Got Plans Tonight?

If those plans include sitting at home holding down the couch... I've got a better suggestion!

Tre Bella Inc. & North Carolina Museum of Art Hosts
“Altar Ego…An Event All About You” Fashion Show

See the new Museum of Art, some great summer fashions (featuring the latest styles in daywear, resortwear, eveningwear, and bridal fashion), and stunning wedding gowns - while raising money for one of my favorites, Dress for Success Triangle NC!

Tickets to the event are $25.00, $5.00 which goes to Dress for Success AND enters you into the raffle for the items below. For tickets and more info, please visit the Altar Ego website.

Raffle Items
· Manuel Motto $2,000 wedding gown
· “Dining the Triangle” – dinner at Herons, the Fairview & Il Palio
· Dinner in Durham and tickets to The Color Purple
· Mirandolina Amoré package at The O’Henry Hotel plus $50 gift certificate

Durham-based Tre Bella Bridal, known for exceptional quality bridal gowns, is hosting the fashion show from 6:30-10:00 p.m., May 6, 2010 (tonight). The event will take place at the newly remodeled North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.

Pat Nathan, founder of the local Dress for Success Triangle N.C. affiliate, will emcee the event. The not-for-profit organization, which has suited over 700 clients since June 2008, promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life.

“With the growing demand for our services, we look forward to spreading the word about how we are helping women in the Triangle area,” said Nathan. “It will be a good opportunity to learn more about how you and your company can help women in the Triangle while seeing current fashion trends and having fun.”

The event will feature wedding event ideas, hors d’oeuvres, a signature drink, amazing raffles, and culminate in a fashion show at 8:00 p.m. Couture bridal gowns by Melissa Sweet, Priscilla of Boston, Angel Sanchez, Junko Yoshioka, Lela Rose, and Manuel Moto will be modeled. Triangle boutiques will feature ready-to-wear clothing including daywear, cocktail and resort clothing.

Attendees will receive swag bags that feature a signature Tre Bella necklace and other goodies from participating sponsors. There will be raffle tickets available, as well as a separate $5 raffle for a change to win a Manuel Mota Wedding Gown. Tickets will not be sold on site, but can be purchased online for $25 at http://www.trebellabridal.com/altarego.htm. They can also be purchased at Magpie (in Durham) and Hadley Emerson (in Chapel Hill). Sponsors include Carolina Wedding Connect by Fox 50; CE Rental; DJ Joe Bunn; Get It Lit; Table of Content; Wavelength Salon; and Platinum Beauty.

PS - Carol Hannah Whitfield of Project Runway fame will be attending the event to do a designer meet & greet and showcase her new bridal line that will be carried by Tre Bella!


Helpful Links:
NewRaleigh.com feature on this event - http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/altar-egoan-event-all-about-you-fashion-show-on-thursday/

Dress for Success Triangle NC affiliate page - http://dressforsuccess.org/affiliate.aspx?sisid=133&pageid=1

Altar Ego event page - http://www.trebellabridal.com/altarego.htm

Tre Bella bridal - http://trebellabridal.com/

Tre Bella florist & gifts - http://www.trebellaflorist.com/

{Double Post} Dress for Success Auction & Show

As I've mentioned many times before, my area has just gotten its own Dress for Success local affiliate and I am a proud volunteer!

We have an online auction going on right now with some great items up for grabs... check it out!

Success Suits Her Gift Bags and Free Tickets to the Southern Women's Show are up for grabs!
Our auction is being held in conjunction with this year's Southern Women's Show April 24-26 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Make a donation of at least $25 prior to the show and you will receive admission to the show, as well as a "Success Suits Her" gift bag in appreciation of your support. Visit our booth (613/615) to receive your bag filled with great products (including over $50 of Burt's Bees personal care products) and discount coupons for valuable savings.
Speaking of which, the Dress for Success fashion show at the Southern Women's Show:April 25th at 4:00pm
Dress for Success - NC Triangle Affiliate will have a fashion show at the Southern Women's Show featuring clients wearing Dress for Success clothing. Sue Stock (N&O) and Sonya Williams (Tarheel Talk) will share wardrobe stretching tips, reveal the hottest bags from Beijo and most importantly, celebrate each woman's success. Please be there and support these great women on this special day.Thanks for reading - please feel free to share/repost/etc.!

Coming Soon: Confessions of a Shopoholic

Coming Soon: Confessions of a Shopaholic

IMDB info - no official site yet, unless Google lied to me.

Go watch the video preview on Lauren's blog... looks hi-freakin'-larious.

Reminder: Catwalk for the Cure Model Search

I'm really excited to meet everyone at the model search tomorrow night! Here's some reminder info we've been putting out on facebook, MySpace, etc. about tomorrow's event:
Hello Buckhead Hotties,

If you are planning on trying out for our CatWalk for the Cure fashion show, which is being held at Buckhead Saloon on August 23rd please arrive at Buckhead tomorrow (Tuesday) by 7pm!

We will not be open to the public, this is only an event for those that want to participate in this great cause. Don't forget, all proceeds are benefiting the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)!!

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow night!

PS - Everyone is welcome to bring friends to join in!!

Any questions or anything? Feel free to leave me a comment or email me anytime tonight or tomorrow for more info!

Thanks in advance to everyone who is helping to make this event a great success in raising money for the JDRF!

"Handbag" Insanity

And I caaaaaaaaaaan't wait... it's going to be awesome. You KNOW I like my bags big.

From Swagger's Market Watch July '08 blog series:Market Watch July 08 - Day 6

Go Big or Go Home! I think that basically sums up the purses for the fall season! Everything is HUGE including the clutches! Which of course I love because if I can't put the kitchen sink in a handbag then I won't get it!:) We found a new handbag designer today and the purses were phenomenal!!! Here are a few pictures of some that I bought yesterday! If you like one let me know - because I only bought one of each - we can't have mulitple people in Cary with your fabulous bag now can we? Also, just to let you know , the fall handbags are similar to jewelry in that it is all about color! THE colors for handbags are Purple, Grey, Red and Navy!

Here are some pics:









So I have lots more to tell you guys but since I had technical difficulties last night I couldn't write the blog until this morning and I need to get going for my LAST day of market! We have bought some many new fantastic lines I can't wait to share them with you guys! Keep checking the blog as I will let you know here when they start coming in!

MandyThis is going to be quite the buying frenzy for me...

Love Fashion? Want to Help Kids?

Open Call for Models!
Strut your stuff and help my wonderful Buckhead Saloon raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation!

Join us at Buckhead on July 22, 2008 where we we'll pick the top 10 finalists for the Catwalk for the Cure fashion show to be held at Buckhead Saloon on August 23rd!

Want tickets to the show?
Pre-sale tickets will be available for only $10 and available at the door until 10pm on August 23rd for only $12! Email Julie Forsyth at JForsyth@BuckheadRaleigh.com for more info.

Want to contribute to the cause?
Limited sponsorship opportunities are available starting at just $20 - with all proceeds benefitting the JDRF! Contact Julie Forsyth via email at JForsyth@BuckheadRaleigh.com for additional information on supporting this great event.

From GoGoRaleigh.com: EcoFashion Show Needs Designers

My alma mater (NCSU COT '07) continues to make me SO proud! From GoGoRaleigh.com:EcoFashion Show Needs Designers
The Triangle Emerging Green Builders are doing a fashion show at the NCSU College of Textiles in the Spring, and they need your help! Click for more info:

Come show the Triangle what green fashion is all about! Designers wishing to participate in this innovative show must present two finished garments to the judging panel on August 23rd, between 10am and 2pm, at the Atrium in the NC State College of Textiles.

The clothing to be selected for the Eco-Fashion show must show a strong emphasis on ecologically friendly design. Eco-friendly design can be in the form of recycled or remanufactured garments, as well as using eco-friendly fabrics and production processes. If you have any questions about the requirements, we welcome you to contact us at greenfashionshow@gmail.com.

To be considered, each designer must:
· Create two garments that show a strong emphasis on green design
· Completely fill out an application form
· Bring your two garments and application to the Atrium in the NC State College of Textiles on August 23rd between 10 am and 2 pm. Appointments will be scheduled in 15 minute blocks, please email us at greenfashionshow@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.

Designers selected by our panel to participate will be asked to present a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 10 pieces at the Eco-Fashion Show. We are asking all designers to strongly consider donating two of their pieces to the Amani Baby Cottage, an orphanage in Uganda that is supported in part by MorLove, a non-profit student organization in the College of Textiles at NC State.

While we may be able to recruit volunteers to model and help with hair and make-up, we are asking all designers to be prepared to find their own models and take care of their own hair and make-up.

More information on the NCSU College of Textiles: www.tx.ncsu.edu

More information on MorLove: www4.ncsu.edu/~maframi/

More information on Triangle Emerging Green Builders: groups.yahoo.com/group/trianglechapteregb/

More information on American Vintage: www.avcc-inc.comWhat an awesome event being put together... can't wait to see some of the great results!