Photo by Brandon Pinola, Courtesy Birmingham Fashion Week
Elizabeth Singleton can say, without exaggeration, that Birmingham Fashion Week changed her life.
Last year Singleton — a University of Alabama graduate who grew up in Birmingham — earned BFW’s Emerging Designer title. She went on to intern with Birmingham Fashion Week founder Heidi Elnora and then moved to New York where she has interned at Rebecca Minkoff and is working on building her fashion design business.
But Singleton isn’t one to forget where she comes from. Not only did Singleton return to the Magic City for last week’s Birmingham Fashion Week 2014 events, but she also strives to let folks in the Big Apple know that Birmingham’s fashion scene should not be underestimated.
Both figuratively and literally, Singleton is making Birmingham look good.
How has winning the Emerging Designer award helped your career?
It definitely gave me more confidence to do what I like to do. It pushed me forward and inspired me to go for my dream, which is developing my own line and working in New York City.
After winning that, I did an internship with Heidi. She’s been like my mentor ever since the Emerging Designer competition. I did that through the summer. That was awesome and I learned a lot from her.
I moved to New York City in June and did an internship there.
Now my goal is just to develop my business and sell my pieces to boutiques in New York and Birmingham.
Your line last year was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia and you’ve said that you draw inspiration from artwork, architecture, history, literature, and nature. Do you draw any inspiration from your southern roots?
This last collection that I just showed at Birmingham Fashion Week was inspired by a photo of a sunset I took here in Birmingham while visiting for Thanksgiving. The lines and colors were all inspired by that photo.
How would you define southern style? Do you feel there is something unique about style in the South?
We put our own classy, traditional twist on trends. In New York I’ve noticed that no one has restraints on what they wear. Whatever trend it is, they’ll wear it; they don’t care what it looks like. Here it’s more controlled. If it looks good then we’ll wear, but if it doesn’t look good we won’t wear it.
How has being raised in the south influenced your sense of style?
It’s definitely made me more conservative. My designs are sexy, but still conservative. It leaves a little to the imagination. It’s sexy but classy just like the South.
Why do you think it’s important for things like Birmingham Fashion Week to exist?
Birmingham Fashion Week is great because it gives anyone who has this dream of fashion a chance to get exposure.
It’s a good way to get buzz here in the South as well, to show that we have fashion too here; we know how to dress too. It’s very good advertisement of the South.
And it’s something fun to do with your girls. You go shopping, put on cute outfits, and go with your girls to take selfies at Birmingham Fashion Week!
Do you feel that you are spreading the word about the Birmingham fashion scene in New York?
I do feel that way. I’ve met people from places like Texas, Kentucky, and South Carolina and they’re not proud of being from the South. I’m proud to say I’m from Alabama. I’m a good representation of what the South is. It’s a good way to tell people it’s not what you see in the movies.
The Birmingham Jane is a See Jane Write series of profiles on women in Birmingham who are making a difference in our city. If you know of a woman who is making a difference in Birmingham please send your nominations to javacia@seejanewritebham.com. And don’t be ashamed to nominate yourself!
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Style blogger Cydni Robertson wants to help you find your strut — your confidence and a unique sense of style. And on January 4, she’s giving Birmingham residents the chance to help other women find their strut too.
Robertson’s upcoming Serve and Strut Brunch will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Shula’s Steakhouse in Birmingham. The event will feature a three-course meal, live entertainment and door prizes. Tickets are $30 and are available for purchase online. Attendees are asked to donate a pair of new or gently used women’s shoes which will be given to Birmingham-area women’s charities.
“The theme for the Serve and Strut Brunch is ‘Give The Gift of Style,'” says Robertson who blogs at It’s Her Strut. “Through the shoe donation one woman can help another woman find her ‘strut’ or the confidence to walk in her purpose.”
Robertson sees empowering women through fashion as her personal mission and it was this mission that drove her to start her blog. “I started my blog in October 2012. That month, a close friend of mine and I were preparing for an audition to model for a breast cancer awareness fashion show. I’d be lying if I said this friend is anything short of ridiculously gorgeous, which is why I was shocked when she told me she was afraid to audition,” Robertson says. “At that moment I realized low self-esteem can prevent us from experiencing things in life. It can stop us from trying new things. The fear of not being good enough places road blocks in our lives that can take years to knock down.”
Thinking about all the other women and girls out there who might be letting low self-esteem and fear hold them back, Robertson launched ItsHerStrut.com. Today she’s also happy to report that her friend is participating in several modeling campaigns and competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant in August 2013.
Oftentimes, however, the fashion industry can be seen as the culprit of a young woman’s low self-esteem. Nonetheless, Robertson believes fashion can be a source of empowerment.
“When we wake up in the morning and decide what we want to wear for the day, there is power in that choice,” Robertson says. “It’s a moment filled with the opportunity for creativity and personal expression that most don’t notice.”
This is something Robertson learned at an early age.
“At 18 I realized that what I wore was a direct representation of how I was perceived by the world,” Robertson says. “Once I understood this power, I began to take control of my future — and my closet — and with each added piece, I made sure it said ‘This is definitely a Cydni piece.’ I didn’t have to compare myself to my classmates or the models in the magazines anymore because I had my own style now that couldn’t be copied. Once we stop comparing ourselves to whoever and whatever, especially the images that the fashion industry put out as what’s desirable, we leave room for self-confidence to build.”
The Birmingham Serve and Strut Brunch will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Shula’s Steakhouse, 1000 Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham. Tickets are $30 and are available for purchase online until Jan. 3.
Fashion’s Night Out may be on hiatus in New York, but in Birmingham, Ala., this annual evening of shopper’s delight is still alive and well. Birmingham’s Fashion Night Out is set for Thursday, Sept. 12 and is a must-attend event for style bloggers.
Birmingham’s (located at The Summit) will be selling select cosmetics, accessories and apparel tax-free all day and will host a cocktail party that evening. From 5 to 8 p.m. style mavens can enjoy Skinny Girl cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. You can also get a 10-minute beauty touch-up, which will come in handy since Big Swede Photography will be on site doing professional headshots. You can finally update that Twitter, Facebook, or blog avatar you’ve been using for over a year.
“We invite you to come out and see all of the new fall trends and show off your own style,” says Herman Heinle, President of Gus Mayer.
Admission to this event is free.
For the style maven looking for something a bit offbeat for Fashion’s Night Out, check out RE Fashion.
This is unique event seeks to prove that you can be environmentally friendly and fashionable, too. Set to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the trendy Aloft Hotel in Homewood, this event will benefit the Alabama Environmental Council in their efforts to restore the Birmingham Recycling Center. Models will be wearing exclusive designs by organic Birmingham fashion line, Earth Creations and jewelry by local boutique, Charm. The affair is the brainchild of local makeup artist and hair stylist D. Alex Tino.
There will be a small silent auction, also to benefit the Alabama Environmental Council. Guests can bid on one of the evening’s fashions, donated by Earth Creations and other surprises. The first 75 guests will snag reusable “swag bags” donated by Mountain High Outfitters and filled with goodies from sponsors like Cathead Vodka and Regis Salon – Riverchase. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information call 334.328.5856 or visit Facebook.
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By Chanda Temple
During a recent presentation on fall fashion, Arlene Goldstein, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction for the department store chain Belk, discussed how to wear the latest trends.
Goldstein suggested to look for fall clothes with strong lines and modern shapes that will create a fun style that exudes cool and confidence. She also stressed the importance of having the “basics’’ such as the crisp, white shirt and nice, black slacks.
Afterward, I asked her what’s one fashion tip she’d give women. Know what she said?
“Be more adventurous. Don’t pigeonhole yourself. Branch out.’’
Such words resonated with me because Goldstein was so right. There was a time when all I wore was black. I sometimes switched things up with grey or a splash of red, but the majority of my clothes were black, both for work and play.
Then someone told me that all that black didn’t fit me. They said it wasn’t my personality. I’m bright and bubbly and bold colors were a better fit for me. The black, they said, just weighed me down.
Reluctantly, I tried more colors. After a while, I started to see the light. Bright colors really did make a difference. People noticed. The compliments flowed. I felt lighter.
Just like how we try different things in writing, trying something new in fashion will impact your life. It will change you.
If you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone and do something different, here are some fall fashion tips from Goldstein that won’t break the bank:
Photo Courtesy of Belk
Choose a statement piece and embrace it. Consider bold jewelry or long, layered necklaces. There’s something beautiful about having jewelry that frames your face. It sparks a conversation and can finish an outfit. Look at the item as an investment and see how many ways you can use it.
Turn heads with cool coverups for fall. A studded motorcycle jacket, a fitted blazer or a Chanel-inspired jacket could do the trick. The day coat, an oversized piece, looks good when paired with a sheath dress that fits close to the body. A baggy dress just won’t do underneath that large jacket. And don’t forget those cardigans. First lady Michelle Obama is a master at working them into her wardrobe.
If you’ve been wanting to try the ankle boot, a must-have for fall 2013, go for it. Pair it with short or mid-calf skirts, skinny jeans, or leggings and an oversized fashion coat. For a splash of drama, try the open-toe ankle boot adorned with hardware. They give your outfit a certain edge. Savor the moment of how good change makes you feel.
The heat is on right now, but start looking for a leather jacket. It’s a chic way to cut the chill when the temperatures start to dip.
Look for a statement piece like this necklace from Belk, left, to bring drama and interest to your fall look. Or borrow from the boys, right, for something with a casual edge.
Borrow from the boys. Consider tweed, plaid pants, military jackets or a women’s officer’s coat with brass button details this fall.
Final note: When looking at pieces, ask yourself this: Does it add value to your wardrobe? Said Goldstein: “Fashion should liberate us and not fence us in.’’
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The fact that I didn’t meet Katie Frost until this year is unbelievable. We went to the same college, at the same time, and had the same major. We’re both teachers by day and bloggers by night and we even teach the same subject. We live in the same city and our husbands work for the same company.
Eventually, we did meet, via Twitter of all places, and in January we finally met IRL (that’s “in real life” for those of you who aren’t social media nerds like I am).
Before meeting Katie in person I already knew I would like her and not because we had so much in common. I knew Katie and I would be pals because of her blog Hems for Her.
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Hems for Her is a plus size fashion blog Katie started in Oct. 2011 after she was encouraged to do so by her husband, who’s also a blogger, and her students.
“I had been reading some fashion blogs for a few months, and I was really unhappy with the lack of high-quality plus size style blogs out there,” Katie says. “I wanted women to see that curvy can be beautiful, and that you can be confident and dress cute at any size.”
What I love most about Hems for Her is that Katie goes beyond simply posting a picture of her outfit and saying, “Here’s what I wore today, guys!” With every post she tells a story.
“I’m not sure if I am a natural storyteller or if I just like to hear, or read, myself talk,” Katie says. “I think that all readers enjoy a good story, and by good I mean from the heart. People aren’t dumb they can tell when you are being sincere. I don’t pretend to be perfect. I tell the truth, even if I look like an idiot!”
Those sincere stories got me hooked and I’m not the only one. Hems for Her receives more than 45,000 views per month and Katie has been able to successfully monetize her blog, earning extra cash for a new camera, web hosting and design, conferences and, of course, cute clothes.
Katie shares with us more secrets to her success.
SJW: Your blog has a lot of loyal followers. How did you get the word out about your site?
Katie: I wanted to be authentic in building up readership. Many bloggers try to get as many followers as they can, as quickly as they can. I prefer quality over quantity, and that has worked well for me. What keeps people involved and coming back is the relationship I’ve fostered with them. I always try to respond to every question, every comment, and every email. I interact a lot on my blog’s Facebook page and Twitter account. I love talking to readers!
How can you keep a fashion blog fresh with new content without buying new clothes every week?
I can see how easy it is to get into debt as a fashion blogger; however, I am a teacher, so that’s just not an option for me and my bank account! I focus on affordable clothing and “shopping your closet” (remixing and restyling what you already have). My readers are regular women with regular incomes — they appreciate someone working with a budget.
How did you decide to start monetizing your blog and how did you go about securing sponsors?
It took a long time for me to decide to monetize the blog. I was very nervous about being a “sell-out” or annoying my readers. But professional blogging takes money, so sponsors and ad networks are a way for me to offset the costs of running a blog.
I did so much research about different affiliates and ad networks, trying to find the right fit. I’ve turned down sponsors and giveaways before because it wasn’t a good fit for the blog. Again I want to be authentic. I’m not going to praise something that I wouldn’t wear or use myself. I’m also not afraid to contact businesses directly and ask them to partner with me. Several of my longest-lasting and best sponsorships were ones that I initiated. If you have a good product to share and the confidence to back it up, companies want to work with you.
What are some of your favorite fashion blogs?
Oh, geez! Asking me to play favorites? OK, I love Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen. She is the woman I hope to be one day — very successful, stylish and smart. Megan at Feathers and Freckles is my soul sister. She is a thrifting queen and wickedly funny. Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista has created a powerhouse of inspiration. She is the QUEEN of plus size blogging.
What tips would you offer regarding keeping a fashion blog interesting?
Some bloggers are very successful with a “Here’s what I wore today” post every day, but I knew I could never do that. I felt like every post would be “Here’s another dress from Target/Old Navy/Kohl’s”– I mean how boring is that!? Instead I try to write about whatever’s on my mind — some days that’s being a teacher, some days that’s being a curvy, confident woman, some days it’s about whatever dumb thing I’ve done recently. Early on I wasn’t sure if women even cared about whatever crazy stuff I’d write about, but the feedback I get shows me that, without a doubt, they do care. What I’m saying is resonating. As a teacher I know that being passionate about something can breed passion and interest in others, so I keep that in mind in my personal writing for the blog.
Would you like to be featured in See Jane Blog?
Email us at seejanewritemag@gmail.com and tell us about yourself and your site!
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