KEIJA MINOR: CONDE NAST'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF!

Many, many years ago, when I was fresh out of college and working as a legal assistant at a prestigious international law firm with offices at 4 Times Square—that beautiful behemoth designed by Fox & Fowle—I would enter the building and head to the left but, even then, I had aspirations to enter and turn right. I wanted to join the legion of well-appointed women (and men) who were taking the elevators up to Conde Nast, the named tenant of that building. Now, one sista’ who has ridden the corporate elevator up, beyond that mythical glass ceiling and right past that proverbial color barrier, gets to turn right every work day as she heads to her post as editor-in-chief of Conde Nast’s Brides magazine! Congratulations are in order for Keija Minor, the first African American Editor-in-Chief of a Conde Nast magazine, first ever in the publishing giant's 103-year history, and . . . she's a lawyer! Trained at the University of Massachusets Amherst and the historically black Howard University School of Law, Ms. Minor started making major moves after giving up her career as a corporate lawyer, to work for magazines Travel Savvy, Los Angeles Confidential, Gotham and Uptown. I'm looking forward to the impact Keija Minor will no doubt make at Brides magazine. Excellent success and the best of wishes, Keija!

INDEPENDENT FASHION BLOGGERS CONFERENCE FALL 2012

Where's Naki? If you look really close, you'll see me immediately to Iman's left, wearing white Madonna for H&M jeans, Sachin & Babi peplum top and Camilla Skovgaard's peeptoe heels. 

I've recently joined the Independent Fashion Bloggers network, IFB for short, and attended the organization's biyearly conference during the days leading up to New York's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week for the Spring 2013 collections. The conference was such a great use of my time! In addition to gaining insight into the business behind blogging, foresight into the future of digital fashion and being challenged to bring bravery back to blogging, I was inspired by wisdom shared by the new entrepreneurs panelists and picked up additional tips on how to make friends and win readers.

And, there was more! From breakout sessions focusing on: how to get a book deal, optimizing blogs with SEO, video blogging 101, creating media kits and getting a job in social media, among others, to panels on journalism v. blogging and a Q&A session with Pinterest's community manager, Enid Hwang, I was beyond moved to blog, and network, and blog some more while struggling to maintain my composure amongst the many Valentinos, Louboutins (and fab sneaks from Bakers!), peplum and leather trends and otherwise impeccably dressed women (and a few men).

Click on the "read more" link below for more about my experience and to see additional photos. . .

ANNA DELLO RUSSO + H&M

“There is something feisty and over the top in this collection” - Margareta van den Bosch, creative adviser for H&M.

For the first time in its history of design collaborations, H&M partnered with an influencer (and not a designer) Anna Dello Russo, the editor-at-large and creative consultant at Vogue Japan. What better person to team up with for an accessories collection? The fashion enthusiast knows that "accessorization is essential: it is the personal touch to any outfit." Together with H&M, Anna designed and carefully curated a collection of 50 pieces with prices ranging from $299 for thigh-high leather boots to $24.95 for antique inspired earrings. You too can adorn yourself in blinged out shades, bold turquoise jewelry and diamante encrusted heels!

“Accessories are like vitamins to fashion — as such, you should use them liberally” - Anna Dello Russo. Anna shows off pieces from the H&M Dello Russo collaboration in the picture above. 

The collection, entitled "Fashion Shower" also includes a gilded turquoise suitcase, gold and turquoise clutches, a feather hat and alligator necklace. The designs recall the highly stylized ornamentation characteristic of the Baroque period--which is ironic because Dello Russo is celebrated for discernment and refinement in all matters of fashion and style. But, the collection is not entirely discordant. After all, Anna Dello Russo is not known for subtlety! I don't think she could have more effectively projected her exuberance for fashion in anything other than what she and H&M will be offering come October 4th. The fantastic pieces reflect the reality of an icon immersed in the alternate space that only fashion can inspire. That's why I'm looking forward to scooping up as much of her jewelery as is available!

Click "read more" below to see the entire collection and "Fashion Shower" music video directed by Alex Turvey.  Producer/DJ Emiliano Pepe turns out what's sure to become a club banger, in certain circles. View vintage Style Collaborations posts by clicking the label below!

MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK: SPRING 2013 COLLECTIONS - SCHEDULE & LIVE VIDEO STREAM

 

 

Stills from Jason Wu's Spring 2013 show

New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is upon us! The Spring 2013 collections were kicked off on Wednesday, September 5th, capped off by the fourth anniversary of Fashion's Night Out the following day and will continue through September 13th. Click on this link to view a live stream of the shows and check back often for highlights. What shows are you excited to see? What trends are you anticipating? I'm particularly interested in seeing how designers will interpret black and leather--trends that are having a strong moment right now (check out Jason Wu's take here). Click "read more" below to see the full Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Schedule.