I have had a seriously interesting week. I have been busy procrastinating, rushing, and slumming. Here are some of the things I have tackled this week:

• Writing my next article for Style-ology Magazine
• Reaching out to more people in different positions in the Industry for Road Maps interviews
• Packing for my weekend trip to Seoul
• Helping a friend with her exercise routine
• Finalizing my trip back home to the States
• Applying for jobs in LA while trying to find a studio that accepts pets
  

This is a really interesting time in mine and my friends lives because it's an ending and beginning for us. Here in Korea we are leaving the financial and job security, but cultural discomfort we have come to love/hate for the past year and have to face some serious decisions about the following months/years. While back home fellow FIDM classmates are facing a new chapter and new beginning in what most of us still consider a very foreign land. With that comes stress, fear, frustration, and excitement.

I have listened to my friends talk about their Plans A-C, and others are just winging it. I have a plan that I am taking step by step, here is a preview (all of which will one day be a post on their own):

1.) Apply for Student Loans that will cover the rest of tuition

• Take Staci's advice and see if I can get a bit of loan money to cover living for a few months
• Let the amount I get to determine move #2

2.) Continue to Apply for Jobs

• Commit to more than just the Cut-Paste-Click Method
• Look into building a Writer's Portfolio

3.) Continue to Look for Apartments

• I have a dog and he is coming with mommy
• Studio is good enough for me - Hello have you seen Carrie's place?
  

4.) Make a Decision about How I am Getting to LA from the East Coast

• Drive or Fly?
  
• Mapping out a driving route, who to visit, where to sleep, AAA Membership

That is where I stop with the planning.

It has been some time since graduating college and at first I was really upset with myself for what I perceived to be mistakes that I made trying to live according to standards that were not my own. But that helped me to see this move to LA from the outside. It keeps the stress level down and the reason that I am moving out there in perspective. So here is what I have learned along the way:

• My Fashion Freeway is MINE - I determine my Point B and if I let someone else dictate my journey it's like letting them max out my credit card and sticking me with the bill.
  
• Remember WHY I am on that Freeway in the first place - It can be easy to get caught up in all the "billboards" on your freeway and stopping on your journey to see the sites for whatever reason. But this can prolong your journey and sometimes keep you from your Point B altogether.
  
• Travel at My Pace using My Road Maps- One of the reasons that I started this blog was to show myself that there is no right or wrong way to get to your Point B, our journeys are as diverse as we are. As long as my Road Maps do not directly harm or hinder someone else's journey I am free to ride Connectors, Change Lanes, and wait at a self created Traffic Jam for as long as necessary, as long as I am focused on my Point B. The variety of people with whom I have spoken about their careers in the Industry are all of different age, economic status, and education level. I appreciate that.
  

Now that brings me to the Traveling Music I chose for today; So Small by Carrie Underwood. This past week I have been doing a lot of listening and talking about some stuff that just doesn't matter. I think we have all lost a little bit of perspective and this song captures that so much. So for those of you who can't watch the video or just might miss the point these lyrics sum it up:







- Carrie Underwood Lyrics


Now Stop, and take a Deep Breath. Regain perspective as to why you are on your freeway in the first place. Some things are and will always be out of our control, but our Freeway is OURS. Go own it!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA"

Why is it that one recognizes a mid life crisis by the purchase of an unnecessarily expensive car, but one recognizes a quarter-life crisis by the purchase of water marked resume paper? What is it about the mid twenties that starts a sort of panic about what to do with our lives?

Too many sites, articles, researches and blogs have analyzed and over analyzed our generation and that is not what I am here to do. Gone are the days portrayed by Kirsten Dunts and Julia Stiles in Mona Lisa Smile. We are no longer going to college in sole search of a mate just to gain an MRS before a BA (I truly apologize to my male readers- just skip past this paragraph there is some universal stuff coming I promise). Our worlds are constantly changing and having a promised career after graduation is not the reality for some of us hence the additional degrees of any form. This is especially for my readers who like myself are not going back to school to get a Master's degree but possibly to learn, or perfect a trade or getting a degree such as an Associates. It's okay. My family totally went into shock when I told them I applied to FIDM. "So what are you going to do with your Business Degree?" That is the #1 question on their minds as if I can't use the two. So I explain it like this....."Well...if I went to school for pre-med you would expect me to go to medical school and then become a doctor, but what kind of doctor would I be? This fashion degree makes my business degree more specific." Good enough for some, not enough for others.

What my loved ones don't seem to understand is that there is still a small sense of panic that goes on like "WHAT AM I DOING?" I should have something that remotely looks like a career, and then I look at all these late teens early twenty somethings that have these great and blossoming careers...you know the ones that are like "ever since I was three I knew...." Well I didn't and I changed a few lanes before I ended up on this Freeway. But that doesn't count me out and I have found that I am not the only one...so if you are in your mid to late twenties and are having that "I should have been at this (fill in the blank) Mile Marker by now" moment then check these sites out and know that you are not alone!

• Quarterlife
  

This site is great. If you are not familiar with this show it follows 6-8 girls and guys in their mid twenties during their day to day. Really general I know, but their site is a phenomenon. When you first go to the site there is a tutorial so that you can use it properly and connect with more ql's of certain professions or interests. There are some really talented members on the forums with great advice and just like us they are just trying to make it and are willing to put their selves out there hoping to make the right connection. Go make a friend!

• Journey to 30
  

Sponsored by the new Dodge Journey, 5 real life friends take a road trip and talk about where they are in their lives now and where they would like to see their Point B. It's great to get a male perspective on some of the issues such as marriage, career, and family. I totally think that Dodge clipped my idea in a round about way, but....I'll let it slide if they keep the program coming. There is absolutely NO promotion for this mini reality series so stay posted to the blog and I promise to keep you updated. I'm totally addicted to this because the very last clip they talk about their journeys and you know I am all about other's stories as to how they got to where they are and where they want to go. It is everything that I want this blog to be about.
*Side note: This program is turning into a best kept secret so this is what you do to find it - click on On blast Specials/Originals the drag Journey to 30 to the center.

I am honestly no where near where I want to be in my career and it's good to know that my situation isn't unique. If your Point A is a little farther from your Point B than you thought it would be then think of this way....the longer the journey the more interesting the course, with some rocking traveling music.

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA"

Image by Gianluca Fallone : source

As many of you know I am in South Korea right now teaching English to middle school students, (today is the last day of school!) so there are many things going on in the States that I am missing that I would love to attend. Prime example:

To all my fabulous readers please go out and support Claire. I am a big fan of hers and I think that what she has done for brining the best and the tressed in Urban Fashion is amazing and inspiring. And if you can't attend but know a few good fashionistas in the LA area drop them a line about this event, and this blog! I am sure it will be fun. Click here to read about her Meet and Greet in NYC.

Break out the Evian , drop the top, and crank up the Traveling Music! Also dont forget to take pictures. Since I can't attend I will be living vicariously through you all! Happy Travels

The debut issue of Style-ology Magazine (tab above) is out and so is my first published article! I wrote the section "Fashion Candy", a section that features up and coming international designers and haute spots.

For this first edition Thai designer Nuj Novahkett and Brazilian designer Ivan Anguilar were featured. Below are my favorite pieces from the two collections:

Time is drawing closer to the start of the Fall Quarter at FIDM in LA and I am excited and nervous. One of my greatest fears after acceptance was not just paying for school but also being one of the few students who is not straight out of high school. I have a BA and am not so fresh out of college either so with this experience under my belt I wondered how exactly does this Professional Designation program work and how did someone who has been where I am headed handle this situation

Well through the previously mentioned Fashion Industry Network I was connected with Staci Rutherford of The Handbag Report. Staci has built an amazing business and website by using amazing Connectors and trusting her internal Road Map. She was willing to share her story and FIDM/LA experience with us and I hope this helps and inspires other Prof Des students the way it has helped and inspired me. And if you are a reader of this blog and are considering FIDM I definitely recommend contacting the school and getting a counselor to help you along, but it's great to hear it from someone who has actually been there. So for this edition of Road Maps...you know the drill:

My Road Map has been a roller coaster rather than a straight path to the finish line. From Hampton,VA to Washington, DC to Columbia, SC to Los Angeles, CA to Philadelphia, PA and back to Columbia, SC, you would begin to wonder if my life had any direction. My interest in fashion began at a young age. At that time, I was unaware of the many areas of fashion and careers associated with it. Eventually I abandoned my plans to attend law school, gave into the passion that burned inside me and went to fashion school. As my vision became more clear, my Road Map was constantly changing.

In a previous post I made the comment that you have to be willing to fail because when you are willing to fail at something you love you ultimately succeed. Well....Mme Co Co Chanel agrees totally. I came across this quote:

“Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable."

How great is that? To be seconded by Chanel? But since she said it first I will say to be in the liked-mind of Chanel.
So I decided to dedicate this post to quotes by the great Co Co Chanel that may help push you along your journey...Enjoy!

• “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

• “Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.”

• “I invented my life by taking for granted that everything I did not like would have an opposite, which I would like.”

So have you ever been driving on a long road trip and go....hmmm that sign looks cool, let's stop here. Well that is what I have been doing on the internet lately. I have been openly overindulging on fashion sites and blogs, and while I have found some pretty great ones none have really stuck out to me until.......

I am in love with this picture provided by Fashionation. Very little sites actually make me want to subscribe and get updates but while browsing my staple PR Couture (link on the side) they highlighted this site. So if they think it's cool worth a click right? RIGHT!


Next stop was this article about BAPE from a business aspect. You know that I am all about Business + Fashion so when The Business Of Fashion announced two new team members, and that one wrote his Master's thesis on this brand I had to read it!

IMHO I don't think it's just enough to know about WHO is wearing it, but also the story behind the company/brand that's being worn.

Many times we think that because so and so is wearing it or endorsing it in their songs (Kanye-Stronger "In my Pastelle or my BAPE sh---), that a brand is a success. But this is the total opposite for this company. As the author of the article puts it,

"...while one would be hard-pressed to write off the current state of Bape as a 'failure,' the brand value at least appears to have struggled in the last 5 years in Japan."

It kinda reminds me of "Mommy got a new promotion that makes way more money but she's no longer coming to my ballet recitals." Mommy's gained value in the office but lost it at home.

I want to work in Branding and BAPE's story is as interesting to me as luxury brands. In my post about luxury brands I talk about the Advertising to Market Share ratio being something worth studying and the article about the Japanese street brand raises the question of Revenue vs. Loyalty. Staying true to home. Is success a double edge sword?

Remember on Sex and the City when Samantha reassured Smith that this ad was a success:

and she told him "First the Gays, then the Girls, then the Industry?" Well Bape's story reminds me of that. Once you're brand is counterfeited by China...YOU'VE MADE IT! But at what cost to your Brand Integrity?

Side Note: I will now be researching and calling up the powers that branding be and get back to you with a post about Brand Integrity and Brand Loyalty

This article started all kinds of questions in my head. So read the article come back and leave a Stamp. Let's talk about this!

Last stop on my Freeway today was a special on On Style Network about shoes and they went inside Salvatore Ferragamo to see the shoes being made!

Just like in the picture the shoes are 100% hand made. I was so impressed. When you buy these shoes you are getting something special for sure. Talk about Brand Integrity! With all the craziness about sweatshops, outsourcing, and going green Ferragamo has stayed true to it's founder's vision and has given a quality product that is made of natural materials and assembled with a vegetable base glue! "Get into this Love Muffins" as B. Scott would say.

So let's talking about marketing shall we? How smart was it of Ferragamo to show their workshop to viewers, fans, and stilettoholics? How many of us out there who cannot realistically afford a pair of these beautiful works of art decide that one pair is now more necessary than a Toyota Prius?

So here ends my journey for today...hope you enjoyed the ride, leave a stamp and let's get this conversation going.
Image provided by: source

Time to get out on the road and start your Fashion Freeway:


Fashion and PR Agency Jack + Bill are looking for one (1):

• Model
• Women's Apparel Designer
• Jewelery Designer
• Fashion Stylist
  

Those chosen will receive three (3) months of complimentary representation from the agency!

Date: July 15-16
Time: 3-9 pm
Location: NYC - Sandbox Studios, 250 Hudson Street 11th floor
RSVP: casting[at]jackandbillpr[dot]com


WWD and W Magazine are looking for Fall Interns. Check out this post from The Fashion Bomb for more details.

*Also don't forget to check to the right for more jobs posted DAILY here on No Fear, Just DIVA

Good Luck!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back! No Fear, Just DIVA"

When I was a little girl one thing I knew that I did not want to do was start my own business. I just was never one of those people who wanted to build from scratch. I thought that it would be just enough to work my way up the corporate ladder in 3 inch stilettos.

But there are some of you who know that you want a business of your own in the fashion industry and if so I suggest you make
The Business of Fashion a bookmark now. They have a wonderful series Setting Up Your Own Fashion Business and it is a must read BEFORE you take your first step towards entrepreneurship.

Part 1 in an 8 part series, author Imran Amed takes his pupils through an extensive questioning that boarders existentialism. Geared more towards a designer than another profession in the industry, Amed is honest about the hardships one faces when starting and failing the first business building efforts. Part 1 also discusses:

• Building a team to "Fill in the gaps"

• Truly understanding your customer and what your brand brings to the industry that is not currently made available by other brands

• Thinking of yourself as "a CEO first"
  

All of which appeal to those who are looking to work in any industry. I personally started to think about whether or not I am a "Forward Planner" and how sharp are my "Troubleshooting Skills?"


Also for the self starters out there check out The Fashion Business, Inc. They provide great resources and seminars for start up companies that want to succeed in the industry.

Membership fees vary depending on your status in the business (students $35 annual fee up to 2 years after graduation), but the site boasts great exposure for your label and website as well as discounts on classes and seminars. Once again this is more geared towards designers, and in this case manufactures, but I think that it's worth a click.

One of the things that I have learned especially from starting this blog is that You Never Know What Information is Out There Until You Hit the Road and Put Yourself Out There. (yes the caps were necessary) Email them, (whoever) and ask questions. Be willing to fail. When you're okay with failing at something you love you will ultimately succeed.

Pretty late in the post the reason why I call this a Construction Zone is because when starting anything from scratch there is a lot of mapping out, tearing down. breaking, building, starting over, and waiting, all the while causing a traffic jam. Sometimes what can look like a whole lot of mess in the beginning can turn into something really amazing when it's completed.

Here's to the amazing...

If you have ever looked for a job in fashion anywhere, doing anything then I am sure this logo is very familiar to you. Apparel Search is one of the top sites to find a job in fashion and learn more about the companies that are offering them. Type "Jobs in Fashion" into your search engine and this is surely one of the top results.

I had the great fortune to interview the creator of Apparel Search, Michael, who is also the creator of the mega networking site Fashion Industry Network (FIN) where industry professionals, or those who aspire to be, meet and connect. Groups are created to connect those in similar fields and allow a greater visibility for those just starting out.

These sites are the perfect place to start your Point A. But how does one just starting on their journey properly utilize these sites that they too might see themselves riding along the Fashion Freeway towards the desired Point B? Here is what Michael had to say to my standard Road Maps questions, plus a few more:


I originally found interest in the fashion industry because my father was in the industry. As far back as I could remember, he had been an outerwear designer. Because I am not clever enough to become a doctor, I have followed in my fathers foot steps and entered into the clothing industry. During Junior High School and High School, I had several jobs. One of which was working at a clothing store called Mandees. During college, I worked one summer at Macy's. After graduation from college, I begin my formal career in the fashion industry. I have been working in the apparel industry for approx. 16 years (yes, I am now feeling very old). Nearly a decade building Apparel Search.

2.) What's your advice to those who want to best utilize both FIN and Apparel Search?

When utilizing the Apparel Search website, I suggest you start at the second page of the site. That is the page you will arrive to after clicking the Apparel Search image or click the word "Enter" after arriving at www.ApparelSearch.com On that second page, you will find key categories along the left border of the page. Depending on what you are searching for, you will need to select an appropriate category. You can then drill down thru the directory and hopefully find the subject that you wish to further investigate. If you are having difficulty finding the information that you are searching for, you can also try the search box that is found on the site. That engine is currently set to only search the Apparel Search Owned websites. If you still can't find what you are searching for from the directory or by using the engine, use the contact us form at the bottom of the page to let us know what you are searching to locate. We will try to point you in the proper direction.

In regard to the Fashion Industry Network, the best way to utilize this site is to create a very detailed user profile. It is important to allow other members to understand your experience in the industry and your goals. If you take the time to create a good profile, it will help you as well as other members. For example, if you are a fashion designer specializing in women's fashion, it is best to be specific and not simply list that you are a fashion designer. List your specialty so that you are not contacted by people looking to collaborate with a menswear designer. The more details that you provide the better for everyone. After creating a profile, I suggest visiting the "groups" section. Although we all work in the fashion industry, this is the section where we can more easily locate the people that have the most similar interests. For example, a hair stylist is better off in the stylist group then being a member of the sewing group. If a member has a niche interest that is relevant to the fashion industry and finds that we do not already have a group set up that matches his or her interest, the member can notify me and I can create a new group for them.

3.) Any Traveling Music? Any songs or videos that helped push you along your journey?

I enjoy music, but it is not a major part of my life...


I also asked:

• What inspired you to create both these sites? They are amazingly helpful to those that are in the fashion industry or would like to be in the future, how did the idea come about?
• Were there any challenges?
  
• When did you know that your sites were truly successful?
  
• What is your advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps of creating a successful business/site?

The concept behind Apparel Search was my desire to better organize my own contacts. I personally had many business cards from factories, wholesalers, retailers etc. Creating web pages, was a great way to organize my contact list. After I started to create web pages to organize my own resources, I decided to add a method on the site for companies to submit their company details. As information was submitted, I added new pages and new categories. I never looked back... and now Apparel Search is a very large directory.

In regard to challenges, I would say that the most challenging issue is that there is not enough time in the day. I have a zillion ideas on how to make Apparel Search better for the viewers. Unfortunately, I do not have enough time in the day to implement the ideas. The second biggest challenge is that when companies change their phone numbers, website address, etc., they do not always inform Apparel Search of the changes. Therefore, the listing will become inaccurate. The goal is to keep everything up to date. However, it is a challenging goal.


The Fashion Industry Network was developed as a method to help members of the fashion industry meet one another. The site is as helpful to me as it is to the other members. I have already made several great business contacts. The challenge of this site is to keep people off that do not belong... People that do not have a true interest in fashion are NOT welcome. Hopefully other members will continue to report to me if they start receiving correspondence from other members that do not appear to be business relevant.

As far as I am concerned both Apparel Search and the Fashion Industry Network are successful. As long as we have at least "one" member that finds the sites to be helpful, I am happy. In all honesty, I would not care if the Fashion Industry Network had only ten members. As long as we all helped each other out and treating each other respectfully, ten members would be a success.


There you have it! Crank up your Traveling Music, or whatever inspires you and get started on your Fashion Freeway now!
"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA!"