BLOG APPLICATION!

HAPPY FALL SEMESTER EVERYONE! FFP IS BACK! We are looking for new bloggers for the Fall 2012 Semester! If you are a member of FFP and are interested in writing for us, below are some details:

If you haven't already, navigate yourself around the blog! Get a feel for which section you are interested in writing for and familiarize yourself with the style.

BLOGGERS

To Apply:

There are currently there are four writing sections to apply for:
1. Ram Runway: Featuring fashions of Fordham’s female students
2. Maroon man: Featuring fashions of Fordham’s male students
3. Couture for the College Girl: “Look for Less” articles--taking high end pieces/trends and finding similar ones for student friendly prices
4. Intern Diaries: Documenting one’s fashion interning experiences (If your company does not want you to reveal its name, you can always change it, please ask your internship what they would prefer)

• Your post should consist of 250-500 words
• If writing for Maroon Man/Ram Runway, discuss the look that your subject is wearing, what you like about it, and how someone else could replicate the items from it. If you want to include links that will be posted in your article please put them to the right of the word in parenthesis 

EXAMPLE:

Suede booties (www.stevemadden.com/kdflasdkfda)

• Pictures (Maroon Man/Ram Runway): Please make sure to take photos with a REAL CAMERA and NOT a cell phone camera. Make sure they are clear and quality photos. Do not crop, add text, and/or add filters to the photos!
• Couture for the College Girl: Don’t worry about formatting it exactly like the current blog posts. A word document with photos will work fine for now!
• Also, please mention any writing/blog experience you had in the past/currently!
• Please write in a word document & e-mail as an attachment
• Email to fordhamffpblog@gmail.com

DUE DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012

EDITORS

To Apply:

• We see what your editing capabilities are!
• After we receive blogging submissions on 10/3, we will forward you some of these posts to be edited.
• Please make as many or as little changes to the articles in either any color (that is noticeable against the black text).
• You don’t need to have any prior experience with editing but please indicate any that you do have!
• E-mail your responses to fordhamffpblog@gmail.com

EDITS WILL BE DUE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012

If you meet the qualifications, you will receive an email with more details about your position!

Remember! You aren’t restricted to the categories above! Please feel free to come up with new ideas that you think would make for great sections! You can also apply formore than one section. Also note: you may apply for editor and blogger, but you may not be both.

Can’t wait to read your posts! Have fun & Happy Friday!

Thank You!

We want to thank everyone that helped make this blog a huge success this semester!

Editors

Sama Habib has been involved in FFP since freshman year. She loved working with the blog team this semester and looks forward to being the clubs Executive PR Coordinator for the 2012/2013 school year! She would describe her own fashion style as New England prep meets southern chic, but anyone who knows her would add that she has an unhealthy obsession with headbands. Although not an artist herself,she believes that fashion is the most powerful art there is and uses it to show the world who she is and who she'd like to be.

Caitlin Van Horn is a junior studying English & Medieval Studies. She is pretty fashionably inept, but luckily has two stylish roomies to dress her in the morning, and all the wisdom of the Ram Runway posts she edits. In her spare time she likes reading books with lots of footnotes.

Katie Garrity is a sophomore at Fordham University. She has worked hard in making sure many of the blog posts for FFP are error free!

The Ram Runway

Alex Casolaro is currently a junior at Fordham University and is a Communications and Media Studies major. Alex is completely enticed with the fashion world and living in New York City has only inspired her more to pursue a career in the fashion industry. She is greatly influenced by photographing and documenting street style and keeping tabs on the happenings of the fashion industry locally and globally.

Bryn Evans is a junior at Fordham University where she majors in Communications and Media studies. Originally from Washington, DC, she has been dreaming of a career in the fashion industry since a young age. She absolutely loves the energy of NYC and the amazing opportunities it has to offer!

Nicole Fishstein was born outside Chicago, then spent a chunk of childhood in Atlanta, flew over to New Jersey, and then found herself at Fordham University. She always had a love for fashion (she used to want to attend college for clothing design), but decided to go to business school instead for fashion marketing. Nicole knows, whatever career path she chooses, fashion will always be a part of her life.

Briana Rotello is a junior at Fordham Campus, Rose Hill. She grew up in Rockville, Maryland and attended Wootton High School. She had always pictured herself living in New York City, and after she found Fordham University, she was able to put her dreams into action. She picked Fordham University for both its academic integrity, strong focus on writing, and its location. She is planning on majoring in Communications. Briana aspires to be a fashion journalist after college and appreciates all the learning opportunities offered to her in the great city of New York. She is ecstatic to experience more of the fashion world, and to learn more about the art of writing.

Couture for the College Girl

Sara Jansson is a senior at Fordham University, majoring in English. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Sara finds inspiration in the fashions and fast-paced lifestyle of New York City.

Reylisa Anico is a senior at Fordham University where she majors in Psychology and minors in Business Administration. Reylisa believes that fashion is the ultimate form of expression. She creates her own style by observing the greatest runway of all; the streets of New York City. Combining styles and making them your own all while trying to keep a happy wallet is a challenge; but somebody has to do it.

Maygan Anthony is a junior at Fordham University, double majoring in International Political Economy and Anthropology and minoring in Arabic. Her hobbies include community service, traveling, and staying fit. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Maygan has had a love of fashion and writing from an early age. She finds inspiration from fashionistas like Emily Schuman, Coco Chanel, and Vera Wang, and enjoys creating high-end looks at an affordable price.

Maroon Man

Colin Croughan is currently a sophomore at Fordham University and is a Communications and Media Studies major. After first modeling in the club’s annual show last year, Colin has become inspired to combine his interests in fashion and journalism. Colin hopes to pursue a career in the men’s’ fashion world and has come to love Fordham’s urban environment and close proximity to the city. Though Colin is excited to exhibit many Rose Hill fashion trends, he is particularly interested in sharing trends in men’s fashion that are low-effort, stylish, affordable.

Intern Diaries

Christina Corrado is currently a junior at Fordham University. She is a Marketing major in the Gabelli School of Business. Originally from Summit, New Jersey, Christina has always made time to get into New York City for internships, shopping, events, and more! Christina aspires to have a business career in the fashion industry.

Sponsorship Bloggers

Noelle Tomulich (also writer for Couture for the College Girl Fall 2011) is a junior at Fordham University where she majors in political science and psychology. This is the native New Jerseyan's second year working for the Fashion For Philanthropy blog and she is beyond excited to help her friends find stylish, catwalk-inspired steals at affordable, college-friendly prices. If only there was a financial aid application for a college girl's wardrobe!

Ellen Wray is a junior at Fordham University where she is a Communications and Media Studies major. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Ellen always dreamed of living and studying in New York City. She has always found inspiration in New York’s forward-thinking fashion scene and is excited to be experiencing it first hand.

Thank you to all of our bloggers, editors, sponsors, and club members who made it all possible! Have a great summer everyone! See you next semester!

Featured: Seventeen Magazine Comes to Fordham!

Molly Ritterbeck FCRH '10 and Yesenia Almonte FCRH '97
at Rose Hill Commons

On April 12, Fordham students and fashionistas had a great opportunity to speak with Yesenia Almonte, beauty editor at Seventeen Magazine, and Molly Ritterbeck, beauty assistant at Seventeen Magazine. Both Yesenia and Molly are Fordham Graduates and came to talk about some great tips for making it in the magazine business and beauty and fashion journalism.

What did we learn about careers in communication and working with Seventeen?

1. Be yourself in interviews! Employers look for sincerity and genuine characters to add to their teams.

2. Be sure to network! You don't know who might be able to help you out when looking for a job.

3. Experience is key. Working at great internships will be beneficial to a career after school.

4. Take advantage of the opportunities around you including the events held by Career Services and the city, of course!

5. Be prepared for an exciting job! Working in the magazine business is full of new projects and experiences to be had.

Be sure to join in on more events by checking out Fordham Career Services on Facebook and following them on Twitter @FordhamCareers. Be sure to check the new Career Services Blog for more events too!

Featured: International Bridal Week - Nicole Miller Edition

Every year designers, companies, exhibitors, buyers and customers gather in New York City for International Bridal Week. This year, the event was held April 14-16 and took over the venue at Pier 92. As an intern working for global fashion house, Nicole Miller, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend, work and enjoy the perks of Bridal Week. Nicole Miller is known for a lot of things when it comes to fashion, and bridal wear is definitely one of them--so of course there was no question that she would be at Bridal Week! Bridal market occurs twice a year here in New York and sales representatives from Nicole Miller lug in all of the up-and-coming bridal and evening-wear gowns and dresses, along with mannequins, lighting, posters, models, interns and lots and lots of Diet Coke.

Even as an intern, I had a lot of important responsibilities. First off, I needed to constantly make sure our booth looked perfect at all times. Buyers from around the country attend this event and it’s key that the brand you’re representing looks the best it can. It is all about presentation at huge events and trade shows like these, because you want to make your company and booth look special in order to draw in customers. The day I worked, there were two sales reps from the New York offices, two reps from the Philadelphia offices, two models and two interns, including myself. All of the reps had scheduled appointments throughout the day and my main task was to aid the models in trying on all of the gowns to present them to buyers and customers. Sounds like a simple task and it is, however, at times there are upwards to three or four appointments going on at once, so things get extremely hectic.

Overall though, my first experience at New York Bridal Week and at a major fashion trade show was exhilarating--and exhausting! I learned a lot though and it is really a perk to be able to see how actual business of buying such an important article of clothing goes down. It is so interesting to see how a big fashion company like Nicole Miller works, down to the nitty-gritty of being in a minuscule dressing room with four girls at once. I loved the experience and got a lot from it. It was so fun to be a part of the operations of a brand like Nicole Miller. I am looking forward to helping out with more events and trade shows during my time at Nicole Miller and have been enjoying every minute of it ever since I started back in February.

Alex is currently a sophomore at Fordham University and is a Communications and Media Studies major. Alex is completely enticed with the fashion world and living in New York City has only inspired her more to pursue a career in the fashion industry. She is greatly influenced by photographing and documenting street style and keeping tabs on the happenings of the fashion industry locally and globally.  

Sponsors: Farmhouse Fresh

Fashion for Philanthropy is excited to announce that Farmhouse Fresh has signed on to be a sponsor at our show. You may have heard of this bath, body and skincare brand after they were featured in Oprah Magazine, InStyle, Elle, People, Real Simple and more!

Farmhouse Fresh is unique because each of their products is 88%-99.6% natural, and Paraben & Sulfate Free. Many of their products are also Vegan and Gluten Free. They also sound and smell sweet enough to eat (although we don't actually suggest that) and have the most creative and cute names. You'll be able to find a gift basket filled with luxurious bath and body treatments, at our show. One lucky winner will go home with a Fluffy Bunny Shea Butter Hand Cream, Whoopie! Shea Butter Hand Cream, Sweet Cream Body Milk Lotion, Sweet Cream Body Scrub, Honey Oat Pajama Paste Mask AND One Fine Day Shea Sugar Face Polish!

Even though Farmhouse Fresh is based in Texas, you can shop for their products at luxury resorts, day spas, hotels and salons across the US. In addition to finding a list of retailers that carry their products online, you can also purchase some of their amazing products by visiting the Farmhouse Fresh site. They also have a rapidly growing fan-base on Facebook which you can check out here.

Sponsors: For Love & Lemons

For Love & Lemons was a brand that we happened to stumble upon this year while surfing the web; we instantly realized that we had to have their looks featured in our show. When they agreed we were ecstatic!

For Love & Lemons was founded by two childhood friends whose first business together was a lemonade stand. After studying marketing and fashion and working in the industry, the two were inspired to take their designs/sketches and launch their first collection.

We had a difficult time choosing from their look book since everything was incredibly gorgeous and easily could have fit in with the theme of our show! When we pulled the looks from For Love & Lemons, we've never seen the models get more excited about clothing. Everyone at the model fittings only had amazing things to say about the designs.

We also love what the For Love & Lemons girl represents:

She is efforlessly chic. She loves life, freedom and only the best parties. She is controversial and adventurous, bu never reckless. She stands out on her own. She is the new tomboy. She knows what she wants. And exactly how to get it.

Celebs including Ashley Tisdale, Kendall Jenner, Stephanie Pratt and Guliana Rancic have been spotted wearing this brand and on April 20th you can catch For Love & Lemons on our runway! To shop the looks simply visit For Love & Lemons online and be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Featured: Fashion Forward

Check out this AMAZING drawing by Fashion fo Philanthropy member Raúl Echavarría!

My name is Raúl Echavarría, born & raised in New York & ever since I could remember I've always been enamored by fashion. Its practice, its artistry, its essence & overall its ability to change a person's mood & disposition have always drawn me to inundate myself deeper & deeper with the craft & its intricacies. My reasons for loving fashion have generally been quite ambiguous & unfortunately suppressed. Although as one of my favorite designers (Marc Jacobs) once put it, "it's inexplicable which is what's so fantastic about it, I don't know why I love what I love, but I love that I don't know". Fashion to me is one of those intrinsically fundamental principles that if one is lucky enough to discover, it is necessary to relinquish all inhibitions, abandon oneself completely & adhere to it's limitless journey of excitement & whimsical prowess & let its vigor unconditionally resonate through one's being. 

This croquis that I drew demonstrates a lil' smidgin of how I consider fashion in the business casual sense & of course with the adornment of the FFP logo across the top clearly pledging allegiance to the club! I hope all of you enjoy pondering the drawing as much as I enjoyed making it! 

Sponsors: Freeman Beauty

Fashion for Philanthropy is excited to announce that Freeman Beauty will be participating in this year’s show! The company offers a wide range of products made with botanicals to help you stay beautiful from head to toe. Constantly researching the latest fresh and natural ingredients, Freeman works to create products that keep you looking good and feeling good. While Freeman has a large variety of affordable essentials, from exfoliating face wash to creamy body lotion, this year’s VIP bags will include sample of Pssssst! Dry Shampoo. Dry shampoo is a great way to quickly transform unwashed locks into clean looking and manageable hair. What more could a busy college girl ask for? To check out all of Freeman Beauty’s great products visit their website, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter!

Ellen Wray is a sophomore at Fordham University where she is a Communications and Media Studies major. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Ellen always dreamed of living and studying in New York City. She has always found inspiration in New York’s forward-thinking fashion scene and is excited to be experiencing it first hand.  

Sponsors: Popchips

We're excited to announce that popchips will be *chipping* in to help out with our show for a second year in a row! This year, popchips will be providing snacks for all of of our VIP guests. (Get your VIP tickets starting on April 16th before they sell out!) Founders Keith Belling and Pat Turpin created popchips in 2007 when they realized they we're slightly embarrassed about eating fried potato chips and didn't think that the "healthier" bland baked versions satisfied cravings.

For all you fashionable foodies out there, popchips are all-natural, healthy and delicious, so enjoy snacking on them at the show! Rather than baking or frying their potatoes, popchips takes a unique approach by adding heat & pressure to make spuds a delicious and healthy snack. Popchips are available in a wide variety of flavors including original potato, sour cream & onion, barbecue, sea salt & vinegar, sweet potato, parmesan & garlic, jalapeno, salt & pepper and chili lime. If you can't wait until the show to get your hands on a bag of these delectable treats, visit their site to learn more or find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Sponsors: DIGS

Fashion for Philanthropy is excited to announce that DIGS, Done In Great Style, will be one of our sponsors for our 2012 show. You may remember seeing two of their dresses on our runway last year. Well DIGS is back and has so generously donated three different looks which will be featured on our runway. And just to let you in on a little secret, they'll also be up for grabs to win during the show!

DIGS on FFP's 2011 Runway,
New York is My Runway, Fordham is My School

Located on 1054 Third Avenue, DIGS specializes in European clothing designs that will never go out of style. Since we last visited DIGS, they've opened another store in NYC, which is something to be excited about. DIGS new SoHo Flagship store is located at 284 Lafayette Street (between Prince & Houston); Jennifer Love Hewitt was even spotted there shopping this past winter!

When I went to pick up the designs and shop the looks at DIGS, the creative director of the company, Eva Rajwans was there to greet me; this year she was as excited as ever to help us with our show. I loved the chic atmosphere of her store, the friendly service and clothing and I can't wait to visit the new flagship!

Check out DIGS on their website www.digsmoda.com, visit them at one of their stores or get an exclusive behind the scenes look at the company by visiting their Facebook and Twitter pages!

DIGS Flagship Store via yelp.com
284 Lafayette St
(between Prince St & Jersey St) 
New York, NY 10012

Sponsors: Sarah McNamara

This spring, treat your skin to a powerful breakthrough formula designed to hydrate, prime, and protect your skin while nourishing it with a rich combination of antioxidants and vitamins! Available in six color mineral tinted shades, the Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 Face products have something for everyone and this year each lucky V.I.P. guest will receive complimentary samples that are sure to leave their complexions fresh and renewed. For more information on this revolutionary skin transformer, visit their website here or follow its very own founder and CEO, Sarah McNamara, on Twitter @MiracleSkin!

Noelle Tomulich is a sophomore at Fordham University where she majors in political science and psychology. This is the native New Jerseyan's second year working for the Fashion For Philanthropy blog and she is beyond excited to help her friends find stylish, catwalk-inspired steals at affordable, college-friendly prices. If only there was a financial aid application for a college girl's wardrobe! 

Sponsors: Stash Tea Company

Even the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland knew that no tea party is complete without one thing: the tea! Fashion for Philanthropy is delighted to announce that the Stash Tea Company has generously donated some of their delicious tea to our April 20^th fashion show benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation®. As one of the largest specialty tea companies in the United States, Stash Tea is devoted to selling high quality teas and products that enhance the tea drinking experience. Want to try this healthy and 100% natural drink at the show? Make sure to stop by our tea station—we will be serving Stash Tea before the fashion show and during intermission! Plus, this year’s lucky VIPs will receive a Stash Tea Company coupon and samples in their gift bags. With exotic and tasty flavors like Licorice Spice, Wild Raspberry Hibiscus, and Chocolate Mint, these teas are sure to be the talk of the party.

We all know that looking and feeling stressed is not fashionable, but for busy college students, it’s often hard to avoid. Yet I find taking a break to sip a hot cup of tea is the perfect stress reliever. So, check out the Stash Tea Company’s website to do some online shopping! You can also learn more about this great company by connecting through Facebook and Twitter! 

Ellen Wray is a sophomore at Fordham University where she is a Communications and Media Studies major. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Ellen always dreamed of living and studying in New York City. She has always found inspiration in New York’s forward-thinking fashion scene and is excited to be experiencing it first hand.  

Sponsors: Lilly Pulitzer

For years, Lilly Pulitzer has been making dreams come true for the boys and girls of the Make-A-Wish Foundation—and this year, for the second time in a row, Lilly Pulitzer will be helping Fashion for Philanthropy do the same. At our show this year, one lucky guest will have the chance to win a private shopping experience at the Lilly Pulitzer store on Madison Avenue in New York City! Your shopping experience will include the ability to place special orders and to pre-order from future Lilly Pulitzer collections, as well as the opportunity to mingle with Lilly Pulitzer specialists while dining on muffins and mimosas in the morning, or cocktails and delicious savories at night! Not only will this event be a once in a lifetime experience for you, but for a cause you care about as well! Get this: Lilly Pulitzer is going to donate 10% of all sales from your shopping event to the charity of YOUR choice! How chic is that!?

If you want to learn more about Lilly Pulitzer, be sure to check out their website or “Like” them on Facebook, where you’ll have access to tons of news and of-the-moment updates on America's favorite brand.

Noelle Tomulich is a sophomore at Fordham University where she majors in political science and psychology. This is the native New Jerseyan's second year working for the Fashion For Philanthropy blog and she is beyond excited to help her friends find stylish, catwalk-inspired steals at affordable, college-friendly prices. If only there was a financial aid application for a college girl's wardrobe! 

Sponsors: Shoshanna

Fashion for Philanthropy could not be more excited to announce that Shoshanna will be participating in our spring fashion show for a third time! This year’s show will feature TEN looks from the whimsical and detail oriented designer. Shoshanna’s bold prints and bright colors are a favorite among celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Zooey Deschanel. Our April 20^th charity fashion show will prove that these feminine and flattering designs are not only red carpet ready but are perfect for the fashion-forward college girl, too.

If you can’t wait until April 20^th to check out the Shoshanna looks that are sure to rock the runway, head over to the website to browse the newest collection and do some online shopping. Want even more information about the flirty, yet easy to wear designs? Connect with Shoshanna through Facebook and Twitter! 

Ellen Wray is a sophomore at Fordham University where she is a Communications and Media Studies major. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Ellen always dreamed of living and studying in New York City. She has always found inspiration in New York’s forward-thinking fashion scene and is excited to be experiencing it first hand.  

Featured: Helping Wishes Come True

Hello FFP Bloggers!

For those that don’t know me, my name is Silvia Marte and I’m Vice-president of Fashion for Philanthropy. I’ve been a FFP member for 3 years now, and it has truly been a rewarding experience! The fashion aspect of the club, for instance, our fashion shows, our fashion blogs, and our visits to FIT, are all very exciting! And I love preparing for our anticipated annual fashion show! Even though I love the fashion aspect, I have to admit that my favorite thing about the club is its dedication to philanthropy. Fashion for Philanthropy fundraises for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York, a non-profit organization that sits very close to my heart because I myself am a wish-recipient. The first time I heard about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, I was about 13 years old, and I was listening in on a conversation that my mother was having with her co-worker. Her friend had heard about this non-profit organization that grants wishes to children that have life-threatening medical conditions and she immediately thought of me. My mother and I were suddenly intrigued and excited! We had no idea that this type of organization even existed! We quickly filled out the applications and submitted the referrals and after a couple of weeks, a Make-A-Wish volunteer contacted my mother and I for a meeting to discuss my wish. I remember my big day when I finally had to meet with the volunteers to tell them what I wanted my wish to be. I was extremely nervous and shy but with much encouragement from the volunteers and my mother, I finally spilled it: ‘I wish to go on a shopping spree.’ With the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation team, I was granted a wish for a shopping spree at the Mall of Americas in Minnesota and an exclusive invite by Snoopy himself to the Knott's Camp Snoopy Park now known as Nickelodeon Universe. It was a dream come true!

My wish experience was truly amazing and an event that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I was treated like a princess, with the limo waiting for me outside my house, a volunteer picking me up from the airport and escorting me to the hotel, shopping in all my favorite stores, and meeting Snoopy. The wish experience made me forget about the hardships that my family and I were going through because of my condition. I finally was able to enjoy just being a normal kid. The Make-A-Wish Foundation gives once-in-a-lifetime experiences to thousands of children just like myself who want to experience a day with no worries or sadness. Make-A-Wish Foundation gave me as well as many other wish-recipients the encouragement and confidence to continue following our dreams even with our condition.

Fashion for Philanthropy club continues to fundraise and increase awareness for this amazing cause. FFP’s goal this year is to fundraise $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which will allow one child’s wish to come true! For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York, please go to http://metrony.wish.org/

Featured: Discounts & Disappointments - A Bad Black Friday

After enjoying the usual family Thanksgiving meal at my Godmother’s house in upstate New York, my sister pulled out a box full of Black Friday sales and specials. I reacted by asking her for the cleverly marketed blacked out Macy’s flyer. Ad after ad, I came to the conclusion that I would be foolish to not go Black Friday shopping for the first time. So my sister and I planned out where and when we would shop. We went back down to Long Island, and being the typical college night owls, we set out for Kohl’s at 11:30 P.M. There was a massive queue of people that I was not expecting to be there. Yes, I said queue. I say queue because everyone was standing in an orderly single file line across the front of the building. I was expecting a massive conglomeration of angry shoppers banging on the glass doors waiting for their blowout deals. Being the sly fox that I am, I slipped in as soon as the doors opened at midnight. I perused through the Men’s section and was terribly upset. When the only piece of clothing that I even slightly considered buying was from the Marc Anthony line, I quickly plugged my earphones back in and left Kohl’s with 8 pairs of black dress socks. That was not the outcome I had in mind.

Marc Anthony Dress Socks - Kohls

Next we were off to the Roosevelt Field Mall. Expecting no parking spots, my sister almost parked at our cousins’ house, which is a 10 minute walk away. That distance is something we would like to avoid if we had our hands full of Black Friday deals. Everyone was going to Macy’s. My sister decided not to bring the Macy’s coupons or our mom’s Macy’s card. That is when the lessons of the business school came to my mind. I realized if I went to Macy’s, I would spend amounts that I would regret. So we didn’t go to Macy’s and walked through the mall separately finding our favorite stores and looking for those great deals. I went to Express and was immediately suffering from claustrophobia. I left empty handed, because I was not about to spend about $200 on another suit. I ended up in H&M, where I was sweating more than I do when I go to the sauna and steam room after my gym workouts. I threw some elbows to get out of there and went to Guess. Guess had this sophisticated gray pea coat, something I’ve wanted for a while. It had the most awkward hood ever, and it was probably just me making the coat look great. I glanced at amazing watches there too, and glanced at their even more amazing prices before walking out. I walked in front of the high end designer name stores and thought to myself, “Nah, I rather eat on Arthur Avenue all week.” I found myself in the food court when I had the most outrageous craving for some chicken, and decided to go to Ranch 1 for the second time in my life. I waited on line for 5 minutes and waited 10 minutes for my order. That was the second and last purchase of my Black Friday shopping experience.

Nothing is trendier then chicken accessorized with bacon.

I’m not sure whether I am too much like Mr. Krabs or if I’m just not a good Black Friday shopper. I usually gravitate towards the clearance section anyways, and you won’t find me shopping without my coupons. I hear they have great prices on Fordham Road too. I got home at 3:00 A.M. and tweeted “What a fail! All i bought were socks... #Black Friday” It was the best I could think of being so mentally, physically, and financially distraught.

My sister bought a few things, but said she would do better the next morning because the sales go on until noon. We both slept until 11:00 and awoke to our dad screaming at us “WAKE UP!” upwards of a dozen times. We threw in the towel. We studied the advertisements for a few hours and failed. Reminds me of midterms....

--Robert Abballe (GSB '14)

Featured: All Hung Up

Melissa Luster is currently a freshman at Fordham University at Rose Hill, and has recently expressed her interest in drawing and sketching fashionable clothing. Most of her sketches are simple, and include trendy shirts and dresses found on their hangers. She finds most of her inspiration from Tumblr; collecting a variety of images that captivate her interest and provide her with new drawing ideas. 

Featured: A Private Shopping Party with Cynthia Rowley

If you haven’t heard of designer Cynthia Rowley, you are truly missing out! Known for her vibrantly colored dresses and beautifully delicate tops, this Illinois-native designer certainly made a name for herself in the fashion world. Cynthia Rowley has been featured as a judge on America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, and Design Star, giving wise advice to aspiring young designers.

Last week, we had an amazing opportunity to meet Ms. Rowley at her Greenwich Village store! I snagged this incredible treat of an evening through none other than Fashion for Philanthropy’s annual fashion show. Cynthia Rowley generously donated the chance to have a shopping party to our raffle and somehow the fashion-gods granted me the luck of a winning ticket.

(Look! This is my invitation! Not to rub it in anyone’s face…but this IS pretty legit.)

The experience was incredible. The staff was so nice and helpful, the discounts (of 20% off everything) were a great plus, and the clothes, of course, were B-E-A-UTIFUL. Five bottles of champagne later, just about all of my guests couldn’t resist in indulging in pieces of Cynthia Rowley’s collection.

CR even stopped in during her busy schedule to greet us and offer some style advice! She said great things about FFP’s efforts to make money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation!

Us w/ Cynthia Rowley!

I recommend visiting her store and checking out her stuff. Her designs are unique in their detailed structure and splendid fabrics. I think there is something in her store for everyone from clothing, shoes, and accessories, to bedding and men’s wear! I’m so grateful to have won this through FFP. (All the more reason to come to the next fashion show and win fabulous prizes such as this!)

It was a pleasure to meet her & I hope I get a chance to do this again!

Here are a few photos from the event:

XO,

Andrea

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Featured: Black Friday Survival Tips

1. Wear comfortable clothing! You'll want to be able to maneuver with ease around crowds and racks. It's also a plus when you need to try things on and don't want to waste time waiting for a dressing room.

2. Do your homework. Research the best deals beforehand and the various prices at each store. Print out any extra in-store coupons and plan your day (like which stores should you hit first). Try using www.bfads.net to help plan accordingly. It posts all the ongoing deals from a variety of stores.

3. Be reasonable. Consider whether or not you really need to purchase something. Avoid impulse buys just because it's on sale. (Unless you know you'll regret not buying it. Carry it around with you and decide later if you need it or not.)

4. Fill your online carts now for Black Friday or Cyber Monday so that all you have to do is apply coupon codes and check-out. It makes the process as simple and painless as possible.

5. Be green and efficient! If you plan to buy a lot, bring your own shopping totes that can double as a tool to make the grabbing process less chaotic. It will also save shopping bags at checkout!

‎6. Have fun! Make sure to go with friends to make this experience less stressful!

Good luck!

Featured: WHAT TO WEAR - FFP and Career Services Solve Fashion Dos & Don'ts for the Workplace

J. Crew - Two Button Jacket -- $230.00

By the time a student is in college, it is easy to know what kind of cute top to wear to class, what sweatpants would be the best to throw on for the gym, or what hot dress is perfect for a night out. However, it is not as simple for students to pull together an outfit appropriate for his/her dream job or internship. Luckily, all those problems in choosing the right career outfits were solved on November 2, 2011 in O’Keefe Commons. Fashion for Philanthropy teamed up with Career Services to put on a fashion show during The Career Dining and Etiquette Dinner to show off what exactly students should wear in a professional environment. 

Students plagued with career-wardrobe confusion arrived to the evening event to find an excellent dinner prepared for them (a wonderful break from the bland cafeteria variety).  After their meal, Fashion for Philanthropy members modeled clothing choices perfect for nabbing employment at any company.  In the first collection, models walked across the room displaying what to wear for a more conservative business event, which included polished pantsuit sets for men and women. The second set of clothing, however, was a bit more playful. The ensembles were more appropriate for a creative firm, such as quirky printed dresses with sweaters for women and polished cardigans over sleek pants for men.

After the Career Services Fashion Show was finished, the student audience had just about all of their professional wardrobe confusion solved, making them feel as knowledgeable of what to wear at their job interview as what they would throw on for a Fordham Rams basketball game!

-- Nicole Fishstein

For more exciting Career Services events, visit them here. Be sure to follow them on Twitter @FordhamCareers and visit their Facebook Page.