Teen Vogue Fashion University

This weekend I went to New York City to attend Teen Vogue's annual Teen Vogue Fashion University! It was definitely an honor to be accepted into the program and to be able to have the opportunity to learn from such knowledgeable and experienced men and women in the fashion industry. The weekend started on Friday with a Kick-Off Event held by Express at their Madison Ave. location. While I was there I got to meet amazing girls and also Teen Vogue's VP and Publisher, Jason Wagenheim. He is a fellow GAMECOCK! It was so exciting to meet such an influential man at the magazine and to know he went to USC, too. It was a huge boost of confidence as well as meeting the Social Media Manager who is from Pittsburgh! It was definitely a kick to keep working towards my goals and shows that if you work hard enough you really can live your dreams. (corny, yes, but true!)

 Jason Wagenheim

Saturday began with registration where we received our ID pass and a huge Shopbop bag full of merch and goodies! 

Then we went into the Hudson Theatre for a panel led by EIC Amy Astley with Teen Vogue editors. Some of the tips that were given by the crew:

 Amy Astley said that journalism "is not a dying field." "People crave information," she said. "It's just that they're getting it in many different ways now." Have no fear aspiring journalists! As long as people want information, we will be here to give it to them in all different ways. 

Teen Vogue's style features director Andrew Bevan, better known to some (Amy Astley included) by his twitter handle @bevansburg, says that "you have to be on your toes."

Information today is all about accessibility. Everyone wants it, they want it now and everyone has access to it. Social Media Manager Drew Elovitz gets info out to readers from all different social media platforms. Her role in the magazine shows how the industry is always changing with new technology. The way the magazine is perceived and displayed on social media is such a huge aspect to teenagers now and she is responsible for how they are represented and come across. They said they want to offer their girl a 360 degree point of view.

Health & Beauty Editor Elaine Welteroth said, "Build it and they will come."

Gloria Baume, Teen Vogue's fashion director, says to "take it upon yourself to do something with pride." This is something everyone can learn from: if you're passionate enough about something, keep working hard at it, stay positive, and it will happen!

Thankfully, but not surprisingly, people would still rather look at print magazines as opposed to the online version. There is something magical about the combination of photography, clothing, and story line. 

 

I then took class with Danielle + Jodie Snyder of jewelry line Dannijo. They were sweet and funny and encouraged everyone to work hard and not give up. You never know when you will get your break! I also saw designer Thakoon Panichgul who gave advice on taking a leap of faith and going after what you believe in. (This was the overall theme of TVFU–definitely a positive environment to learn from!) He did not study fashion in college and thought this may have even been of an advantage to him later on.

Eddie Borgo told us about his path and journey of how he launched his jewelry line and gave the small class each a beautiful pair of spiked rose gold earrings! They show off how simple, chic and bold his style is. Coco Rocha talked about how she works for the better treatment of child models under the age of 18. The law was recently passed and says that child models will be granted protections  from exploitation, abuse and unacceptable working conditions. You could tell how passionate and strong of a woman Coco is (and ridiculously funny, too!) and it was amazing to learn from such a role model. The founders of blogs Into the Gloss and The Coveteur were there and gave info on how to keep readers interested in a blog, how to come up with new info and how to unplug from it all when you can. (I definitely took some notes and their advice on this segment for Minnie Maus!)

http://theluxeminimalist.blogspot.com/2013/10/teen-vogue-fashion-university-day-2.html#more

 

Topshop held an event for us students that night at their SoHo location! I got to meet a lot of great people and snack on the delicious ice cream sundae bar and other desserts they provided while we sang along to the DJ. 

Sunday we screened The Editor's Eye and then Vogue fashion editor Phyllis Posnick, who is featured in the film, gave us insight to the industry. I asked her what she thought social media was doing to the beauty and health industry and she said, "When the Kardashians are the standard of 'chic' and 'beauty' we're in big trouble." Probably one of my favorite quotes of the weekend. She is so smart and blunt. I really wanted her to have a hand-held microphone so she could drop it on stage and walk off like the badass she is, but oh well. In my mind that is what happened.

After this, it was time for graduation! We all were awarded 'diplomas' and said our goodbyes to the great new friends we made. What a great weekend! I can't thank Teen Vogue enough for such an amazing opportunity and I can't wait to see what happens next for me!

Until next time my few, but faithful, readers

Alana Fuscardo

2013 Primetime Emmy Awards

My apologies, fashionistas.

I am so sorry for not posting in months! I will try to be on my game a little more, but we will see how that goes. A little update: I am a PR intern at a PR firm here in Columbia, SC called Flock and Rally Events + Communications. I am on the PR Team for Garnet and Black Magazine, USC's campus mag, and I also blog for them. And of course, I am still VP of PR for Fashion Board. Juggling these commitments with 6 courses and taking care of a dog (and still trying to find time to go out with friends and be a 20 year old college student) gets a bit overwhelming so please forgive my absence!

ANYWAYS! This post will be all about the 2013 Primetime Emmy Awards that happened last night and the fashions and trends that were hot on the red carpet.

First things first, the Master of Ceremonies, Neil Patrick Harris.

He looked great all evening and his banter with previous hosts and Tina Fey + Amy Poehler were hilarious! When asked to "twerk" he said that would be degrading, to which Amy replied, ""it would be degrading, but we would be de-grateful." NPH also gave a half-time performance in the middle of the show to wake up viewers.

Now on to the fashion!

Jane Lynch is wearing Badgley Mischka Collection. Her make up and styling was much better than it has been in the past. She also gave a remembrance speech about her late Glee co-star, Cory Monteith that was not easy on our hearts or tissue boxes.

30 Rock's Katrina Bowden looked amazing (and I may be biased now) in my favorite Badgley Mischka Cruise 2014 Couture. I am always a strong lover of anything navy, and the attention to detail in the beading is signature to Badgley Mischka and is always a wow-factor.

Rose Byrne may have been my favorite of the night in this blush colored two-piece from Calvin Klein Collection. Her hair, make up, and jewelry are simple and flawless. She must have known her man Bobby Cannavale was going to win for Boardwalk Empire and wanted to make sure she wasn't out-shone by the Emmy in his hand!

Allison Williams was on trend in a blue Ralph Lauren dress last night. The royal blue compliments her hair so well and she looked effortlessly beautiful, and her not-pictured heels were too fierce.

Leslie Mann was a vision in this J. Mendel gown. She shows that age really is nothing but a number and I would love to know her workout regimen.

Taylor Schilling is in a Thakoon gown that was made especially for her. Can you imagine?! I guess wearing all that orange Her Stuart Weitzman heels were simple and chic.

Sophia Vergara is in Vera Wang and –shocker– another mermaid style gown. Yes, she looks beautiful in this style, but yes, it is time for a change! She has a beautiful figure and can pull off any look she wants! She is also wearing Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

Kaley Cuoco in this wine colored Vera Wang gown is to die for. The structured bodice is so flattering and this color would look great on all skin tones. (Give it a try!)

My comedic queen, Julie Bowen, makes me not as fearful of getting older. She is heavenly in this pale pink Zac Posen gown that fits her figure like a dream. Seriously–what are these women doing in the gym?! and when do they find the time?!

Incase you missed it, here is a list of all of the winners:

Best Drama: Breaking Bad

Best Comedy: Modern Family

Best Miniseries or Movie: Behind the Candelabra

Best Reality-Competition Program: The Voice

Best Variety Series: The Colbert Report

Best Reality Program: Undercover Boss

Best Animated Program: South Park

Lead Actress, Drama: Claire Danes, Homeland

Lead Actor, Drama: Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom

Supporting Actor, Drama: Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire

Supporting Actress, Drama: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad

Lead Actor, Comedy: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Lead Actress, Comedy: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Supporting Actor, Comedy: Tony Hale, Veep

Supporting Actress, Comedy: Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie (she also wins best speech ever for her "uh..uh.. gotta go. bye.")

Who were your favorite celebrity looks and winners?

Check back for more (hopefully soon) posts!

Alana

              A Minnie Mouse photo to leave you with:

Week 2 in NYC

Hey everyone!

I have finished my second week of work! I am having so much fun and have been so busy I barely have time to eat. (seriously, it's really hard to remember to eat some days.)


Monday I unpacked clothes and put them back in the closet in their designated spots. It can get a little confusing back there with all of the various seasons, collections, and send out dates! We had two appointments with potential buyers and I have become in charge of logging in and distributing the daily orders we get from different stores.

On Tuesday I met the owner of Rent the Runway and watched her get fitted for her wedding rehearsal dinner dress! It was so exciting to see them change and alter it and become what she envisioned. After that I sat with a few ladies and helped name the colors of the dresses and make sure the new line called Belle by Badgley Mischka was in order and looked perfect for the appointments we had later on in the week. This included making sure each dress had the correct tag and was merchandised correctly. Then I helped pull the looks for conclave and put them in order in the showroom and finished my day with the daily orders.

Later that night I went to a market and the High Line in Chelsea. It in a 1.5 mile long park built on a bridge! It was so cute and it was perfect weather for a nighttime stroll. Here's a few pictures from the night:

Wednesday I had to meet my boss early at a coffee shop to pick up a few boxes of pastries and boxes of coffee because we had an important appointment with a huge client that traveled from Germany. Another intern and I helped our model Gigi dress in whatever the buyer wanted to see on. This lasted a couple hours and then I packed two trunks with the clothes for the Conclave show and another trunk to be sent to the Atlanta Apparel Mart. (I traveled there last year with Fashion Board at USC!)

This is what I wore to work Wednesday!

I took this photo later in the day when I got home, but for work

I subbed out the combat boots for spiked flats.

This week was loaded with appointments and Thursday wasn't much different. A new model Daria came in to be fitted along with a few more because we had two appointments going on at once. After that I was able to see our new couture line that was just shipped in from India! It was only 8 or 9 looks and we are still waiting on about 10 more, but it was amazing to see Mark and James look at each piece, evaluate it, and make their alterations and critiques to the gowns. Once I came down from the couture cloud I started making books for a Bloomingdale's seminar we are apart of. Another intern and I photoshopped together a cover and printed out 60 copies of it along with line sheets and biographies on the line and designers. At 4 we had an appointment with Nordstrom and I also helped dress for that.

Friday was hectic! It was pouring rain and I had to be at work early to help prep for an important set of appointments. The owner of Dillard's was going to be there along with BHLDN and another store. Gigi was there again and I was there to dress her by myself! Normally, 2 interns dress for appointments to make it go faster and have the buyers not wait as long. Of course, when we have 3 appointments at once, I am there alone! We had over 40 dresses and gowns to try on and we buckled down and got it done. It was insane! After that I got to sit and talk with Gigi for about 40 minutes and it was a blast. She is so sweet and funny and gave me great advice! Once she left I finished making the pages for Bloomingdale's books. This included 6 different photos of celebrities wearing Badgley Mishcka for the press section. Thanks to summer Fridays, I got to go home at 2 and take my first nap since I moved in last Sunday!

Saturday I finally got to go to my first in-store experience at Brandy Melville then went to an improv comedy club that night and it was so funny! 

This upcoming week is full of appointments and press for the new line Belle! Be sure to check back next week to see what I had to do!

xo

Alana

2013 CFDA Awards

This past Monday was the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. Awards, the Academy Awards of the fashion industry. This organizations consists of more than 400 of America’s best designers in women's wear, men's wear, jewelry and accessories. CFDA membership is by invitation only, very exclusive. Diane von Furstenberg is the president and has been since 2006, with Michael Kors as her VP. (Kelly Cutrone once said, "If anyone really wanted to change the world, they'd bring in the fashion bitches." Maybe the country should take note of this? DVF & MK 2016, anyone?)

There were many amazing designers honored at the awards ceremony:

Menswear Designer of the Year: Thom Browne
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler
Accessory Designer of the Year: Phillip Lim, for 3.1 Phillip Lim
Swarovski Award For Accessory Design: Pamela Love
Swarovski Award For Menswear: Public School's Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne
Swarovski Award For Womenswear: Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty of SUNO
Founder's Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert: Oscar de la Renta
International Award: Riccardo Tisci
Media Award in Honor of Eugenia Sheppard: Tim Blanks
Board of Directors' Tribute: Colleen Atwood
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Vera Wang

The best looks and highlights of the night:

Adriana Lima may have had the best body in the room at the ceremony. She showed it off in this beautiful Riccardo Tisci designed Givenchy gown and sparkly booty shorts.

The legend herself: Vera Wang in a slit-up-to-there gown and well-deserved award in hand.

Jessica Chastain in a timeless Givenchy LBD.

Rooney Mara was stunning in this high-low Calvin Klein dress. She may not take risks on what color she wears or how she styles her hair, but she continuously chooses amazing, detailed gowns.

Riccardo Tisci with Jessica Chastain, who is wearing his design. By the looks of his instagram, these two were inseparable all night! Can I join in on this BFF party?!

Elizabeth and Mary-Kate Olsen came out to the event in head-to-toe black. Mary-Kate wore an Issey Miyake dress while Elizabeth wore her sisters' line The Row, which won Mary-Kate and Ashley the title of Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2012.

Erin Wasson and the adorable designer Alexander Wang look amazing at the ceremony.

The president's speech: Diane von Furstenberg speaks to her fellow members.

A celebration of fashion wouldn't be complete without Anna Wintour.

Beautiful as always, the queen makes her entrance. Bow down, fashionistas.

Bright Lights in the Big City

Hello!

This week was my first week living in New York City and also as a Badgley Mischka sales intern. I have been so busy I have had no time to write about it until now!

On sunday I went to Carlo's Bake Shop (or where Buddy the Cake Boss works at for all of you TLC fans) with my parents before I moved into the city. We waited in line for about 30 minutes, but it was well worth the wait! We bought various pastries including their famous crumble cake (cinnamon crumb cake) and it was amazing. It's hard to stay away from Hoboken knowing that cinnamon-y goodness is right across the water.

After Cake Boss, we went to University Hall, the NYU dorm I am living in this summer. I am right in the heart of Union Square. This is my view from the 13th floor! My program held a first-night dinner and I got to mingle with my new hall-mates. Monday morning we had orientation to learn about what we would be doing over the next two months. I was lucky enough to meet a fun group of girls after for lunch and we mapped out our way to work. We got over our fear of the subway and took the Q to 42nd Street.

Then it was the big day! I could barely sleep Monday night knowing I was starting the next morning. I wore the outfit below. A blush colored, ruffled collar and sleeved top with cropped black pants and spiked flats. I began my day with a subway ride with 3 other girls and we were so early that we sat at a coffee shop before work began. Then at 10 I went into my building where the doorman (what!?) called the elevator for me and I took it to the 22nd floor. The elevator doors opened to a beautiful lobby with mirrored tables and frosted glass walls. I got a tour of the floor and the entire office staff was insanely friendly! My first day consisted of meeting everyone, finding all of the samples in the closet that were sold out and taking them to the archive closet, filing paperwork from buyers, and gathering photos of their latest collection for Neiman Marcus's Conclave where Badgley Mischka is the featured designer this year! While doing this, both Mark and James (the designers of the brand) came into the room and I was completely star struck! I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to talk to them both for a few minutes! They were so sweet!

What a great way to spend my first day!

These are my favorite pieces from their Fall 2013 collection. I was lucky enough to work with them in the showroom! Jana Kramer (country singer and former One Tree Hill star) wore the dress to the American Country Music Awards show this year.

This is an inside look of the waiting area and part of the showroom at Badgley Mischka. On Wednesday, my second day, I took the photos I collected the day before and helped select which looks would be used in the Conclave fashion show, what trends should be featured and what order they would go in. I also learned how to use the brand's computer program Apparel Magic. We use this to look up each and every dress, gown, shirt or skirt within the company. 

Wednesday night I went to Times Square with a group of girls and we had a blast! We were very touristy and took too many pictures and bought ice cream from a Mr. Softie ice cream truck.

The outfit below is what I wore on Thursday: a high waisted maxi and cropped halter top with a sock bun. It was an exciting day at work, we had our go-to model Gigi (she was incredibly nice) come in for a fitting for their upcoming line. I assisted her in changing out of about 20 dresses as the designers and a few other key players in the company tweaked and tailored each cocktail dress or gown. Two other interns and I then took that new collection and printed stickers that had various information about the dress on them and applied them to the Badgley Mischka tags and used a tag gun to attach each one to the dress.

After work on Thursday, I went to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building with a group of friends. The view was amazing! It was eerily quite at the top of the balcony even though there were a few hundred people up there. Unfortunately, about 98% of those people were incredibly rude and it was a struggle and took a few shoves to get these next few shots.

 My new friends Gina, Sarah and Melissa!

View from 86 stories. Hello, NYC!

Today (Friday) was a shorter day. I wore a charcoal maxi dress and layered a few new chain necklaces. I started the day by tagging a few more new dresses. After that, another intern and I sewed labels on to about 15 new collection dresses. (shocking isn't it? me sewing? I finally learned, and have a few needle pricks on my hand to prove it!) We then went to pick up books that included all of the looks that would be used in the Neiman Marcus fashion show and mailed them out. We did a few more small tasks before we left for the day. The company has "summer fridays" so we get to leave early, how exciting!

Tomorrow my program is taking the group on a double decker bus tour of the city and then treating us to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. We are so excited to be the ultimate tourists for a few hours!

I'll leave you guys with a picture of Minnie Mouse in a new(er), haute look. The navy gown and red tiara was debuted last year in Paris. It was designed by Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz. As much as I love the traditional red and white polka dotted dress, a little evening wear never hurt anyone.

Keep checking back for more about my days here in the city!

Alana