Month: March 2013

When Fashion Meets Business: FAB Counsel Event

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k150_19heel iconSo you wanna be a fashion designer? You may have some great sketches and great ideas, but do you know how to balance your money records, do your taxes, register your company name and trademark your designs?

When you have a creative mind, turning that into a business can be tricky and challenging (and frankly, not nearly as much fun.) That’s why there are pros who can help you out.

This week, another FABulous fashion and business event took place with the FAB Counsel offering a panel discussion of business, marketing and finance needs when you’re thinking of starting a fashion business.

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On the panel:

  • Mary Vallarta, Founder of FAB Counsel speaking on marketing strategy
  • Members of the Fashion Law Group – speaking on trademarks and intellectual property
  • Alexandra Scoggin: VP of Business Development at Bibby Financial (and one ultra stylish lady in her own right!) speaking on getting business loans
  • Members of PMA Accounting Services – speaking on financial record-keeping and taxes for small businesses

Every member of the panel may work in the not-so-glamorous tasks of dealing with financials and paperwork, but they all had a passion for fashion and helping start-up entrepreneurs.

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Some notes I came away with:

– Before you start a business, do your research. Know the market and the demographics of your customers.

– Know your competition and learn from them.

– Don’t over-reach, go niche. Gain people’s attention and spread your voice.

– Law may not be the sexiest part of your business but it’s  something you need to know

– Don’t skimp on marketing. You have to get your name out there and do it well.

– Don’t be afraid to ask for help, there are professionals out there who know how to do what you don’t.

– Choosing a business entity is all about minimizing risk

– You have to understand your finances. You need to know how much it cosst to produce each item and what you can afford to sell it for.

– Keep a separate bank account just for your business. You’ll need a DBA fictitious business name to start a bank account under a business name.

– There has been a spike in sole proprietorship audits. Get a CPA  to help you with your financials, then you have the time to be the creative that you are.

And an extra bonus of the night was the location in Tarina Tarantino flagship boutique on Melrose, where it was eye-candy galore in this very pink and ultra girly store chock full of their signature chunky, playful, blingy jewelry and rhinestone encrusted cosmetics. As an extra bonus, we also heard some words of wisdom from Tarina Tarantino’s head of marketing.

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So if you’re looking to set out on your own fashion biz, check out upcoming FAB Counsel events, they offer the knowledge you need!

Be FABulous,
Kastle

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Month: March 2013

Dress Like Mad Men

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k150_19heel iconWith just a few days to go before the premiere of Season 6 of Mad Men,  I figured it was time to let you in on some secrets I know in how to live the Mad Men lifestyle – mainly how to dress and drink like our favorite characters. Today’s blog post will let you in on how to shop for the looks seen on the show.

While I have always love ‘60s fashions for their fun silhouettes and bold colors, Mad Men has brought those styles back with a distinction all their own. Now when I go out in my best ‘60s era vintage I’m told,  “you dress so Mad Men,” which I of course take as a compliment because I love the show so much.

k_jbryant1Part of the reason I love it is the care they’ve taken to get every detail right to recreate the decade of so many cultural shifts. Part of that credit goes to costume designer Janie Bryant, who I had the pleasure of meeting during a book signing at my favorite vintage store in Burbank:

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 The store not only has supplied some of the amazing vintage seen on the show but it is such a joy to shop in. It’s in a gorgeous space with frescoed ceilings, the clothes are tagged by era, everything piece is in nearly perfect condition, they have a HUGE inventory of women’s and men’s wear at fantastic prices and the staff is super friendly and helpful.

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Clever Vintage Clothing

Another vintage source that has amazing owners is Clever Vintage who I’ve frequently featured in this blog because not only are co-owners Dave and Sabino so knowledgeable about their fashion history and doing custom styling, the are also fabulous party pals! Dave and Sabino travel all across the country to curate their vintage treasures. You can purchase their fine pieces at one of the many shows they participate in, including Helm’s Design District Vintage Boutique and Burbank Pickwick. Check the events page on their website for upcoming dates or make an appointment at their downtown showroom.  They did wardrobe for Peggy and Betty in two separate episodes. Remember these outfits?

 

It was a genius move of marketing to get a major department store to work with Janie Bryant to design a line of contemporary clothing with a retro feel and make it accessible to everyone.  Banana Republic has been launching a new Mad Men collection at  the start of each season for the past few years and this one is no exception. Bold patterns and rich colors are featured here.  And these are great pieces for me to wear to work and still have a mod feel since I don’t dare subject my delicate vintage to long office hours.

 

Check out their inspiration and behind the scenes of the collection here.

And get 25% off through April 30 with this coupon.

What Katie Did Lingerie

Now, even your best vintage won’t look authentic unless you have the right undergarments.  Want to look and walk like Joan? Put yourself into one of these corsets and not only will you have an hourglass figure like you’ve never seen, but you’ll just WALK in a different way, a SEXY way!

What Katie Did specializes in designs influences by the glamour of the ‘40s and ‘50s film stars but with contemporary fabric and structure. Plus, were else can you find a gorgeous bullet bra these days?

 

     

And if you can’t get your hand on any of these clothes, you can always dress up virtually and “Mad Men Yourself” through the AMC website:

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So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get dressed up and mix a cocktail. Can’t wait for Season 6, starting on April 7th!

Stay tuned for Part II of Mad Men series next week where I show you more of how you can live the Mad Men lifestyle!

Now go shop!
Kastle

Photos of Vintage Playclothes by Kastle
Photos of Clever Vintage, Banana Republic Mad Men Collection, What Katie Did via Pinterest

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Month: March 2013

The Makeup Show LA 2013

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k150_19Stiletto_City_heel_iconSZDI can’t think of a better way to spend a day than surrounded by makeup. All those little jewel-tone colors, powders and brushes just waiting to make us beautiful. I was a kid in a literal candy store at The Makeup Show this weekend where beauty brands come to showcase their products, launch new ones and cater to the makeup artistry industry in the quest to make people gorgeous.

Along with the wealth of product displays and head-turning looks on everyone from the attendees to the workers in the booths to the made-over models, there were panels to teach everyone new techniques, new products and a little business sense for professionals in the beauty industry.

I made a point to catch demonstrations from two of my favorite brands, NARS and Stila Cosmetics and they didn’t disappoint. Here’s what I learned:

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NARS

One of the most respected brands out there, NARS offers top-notch quality, colors that are innovative and on trend, and the wear is long lasting. I learned about their Botan brush that buffs their triple-milled loose powder into the skin for a flawless finish, the spring launch of their new light reflecting, translucent powder – great for under the eyes for no creasing and slight highlight, and their new satin lip pencils – the smooth, long lasting sister of their awesome velvet matte pencil, which I’m absolutely in LOVE with. You won’t believe the moisturizing, non- smudging color that comes from these little pencils. I wish I could afford them in every color!

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Stila

Being a fan of ‘60s style, I couldn’t resist a demo in “Mod Makeup” done the Stila way. I learned about their Beauty Balm, applied over moisturizer and under foundation for a slight dewy glow of mannequin-smoothness all over the face. I was impressed with the Stay All Day Foundation (applied with a spatula – now that’s a serious foundation!) with a matching concealer in the bottle cap that is high definition at its finest. And the glory of the Smudge Pot in black for the ultimate smoky eye paired with a pink Barbie lips for a look that screams Brigitte Bardot! Makeup artist and Stila Executive Director, Dominick Briguglio was also hilariously charming in his demo.

I was tempted to blow out my credit card on the deep discounts offered at all the booths but I had to control myself and just make a wish list.

Some other product discoveries I found included

Skyn Demure Temporary Tattoos

Ja’Maal Buster Lashes and cute hot pink Applicator

Senna Cosmetics Brow Palettes

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I stopped by the Beautylish Business Forum to catch a presentation on Social Media and the Internet in the Beauty Business and learned a few tricks on self-branding. The hot tip I learned – there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Look at what some of the most successful makeup artists are doing on the web and model them. Between Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Instragram, you can show your talent as instantly and easily as uploading a photo.

Walking around, I was blown away by some of the special effect makeup being done on the spot and of course all of the creative and beautifully made-up faces in the crowd. Check out the gallery by clicking the image below:

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What a great event! Check it out as it moves on to New York, Chicago, Orlando and Europe.  I’ll be back next year for sure!

Kiss and make up,
Kastle

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Month: March 2013

Dinair: Airbrush Makeup

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k150_19heel iconA few months ago at the Mimi Mae opening party, I met two fun ladies from Dinair  who told me the awesome benefits of airbrush makeup. I’d never tried it before and was curious about how it work and what it looks like. They said, “stop by and get a demo to see for myself.”

So I did just that. Dinair has its corporate headquarters and a groundfloor showroom in the North Hollywood area, where you can get an airbrush makeover to see how the tool works and test-run the product.

Set up with Vanity Girl Hollywood makeup mirrors* and an assortment of little bottles in all shades and colors, I was shown how to load the airbrush tool with a few drops of foundation and use the right amount of pressure to apply for light to full coverage. The airbrush feels like cool air being blown on your face as the foundation mist is so light it never feels wet.

I was then given some blush and choice of eyeshadow – I chose a champagne color with some dramatic shading of dark blue. My makeup artist was even able to do eyeliner by holding the airbrush close to the skin and using a dotting technique. She also filled in my eyebrows with the help of a stencil.

She finished off the look with some highlighter on my cheekbones and a quick blast of  “sealer” all over.

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I looked in the mirror and loved it. The foundation was so smooth and the coverage was way more even than I get with regular makeup applied with a sponge, my fingers or a brush.

I wore it out for the night and the makeup stayed put. I only had to do a little powder on my nose late into the evening but other than that, no shininess or creasing.

I was impressed. Want to try it? Ring up Dinair and get a demo. They’re open on weekdays and Saturdays. The kits are available in the showroom or for purchase online starting at $129 for the Personal Basic Makeup System. They also have more extensive professional artist systems, a body kit for “Air Tans” (a little more involved as you’d probably need someone to do it for you and a tent to stand in so it doesn’t go all over the room.) I was also intrigued with the stencils to do body jewelry, temporary tattoos and wild eye makeup.

Get airbrushed!
Kastle

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