tips; and working hard to succeed in whatever we choose to do. By using the term urban, we align ourselves not with the hip-hop style but with an individual style.

How did you become interested in fashion?

I’ve always been told I’m a sharp dresser but my fascination with fashion really blossomed in 1996. This was the year actress Sharon Stone wore a $22.00 Gap tight, long-sleeved, black turtleneck to the Academy Awards causing pandemonium in the fashion industry. That day I started paying closer attention to fashion and trends.

If you only had five words to describe your clothing line, what would they be?

Contemporary, stylish, mature, edgy, and evokes dynamism and energy.

How do you differentiate your line from other t-shirts?

Many of our shirts incorporate a unique treatment that infuses the dye into the shirt as the designs are printed. No cracks, no bleeding, no fading, what more can you ask for? We do, however, also use the more traditional screen-printing process on some of our shirts.

Finish this sentence, “When I’m not making stuff, I’m…”

I am writing for UrbanLand Media, a lifestyle e-zine. I enjoy socializing with friends and family and ultimately being the social butterfly that I love to be.

What do you have planned for the future?

Our goal is to continue to produce stylish apparel that consumers are proud to wear. Over time we will introduce new product lines that include underwear called Crown Jewel.

 Visit the Urban Flrt web site for more info: Urbanflrt.com

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NIKE Kicks Made For You-

NIKEiD is a customization program that allows you to design your perfect Nike shoe from a menu of color, material and performance options. The NIKEiD Liberty Collection.

Since 2011, Nike and Liberty of London have joined forces to combine Liberty’s iconic floral patterns with some of Nike’s most iconic styles.

For the first time ever this summer, you can now customize Nike’s key heritage and modern styles with two famous prints by Liberty of London: the classic “Liberty Capel” and “Liberty Pepper”.

Shoes available for customization in this collection include: the Air Max 1, Blazer Low & High, Dunk Low & High, and Roshe Run.

I mean seriously people, how cool is this? You know this is only the beginning. What could they possibly think of next? NIKEid shoes for babies? Too late already done!

How great of idea this is? This makes a fantastic gift for any new mom, and will be a hit at baby showers.

You can add a personalized message  like the baby’s name and birth date to the outsole, and also personalize the colors and stitching of the baby shoe. This is a great keepsake to have of your baby and it appears to be thoughtful of the wearer in it’s design. According to Nike…

Buttery-soft leather and a Velcro® closure make this bootie easy to get on and off, while a high-traction bottom helps keep new walkers from slipping.

Seems like they thought of everything. I am such a fan!

click here to shop the collection

Film Synopsis: (based on the Vanity Fair article “The Suspect Wore Louboutins”)

Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities’ whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

You probably don’t yet know actress Claire Julien, but after you see all the lawlessness her rich girl character is up to in “The Bling Ring,” she will be hard to forget.

Julien inspires a double take in this sheer-and-nude, body-hugging number at the film’s New York City premiere on Tuesday.

Yes guys, that’s a skin-colored slip underneath!

I realized how much my relationship with the sun had changed a few weeks ago, when spring finally hit New York after a long, gray winter and everyone in the city flocked to the nearest park or rooftop. Instead of joining them, I found myself grabbing my Panama hat and heading straight to the pharmacy to stock up on some sunscreen.

Last November, after going through what I thought was my standard annual exam at the dermatologist’s office—submit to a mole check, have one or two spots removed, receive a letter in the mail saying everything was fine—I got a call while at work informing me that my tests were in. One of the biopsies, a small patch of skin taken from between my shoulder blades, had tested positive for melanoma. The nurse on the phone recommended a surgical dermatologist and asked me to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. I needed to move fast, she explained, as I hung up the phone and struggled to hold back my tears. Needless to say, I was terrified.

I was also confused. As an otherwise healthy 26-year-old, I used to think skin cancer was something that happened after decades of excessive tanning. Born and raised in South America, I spent most of my life under the sun, never giving a thought to how much UV exposure I was getting. I felt angry at myself as I thought back to all those careless days spent on the beach, when my main concern had been what swimsuit to wear.  With no time to waste, I set up an appointment with my new doctor. In less than a week, I had booked an excise surgery and had the melanoma (plus a significant portion of the surrounding skin) removed. All that was left after those frantic days were seventeen staples on my back and a newfound panic about the sun. In the months that followed, I learned that my story was not as unusual as I might have thought.

Skin cancer, it turns out, is the fastest-rising form of cancer in the world, and melanoma is the most common type in young adults. Part of what makes melanoma so deadly is that it can easily and quickly spread to your lymph nodes and metastasize, which is why yearly screenings are key. “Skin cancer is definitely on the rise for women,” says New York City dermatologist Ellen Marmur, M.D., who attributes at least part of the phenomenon to an increasingly active lifestyle and, therefore, increased sun exposure.   Thankfully, I was diligent about my yearly dermatologist appointments. When caught in its fledgling stages, the chances for a full recovery from skin cancer are around 95 percent. Still, my doctor warned me, I was going to have to be particularly careful about taking cover from the sun’s harmful rays in the future. I took his advice too far at a friend’s beach wedding a few months later, where I remained hidden under an umbrella in a tunic, while everyone else frolicked on the sand. There had to be a better way, I vowed on the flight home. Since then, I am happy to report, I have developed a new game plan with the help of the country’s top dermatologists. Here, everything I’ve learned about navigating the summer months with success.

LESSON #1: PLAY THE  NUMBERS GAMEUntil recently, I rarely gave any thought to what kind of sunscreen I was buying—my only real criteria was picking anything with a SPF of 15 or higher.

After my skin cancer scare, I was tempted to buy super sunblock (i.e. SPF 100), but I soon learned, the number on the bottle is only one part of the equation. “SPF is what protects against sunburns” and the UVB rays that cause them, explains Marmur. It does not indicate a formula’s efficacy in protecting against UVA rays, which penetrate deeper under the skin’s surface and cause suntanning, wrinkles, freckles—and the long-term DNA damage that has been linked to melanomas. An SPF of 30 or higher is best, but instead of fixating on the number, look for the words “broad-spectrum” on the bottle, which indicates protection against both harmful UVB and UVA rays. LESSON #2: APPLY (AND REAPPLY!) SUNSCREEN REGULARLY
Choosing the right sunscreen is crucial, but simply slathering myself in it before walking out the door isn’t enough. Dr. Marmur recommends the following routine: “Reapply every one to two hours. I tell my patients that before going outside, apply a lotion, because you have to give it time to dry. Then reapply throughout the day with a spray, because it’s faster. And always have that sunscreen stick on hand, so you can redo your nose, mouth, and any spots you particularly worry about.” Sun-protective clothing is another smart and—thanks to chic young labels like Parasol and Mott 50—style-conscious way to prevent burning. There’s also the antioxidant pill known as Heliocare. Although it’s no replacement for sunscreen, it may help eliminate free radicals produced by sun exposure and limit sunburns, according to New York City dermatologist Neil Sadick, M.D., who is a supporter of the plant-based oral supplement.

LESSON #3: BE DILIGENT ABOUT REGULAR MOLE CHECKS
Now that I know how to properly protect myself outdoors, there are additional things I can do indoors to help prevent or detect another melanoma early. To start, I’ll need to visit the dermatologist every three months. (For those who have not been diagnosed with a skin cancer previously, the Skin Cancer Foundation suggests an annual in-office mole check—combined with regular at-home self exams.) As for fair-skinned people like me, who’ve had multiple moles removed in the past, new noninvasive technologies such as MelaFind can increase the accuracy of a mole diagnosis, while reducing the number of biopsies that are performed (and hence the number of small scars covering one’s body). “It’s a device that gives you a 3-D view of a mole through an imaging system, which you then scan through a database of typical and atypical moles to determine if you have a lower or higher probability of it being abnormal or benign,” says Sadick, who uses the next-generation technology at his Park Avenue practice.

LESSON #4: FAKE A HEALTHY GLOW
With summer around the corner, protection is my first priority, but I would be lying if I didn’t confess that I’m sad about being the pale girl in the sundress surrounded by a sea of bronzed bare legs. At one of my follow-up visits, I embarrassingly asked my doctor if self-tanners were out of the question, since he had mentioned right after my surgery that my skin tone—a wintery pasty shade—was to remain that color for the rest of my life. I’m happy to report a faux tan is still acceptable—well, at least according to my dermatologist—as long as I continue to apply my sunscreen diligently.

By Patricia Garcia

Photos From Style.com

“It was just bad,” she added, referring to the exaggerated shapes and stiff textiles. “Taffeta to me always said ‘bridesmaid.’ It’s really any fabric that makes that sound when you walk: ‘tsh tsh.’ ”

Bridesmaids today have it significantly better. The niche has spawned sophisticated collections offering attractive, rewearable designs that can occasionally usurp even the bride. Particularly, designers have given wedding parties flexibility in materials, cut and color.

Angela Craig, 29, is a nine-time bridesmaid (she calls her wedding party duties “like a second career”).

“I’ve had some really hideous bridesmaid dresses,” she said, remembering an “ugly cranberry dress, floor-length, made of cheap fake silk.” (Reality television buffs might tune in to TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress,” which features a bridesmaid spinoff with episode titles like “I’m Terrified of This Dress.”)
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NEW YORK (Reuters) – Disgraced fashion designer John Galliano, who was fired from his job at French fashion house Christian Dior after making anti-Semitic rants, says he is not a racist and has spent the past few years trying to atone for his words and actions.

In what is described as his first interview since the events in 2011, he told Vanity Fair magazine about his drinking and drug use leading up to his angry encounter with customers in a cafe in Paris.

“It’s the worst thing I have said in my life, but I didn’t mean it,” Galliano said. “I have been trying to find out why that anger was directed at this race.”

Despite his conviction for his remarks and being shunned by many in the fashion world, Galliano, 52, said although it may sound bizarre he is grateful for what happened.

“I have learned so much about myself. I have re-discovered that little boy who had the hunger to create, which I think I had lost. I am alive,” he said.

Galliano had been one of the most celebrated fashion designers of his generation, creating well-received collections for Dior until his ouster.

A French court convicted him of making “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” during two episodes in a Parisian cafe and gave him a suspended fine of 6,000 euros ($8,000), which he will have to pay only if he is convicted of a similar offence.

In a third incident, which was videotaped and made public, Galliano is shown taunting people in a cafe.

“When everyone came over to tell me I had done these terrible things, I was walking round and round and round not really knowing what had gone down,” he explained.

Galliano said he slipped into drinking over time and would use alcohol to crash after completing his collections. But he never admitted he was an alcoholic because he thought he could control it.

Following his conviction, he was treated in a rehabilitation facility in Arizona and has been sober for more than two years.

Since his recovery Galliano designed the 1920′s style gown for the 2011 wedding of British model Kate Moss. He also worked with New York-based fashion designer Oscar de la Renta for several weeks earlier this year.

Galliano was due to teach a master class at Parsons The New School for Design his year but the class the canceled.

For the past two years, he said he has been trying to make amends and to possibly return to work.

The latest issue of Vanity Fair will be available on newsstands on Thursday.

Italian fashion  designer Pamela Quinzi‘s life may seem just like a fairytale set in modern times. The young, beautiful talented shoe and clothing designer is making a huge splash in the New York City fashion scene and her Kilame Collection is steadily gaining momentum as a must have item for the cities top trend setters.

Pamela’s shoe collection is made from handcrafted embroidery ad applications with Swarovski crystals, feathers, lace and silk flowers, a combination of materials and colors inspired by the energy of New York City combined with a Baroque allure and the passion for the Haute Couture.

The creation of a unique style . Pumps and ankle boots on 6” high heels. Black and nude for a fairytale like mood, metallic gold or silver for a trendy attitude and a variation of pop up colors for a glamorous time.

Her collection pays special attention on the details like a small crown, cute little hearts, real stones. Everything is studied to capture women’s attention and desires.

The Early Years

At the age of 14 she decided to attend the Institute Armando Diaz in Rome, an Italian high school specializing in fashion. Learning about the Fashion business she was also an intern for the oldest Italian couture brands: Sorelle Fontana, Gattinoni, Sarli.

After earning her high school diploma, she moved to Milan and attended the Institute Marangoni for four years, studying fashion design with a specialty in accessories.

She graduated in 2005, starting her carrier in Milan. Pamela has designed extensively at the upper echelons of the fashion industry. She was responsible for the development of two collections for the iconic Fiorucci brand: Fiorucci and the Fiorucci Pin Up Collection.

She developed Nijole’s women’s collection of clothing, evening dresses, and accessories, including bags, shoes, and jewelry. She developed a highly regarded clothing and accessory line for Shane and a beachwear collection for Cala Di Volpe – Bain De Minuit.

Working alongside the acclaimed designer Rossana Buriassi, she designed collaborations with leading luxury lines such as Armani Privé, Dolce e Gabbana, and Fiona Swarovski.

With the Massimo Bonini Showroom, she developed the woman’s shoe collection for Paolo Ferrari’s autumn and winter 2008-09 collection.

Photos By: RJ Ensalada Photography
Watch The Official Video For Pamela Quinzi’s Collection

[ Related: More About The Kilame Collection & History ]

Isabella Gucci decided to ask Pamela Quinizi more about her collection, her opinion of the shoe design industry and what inspires her most.

What is Kilame and what type of woman did you create the line for?
‘Kilame is the High end Fashion brand designed by Pamela Quinzi in New York City. It’s dreamy, romantic, sophisticated, glamorous, sexy, elegant is the One of a Kind shoes collection inspired by a new modern princess: Kilame.’

What is your opinion on American women’s footwear compared to Italian footwear? How is your brand different?
I think that in both cases the most important thing is: The shoe needs to be comfortable. So it’s very important for me to choose styles that a woman can enjoy and feel good in. For the designs here in America i feel that i can be more free and crazy sometimes to express my creativity in a certain level especially for Red Carpets type of shoes.’

Which celebrities would you like to wear your shoes?
‘I hope soon Lady Gaga and Rhianna, my favorites.’

What’s your favorite piece in your shoe collection?
‘My favorite INCANTO Boots. Pearls, crystals, sequins and feathers in light pink and black.’

You are from Italy a country known for beautiful footwear, why did you choose to make New York City your home base?
‘I didn’t choose NY, it’s NY that choose me.’

What besides fashion are your deepest passion/interests?
‘Movies, music, dance.’

Your fashion shows are always exciting and beautiful, do you get design inspiration from your shoes when making your dresses or the other way around?
‘My dresses inspirations are also from a fantasy world, fairy but very sexy too and yes the colors are inspired by the shoes.’

How do you want your clients to feel when they wear your shoes?
‘Like Cinderella!’

Whats the typical price range for a pair of Kilame shoes or dress?
‘From $200 and up for shoes, the couture peices starts from $500. The dresses are from $150 up.’

What’s next for your Kilame Collection in the near future?
‘Kilame collection will be presented in a new boutique in Rome the next June 27th, new photo shooting around Italy and in September NYFW 2014.’

Find out more about Pamela Quinzi and her Kilame Collection online
Website: http://www.pamelaquinzidesign.com/
Blog: http://cinderellaofnewyork.com/
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Elie Saab Spring Couture Collection Highlights:

Saab seduced Hollywood years ago. The fashion crowd has taken longer to come around. Insiders saw shades of other designers in his dresses today—floor-skimming capes that called to mind Gwyneth Paltrow’s white Tom Ford from last year’s Academy Awards, demure necklines and long sleeves evocative of recent Valentino collections.

What was signature Saab, of course, was the beadwork, this time rendered in tone-on-tone or silvery embroideries on lace and tulle of varying transparencies. An Ode to Delicateness, he called the collection, and, indeed, with illusion necklines and sheer sleeves, his creations at times seemed to float on the body.

Saab used mostly pastels, with a touch of red and black. He’s always favored solid colors; prints have proven tricky for him. This time, though, a subtle multicolor floral over-embroidered in black beads produced the most charming dresses, especially a three-quarter-sleeve, full-skirted party number. It’s not Oscars material, but it was a knockout.

 

Ulyana Sergeenko Spring Couture Collection Highlights:

“Gone With the Wind, the Headless Horseman, Huck Finn—it’s our American collection,” Ulyana Sergeenko said before her second Couture show today. Having explored her Russian roots at her debut in July, Sergeenko was eager to surprise. If nothing else, the U.S. contingent was amused by a soundtrack that ranged from The Wizard of Oz to Django Unchained to Rocky. There wasn’t a bad tune in the lot, but their cumulative effect bordered on kitsch.

Sergeenko’s clothes are unapologetically theatrical. Scarlett O’Hara’s widow’s weeds made an appearance, as did her famous green curtain dress. One model carried a bindle down the Théâtre Marigny runway, and another hitched a wooden slingshot into her belt.

To some, the Russian is better suited to Hollywood back lots than to Paris haute couture. Certainly, outfits like a corseted velvet onesie and taffeta balloon cape, or a ball skirt worn with nothing but a pointy bra, seemed self-indulgent. The mistakes of a neophyte.

Giambattista Valli Spring Couture Collection Highlights:

Giambattista Valli has a distinctive advantage as a couturier: He is utterly intimate with his clientele. Age-group 28 to 38, spring chickens in the couture sorority, and innocent of the traditional iconography of alta moda. Which means Valli is able to toy with tradition in a way that seems entirely fresh to his women.

In the past, that has meant a soupçon of déjà vu for everyone else, but by some fortunate alchemy, the collection he presented tonight took those antique Roman codes, twirled them around, and deposited something old-but-new on the catwalk. Maybe all it took was basic black and white. Valli opened with a coat-dress in big-cat spots, followed through with a jacket and skirt ensemble traced in black, and consummated the monochrome with a tulle-shrouded black shift clasped at the waist with Luigi Scialanga’s twist of metallic feathers.

That statement of intent resonated through the first half of the collection, producing outfits as striking as a croc-collared black shift with an inky squelch of sheen trailing down its front, and an ocelot-spot jumpsuit with an overlay of mousseline that trailed away dramatically.

Mexican-American fashion designer Cesar Galindo showcased his colorful Spring 2013 collection for fashion week for his new label CZAR by cesar galindo.

Galindo is known for his use of color, but this season he used even brighter high definition 3D techno-color prints.

“I’m Mexican and the colors I have within me. New York is a very dark city (in winter) and we have to give it color,”  – Cesar Galindo

The dresses and material were a range of crinkle silk chiffon used with a bold and bright color palette of azure, turquoise, chartreuse and tangerine. Tangerine was used in several of his pieces and looked high tech and glamorous all at once. The collection can be described as deceptively simple, romantically modern and futuristic.

“Galindo unveiled a rainbow on the Lincoln Center runway with shades of green, blue, rose, orange, purple and yellow, some in gradated tones, without neglecting the always elegant black, as well as prints appropriate for spring and summer.” – Fox News Latino

Artist Steve Travolta states on CZAR’s runway show

“The fabric seemed as though it was floating almost suspended, it was moving and flowing as if the runway had fans blowing gently on the clothes. This was cut and draped magnificently.”

Take a look at photos and video of the CZAR Spring 2013 Runway Show Below. Feel Free to Comment!

For More Info:

web: www.czarnyc.com
facebook: CZARbycesargalindo