Something New at UFN

Tonight I started a little social networking page and would love for you all to check it out and join us in cyber space. :) See you there!!

Henri Bendel Open See is MONDAY

I just learned from local jewelry designer Xenia Mara that the Henri Bedel 'Open See' day is Monday! Quick, buy your airplane ticket and head on over to NY for your chance to show your product to the buyers of Henri Bendel. I did it a few years ago and it was a fun experience!

I will say though that I got there at 3am to stand in line and we were #3 and #4 in line. We waited till about 9:30am, they opened the doors and took a chunk of us in. We were quickly walked down to the buyers, we sat down, they asked for our samples, looked them over, gave me a card and said they'd be in contact. It lasted about 5 minutes. I did get a call back but in the long run nothing came of it, even after a return flight to NY to take all my samples to show...

I would do it again though - I met some of the most amazing designers!!

Good luck Xenia - you will do great!

Bravo TV is looking for Designers!

Project Runway has moved to Lifetime and it seems Bravo will be starting a new show of their own... They are looking for designers to audition. Here are the details!!! Good luck to ya! ;)

BRAVO TV NOW CASTING FASHION DESIGNERS FOR NEW REALITY SERIES!

Do you think you have what it takes to be the world’s next hot fashion designer? We are looking for designers to be part of Bravo's next fashion design series! We’re currently accepting applications from talented designers where the winner will win a large cash prize. Let Bravo serve as the launching pad to catapult your fashion career into high gear!

All applicants MUST meet with our fashion consultant at one of our nationwide casting calls (LA, NYC, MIA, CHI) in order to be considered for the show!

You can download the application and find out how you can apply by going to their website!

LOS ANGELES CASTING INFORMATION

DATE: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2nd, 2008
TIME: 9AM to 6PM
LOCATION: APPLE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE
665 N. Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood CA, 90069

You must bring 3 articles of clothing that best showcase your work as a designer as well as a portfolio and a completed application to the casting!

Download the application by going here.

NW Women's Show weekend

It was a very long weekend spent at the NW Women's Show. We had a huge booth filled with 18 amazing local designers in the new Living and Eating Green section.

Sadly we came to find out the show was more along the lines of marketing your business versus selling product so it wasn't the best show for all the designers. However some had some big success! UFN handed out tons of cards and info so hopefully we'll get some residual traffic from the show.

Our friend, Devon, the President of the Fashion Group at Seattle Pacific University, helped us by sending us two fashion students who were so very helpful on Saturday!! Thanks ladies!

Check out our pictures from the show!

If you're a designer and were at the show we've created a survey... We'd love your feedback on how it went for you, etc...

Another contest for designers...

P.Valentine boutique officially announces the first annual "City's Most Loved Designer Competition"

In the spirit of Project Runway and a pursuit for new design talent, P.Valentine in conjunction with IconStyle Inc. launches its first annual "City's Most Loved Designer" competition. Emerging designers will register for a chance of a lifetime to become the "City's Most Loved Designer".

Profiles of all participating designers will be posted for the city to poll on who they love the most. Although voting last for only one week, profiles will be on review for 29 days. Its fare game for all that apply and a great way to show Atlanta what you've got! Registrations opens Jan 16, 2008.

The public poll will open February 1, 2008 and close on February 8, 2008. The public will view your general profile/design and make their vote for the top 8 designers. From the top 8 designers judges will pick the final winner. Designers are chosen for the show based on submission through IconStyle.com and selected by some of Atlanta's most noteworthy fashion, academia & media professionals in the market.

P.Valentine requires that showcase designers have assembled their own collections and have shipped and sold at least one collection to at least one boutique or store. The shows are for designers who otherwise do not have the logistical or economic resources to mount their own professionally produced exposure event at this point in their career.

The winner of the competition will receive a signature window display and selling opportunity through P.Valentine boutique, marketing support from IconStyle Inc., a profile in BrownFashionista.com, an interview on Clutch Magazine TV, and an installation mixer privy to Atlanta's most fashion forward individuals.

To Register as a Designer visit: www.iconstyleinc.com

For more information visit: www.myspace.com/pvalentine

Media Contact: The Garner Circle PR
P: 770.256.1800 E: pr@thegarnercircle.com

SIDE NOTE: I didn't see anywhere where you have to actually be an Atlanta based designer... so it appears anyone can enter1 Best of luck!!

No more turkey for me...

Thanksgiving is officially over... your neighbors (maybe even you) are probably putting up their trees and lights which just means that Christmas will be here before you know it.

My Thanksgiving was really good, hubby and I had some friends over to celebrate the day. We lounged (alot), cooked, ate (alot), drank and socialized... I've been eating leftovers since Thursday. I'm ready for the fridge to have non turkey day food in it... I really am. No more turkey, no more ham, no more green bean casserole... you get the idea. I long for pasta, salad, pad thai, sushi, even pizza... (not all at once of course, I'm not a pig people! geesh!)

So anyways, starting a new topic now. I Heart Indie Holidays was on Saturday. Regina and I went down to the Seattle Center to check it out. I figured we would know alot of the designers but I must say I was pleasantly surprised as we only knew two. It was cool to meet some new designers in the area. We love all the designers we have met sofar but who knew there were even more out there. The show had a great variety of items, the designers were well selected, it seemed to me to be a good shopping experience. Well done Cassandra!

After the show I headed home and updated the site with some of the new designers we met. (Check out the site for lots of new designers). One use we'd like to see the site used for is for consumers. Our vision is you would be thinking "Man I sure do want a cool necklace for my holiday party" so then you head on over to the site and go to the jewelry designers page, scan down the page looking at the thumbnail images (for ideas) and then you see one (or ten) that catch you eye. From there you visit the designers website and buy from them. See, easy peasy! Of course we have several designers sections to choose from: Accessories, Art, Beauty, Men's Clothing, Women's Clothing, Jewelry, and Handbags.

I also have a confession to make... I am addicted to the ABC Family Channel and their corny movies... Today I watched Three Days with Kristin Davis, Christmas Do-over with Jay Mohr, and Christmas Caper with Shannon Doherty... OH and I haven't brushed my teeth all day (to be fair I never left the house)... I'm living on the edge today! Don't judge!!

Kate Spade Sample Sale - HURRY!

TODAY ONLY!!! Up to 60% off! Go here to check out the sale!

If your looking for more sales in Seattle, Portland or California check out our Urban Fashion Network Sales page! We try and keep the page updated with sales from the West Coast. If you have any sales you'd like added to this page let us know, we'll put it up.

P.S. We definitely need more for California... So come on California, send us your sales! ;)

I don't know about you but when it comes to Holiday shopping I try and seek out the best sales. It's so easy to spend loads of money on gifts so why not actively try and save some this year! That'll just give you extra cash for a well deserved trip when it becomes sunny and warm again.

Also, don't forget to check out local shops in your area - support your local stores and designers! Everyone loves unique items and what better way to satisfy that desire than buying from local designers who tend to make one-of-a-kind or unique items that can't be found at Nordstrom, Macy's, Dillard's or whatever large department store is in your area. Don't get me wrong, I love the large dept store but I have found a fondness for the local boutiques and designers. Plus, you can find reasonably priced pieces and great sales. My thoughts on how I couldn't afford boutiques have been squashed by shops like La Rousse, Bouncing Wall, The Industry, Duque, and many more. (For more shops check out our boutique section).

I love owning something most people won't have. surely I'm not the only person who feels this way... Right?! Happy shopping!

I came across this SUPER COOL site!!

I was searching for some fun fashion sites and I came across this site, Popgloss, somehow... OMG, I am in love with some of the products I see... Check out this AMAZING jewelry from Nectar Jewelry!!! I literally want to buy everything I see... If you are a designer, this is the site you need to get on, they have such an amazing eclectic mix of products... Some of the most unique items I have seen...

Some of the items on the site are so great I just don't know how to explain them. I saw this picnic dress and it's so funny and kitschy that it makes me like it more and more... The dress is made from Reddish from Israel, they created the Buttercup dress from three different food related fabrics. I just think it's so clever!!! It would go perfectly with that cute Kate Spade Cape Cod bag I've secretly been wanting... whoops, guess the cats out of the bag on that one.

I got my "Shop It To Me" email today!!

I signed up yesterday for the free alerts on sale items, I love a good sale!! I just got an email this morning and there were a few cute items in there:

From Bloomingdales
Cole Haan "Air Tatum" Thong
Reg $145.00
Now $101.50

Nanette Lepore for Keds "Nanette Sneaker"
Reg $60.00
Now $42.00

From Macy's
MICHAEL Michael Kors Printed Blouson Top
Reg $59.50
Now $44.63

Ok, so enought about that. The whole point of this blog is to talk about fashion but to put an emphasis on up and coming designers/handmade designers. On that note, I recently purchased t his adorable t-shirt from a designer out of Texas. I LOVE my shirt!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! The company is called Harrilu, check out her shop!

This is the shirt I bought!!

Unzipped

Today I went to Unzipped at Seattle Center with Regina and Melissa to check out some local and not so local designers. We gathered tons of business cards and pictures to use for the new website. I met some really cool designers and it made me even more excited to get the site up and running.

Skirts from Darbeka - so cute!!









Enameled jewelry by Alisha Louise