Brooch-ing the subject

Your grandmother knew they were in good taste. Michelle Obama knows it too. Ladies bring back the brooch. Where have you hidden them? You know, those gaudy pins you inherited from your mom that you swore you would never wear. They are HOT right now so you may want to eat your words. The brooch is no longer an elders only accessory. Pile them on your lapel. Pin one to a fabric headband or tie a ribbon around your waste and pin a brooch on the bow for a sassy belt. You can also add one to your hand bag. For a fun DIY project pin several coordinating brooches to a fat chain for a chunky one of a kind necklace.

Storage ideas. I store mine on a fabric board. This way I get to enjoy my collection everyday even when I am not wearing them. If you prefer to store them out of sight you can buy ice trays and place each brooch in a separate compartment. This will keep them from clanging into each other and becoming damaged.

The Fashion Revolution

Fashion Model's tattoos of a coat hanger. Top: Nicole Trunfio, bottom: Chanel Iman. Chanel was quoted as saying, "It symbolizes me being a model. Because you can hang clothes on a hanger and you also hang clothes on a model."

I have found a calling amidst the experience of my own despair. I have come to realize that the designer in me was born of nececity. For if I had been created thin and petite, I would have at my disposal every design and creation known to woman that I could afford. I would have been content to shop and aquire goods from stores and this would be my sole relationship to the fashion world. It would be simply a means to an end or as the leisure women of our day contend a recreational sport from which I would delight in my plunder. But because I am tall, large breasted and now in my older age "fat." it has become necessary that I create my own vision of beauty, and fashion in order to avoid over priced and dowdy, garments with little attention to details, quality or fit. And so I proclaim to you once again that all women despite their size deserve accsess to clothes that are affordable and beautiful.

In the begenning it was enough for me to simply create clothes to fit my own body. But I have met and continue to meet dozens of women with the same look of disapointment on their faces as they sift through fashion magazines and store racks looking for their size and asking, "where are all the clothes that make me look beautiful and feel special?" It is the same question that drove me to design and seek out dressmakers to assist me in creating my own clothes. From this I have begun to search for the answers.

A thought occurd to me, perhaps it is not that the magazines are telling us that thin is the only beautiful body type. The magazines are news books that simply report fashion trends and news. The images are of models who are the size of the clothes they have to fit in order to be employed. These clothes are created by designers. Before I begin to deduce the issue here, I will say a few words in loose, defense of the designer. Now that I am a designer I understand some of the percived constraints. For months before I created my first line I worried about the size of my samples. If I made the samples in sizes 0,2,4 it would be easier to go with the industry standard. It would then be easy to find models, and my clothes would be accepted into the fashion discourse as legitamate fashion. I would also save money on fabric. However this went against my original purpose and mission of my clothing line. in addition if I never found buyers for my clothes, I would have invested too much time and money into clothes I could not enjoy myself. So I decided to make my samples in sizes 20, 22, and 24 so that I could keep true to my original mission statement and if all else failed enjoy all my hard work by "rockin" my own designs.

the first problem I came across is that dress forms only come in one shape- the hour glass. In addition they rarley come in sizes above a 14. If I want to design clothes for plus size women I have to have access to the tools I need to design for their various unique shapes and sizes. There are various types of plus size bodies. The circle (generally round all over), the triangle (larger up top and smaller on the bottom), The rectangle (a larger version of the average woman with the same measurements up top as down below), and the egg (thinner up top and wider on the bottom). There have been no advancements in the ingenuity of the dress form, that I am aware of, since french corsetry was the normal attire for fashionable women. The corset as we all know was designed to cinch the women's waist and force her body to take on the hour glass shape. The dress form therefore follows this same shape which has become the standard for what a woman's body should look like. However if we look at drawings from ancient civilization such as the Greek. We find that the standard for a woman's body was much more organic.

Secondly designers make sample sizes in size 0, 2, 4 because these clothes are test runs for their new designs. This is probably inspired by the desire to save fabric and any consequences are probably not intentional, however because of the way the industry works our visual consciousness of beauty has been altered over time. The industry works this way, first, the designer makes samples, these are the clothes that are seen on the run way. Next, the buyers choose clothes from the run way that they want to sell in their stores. These are the same clothes that are then photographed and put in magazines. While simultaneously being mass produced in various sizes. Therefore whatever size the samples are determines the size of the models and therefore determines the images we see in the media.

Here is where I challenge this process. A designer could challenge beauty image just by choosing to make their sample garments in larger sizes and there fore use lager models. I have done this with my first line. Kudo's to the growing list of famous designers who are also doing this. Designers don't need to design for plus size women to make a difference. By changing the sample sizes to fit size 6, 8, 10 one could erase the impossible standards set by the fashion industry and encourage healthier body images.

If designers can make even this small concession we would see a n increase in healthier models on the runway, and more realistic images in the meda which inturn would create a healthier body image and more attainable beauty standards for all women.

Now that I am a designer I know that the asthetic of the garment changes with the shape of the body it rests on. Many designers defend their refusal to produce plus size clothes by saying that "it is not their chosen aesthetic." They simply choose not to do it because they say, "larger bodies do not inspire them."

It is the designers who drive the fashion industry and the insatiable need for models to be thin. And yet, if a designer makes clothes for plus size women they are then seen as a plus size designer and as so are dismissed from fashion discourse as a legitimate contributor. Just as a plus size model is not a "real model" a plus size designer is not a "real designer" and therefore it follows that plus size clothes do not push the envelope to become a wearable art form known as "real fashion." No wonder fashion revolves around tent shirts. There is no inspiration to be cutting edge, to experiment with new cuts, and techniques to attempt new feats of design.

I have heard it said that "the model is nothing more than a hanger for the clothes." This is a horrible pretense to begin creating from. I also find it moraly implorable. Women are people and clothes are objects. But in this statement women become the objects and the garment takes on life.

If we truly valued women in all that the word "value" entails and elicits than our views about fashion would change. We would as designers work to fit the clothes to women's bodies rather than forcing the bodies of women to fit the clothes. We would challenge the boundaries of visual aesthetic. We would challenge the science of garment construction.

A designer friend of mine always says "its easy to make clothes for skinny women because they are basically boys with bumps." this may be the root of the problem. Like all facets of society every venture has been systematically ruled by men, for men. Noting the historic examples of science and medicine, deduction and reason, the legal system and our moral climate, public policy, education and literature. All have first been geared toward men. Where there have been advancements to educate women, serve the needs of women or include them in discourse, these advancements have come from the hard labor and struggle of a few dedicated and persistent pioneers- The Feminists... The Revolutionaries.

I always wondered why a philosophically trained, sociologist would take such an interest in fashion. I questioned why I was "wasting" my time and intelligence on such a "frivolous" and "shallow" a matter as this, but now I see it is part of the struggle. I am fighting for the emancipation of our voice, our choices, of our self esteem. I am fighting against the oppression of our self worth for the emancipation of our body image.

I want to be a fashion revolutionary. Though this endeavor started out as a means to an end for my self. I see the necessity for other women to be served, who perhaps do not have the passion or creativity that I have. I have been given a gift that if I pursue will help other women stand tall, so they can go on to pursue their own gifts. Whether my name is ever known matters very little. I never sought to be rich and famous, I sought to make a difference. If I can be the one that makes the clothes or if I can inspire other designers to make a conscious effort. I know I have done my part.

Alean Simone Resort Wear 2010

These clothes were inspired by South Beach Miami FL as a vacation

destination during the cold winter months. The models walked to

LMFO : "I'm in Miami Trick." I actually modeled two of the outfits

because a model could not make it at the last minute. It was quite

the stressful day as I was producing the show, showing my own

work and modeling- which meant that I had to sit in hair and

make up for two hours. It was a blast to work with these women.

I love making plus size women feel beautiful and inspired. All of

the items are available for production in custom measurements.

Fashion First- New Moon

November 5, 2009- The first installment of Fashion First took place at Invasion nightclub and lounge. It was fun event. All Photographs are by Studio Lumiere. You may view more pictures at http://StudioLumiere.zenfolio.com/

Top: Models wearing Kelsey Curtis designs. From left to right Anastasia, Isha, Kristin, Annisa. All accessories provided by Alean Simone styling.

Middle :Model wearing Kelsey Curtis design, Kristin

Bottom : Models wearing Al Anoud Dajani Designs from Left to right. Back row: Isha, Lisa Taylor event coordinator and stylist, Miriam. Front row: Al Anoud the designer herself and Kristen.

Resort Wear 2010 Runway

I am inspired by nautical themes, I always have been. I love the evolution of nautical trends i'm seeing on the runway for resort 2010. Some designers are taking it very literal with anchors and navy military details. While others are playing with colors and patterns to create a very fun, and eclectic look. I love these looks by Derek Lam and Marc Jacobs.

Style Icons

My personal style icons? I love Sex in The City!!!!!!!

I find that at some point we are all a little inspired by one of the four characters. Samantha the sexy, vibrant, vixen. Charlette elegant, classic and lady like styles. Miranda- au natural and Carrie, expressive and fun. By far Carrie Bradshaw has to be my favorite character. Her High low budget is ridiculous and sometimes I have caught myself doing the same thing. Carrie would wear a "$700 pair of shoes with a $7 dress." I wear a $300 blazer with a .45 cent clutch or a $700 bag with a $24 dress. I am also really inspired by Gossip Girl. I love Serena's edgy high end rocker looks, Blair’s sophistication, Vanessa's Bohemien chic. I think that is the power of fashion, you get to retain your own character and personality but try on different personas and dress to fit your current mood.

I am inspired by Marc Jacobs he is always pushing the envelope on architecture, and the juxtaposition of patterns and textures. I love Chanel- always classic, aways ladylike and beautiful. I also love Michael Kors he is talented and I love his fall line. Every year he does some jacket or coat in a bright color that I just fall over my self to get. Right now I’m really into this amazing green jacket he made last year. It has gold buttons and chains at the hips. But I put a new spin on it with an assortment of antique brooches with a royal military-esk feel to them.

What magazines do I read? Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, In Style, Neon ...pretty much everything. I think it is important to have an idea of what’s out there at all price points. As a stylist I need to know what the offerings are at all times.

Origins of a fashionista

INTRODUCTION

This blog is about fashion, my personal style and my love for all things beautiful. In future installments I will bring you designer showcases, news about local fashion shows, Style tips and commentary about the bigger fashion world. Today I want to share my fashion origins.

I believe three things about fashion. First, that fashion is the backdrop to a beautiful life. If you want a beautiful life you have to surround yourself with beauty and let go of the ugly. Second, I also believe that great fashion exists at every price point. Third, all women deserve to be beautiful and should have access to what ever their heart desires no matter what their size.

I started out dressing myself. I have always loved clothes and been complemented on my fashion sense. I grew up modestly. I didn't have much in the way of clothes, but every year in September my mother would take me shopping for school clothes and I would pick out my clothes carefully making sure that I could mix and match the pieces with what I already had back home. I learned at a young age to update my look with a few amazing trendy pieces and mix and match them with classics. I was even mixing patterns before it was the thing to do. I have always had a love and propensity toward beautiful things, I am a Libra after all!

I love to shop for accessories. SHOES are my absolute favorite thing to shop for. I have size 11 feet, when I was a kid and I needed new shoes I always had to shop in the women's department. Since I was too young for heels I was forced to wear flats. In those days flats pretty much came in an ugly beige color and were very grandma looking. So I wore boy’s kicks a lot and dressed like a tomboy.

When I was a freshman in college, I discovered NORDSTROM the magical land of large size shoes. My first pair of shoes I bought there were Steve Madden's, pink crocodile embossed leather with wooden heels. I was so excited I wore them everywhere. That is where my obsession began. In recent years I have fallen in love with flats I am so happy that they have taken on so many beautiful shapes, textures, embellishments and colors.

What do I want to do with MY LIFE?

When I was asked as a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up I would tell you that “ I wanted to help people” Obviously I needed to narrow it down a bit. As a young woman I maintained a beautiful wardrobe and gave fashion advice to my friends. I drew designs of my own constantly. I never gave a thought to that quiet passion inside me.

Through a long process or exploration I landed on social services. I have a Masters in Sociology and have worked with at risk youth for years. In all that time fashion was in the back of my mind. I had become a fashion Martyr, allowing myself to wear corduroys and cause tee shirts. I was busy being political correct and afraid to be seen as shallow, I had a dilemma I loved two worlds that seemed irreconcilable. Fashion VS compassion an Imaginary argument began in my head over which career path to take I realized along the way that my Plan B had become my plan A and I needed to change the course of my life before it was to late.

FASHION FIRST

I decided to pursue fashion professionally after having the opportunity to shop for and dress several women. Seeing the change in their confidence really made me feel like this was a worthwhile task for my life’s work. I created the designer’s serenity affirmation to remind myself the value of my work in a world that screams for an end to suffering. I have always felt a burden to help others, I will continue to champion the causes close to my heart. I also recognize that to be fulfilled as one person I must have a challenge in my life that I can achieve. “I cannot end world hunger. I cannot cure AIDS. I cannot single handedly put an end to the ravages of war. But I can bring happiness to others by dressing the hell out of em and making fabulous clothes.”

I am most proud that I have helped so many women to create a wardrobe that inspires them and makes them feel confident. As a designer I hope to continue to achieve that goal by making beautiful, well made clothing for women of all sizes. As a stylist I enjoy working with plus size women to create a style that suits they’re body and makes them feel beautiful. I hope to inspire women of all sizes and shapes to first feel great about them selves inwardly and second to express themselves by dressing beautifully.

I have two years of professional experience as a personal shopper. I have

worked as a freelance stylist for five years, focusing primarily on photo shoots and personal styling. I am currently producing a fashion shows and working on the development of my own clothing line.

I have learned that it is never too late to change your life. I have learned that the only difference between the people living they’re dreams and the people who don’t is the courage to go for it full speed and never take no for an answer. I have also learned that life is not a dress rehearsal, you wont get a second chance to live. So if you aren’t happy figure out what it is that will make you happy and do it.