An Introduction: REAL FASHION FOR REAL PEOPLE
Let’s face it. We could all use a little help in the fashion department, whether it be a total make-over, finding the right styles for our body types, or even just help discovering the latest fashion by the next hot designers. Lucky for us the Brand Equity Showroom Fashion Agents Brandy Bustamante (“BB”) and Heather Ellis are here to help!
Together they will show you how to get in touch with your inner TRAffIK Stopping Fashionista!
We now invite you to learn a little more about both BB and Heather and discover why their motto is: “Fashion is our ART…Make Fashion Your ART.”
“Karl Lagerfeild may be a bit risqué with his opinions of fashion but he was right when he said, “Fashion is about dreams and illusions.” Fashion for me is collages that can be made up from the pages of magazines, artwork, or a scene from an old movie. I didn’t take the traditional path of attending a school geared towards Fashion to get into this industry, but several years ago the doors to this plethora of a career opened unexpectedly placing me in this wonderful world of designers and agents. Growing up, I never would have imagined that life would organically place me in this instrumental role within the Fashion Industry, an industry that I don’t see myself stepping out of for a long while.
There are so many big fashion-related dreams out there and you don’t necessarily need Fashion 101 from a fancy fashion school to make them come true. I am in no way shape or form bashing what a fashion institute offers, rather sharing career advice from one who has and continues to invest time to gain working knowledge and experience in this business of Fashion.
As I continue to piece together my career collage, I will lace you in sharing my experiences. Heather and I will bring you the imaginative and amazing people we may meet, the bright lights of colorful photo shoots we style, designers with innovative ideas, the action of runway shows and most importantly the real life and behind the scenes of a fashion agent – the sales, the grind and the showroom. Our main goal is to not only give career advice but to bring the inside of fashion OUT. We want to share the trends, the beauty secrets and the REAL FASHION WITH REAL PEOPLE. So whether it be a local fashionista we want to acknowledge for being smashing, how to wear a seemingly odd accessory, or just sharing our own beauty picks from our purse – we will be digging up new haute trends and recreating the “how to’s” for the old trends.
About Heather by Heather
The thing that really inspired me to want to co-create this column with BB is that I have a real desire to help people find themselves, and find freedom, in Fashion. To me it’s like art, it’s simply a matter of personal taste. Sure there are trends, and some aspects of Fashion may not work for every body type– but if you like it, you can make it yours. Fashion is everyone. You just have to know where to look and sometimes, how and when to take some risks.
This idea inspires me more than anything because I love to see people being creative with Fashion. I truly look at Fashion as an art form. Sometimes I paint myself with bright colors and sometimes I feel that black says it all. Either way I’m always expressing myself creatively through fashion– and that’s what BB and I would like to share with you. Sometimes it will be something exciting like a fashion show or a brand new line we just found. Sometimes we might offer advice about how to get the most out of your closet for the next six months while spending very little on new clothes (we know times are tough!). We might blog about a new Fashion School we find….or job opportunities in fashion that require no school at all (they do exist!).
We want to hear from you too– Maybe you know of a new line we haven’t found yet (maybe your own!) – tell us about it! We are constantly on the hunt for REAL FASHION FOR REAL PEOPLE and we are committed to sharing it with YOU!
Stay tuned for more from BB and Heather the TRAffIK Fashion Girls. Here’s a little of what you can expect from them and from REAL FASHION FOR REAL PEOPLE :
- The Return of the column From our Make-Up Bags to Yours with BB’s and Heather’s (and if time allows her, Siria’s as well) must have Beauty and Style Picks
- How-to’s – BB and Heather will show you exactly how to wear some of the hottest new trends as well as accessories (brooches, belts, scarves) you may already own in great new ways
- Insider Info from the events that BB and Heather attend or are involved with, like Project Las Vegas (Feb.16-18)
- Q &A’s with Fashion Industry Insiders – So that you can continue to learn about the inner workings of the Fashion Industry. They will also tackle any questions that you may have.
- Special Features on What to Wear and Where – So you and your boyfriend/girlfriend have different styles? Maybe his/her look is a little too “rock ‘n’ roll” for that professional event you really wanted to attend. No worries, BB and Heather will show you how he/she can stay true to their own style while modifying their look to make it a little more event appropriate.
The Fashion Girls Want to Hear From You!
You can contact The Fashion Girls, BB and Heather, at thefashiongirls@intraffik.com with your questions that they’ll personally take some time to answer each month, your fashion dilemmas, or just to share your new style and beauty discoveries!
You can also follow The Fashion Girls on Twitter at http://twitter.com/fashiongirls513!
LOS ANGELES FASHION WEEKEND
This past weekend fashion lines within Los Angeles competed for our time and attention. In particular Saturday night
Unfortunately, I had to make the decision to miss the Elmer Ave secret fashion show downtown (you can read about it here), but was able to make it to the Division E, Raw-7, Tavik Swimwear, and Urban Republic show for a little while before grudgingly having to leave to attend another event I had previously committed to. These lines were all part of the The Gallery LA produced Los Angeles Fashion Weekend, where they showed off their Spring and Summer 2010 Collections
Although there are those that are quick to write off the LA Fashion Scene, at times forgetting how much really goes on daily in the busy lives of those who keep this industry alive, it was nice to see that all of those present did not share that attitude. They all filled the courtyard playing catch up and enjoying drinks from the open bar sponsored by Skybar (hosted by Marani Vodka, Asahi Beer, 1921 Tequila, Steaz Organic Energy Drinks, Smart Water and IZZE soda) while waiting for the fashion show to get underway.
Some of the Brand Equity Showroom team were seen sporting their Division E designer client’s designs (as well as Signature Collection footwear from Sponsor Report Shoes), giving a sneak preview of what was to come later during the actual show.
A noticeable and welcome change from the typical fashion show scene at the Sunset Gower Studios was that a lot of the general public and sceney fashionista mainstays were excluded, opting for a guestlist comprised of mainly buyers, designers, agents, and media.
The Gallery LA owner/producer Mikey Koffman had this to say, “People talk incessantly about the recession and the need to cut back, but the reality is that now, more than ever, local designers need to get involved to prove their worth to buyers, media and consumers across the world.”
This statement definitely set the tone for the evening, as this show had an underlying theme of “getting down to business.”
Here are a few shots from the show (I apologize for the poor quality, you can find additional much better photos here). Click on Images to enlarge. Hair by Elle Hoppenstedt and the Aveda Planet Salon team.
Here are some better photos:
all photos courtesy of Launchpad PR
Saturday October 17, 2009
(click on images to enlarge)
MODELINIA.COM PRESENTS : History of Models I: Society Girls & Hollywood Glamour
We thought we’d share this cool thing that Modelinia (All Models All the Time) has put together.
“Modelinia.com is launching the History of Models, an interactive timeline and original concept series that spans 80 years in the evolution of models. From the socialites who doubled as models to the faces that launched international brands, History of Models reflects and investigates how models represent the changing values of the general public. The idea of beauty has changed dramatically over time, so the “It girl” of the 1940s may have been considered a “plain Jane” in the 1990s.
To learn more about models on and off the runway and the fashion pages, check out the History of Models timeline at http://www.modelinia.com/timeline and the original video series at www.modelinia.com/history” — Source : Fashionnews.com
See more videos on modelinia.com
Things I Want…Well… At Least for Today
by Siria
Well besides peace on earth, more out of the box thinking, more action taken on out of the box thinking, and more just plain thinking I also want these two things (alright, alright… and about a trillion other things too)
#1.) From the Jean Charles de Catelbajac Fall/Winter 2009 Collection
photo from www.iconique.com
Really! I would wear this somewhere and if there isn’t a somewhere that calls for it, I’ll create the somewhere. So there.
#2.) Random Dance Outbreaks
Despite Dancewalk USA (HA!) and putting on more than my fair share of music shows, I’m surprisingly not the biggest fan of musicals, but I can’t say I’d mind it if the downtown inhabitants broke out into random choreographed dance moves every now and then while I’m around…this would leave them less time for breaking into cars and causing flat tires by throwing ninja stars…
also…I like the back of this dress…yes it’s always about a dress 
Style. I Make It. – Life Is An Illusion, Let ‘Em Think You’re A Rockstar! – Nicolina Royale
“Life Is An Illusion, Let ‘em Think You’re a Rockstar!” – photo by Jessy Plume
Accessories Designer Nicolina Royale talks about her highly coveted Accessories line
TRAffIK: Where are you from originally?
NR: Minneapolis, MN
TRAffIK: How did you first begin designing jewelry? What led you to begin doing this?
NR: Well, when I was little if you asked me what I wanted to do I’d say, “ I want to make stuff!”
I have always been artsy – I started to make Guitar pick stuff because, I did not like anything that was on the market. Then a friend of mine said He wanted guitar pick cufflinks… I made them …grew a client list and Bloomingdales saw them (found me) and here I am 5 years later in 10 stores! WooHoo!
TRAffIK: How would you describe the look/style of your pieces?
NR: Dirty Rocker –For men and Dirty Rocker mixed with feminine details for Chicks
TRAffIK: How would you describe your own individual style?
NR: I am always in Black!! And I definitely have a Rocker flair, but I always mix in classic pieces – and Hot Sexy Shoes…
TRAffIK: Where does your inspiration come from? How does each piece come together?
NR: I find inspiration all over – from places I travel – Street fashion. A lot of the time I get an idea in my while i’m sleeping and get up to start to make it….I keep artist creative hours…most of the time
TRAffIK: Your tagline is “Life Is An Illusion, Let ‘Em Think You’re A Rockstar,” where did that come from?
NR: That has been my personal motto for quite some time – LA is the land of illusions- you can portray any image you want! And I always wanted to be a rockstar – so…i went with it – I think it’s workin’…..hehehe
TRAffIK: What type of people wear Nicolina Royale accessories? Where might we have seen your pieces before?
NR:Rockstars! Agents, Accountants, Soccer Moms and Little Rockers – Tommy Lee has my Sterling Drumstick Necklace – he wore in Playboy March ’09 and a Cro Ring he wore to the AMAs this year! Matt Sorum always wears my alternative stud cuff all the time- he even wore it while bowling with ZZ Top!! Cuba Gooding Jr., Ravi Drums from “Howie Do it”, Andie MacDowell, Dream, Mike Huckabee (former Presidential Candidate!) Janice Dickenson….and more
NR:
Well, can’t tell my secrets….lol ……I do go crocodile hunting though!TRAffIK: Do you create custom pieces?
NR: I do…I love doing Custom Work – I made a pair of Crocodile Air Jordans for Ravi Drums…to wear when he performs – I also do custom pieces with Diamonds!
TRAffIK: Do you have a favorite design or piece that you’ve designed to date?
NR: I am in love with my New Zipper Bow!!!
(Zipper Bow Pictured Left in Nicolina’s Favorite way to layer/wear)
TRAffIK: What do you think makes a Rock Star? How do you relate that to your collections?
NR: A Rockstar is anybody, that is doing what they want to do...and wearing what they want to wear – As long as you can pull it off you’re a Rockstar – I think my collection can take an average wardrobe and make it rockin! It can add just a bit of rocker style or you can really go the whole nine yards!
TRAffIK: How would you describe your life in LA? Is there anywhere else that you’d like to live? Why or Why not?
NR: I love my life in LA!!! I work really hard…but I have a lot of fun! I love hitting Hollywood events, having a few drinks at a dive bar or hanging out with my puppy Rocco!! There is always something happening…
TRAffIK: Do you have any favorite places in LA or other cities that you frequent?
NR: Well mostly watering holes!! lol Bar 107, The Rainbow, Three of clubs, Katsuya ( Tuna with Crispy Onions) , The Alleys, The Elmer Boys Compound, a Rock Show, The Mission Cantina ( amazing margaritas) , Delanceys (Rockin Pizza) & any adventure that my girlfriends and I go on!
TRAffIK: What does a good night out consist of for you?
NR: Hanging out with my friends – getting picked up (I don’t Drive at nite) and going anywhere where there’s a good vibe – and Kettle(Kettle One Vodka) & Soda’s! I never make plans – You never know what will come up….Styling a band and getting invited to hang backstage- The best!!!
TRAffIK: What do you think of the style in LA as opposed to other places?
NR: LA style is great….well Hollywood! Santa Monica is a whole other story! I love how the style is mixed- with something kind of dressy with something casual – I love wearing my motorcycle boots with a sundress!
TRAffIK: What do you want people to feel when they receive their Nicolina Royale pieces?
NR: I hope they feel the love- How corny right – but I believe you can feel the handmade quality – and you definitely get a bit of my personal style- since I wear all my own stuff- if its in my line I would and do wear it all the time – I also sell pieces right off my body while out and about- I take credit cards- lol
TRAffIK: Where can people find your collection?
NR: You can find it in 10 Bloomies – San Francisco & NYC (59th St. & Soho) have the largest collections – Zvezda in Santa Monica – She has a collection I made for her store- in Rich Browns and Earth Tones – Also a Store in Aspen coming in July and Australia!!
I would love to live in Australia!!! Well at least a few months out of the year – and why…My Aussies, BBQ’s, Meat Pies and the Rock Scene in Brisbane!! Ohhh…and ‘The Screaming Jets’
If It doesn’t have the Royalty Tag – it isn’t a Nicolina Royale piece!
visit www.nicolinaroyale.com for more info on Nicolina and her accessories line
Style. I Have It. – Q&A with Stylist Neiman Tate
Los Angeles based Neiman Tate (referred to as “Nemo” by friends) doubles as a designer and stylist, bringing his talent to celebrities (One Republic, Keisha Knight-Pullum, Jon B, Ludacris, Sophia Fresh, Christian Keyes, Tyler Perry, etc), fashion magazines (The Apparel News, Agenda Magazine, The Show), and TV Networks (BET, E! Entertainment Television, MTV).
Through this Question and Answer Session you can learn about the journey that has led him to become the Neiman “Nemo” Tate we all know and love.
photos by: Jessy Plume
TRAffIK: How did you first learn that you could make a career out of styling?
Neiman Tate: Growing up I was always into drawing, it was like my first love. When I got into high school I was actually sitting in my English class doodling and this girl liked what I was drawing and asked me if I could sketch out an idea for her prom dress so I did and she paid me $75 just for the sketch. she showed it to a few people and next thing I know I was making appointments with other girls to design their dresses.
TRAffIK: How did you make your way into fashion?
Neiman Tate: I mean, I’ve always been really into clothes since I can remember. I used to love to look at my moms magazines and see what people were wearing. I actually started out in retail and did visual displays for a company
TRAffIK: Who was your first big client?
Neiman Tate: Singer Bobby Valentino, I was asked to come and do some designs for him by his former stylist, she brought me on after she came in the store I worked for and enquired about our visual displays and who had done them. when I told her my name she said she had heard of me before from one of her friends that had told her about this guy that worked in the mall that had a fresh style… and it was me she was talking about
TRAffIK: Who would you like to work with if given the opportunity?
Neiman Tate: Pink, I absolutely love her.
TRAffIK: Who are some of your favorite designers and why?
Neiman Tate: I love Galiano and Alexander McQueen, those are two designers that I have been drawn to since I touched my first Vogue mag. they make fashion fun and have beautiful point of views. another designer that i’m infatuated with is Rei Kawakubo, he’s so left field. I like that… no I LOVE that!
TRAffIK: Who is your favorite musical artist?
Neiman Tate: Of all time… Lauryn Hill, that woman is hands down my fav
TRAffIK: I know you are a man of many talents – if you could cross over professionally, what would you choose to do?