Tory Burch and Michael Kors Coming to Green Hills Mall

Earlier this month I had blogged about changes happening at Green Hills Mall, including the closing of the home store Pottery Barn. Now, fashion heavy-hitters Michael Kors and Tory Burch will be moving into PB's former location. I'm not sure exactly when MK and TB will be opening, but I know that I look forward to it!

Tory Burch

Oh, Michael...

Applications for the nD Emerging Designer Competition Available Now

Applications for the upcoming nD Festival's Emerging Designer Competition are available now on the Belcourt's website. Learn more about the event here, and submit your application here.

Wardrobe Consultant: Lissa Batson

In need of a stylist? Look no further than the talented Lissa Batson. I’ve known Lissa for several months and can attest to her impressive wardrobe and styling techniques. Here is the most recent email I received from her regarding her wardrobe consulting business:

 I know that its bitterly cold out but let's look onward to SPRING 2011!!!  Lots of new and exciting trends to look forward to this Spring.  Yes, the 70's ARE BACK--you will find high-waisted wide-leg trousers and bell bottoms worn with bold color printed halter tops!!! Full skirts, ballerina look for shorter styles and longer pleated skirts seen, comparable to the 1950's Dior Look. You will still find neutrals mixed with bold colors (e.g Light Peach with Bright Mandarin Orange). Lace, Tassels, Crochet seen in detailing.  Jumpers are still a huge trend and Tops are getting shorter paired with the dolman sleeves.

Trends are fun and exciting to watch, BUT we know---dress for your body type first, then second incorporate trends that work for YOUR BODY TYPE.  We all have something about our body that we love, PLAY THAT UP!! 

Whether you or someone you know wants a new look, in a fashion rut, needs help putting looks together, or just wants to get rid of old, outdated items in their wardrobe, I am here to help!!! I work with Men and Women, of all ages, shapes and sizes. 

Book in advance a WARDROBE MAKEOVER, which includes a 3 hour closet clean out and wardrobe consultation, 3 hours of personal shopping and the Style Look Book (40 looks of all items that we keep and add).  Many more services are provided, check out my site www.lissabatson.com.

If you or anyone you know is interested in getting a WARDROBE MAKEOVER for this Spring, call me at 615.767.8749 or e mail me at lissabatson@gmail.com. Check "Like" on Facebook and follow me on Twitter! 

Also, tune in to Nashville: News Channel 5's "Talk of the Town" Feb 9, 10, 11th at 11am, I will be featured revealing Couples Makeovers for three lucky couple for Valentine's Day!!!    

 All the best!!

Lissa
--
Lissa Batson
Wardrobe Consultant and Personal Shopper
615.767.8749www.lissabatson.com

RAW Event: February 17, 2011 / Casting Call: January 30, 2011

On Thursday, February 17, 2011, RAW Nashville will be hosting its first showcase at the Mercy Lounge. The artistically-driven company already has noteworthy showcase participants: Lucy Pop Salon will be styling the event; Marwa Bashir and Ranae Morton will be responsible for hair and makeup looks; Darla The Outlaw will be the featured designer; The Black Shades will be the featured band; Rebecca Seung is the nights  photographer.

Featured RAW Designer, Darla The Outlaw.

Preparation for Darla The Outlaw includes a model casting call for the show, which will take place this Sunday, January 30, 2011 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Lucy Pop Salon. The designer required models are 5’5” and up, sized 0-6, wear heels, and are available to walk in the RAW Nashville showcase.

Learn more about the event and participating artists here.

Weekend Update / Event Review: A Touch of Blush

That’s right.. it’s Wednesday night and I’m just now getting to my weekend update. The past week has been sooo catastrophically hectic for me that I’ve literally had to carry around a bottle of Visine in my purse so I don’t end up looking like a cast member of 28 Days Later. (You think I’m joking…) But regardless, I’ve had some fun and not-so-fun happenings this weekend.

Let’s focus on Friday night. I attended the Touch of Blush fashion show held at Mai. Let me begin by saying that this was just an all-around disastrous night for me and (for the most part) not a reflection of the darling Blush Boutique.

I had previously blogged about the event, linking my fabulous readers to the Facebook invite where they could read more about the fashion show and RSVP. We’ll return to this later… So, the event starts at 10:00; I think I arrived to the 12^th Street location around 10:10. This is the first time I’ve ever been “late” for a fashion show, but as we all know, fashion shows never start on time. It took my friend and I a good ten minutes to find parking, which only attests to how many guests were attending the show, and eventually followed a stream of cars into a parking lot two blocks away.

After trekking on a near-sheet of ice the two blocks in suede heels, we had to wait in line at Mai for another ten minutes. And if you were outside for more than a minute, you know how cold it was that night! After finally getting into the club, I told the lady at the door we were there for the Blush fashion show and as indicated on the Touch of Blush Facebook invite, if you mentioned you were with Blush you would receive free admission. Apparently, nobody had told her. She apologized, but told me my friend and I would have to pay a $10 admission each to get in. We argued with her for several minutes, and although I adamantly insisted we were to get in free, she replied, “I’m sorry. Nobody told me that.” Seriously? Seriously!?! By this time, I could see the fashion show going on, so I forked over the “admission” for my friend and I.

Models were parading down the runway as we made our way through the crowd; we eventually found a spot to stand, surprisingly, next to the runway. Six models later, the show was done.

So, yeah, I paid $20 to see six models walk the runway. Not happy. And yes, I should have arrived on time, but this is the first fashion event I’ve ever been to that actually did start when they said it would. You gotta give credit to Blush for being punctual- I’ll know better next time. With that being said, I did see pictures from the night and fell in lust with an adorable leopard print dress that would be a great piece for day (throw on a black sweater for work) and night (take the sweater off and grab some drinks with your girls!). I’m pretty sure I’m going to purchase that dress immediately.

 My friend and I stayed at Mai for another twenty minutes or so. While I considered making my way upstairs for the Blush after party, I wasn’t really in a socializing mood by this point. After we left the show, I thought it odd that so many people had cleared out after the show, noting the near-empty parking lot. Nope. People weren’t leaving, people were being towed. Sure, this was totally our fault for following a stream of cars into a parking lot without reading the tiny sign saying it was permit-only, but that didn’t make us feel better when the tow-truck driver refused to release our car until we paid him $85. We ended up having to ride along with the driver and his cockerpoodlelabradoodlewhatever to a gas station to reach an ATM. $115 for a night I thought would be free?! So yeah, not really the night I had anticipated!

Like I said, the disastrous happenings of this night were partly brought on by myself and sheer bad luck, but I’m still disappointed I had to pay for a fashion show that was so obviously free. It’s imperative that when putting on any type of event, fashion show, party, concert, whatever, that all involved parties are aware of the details, especially admission costs. While this incident may have been singular, nonetheless, it can make involved parties look unorganized or misleading. Communication is key!

The rest of my weekend was very unfashionable and filled with no sleep and too much work; I’m just now contemplating removing the Visine from my purse.

Until the next event…

photo credit: http://www.facebook.com/blushboutiques#!/photo.php?fbid=592750396936&set=t.1087413710

Livia Firth Rocks Prophetik at the Golden Globes

Congratulations to Jeff Garner of Prophetik, whose eco-friendly design was worn by Italian film producer and wife of Colin Firth, Livia Firth at the latest Golden Globe Awards. It makes my heart proud to see a Tennessee-based designer’s work being showcased on the Red Carpet! Firth was taking part in the ‘Green Carpet Challenge’, an initiative to incorporate eco-friendly/sustainable pieces into her wardrobe.

Exclusive preparation photos:

Livia getting her makeup done.

Jeff from Prophetik helping Livia get ready.

Love this shot of Livia, Colin, and Jeff!!

Livia rocking the eco-friendly Prophetik look on the Red Carpet...

I love the silhouette and beautiful draping.

How sweet is he?!

I actually had a student intern for Prophetik for several months, and reading her internship journal was a true delight. I loved hearing about the tasks she accomplished, and how the team really integrated her into the company for optimal learning experiences. I’m so glad she had the opportunity to work with such a well-known and greatly respected company.

Here is a little information about the Prophetik design philosophy as detailed on the company’s website:

“My desire is to not just get people to come to a Charity event or go on a missions or service trip but to be truly engaged with self allowing the heart of giving and serving to lead one in life rather than being another event or feel good moment but a constant, not based on condition. Understanding the heart: When you understand, you cannot help but love. You cannot get angry. To develop understanding, you have to practice looking at all living beings with the eyes of compassion. When you understand, you cannot help but love. And when you love, you naturally act in a way that an relieve the suffering of people.

The Sustainable Journey: A meaningful analysis and evaluation of any product’s relationship to the environment must include a broad array of criteria including low-impact production, low-impact maintenance, and its classification as recyclable, reusable or incineratable. Primary considerations are low impact on plant and animal life, conservation of limited resources, and waste minimization….Jeff Garner

Looks from the latest Prophetik runway show:

Here is the press release on Firth and Prophetik:

FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION:

LIVIA FIRTH WEARS PROPHETIK BY JEFF GARNER TO THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS AS PART OF THE 'GREEN CARPET CHALLENGE'

January 16, 2011: Livia Firth wore a Prophetik by Jeff Garner gown as part of the 'Green Carpet Challenge' to the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Livia Firth chose a beautiful strapless gown made from Tussah silk and hemp that was dyed with Garner's own indigo plant. 

Livia Firth worked directly with Jeff Garner, whose Prophetik label is admired internationally for both its values and its sartorial elegance. ‘When I went to the Prophetik catwalk at London Fashion Week last September with Laura Bailey (model and fellow eco queen), we both loved the romance of Jeff Garner’s gowns. There is nothing granola or worthy about the way they look,’ Firth says.

Livia also appreciates the way Garner is able to approach ‘problems in the fashion chain, such as the heavy chemical pollution associated with dying, and come up with a considered response. His understanding of ecologically intelligent fabrics and processes is extraordinary, as is his respect for the natural world.’

Since the Tennessee based line Prophetik launched eight years ago, designer Jeff Garner has been a romantic visual artist, pioneer, and unconventional designer. His sustainable, organic label Prophetik is on a path of transformation, leading the evolution of fashion and changing our perception of luxury. Jeff Garner was recently named "2010 Eco Men's Designer of the Year" during London Fashion week. 

For further information regarding Prophetik by Jeff Garner, please visit www.prophetik.com or contact Lindsey Larson at lindsey@prefacepr.com and Colleen McKinnie at colleen@prefacepr.com.

Follow the Green Carpet Challenge at http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/livia-firth/.  Follow us on Twitter @liviafirth @lucysiegle @vogue_london


photo credit: Fairlight Hubbard from http://www.eyemgmt.com/ and http://prophetik.mybisi.com/product/gentlements-frock.

Launch of NashVintage Website

Man, I wish this website had been around when I first moved to Nashville.. How cool is this?!?!

NashVintage is an interactive website that familiarizes its visitors with the local Nashville vintage scene. With a map, shop, news, events, and classified section, NashVintage is your go-to spot for all things eclectic and unique. I love how the “Shop Nashville Vintage” section breaks shopping down into locations: Downtown, East, and 12^th Street. The sections also let you know about all the vintage shops in the area, detailing addresses, phone numbers, store hours, website information, and even a map of how to get there. This is a great website to pass along to all your fashionable upcoming visitors!