DMM Columns

Dayton Fashion Week and the Dayton Dutch Lions Soccer Team to Bring Fans a Unique Half-Time Show

June 27, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Dayton Dutch Lions Soccer games are about to get a lot more fashionable!! On Friday June 29 the Dutch Lions will be taking on the Northern Virginia Majestic and welcoming the models from Dayton Fashion Week for a unique Half-Time presentation. Fans are being asked to come to both the women’s and men’s game wearing their most fashionable outfits for a chance to win tickets to Dayton Fashion Week and a Spa Treatment at Beaute Box.

During the women’s game which starts at 5pm the models will be selecting kids from the Dutch Lions Youth Academy and kids from the crowd to be a part of a mini-fashion show and runway challenge during Half-Time. The child that shows the most personality during their runway presentation will receive a pair of tickets to Dayton Fashion Weeks Kids Fashion Show taking place on Thursday July 26, 2012, the winner will be selected by team mascot Leo The Lion and models from Dayton Fashion Week.

Dayton Fashion Week models, staff, and volunteers are regulars at Dutch Lions Game.

For the men’s game which starts at 8pm, Leo and the models will be selecting the best dressed fans out of the crowd for a mini-fashion show and runway challenge during Half-Time as well. The winner of the contest will receive a Spa Treatment at Beaute Box and a pair of Tickets to Dayton Fashion Week’s Ready To Wear Show on Friday July 27, 2012.

Both games takes place at The Miami Valley South Stadium located at 3737 Upper Bellbrook Rd, Bellbrook, Ohio, 45305. General admission ticket prices for kids are $6 and adult tickets prices are $12 for the game. For more information about tickets and the Dayton Dutch Lions Soccer team please visit their website at http://www.daytondutchlionsfc.com/site/. Tickets are also on sale for Dayton Fashion Week please visit their website at http://www.daytonfashionweek.com to purchase your tickets today!!

Apps for Productivity

June 12, 2012 By Michelle Ton Leave a Comment

Smartphones are meant to help make our busy lives, a little less busy. However, if you’ve just joined the ranks as a smart phone user, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the new features newly available to your mobile device. Or perhaps you’re an avid smart phone user but you may be feeling a bit bogged down with all the apps you already have. Lucky for you, at last Friday’s New Media Dayton meetup, the discussion was all about what apps are worth the investment – both time and money.

For iOS users (iPhone, iTouch, iPad), the options are endless. To get an app, you have to go through the Apple App Store. Android users on the other hand, don’t have quite the scale in their app store (called Google Play). They do however, have a variety of places where they can get apps – one of which being the Amazon App Store. Amazon offers one free app each day (and sometimes quite the bargain!). In order to access, you’ll need to have the Google Marketplace app installed on your device.

One thing both OS users need to know is that it’s important to thoroughly read the review on an app – both good and bad – before downloading. You may find some surprising things about the app, such as updates that break it, or that it’s actually a phony app. Another piece of advice – if there’s a free version, download that before you make the plunge to plunk down some money. It’s always better to try before you buy, even if the free one doesn’t give you everything you’re looking for right off the bat.

Now here’s the list of must try apps:

Evernote -Freemium – great for capturing notes, voice, images – and then syncing them across platforms
Penultimate – $0.99 (iOS only) – great for handwritten notes
Dropbox – Freemium (pay for space) – great for sharing files with colleagues
iAnnotate – $9.99 – use this if you need to make notes on PDFs or sign forms
Square – fee based – if you want to accept mobile payments – turn your phone or iPad into a cash register!
Instagram – free – photoshop filters on your phone in a flash
Dark Sky – $3.99 – a cool new way to view the weather
Quick Office Pro – $14.99 – unofficial Microsoft Office’s mobile version; allows you to connect your other web docs accounts
SeekDroid – Freemium (Droid only) – similar to iOS’ Find my iPhone app, allows you to find your phone or remote wipe your phone from your PC

Dayton Fashion Week’s Salute To The Troops!

May 22, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Dayton Fashion Week will be debuting a fashion/lifestyle magazine magazine in July–though it will be geared and promoted towards a national audience the first edition will be dedicated to the people of Dayton because we wouldn’t be where we are today without you all!! We will be highlighting, local models, designers, artist, entertainers, business owners, community leaders, and etc.

For those of you who don’t know Junda Morris-Kennedy, the Founder of Dayton Fashion Week recently relocated to the Dayton Area when her husband who is in the U.S. Air Force received new orders to be stationed at Wright-Patt Air Force Base, we have several models who have served our country including William Willet who was in the Marine Corp., Nakiesha Maroney who is currently stationed at WPAFB, our makeup artist ShaTerra Mills served in the Army, and I personally come from a military family as well, my dad was a Drill Sergeant in the Marines, my oldest brother was in the Army and served in the first Gulf War, my oldest sister was in the Navy, and my older brother is currently a Master Sergeant in the Marines and is serving in Afghanistan. So as you can see we have nothing but love and respect for our service men and women.

One of the highlights of the first edition of Dayton Fashion Weeks magazine(whose name will be revealed in June) will be a salute to our troops and a feature story on how WPAFB has played a vital role to the Miami Valley’s growth! We are looking to profile several active duty members of the U.S. Air Force who are currently stationed at WPAFB along with other local service men and women! If you or someone you know would like to be a part of DFW’s Salute To The Troops feature story please send an email to Caressa.L.Brown@gmail.com. Please include your contact information and a brief bio. We look forward to hearing from you!!

Dayton Fashion Week Gives Back

May 14, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

When you think of the Fashion Industry as a whole, the first thoughts that probably come to mind are the vain egotistical plots and twist of the hit movie The Devil Wears Prada. Though bits and pieces of that movie may be true for some but in actuality behind that thin veneer of superficiality is one of the most philanthropically known industries in this country. Whether it’s Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony Fund to fight breast cancer, to Ken Coles AmFar Foundation for AIDS Research, to Gucci’s partnership with UNIECF, giving back has always been a key component of the Fashion Industry.

If you’ve ever visited the Facebook page of Dayton Fashion Week you’ll notice that we are listed as a Community Organization. When I first came on board at DFW in October 2011, Junda and I both emphasized the importance of not just giving back but reaching out to the people of the Miami Valley. For me it was second nature to be active in the community, I’ve been a volunteer since the age of 12, volunteering for such organizations as The Buckeye Trails Girl Scout Council as a Camp Aide, to the Anpo O Project which delivers school supplies the Standing Rock Reservation in S.Dakota where the dropout rate for students is 85%, to The Action Youth Outreach Program which teaches entrepreneurial skills for inner city and “at-risk” youth using STEM Curriculum, to being a Guest Speaker for the My Beauty is Priceless Seminars which teaches young girls tools of empowerment from spirituality, cooking, education, and personal appearance, not to mention I sign up to volunteer for almost every event that takes place in the City of Dayton!

For Junda, who is new to the area this would serve as her opportunity to see just how great the people of the City of Dayton and surrounding areas are. Since word of Dayton Fashion Week broke Junda has been blown away by all of the hospitality, support, and encouragement that everyone has shown towards our Inaugural event! During our first two casting calls, we collected can goods for the Dayton Food Pantry and doesn’t stop there–we are very happy to present Dayton Fashion Week Gives Back! On Saturday May 19 we will be launching the first of many outings geared towards giving back to the community and raising awareness for important causes starting with our models and staff taking part in a build for Habitat for Humanity http://www.daytonhabitat.org.

Dayton Fashion Week Models pose for pictures during Urban Nights

As a producer for 91.3 FM WYSO’s Community Voices, I’ve been working on a story about The Vision Keepers and The Circle of Courage re-entry and recovery program which is a local non-profit organization that provides clothing, bus tokens, emergency toiletries and support groups. Founded by the late Dr. Robin Herman, the organization is now headed up by the 2011 Justice Award recipient Khadijah Ali and falls under the 2011 Dayton’s Ten Top Women Award recipient MaryAnn Angel’s Two Tree organization, http://www.twotreesinc.org/vision_keepers.shtml. Dayton Fashion Week will host a fundraiser for this organization in August of 2012. More details will be announced soon.

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m very cautious of the company that I keep and I apply those same life rules to DFW and I’m honored to be amongst such good company. I’ve heard several models refer to Dayton Fashion Week as a family and I can honestly say that we probably have the most amazing team filled with positive, caring and supportive people who aside from our love for fashion we are also into building each other up and building lasting bonds and friendships.

Since our Pre-Launch Party in March the models have been asking us to get together for a fun outing sp that we can spend more time getting to know each other and it was suggested that we form a team and be a part of the Mud Volley for Epilepsy. So when I called the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio to inquire about what was needed to form a team I was a surprised when the Director asked us to do more than just form a team she wanted us to form a partnership–after all we’re both very small organizations, and both heavily dependent on volunteers so we came up with a couple of ideas about how we can help each other out we will be providing more details soon but in the meantime be sure to sign your team up at http://www.daytonmud.com. We hope to see you all on July 14!!

July 24 will mark the official start of Dayton Fashion Week and we will be kicking things off with Fashion for a Cause! This event will consist of a silent auction, live entertainment, and a local celebrity fashion show. Proceeds from this event will go to our charitable partners Clothes That Work http://www.clothesthatwork.org and Hospice of Dayton http://www.hospiceofdayton.org . This event will take place from 6pm-9pm at the Dayton Masonic Temple located at 525 W. Riverview Ave., Dayton OH 45405.

July 28 does not mark the end of Dayton Fashion Week’s activities for 2012. We are 100% committed to being a part of the revitalization of Dayton and the entire Miami Valley year round. For more details about how you can help out with these worthy causes please click on the links provided and for more information on Dayton Fashion Week Gives Back please “Like” our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/daytonfashion.

Entertaining Doesn’t Have To Be A Dirty Word

May 13, 2012 By Leah Hawthorn Leave a Comment

Entertaining is fun – really?! Those are the words most people are thinking. Of course, everyone loves to be invited to a party in someone’s home, but to do it yourself –Unthinkable!!

It isn’t as scary as it seems. I promise. There is one key word to keep in mind, and that word is Fun. Whether you are putting on a formal dinner or a cocktail party with heavy Hors d’oeuvre, fun is the main ingredient.

Plenty of preparation for successful entertaining for both Formal, and Informal entertaining is at the top of the list. This will help keep stress levels to a minimum.

Let’s do formal versus casual entertaining in your home. Here are a few tips to make both types of entertaining a success.

Formal

Make sure that everyone coming to your formal dinner can eat the food that you are preparing. Making a an incredible dinner with a fabulous salad, a beautiful beef tenderloin, red-skin potatoes and asparagus, ending with chocolate mousse sounds great to you, right? Well, your guest, Alfred, can’t eat because he is a vegetarian and is allergic to asparagus. Asking about food allergies and what types of foods your guest can eat is extremely important. Believe me; I had Alfred at my table once.

Make sure the table is set correctly. Are you dining continental or are you dining American? As a Master Trainer for The
Protocol School of Washington, I know the difference between Continental table settings and American table settings. The difference is slight, but Alfred will notice. (See PSOW Dining Map). Having Alfred sit at your table and ask why the salad fork is on the inside, and he
will ask, could be embarrassing if your table setting is incorrect.

Keep centerpieces low to the table. There’s nothing worse than sitting at a formal dining table and trying to talk around a huge table arrangement. While the table arrangement might be beautiful, it’s nice to see the person that you are talking to. If you are a person that does not believe in less is more, rather, More means a lot More, then make sure the table arrangement is tall enough that people can see under it. You might see some of these arrangements at weddings.

Candles, Candles, Candles! Presentation is everything and nothing sets the stage better than the glimmer of candlelight. Not only should there be candles on the table, but there can be candles sprinkled around the room.

Music. Music is part of the presentation. Try to have some background music that is appropriate to the age group of your party. Even better, if there is a theme, you can easily buy a CD to fit the occasion perfectly. I had a formal sit-down dinner party for an engagement party. They were getting married in Hawaii. Yes, you see it coming. I went out and bought a CD of beautiful
Hawaiian music. Wow! Along with the Leis, and Hawaiian centerpiece, it really set the stage. Theme parties are fun and easy.

Informal

Map it out before you do anything. Visualize in your head what you want to have and where you want things to go. Once you put it to paper, it isn’t nearly as overwhelming, and you can start setting the stage a little at a time. This works very well if you are having a pre-set buffet, or a heavy Hors d’oeuvre cocktail party. You can use small crates and boxes or give your table highs and lows, cover with a table cloth and voila’ – a wonderful presentation.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Be creative! This is supposed to be fun. Do you have a beautiful punch bowl that can double as your shrimp display? What about those vintage nuts bowls for dips? Don’t be afraid to mix and match napkins. I am a firm believer that if you use real napkins, a ham sandwich display turns into Salmon and capers if you have real napkins. You can collect these at vintage and antique stores for pennies.

Use real forks and glasses. Yes, I know that Red Solo Cup is a great song, but purchasing real forks and inexpensive wine glasses will be worth its weight in gold. There are so many places that sell inexpensive forks and sell $1 wine glasses. The forks usually come in a package of 25 or 50. You would use the wine glasses for soda, water and wine. The forks you can put on the buffet inside a napkin-lined basket. Again, presentation is everything. Buyer beware – once your guests see that you have these items, be prepared to lend them out.
They will be calling you!

Music. The same as for formal entertaining. Background music and candlelight WILL make any party. Additional Tip: Don’t be afraid to move around some furniture to give your guests plenty of room to mingle. You don’t have to remove every bit of furniture as they did to poor George Banks in Father of the Bride, but make sure to remove any excess furniture so that your home has a nice traffic flow.

Smile. If you’re not enjoying your party, you’re never going to have another one. So, space out the tasks, keep it simple and smile. Your guests, even Alfred, aren’t there to critique you; they are there to enjoy your company. Bon Appétit.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFNlqU72wpY’]

Dayton Fashion Week and Urban Nights Presents: Ambush Makeover!!

May 9, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Dayton Fashion Week will be participating in Urban Nights This Friday

Dayton Fashion Week will be making its Urban Nights Debut this Friday and of course it’s going to be one of the most fashionable events of the evening! Our sponsors at The Downtown Dayton Partnership have asked the DFW Team to give the patrons of Urban Nights a unique and fun experience– and of course we don’t want to disappoint!! So with that being said, DFW staff, along with our models, team of makeup artist, hair stylist, and photographers will be out and about at various locations downtown during Urban Nights scouting for individuals to be a part of our first ever Ambush Makeover!

That’s right, the lucky individuals will receive super model treatment during Urban Nights, they will have their hair and makeup done, treated to a professional photo shoot by our amazing photographers, and will receive lessons on how to rip the runway by DFW models right there on the spot! The individuals selected by our scouts will also be appearing in Dayton Fashion Week’s fashion and lifestyle print magazine which will be debuting in July—just in time for our big event!

The Makeovers will be taking place from 6p-9p at our table located in Court House Square! Though we are finished holding Casting Calls for this year’s event—I’ve been known to approach random strangers and do some scouting! So make sure you stop by and say hi because you never know you just may get discovered!

Take My Seat, Please

May 2, 2012 By Leah Hawthorn Leave a Comment

When I was growing up, my mother and father taught me a lot when it came to manners and respecting others. One of my earliest memories is when we were visiting my Aunt Miriam. Yes, you heard me right – Aunt Miriam; one of my favorite names. My two brothers and myself were sitting in our own comfy chairs at my aunt’s house when in came several adults. My brothers and I just kept sitting in our comfy chairs, only to hear my father say, “Give your chair to the adults.” That meant, sit on the floor. And we did. When my father said move, you moved! No questions asked. We were the children.

From that day forward, I knew when an adult entered the room and there was no place to sit, that the adult got the seat. We learned to respect our elders. In Japan, age outranks everything. The elderly are held in the highest esteem. I don’t recall ever seeing a child, or younger adult taking the seat of an older person, although, that was in the 60’s. Wow – I am aging myself.

Flash forward about 25 years. I walk into a relative’s house and there is no place to sit. There happens to be a young teenage boy in a seat. He does not offer his seat, and his parents do not ask him to offer it. I sit on the floor. Wow!! So, in just 25 years, I see a change, but keep in mind that this is not the norm. Most men, children and young adults still offer their seat to someone older.

Five years ago, a woman using crutches, carrying her purse, was going into the local drug store. It was obvious that she was having a bit of trouble. I noticed a person walking in with her, only to see – oh, yes, you see it coming – he did not open the door for her even though it almost slammed in her face. I was still in my car and couldn’t help her.

Around the same time, I went to one of Dayton’s finest restaurants. I walked in to see men and women sitting at the bar, waiting on their table, while older women are standing. One or two do offer their seats, yet some still stay seated. I understand that it is 2012, and that women want to be treated equally, but we’re talking about women that deserve that bit of respect and courtesy, even in 2012.

Flash forward to last Saturday, the reason why I have written all of the above. I took my grandchildren to breakfast Sunday late morning. Keeping in mind it is late Sunday and it is going to be busy and a 20-minute wait, I knew that I might have to stand and so would my grandchildren. I saw two older people walk in together; one had a cane and the other with a walker. There was a lovely couple in their mid 20’s, sitting in the waiting area. Keep in
mind that the couple with the cane and walker had to walk right past them. They DID NOT offer their seat to either person. Instead, an older couple offered their seat. I wish there was a funny story in this, but there really isn’t. This bothered me so much I had to make this my next etiquette column. Although, this really isn’t about etiquette, it’s about simple respect, courtesy and manners.

I realize that for the most part, people have, and do teach their children to be respectful of their elders, and men to be courteous to women. There may even be reasons why they don’t offer their chairs. Maybe they are not feeling well or have physical problems that aren’t readily apparent.

On the flip side, I have seen the kindness of men and women offering their seat to their elders. They are aware of their surroundings. To them I say, Thank You. Your parents taught you well.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCjVO-tZfLw&feature=youtu.be’]

Dayton Fashion Week Introduces Marlene Haute Couture

April 26, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Marlene Thomas Designer of Marlene Haute Couture

The very first time that I saw a design by Marlene Haute Couture, I was ready to run out, grab the first guy that I saw, and marry him just so that I could wear one of her wedding dresses. There are no words that come to mind that can describe the amount of detail and creativity that she puts into every piece. Originally from South Africa Marlene Thomas affectionately called Marli has traveled the world living in various places from Australia to Italy, and she describes her designs as “very feminine and soft with intricate detailing”.

Over the past couple of months Marli and I have become good friends, we’ll call each other up and talk for hours from fashion to just life in general. She’s been one of our biggest supporters, cheerleaders, and motivators. She’s even shared with me several of her confidential sketches—which I’m going to go ahead and say are Oscar Red Carpet worthy. There’s not a week that hasn’t gone by that she has not called either myself or Junda to share some big news about her work and her appearances. In recent months Marli has been highly sought after by the Sundance Channel, her designs have been recruited for the Grammy’s, most recently she’s been approached by the PR Staff of Vogue Magazine, and in July she will be the headlining designer for Dayton Fashion Week.

Model: Kendra Leigh Designs by Marlene Haute Couture

Since a child Marli has been a fan of fashion and upon enrolling in Linea Fashion Academy in South Africa she was advised that her designs and work were too advanced, she had natural skills and was told that she should go to Italy to study fashion design. According to Marli, she does sketch but very rarely will she find it necessary to sketch out a final look. “I usually have an idea which fabrics to use, then when I start working with the fabrics I make additions to the base design… It’s all about the fabric, especially the soft fabrics like chiffons, voiles, and silks”

Marli and I at the Dayton Fashion Week Pre- Launch Soiree. I'm so glad that I averted the Animal print "no no"

If I had to describe Marli style of design in one word, it would be impossible because her style ranges from business professional to avant-garde. She doesn’t follow style trends she believes that every person has their own style and they should follow it. She does have some fashion pet peeves—a big no no for Marli is people who wear animal prints from head to toe—“if you’re going to wear an animal print, please don’t wear animal print shoes.” Another fashion no no according to Marli is over accessorizing, “I always say LESS IS MORE” so don’t wear huge earrings with a huge necklace and finally a big no no for Marli is clothing that clings to all of the wrong areas!

The Marlene Haute Couture line has been on the rise and one of Marli’s major goals is to have a ready to wear production line. “I would love to see my designs at a very high end fashion boutique and of course land a major celebrity to wear my designs”

The thing that I love and respect most about Marli is the fact that she uses models of all sizes and in fact she will have a size 18 model in her show for Dayton Fashion Week. “We all love fashion, big, small, tall and petite. Women of all sizes want to wear beautiful fashions and designs. Although thin models are often used on the runway, it is also good to have plus sized models, and for me to see them on the runway, is almost a “must”! It is important for me to know that a model is healthy and has never had an eating disorder or losing weight just because they want to be that perfect fit on a runway. I do not like to use model at all who are sizes 0 – 4 anymore because the facts are the ones wearing my designs in the end are sizes 6 – 10.”

Marli also has some advice for those seeking to enter the fashion industry—“It’s hard work– nothing happen instantly. You have to develop the business side for it to be a viable company. You always hear people say “That is my passion” but I go a step further by saying put effort into your passion to become successful. And forget being a copycat of someone else’s designs, do your own thing, use your creativity!”

Marli, has also let me in on a few secrets and a surprise for her appearance during Dayton Fashion Week including a one of a kind design to be auctioned off during DFW’s Silent Auction for Hospice of Dayton and Clothes That Work. As far as the other surprises are concerned– my lips are sealed and you’ll have to be in attendance to find out!! “This will be my highest couture line ever! I am very grateful that Dayton Fashion Week has given me this opportunity to design “out of the box” which of course I love.” Marlene Haute Couture is well known for the one of a kind, very high fashion, avant-garde pieces for the person who wants to make a fashion statement. “Those in attendance during Dayton Fashion Week will not be disappointed!!” For more information about Marlene Haute Couture please visit http://marlenehautecouture.com.

Dayton Fashion Week Announces Final Open Casting Call For Models

April 26, 2012 By Dayton937 1 Comment

This Saturday April 28 area models will have their final chance to to strut their stuff in front of Dayton Fashion Weeks scouting panel! The casting call will take place in the Town Square at The Greene from noon-4pm come RAIN OR SHINE–even though it’s looking more like rain–the show will go on!! Please note that if you plan on attending this casting call you MUST BE REGISTERED AND IN LINE BY 1PM SHARP or you will not be seen– no exceptions will be made.

We will be looking for models who are at least 5’8 and taller, female models must bring with them a pair of 3″ heels to walk in. There are no size restrictions involved in fact we are seeking additional plus sized models and we are in need of more male models as well. All models must be at least 15 years of age and models under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to participate. Here is the link to the application that must be filled out completely to participate . Models must also bring 2 recent photo’s a head shot and full body shot and the photo’s do not need to be professional.

There will also be some guest on our scouting panel this go round, we are pleased to welcome fashion blogger Sarah Tyrchniewicz of Pretty In Dayton on board and we will also have a couple of designers who are presenting their work during Dayton Fashion Week as guest. For more information about this casting call and Dayton Fashion Week please visit our website and “Like” us on Facebook.

Dayton Fashion Week Seeks Volunteers

April 17, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Recently it seems like no matter where I go and no matter what I do, I run into somebody who expresses their excitement or has questions about Dayton Fashion Week– from my close friends to random strangers who recognize me from my picture on this blog. The word has gotten out and I’m pretty comfortable saying that the City of Dayton is ready to take its place as the Fashion Capital of the Midwest!!

When I first heard about Dayton Fashion Week in September and signed up to help last year, I naively thought this was just going to be a fun little fashion show that will give people something to do–BOY WAS I WRONG!! Dayton Fashion Week has become a week long International Production that has grown beyond words in the past couple of weeks! From Fashion Politque Magazine out of London, England naming us a “must see” Fashion Event of 2012, to our Cover Model Contest gaining national attention by Fashion Faces Magazine out of Phoenix, AZ. We’ve had Fashion Bloggers from New York to L.A. seek out information and request press passes, and we’ve even had the head of several International Modeling Agencies reach out to support us and we are in talks of offering a few local models affiliated with DFW contracts. More importantly on the local front the Downtown Dayton Partnership and Dayton Most Metro have played major roles in helping us get the word out, we’ve appeared on FOX 45 In The Morning twice, this Wednesday we will be appearing on Living Dayton on Channel 2 at noon, and Wednesday evening we will be featured on WYSO 91.3 FM Kaleidoscope Hosted By Juliet Fromholt and we CAN NOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

So to say that Dayton Fashion Week is just a “fashion show” would be an understatement because we have gone beyond just an event it’s officially a movement!! Dayton Fashion Week has grown and like every great movement, we are looking for a few good leaders, supporting staff, and volunteers to add to our already talented team. In July Dayton Fashion Week will be launching a quarterly print Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine; we are looking for writers, editors, and a sales and marketing team.

This event represents what the cutting edge fashion industry is all about and will be a great experience for anyone interested in a career in events, fashion, media, or marketing. There is a volunteer job for everyone and their roles will include:

Runway Venue Preparation
Designer and Guest Ushers
Backstage Assistance and Set Up
Assemble Gift Bags and Press Kits
Help maintain the main event Information Desk
Assist in the Volunteer Center
Various other tasks for the Dayton Fashion Week Staff

For the opportunity to be involved with the Volunteer Program, please RSVP and email your resume and cover letter to: caressab@daytonfashionweek.com. We will have a Volunteer Meeting on Thursday April 19 from 6p-8p at the Kettering Library located at 3496 Far Hills Ave. Dayton, Ohio 45429.

Social Media Protocol — The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

April 6, 2012 By Leah Hawthorn 1 Comment

I was on Facebook and LinkedIn several years ago after a long day at work and a big networking event afterward. You have been there I’m sure; an evening event starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m.— but not for you. You stay an extra hour, leaving no stone unturned.

Even though I was exhausted when I got home, I wanted to connect through LinkedIn with the people I had just met before I forgot. Of course it was late at night and I was tired. Here is what it looked like when I saw what I had written the next day:

“Hell John, It was gret meeting you tonight. I look forward to meeting you for coffin. Sincerely, Leah Hawthorn”.

I’m sure I made a great social media first impression!! Never network in person or online if you are
too tired. It WILL show. Remember – we don’t drink and drive, so don’t drink and social media! I’m sure a lot worse than “Hell John” could happen.

In today’s fiercely competitive business arena, etiquette and protocol intelligence will distinguish you from the crowd. Having good social media etiquette can make the difference between you and another person who is just as smart.

People are connecting with, listening to, following and collaborating with each other at an amazing rate. Online networking is not new to most of us, and by now we have found that there is little difference in networking with people in social media and connecting with people offline. The same protocol is recommended for both. Project confidence, authority and trust for both social media and business networking.

Here are a few examples of how
Social Media Networking and In-Person Networking are the same.

First Impressions

Your Photo

Please DO NOT use the default graphic as your photo. You know, that big white silhouette of no
one. People want to see you. LinkedIn – Professional photo. Facebook – Social Photo is acceptable,
but be cautious. A lot of people are using Facebook for business. Any photo you post is forever. You are branding yourself.

Eye Contact

Your Profile and Bio.

Let others know who you are. Make sure your information is always up to date. People are looking. If you no longer work for a certain company or your position has changed, reflect that in your profile and bio. Be Honest! PYP = Proof Your Profile!!

Handshakes

The Limp Fish “Canned Invitations”

Avoid canned invitations as much as possible. Set yourself apart from the crowd. “It was great to meet you. I would like to connect with you through LinkedIn as well.

The Bone Crusher “People Collecting”

Some people like to collect people. It’s not about how many business cards you collect; it’s about the relationships you create with other individuals. You DO NOT have to friend people you do not know. It is OKAY to de-friend someone who is posting things that show up on your page that you find offensive. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as Aretha would say!

TMI

I have a headache. I am eating a Sardine sandwich. I just woke up. Really??!! Too much is too much. Excessive
game requests, gifts and” join my cause” on Facebook can get you into trouble. Some people don’t appreciate this part of social media.

Soft Skills Sell!!

Focus more on the other person. It’s always a great idea to help someone out with an event or a request. People are more likely to help
you if you help others.

Avoiding Certain Subjects

Religion and Politics.

Tread lightly. Do you really want to brand yourself to the world with your political or religious views? Once you put it out there, it is out there!
This goes for Facebook and LinkedIn. You would NOT discuss politics or religion at an in-person networking event. This is a simple Networking Protocol wherever you are.

Your Mother Was Right

Be kind. Don’t personally attack other people. Be professional. Use appropriate language. Do use proper spelling and grammar. Be respectful of others, and be positive!

In the end, being a part of social media can be fun and is an incredible, effective business tool. Don’t let it be a time sucker for you. Tell yourself how much time you will give to social media every day and try to stick with it. It will still be there tomorrow. I promise.

I spoke with Tina Marker, social media guru and President and Founder of Windward Design Group LLC about the importance of etiquette in
the online networking realm. Here are four items she mentioned about social media protocol.

1) If you wouldn’t share something in a room full of casual strangers,
why would you do so on the Web?

2) “What happens in Vegas” . . . ends up on Facebook!
Need I say more?

3) TMI (too much information) “Status Update” does not
mean you should journal every detail of your day . . . and night!

4) Profanity has no place in public conversations . . .
keep it social.

In the end, being a part of social media can be fun and is an incredible, effective business tool. Don’t let it be a time sucker for you.
Tell yourself how much time you will give to social media every day and try to stick with it. It will still be there tomorrow. I promise.

See you on Social Media!

Inside Couture – Looking for hosts to cover Dayton Fashion Week

April 4, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

On Saturday April 7, 2012 from 10a-1p Miami FL and the Miami Valley will be partnering up when Dayton Fashion Week holds a casting call looking for four hosts to cover DFW for Miami, FL based fashion series Inside Couture—the casting call will be held at Sun Watch Indian Village located at 2301 W. River Rd, Dayton, OH 45418. You will need to bring a recent head and full body shot, with your name, phone number, and email address the back.

When I first heard that Inside Couture would be coming to cover Dayton Fashion Week and would need four hosts, I immediately grabbed one of those spots—when you are the Director of Operations you can do things like that! However, as I started to learn the ins and outs of my position I began to question whether or not I would have the time to run around doing interviews for Inside Couture AND make sure that everything is in order and running smoothly during Dayton Fashion Week. A question that was answered this past Saturday at our Pre Launch Soirée which was a HUGE SUCCESS, everyone really enjoyed themselves and we reached capacity—but at the same time, I found myself running around like a chicken with its head cut off and that was just a one day event that lasted a couple of hours. So with that being said I made the decision to give up my spot as a host and to focus on making sure DFW is a success. To see more photo’s from the Pre Launch please “Like” our page.

Dayton Fashion Week's Pre Launch Soiree

Junda (The Founder of DFW) first introduced me to McKinley Pierre, the owner and Executive Producer of Inside Couture a couple of months ago and he has been a strong supporter of DFW and the go to person for both Junda and I for advice on how to handle the stress and pressure that comes along with planning an event of this magnitude. We find ourselves calling him almost on a weekly basis and the conversations normally last a couple of hours. So when I called McKinley this week, he was out on his boat fishing but he made the time for a quick interview to introduce himself and his show to the people of Dayton, OH and we talked about a little surprise for a couple of the host selected from our casting call this Saturday.

Dayton Fashion Week: Can you introduce yourself and your show to the people from Dayton, OH?

McKinley Pierre: Hello, my name is McKinley Pierre and I’m one of the owners for Inside Couture, and I’m the Executive Producer, and basically our show Inside Couture is about fashion– started on the concept of me and my friends who are in the business but you never hear about the people behind the scenes. The stylist, hair and makeup artist, designers the models, the PR– So we are bringing the people from the back to the front!

DFW: What are you looking for in a host for Inside Couture?

MP: What I wanted to do with the show is give people the opportunities who ordinarily wouldn’t have the chance and introduce them to the fashion world, so that they can learn the behind the scenes happenings. I want them to learn how to act, how to present themselves, and better themselves because it might introduce them to other things, they might become an assistant, or get into production and etc–it’s all about having fun with it.

Basically, I want somebody excited to be there, somebody who likes to have fun, and somebody who commands attention—yet knows how to talk to people. You don’t have to have experience but I want you to know how to bring it!

DFW: Had you ever heard of Dayton, Ohio before we had Dayton Fashion Week?

MP: Oh I definitely have heard of Dayton, OH–everyone has heard of Dayton, OH but not in the Fashion World. When Junda called me and said that she was thinking about putting together a Fashion Week in Dayton, honestly I started to laugh because when you think fashion it’s in Europe, Miami, New York, and L.A. and I didn’t think there was fashion in Dayton, OH!! So, I told her if you’re serious about it I will help you do whatever it is you’re wanting to do in Dayton—you can use our show to promote DFW because we have the big names from Roberto Cavali, Custo Barcelona, Nicole Miller, photographer Mike Ruiz who shot the Beckhams and the Kardashians, and anyone that you can think of in the Industry, we have the stylist James Santiago from Sex and The City and Burn Notice, we have access to all of the behind the scenes happenings in the fashion industry.

Editor and Chief of Elle Magazine - Robbie Myers talks to Inside Couture about the first Elle Spa in the world. Photo by Inside Couture

DFW: So what are you looking forward to the most with Dayton Fashion week?

MP: Aside from the great fishing I hear Dayton has, I want to bring a couple of the hosts that you selected down to Miami and let them do some interviews here in South Beach, so we are going to work some things out for that too! I want to bring you guys down here to have some fun, get some experience and you never know where this could go and what other opportunities that this might lead to, you never know who’s going to see you, and you never know who’s watching!

We had Miami Fashion Week here a couple of weeks ago and I actually had the chance to meet a couple of hair stylist and makeup artist from Dayton and they were so excited that they were finally having something right there in their own back yard! So I look forward to seeing the people in Dayton having fun if you can’t have fun don’t even show up!

DFW: What makes a great Fashion Week?

MP: Fashion Weeks are only as good as your models! if you have a good model they’ll make a trash bag look good! It’s the model, it’s the hair, it’s the makeup, a lot of people don’t realize that it takes a whole team to make somebody up, it’s not just one person. It’s the people behind the scenes that determine the success of a show–they’re the ones that are running everything.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u2yaslZUMqY’]

DFW: You have been getting bombarded with emails from people in Dayton who have questions about how to prepare for Saturday, what advice to do you have for the people coming out to the audition?

MP: Oh yeah, we’ve had a lot of people contact us via our Inside Couture website, they’ve been sending their reels, they’re trying to get a head start on the competition. In any type of business you have to hustle and have a step up on people. So show up, act like you want to do something and dress the part. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE SKINNY TO BE A HOST FOR INSIDE COUTURE!!! We want to see diversity, we want somebody who knows how to talk and have fun. A lot of people want to exclude people for certain things and people sit at home wanting to do this but they don’t think that they’ll be chosen, how will you know if you don’t get off of the couch and try?

Don’t come in sounding like a Newscaster, we don’t want that, we don’t like that. Don’t come in acting like you know everything, if you know everything, I’m not going to be able to work with you because if you know everything, you can’t grow.

I look at it like this—you either got it or you don’t! Don’t be fake people can see right through that talk to them like you’re talking to your cousin or your friends, if you get star struck and start asking to take pictures with them they aren’t going to want to do other interviews with, they’re not going to invite you their parties.

I want to show people the lives of celebrities and let people know that you don’t have to sell your souls or lay down on the casting couch to make it in the industry. These young models need to learn that everyone is not their friend, people lie, there’s always that person outside of the club telling you to do something that won’t get you into the club.

DFW: What else do you want to share with Dayton about what you have going on?

MP: We also have a music show that we are going to be casting for and I plan on doing some stuff there it’s called IA Live, it’s music, fashion, and art. We’ve had interviews with Akon, Lady Gaga, to David Getta, and Justin Beiber. One of the alst interviews I had was with Flo Rida and Lil Wayne who is my neighbor

DFW: When we spoke a couple of weeks ago, you talked about knowing your Host weakness and you mentioned that you were friends with Lenny Kravitz and I freaked out because I love Lenny Kravitz and you said ok you are going to keep me away from Lenny, why is it important to know your Host weakness?

MP: Yeah, I live down the street from Lenny, one of my host Lechelle won’t do any interviews with Trey Songz, she melts if you talk about him. So I like to know who their weakness is, so when you said Lenny Kravitz is your weakness, when I bring you down here for some interviews, I’m keeping you away from Lenny(me and my big mouth Insert sad face and tear drops here). I like to know the weakness and the genre of music people listen to. Some people prefer to only interview the celebs that they aren’t fans of to make things easier—it’s all about having fun!

For more information check out the Inside Couture website.

Facebook Timeline – it’s coming and here’s what to do about it

March 29, 2012 By Michelle Ton Leave a Comment

March 30 marks the official launch of Facebook Timeline for businesses and pages. Why does this matter to you? Well, for starters, if you’re a business owner, you’ll need to revisit your page design and make any changes necessary. And if you’re just a person, this means Facebook is one step closer to launching timeline to your personal profile page.

If you haven’t yet launched timeline or want to know a little bit more about what it offers you – check out my blog post from the beta launch.

The biggest design change is the cover photo. This is a photo that you can upload into Facebook or you can use an existing photo from your Facebook albums. The cover photo can be about 720 pixels wide by 265 pixels high. Your profile photo is now 180 pixels square. One rule you must follow is there should never be a “call-to-action” in the cover photo – that means no “like this page!” or “enter this contest”. Facebook will find you and call you out and may even shut your page down. What this top area is great for is as a place to showcase YOU (whether that’s you or your business). (the upper left image is an example of what my company, Teradata, has done)

Business owners – one of the new features I love about the new timeline for pages is that it allows you to contact your fans as the page. This is great because it protects your privacy as the administrator and doesn’t require you to use your personal account to interact with the page.

Of course, with any Facebook changes, it’s a good idea to always take a time-out and check your privacy options. I would check:

1) the default privacy settings dropdown in the upper right corner and

2) the privacy settings in the profile edit screen. These areas give you pretty much full control over who sees what.

To double-check that you aren’t showing the world your most intimate details, I would advise to use the “View As” feature on your profile page (under your cover photo in the gear dropdown). This allows you to see how a friend, non-friend, certain friends view your profile.
Please comment below and let me know of any other questions/concerns you may have and I will be do my best to answer!

The Art of “Thank You”

March 20, 2012 By Leah Hawthorn Leave a Comment

What three words have a total of only 14 letters yet carry a great deal of meaning? “Please” and “Thank You”.

How do you feel when you get your mail and there is a card, clearly not junk mail. It is in a hand-written envelope with YOUR name on it.

You look to see if there is a return address.

There is, but no name. Who could it be from?!
You tear it open, with great anticipation.

And there it is; A BIG BEAUTIFUL THANK-YOU NOTE.

It is from someone that you met for coffee last week. They asked for some help on a new project they’re promoting and you helped them. What goes through your mind? Wow! This person cared enough to take the time out of their busy day to write me a thank you!

You won’t forget that person, will you?

It never gets old!

The art of sending a hand-written thank you was becoming extinct, but is making an
amazing comeback! In 2012, people are wanting to Outclass The Competition.

An email is the least preferred way to send a formal thank you. It, however, is a great alternative in
business if someone sends you a great article, or a “thought you might like to see this”.

If a close friend sends you a great piece of advice or a recipe, again, an email is appropriate. Never send an email thank you for wedding, graduation or shower gifts. Remember, going the extra mile with a handwritten thank-you note has and always will be the perfect way to make you or your company shine.

Send a thank-you note immediately within 24
hours if it is to show appreciation for a business meeting, business lunch or
an interview. Address the envelope, stamp it and write your thank you when you return so it can go in the mail the same day.
Send a thank-you note within two weeks of
receiving a gift. If it is past the
two-week period and you think that it is too late, it’s not! Send one anyway, no matter how long it has
been. The person you’re sending to might
think it odd that you haven’t thanked them in a timely manner, but it’s better
late than never.
Send a thank you for wedding gifts within
three months.
A phone call never ranks as high as a thank
you note.
When sending a thank-you note for a gift,
refer to the gift that was given you and how much you like it.
Put a date at top-left of your thank-you card, use a salutation, such as “Dear”, use a comma
after the salutation and addressee’s name, use honorifics, Mr. or Ms., when appropriate, and use a proper
closing. For business it would be Sincerely,
Respectfully, Very respectfully, Regards, or Best regards.
Please spell cheek yur thaank you noats,
wither it is by emaail or a noat card.
Handwritten thank-you notes should be written on a separate piece of
paper before the final draft on the actual card.

I personally favor the 4 ½ X 6 ¼ Correspondence Cards for business. Joe Bohardt, owner of The Mulberry Tree, 2600 Far Hills Ave # 109, in Oakwood, is an expert in the field of stationery, note cards and invitations. Joe introduced me to the correspondence card that I have used professionally for many years. Joe said that your personal stationery or correspondence cards should be your fingerprint. That way, when someone receives your card, or stationery, they will know it is from you.

I recommend stocking two types of thank-you notes; one for business and one for
social. Your business correspondence card for thank-you notes should reflect you and your business. It is like clothing. If you are in the profession where you need to dress in formal business attire, then your cards should reflect that. I would recommend a white card with black raised in or blind embossed. If you are
in a profession where you need to dress casual and artsy,
then by all means, your thank-you cards should convey that.
It is all about branding yourself.

Tip: Stationery and boxed thank-you notes make a
perfect thank-you gift.

Now that I have preached the importance of Thank-You Note Etiquette, I better get
down to business. I do believe I have gotten behind in my Thank-You notes.

As a thank-you for reading my Getting The Edge on Etiquette column, the first five people that email me from my website, with their address, will receive their very own Crane Blue Book of Stationery, The Definitive Guide to Social and BusinessCorrespondence Etiquette.

Thank you!

Recommended books:

101 Ways To Say Thank You, by Kelly Browne

and

The Crane Blue Book of Stationery.

Dayton Fashion Week Introduces Makeup Artist ShaTerra Mills!

March 15, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Makeup Artist ShaTerra Mills of Priceless Beauty Makeup Photographer: CocoJane

My interest in modeling is wavering but a couple of months ago my interest once again peaked and I decided to test the waters and submitted my photos online to a couple of agencies in larger markets. Mind you, I’m 32 years old and let’s face it in this industry I’m no spring chicken, so I knew my chances of getting signed were slim especially since the majority of the agencies that I applied to made it very clear of their age restrictions and let’s just say I’m about 9 years past that age but I’ve always been a bit rebellious and submitted my photos anyway—and to my surprise a couple of weeks later I was contacted by one of the top modeling agencies in the world Factor Women which was formerly Elite out of Chicago—reminder in 2001 I was a Regional Semi-Finalist in the International Elite Model Look Competition so not only was this a little boost to my ego but I also felt the pressure to prove to people that you can teach an “old” dog new tricks!

The Before Shot...Don't Judge Me! lol

The most recent photo’s I had were almost 2 years old so I started looking for the perfect photographer and long story short I found ARC Light Photography who provided the hair stylist Chelsea Berry and the makeup artist and I just happened to be familiar with his makeup artist ShaTerra Mills of Priceless Beauty Makeup because she is on Dayton Fashion Weeks makeup team! Though I have yet to make that trip to Chicago to visit Factor Women I decided to make this photo shoot kind of an introductory to the DFW Team and set up a Q and A session with ShaTerra who is a former member of the U.S. Army, who recently received her first publication in Ellements Magazine based out of New York, and will be doing makeup for Project Runway’s Althea Harper’s fashion show this weekend.

The Transformation Begins

DFW – When did you know that you wanted to be a makeup artist?

ShaTerra – I knew I wanted to be a makeup artist after I seemed to have exhausted all ends of the spectrum of modeling that I could take. My passion had moved elsewhere. I knew I still wanted to be in the industry and I started off as an artist at an early age by freehand drawing so it only made sense to go back to what I truly knew which was showing my artistic abilities.

DFW – What work goes into planning a photo shoot?

ShaTerra – Planning for a shoot is a process. It means taking the time to clean my kit to make sure I have all of the proper tools needed for that particular project. Whether it’s restocking on disposables, new lip colors, hand sanitizer, etc. I always double, triple, and quadruple check my makeup kit the week before, the day before, and sometimes even a few hours before. I am very anal about making sure I am prepared.

Also, I love to know what’s going on so there is no confusion whatsoever. I am all for knowing the concept weeks in advance and keeping in constant contact with the involved team so that everyone is on the same page.

DFW – Describe what you did for my makeup during this photo shoot.

I'm ready for my close up Mr. Seville! Model: Caressa Brown Hair Chelsea Berry Photographer: ARC Light Makeup Artist ShaTerra Mills

ShaTerra – I viewed your outfit changes beforehand to visualize a look that went with the concept and vision you were trying to portray. From there, I added a slight touch of golden metallic to your eyes to give off a light sparkle and made sure your lips popped since the style spoke of fierce elegance to me.

Lights, Cameras...Action! Model: Caressa Brown Hair Chelsea Berry Photographer: ARC Light Makeup Artist: ShaTerra Mills

DFW – What are some myths and mistakes regarding makeup application?

ShaTerra – People tend to believe that caking on eyeliner makes your eyes bigger and that the more expensive makeup is, the better the quality. Caking on eyeliner to the point of raccoon eyes can cause your eyes to appear smaller or even as though you have a black eye instead.

Expensive makeup brands are not always the best for you or your skin type. People not knowing their skin types and how to color match foundations is another key problem–it’s all about experimenting with what looks great on you and what works best for each individual person! The biggest mistakes people make when it comes to makeup is thinking they know it all or that YouTube has all of the answers.

It’s important to cleanse and moisturize daily and let your skin breathe. Too much makeup can be harsh on the skin especially those with sensitivities. Proper cleansing techniques will allow you to keep your skin hydrated and remaining flawless.

DFW – What are the hottest looks for Spring?

ShaTerra – I am VERY excited about the upcoming Spring looks. Pastels and mattes are definitely going to be in for shadows for daytime looks. Peach and rose flushed cheeks will never seem to die. Different hues of reds for the lips are also popular as well as light metallic and shimmers for evening wear. The bare faced look and flesh toned lip color is becoming a very popular look on the runways.

DFW – What are your future goals?

ShaTerra – I have very extensive goals for the future but I am taking things one step at a time. I am surely gearing up to travel more with my craft and networking! I do have several projects underway right now that I’m very excited about and I’m hoping to get a few more publications under my belt by summer. Maybe even get picked up by an agency or two. The sky’s the limit!

DFW – What is the best part about being on the Dayton Fashion Week Team?

ShaTerra – The best part of Dayton Fashion Week–that’s a hard one! So far, I’ve loved everything about being a part of the Dayton Fashion Week team. Dayton has so much potential and seeing the talent first hand is amazing! We have so much in store and it is blooming by the minute! I cannot wait for July to get here. Everyone is so supportive of each other and they’re hard workers. It’s just great to be a part of history in the making!

For more information on ShaTerra Mills and Priceless Beauty Makeup please check out PricelessBeautyMakeup.com.

It’s Super Tuesday…Are You Ready To Vote?

March 5, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Super Tuesday is finally here and Dayton Fashion Week WANTS YOU to exercise your right to vote! That’s right–our candidates stand firm in their beliefs on job creation (after all there’s only 1 position open and they each want it), environmental issues(they would love to walk for our eco-friendly designer), and they support small business(each of them are rallying up support for DFW!). They have diverse backgrounds from a Broadway Actress, to a professional Ballroom Dancer, and yes we even have a career politician on the our ballot–but I’m not talking about the Republican Candidates or the Ohio Primaries–I’m talking about the 12 candidates that Dayton Fashion Week has selected to participate in the Cover Model Competition! There’s no need to register to vote all you have to do is log onto Facebook starting March 6, 2012, go to the Dayton Fashion Week FB fan page, click on our photo album “2012 Cover Model Competition” and “Like” your favorite photo and that will count as your vote. Unlike the Ohio Primaries you can vote for more than one candidate and on Tuesday April 24, 2012 the model with the most “Likes” of their photo will become the first model ever to grace the cover of Dayton Fashion Week Magazine along with other great prizes. So without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce to you the 2012 Candidates for Dayton Fashion Week’s Cover Model Competition–I’m Caressa Brown, and I approve this message!