Lucy Bea Swimwear

Lucy Bea Swimwear for Summer 2011

by Lucy Bea

My Designer & I ::::   Lucy Bea swimwear has some of the most sexy pieces of swimsuits that ladies of all backgrounds would consider for this coming Summer. I had the pleasure to personally model in the fabulous line this past Thursday for California State University of Long Beach's ASI annual fashion show, Rags II Rhythm. While strutting to the latest hot jams on your televisions and radios, Lucy Bea was represented by student and non-student models.

Loose Threads :::: Lucy Bea Swimwear, self named by Lucy Bea, started in 2008.  Inspired by her grandmother, Lucy always had a drive to sewing. After tired of being at the beach, Vegas and local pool parties while finding herself showing up in the same swimsuits as others, Bea decided to begin to create her own. Teaming up with Brand Manager and childhood friend, Ashley Hayes, the two created the line Lucy Bea Swimwear. 

Making Ends Meet:::: The swimwear line was featured in the last Project Ethos fashion show in Los Angeles, California. The neon green swimsuit I am featured wearing, actually won the award for the show's Vitamin Water Designer Challenge. You can find the line again at the Socialite Affair Fashion Show taking place June 4th, 2011, produced by Brand Manager Ashley Hayes. The team is also crossing their fingers of being apart of San Francisco Fashion Week. 

Sabrina A.

Lola Wusu - Merchandiser, Stylist, Designer... Oh My!

Designs by Lola Wusu for  F.R.E.S.H. clothing line

Designs by Lola Wusu for  F.R.E.S.H. clothing line

Designs by Lola Wusu for  F.R.E.S.H. clothing line

Designs by Lola Wusu for  F.R.E.S.H. clothing line

Designs by Lola Wusu for  F.R.E.S.H. clothing line

The Designer - My good friend, Lola Wusu is a fashion designer who lives to style and is experienced in visual merchandising. She knew when she was younger that she wanted to grow up to be a fashion designer. It all started with her stuffed animals being the culprits for her one-of-kind designs, and from there it turned into a passion.

Loose Threads - Currently Lola is breaking her way into the fashion industry through many different arenas. She is working at a retail boutique, doing visual merchandising, consistently picking up styling gigs when she can, and collaborating on a clothing line called F.R.E.S.H. (Faith, Risk taker for God, Exemplify Him through my conduct, Selfless, and Honor Him in all that I do) with Brandon Nelson. From the F.R.E.S.H. line, Lola has created the lovely garments pictured above.  

Making Ends Meet - In the future, we can expect to see a lot more from Lola. She hopes to get more experience in styling because that is her true calling, she will be continuing to design for F.R.E.S.H clothing line, and hopefully be able to organize fashion shows for her garments in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Lola is a positive and free spirited person who excels in all of her endeavors. With her many talents and abilities in the fashion world, I can contest that in the near future, and in the long run, Lola will be successful in this fast paced industry.

- Melissa



Blog #5

Jacqlene Monet - "I used to want to be a dentist...until I took my first sewing class."

Jacqlene Monet & Cabana Club Fashion Show 2010

Jacqlene Monet & Cabana Club Fashion Show 2010

Jacqlene Monet & Cabana Club Fashion Show 2010

Jacqlene Monet & Cabana Club Fashion Show 2010

Jacqlene Monet & Cabana Club Fashion Show 2010

Jacqlene Monet & Cabana Club Fashion Show 2010

Designer Jacqlene Monet Corbin at Cabana Club Fashion Show 2010

Jacqlene and I,  2010 Rags 2 Rhythms Fashion Show

The Designer - Squeezing a meeting time into our busy schedules, my good friend of about 4 years now, designer Jacqlene Monet Corbin and I met for lunch this past Tuesday afternoon. Wearing shiny leggings and bright colors, Jacqlene was definitely making a statement. We small talked, then quickly went deeper into Jacqlene's past, present and future as a clothing designer. Ms. Corbin has wanted to be a designer since the beginning of college when she realized her career path in dental care was not right for her. At first she was apprehensive about jumping into a fashion major, but after taking her first sewing class at California State University, Long Beach, she knew this was the right decision.

Loose Threads - At this point in time, Jacqlene is still attending CSULB, but she is focused on much more than being a fashion student. She is applying herself to any opportunity or experience that will help her reach her goals in the competitive fashion industry. Jacqlene has been featured in the 2010 CSULB fashion show Rags2Rhythms, showcasing her first clothing line Jacqlene Monet. This collection was inspired by the female figure and  filled with hour glass silouhuettes, leg of mutton sleeves and bright statement colors. Another thread that Jacqlene has recently added to her sewing kit, was the opportunity to design a dress for Angela Jollivette or DJ Moon Baby, the gospel section coordinator at the 2011 Grammy Awards Ceremony.

Making Ends Meet -Future plans for Jacqlene include creating her new collection inspired by the 1950's and the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. We can expect this line to be retro, with a classic twist. The creative young designer plans to use "Glamour colors" as she calls them, such as red and gold giving the line an old Hollywood feeling. To make ends meet, with this new collection Jacqlene hopes to define herself and excel even further into her career as a fashion designer. She is currently in the second round of a Style Network design competition with Jeannie Mai of the television show "How Do I Look". If Jacqlene makes it through to the next round, this could be her big break. Let's all congratulate Jacqlene Monet on her accomplishments! Knowing her personally, I see a promising future ahead.

Thanks for reading everyone!

- Melissa

Blog#4

SKiMWEAR: "More Than Underwear, Less Than a Swimsuit"

 

S K I M W E A R 

designs  by  D i c e

Dice, models & I pose on the red carpet

::THE  D E S I G N E R  & I:: It was August of 2010 when I called Kim "Dice" Douglas, a 31 year old Dallas, Texas native, asking if she'd be interested in showcasing her swimwear line at a fashion show I was set to host. Nicknamed Dicey by her grandfather, Kim decided to shorten it up and use the childhood name as her own within the industry. Although the name was given according to her edginess perceived at birth, Dice appears as humble and calm while working. However, do not let this petite woman's smile, class and style fool you. She may not be that edgy little girl anymore, after all, who has time to be when they could simply express it through designs.  

Myself hosting in a Skimwear bikini top

::L O O S E THREADS:: With her first love and background being costume design, Dice did not have intensions on specializing in swimwear. "A photographer friend of mine was shooting for Playboy and needed very specific swimsuits for an interesting concept he was aiming towards. He asked me if I would make him some, so I did. All the models LOVED them so much, [I] didn't even wind up taking any back home, so I just started making swimsuits from that point on." Dice decided to call her line Skimwear because after her first experience with making swimsuits, she realized she enjoyed making skimpy swimwear without elastic and padding. Making a line specially for show and not to swim in, she further describes her line as being "more than underwear, but less than a swimsuit". By appreciating the world a lot more, Dice also tries to create new swimsuits by using recycled pieces of fabric from other textiles. For instance, the bikini top I am wearing while hosting in the picture featured above was made from flower petals of an old purse, which is what I appreciated most about her line. 

::MAKING ENDS M E E T:: Aside from continually being requested to borrow pieces for various shoots by many, some projects Skimwear has been featured in will awe you. In 2009, four leading models wore Skimwear in a music video by R&B artist Ray J. In 2010, the hot swimwear line had five different pieces featured on the iphone application Bikini Flip. Later that year, not only did the line make it onto Maxim Online but was also displayed in Physique Fitness Magazine. In addition to other offers, the line was taken into consideration by Guess. Although mind-blowing and certainly flattering, Dice decided to turn down the opportunity in being one of the key designers stating "the use of African American models for Guess is nonexistent and probably always will be." Standing her grounds within her African American heritage, Dice is driven and dedicated to reassuring that Skimwear remains her own and I am, personally, honored to have worked alongside this ambitious woman of great talent and craft.

xoxo,

SaBRiNa a. 

Aamber Hickman - "I have to get better every semester."

Sidewalk Sophisticates

Sidewalk Sophisticates

Sidewalk Sophisticates

Aamber Hickman & Sidewalk Sophisticates

Sidewalk Sophisticates

Sidewalk Sophisticates

Sidewalk Sophisticates

Sidewalk Sophisticates

Aamber and Myself 2009

The Designer - As I walk into the coffee shop, I immediately see her sitting at a small table. Aamber Hickman, my dear friend and talented clothing designer has been designing clothes of her own creation since high school. In her three years at Cal State University, Long Beach, Aamber's clothing lines Aamber Aleyna and Sidewalk Sophisticates have both been featured in an on campus fashion show called Rags2Rhythms. Miss Aamber has also conducted a student organized photo shoot for her garments, which are also featured in this post. I personally participated in this photo shoot as assistant art director and make-up artist.

Loose Threads - After we spent time catching up, and exchanging career info, we talked a little bit about Aamber's new line Ravish and Romance. Sounds exciting eh'? Well for this new collection Aamber has many tricks up her sleeve, all revolving around one main focus, quality. The collection will be filled with dresses, skirts, shorts, tops and a possible knit jacket. All in a color story of navy blue, grey, maroon, khaki, and black.

Making Ends Meet - Aamber is looking forward to creating her best clothing line yet, and presenting it in the Rags2Rhythms fashion show again this Spring season. She keeps telling herself, "I have to get better every semester." For the summer, Aamber will be looking for an internship to further pave her way into the industry as well as continuing to design clothing. We said our goodbyes in hopes that it will not be so long before we have time to catch up with each other again. Whenever that will be, I'm sure Aamber will have accomplished even more goals and have more surprises to bring to the world of fashion design. 


Thanks for reading fashionistas! I hope you enjoyed. 
- Melissa

CSULB Alumni Designer, Lisa Jn Marie, Paves the Way



Myself in a Jn Marie one-of-a-kind



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   ::MY DESIGNER & I:: It was my second semester as a freshman at CSULB in 2007 when I first met Lisa Jn Marie. Being a junior in college at the time, she asked if I would help model some of her garments for the fashion department's annual fashion show - Campus Couture. After a few fittings and a sense of her style of designing, I became more than happy to help bring her garments to life. It was from that moment and on that I had the opportunity to not only witness this St. Lician native expand on her craft but also understand, as well as befriend, the passionate and well-driven individual behind the designs.



Models in Jn Marie at local Los Angeles events



                                      

        ::LOOSE THREADS:: Although being notable for her constant tardiness during her final year of college, Lisa Jn Marie still shown her fashion design teachers her passion behind her designs. In fact, one of the most demanding and analytical teachers said to Lisa, "If I believe anyone is going to make it, it is you." With those words of inspiration, Jn Marie continued to eagerly persue the fashion industry by networking with various models, hosts, coordinators and designers and participating in Los Angeles events and fashion shows. I had the pleasure, as well as CSULB alumni Tiffany Belle, to model in her beautiful garments at a few of these events. Fashion shows, Oscar gifting suites and Beverly Hills mansion parties were a few of these events Jn Marie had her designs invited to be displayed.

Actors of Voyages in costumes made by Jn Marie

         ::MAKING ENDS MEET:: Something Jn Marie is looking forward to is becoming the head costume designer of a new show being debuted to various cable networks called Voyages, based upon Ancient Greece. If the show does well and one of the cable networks pick up on it, Lisa will be preparing costumes for all the actors in the show. Another area of design Lisa is proud to have made a great profit in is creating high end wedding dresses for future brides. You can check out Jn Marie designs at www.jnmarie.com.

--SaBRiNa

The Beginning!

~~~ SaBRiNa & MeLiSSa ~~~

::Welcome friends, followers and fashionistas::

          Loose Threads is a site that will highlight local Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County designers and stylists, as well as celebrity stylists who remain unacknowledged. The name of the site was chosen to ensure our readers of how our weekly posts will be based off a designer or stylist who is up-and-coming within the Southern Californian fashion industry. While we compare our designers and stylists to garments in the making, their experiences we share with our readers will be their "loose threads". In summary of all blogs, we'll state how the weekly feature is "making ends meet", as they grow closer towards their goals. Everything posted will be fashion forward and beneficial not only to our readers, but also to all the features we have an honor highlighting. We hope that you all enjoy reading and viewing Loose Threads as much as we'll enjoy keeping it updated.

Let's go! :)

-- Melissa & Sabrina