Monthly Archives: July 2007

Designer To Watch: L’Shandi

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July 14th was the official launch and one year anniversary of the L’Shandi line by Lara Akinsanya. Attendees were treated to not one, but TWO fashion shows, at the fantastic Glenview mansion in Rockville. The outdoor fashion show was held on the grounds of the mansion (gorgeous!) and the models walked on a real catwalk with tricky steps to boot (and no one fell!). The indoor show was held in various rooms in the mansion and was the perfect setting for the more upscale designs featuring African lace designs. The whole event was exquisite and the presentation and execution flawless. The outdoor show lasted about 10 minutes and featured at least 20 outfits in African wax print. We were all at the edge of our seats waiting for each model to make her an appearance in a new L’Shandi wax print design. I had a front row seats and here and are some of my favorites from the first fashion segment:

 

 

After the first segment guests mingled and then settled in various couches and chairs for the grand finale show: the African lace designs. What was so unique about this segment is that as a guest you really felt like you were a part of the show—we saw the models up close and personal as they walked through each room of a very LONG hallway of rooms. There were many photo ops especially if you had a seat near the staircase where the models made their entrance –a fantastic angle and a great way to introduce each outfit. Plus we each got goodie bags filled with: goodies!! The whole ambiance was so NY or LA—truly stellar. Nenye productions really turned this event out!

 

The lace fabric is where Lara’s truly differentiates her line. The cut and silhouette of the dresses are simple because the fabric is the star of the clothing here. The dresses are quite simply a work of art with meticulous attention to detail. These are some of my favorites:

 

 

 Lara in a lovely yellow number with model Ana Maria

 

Lara and I, striking a pose.

It was so refreshing to attend a fashion show with a diverse group of models, a wide spectrum of color pallettes and prints, a great group of guests and really modern, fashionable and simple designs from Lara Akinsanya’s L’Shandi’s line. After the show, all guests were given the opportunity to shop the lines at wholesale prices. Who could resist! I bought one of Lara’s dresess and will be wearing it to an upcoming wedding in NY. I will look….divalicious (I just made up a new word–I like it!). I will share that photo in an August post.

For the record, you heard it hear first: The L’Shandi  line currently on sale in NY boutiques will soon be in DC area boutiques. Look out Georgetown, DC, Lara Akinsanya is on her way baby!!

Natalie Jobity, Elan Image Management

The Perfect Bra Exists

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Dear Readers,

Zafu does it again. They have just launched a new service that helps you find the perfect bra. What woman does not need help in that area! Being a former ‘bra fitter’, I can’t tell you the scores of women I fitted who were amazed at the difference the right bra makes. Most women wear the wrong size bra or the wrong type for their body. The right bra that provides proper support and lift makes you look slimmer AND younger. Who does not want these fringe benefits?

My favorite bra is Le Mystere’s push up bra. It literally gives me instant cleavage (and people notice!). Fuller figured women love their full coverage design because it really lifts the breasts and is so comfortable. No wonder Oprah crowned this bra her favorite in 2005. Suddenly with this bra you see a woman’s torso and her waist because her breasts are properly supported so they ‘sit’ where nature intended.

But find out for yourself what zafu.com recommends for your body. They nailed it with jeans (I got such great feedback from people who tried their jean finder it was astounding) so I have every confidence they will help every woman find her perfect bra. Here is an excerpt from their recent e-mail annoucement which promises you can have the bra of your dreams in 3 minutes. Yes! No more hours at the mall only to return home with a poor fitting bra or none at all.

 

We know how hard it is to get a great bra, so we’re thrilled to tell you that we can now help you with our new bra finder.

Once again, we had hundreds of women visit our offices, trying on bras. It was both sad and hilarious to see just how bad things can be. The result is that we now have over 150 bras from 60 brands and are sure you’ll love our new service.

Get My Bra

We’re really excited as the press has picked up on what we are doing and even Oprah is covering us in her August magazine.

So check it out and find your perfect bra (it does exist)!

 

I’d love to hear your stories after you try the bra zafu recommends for you.

Natalie Jobity, Elan Image Management

Love in the courtroom

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Dear Readers,

First a warning. This post has NOTHING to do with fashion but instead with…romance. Hey, before you start waving your finger at me, remember this is my soap box and I can write about what I want (just kidding…sort of). Seriously, I am excited to share the article below because Traci is a dear friend of mine who will be getting married to dear Jon (no I swear that is his name) next month and they are causing quite the stir in NY because of how they met. The article below was in today’s New York Post and they have been interviewed by the local TV news station. So exciting!! So the link to fashion (albeit a very weak one) is that I consulted with Traci on her bridal gown and hair and makep and I can’t wait for the wedding to share the pics. She is going to be a stuning bride with her handsome hubby to be at her side. 

Without further ado, here is proof that love can blossom in the most unlikey of places, in Traci’s and Jon’s case, at a murder trial!! 

The verdict’s in: It’s love!

BY SCOTT SHIFREL

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Posted Sunday, July 15th 2007, 4:00 AM

 

Traci Nagy and Jonathan Cinkay, now engaged after meeting as members of a jury.

The charge was murder, the verdict was love.

Juror No. 6 and alternate juror No. 3 were making goo-goo eyes at each other on the first day of a Queens murder trial last year – and it didn’t take long for their fellow jurors to play matchmaker.

"This one woman caught me in the ladies’ room and said, ‘I think you should date Jon,’" Traci Nagy said. "We ended up going out to lunch one long break and from there it just grew.

"We were in the jury room so much and we weren’t allowed to talk about the case. We talked about movies, travel, everything. It was a very good way to get to know someone." Continue reading →

The Lips Have It

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Dear Readers,

I love summer! Can I repeat, I LOVE SUMMER! Summer is the perfect season for women to really strut their stuff, show off their assets (great legs, arms, shoulders, backs) and to have a more laissez faire attitude about fashion in general. We get to wear cute summer dresses, great shorts, skirts of all lengths, halters and explode in color (or my personal fav this season) shine in white or ivory. And this is just the fashion. What is also great for women about summer is that we have the chance to expand and get creative with our makeup–bronzers, lipgloss, eyeshadow in every hue…sigh, it’s really a lady’s season (sorry guys).

But my title for this article is about lips and there is a point I have to make here. In the past few months I have encountered many woman who are, quite frankly, intimidated by lipstick, ESPECIALLY red lipstick. What?? No way! So what I coached them on,  that I want to pass onto all you women reading this post, is that there is nothing sexier in makeup than your perfect shade of red lipstick. Nothing!! What do Christina Aguliera, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Simpson have in common? They aren’t afraid of red lips! In fact, they use every opportunity to flaunt theirs for the whole world to see (and guys to drool over). So, dear reader, if you are one of those woman who shy away from red lips, I urge you to reconsider. For clients that are particularly skittish about red lips I have them start with the lighter hues, like coral or salmon. And you know what invariably happens? They get so many compliments that they end up taking the plunge. Yeah, that’s right, they start wearing true red lipstick. And once it’s in a shade that compliments their skin tone, they look fabulous (and sexy!).

I am so proud of the many converts who have trusted my guidance and experimented and now shamelesly sport red lips. I know you know who you are and I am so proud of you!!

For the rest of you, what are you waiting on! Summer is the perfect season to experiment with your lip shades because you can start with red lipgloss which is much less frightening for most women than actual lipstick. And lipgloss is SO sexy in summer.

So I have come full circle. Summer is a sexy season, period. You just have a few weeks left to get yourself on the sexy train. If the only thing you do is start wearing red lipgloss, trust me, the guys WILL notice.

I would love to hear your stories on wearing red lipcolor. Respond to this blog post with your comments.

Natalie Jobity, Élan  Image Management

Ooops I did it again

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OK, I LOVE Kelly Clarkeson, the first winner of American Idol. She has a great voice and is now on her third CD. She is true to herself and has not let her celebrity go to her head. All great. But I cringed when I saw this picture of her on yahoo, with the caption: "Kelly Kelly Kelly. Just because you have released your own self penned album does not mean you should dress yourself. Find a stylist, quick!" I concur.

My words: "Kelly Kelly Kelly, I’m sure you have a stylist. If you do, get another one, quick!"

This is truly a disaster of a get up. Completely unflattering in every way. I know she is going for the ‘rocker chick’ look but this is so wrong. Did she even look in a mirror? Tsk!

Natalie Jobity

Elan Image Management