Top Model Showcase

If you're not doing anything tonight, Jewel's Fashion is coordinating an event called, "Top Model Showcase." The event will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Renton Ikea Performing Arts Center.

Model Showcase will have 40 female models competing on the runway. The #1 Winner will be known as the Top Model in the Northwest, and will receive a $1000.00 cash prize! There will be guest appearances from previous America's Next Top Model contestants, so this is an event you don't want to miss.


See you there!

Drinkwear

I met my mother for lunch the other day, and she told me that she had a surprise for me. Out of her purse comes this adorable little flip-flop attached to the foot of a wine glass! I couldn't believe it at first. Why does my glass need shoes?! On second thought, why didn't my glass have shoes before?! It makes so much sense. A portable coaster -- not only are you courteous, but you're wine glass couldn't be more fashionable! The company that designs "Drinkwear" is called Carrie and Co. After visiting their website, I found a blend of humor and creativity mixed with undeniable function. Check out their catalog online, and e-mail your request to: info@carrieandco.com.

If you love shoes, the plethora of flip-flops, sneakers, and platforms will win you over. I'm waiting for stilettos! However, I think that's just asking for trouble!

What really caught my eye were these unique glass designs. Your martini glass doubles as a margarita glass! Your wine glass doubles as a champagne flute! One minute you're drinking a martini, and the next you're downing a pilsner! I'm not going to lie... I would buy these solely to avoid doing as many dishes. Just make sure to clean the side you're not using. Champagne won't look as classy if there's a dirty margarita glass attached to the bottom.

Just a side note -- isn't it ironic that they're selling glasses that can't wear their shoes?! Comical.

Free

I read this article the other day, and it really upset me. Supposedly, this guy accepted a free internship with Ed Hardy for three months. He was working more than 20 hours a week, and the team had little respect for his designs. After his internship, he found one of his t-shirt designs being sold for $179.00 at the Northridge Mall. Since his internship was free, he didn't reimbursed for his designs. One of his friends wrote this article, and suggested boycotting Ed Hardy.

He writes, "If you worked for Ed Hardy or any other company under the pretence of internship that was actually an unpaid job please pursue your legal rights and sue them. Internships have specific requirements please look them up. Just calling something an internship does not allow any company to have people work for them for free."

After I read this, I had to find out if it was true. Are unpaid internships illegal? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in order to qualify as an unpaid internship, no work can be performed that is of any benefit to the company. Some companies try to get around this by offering college credit, but it's still illegal. The main reason we don't see more lawsuits regarding unpaid internships is due to the fact that many people fear being blacklisted, as they undoubtedly need that reference for future work.

The U.S. Department of Labor has an outlined list of criteria that ALL must be met for an internship to be unpaid.

1. The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to that which would be given in a vocational school;

2. The training is for the benefit of the trainee;

3. The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under close observation;

4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees and on occasion the employer's operations may actually be impeded;

5. The trainees are not necessarily entitled to a job at the completion of the training period; and

6. The employer and the trainee understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent in training.

From the list, #4 is what really struck me. I applied for an internship at Seattle Business Magazine this summer, and I had to turn it down because they wanted me to work more than 20 hours a week for free. How could they argue that writing articles featured in the publication were not of immediate advantage to the company? They would have been free articles! From my perspective, it didn't make sense to write a story for free when I could have pitched the same story as a freelancer for pay.

Seattle Business Magazine isn't the only publication that does this. Many publishing houses have unpaid internships. It's the shitty realization I stumbled upon when I was looking for jobs this summer. Just because people blog for free, freelance for bylines, and write columns in hopes that they'll generate enough traffic to see a paycheck -- I don't think that justifies why writers have to sell their talent for free. My talent is just as skilled and necessary as any. Perhaps I'm self-proclaimed, but I work hard on my posts. I take time out of my day interviewing designers, researching my topic, trying to get press passes and attending local shows. I'm proud to say that my blog will never become a feed of runway photography and footnotes. I like to delve into important topics surrounding fashion, ask challenging questions, and put high demands on editorial. I don't want to publish 100 meaningless posts with random Polyvores of clothes I can't afford, befriend everyone on Myspace, and start a Twitter account so that I can make a buck off my blog.

Even my boyfriend struggles with this in developing software. He was working on this app called, "Plumb," that reduces time spent manually moving windows on your desktop. He was hoping to sell the app for $10 per download, but people have this sense of entitlement to software; nobody wants to pay for it. The other day he asked me, "How come I never see commercials for new software?" I replied, "Because you don't have to convince people that it's attractive." That's when I realized the same thing goes for journalism. Many publications are leaving print and moving to online platforms because nobody wants to pay for information. I have to admit that I've had similar thoughts when scanning the magazines at the grocery check-out -- "Why buy a magazine full of recipes when I can them online for free?" However, I'd just like to make it clear that information is not free! I'm a writer, and my time is valuable.

It's come to the point where businesses think you want them more than they want you. My theory is, if an employer can't figure out how to put you to good enough use to make more than minimum wage off of your labor, is it really a company that you want to be interning for?

W Fashion Show

As you know, I attended the 4th Annual Out of the Closet fashion show at the W hotel this weekend. I'm not going to lie and say this was the best show ever. I had high hopes, but they fell shortly upon arrival. The Dj was spinning in the doorway, there were two couches for seating, and I could only spot one server representing their "complimentary appetizers." The tickets were being sold on the 2nd floor, so half of the people at the venue got in for free. I contacted the coordinator earlier in the day for a press pass, but I can only assume he had too many rainbowtinis and forgot to put my name on the list! I had to keep telling myself the money was for AIDS because the show wasn't worth a cent. I saw a few pieces worth "coming out of the closet," but moo-moo's and ballet flats aren't my idea of high fashion.

Luckily, the W hotel has a fabulous bar and mixes some great raspberry lemondrops!

Out of the Closet

My first fashion event this summer, and I'm going all out! The 4th Annual Out of the Closet Fashion Event will dominate the W Hotel in Seattle tonight. I can't wait to see men's and women's fashion from The Finierie, Marqsmen, and Veridis come down the runway. It's a Seattle standard to support the local boutique. Not only that, but the event supports Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS and SOAP. Come enjoy a night of complimentary appetizers, happy hour drink prices, friends, pumpin' music, giving to local charities, and the pursuit of fashion in Seattle!

FYI... I'm not actually "coming out." Just going out to party. The dress and shoes are already laid out in the shape of a person on my bed! Just a thought -- Why is it that a gay guy can convince a fashionista into anything? Honestly, my boy at Desert Sun talked me into paying for tans when it's sunny outside! I'll do anything for a Britney partner on the dance floor...

Just Say No

I woke up to an e-mail from my sister telling me I had to check out this website -- www.cuchini.com. This is a step beyond Sassy Soles. They are literally taking insertions to the next level! I'm not quite sure what to think...

Then, I was reading A Girl's Guide to Shoes, when the worst news in the world lay before me. Old Navy is having a sale on flip-flops. Only $1. JUST SAY NO! PLEASE! You don't need a pair in every color to match your camisole and eye-shadow. This sickens me. I honestly don't know if I can have a good day now! Girls are going to be buying them by the dozens and there's nothing I can do about it.

I hope my friends Amber and Stacy haven't heard about this. They already own a bazillion pairs. Gross.

Darrah's Dresser Photoshoot

My sister is a professional photographer, so it's a lot of fun to play dress up and plan photoshoots. She likes to humble her talent, but it's ridiculous how creative her shots are. Check her out on Flickr! Anyways, it was a beautiful weekend in Washington -- which is rare. She told me to arrive at her house by 6am! I obliviously partied the night before, so I only got two hours of sleep. Surprisingly, I arrived at her door 5 minutes late with a redbull and some swedish fish in hand. It's my model diet.

The first location was in the back yard of some old man's house down by the river. She didn't ask if we could take pictures there, so we literally crept down a side of a hill through weeds and vines. I thought we were going to die, and nobody would find us because he would throw our bodies into the river, and we would float away... A few shots into the session, I saw a woman walking towards us through the yard. I thought we were so busted! Instead, she asks for my sister's contact information, and set up an appointment to take pictures of her son. Phew!

The next location was on the front porch of an abandoned farm house. She wanted to take some ghost shots, and it felt a little eerie. There were all these "No Trespassing" signs, but my sister insisted on pushing the boundaries for some good shots. I was in a back-bending editorial pose when some guy pulled off the side of the road near the house. I thought he was going to yell at us! Instead, he was impressed with the shot, and thought it might make a nice cover for his wife's magazine. The sun had barely risen, and my sister was networking all over the place!

The last location was downtown Tacoma, and she had yet another daring concept. She brought me to the side of this old building and whipped out a plastic baggy full of chalk. She was going to graffiti the walls! We went from trespassing to vandalizing public property with hearts and clouds! Could we get in trouble for that? I had no idea, so I just struck-a-pose.

Here were a few of my favorite shots:

THAW Fashion Favorites

My sister just sent me pictures from the THAW Fashion Show. It was the first press pass I received on behalf of Darrah's Dresser! I was thrilled to be in attendance, as it was a great event for a great cause. I was moved by the Huntington's Disease documentary prior to the show, and would love to donate thousands towards the cause if I weren't a broke college student. If you have the means, contact Liz Weber at info@nwhdsa.org.

Here were some of my favorite looks from the runway:

Wyatt Orr
Jill Lindsey

Liza Reitz

Holly Stalder

Kate Towers

Liise Wyatt

Karly Orr
Adam Arnold

THAW Fashion Show - Q&A: Kate Towers

Tonight I will be attending the THAW fashion show in Seattle. It is an annual fundraiser featuring local independent designers. Proceeds from a live auction will benefit the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) to fund social services and research. Not all the designers will be present with their collections, but there was one I couldn't let you miss. Kate Towers has a beautiful Portland aesthetic, and can't make it for the same reason we all wouldn't -- 3 hours in the car with a 20-month-old baby. We'll let it slide.

Her work is meticulous, voluminous, and defines the word couture. Her one-of-a-kind pieces embody every grown woman's dream dress-up wardrobe. This feeling of romance and sophistication washes over each garment in an effortless prerogative. If I never attain that 1997 Christian Dior ball gown, she is the one to make the replica.

Darrah: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Kate: I'm 32 years old and even though I'm originally from New England, I moved to Portland about 10 years ago.

Darrah: I read that you studied graphic design. How did you make the transition from graphic design to clothing design?

Kate: Well, I never really had an official job as a graphic designer. It was something I thought I wanted to to in high school and as my focus in college. I never made it there though. I moved to Portland and opened a store by mistake instead. That's when I started designing clothes.

Darrah: Did the idea of competition with other designers ever freak you out

Kate: It didn't necessarily "freak" me out, but it's always unpleasantly present. On the other hand, there is a very tight knit group of designers here in Portland -- people I consider my good friends. At the end of the day, our work and aesthetics are so different that competition isn't really an issue. We all seem to shine in our own ways and support each other -- which I love.

Darrah: Why do you choose to make one-of-a-kind pieces?

Kate: It's just the way I work. I have considered making seasonal collections to be produced every year but it never happens. I find myself going back into my little studio to make what I'm in the mood for. I think it's due to my very short attention span, and having way too many things I want to make. I don't have the patience to think that far ahead and plan and prepare. It makes the one-of-a-kind pieces that much more special! I'm still thinking about production some day. I get quite a few inquires from stores wanting to carry my line, which is great, but I have to turn them away, which is kind of lame.

Darrah: How does a client begin an order with you?

Kate: I've been inching away from custom orders over the years. I find that I end up compromising my art, and am never really excited to be working on someone else's vision. I do wedding dresses every year and it's very stressful. To be in charge of what a woman is wearing on her supposedly most important day of her life - eeek! I prefer to just have things available - offer them up as they are. Plenty of brides have bought my dresses off the rack and seem really happy. This is not to say that I won't do custom - just send a request and we'll talk about it. It also just depends on how booked I am with other projects.

Darrah: What if two customers wanted the same garment? Would you make replicas?

Kate: Possibly. It depends on what it is. Either way, they will still be different because they are hand made. A lot of my garments have very organic details on them, so this makes each piece unique as well.

Darrah: Do you like the boutique scene?

Kate: I like the boutique scene, but I don't make much money that way -- as glamorous as it may seem. I could see how taking things to a commercial level might help me live more comfortably, but that's not really what's important to me. I think it would take an outside party to persuade me. I doubt I'll seek it out on my own. I just want to make things that I love and hope that others love it too.

Darrah: What do you love about the northwest fashion scene? A lot of people think we are fleece wearing granola sock lovers.

Kate: That assumption sucks and is wrong! I think the northwest likes to be comfortable and needs to be somewhat sensible about the weather. However, I see more interesting fashion here than I've seen in a lot of other cities.

Darrah: Like you said, weather is an important factor in our wardrobe decisions. If you could design an umbrella for the fashionable local gal, what would it look like?

Kate: I've always loved those big clear dome shaped umbrellas! It makes sense -- you can see people, and they can see you. Funny enough, I never carry an umbrella. If I had to, it would have white tiers of ruffles made with waterproof fabric of course!

Darrah: How do you go about selecting your fabrics and materials?

Kate: I just buy what I love. Sometimes I have very specific things in mind, but it's not always easy to find what I want. I loll around the fabric store until things grab me. Occasionally, I'll find great things at estate sales, thrift shops, etc. Most of the time I will buy the fabric first and the piece is inspired from it.

Darrah: What's your inspiration?

Kate: Everything. The weather which affects my mood, fabrics, photographs, traveling, day dreams, scenarios I make up in my head. I like to think about where someone might wear something.

Darrah: How do you squeeze in time to design with a baby?

Kate: That's just it - I have to SQUEEZE it in. It's so hard to squeeze in creativity. It's like I have these forced moments. "Okay, she's down for a nap!" Who knows how long, so I'm like, "Quick! Clean up the house, scrub under her high chair from lunch, answer some emails, and quick! Quick!" I might get to the studio and make something amazing with those remaining 20 minutes if I'm so lucky! Babies are so unpredictable, and mine doesn't like to do anything on schedule or be put down much. So yeah, it's hard. Really hard. Somehow you find little bits, as exhausted as you are, and you do what you can. I often miss my time to myself in the studio, but then someday she'll march off to kindergarten and I'll cry.

Darrah: That's the true life of a mommy. So, what can people expect to see from you at THAW tonight?

Kate: A little mix of this and that -- Lots of ruffles and some hand dyed pieces.

Darrah: I can't wait! If someone were to fall in love with your work, (cough, cough) how could they contact you to purchase something?

Kate: They can email me through my website, and I will try to get back to them as soon as possible! If I ever find the time again, I will post things to my Etsy site. It's been empty for the last few months since I've been making things for THAW and other various shows!

Sassy Sole Sale

If you fell in love with Sassy Soles after my recent post, you'll love the fact that they're going on sale! As a Mother's Day promotion, buy one pair of Sassy Soles and get TWO free! The sale will be going on Thursday through Saturday. Don't miss it! I'm stocking up for all my spring stilettos!

Shop here!