Passion for Fashion Buried Under Textbooks

It's time for Fashion Addict to
start being a little more fashionable!

The one thing the college students at my school look forward to is how they don't have to carry backpacks anymore. Yet, I'm still the nerdy Asian girl that wears a backpack everywhere I go, because driving to my next class is a waste of time, gas, and parking tickets that I might get when the parking lot is full. (And the chance of possibly getting into another fender bender!)

I know, I know. How could I possibly wear a backpack? You're probably thinking, "That's so high school!" Well, to me my backpack is a walking locker, it has everything I possibly need.

Because a backpack totally ruins a perfectly chic outfit and turns it into a wreck, I've ended up wearing more casual clothes. Then when I thought about it the other day, I figured that by changing bags I wouldn't have to worry about ruined outfits or looking like I'm in grade school.

So now you're wondering, "Where have you been?! Duh, that's something everyone knows by now." Yeah, I think I've taken college and midterms a little too much these days. Worrying about grades and papers to write has distracted my whole love towards fashion. So I guess it's time for Fashion Addict to take a few more tips from her fellow fashion bloggers!

These Shoes Were Made For Walking!!!

Victoria Beckham rocking her
6-inch heels. Can you walk in these?

At least that's what I want to think... Every girl that loves fashion dreams about wearing killer heels everyday, all day. But is that practical? From my experience, I would say definitely no.

I've had questions from many people asking how I can possibly wear heels. Actually putting on heels and walking in them is the easy part. Now, walking in them for hours is the challenge. Have you ever been on a date or a night out where you dressed up looking all fabulous, but halfway through the only thing you're thinking about is the pain of your feet? And then the pain eventually shows in your face... I know, I've been there!

If we refer to Victoria Beckham, it seems like it's actually possibly to run errands around the city in heels and still be comfortable. So how do they do it? Here's a few tips that I found helpful to me:

- Make sure the shoe fits when you buy them

- Practice walking in your heels around the house

- Take smaller steps than you usually do

- Always walk from heel to toe

- Stretch your calves after wearing heels

I know, these tips are something we all probably know by now. But it's amazing how many girls I see walking the wrong way in heels. Practice is key, but I have to admit that heels can be a big pain! So happy walking to all of you and if you have anymore tips please feel free to comment away!

Climbing the Ladder in the Fashion and Modeling Industry

Want to be in front of the camera? Read this article
for tips about entering the fashion industry!
Photo credit: The Fashion Assistant

I often wonder how an actor or actress ultimately lands their first role in a successful television show or film, amidst all the competition out there. Breaking into the world of design and modeling is no different; the fashion sea is so overfilled with talent that sometimes a big break simply comes as a result of the luck of the draw. So, exactly what are these young individuals doing to find themselves at the mercy of reputable talent scouts and agents?

Like many other fields, there are ways for aspiring fashion designers and models to get their foot in the door – literally. In a highly-competitive environment, it is very common for young “wannabes” to start out at the bottom rung, sweating bullets to move just one inch ahead in their quest for recognition and fame. Rest assured, if you spend your time dreaming about becoming the next supermodel, you can find a place in the world of modeling. It may not be the role you envision, but it can prove to be a very powerful and educational experience.

Of course, your best ally in the search for a starting position is location, location, location. If you live in a large city - or close to a modeling agency located within a smaller region - you’ve already won half the battle. It’s impossible to start out on the bottom rung if you live nowhere near the ladder, so moving to a stronger area may be an essential step. That being said, if you have been thinking about a career in modeling for quite some time but live in an obscure location, you have probably considered moving to advance your career in the past.

Once you find yourself living near an agency (or design firm, if other fashion avenues appeal to you), do some research. Does the agency have a website? If so, do they list job openings online? If not, where do you find information? If the agency operates on a medium-to-large scale, they will likely possess a website that provides a great deal of online detail. If the business is smaller, you may have to call or visit in order to obtain the particulars. Many companies will be more than happy to entertain your questions and help you find a starting role in the industry. However, if you stop by and it’s a busy time for the staff, you may not get the answers you need. It’s always best to call first and find out when their downtime is, so you can anticipate a little bit of undivided attention.

If you’re nervous about visiting an agency cold-turkey, you can always drop off a resume. Wholeheartedly indicate that you are game for anything and try to be yourself. Ask for a manager or supervisor, if possible, so they will have an opportunity to put a face to your resume. Always keep in mind that many agencies have a string of hopefuls trotting through their doors, so acting as genuine as possible may give you the edge you need.

Regardless of the job you are offered, if you receive a call for an interview, take it. Prepare yourself mentally by telling yourself that you are willing to do whatever it takes to “make it” in the industry, to a degree. Set limits for yourself. It’s fine for someone to expect you to pour coffee, but you should never be asked to do anything inappropriate or that makes you uncomfortable, as a way of climbing the ladder. There are just some ladders no one wants to climb.

Once you find yourself in the mix, be ready for anything. Have a series of headshots taken and invest some money in an impressive portfolio. Seek the expertise of a seasoned photographer who knows what works for the industry, and who is capable of highlighting your best features. If you possess the attributes of a successful model, someone will notice.

It is likely that as a beginner, you will find yourself working less prominent roles, such as that of a promotional model. Individuals just starting out may also become part of an event staff, possibly giving them an opportunity to show their faces to potential agents. Event staffing is a great way to network, make new friends, and inadvertently get introduced to a few key business people. Hang in there. The runway won’t unroll at your doorstep overnight and every, single job is just one more notch in your portfolio.

About the Author
Jayne Hawkins is on staff with the Promo Models editorial team. She has spent the last twelve years in the modeling industry helping aspiring models get their start.

From Paper to Online

Ever since I started blogging, it seemed like I would always refer to fashion bloggers for inspiration when deciding what to wear instead of the magazines laying around in my room. I've had times when I've wondered, "What kind of shoes is Karla wearing?" or "I wonder what Rumi's outfit looks like today." Has that ever happened to you?

Nowadays, it seems like the power of magazines, especially teen magazines are lowering as people catch on to the internet. What's in a magazine that's not online? Besides the scent of perfume, almost nothing. This topic came to mind when I heard that CosmoGirl! announced that their December 2008 issue would be it's last. However, they say that they're still going to continue their successful web site CosmoGirl.com.

When it comes to teen fashion and the younger generation, it seems that there's a whole lot more diversity in fashion than in the 30's and 40's age. So when you have so many different senses of style, how can you possibly incorporate all of that into one magazine? On the internet, however, there's less barriers and a lot of freedom to write about different fashions. And it's free for all of us to see. That's one reason why I think magazines, especially teen magazines, end up losing their readers. When your young, TeenVogue and Seventeen definitely relate to girls better than Vogue or Harper's Bazaar, but what relates better than you're favorite bloggers online or the websites that you always visit for advice?

I have to admit, I love the feeling of opening a magazine and just glazing at all the advertisements. The aroma of the newest perfumes and the creative spreads that lay on the pages just dazzle me. In some ways you can't beat a magazine... the writing is well written, the photos are good, and you can carry it around wherever you go. Of course, you can bring a laptop and surf through the internet in many places, but you can't hide it behind a chemistry book in class. Or what would you do on an airplane without a magazine? Right? So there's a part of me that feels heart-broken when I hear that magazines are folding - just the fact that our economy is that bad that companies aren't willing to pay to advertise in them is just so sad. Hopefully, as many people say, "Magazines are here to stay."

Tattoos

The other day I was glancing through magazines and I see a picture of Daria Werbowy and I think to myself, "What in the world is on her foot?" I take a better look and I notice that it's a tattoo. As a model, you'd think their skin should be flawless and clear with nothing on it, so it actually was a pretty big shock to me.

So I'm thinking, "Well Daria's one of those big famous models, she can get away with it and still not have it harm her career." Just to make sure that she's one of the few models with a tattoo, I check it up online and man was I wrong! I was surprised at how many models had tattoos; Freja Beha, Isabeli Fontana, Gisele Bundchen, Carolyn Murphy - there's just so many of them with them.

I find any girl with a permanent tattoo very brave to commit herself to having something on her skin forever. Just like I wouldn't put bumper stickers on my car, I would never want to decorate my skin in ink. Even if I wanted to express my love towards someone, like Nick Cannon did by putting a huge Mariah tattoo on his back, I still wouldn't have enough nerve to do it. Maybe that's because I was raised to think that it's bad, but I don't think it is really. I just like my skin the way it is. I

However, today I was reading an article in a magazine and it was about removing tattoos. There's actually experts that can remove them, but from the article, it seems like a difficult task. And extremely costly... it's not something you can do in one session. I'm glad that I haven't gotten a tattoo, but I think it really shows a lot about someone, and in many ways it's neat. Just not for me I guess.

"Why do you like fashion so much?"

I was asked this question by one of my engineer friends at the university I go to. "Why do women love clothes and shoes so much?" was written all over his expression when he asked me. I replied, "My idea of fashion is not all about the clothes and the makeup, but the excitement and energy that the industry gives off. You see, it's not just "stuff"."

I study at a university that has more students majoring in science than any other department, so you can tell that I sometimes (more like all the time) get these kind of questions. I think fashion is exciting for the same reason why engineers are eager when they make better robots and develop faster computers or scientists that are delighted to know that they have a new lead to cure a disease.

Think of all the hard work they do, the impossible people they have to collaborate with, the time spent and finally BOOM! they have one of the best search engines online or a new piece of evidence why brain cells work the way they do. And it all started out with an idea to innovate something, to create something great.

The same goes for fashion. The tremendous thought the designers put into their clothes, models perfecting their struts and poses, photographers taking beautiful pictures, magazines that contribute by putting it in front of customers, and the manufacturers and hair and makeup artists: everybody comes together just to make something a reality. Whether a whole line of clothes or even just one shoe, so many people work hard to make it happen and that's what I love about fashion.

And fashion isn't just something girls like, it's not as silly and insignificant as many people are made to think. I defend the industry because it's one of the biggest in the market and it supplies thousands of people with jobs. This all helps the economy through the good times and the bad. The fashion industry also donates tons of money to help people around the world.

Fashion is really something. The industry is powerful, influencing, economic, and full of energy which is why I love it so much. I'm not saying scientists and engineers or whoever are boring or worthless either. What I'm trying to say is that I carry the same passion they do except in a different field. And there's truly nothing wrong with that, as long as you enjoy what you do.

A New Collection From Victoria Beckham

With so many people raging over the fact that celebrities have gone too far with designing, there are still some that are out to show off their skills. Victoria Beckham has recently debuted her newest collection of upscale dresses and we all want to know what the collection looks like, right? Well, it's not that easy with Victoria Beckham; you must have an appointment to see her full collection of dresses. That's very posh of her!

Two looks from Victoria Beckham's collection.

"This is a very personal collection for me. I've always been drawn to intricate, seam-detailed designs as their structure enhances the flattering shape of a woman's silhouette. My signature dress collection is timeless, a modern interpretation of my inspirations."

So what else do we want to know about her collection besides the designs? The price, of course. Reports have stated that the dresses are priced from $600-$1400, and others have reported that it even goes up to $3,500. What?! And I thought Lindsay Lohan's leggings were expensive. I really don't think a celebrity, even as glamorous as she is, can pull off a price range like that. It just not reasonable to me. Catherine Malandrino doesn't even charge that much and I think it's silly of Victoria Beckham to try to go up against true designers.

As I've written before in my posts, I think celebrities should stay out of designing because when they do step into the fashion world, talented designers lose the spotlight they deserve. Victoria Beckham is a beautiful and talented person with many skills; I just think she should stick to singing and be the one that models clothes instead of designing them.

Working in Costumes

Photo credit: OiMax
Everyone is looking for that fun job that you can enjoy and there are plenty. At Sonics you get to skate around and serve people and engineers seem to work at Google because of the playground environment; let's face it: we all want to have an exciting job and sometimes that'll even makeup for the low wages.

Crazy as it may sound, cafes in Tokyo actually hire young, cute girls that will dress up like elegant maids and serve their customers, which are mostly men, like masters. Many Japanese people, even families, are into "costume playing" or dressing up like anime characters and a few years ago the first maid cafe was created in a city in Tokyo. Service is a lot different than a regular restaurant or cafe and the workers treat their customers with great respect.

So who actually comes to these cafes? Young boys and rich men? Not quite, but close. Most of the customers end up being geeks that read the manga and watch the anime shows on TV. I find it rather amusing.

I think the whole idea of working in costumes is an interesting idea, but I think I would get tired of it in the end. The maid costume is cute and certainly more creative than an ordinary work dress code, but the whole job working as a maid sounds very demanding. So what's your idea of a fun job?

Campus Fashion

Starting school can be hectic, but the whole ride is so much fun. The new people you meet, the good and bad professors that love assigning work, the panic that you get when you think there's going to be a quiz - it's all good.

The University I am going to requires lots of walking from building to building and you know what that means: no heels for me. Seriously, I thought I could manage them, but there is no way! I'll probably be sticking to flats for the next 4 years (well, you never know how long I'll take.)

When I take a look around me, it looks like a big melting pot of fashions that I like, dislike, don't understand, some I find humorous, some I'm jealous of. It's everything. Looking at campus fashion is fun, but something I didn't seem to notice before coming to college was how the guys dressed. It's not high school anymore; no more parents to watch you like a hound dog, not as many rules, it's all about freedom now. So it's amusing to see how guys dress or do they even care? Let's take a look:

You gotta love the nerds, they're smart and they don't dress that bad either. And I love the athletes with their casual sportswear.

The Business Major, the type that cares about looking good or "business man" like. And Mr. Laid Back in his casual clothes.

And you can't forget the guys that come to class like they
just got out of bed and walk around in their pajamas.

I think it's out.

Have I gone crazy? Me not liking Project Runway?! What?! But I have to agree with Christian Siriano, the contestants and the show this season just stink! (I know, I know, I shouldn't say that...)

Is it just me to think that Project Runway Season 5 has fallen flat compared to all the other seasons? I remember writing about this season and marking my calendars, but it's just been a big disappointment to me. There's something about this season that I think it's lacking or maybe I'm just tired of it all, meaning I might just be tired of reality tv.

There's a couple of reasons why the show doesn't amuse me so much, one being the challenges! They've been done before by previous seasons or just aren't that exciting. For instance, the first challenge at Gristedes. At first I thought, "Oh this might be fun to watch, but in the end the first season's version of it turned out to be better. And I actually fell asleep in the last episode where they took on drag queens. So new to Project Runway, but I still didn't find it interesting enough.

Another part of the show that bores me are the contestants! You know how all the seasons have funny people with lively characters? Or there's times when you just laugh when you think about hilarious moments from the show, but this season I don't think there are any memorable moments yet.

Maybe it's me just venting out on a Saturday morning, but I seriously think Project Runway needs to step up its game or else they're going to lose one viewer, or maybe more.