Fashion PR division of Pierce Mattie Public Relations, A Fashion Public Relations. Fashion publicity, promotion marketing firm

The Academy Awards is sometimes considered one of the biggest nights of fashion for the year. It’s a time when a dress can make or break a star’s image and when a sometimes virtually unheard of designer can be launched into the stratosphere. There are Oscar nominees that we know will wow us with their sense of style and who we wait with baited breath to see walk down the Red Carpet, and then there are the ones we know will just crash and burn. Occasionally, there is the celebrity whose notorious history of poor fashion sense surprises us with a winner and then there is that one dress that, guaranteed, will have us talking for years to come.

One such dress that seems to pop up every time you mention the Oscar’s is the black-and-white vintage Valentino dress that Julia Robert’s wore in 2001. When I think of the Academy Awards, this dress always comes to mind. Back in the late 80’s, Cher’s sheer Bob Mackie dress was hailed as gaudy and outrageous, but now it’s being looked upon as fashion forward. Celebrity news shows and websites have already begun to buzz, pondering which designer will get the most mentions on the Red Carpet and who they feel will be the best dressed celebrity.

Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist…at least it did in the invention of Insolia, shoe inserts that were invented to distribute weight evenly when wearing high heels. With the help of a MIT-trained Rocket Scientist, Dr. Howard Dananberg a podiatrist, invented Insolia to help those of us who love our heels but hate the pain.

Insolia insoles are plastic inserts that are barely noticeable to your feet, until you realize that you are no longer wincing in pain while running around the city in your 3-inch heels. They work by preventing your foot from sliding down to the front of your shoe, which puts all of your weight on the balls of your feet. Insolia’s inserts create a 50/50 weight distribution between the balls of your feet and your heel. The result enables better ankle stability and gives you the feeling of wearing flats. Even DKNY and Ipanema are in love with the idea and have begun creating their shoes with Insolia built into their design.

This is definitely a product I could’ve used while in the city last July wearing my 3-inch espadrilles walking through Manhattan and up and down those subway stairs. By the end of the day I was in so much pain that I was ready to walk barefoot through the city. As I am only days away from being back in Manhattan again, I purchased 1-inch heels as to not make the same mistake of unbelievable pain to my feet. Certainly a product such as Insolia is one that sounds perfect no matter where you live and can open the doors to many who so desperately want to wear those fabulous heels in style and not in pain.

• Best Picture - The Departed
  
• Best Director  - Martin Scorsese - The Departed
  
• Best Actor - Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
  
• Best Actress  - Helen Mirren - The Queen
  
• Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
  
• Best Supporting Actress – Jennifer Hudson - Dream Girls
  
• Best Foreign Film - The Lives of Others

As always there is a best and worst dressed when it comes to the red carpet. Some gowns amazed me, while others I was amazed even came off the hanger in the closet. These are my picks for best and worst dressed with a few undecided’s thrown in for good measure.

Best:

Helen Mirren: Wow, she took my breath away. If she is not the signature for aging gracefully, I’m not sure who is. I absolutely adored her beaded gown by Christian Lacroix. It was elegant and tasteful and just made her look amazing.

Beyonce: Her Armani Prive' gown was exquisite. She certainly didn’t need to wear jewelry around her neck with her jeweled strap. The mint green color was amazing, as well.

Reese Witherspoon: Her Nina Ricci gown made her figure look amazing. It was the right fit, the perfect color and I loved the layering.

Worst:

Nicole Kidman: Nicole always looks gorgeous and while I thought her red gown by Balenciaga did look beautiful, I couldn’t help thinking the big red bow with long sash made her look like a present, like she was on a leash or even the back to one of those wind up dolls.

Cameron Diaz: It may not be the gown itself by Valentino, but the color. I just don’t think white is a color that brings out Diaz’s beauty. It also definitely did not highlight her figure. Also, the fact that she kept standing pigeon-toed on stage and on the Red Carpet took away from the look as well.

Sally Kirkland: Oh my. I was cringing and hoping she wouldn’t make a false move revealing what was underneath her sheer dress. Maybe she could’ve used her parachute to cover herself up better.

Undecided:

Jennifer Hudson: While her Oscar de la Renta gown was gorgeous, the silver bolero jacket should’ve been left on the hanger. I think the jacket completely takes away from the richness of the gown.

Penelope Cruz: The strapless Versace was gorgeous on top and was such a lovely color, although the bottom of her dress makes me think of Goose Down.

Other Reviews Found Here

Ever since I can remember, I have had an obsession with shoes. It is the one fashion accessory that I am extremely picky about. I’ll never forget the day that I had saved enough babysitting money as a teenager, to purchase a pair of Kenneth Cole sandals. I wore them every day, but unfortunately they met their demise a year later when I got a puppy that decided my beloved sandals would make for a good chew toy.

To me, my shoes are a way of self-expression. I wear a particular style dependent upon my mood and how I want to express myself each day. Something about shoes makes me feel a certain way. If my shoes look good, it instills a certain amount of confidence in the way I walk. When I am out and about, I always want people to notice my shoes. For me, my shoes are an art form.

Prior to having children, my closet has been known to hold up to 25 (or maybe more) pairs of shoes. My husband has never understood my obsession and many times laughs at my preference of style over functionality. He often says that I do not wear “sensible shoes,” which he realized on our honeymoon as I climbed a snowy hill to go tubing in 3-inch heeled boots (and yes I probably fell about a dozen times wearing them).

Fashionista’s everywhere pay attention to the runway for the upcoming trends each season. Imagine my surprise when those trends are now showing up in Old Navy stores everywhere. It’s no secret to anyone who reads this blog and our main blog; I adore Old Navy and have for a long while. I’m definitely their cheerleader when it comes to reviving their brand (and Gap Inc. overall). From the looks of their latest commercial for their Spring dresses, it looks like that revival is here much sooner than we expected.

A few weeks ago I posted the top ten trends for Spring. The biggest trend obviously being dresses, but also the eyelet and above the knee hemlines, and while not on their list, baby dolls are popping up everywhere. I was sitting in my living room when the newest Old Navy commercial played and I couldn’t contain my excitement over their newest line of dresses. I’m not alone; Carleen Pruess from Beauty and Fashion Tech felt the same way:

“The other night the commercial came on and my boyfriend asked what it was for (he missed the intro), he was surprised when I immediately said 'Old Navy.' I hadn't really thought of Old Navy as a source for dresses in the past, but the ones in the commercial are cute and just the type of summer dress I like. I'm a sucker for sundresses and Old Navy prices sure can't be beat! I particularly like the halter dress in the commercial. It looks like I will be going shopping there soon.”

Other fashion Bloggers feel similar...

Today was the big day in Australia for Target to launch Stella McCartney’s limited edition collection of clothing. Australian fashionista’s camped outside of Target like Americans on Black Friday eagerly awaiting the doors to open so they could snatch every piece of clothing possible. Many duked it out grabbing clothing from one another while others stripped the mannequins bare. Some kept the clothing for themselves and others quickly posted them to ebay since the collection is not available in any other country.

Stella McCartney’s Target line includes 42 pieces with none going over the $200 mark. This makes for those who love McCartney’s designs, but have to keep budget-minded, the ability to “dress for less.” McCartney’s idea to create this affordable line is to bring her brand to fashion lovers throughout Australia without discriminating monetarily. Once introduced to the brand and the limited edition collection has run its course, McCartney most likely hopes that these fashion enthusiasts will continue to remain loyal to her brand.

Innovative, unique, stylish and bold; all of these characteristics describe the design of a Storm Watch. Their copywritten designs provide its consumer with the assuredness that their watch is unique only to Storm, lending prestige and credibility to the brand. Storm’s quest for individual style is made by challenging consumer expectations with a product that is different than any other watch out there.

While many people wear a watch for their functionality, why not have the best of both worlds? Storm is a statement of who you are while providing precision instrumentation. This isn’t your average timepiece, as each watch is made of stainless steel with scratch resistant mineral glass. Storm Watches aren’t ordinary looking, which is what I think makes them appealing. Their uncommon look is something that will make you stand out in a crowd. Some of the celebrities that stand out for their Storm Watches are David and Victoria Beckham, Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls, Pink, Justin Timberlake, Amerie, Keke Palmer from Akeelah and the Bee, and LeToya Luckett.

The one thing you can count on with a Storm Watch is that its designers are constantly challenging the perception of how a watch should look. Whether it’s the features, gadgets, colors or shapes, the design is ever evolving and always looking to the future of individual taste and style.

7 For All Mankind is a must-have brand for the Fashionista and celebrity alike. 7 For All Mankind’s women's premium denim line exploded onto the scene in 2000 with virtually no competition. In the years that followed they developed a men’s denim collection, a children’s line and an outerwear and shirt collection that reached beyond their comfort zone of denim into a variety of other fabrics such as satin, corduroy and twill. This Spring we’ll see a women’s knit collection, as well as, KA7, a collaboration between designer Katayone Adeli and 7 For All Mankind to create a women’s contemporary sportswear collection.

 7 For All Mankind denim is known for it perfect fit and premium denim leaving you feeling luxurious and certainly not ordinary with their couture styling. Even for moms like Jennifer Garner, you certainly don’t have to wear mom jeans anymore when you have 7 For All Mankind’s “A” Pocket design. Other celebrities who love to show off their assets in 7 For All Mankind denim are Scarlett Johannson, Eva Longoria, Cameron Diaz and Rachel Bilson. It is due to their strong celebrity following and product placement that they have been able to bring about brand awareness that has created a frenzy in the denim market.

I took a quick poll from the Pierce Mattie Brand Advocates and found that in addition to 7 For All Mankind, Diesel, True Religion and Levies were the fancy pants of choice in New York and Los Angeles.

Whenever I’m in L.A. I rely on a few friends who really have their finger on the pulse of what is happening around town. One is a buyer for the coolest fashion store in California and the other is one of the biggest casting directors working in television. They don’t know each other and hang in very different crowds. They give me a great Yin Yang perspective of everything from fashion to movies and just in their own personal sense of style. One lives in the Hills and the other in Hancock Park. One rolls in a Defender and the other in a Benz convertible. Its rare that the hot topic of conversation with them is on the same page. Except a year ago when I got emails from both telling me about their new favorite place to go on sunset after dinner or before going out for a late night. PINKBERRY.

Now New Yorkers are impressed with very few “new” things and let alone of all things .. frozen yogurt. After all, we are the home of tasti-delight on every other corner. We know ice cream and we know frozen yogurt. I tried to get excited and not dismiss it before I saw it and made plans with both during the next week I was spending in L.A.

The whole concept behind Pinkberry is that it is all natural. Two base flavors – green tea of plain yogurt – then an endless combination of fruit or treat toppings give you all the choice you could ever want. I have to admit – they had me at “green tea or plain?” There is something clean and modern about the décor – its like a cross between American Apparel and Alessi design store. There is shocking green color that makes you think health while at the same time it borders on bad Korean take-out. The colorful pink swirl logo is streamlined and happy. The pebble tile floors carry through on the au natural feeling. The location is also the cherry on your yogurt and part of the huge success of the brand. They were wise to open just off Santa Monica Blvd. In the middle of West Hollywood. They had a built in audience of gay men with an eye for design and looking for a natural snack if not low calorie. Just like Samantha told Smith Jarod on Sex & The City -“first the gays, then the girls, then Hollywood!”. No truer lines were ever written or spoken! All three followed suit for Pinkberry. One of the best things about Pinkberry are the portions – LARGE. There is more than enough in each cup to fill the tiny stomachs of all the Mary-Kate and Ashley clones that surrounded my friend and I. For the girls in L.A., this is dinner. After all, they aren’t working off the snack with and hour or two at Crunch on Sunset like my friends and I. I loved the whole experience and was so happy my TV friend had brought me, and happier still that I would have to come back with my fashion friend the next night! The Los Angeles times said that Pinkberry was “The taste that launched 1,000 parking tickets” and most will risk fines for that pink swirl. I put it on my list of things to do when in L.A. Along with visit the Hammer Museum, drinks at the Chateau, and driving around Santa Monica. It was the perfect addition to one of my west coast weekends. You can imagine my surprise one winter morning in NYC when I thought I saw a Pinkberry mirage. I had stumbled out of my apartment in Chelsea bleary eyed on auto pilot headed to Starbucks for my morning fix. As I headed down 8th avenue I breezed past the old lamp store space that had been vacant for a few weeks. I was stopped in my tracks when I saw that little pink swirl logo. I knew what that meant! I immediately started to dial one of my friends in L.A. when I realized it was 5:00 in the morning on the West coast…. Phone call aborted!

The funny thing is that now.. I'm not so excited about Pinkberry.  I have chalked it up to the phenom that happens all the time.   Something that is so AMAZING in L.A. is just so so once it goes east of Nevada!  I've had this happen with clothes, haircuts, and I hate to admit- people, but I never thought it would apply to a frozen treat!

I don't know if its the light in L.A. or the air.... but its almost like the O2 they supposedly pump into casinos... everything seems excellent at the time.   Back at home.. whatever.

SO, now that I have a Pinkberry one block from my house - I have gone once.   Ok, so maybe I'm a totally spoiled NY'er who is always looking for something exotic - but I will be lining up for the stuff when I'm on the West Coast and Cruising on Santa Monica Blvd. with my friends.  Go figure! 

Sometimes I get in this style rut where I start to think the whole fashion thing is pretty lame. When I get this way, nothing in my closet looks good and I start thinking that maybe what would really inspire me would be to live in a beach cave like the chick in Island of the Blue Dolphins, or better yet, Blue Lagoon. These are low points to be sure, but they do happen. Blame it on too much of the So-Cal sun.

Since spear fishing is probably out of the question, it’s supremely lucky for me that there is Nylon Magazine – a rare gift for that rarified, thinking girl fashionista who loves sneaking into the bath with her Lucky magazine stickers, but sometimes needs a bit more substance. Witty, brash, like the cooler hipster girl you wish you were, Nylon comes on strong with art, style, interviews with crush-worthy ladies like Christina Ricci and Maggie Gyllenhaall, and delicious, inspiring fashion editorials that make me weak in the knees, surrounded by the kind of smart writing that truly feeds me.

I’m hoping that Nylon Guys creates the same kind of style-euphoria upon my well-dressed male friends and those complete strangers I see wearing too short suit pants at my local coffee shop. Focusing on sneakers, graffiti, music, with a tad of the sexy lady in her skivvies, Nylon Guys is a stylish pick me up for those XY chromosomes of a slightly more indie persuasion than MR. “I subscribe to GQ and Maxim.” It’s a bit like falling in love with the boyfriend I never had. It’s also free to download.

David Beckham isn’t just an extremely talented and good looking soccer player. Beckham is a lifestyle brand and with all of that branding comes an extremely well dressed David who is the perfect walking advertisement for his products. In the states, the sports world is in need of a fashion icon and who better than David Beckham to lead the way?

In a time when the sports scene only has a handful of athletes that are exceptionally well dressed, we are desperately in need of someone to infuse good fashion sense back into the sports world. There once was a time when the most endorsement-savvy player, Michael Jordan, dominated with a fashion sense while other athletes attempted to step up their game by dawning designer duds. Over the years this has waned a little with jewelry becoming more of a statement with athletes than clothing; just look at the diamonds Terrell Owens is always showing off in television interviews.

Of course, some athletes have stepped foot into the fashion scene by designing clothing, such as Donovan McNabb’s Super Five apparel under the Reebok brand. However, this is more casual wear than clothing that makes a statement with high end style, so the burden now rests with David Beckham to bring his runway “Dolce & Gabbana look” into the competitive industry of sports here in the US. Athletes are competitive after all and I can’t see our American athletes being up shown by the new kid from across the pond.

My son uses the word “Sports Candy” to describe healthy snacks, with David Beckham’s presence soon to be here, I think I just found a new definition for it.

We see it every Fall and Spring during Fashion Week, designers dictate what everyone will be wearing the following season by what they display in their runway collections. If they deem a particular trend to be in style, then we are guaranteed to see it in one form or another throughout each collection. While that style trend is prominent, each designer does their own take on it and lends their own spice of creativity to the mix.

While many brands have some designs patented, such as Levi Strauss’s pocket embroidery, which almost serves as a trademark of the brand, the fuel behind Intellectual Property Law is lost on most of the fashion industry as their “creative ideas” are not copyright protected. This is according to an article I read in the International Herald Tribune today which discusses why the fashion industry flourishes on copying each other’s ideas.

According to the article, fashion designers promote the latest trend sending us all running to be the first among our friends to be wearing that trapeze dress or grabbing that silver handbag off the rack. Once we become a sea of silver handbag, wedge shoe wearing, statement ring flashing individuals in baby dolls with leggings, we are immediately bored and begin looking for something new and interesting to wear. Thus begins the cycle of designers churning out the next trend for us to gush over all due to the expansion of creativity that isn’t confined due to copyright of anyone’s design idea.

Put into this perspective it’s almost amusing to look back on my fashion behavior, yet something I would absolutely not want to be without. Season after season I love watching the shows during Fashion Week and watching each trend emerge and how wonderfully creative each designer is with it. I openly admit to being one of “those people” who run to the store to pick up the latest trend-wear of the season. Isn’t that what makes fashion fun after all?

Who knew that being a manager at The Gap, having some fashion savvy and owning an iMac with a built in video camera to shoot a few video blogs on, would one day land William Sledd You Tube celebrity status, as well as possible offers from NBC and Bravo.

William Sledd is the 23 year old vlogger behind the now hugely popular video clips on You Tube, “Ask a Gay Man: Fashion Edition.” With over 45,000 subscribers and millions of viewers, big media is starting to take notice. He has signed a deal with NBC and Bravo (owned by NBC) has discussed with him their ideas on some possible scenarios that he could fit into on their network.

Sledd has a good sense of humor and answers subscriber emails in his video series. He has no fashion background beyond managing The Gap, but its his interest in dressing everyone better and his unique standing as the average gay guy dishing out fashion advice that has captured everyone’s attention and lead him onto celebrity status with the jump from ordinary blogger to someone who may be gracing your television screen sometime soon.

Be sure to check out his fashion video series on You Tube. I’ve posted my favorite above, Ask a Gay Man: Fashion Victim Edition, it is very funny and I laughed out loud during the woman and the salt and pepper shaker scene. William Sledd is definitely one to watch!

Rainy days need not be the only day you dawn a trench coat. Designers have begun to include them as pieces to an outfit that look good worn both outside and indoors. Similar to the pantsuit’s jacket, trench coats are now becoming a versatile fashion accessory.

Over the last several weeks I’ve been watching trench coats pop up as the “in” item to be wearing this season. I first witnessed it on one of my favorite shows, What Not To Wear, where a pink trench coat was used as a top. I first balked at the idea, until I saw the fashion victim pair it up with some other great accessories and pieces of clothing. Next came an email from Isaac Mizrahi’s website that he had a Country-City Slicker available on his new online store. Looking at his gorgeous creation, I began to envision pairing it with gray or linen dress pants and some heels, maybe unbuttoning that top button to reveal some pearls. Since I know Mr. Mizrahi’s sense of style is never wrong, I knew a trend was emerging that would soon be seen no matter the city or town…at least when this weather decides to warm up.

One of the great things about trench coats is that it is figure flattering. While the basic layout of the trench coat is all the same, there are varying cuts and designs that can make any girl look good. It also adds a new dimension of style when you chose a trench coat with different patterns, cropped or below the knee, and with different adornments on it. Nevermind simply wearing it with pants, there are quit a few trench coats that are nice enough that they could be worn as a dress or paired with a skirt. Being that it is also an item for outerwear, it’s a great way not to have to add more bulk to your attire when heading outdoors. The fabulous trench coats you see in this post can be found at Bergdorf Goodman.

What do you think of the trench coat trend?

One big fashion mistake that many of us make is not choosing the right clothing to accentuate our shape, no matter what size we are. I know that I have fallen prey to this faux pas many times when I try to wear baggy clothes to hide a waistline I am not in love with. Getting my mindset away from “hiding” my figure and into choosing pieces of clothing that will flatter me hasn’t been easy, but if you don’t want to end up a fashion victim on What Not To Wear, it’s best to learn how to dress for your shape.

There’s more to shape than your typical “Apple” and “Pear” and what you chose in terms of cuts and patterns can either minimize the positive (or negative) or put the focus on a part of your body that is less than flattering. The various shapes range from petite, tall, triangle (hip heavy), top heavy (wedge), curvy/hourglass, or rectangular. What can complicate things even more is when you are petite in height or tall in addition to another shape, thus having to take many tips into account when choosing the correct pieces of clothing for you. It can get confusing and frustrating to say the least.

A great site I have come across is MyShape.com, which breaks down shapes into M, Y, S, H, A, P and E. Based on the measurements you enter into their survey, the system will accurately tell you which shape you are. You then set up a profile to also determine the type of style you prefer and MyShape.com can then make style recommendations that will flatter your figure. There is even an area where you can determine your color palette so that you know in addition to various cuts, which colors will also be flattering to your look. Using a site like MyShape simplifies shopping for the right look, fit, style and accessories so that you can emphasize the positive aspects to your shape.

Once my son is born, this is a program I am excited to try out. There is nothing worse than trying to shop for the right clothes, only to come out of the dressing room disappointed that an outfit didn’t fit right. MyShape.com looks to alleviate that anxiety and disappointment and make shopping fun again and looking like you have your own wardrobe stylist to boot!

Fashion is beginning to merge itself with social media. Fashion communities are popping up where you can mix and match pieces of clothing with shoes and various accessories and publish your fashion match for others in the network to see. Of course, no fashion site would be complete without telling you who sells the items and enabling you to purchase what you’ve styled (or the styles of others).

In a previous post I mentioned MyShape.com, a place where you can shop for put-together outfits based on your shape; sites like Polyvore and FashMatch have taken the idea of a clothing match site one step further by creating a community of members who are the driving force behind the mix and match ensembles allowing them to create outfits from pre-existing brands in their database and upload fashion items of their own for every fashion members mix and matching pleasure. Each site tells you the brand and store where the items are available, not only making the whole process fun (and addictive), but allowing you the ability to purchase some pretty terrific looking outfits.

Both sites offer top designer names and brands in fashion like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Baby Phat, Betsey Johnson and Marc Jacobs (among many others), as well as brands that may be more for the budget oriented like Old Navy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Forever21 and Target. Both sites are also free to join, which is always a bonus if you are inclined to purchase clothes you fall in love with.

Honing your styling skills can be fun, especially with an audience filled with like-minded fashion addicts, but I can also see how it can be bad for your wallet when you find wardrobe after wardrobe that can’t seem to live without.

For Boaz David, music and fashion are not two separate entities. Having grown up in Israel with exposure to the British punk rock era, he was inspired by the fashion and imagery of many of his favorite punk groups. He attended the Shenkar School of Fashion in Tel-Aviv and designed wardrobes for both television and theater before moving to New York City in 1996. It was then that Boaz decided to take his love for music and fashion and merge the two together to create his own style of clothing.

The result is a women’s clothing line with a rocker-chic look that has an edgy, yet fashion forward sense of style. The line’s trademark pocket in the shape of a shield, detailed with distressed leather and accents of metal zippers and rivets was inspired by the simple geometric shapes placed on the shields of medieval armor and used to identify individuals and represent their place in society. One could hardly feel ordinary dawning a Boaz blazer or pair of trousers.

Today I had the chance to ask Boaz more about his line and see what he is working on for the future:

Who are some of the fashion designers you have worked for before making the decision to start your own line?

For 10 years I worked in the contemporary market for lines such as Yigal Azrouel when he just started, Nili Lotan when she started and Alice & Trixie (among others).

I love the writing on the trouser legs and the back of the blazers, is this Hebrew and what does it say?

The writings on the pants are indeed in Hebrew. The circle print just says my name in Hebrew, but all the other prints (the one along the right leg, on the back yoke of some of the pants and the jackets) is a sentence from a Jewish morning prayer and it means, "Bless you (God) who dresses the naked." In Hebrew it sounds like, "Baruch Malbish Aroomim."

Ford Models can now do more than just strut on the runways or land a designer print ad campaign; they can also star in the new web series by Ford Modeling focusing on beauty, fashion, modeling and fitness tips. In a time when many companies are trying to spread brand recognition through viral marketing with web videos, Ford Models seem to have found the right formula of a high quality video, the right beauty and fashion professionals offering attention-grabbing behind the scenes tips, content to keep the viewer interested and of course, beautiful models to look at.

FordModels.tv has several different web series to choose from: Beauty Tips, Fashion Flash, Model Fitness, Ford Models 360 and Model Lifestyle. All episodes are under 3 minutes, most ranging from 30 to 90 seconds, making load time much faster and offering content that is simple and to the point.

Beauty Tips is just what the name implies; Fashion Flash are quick fashion trend “flashes” of fashion; Model Fitness focuses on fitness tips by Ford fitness model Kim Strother; Ford Models 360 is a blend of episodes about the season’s latest trends, while Model Lifestyle has the entertaining, “Changing Room Confessional” series. If you are a Blogger and your niche is beauty, fashion or fitness, FordModels.tv offers a variety of code to fit into a variety of blog formats including MySpace, RSS feeds and your typical blog. Code for the web series is provided by Revver, an online video service similar to You Tube, however those who produce videos and use the Revver service to upload them earn money each time their video is viewed.

FordModels.tv is a great way to get behind the scenes in the fashion and modeling industry in a pretty down to earth manner. I’m most in love with their Beauty Tips series, but have loved watching many of their fashion webisodes. Since FordModels.tv is a new venture for the modeling agency, it will be interesting to watch how these webisodes evolve.

After years in menswear, fashion designer Emmett McCarthy took an unexpected chance – he completely reinvented his image and parlayed his talents and expert technique into designing womenswear that is as classically chic as it is fashion forward.

Stylistically, Emmett favors clean lines, redefined details, and subtle construction, and finds himself applying this sensibility to the marvelous variety of silhouettes and fabric possibilities for women. Women have so many choices in terms of fashion. Looking beautiful, appropriate and fashionable can pose a challenge. Emmett and his design team strive to make the EMC2 experience a pleasure, whether in person or online. Emmett’s goal is to design pieces that truly make women feel as comfortable as they are confident – that is how Emmett defines luxury.

Emmett’s decision to open a studio boutique immediately rather than seek out other retail outlets, is at the heart of his creative process. He conceived EMC2 as a self-financed retail prototype, wholesale incubator, and creative laboratory where he could innovate the old-fashioned way – one product at a time, face-to-face with his clients.

As a Project Runway (Season Two) alum, Emmett continues to embrace the new roles both reality television and the online communities are forging in fashion. The intersection of mass and new media represents the future of how fashion is discussed and marketed, and is the new model for how brands are born and cultivated.

EMC2
240 Elizabeth Street, NY
www.EmmettMcCarthy.com

Media Contact:
Fashion PR Division: Christina at piercemattie dot com

Now that it seems like Spring is really here, one of my favorite fashion accessories to wear into the Fall is sunglasses. Sunglasses can totally make or break a look and can really enhance your fashion savvy quotient.

When you are choosing sunglasses, make sure you are buying a pair that will look great on your shape face. I see too many people either swimming in their sunglasses or wearing them too small. Men’s Flair wrote a great post on choosing the right sunglasses for your face shape a few weeks ago. Of course, a complimentary color and lens type should also be a consideration, as well.

Here are a few sunglasses I have a lemming for:

Juicy Couture Logo Rimless Glasses

Gucci Oversize Square Frame Sunglasses with Buckle Detail

Yves Saint Laurent Mask Sunglasses with Safari Rings

Giorgio Armani Pink Frame, Mauve Lenses Sunglasses