11. University of Delaware Newark, DE

Campus Tour: The smallest state also has a small design program that is focused on quality garment making from every angle. The program follows a garment through its entire lifecycle, from the creative design and tailoring, to a focus on sustainably producing goods on both small and large scale in a socially and environmentally minded manner. An entirely student run fashion magazine, UDress, and fashion shows exist outside of class, working to show and pull fashion out of this college driven town.

Programs: Apparel Design, Merchandising, Sustainability

Student Body: 16,500

Tuition:  $27,000

Star Alumni: Well, me. And a fierce force that is the backbone of the garment industry.

Alexander McQueen

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 16: Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones arrives at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton hotel on January 16, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

attends the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2011 in New York City.

Rick Owens

Alber Elbaz

Last week we had our prom party with Joonbug.com and Fashionindie.com… It was a lot of fun… It was almost even more fun because I got to dj and it was definitely interesting because the dj before me really got everyone dancing I had to keep that going… Mike didn’t like some of my choices like Justin Beiber but it all worked out…. And people danced… There were dance circles and dance offs … It was radoid!!!  

 I didn’t get to dance till the end of the night but it was fun.  

 Here I am at the prom in my Carmen Marc Valvo dress… I loved it… I love dressing up!!!! Also …. one with me and my buddy Jerritt and the other of me being interviewed about my music choices that night – woohoo !!

HILLARY — I loved her Halston dress

ME & MIKE – he needed to teach me how to dj internal because the turntables were not working right … boo … so funny I was stressing

The crowd…

So in the photos below you will see some super awesome people …. 

ADRIEN FIELD

CALLIE THORNE

YES THERE WERE CHEERLEADERS

The fashionindie.com team

Indashio

J Brazil – I love this dude – he is hysterical – check him out on youtube

Here is a photo of Devorah Rose & Jared Eng… both hosts of PROM 2010 — I thank them for doing that… Devorah had the most amazing dress on by Leila Shams….

Leila Shams has talent – I love her website www.leilashams.com and I hope I get to work with this talented designer at some point

Katie Gallagher – another amazing designer – I adore her !! And she won the superlative Most Likely to Succeed and she definitely will… actually I think she has… she is awesome – I am working with her on a few projects right now and I am so lucky to have the opportunity !!

Then Leo Velasquez and the most amazing Callie Thorne…. Leo is a super duper stylist – just look at him – I think he definitely was best dressed on the guys side that night – no one looked as dapper as him… and Callie is so talented and looked beautiful

Ngo Okafor and Kimbra Hanson – I met them recently at another event… two wonderful people … they were nominated CUTEST COUPLE for that superlative

Jon Gabel… this is one of my favorite clients … we both are super strong minded but we both get stuff done…. he made this prom come to be and it was a great event and a lot of great people were talking about it

Orfeh – this is the most amazing pic ever !! She is just rad !

My buddy Paul Iacono – I constantly rave about this guy – because he is going to be one of the most influential actors of our time… he is smart, nice, witty, savvy and I adore him !

Rebecca Minkoff – when we talk about American designers today and who has an incredible collection and just great insight into what the customer wants… its her – she is awesome + talented + I am so happy when I get to work with her !

Tina Parol – an amazing singer — she is just super cute and talented

MANERO & MAGGIE = awesomeness… I love these two

MICAH JESSE – is one of the funniest, coolest, smartest, well dressed dudes I know – thank you for hosting MICAH you rule !!

Antwan – dance a maniac – the best dancer and the life of the party for sure – So awesome he is always smiling

Josh & Paul… when these buddies hang out together you got a true meeting of the minds… I got lucky to hang out with both of them in Europe and we had a blast…. lots of fun memories from cool dinners to getting the opportunity to visit the American Embassy in Belgium to helping some girl fix her bicycle in the middle of the night…. I put both of these guys down as 2 of my favorite dudes ever ….

Anyway so there you go with some PROM 2010 pics…

Next week we have UPFRONTS - we will be doing a lot of coverage from that plus I am going to Hawaii… can’t wait to go surfing !!

And I just want to do a shout out to my friend Danny Roberts !!! He has the most amazing website – igor+andre.  He is super talented and he came in for PROM.  It was great seeing him.  I wish I got to chat with him more because he is an amazing person with so much talent…. I am so distracted when I am working.  I love doing events but it is a bummer when I don’t get to enjoy all the amazing people that come.  

 He created this Morrissey painting for one of my friends and I love it.  It has so much emotion in it and I think it is brillant.  

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Fifth On Main, a new e-commerce boutique targeting the contemporary womenswear & accessories markets. Officially launches online November 1st.

What: Pop-up Sample Sale offering Summer and Fall/Winter womenswear and accessories.

The Designers: Cynthia Steffe, Cynthia Rowley, TWG, Yoana Baraschi, Mint by Jodi Arnold, Mackage, Chaiken, Tibi, Robert Rodriguez, Rozae Nichols, Nicole Miller, Diane Samandi, Tadashi, Fleurwood, Gypsy 05, Badgley Mischka, Carmen Marc Valvo, Re:Sound, Soundgirl, Tyhlo, Nicholas K, Body Language and many more!

The Goods (and it’s really good):

* ALL merchandise 60-70% off retail.
* RSVP to arrael@rich-pr.com for an additional 10% off your total purchase.
* Register for a Fifth on Main account on-site and receive another 15% off already discounted prices! AND receive 5% of your purchase back in Fifth on Main Rewards Points, which can go back into shopping on www.fifthonmain.com or transfer to American Airlines miles or Marriot Hotel Stays.
* Sunday CLOSEOUT – an additional 10% off already reduced prices + discounts!

Even More Goods:

* Complimentary coffee daily 10am – 12pm
* Complimentary wine daily 6pm-8pm
* All major credit cards accepted

Where: 421 West Broadway, between Prince & Spring
Soho, New York http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=New+York&state=NY&address=421+West+Broadway

When: Friday, October 9th – Sunday, October 11th
10am – 8pm daily

RSVP: arrael@rich-pr.com for an additional 10% off your total purchase!

The first several visits left me unimpressed. The store was unorganized and crowded, wasting over 45 minutes of my life I was sure I’d never get back. Taking the wise advice of my mother, I gave the store a second chance, stopping in early on a Thursday (aka inventory day) just before February’s fashion week. Heading upstairs to “The Back Room,” the discounted designer label department, I was floored by how many great pieces there were by the fashion industry’s cream of the crop. $300 later, I walked out of Loehmann’s with over $2500 worth of  Robert Rodriguez, Vince, Mint and Helmut Lang clothes and accessories. Happy girl? You bet.

After probably a two month hiatus from the discount haven, I stopped by Loehmann’s this morning, Although I only purchased some jewelry (I got a Burberry-esque spike bracelet and a match necklace for $40. Beat that.) I was amazed to see dozens upon dozens of pieces from the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2008 collection. The clothes might be two seasons old, but where else are you going to find a Marc Jacobs Americana romper marked down to just $70!? Other great buys included gorgeous Givenchy boot-heels, Comme des Garcons drop-crotch sweats (too bad they were a size 14…), a plethora of springy Philosophy dresses and tons of chunky Miu Miu, Carmen Marc Valvo and Badgely Misckha sunglasses. 

All in all, if you haven’t yet been to Loehmann’s, now is the time to check it out. But be forewarned, be there early on weekdays or be prepared to dig.

Who: Fifth On Main, a new e-commerce boutique targeting the contemporary womenswear market, launching late Spring 2009.

What: Pop-up store holding a Fall/Winter & Resort Sample Sale + Spring Preview Sale, open to the public.

Designers: Abaete, Alvin Valley, Brian Reyes, Badgley Mischka, TIBI, Twelfth Street, Carmen Marc Valvo, Catherine Malandrino, Nicole Miller, Rebecca Taylor, Mint by Jodi Arnold, Theory, Chaiken and more!

The goods: 40% – 60% off retail prices

Even more goods: RSVP to lauren@rich-pr.com and receive an additional 10% off your total purchase!

Where: 109 Spring Street, between Greene & Mercer
Soho, New York

When: Friday, April 17th 10am – 8pm
Saturday, April 18th 10am – 7pm
Sunday, April 19th 10am – 7pm

With the Hamptons season almost here, seems like all designers are trying to get their piece of the pie, DVF will open a store (May 1st) , and Carmen Marc Valvo has designed a line of plates, to be sold exclusively for QVC.

According to WWD, the designer has developed Carmen Marc Valvo Home, tableware, serving pieces and decorative items. Entering the category is a first for Valvo, who said he entertains frequently in the Hamptons and “really gets obsessive about the food, flowers and matching the napkins to the plates.”

On the flip side, the idea of a runway show can be viewed as 2009′s It-bag, only the rich and glamorous can afford it and bystanders look on in amazement. Who knows, maybe this recession is simply the fashion industry’s version of spring cleaning, making runway shows only for the invested, focused, and prepared designers. Oscar de la Renta’s double runway delight is a prime example of this notion. 

Either the runways become “so last year,” sending hundreds of bean-pole models home packing or they get put on a pedestal, an honor to have your collection even grace one. Oh runways, you are a scary toss up.

When I think Citrine, I think of porcelain-faced model boys, college girls ready for a Sex and the City-styled night out, and Christian Siriano (the Project Runway hosted his birthday bash there). I’ve never thought, however, that the venue could be home to Carmen Marc Valvo’s show for the upcoming February Fashion Week.

Valvo’s three hour presentation will be held at Citrine in the Flatiron District, the lounge turned runway which the designer appropriately snagged for gratis! It’s part of the spots goal to bring back real fashion into the nightlife scene.

It might not be the biggest space for a show, but the recession-ready Citrine sure beats the nearly $50,000 for tent space or Marc Jacob’s estimated $1 million splurge on the Lexington Avenue Armory.