Photo: Zap2It.com

The photo collage above has some beautiful dresses included, but not all are best dressed material!  Read on to see why.  ; )

MY BEST DRESSED LIST

Gwyneth Paltrow In Tom Ford

Photo: Heather Ikei © A.M.P.A.S.

The cape is genius.  I have to admit the dress itself does not have the “wow” factor though it is lovely and simple.  But, the cape takes it over the top- it was just visually interesting and I thought Gwyneth knocked it out of the park.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS IN LOUIS VUITTON

Photo: graziadaily.co.uk

I don’t recall Louis Vuitton making an appearance on the red carpet very often, but that may be changing.  This dress is young, fresh and in the most joyful shade of coral.  In the past, it’s been noted that Michelle is not always the most sunny personality on the red carpet, but it looks like this frock lifted her spirits.  How could you not  be happy in this dress?!

OCTAVIA SPENCER IN TADASHI SHOJI

Photo: graziadaily.co.uk

The beading on this gown is exquisite.  I couldn’t stop looking at it, especially during close ups!  Octavia is perfection in this dress and couldn’t have looked lovelier.

Photo: Zap2It.com

Again, the photo collage above includes some good contenders for worst dressed and so I’ll just briefly mention a few, but not all deserve to be on that list.  Sandra Bullock’s dress is actually very beautiful, and I don’t mind that it’s not skin tight.  If it had been taken in at the waist  just a little, she would’ve been on my Best Dressed list.  And at least Rooney Mara wore a white dress this time.

Now for my actual Worst Dressed List, Melissa McCarthy’s Marina Rinaldi dress just didn’t do it for me.  While I loved the jeweled neckline, that alone couldn’t save the dress from the unfortunate sleeves and unflattering color.  Berenice Bejo wore a mint green Elie Saab dress, but the long sleeves and retro hue was a big miss.  This would’ve been more appropriate for dame Helen Mirren.

Surprisingly, the third worst dress was not included in the photo series above, so here it is below.

ANNA FARRIS IN DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

Photo: Celebuzz.com

Again, with the age-inappropriate long sleeves.  From the neck up, Anna looks gorgeous, but this Morticia Addams meets disco get up should’ve stayed with the stylist.  She did use a stylist right?

What were your best and worst dressed Oscar nominees?

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Photo: KortoMomolu.com Spring 2009

To me, Momolu’s creations are effortlessly chic, sensual and powerful.  There is this energy and joy bundled up in every collection- each a capsule of celebration.  Her bold pattern and color choices, paired with flattering silhouettes make her clothes extremely wearable, for any woman.  I think it’s this mixture of high fashion and approachability that I admire most about Momolu’s collections, and why I feel I’ll be a life-long fan.  Here’s to Korto Momolu, and many, many years of success.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

The 84th Annual Academy Awards are upon us.  I feel like a little bit of a hypocrite because I haven’t seen half of these films, but I’m ready to see red carpet fashions and fiascos on February 26th!  Will my friend and I finally agree on something fabulous?  We shall see.  ; )

Being that I have seen The Help  and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I’ll be rooting for those two!  See the full list of Oscar nominees here.

Also, I’m bringing back “Behind the Seams,” which focuses more on the business of fashion and entrepreneurship.  Each month, you’ll hear candid confessionals from people who have worked behind the cameras, backstage or run their own businesses.  I’ve been inspired by these stories, so much so that I’m starting an online vintage store with a dear friend of mine (more on that later!).

From the start, I wanted Thread Conscious to be about more than pretty clothes; I want to offer you the unique perspective that can only come from real people, working really hard, “behind the seams.”  Let’s dig deeper and learn about what it takes to make the fashion magic happen.

Below, I’ve included one of my first Behind the Seams articles, featuring dynamic Cypriot designer and entrepreneur Dora Fitikidi Schabel, co-owner of FIG: A Taste of European Design in Fort Worth, Texas.

Please note FIG’s current information is as follows:

U.S. Distributor
Retail Studio
FIG Designers LLC
2925 Crocket Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
USA
Tel.: 1-817-886-0712
info@figdesigners.com

Retail Hours:
M-W 10-6
Th-Sa 10-9

*Next month, we’ll hear from another amazing fashion entrepreneur on a mission to change some industry attitudes and I’ll tell you a little more about the online vintage store my friend and I are creating!

Happy reading, and Happy Presidents’ Day!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Behind the Seams: Dora Schabel & Simi Radcliffe of FIG: A Taste of European Design

Fort Worth, TX. Recently, I returned to FIG: A Taste of European Design, to chat with founding partner and handbag designer Dora Schabel and wardrobe consultant Simi Radcliffe. Let me tell you, it was my distinct pleasure to interview these two lovely- and fascinating- women.

Dora Schabel

Sally Burt (L) & Simi Radcliffe

As I entered the small, pristine foyer, I was promptly greeted by a striking brunette who ushered me into the front room of the studio, a plush dreamy space enveloped in modern décor and European couture. Poised and brimming with knowledge, I quickly learned that she was Simi Radcliffe, a regal Persian model and wardrobe consultant with years of experience in the fashion industry. Within mere moments of Radcliffe perching on a chair, a figure appeared in the doorway. “Hello, you must be Nik. I’m Dora.”

Dora Schabel Persian Lamb Bag

Impressive yet approachable, confident yet humble, this Cyprus native possesses more than personality- she has presence- both immediate and undeniable. You understand right away that you are meeting someone very special. I explained to Schabel and Radcliffe that I hoped to talk a little about both the business and consumption of fashion- an ambitious goal on my part. Schabel understood all too well what a daunting task that would be. As a business owner, handbag designer and the re-elected President of the Cyprus Fashion Designers Association, she has layers of experience spanning more than a decade.

Dora Schabel Cowhide Clutch

“Well only 5% of fashion is glamour. The other 95% is work,” she offered with a knowing sparkle in her eye. No stranger to hard work, Schabel and FIG co-founder Robin Birdsong are moving the operation to a larger space close to the award-winning Tillman’s Roadhouse very soon. The new studio will inherit FIG’s current modern aesthetic, since the “clothes are the main protagonist,” says Schabel. FIG’s goal is to familiarize fashionable Fort Worth women with made to measure clothing. According to Radcliffe, “Made to measure is common in Europe. I grew up with it.” Now she wants to help bring Texas women the same impeccable customer service and attention to detail, which is inherent to the made to measure concept. “Fort Worth needs it and lacks it. More time should be spent on women,” laments Radcliffe. I agree. We’re all individuals with unique features- why not have clothes that reflect that individuality while fitting perfectly? No longer would we have to settle for a premade mold. At this moment I’m reminded of my favorite quote from the movie Bride Wars during the dress fitting scene: “You don’t alter Vera to fit you, you alter yourself to fit Vera.” Not if you’re a FIG customer! Did I also mention they sell couture wedding gowns?

Dora Schabel Yellow Tote

As further proof of her unwavering work ethic, Schabel is constantly searching for new talent to add to FIG’s roster of impressive European designers. “We’re adding four new designers in early 2011!” She explained that FIG’s independent designers are really artists who work very hard at their crafts. “Perhaps a designer will decide to make only ten of a certain dress style or purse, only ten in the whole world. Then you know you are getting something truly unique.” Obviously, Schabel understands that fashionistas have an appreciation for the very beautiful and the very rare. It should be noted that FIG follows a Fair Trade model that ensures their independent designers maintain autonomy over the designs and pricing of their respective clothing lines.

As for Schabel, the designer, she finds inspiration for her one-of-a-kind handbags everywhere, from architecture and interior design, to trips to Japan, to simple pleats on a dress. As for Schabel, the fashionista, she favors structured yet soft pieces and lives by this rule, “Accentuate what’s best, camouflage what’s worst!” Ah, the mantra of made to measure!

FIG: A Taste of European Design

U.S. Distributor
FIG Designers LLC
910 Currie Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
USA
Tel.: 1-817-420-9630
info@figdesigners.com

Popular start up Pinterest has come under fire for one of the ways it makes profits: appending affiliate links to some pins.  If a user clicks the affiliate link and buys the product, the retailer pays Pinterest.  While the use of affiliate links to make money is nothing new in the fashion blogging world, folks seem to be in a tizzy because they were unaware of Pinterest’s practice.

Any start up is in need of funding for continued growth, and advertising is usually a main generator of revenue.  Do you think Pinterest profiting from affiliate links is shady, or just a standard industry practice?  Read the entire article on CNN Money.  Also check out interesting discussions and viewpoints about Pinterest at llsocial.com.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

FIG FINALE 75% OFF SALE!!

1807 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75201

Next FIG Finale: February 9, 10 and 11

FIG finale is a spectacular sale during which the area’s top stores come together at FIG and sell their women’s, men’s and kid’s clothing, accessories and shoes to the public at up to 75 percent discount. It is a shopper’s paradise, with numerous great retailers offering their designer merchandise at unbeatable prices.

VIP Pass – $50

2 Day Pass – $20

Day Pass – $15

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Friday, February 10th – 11am to 8pm

Saturday, February 11th – 11am to 5pm

No strollers or large bags allowed.

For information, call 214.748.4344, ext. 326 or email Megan@fashionindustrygallery.com

Fashionistas, I’ve been going to this premier shopping event for years, and I have NEVER been disappointed!  Check out some of my past fab finds here.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Just a quick note that the three fashion weeks for this month are:

1) New York- Feb. 9-16

2) London- Feb. 17-22

3) Washington, D.C.- Feb. 20-26

Can’t wait to see the IFB Conference on Feb. 8th- thank God for livestream!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Naked Mountain Winery

Dear Fashionistas,

I had the immense pleasure of visiting the Naked Mountain Winery in Virginia this past September.  Nestled into the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia’s wine country, this winery is the perfect place to entertain family and friends.  Once under the auspices of Bob and Phoebe Harper, the winery is now owned and operated by Randy and Meagan Morgan, a young couple with a deep devotion to the art of wine making.

Now, I admit I’m not much of a drinker (read: I can’t hold my liquor) but my in-laws were sweet enough to set up a double date for me and my sweetie at their favorite vineyard.  So I braced myself for the series of headaches and tummy aches I knew were sure to follow dinner.

The dinner included carrot ginger soup and duck confit, followed by dessert: a warm fig crostata with vanilla ice cream.  Every course was paired with a different wine, and I’m happy to say that the next day I felt perfectly fine (that’s how it goes with the highest-quality wines, so I’m told).

Duck Confit

Dear Fashionistas,

A couple of weeks ago, I was on South Congress and discovered Co-Star, the more “guy-friendly” sister store of Maya Star.  I also spotted this trendy fashionisto and had to ask if I could snap his photo.  I think he’s doing so many things right: The jacket with a hint of shoulder pad and the sleeves gathered at the elbow, the skinny jeans and the scarf…  He’s made a neutral palette of black  the canvas for other design details, such as the graphic scarf, simple necklace and patent leather shoes.  Nicely done.

Also, Co-Star itself is worth a visit, if for nothing else than their quirky array of smile-inducing t-shirts.  Besides the House of Harlow jewelry, they were my favorites.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Photo Credit: www.thebudgetbabe.com

Collaboration is the new black.  We’ve seen partnerships between the likes of Versace and H&M, Vera Wang and Kohls and now Jason Wu and Target.  Collection goes on sale online and in stores on Feb. 5th!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik