FashionClub.com Daily

FIDM Students Compete During Style Week O.C.

    The second annual Style Week Orange County that ran September 24 - September 27 attracted more than 10,000 fashion lovers from all over California to view multiple sold out fashion events. 

Among the designers was our very own FIDM Instructor and Alumnus Nick Verreos, who showcased his own line, Nikolaki Designs. Other well-known designers included LRG, who had there first ever fashion show, Ezekiel, OC Metro, Creative Genius, and more.

There was even the Needles & Thread Competition, a "Project Runway" inspired design contest where six FIDM Debut designers showcased looks for Ezekiel's Spring 2010 Collection. The participants showed as many as five original looks on the runway.

Verreos told OC METRO, "The Needle & Thread Competition was amazing and Irvine Spectrum Center certainly raised the bar in showcasing upcoming designers and talent from Orange County."

The winner of this competition was Adrian Manuel of Los Angeles who received $4,000 scholarship from Ezekiel who will pick one of his designs from their Spring 2010 line. Runner up Liz Sandhoefner of Los Angeles was given a $2,000 scholarship from Ezekiel.

Images courtesy of 944.com

    ~ Arali

Photos from 8th Annual Fashion for the Cure

Here are some photos from the 8th Annual Los Angeles County Affiliate Susan G. Komen Fashion for the Cure Benefit featuring the Diane von Furstenberg Collection.

Many were inspired by not only the colorful and delightful dresses and bathing suits from the DVF Cruise/Pre-Spring Collection shown at Smashbox studios in West Hollywood, but they were also inspired by those models who had fought the fight against cancer... and won. Many stood to give a standing ovation to those who definitely deserved to walk that runway.

Celebrities and fashion moguls all over Los Angeles gathered to place bids on silent auction items such as Hudson Jean, and splendid hotel get-aways. The auction was successful in raising money in order to find a cure for cancer.

    ~ Arali

"Breast cancer knows no boundary, be it age, gender, socio-economic status or geographic location," Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

San Diego Students Take the Project FIDM Challenge

Several talented FIDM Students from the San Diego campus participated in Project FIDM. The challenge was to create a summer dress in one week using two donated fabrics and two pieces of existing clothing.

The designs were judged by a panel of industry professionals (from left to right) Qadir Hamidi, Couture Designer; Elizabeth Leffler, Owner of Christie's Boutique; Julia Beeson Polloreno, Senior Editor at San Diego Magazine; Gretchen Productions, Owner/Director of Gretchen Productions, a Fashion Show Production Company. 

The winning design was created by (from left to right) Diana Marques, Leigh King and Chelsey Peart. Each team member received a gift card to Fashion Valley and recognition in the FIDM Newsletter and the FIDM Blog. Congratulations designers!

Opening Party: The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design

Over 100 costumes from your T.V. favorites like Gossip Girl, Grey Gardens, and the Lifetime movie Coco Chanel fill the FIDM Museum & Galleries for this year's Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design exhibition open through September 6, 2009 on the L.A. Campus. Here are a few images from the opening party. You can find items related to the exhibition on the fidmmuseumshop.com. The exhibition also features the winning collection by FIDM Grad and Project Runway: Season 5 winner Leanne Marshall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images Courtesy of LookBookLA.com

    ~ Arali

The Hollywood Bowl 2009 Opening Night Gala

    The Hollywood Bowl celebrated the 10th anniversary of it's Hall of Fame Awards at the 2009 Opening Night Gala on June 19th. The Bowl was filled with fashionable starlets and great names in the music industry who brought music alive that night. Performers included Josh Groban, Trisha Yearwood, Roger Daltry, and more.
    Among the co-chairs of the Gala Committee is FIDM Graduate and designer Raymundo Baltazar. Among the enlisted team of fashion industry insiders was our very own FIDM Grad and Instructor Nick Verreos, California Apparel News Publisher, Molly Rhodes, and textile importer Julie Ward. The event included a VIP pre-show party. Guests got a glimpse at the Bowl's fashionable history, and of course, free goodies.
    The Gala helped raise approximately one million dollars for Music Matters.
        - Arali

Valentino Takes Over Hollywood

    “He lives his life to the fullest of his own imagination, and his imagination is great,” said actress Anne Hathaway who, along with the mayor of Beverly Hills, presented Valentino Garavanni with the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award.

    This honor is given to acclaimed designers with a strong Hollywood connection. The Walk of Style honors style legends for their creative contributions to the fashion world. Among those who have received the award are Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, Versace, and Manolo Blahnik.

    Even though Valentino retired in 2007, he's recently been in the public eye more than ever while promoting "Valentino: The Last Emperor," a movie based on his glamorous life.

    "I am completely drunk with compliments," said Valentino after the beautiful Anne Hathaway introduced him to the public. The gold-plated plaque will appear on North Rodeo Drive later this month.

Image courtesy of Los Angeles Times

        - Arali

FIDM's Annual Costume Design Exhibition Features Three Oscar Nominees!

The Oscars® are exactly one month away, but you if you live in the Los Angeles area you have the chance to get up close and personal with some of the silver screen's finest costumes! The 17th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design opens at FIDM on Wednesday, January 28, and runs through Sunday, March 29. The FIDM Musem & Galleries has costumes from Best Costume Design nominees "The Curious Case of Bejamin Button," "The Duchess," and "Milk." The exhibition is free to the public and features amazing costumes from some of 2008's best films, including the Academy Award®-winning "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." This exciting exhibition draws thousands of fashion fans, costume designers, and even celebs!

And The Winner Is...

The winner of our 3rd MySpace Exclusive Contest: FIDM "Cover Look" Creation is none other than the young and talented Maryssa Stumpf! Maryssa's Cover Look for Canadian singer Skye Sweetnam was clever, clear, and creative! Maryssa will receive a one year subscription to the ultra-sweet and stylish Lula Magazine!

However, because we received so many fantastic entries, we have decided to award Four Honorable Mentions as well! A big congratulations to Jayme Coca from Laguna Niguel, CA, Ruth K. Sanchez from Moreno Valley, CA, Rosey Goodrich from Delta, UT, and Shantelle Amigable from Pasadena, CA! These four ladies will receive a small thought from us, their friends at FIDM and FashionClub!

I'd like to send a big thank you to everyone who entered, and to let you all know to keep your eyes peeled, as another fantastic contest is right around the corner...

Until then,

Stay Tuned and Stay Fashionable,

-- Alaythia

Enter Sunkist Naturals' First-Ever T-Shirt Design Contest and Win $500!

"So you think you're smooth? Got the creative juices to design a stylish t-shirt?"

Well, that's what you'll need to be the winner of this competition.

The winning design will become the official Sunkist Naturals t-shirt, and be used in promotional campaigns for the new line of high-end juices.

Entrants must incorporate the Sunkist Naturals® logo into the t-shirt design and must be at least 18 years old to enter.

You can submit your designs from now through December 31st, 2008. Winners will be announced on January 16th, 2009.

Read the online contest page here, and download the guidelines! --Belissa

Countdown to Project Runway, Season 5!

Although the Fifth Season of Bravo's smash-hit Project Runway is set to premiere this Wednesday, producers have kept the identities of the 16 contestants completely under-wraps.

That is... Until now!

The names and biographies of this season's cast have finally been released! (And not a second too soon, we couldn't hold our breaths any longer!)

 

This season's designers vary in experience, training, and outlook but they all have one thing in common... they are in it to win it!

We are proud to announce that TWO FIDM graduates have made the cut and will fight for their shot at the title! Let's take a closer look at these two lovely FIDM alumni...

According to the Bravo website, Kelli Martin is a 27 year old from Columbus, OH and her favorite designers include Thierry Mugler, Yohji Yamamoto, and Betsey Johnson. She considers a party dress to be a fashion must. Bravo's designer bio on Kelli reads as follows...

"Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Kelli turned to retail at the age of 15 as a form of escapism and to create a unique look all her own. She fought her way through adversity receiving a full scholarship from Bob Mackie at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Once there, she was accepted into the Advanced Design Program where she was able to design and show a small collection in 2006. Kelli went on to design a guitar for Kevan Hall during Los Angeles Fashion Week and just recently started her own empire, Black Market -- a cutting edge boutique in her hometown." 

Leanne Marshall is also 27 years old and is from Yuta, CA. Her favorite designers include Rodarte, Maison Martin Margiela, and Zac Posen. Leanne's fashion must is a plain white or gray t-shirt. Her Bravo designer bio says...

"This Portland native first got her itch for design at the early age of 12, after designing ballet costumes. A graduate from FIDM in San Francisco, Leanne was the recipient of the Levis/Dockers Fashion Designer of Tomorrow scholarship. Much of her designs are influenced by her five-plus years as a graphic designer and can be described as innovative, structural and sophisticated, resulting in a style that's unquestionably her own. Her feverish appetite for fashion and creation probably lent a hand in naming her line "Leanimal," currently being sold in Portland, New York, and Seattle."

Scholarships, accolades, fashion weeks and acceptance into an advanced study program. These ladies aren't messing around, so watch out, designers!

Project Runway's Fifth Season premieres this Wednesday, July 16th at 9/8c with an episode aptly named "Let's Start from the Beginning." This episode boasts Austin Scarlett, a finalist from season 1, as the guest judge.

Stay tuned for weekly Project Runway blog posts and Watch What Happens!

-- Alaythia