College Fashionista story and photos are UP!!!!

Well gnag the photographs and story are up on the website, and if you want to read it directly on the site here is the address...... http://www.collegefashionista.com/2010/03/03/designer-spotlight-sew-your-love-for-haiti/

With only two weeks to prepare, the student fashion designers at Kent State really wowed the crowd with their innovative takes on South American and Island culture. The winning designer, freshman Charlie Dale, decided to enter the contest after seeing a flier on a bulletin board. Here is his account, along with photos of his design with the second and third place garments.

Why did you decide for “Sew Your Love for Haiti?


“When I saw the flier at school I actually thought about it for a week before I finally decided to do it, and at first it was having the chance to show my clothing on the runway for the very first time, then it became about this great cause, helping people who really needed it. I have been involved with many different charities over the years, it is something I really believe in, and besides, it is good Karma.”

How many hours did it take to complete your design?

“The hardest part for me is getting the design out of my head and actually bringing it to life. Hours I am not sure, I know it was 2 1/2 days worth of work squeezed in between my homework; the one day was 12 solid hours.”

What were you most inspired by for your design?

“This may sound crazy but it was just the fabric choices I made. They were all colorful, flowing, beautiful fabrics and I would say I saw in my head this incredibly classy, fun woman sitting at one of those beach bars with a frozen alcoholic drink (my favorites by the way) in her hand, and she is cruising the really buff guys in swimsuits. She knows she is, but not everybody else is aware of it. Then at any given moment the right guy comes along and off she goes into the water after him!”
     Photograph is Beatrice Luu and her design 2nd Place

 What did it mean to win this competition?

“Frankly I am still stunned, I wasn’t expecting it. I did the best I knew how and hoped the crowd would love it. Winning validated my choice about going into a fashion design program because when I first came to KSU in August I wasn’t sure what I should major in. Fashion however has been in my blood my entire life, I have literally sewn since I was four years old and was taught by my grandmother. Winning meant and means so very much to me, I am hoping it is a great beginning to a great career.”
     Photograph is Kyinn Lin and his design. 3rd Place
What is your design aesthetic?

“I would have to say clean, classic, timeless, graceful, beautifully constructed and hopefully something you want to wear over and over again. Very much like a good classic Chanel suit, something that grows with you and becomes part of your every day aesthetic.”

Who are your favorite fashion designers?

“Coco Chanel, Bob Mackie, Adrian, Edith Head, Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Gianni Versace, Christian Dior—-there are so many!”

What would you like to do after graduation?

“My BIG dream is to work for Broadway and movies!!! I just adore huge lavish costume movies. I also would love to do speciality things like for the Oscars, Grammy’s, Tony’s, that kind of thing. Although here lately all my friends keep saying “So Charlie, when are you going to be on Project Runway”? I just smile as it had never crossed my mind, but I would give anything to meet to Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum!”

Well, thank you Charlie Dale, for deciding to enter, and a special thank you to Beatrice Luu and Kyin Lin who received second and third place mentions for their wonderful designs! All in all, The Fashion Journalism Team and Fashion Student Organization were able to raise over $1600 for the Unicef relief effort in Haiti.  Article writeen by Stacey Thomas

Thoughts for the day and over 4,800 hits

I first want to share some links about the "Sew Your Love for Haiti" event that Stacy Thomas was so nice to send to me and the blog.  Stacy was also the co-ordinator for the event.  So Stacy if your reading this you have been the GREATEST, and I am so happy to consider you a friend.  Stacy was actully the first student I met at Kent State--so it is a special friendship, even if I had not even placed.  Those websites are:

http://www.collegefashionista.com/2010/02/15/kent-state-university-sew-your-love-for-haiti-recap/

http://www.blacksquirrelradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=521:sew-your-love-for-haiti&catid=57:kent-state-news&Itemid=29

http://www.fashionablycleveland.com/?q=node/677

I am also pleased as punch to announce that the photoshoot for Collegefashionista is TOMORROW!  Thankfully it is going to be held at the Kent State Main Branch Greenhouses, so at least for awhile it will feel like we are in the tropics.  It will be such a nice change from all this $%*&%$# snow we have had here lately and according to the news tonight, we are getting even more of the stuff.  Guess if it keeps it up the Easter bunny is going to need Santa's sled and reindeer .

I am a little nervous about tomorrow as I have not been on a photoshoot in many years, I have directed a few in my days when I worked for Neiman Marcus like a hundred years ago, so you can see where the nerves come in.  It is also exciting as then the website Collegefashionista is putting them up!  All these days later it still doesn't seem real!  This is the first time I have ever won anything like this in my life and I am well just pleased as punch.  Meeting some of the students already in the program there at KSU was my biggest highlight and hopefully we will become fast and close friends!

My first History of Civilization II was yesterday and hopefully I think I did fairly well it has been a hard class but I am learning so much iti s unreal.  Painting I is going real well and I will be doing this competition for the Canton Art Museum, waitig for my teacher to get more of the details.  It has beena very busy time.

Today was my "crash day" as I call them and if you have been reading me long you know that is my day to sleep after class it has been a little rough dealing with the Fribromyalgia and the AIDS this semester but I am coping I think rather well.  All in all it is the time of my life.

I just noticed today that somehow my little blog has had over 4,800 hits so I want to take the time and thank all of you for reading, responding and being part of my life--it means more to me than you may ever know.  I also know that for some of you this whole fashion thing has been a huge turn away from Oz and Judy and the collecting but fashion is becoming my life with the collecting as a side bar.

Fashion was in my life way before Judy ever came into the picture and like I told the reporter from the Kent Stater Daily I have sewn since I was four years old.  You can see what it than means to me being back in school for it and finishing a degree I left now almost 19 years ago when I became ill. I finally feel like I am the person I was before AIDS ever entered my life.  I am just so glad I have the chance to do it and by G-d I am GOING TO!

Until next readers, I am so glad we had this time together.

And the Winner is................................

Well, how do I begin this blog today? So many options and I think the easiest is just go step by step as it actually happened.

Friday night after the show at 11 p.m. Stacy the co-ordinator e-mails me asking do I want tickets for Saturday night. So Jim e-mails her back and says yes. So Saturday night rolls around and we are chatting pre-show with this charming 21 year old fellow ( I am horrible with names by the way) who will be a sophmore this fall and adores designing in black and white.

Stacy a litle later comes by and says we want all the designers back stage for a final Designer's cat walk so be there before the models take there final walk. The fellow from before a little bit later says "Well I know I am the fourth to last so you and I should head back then".

I do and my model hasn't even hit the runway yet, not even the first time and off I go. So by the time I get back there the models have done their final spin and we are all standing in the dressing room. Everything is deathly quiet and the model says "You seem nervous". I say "I am very nervous, its my first runway show ever and she grabs my hand and holds it the entire time.

We are right by the stage, still backstage though and the assistant to Stacy says we need and she mentions two other names and mine to move to the front. Stacy says and the third place winner is---- which I forgot her name, I just knew it wasn't me. Second place is---- again not me!

At this point my mind is completely and utterly blank. Thinking utterly nothing, feeling utterly nothing. The model squeezes my hand hard and Stacy says "And in first place-----CHARLIE DALE"! I about died!

My heart was pounding, my breath was short and I was quaking literally in my shoes! I couldn't believe it! Still can't. Anyway all these people taking photogrpahs and all of us talking on stage. The model congratulates me and says "I knew you had placed before the show started but I didn't know where and I am so happy for you".

This girl comes up to me and asks for an interview so near the end I ask "When is it going to  be on Collegefashionista.com" and she says "Oh no, sweetie I am with the Kent Daily"!

Kent Daily is the college newspaper that goes out to all the Kent campuses across Ohio! I about fell over. The article is about the event and of course what we spoke about! Un-freaking-believable!

Stacy than says well "We had to give it to you because all the judges and myself ADORED what you did, it was so well constructed and we want you at the photo shoot". I said "Photo Shoot, what photoshoot"? She said "Oh sweetie, its this professional photoshoot for collegefashionista.com its part of the prize. The photographs, the web site thing and an article in the Kent Daily.  I'll get a hold of you and let you know the details, congratulations you deserved it!

Still speechless we gathered up our things and were among the very last to leave the building.  So I guess when I closed my post yesterday I was right...... Charlie Dale FASHIONISTA! Besides we raised money to help those suffering right now and UNICEF will help us to deliver that help to them, and I was part of it. That my friends was what it was all about!

Until next time, I am so glad we had this time together!

Sew For Haiti Photos (on mannequin)

Well finally, I got those pictures developed of the outfit I did for the Sew Your Love For Haiti Fundraiser at KSU School of Fashion design.  Let me tell you kids, the model they had got for me was FIERCE, she worked that outift llike no tomorrow! Her hair and makeup was FAB-U-LOUS and girl had an attitude which sold the outfit even more in my mind! I was the ONLY pant in the entire show which made me stand out! I was also the only designer with accesories which also made me stand out!

After being at my first fashion show I understand what they mean by a model has to know how to walk because kids some of it just wasn't pretty!  Some of these poor girls never smiled, had no attitude and walked not well at all.  No other way to put it, unfortunately.  Maybe they were friends of the designers and never wanted to bea  model because some the attitude was "I can't believe this %$*#%& and I am wearing this as well!? Maybe it was sheer nerves, maybe it was the first time they wore high heeled shoes who knows it was just off.

I was so nervous the whole night it was unreal.  But than my model hit the runway and my heart flew out of my chest!  The music was fabulous, the room was packed as we had a SOLD OUT crowd and when the models did the final walk it was amazing!

My outift is a Batistite top, a Chinese Silk pant that is more Magenta than burgundy, the Organza purse, head scarf and belt.  The necklace is made of coral, pearl and faux findings I had laying around. Hand rolled hems and everything was a size 6.  I do get the outfit back and I may have a buyer for it as well.

Anyway tonight we are going again because they announce the winners of the competition.  Hopefully I place but if not oh well it was a great cause and a great night.  My design on the runway!  I was also asked to do another show to help raise the funds to put together the Senior Fashion Show.  I get to desing what ever I want, but I need to find out more information.  I said YES!

Until then Charlie Dale Fashionista has one thing to say......

Dress Up For Haiti

CollegeFashionista.com has teamed up with The Fashion Student Organization at Kent State University to co-host a fashion show in order to support Haiti relief. All proceeds from this event will be donated to UNICEF. Our hope is that this event will be our way of showing that college students are dedicated to this cause. The runway designs seen at this show will be based around traditional South American garments in their culture. The event dates are scheduled to be February 12th and February 13th.


In order to prepare for the show, we have made CollegeFashionista Haiti relief shirts that will be auctioned off at the event for proceeds. In addition, we will be selling the shirts on our website for all of our readers to purchase.

If your in the area, definitely come out and attend the show. Our Kent State Gurus will be voting on the best look of the evening and we will post it for everyone to view on the site! For the rest of you, the shirts will be on the site soon for purchase. All t-shirt proceeds will be donated to the UNICEF Relief Program in Haiti

All work and no play

Between the never ending mountains of homework and the Sew For Haiti Fundraiser at KSU I have had precious little time for anything else today. Besides it seems that I am going through a rather rough spell with fatigue because of all the pressure and fibromyalgia. Tomorrow plan on doing a post about being Gluten free and is is a year anniversary since I have.

Thoughts on today

I first want to take the time and thank the responses I got on my Fibromyalgia post, it meant so much to me that someone out their in "internet land" is reading me. I also wanted to say I have heard about people lessening or "recovering" from Fibromyalgia but have not investigated it that much. I have how ever a year ago went on a gluten free diet which has helped me tremendously. I want to post more about that on Sunday as that is my one year anniversary of going gluten free.

In the meantime homework this semester has me damn near buried alive but somehow I am doing my best to try to stay at least current with it.

On a lighter note KSU is doing a fundraising event for Haiti called Sew for Haiti that is going to be gettign a lot of press and media coverage and I have decided even though I have like only 5 days to pull this off I am going to DO IT! The winner receives coverage on collegefashionista.com besides all the local stuff. So I will be doing my own version of Project Runway! 5 days plus school and a budget of $40 bucks thanks to Jim.

My finished garment WILL BE POSTED here for all to see and hopefully photos fromthe event as well. It will be the first time my stuff will EVER be on the runway---EEEECCCCKKKKK!!!!! Besides its a great cause. So until tomorrow............ I am so glad we had this time together!