Mary Alice Stephenson wears a lot of hats!  Her Facebook followers are in the five figures, she is a media go-to for her red carpet commentating and heart-filled fashion segments, a world renown stylist who has styled for icons such as Avedon, Hiro, Demarchelier, Lindbergh and Richardson as well as serving as a brand ambassador and spokesperson for many Fortune 500 brands.   Oh, and we can’t forget to mention how cool it is that she and Barbie are talking fashion in her “dream” closet for BarbieWow.com next week, while still making time to be the national fashion ambassador for the Make a Wish Foundation.  She gives her time and love for fashion to many charitable organizations all while being a single mom.  She’s our new hero and we think soon to be yours, too!

As a fashion consultant, you get to do something different every day- which days are you favorite?

Every day is different and I love it that way!  It’s such a mix — from red carpet commentating to consulting behind the scenes for Fortune 500 companies, to creative directing, to styling editorial shoots with top photographers. Each week it’s high fashion to mass fashion, it keeps me happy to be in both worlds!  I can reach so many real women all over the world via social media, my followers love that they can get a look into the real world of fashion and learn how they can apply that glamour to their lives in a realistic way.  One day I’m shooting for a European Vogue, doing a fashion segment for the Nate Berkus show or styling a supermodel for Estee Lauder and the next day I could be helping real women get their glam on in a mall in middle America!

Who are young designers that we should be looking to for the future of fashion?

I just had lunch with the talented designers of Cushnie et Ochs, I try to support as many up and coming designers as possible.  I know how tough this business can be and how much support they need to make it.   I love Flora and Alexa from Ohne Titel, Juan Carlos Obando, Joseph Altruzara, Christian Cota, Suno, Frank Tell….  There is so much talent out there right now.  I try to shoot their clothes, or get them on the red carpet as well as talk about their clothes in the media to help get their point of view out to mass America.  The American public needs to know there are more options than just the big brands that can afford to advertise.  It’s still a struggle, for example, there were a wide range of luxury brands seen on the Golden Globe red carpet but where were Erdem, Prabal Gurung, Thakoon, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler?  I was happy to see Givenchy, Nina Ricci and Jason Wu, though —  so that is some progress!

For the rest of the interview, click on over to LOOKBOOKS.com!

The Fashion Fund, created by the CFDA and Vogue to aid young and emerging designers, includes a mentorship program and a cash prize. Altuzarra took home $300,000 while runners-up Pamela Love of Pamela Love Jewelry and Shane Gabier and Chris Peters of Creatures of the Wind walked away with $100,000 each.

Those that went home empty-handed were Suno’s Erin Beatty and Max Osterweis; Carlos Campos; Antonio Azzuolo of A.A. Antonio Azzuolo; Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs of Cushnie et Ochs; Ohne Titel’s Alexa Adams and Flora Gill; Fenton/Fallon’s Dana Lorenz, and Soraya Silchenstedt of Finn Jewelry.

This year’s selection committee included Vogue’s editrix-in-chic Anna Wintour, CFDA prez Diane von Furstenberg and CEO Steven Kolb, Theory‘s Andrew Rosen, Coach‘s Reed Krakoff, J. Crew‘s Jenna Lyons, and past Fund winners — Proenza Schouler‘s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. [WWD]

Prabal Gurung

Prabal wanted to keep things understated: “I didn’t want to dress Miss Piggy in anything that would take away from her bold personality so I went with a simple, classic dress and neutral color. The Empire waist really complements her figure.” I’m sure she would agree since it’s not easy giving a pig a waist. I would insert a Mariah Carey joke here but I’ll wait for when she crawls out of the barn for her inevitable comeback.

Jason Wu

Jason Wu, however, decided to go pig or go home: “Her humor, flamboyance and joie de vivre inspired me to design a decadent feathered dress that features her most sensational qualities.” And always the consummate professional, Piggy is giving an editorial jump to emphasize the garment while keeping that porcine punim light and commercial.

“Style is about expressing your inner self,” said the star, “capturing your personal ethos, and, most importantly, spending someone else’s money.” Take notes, kids.

The Miss Piggy media blitz express will wind its way into Project Runway All-Stars where she will serve as a guest judge, then she’s making a stop at MAC for her line of cosmetics (out November 14th) — and of course there’s that amazing collaboration with Opening Ceremony – all before she karate chops into the station for The Muppets premiere, November 23rd. [WWD]

Anna Wintour and her flock of the fabulous have meticulously the selected 10 designers (and design duos) in the running for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. Last year, Billy Reid took the top prize of $300,000, a year of mentorship and a bronze trophy. The two runners-up Prabal Gurung and Eddie Borgo each took home $100,000 and a year of mentoring. This year, the judges are Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler (who join the committee for the first time this year), Mark Holgate of Vogue, Jeffrey Kalinsky of Jeffrey and Nordstrom, Steven Kolb of the CFDA, Reed Krakoff of Coach, Jenna Lyons of J.Crew, Andrew Rosen of Theory, Diane von Furstenberg of the CFDA, and of course the Queen herself, Anna Wintour of Vogue.

See all the of nominees here:

A. A., Antonio Azzuolo

I’m Lauren, your resident NYC dweller, crazed shopaholic and blogger from Diary of a Fashion Addict.com. Join me as we explore this week’s best online sample sales, NYC street deals, exclusive discount codes from your favorite designers and more. Like what you see and want more of it?! Check back with us every Tuesday, and visit my blog www.diaryofafashionaddict.com for even more sales, shopping tips and style inspiration.

Deal for a Day:

Love vintage style handbags but can’t shake the fakes from Ebay? Guaranteed authentic vintage Chanel sale from Billion Dollar Babes, June 23.

For an invite: email Lauren@diaryofafashionaddict.com

Discount Code DL:

Get amazing bang for your buck on lust-worthy designers like Suno, Chris Benz, Theory & more from Hampden Clothing via Refinery29 Reserves:

Spend $125, get $250 value

Spend $250, get $500 value

Spend $500, get $1000 value

***bonus: you even get a VIP card with a 25% coupon for your next purchase @ Hampden Clothing!

AND, Sense of Fashion has offered a FashionIndie exclusive discount! Place your first order with this high fashion designers direct to consumers, socially based site, and get 15% off with the code: 5W15J

Sale on Sale:

Just yesterday, Net-A-Porter launched their International Spring sale with up to 70% off! I shouldn’t have to say more…. But I will:

Marchesa, Lavin & Alexander McQueen evening gowns, Herve Leger bandage dresses, Roberto Cavalli serpent jewelry, Alaia waist cinchers, Jil Sander “Market” bags, Miu Miu clutches and wooden platforms, Nancy Gonzalez crocodile iPad cases, Helmut Lang leather & shearling…. should I go on????

Real Life NY Sample Sale:

Are you a bride to be?? Then you’ve probably read every bridal magazine this year and fantasized about those designer gowns that you thought only Kim Kardashian can afford to go with her absurd 20-carat engagement ring.

Well I’ve got major news for you: owning your own Oscar de la Renta bridal gown is so close you can taste it. I mean that- just a 45 minute trip from NYC @ the Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets. Get up to 70% the bridal collection for one week only- you won’t want to miss this.

Oscar de la Renta Bridal Sample Sale:

When: 6/23-6/29

Where: Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets

415 Red Apple Court

Central Valley, NY (845) 928-4000

Th- W (10-9)

The Male Sale:

Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein & Ralph Lauren had a baby, and they named him Simon Spurr. 2010 CDFA Menswear award nominee and winner of the Vogue Fund award- you know this guy has some serious English chops.

Ladies- tell your boyfriends, tell your dads, spread the news… the Spring collections are on super deep discount from his 2011 ready-to-wear line Simon Spurr and his denim collection Spurr. #FOMO

Simon Spurr Sample Sale:

When: 6/20-6/23

Where: 210 11^th Ave., near 24^th st. Suit 903

M-Th (10-6)

Bonus: The City Steal

***Not one, but two NYC deals so awesome I couldn’t exclude them from this weeks feature.

Love the Hamptons? Got some extra cash, but no time? Then this Urban Daddy deal is probably for you. Hurry fast to catch the last few hours of this awesome opportunity to charter a Seaplane from Fly The Whale. Leave from East 23rd & the East River and 30 minutes later, you’re $339 less richer, but at least you can laugh at everyone sitting in bumper to bumper on the LIE.

Another hot Urban Daddy deal for ya! Have you ever wanted to share a romantic night under the stars with someone listening to Shakespeare? You better hurry up- there will only be a few hours left by the time you read this. Get VIP seating a 2 free drinks for $145 via Urban Daddy.

For tickets and showtimes visit the official website HERE.

For more Steals and Deals, go to DiaryofaFashionAddict.com and look HERE for more and HERE for men’s.

Opening Ceremony is know for traveling the globe for it’s yearly collection of designers. Well, next year it seems the Soho staple is heading to Africa. Suno is one brand which is set to make their collection debut at OC this spring.

The Kenyan sourced brand headed by indie Max Osterweis is a new label which faces it’s own share of problems including “routine power outages, overturned buses and the occasional wayward snake.”

According to WWD the first collection will consist of 1,0000 one-of-a-kind pieces and the second will be double that. Retail prices for the new line will be about $160 for a tank and $600 for a dress.

Expect Suno to join of slew of other African designers this spring at Opening Ceremony.

Thanks to WWD for the heads up.