Your New Favorite TV Show, Kitten.

If you haven't watched an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, stop what you're doing RIGHT NOW and view an episode.  Seriously. You are missing out on one of the greatest reality television shows on at the moment.

Monday, February 24 is the beginning of a brand new season of the cult-favorite show.  Season 6 is going to be bigger and better than any that have come before it.  14 new queens, more fabulous guest judges, and ever crazier challenges.  Not to mention, as a D&M major, the show is a major dose of DIY fashion and couture realness that will inspire you to perk up your own wardrobe.

Here's your crash course in Drag Race Herstory, hunty:

The premise of the show is to win and become "America's Next Drag Superstar" - a title that RuPaul Charles claims (and will keep forever).  14 drag queens compete in mini and main challenges to win immunity, fabulous clothing/jewelry prizes, and basically eternal glory.  Along with the title, the winning queen comes away with $100,000 and a lifetime supply of cosmetics from a specific brand. Constant judges include Michelle Visage, former girl-group member, and Santino Rice, a runner-up in Project Runway.  Rumored guest judges this season include Khloe Kardashian and Adam Lambert, as well as many more (sometimes up to 3 per episode).  You also can't forget The Pit Crew - hunky men (usually only clad in underwear) that come in to hand out props and offer the queens cocktails.  On the whole, it's about 45 minutes of sheer diva glamour.  After the episode, a short feature called Untucked is shown, which shows the queens backstage throwing shade (making fun/dissing) and telling the T (the truth, darling) about whatever is on their mind.  Many times, episodes end in tears or fights - many queens have emotional back stories or big egos/personalities.  However, by the end of a season, there are 14 sisters instead of strangers.

So the final word: tune to LOGO on your television on Mondays at 9pm for 1.5 hours of self-love and a high dose of diva. Then, come find me and kiki (gossip) about the drama on the latest episode.

5 Things You Cannot Wait to Do in Philly This Spring

This weekend’s recent spike in temperatures had most people, myself included, thinking it was already springtime in Philadelphia. Although temperatures dropped back into the 30s, and we have a few more weeks of winter to go, the weekend weather had me thinking about the things I cannot wait to do when the warmer weather is finally here to stay.

5. Outdoor yoga

Outdoor yoga is a growing trend in Philadelphia offered at various locations around the city. Finding your inner zen has never been easier with an abundance of free classes available, including Peace on the Pier on the Delaware River Waterfront and Sky-High Yoga at 1500 Locust Street.

4. Hang out in Rittenhouse Park

A short walk from Drexel’s campus, Rittenhouse Park always offers something fun to do on the weekends. Whether you’re attending an outdoor festival or just people watching, it is impossible not to enjoy the sights and sounds of the square, when the weather is nice.

3. Walk around Manayunk

Although slightly off the beaten path for Drexel students, Manayunk is one of the quaintest spots in the city with a plethora of boutiques, cafes, and galleries. When the weather is warm and the sun is shining, nothing beats ending a day of shopping and exploring with an outdoor meal at one of Manayunk’s charming restaurants.       

2. CC Sips

Young professionals and college students in Philadelphia countdown the days until they can enjoy Center City Sips. At countless bars and restaurants around Center City, you can join your peers in business casual attire for happy hour drink and appetizer specials every Wednesday all summer long.

1.    Porch

If you have always thought of “porch” as noun, start considering it a verb. Porch [verb]: to sit on your porch, preferably on a swing, with a beverage in your hand and your friends by your side, enjoying the weather and watching strangers walk by on a Sunday afternoon; life doesn’t get much better than that.

  

Milan Fashion Week- Served With a Side of Fries

Every year, twice a year, editors, buyers and fashion lovers alike flock to Manhattan for fashion week. Because we are not too far from New York City and many of us actually have volunteered or worked at Fashion Week, we know that it is a significant event for the fashion industry but what a lot of us forget is that New York is not the only place for fashion week. As soon as the shows are over at Lincoln Center and around the city, those very same show attendees leave for London Fashion Week and from there to Italy for Milan Fashion Week.

Milan Fashion Week began on February 18^th and ends on the 24^th. Designer shows such as Moschino, Alberta Ferreti and Emilo Pucci amongst others take place at this time. Although I have not watched all of the shows live, it is amazing that we have the capability to do so. I have been kept up to date on most of the shows via social media. All of my favorite magazines and many celebrities that I follow on Twitter and Instagram have been posting nonstop about the shows and it is safe to say that the designers have truly outdone themselves.

Jeremy Scott recently became the creative director at Moschino and last week was his debut collection. As seen by his own work, Scott tends to pull out all the stops and get really creative. Staying true to his identity, he created an outrageous yet unforgettable first collection for Moschino inspired by McDonald’s. Although the designs are very out there, fashion icons such as Anna Dello Russo and Rita Ora were eating them up, no pun intended!

The collection is very playful which has been pretty much routine since the birth of the brand in 1983 by late designer Franco Moschino. Jeremy Scott experimented with bold colors but remained loyal to the iconic red, black and white color scheme that has been in place for the entire life of the brand. Scott turned the McDonald’s “M” into a Moschino “M” and it was emblazoned on everything from bags to oversized sweatshirts. Models even wore visors and carried trays to stick to the idea of Moschino as McDonald’s. One model even had a bag that looked like the French fry carton at McDonald’s and another held a phone with a case that looked the same way.

Although most of the collection was centered on the McDonald’s motif, there were also designs that put a twist on other famous brands such as Hershey’s and Budweiser. This collection is so unique even though it is entirely based on American products and their packaging. It seemed like more of a joke than a serious collection and that reflects in the very mixed reviews that the collection received, but one thing that can be agreed upon is the fact that this collection is unlike anything else put on the runways this season.

Kendall Jenner Makes Fashion Week Debut at Marc Jacobs Show

            Reality television star of Keeping Up with the Kardashians fame, Kendall Jenner, has caused quite a media frenzy following her fashion week debut on the catwalk of Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2014 show. The 18 year old has always been quite public about her modelling aspirations, starting out as a campaign model for pageant and prom gown designer Sherri Hill back in 2012. While Jenner has walked in multiple shows for Hill in the past two years, the Marc Jacobs show marks her first stint in a show for a ready to wear collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

           Jenner’s catwalk debut is not exactly the only thing keeping the star’s name in the limelight, but more specifically the debatably revealing look she was wearing in the show. The Kardashian-Jenner clan has been receiving some negative criticism from the public for encouraging Jenner to wear the sheer top that revealed her nipples as she strutted down the runway. The public clearly seems to be ignoring the fact that the 44 look collection featured 10 sheer looks and that Jenner herself did not design the garment she was wearing at the show. Hopefully as the newly-legal teen’s career continues to rise, the public will be able to take her seriously as a model and cease latching onto the image of the 9 year old girl she once was when Keeping Up With the Kardashians first aired on E!.

               Jenner’s mild backlash aside, Marc Jacobs’ latest show proved to be a theatrical success for the designer. Opting out of presenting at Lincoln Center, Jacobs’ show was presented at the spacious hall of the New York State Armory for 750 guests. The set featured 500 foam clouds hanging from the ceiling as well as foam pegs emerging from the floor in place of traditional chairs for the guests. Among those in the front row of foam pegs were socialite-turned-model Atlanta Bean, fashion persona Alexa Chung, and former boyband member, Joe Jonas. Earning the most praise from the press was actress Sarah Paulson, who had just completed a promo tour basking in the glory of her character’s triumph in the recently-aired finale of hit show American Horror Story: Coven. Paulson opted for a look that would have been a perfect wardrobe choice for Coven, posing backstage with Marc Jacobs in a Victorian-gothic, black lace gown from the designer’s spring 2014 collection. All in all, Jacobs’ show provided all of the makings for an extraordinary and memorable Marc Jacobs show.

A Star Studded Celebration at the Hervé Léger Show & Afterparty

             As a fashion week intern for BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, I was lucky enough to assist the PR staff backstage at Hervé Léger’s Fall 2014 RTW show at Lincoln Center during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Max Azria’s latest collection for the brand combined its classic bandage fit and sparkly, geometric aesthetic with new aesthetics of fur, feathers, and fringe along with other detail delights such as mesh cut outs. The collection featured 30 edgy looks adorned by the likes of models Arlenis Sosa and Jasmine Tookes.       

                  
                                          
  



Among those in attendance at the show were actors Jesse Metcalfe of Desperate Housewives and newly-resurrected Dallas fame and redhead beauty Sarah Rafferty from the USA network show Suits. Metcalfe was exceptionally charming backstage, easily earning the attention of every woman in the room and graciously taking individual pictures with every intern who asked for one. Equally charming was actress Zoey Deutch, daughter of Back to the Future star, Lea Thompson. Deutch managed to attend this season’s Herve Leger show despite her busy schedule of promotion for her latest film Vampire Academy, which had just hit theatres the previous day. While she stunned in the Jassalyn dress from Hervé Léger’s Spring 2014 collection, Deutch maintained her bubbly personality among the overwhelming swarm of photographers and press yelling for her attention.

Actresses Zoey Deutch and Sarah Rafferty with designer Max Azria

Later that evening, Max Azria and his wife, Lubov Azria, creative director of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, hosted over 700 guests at their bi-annual ‘BCBG Fashion Week After-Party’. Held at the Boom Boom Room at the top of The Standard hotel, the party’s venue oozed with art deco luxury while boasting a beautiful view of Manhattan’s skyline. By midnight, the party was in full swing as the DJ blasted classic dance floor fillers such as ‘This Is How We Do It’ by Montell and ‘Hypnotize’ by Notorious B.I.G. The Azrias most certainly celebrated the 25^th year of their brand in style with a party that will be remembered by all those in attendance for many seasons to come.

The Olympics in Style

Whether it's figure skating, slalom racing or snowboarding down the half pipe, female athletes at this years' Olympics have found a way to embrace their femininity while taking on the challenge of the Olympic Games. All athletes have a uniform they are required to wear by their country, but their helmets, ski goggles and other accessories are left to the athlete to choose. Most women this year have chosen to wear something that represents themselves, their families or something they hold close to their heart.

In slopestyle skiing the women this year have had a very fun perspective on their Olympics attire. Many women donned neon green, pink and purple ski goggles, while others expressed their personal style in fun and creative ways. For example Katie Summerhayes, as seen to the right, is a skier from England, although that may have been obvious from her Union Jack mouth guard. Everyone had different ways of expressing themselves outside of their boring, fluffy snowsuits. It feels like each Olympics the women find new ways to have fun with their sport.

Figure skating is always a much anticipated part of the Winter Olympics, not just for the triple salchows and the mid air toe touches, but also for the elaborate and exciting costumes. The U.S. women's team did not disappoint this year with their beautiful, hand stitched costumes. Each costume was beautifully hand embroidered with more glitter than you could possibly imagine. However, each costume had a certain air of sophistication to it that made the young skaters appear older than they were. Regardless, the costumes were gorgeous and helped to tell the story of each skater's piece.
What is fashion if you can't have fun with it? Even Olympic fashion can be fun and the women at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia have proved that to us this year. Good luck to all the women and men who still have to compete!

A 25th Anniversary Collection: BCBG Max Azria Fall 2014

After reviewing the designers featured in this year’s Fall 2014 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, the one designer that stood out to me among the rest was BCBG Max Azria that showed on February 6^th, 2014. The unique color blocking palette, luxurious furs and asymmetrical hemlines that appeared in this season’s show were breathtaking.

Designers- Max & Lubov Azria- Style.com

The designers, Max and Lubov Azria reflected this season’s designs based upon signature looks throughout the past twenty-five years of their business. I fell in love with every single look of this collection, especially the layering pieces like the coats and shrugs of all types of furs including shearling, fox, raccoon, and rabbit.

BCBG Max Azria Look 23- Style.com

One featured accessory that I thought stood out in this collection were the fur lined clutches that also doubled as hand-warming muffs. During this crazy winter we’ve been having, a hand-warming clutch would be a great addition to my Saturday night outings.

BCBG Max Azria Look 5- Style.com

Another feature that stood out to me were the graphic looking color-blocking designs in the midi dresses, ponchos and blouses. The vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines of bright hues of aqua, raspberry, melon, and navy, enhance the looks appeal. The contrast it made with the nude, and black tones kept your eye on the garment at all times while on the catwalk.

BCBG Max Azria Look 27- Style.com

Mac Weldon Silver Launch

Last week I had the pleasure of attending Mac Weldon's fashion week Silver launch party. Immediately upon receiving the invitation I was panicked with the thought of having to pick out an outfit. I realized black would be my go-to, but what I didn't realize was that all black was actually ideal. For anyone who knows me, black is not very abundant in my wardrobe; I like color. After talking to some people who insisted that black was my only option, I did a bit of shopping and selected what seemed to be the perfect outfit. Actually, I felt more like an upscale hostess, but sure enough, upon my arrival, I was quick to find that I couldn't have made a more appropriate wardrobe choice.

The party was in New York City at the Blind Barber, which is actually this really cool little hole-in-the-wall speakeasy behind a barbershop. Most people had trouble finding the entrance and ended up wandering around the block for a bit. I arrived right around what I thought was "fashionably late" but seemed to be still somewhat early as only a few other parties arrived prior.

Sponsored by White Pike Whiskey, the party had a full open bar, Mac Weldon giveaways, and a photographer from Guest of a Guest. It ended up having a great turn out and the place was absolutely packed. The giveaway eventually ran out, which was quite unfortunate as I was really excited to see and feel what exactly was so special about Mac Weldon's newest line: Silver.

Mac Weldon, a start-up in men's undergarments, is trying to revolutionize the way men shop for underwear. Technology meets quality in the online retailer for men's underwear, socks, basic tee's etc. In the Silver line, pima cotton fabric is infused with silver giving the underwear and shirts anti-microbial and anti-odor properties. With fabric technology that has been tested and proven by NASA, Olympic Athletes, and the US Special Forces, these garments were designed specifically with the on-the-go athlete in mind, so they were intended to be worn for at least two days without washing.

The garments are created with an ultra soft slim fit and are currently almost completely sold out. Apparently, even if you don't attend the launch party, it's still difficult to get your hands on Mac Weldon's newest innovation!

Silver or no silver for me, the party was absolutely lovely! If you didn't catch on, the Mac Weldon Silver launch was my first fashion event. While I may not be the most talkative person in the world, I did have the pleasure of meeting quite a few fantastic people and overall had a wonderful time. It was a great experience and I'm definitely looking forward to the next opportunity that I have to wear my black outfit!

Tommy Hilfiger’s Adventurous and Wintery Themed Fashion Show

Tommy Hilfiger is worldly known for being classically chic and beholding impressing style that always makes old style look brand new again.  I always loved how he conveyed the American style as cool, calm, and collected in somewhat simple, yet always new designs.   As true to his ‘classic’ American style and aesthetic as he is, I sometimes wish he pushed the envelope a little bit. 

            When I first saw pictures of his stage design and just a couple of the models, I did not guess it was Tommy Hilfiger.  Not even close.  I was intrigued by how much the stage design played with the audiences perception of what his clothing line represented, this fashion week.  Was it a relaxed winter vacation these models were walking through?  Or was it a much more athletic, competitive, and rigorous attitude?  I let my mind do the judging depending on the particular outfit that reached the end of the stage.  Doing what Hilfiger does best; he took our all American classic fashion culture, put a new and refreshing spin on it, and let our minds dance away with it.  Only this time, to winter wonderland.

            This fashion week Tommy Hilfiger designed an impressive stage that consisted of fake snow, a log cabin, skis, and fir trees.  Giving a rustic, trendy winter vacation vibe, one might think Hilfiger was designing his collection for the winter Olympics.  Just like his cold weather themed stage embodied winter and sport, his clothes did as well.  His collection was mainly dresses, skirts, sweaters, and lots of outerwear.  The fabrics consisted of chunky knits, fringe, wool, mohair, velvet, and faux fur trim details here and there.  The color palette was mainly muted hues of red, blue, cream, teal, brown, and maroon.  His classic plaid pattern was sprinkled throughout the silhouettes; sometimes in a sweater, satchel, or dress.  But besides plaid and one or two other simple patterned sweaters, it was predominantly solid colors.

            This fashion week Tommy Hilfiger replaced the typical city skyline backdrop with a wintery one, and completely embraced it.   The audience walked in from the cold, frigid weather of the park, into his version of what cold, frigid weather should really encompass.

Alexander Wang 2014 Fall/Winter Fashion Show

This Fall/ Winter, Alexander Wang conveyed its concept of sexless temperament by designing its products in “H” silhouette, such as the grey series dresses with chilled hard feeling, and also the sweater and coat with limited color edition and perfectly fitted size. You can clearly feel the inside out strength and power from the designs.

Alexander Wang continued with his previous trendy design style, and he then presented the topic of “surviving under the extreme conditions,” and the multiple and powerful outfits for outdoor activities, including hiking, hunting, and so on. The most fashionable pieces should be the burly coat series, yet the oversized style is very hard to be driven by ordinary consumers, but to fashion careerists, it is definitely an artifact for them to stand out.  

In fact, Alexander’s high-lightened design was more than what’s been mentioned above. The laser cut metallic texture coats and suits were very eye-catching. Alexander’s design imagination was impressive, especially after being the creative director of Balenciaga, he still has so much to offer for his own name brand.

                       

From New Girl To Tommy’s Girl

California Native, and star of Fox’s hit sitcom New Girl, Zooey Deschanel is dressing her way into the fashion industry.  The actress, musician, and singer/songwriter is partnering with Tommy Hilfiger to create a capsule collection.  Deschanel is infusing her signature style into the collection that consists of 16, 60’s inspired short dresses.  The dresses range in price from $98 to $199 and will be debuted in stores on April 14.    

According to Women’s Wear Daily, Descahnel met Hilfiger at a party where the two bonded over a casual conversation regarding a shared love of vintage style.  That shared love sparked an idea for the capsule collection, “To Tommy, From Zooey” which will be coming to stores this spring. The line of dresses will be sold in 200 Macy’s stores, online at Tommy.com, and in select Tommy Hilfiger stores. 

Although Deschanel is commonly regarded, as a style icon, for her quirky and vintage inspired fashion sense, this is her first time designing for a mass market.   According to Deschanel, “The dresses are not too fussy or frilly, but they do have a feminine, mod-inspired, Americana vibe that's quite appealing.”  The capsule collection maintains a rather patriotic color story, as the dresses are predominantly red, white, and blue.  Some of the looks include a polka a dot shirtdress and a red pleated ensemble with tennis skirt bottom. 

Deschanel herself will be staring in the ad campaigns as well as designing jewelry and accessories that will accompany the line.   She describes her style and her partnership with Hilfiger, “I am a fashion fanatic, and I am always looking for new ways to incorporate vintage, feminine pieces into my own wardrobe,” she said. “Tommy and I share many of the same inspirations - old-school music, classic films and old Hollywood icons.”  Such inspirations were the foundation for the ‘To Tommy, From Zooey’ collection.