Today I....

took my FIDM students on a field trip. We had so much fun meeting Tarina Tarantino at her Sparkle Factory. What a positive, inspirational woman she is. My students were excited to meet her and it was fun just to get out of the classroom and get some sunshine. And I'm kicking myself for not getting a photo taken with her. I bought her line for my Philadelphia boutique. And I love what she represents... a true brand, positive energy, lots of fun, and Made in the USA. As Tarina says, "have a sparkling day!".

Her husband is her business partner. Maybe I can get my honey to take his smarts and help me become a world wide sensation.

In the meantime, I need to get over to Sephora to buy some of her fantastic makeup.

We all need inspiration. Thanks Tarina. You gave my class (and me!) lots of it today. You rock.

XO, M.E.

Vintage scarves meets Kenzo.

I'm doing some trend spotting for Fall 2010. I know, I know. Spring 2010 is just starting, but I need to make sure that I'm on top of colors, silhouettes, and any vintage inspiration that I can pick up when I'm out shopping for the boutique. Plus --- If I see a fabric NOW that I want for later, I'm buying it. You never know when you'll find a yummy fabric.

Trends come from the streets to the runways. I spot them on campus at FIDM, on the groovy skateboarders who roll past the boutique on the way to Venice Beach, and getting coffee in the morning at FLAKE and checking out the hip stroller moms.

I've especially been drawn to the designs of KENZO. I remember loving this label in the 80's. It was always colorful and fun. As I was watching their runway show, I noticed that printed scarves kept happening.

Hmmm. Maybe, just maybe I'm ahead of this trend. Check out the fun selection of vintage styles that are now in store. $25 and $35. We even put up a new rack to display 'em on. How's that for trend spotting?

XO, M.E.

Sabrina.

Sabrina took my Merchandise Presentation class at FIDM recently. Throughout the class, she was true to her style, and designed this really cool vintage store with a sleek, rockabilly sensibility.

She came by on Saturday to interview me for her Entrepreneurship class. She's about to graduate from FIDM, also know as the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising here in Los Angleles. Her latest assignment: to interview me.

She asked me what my job duties were. Hmmmm. I had to laugh. Anything and everything. I hope she learned something from speaking with me. I learned about her Chinese New Year traditions of giving red envelopes. It sounds like so much fun! And she was able to buy a Frances sweater from her gift fund.

And most of all, I'm wishing her lots of luck with her job interviews! She's going to bring a great work ethic, lots of smarts, and plenty of style to whatever company is lucky enough to hire her.

XO, M.E.

fabulous FIDM

Today was the last day of teaching for the quarter. Group presentations, final projects, and exams. Here are some of my fab students and their fab style...

Gabrielle. She always sparkles and shines and goes for the bling.

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Richard. He's influenced by KISS and 80's metal, but in a new way.

Shawntay. She embellished her FIDM bag. Love it. And she's so proud. She rocks her colorful hair with a ton of confidence, too.

Ah Young. From Korea. Wow. She's doing presentations, studying, and being fabulous in a second language. And I'm having a hard time learning Spanish.

Channing. She has fabulous hair. And great style. She just finished her 2nd class with me. I love return students! And the chocolate/peanut butter/powdered sugar chex mix she made for me are YUMMY.

And Isaiah Garza. He is an "alum" as of today. He's the first person in his family to get a college degree. And he's got his own line of fab flower accesories. Congrats!

Thanks to all of my FIDM students for fun inspiration! XO, M.E.

A little note, a big smile.

Along with my boutique, I teach part-time at FIDM. I got this nice email from one of my students today. I need to remember to thank people who really have made an impact on me. She did. This was much better than any Christmas Card. It's amazing what a simple, sincere thank you can do. XO, M.E.

"Hello M.E. I wanted to take this time to tell you how much I enjoyed your class this quarter. I feel it was very effective in helping me overcome my fear of speaking to an audience, and I truly appreciate that because I will definitely need that courage in the real world. The trip to the different showrooms was a great experience as well and really put us in a buyers prospective giving us a clue of what is to be expected once we graduate FIDM. So Thank you M.E. it was a real pleasure taking your class, I hope to take another with you soon. Take care and have a wonderful break."

A day in the life...

A day in my life...here's what today brought.  

1. Wake up and grade students papers.  

2. Go to the garment 'hood and introduce my FIDM class to the techniques of an expert fabric pleater.  Field trips rock!

3.  Head back to FIDM and grab my favorite new food at the FIDM Cafe - so yummy, so light.  Perfect.  Tri-ce.  I wish that Whole Foods would start carrying these.  

4.  Teach 2 FIDM classes the benefits of good lighting, wall displays, and more.  Here's an example of an amazing wall display at TopShop in London.  

5.  Finish teaching at 6 PM and chat with a couple of my students from a previous quarter.  Call Brittany at the boutique and check on sales.  

6.  Head over to my sewing contractor.  Drop off cut tickets for new fab styles, recuts on ME & Blue best sellers...like the Goddess, Janna, Edison, Julianne, Kristi.  Submit sketches and swatches for new samples and discuss the logistics of wholesale of the ME & Blue collection to other boutiques around the country.  

7.  The day is done!  Time to eat!  I grab take out Samosa House just down the street from my apartment.  What took me so long?    This Indian food rocks!  

8.  Feed the pooch and chill out with her.

9.  Ichat with my honey about what we should be for Halloween.  Contemplate this 'Pretty in Pink' idea.  I can be Molly Ringwald.  He can be either Ducky or Andrew McCarthy.  He wants to be the boyfriend.  Duh!  

10.  Night night!  XO, M.E. 

Back to school!

Today was my first day back at FIDM.  I'm there part-time in addition to designing and running the boutique.  It's always fun to meet my new set  of students.  This quarter I'm teaching "Selling Techniques", "Survey of Manufacturing and Merchandising" and "Merchandise Presentation".  I learn something new every time I teach and it's been a rewarding part of my fashion career.  XO, M.E. 

doodle doodle

I was daydreaming today between grading final exams at FIDM (photos above).  I like sitting outside during my office hours on the patch of grass just outside of where my class meets.  Now I need to fine tune these sketches and get the real deal into the boutique.  But sometimes post-it notes, green grass, and a fine point pen  help me envision what designs are to come.  XO, M.E. 

style tips from my students...

At FIDM, I'm always noticing the truly stylish students.  There are trends, fads, and classics (yep - I teach that!).   And there are the students who take them all, mix them up, and make them work for their body type and personalities.  Here's Bianca and Katelynn.  Two of my students who are designing their perfect "pretend" lingerie store in my Merchandise Presentation class. 

Check 'em out.

Bianca...sporting a groovy kaftan, pleather belt, gladiator sandals, sterling rings.  And my favorite- Hello Kitty bandaids!  She loves Ross and always looks glam.  

Katelynn seems to favor black clothing with plenty of accessories.  Most of her clothing worn here is from the Melrose shopping district (east of Fairfax) area of LA.  I love the vintage gold belt that she got at the Melrose flea market...and the fun brass bangles.  Flip flops?  Yes.  She just got a pedicure.  

click here for Katelynn's blog: 

http://confessionsofafashionrexia.blogspot.com

XO,

M.E.

big sunglasses, big fun!

Yesterday the sun wasn't shining so bright, but I had a bunch of color from my fun customers.

Big sunglasses seem to appeal to women of all ages.  They all had a lot to say on this not-so-sunny day and made me smile.  The big sunglasses they wear have big personalities behind them...

Uncle Ruthie Buell (left).  She sports her own groovy sunglasses that match her fun style as is the host of "Halfway Down the Stairs" on KPFK, 90.7 FM here in LA.  Check out her offbeat sense of humor on her self-titled show!  

http://www.kpfk.org/programs/113-halfwaydownthestairs.html

Along with Ruthie came her cousin, Susan Wooldrige (right).  She's also a ball of fun and uber-talented.  The author of "Foolsgold:  Making Something from Nothing and Freeing Your Creative Process"... we talked about creativity, keeping journals, and wearing things that make us feel and look good.  She bought the big sunglasses, too...and plenty of ME & Blue dresses.  (Thanks Susan!)  

http://www.amazon.com/Foolsgold-Something-Nothing-Freeing-Creative/dp/0307341488

Then one of my students, Katelyn showed up.  And ALSO bought big, over-the-top sunglasses.   We laughed as she told me about how what she learned from my FIDM "Selling Techniques" class made her the new favorite salesperson at her part-time job in Ventura.  She took big selling ideas taught in my class and outsold her fellow workers recently.  300 boxes of Pop Tarts in a single day.   She outdid the sales goal for the day and was a big hit.  Hmmm...maybe sales will be even better when she wears her new shades! 

Sport some big sunglasses (shown in the lovely flower garden outside) and watch your big personality appear!  $18 at ME & Blue.  

XO, M.E.

FIDM style...

I teach part-time at FIDM.  My students have a range of styles.  There's been a summer uniform that I have seen (lots of cutoff denim), but now things are progressing into fall trends.  Here are Erin (black hat), and Katelynn (FIDM bag).  These photos were taken this morning before heading down to the New Mart to check out showroom displays.  Style takeaway...mix it up.  Have fun.  Accessorize.  Floppy hats, aviators, boyfriend jackets, comfy (but cute!) shoes, chain necklaces, studded details, mini skirts with a bit of poof, and black are all fab for fall.  And the classic vintage handbag is my fave.   XO, M.E. 

collage book

My collage book is my place to make sense of all of my ideas.  I teach at FIDM and try to convince my students to start a place to house their ideas, thoughts.  Since I'm a cut & paste kind of a girl, I like the zen of ripping out of magazines, cutting up the images, and placing them in the book to make sense.  I have 10 sketchbooks filled.  Some are falling apart.  I look at ones that I did 10 years ago and my life seems to mimic what I was hoping for.    Rooms take on the design sense that I found, cars look similar, and the store that I designed here in Venice, CA came to life through hours of going through old collage books.  Even the logo was an evolution of my design sensibility.  Here are a couple of images. Note that the images in the book I didn't take, but they have served as a huge source of inspiration.  All it takes is a sketchbook, glue stick, scissors, and some free time.  XO, M.E.