Whitney Port speaks to students at Arizona State

Whitney Port, reality TV star from MTV The Hills and The City, came to ASU on Wednesday, November 30 to talk to students about her success in the fashion industry and provide insight on what working in this industry is really like.

Photo Credit

Whitney looked stunning in a Rachel Comey jacket and shirt, paired with shorts from her own Spring 2012 collection and a Lulu Frost necklace. 

When asked what designers inspire her personal style, Port said, “I’m not a label person, I just see something and I like it.”

Whitney then shared her story of success, starting from childhood to her reality TV days to becoming the fashion designer and icon that she is today.

She also emphasized her passion for giving back through a video of her trip to Liberia, where she partnered with Face Africa, an organization that seeks to empower local women by teaching them to sew and produce garments for American retailers. 

“I think charity is a really important aspect of what we do,” Port said.

After the video, Port encouraged a question and answer period. Students’ questions ranged from life as a reality star to her beauty regimen but most were interested in what advice Port could provide for those looking to break into the fashion industry.

Whitney repeatedly emphasized the importance of internships that could connect you to the people you needed to know. Giving examples from her internship days at Women’s Wear Daily and Kelly Cutrone, she encourages students to take risks and never give up. 

“Your goals CAN become a reality!” Port said.

Port doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. Fueled with enthusiasm and positive feedback from her fans, her future plans include getting her clothing line into a department store and starting a jewelry line.

Whitney Port acknowledged that although she didn’t have the typical experience breaking into the industry, her knowledge and experience gained could provide insight, as well as inspiration, for any college student looking to start their own company in the fashion industry.

Lindsay Viker

Phoenix Blogger Series: Indie Stitch

As what is described as a collaborative to help push local fashion forward, Indie Stitch creates an outlet for local bloggers and fashion fans to experience all that Phoenix has to offer.

While Phoenix isn’t globally known as a fashion capital, the local style scene is definitely something to consider. Without the help of internationally known magazines and style icons, Phoenix’s main fashion expression comes from its local bloggers and followers.

Indie Stitch creator Dustin Hoyman started out in the marketing field and always had a taste for fashion and a passion for art. But it wasn’t until his first run at Phoenix Fashion week nearly four years ago that he really jumped into the local fashion scene.

“I kind of tripped and fell into it,” Hoyman said. “I just fell in love with it, fell in love with the people and just really wanted to support it.”

Photo courtesy of Hoyman

Born and raised in Phoenix, Hoyman’s love of the city is what fueled him to bring awareness to all the local art. He saw the potential the valley had to really become a staple in the fashion world on a larger scale.

“I really want to bring fashion into Phoenix,” Hoyman said. “Nobody gives Phoenix any credit…we have a uniqueness to us and it’s always growing and getting better.” 

Indie Stitch came about in the last few years from Hoyman’s innate desire to bring attention to Phoenix fashion even though as Hoyman said he isn’t as into the fashion specifically as he is into the whole scene.

Thuy An Bui, a contributing blogger for Indie Stitch, said the blog is all about support for local art, whether it’s fashion trends or events and it’s the devotion of the bloggers that has made it such a well-known aspect of Phoenix fashion and style.

“Phoenix really has something but we haven’t done as much in the past to promote it on a wider scale.” Bui said. “With Indie Stitch we want people to see that we have a real fashion scene here and there’s more to Phoenix than what people expect.”       

Hoyman said he wanted to bring in contributors to his site to really expose them to the industry and bring more and more notoriety to their ideas and writing. He said Indie Stitch was and is about connections.

“Everybody wants to support each other…It’s more based on community than competition,” Hoyman said. “Most people want to help build this community and push it forward.”

Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Fashionista

Indie Stitch has proven itself to be a real outlet for the local fashion community and continues to grow and bring attention to the Phoenix style scene.

Vanja Veric

Victoria's Secret Diamond Bra: 1996 - 2011

When peeling back a woman’s clothing, what she wears beneath her Chanel dress or Rag & Bone jeans characterizes who she is when no one is looking. Stripped down, undergarments define a woman’s sacred identity. In an act of flaunting the concealed, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show features an annually-crafted, diamond-themed bra that epitomizes a woman’s beauty and opulence.

The first diamond bra was introduced in 1996, a year after the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut, as the Million Dollar Miracle Bra.  It was worn by Claudia Schiffer and drizzled in diamonds from strap to under-wire, costing $1,000,000. Schiffer wore the bra in a photo shoot, but the bra was not presented on the runway. 

The following year, Tyra Banks wore the $3,000,000 white diamond, Diamond Dream Bra, which, although pricier than its predecessor, also did not appear on the runway.  

Maintaining the trend in price-tag raising, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show presented the Dream Angle Bra in 1998, worth $5,000,000 worn by Daniela Pestova, and the diamond-encrusted, star-studded $10,000,000 Millennium Bra adorned by Heidi Klum in 1999.

Next came the Red Hot Fantasy bra and panty set, a $15,000,000 lingerie coupling that broke the Guinness World Records book as the most expensive underwear in the world.  More than 1,300 stones including Thai rubies garnished the red satin bra, which was worn in 2000 by Gisele Bundchen in a photo shoot, and also did not grace the runway.

In her second time around, Heidi Klum broke the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show spell when she wore the $12,500,000 Heavenly Star Bra on the runway. The 2001 million-dollar bra was drenched in 1,200 Sri Lankan pink sapphires and a 90-carat, emerald-cut diamond. 

After Klum set the standard, the 2002 Star of Victoria Fantasy Bra, valued at $10,000,000 worn by Karolina Kurkova, and the 2003 Very Sexy Fantasy Bra, the third million-dollar bra donned by Klum, were shown on the runway.  The Very Sexy Fantasy Bra was worth $11,000,000 and featured the second largest diamond in the world, a 70-carat diamond.

In 2004, Tyra Banks wore her second coveted Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show bra, which cost $10,000,000 with a 70-carat pear-shaped diamond placed at the center of the bra.  After Banks debuted the Heavenly “70” Fantasy Bra, Gisele Bundchen also modeled her second million-dollar bra, the 2005 Sexy Splendor Fantasy Bra that was worth $12,500,000 in diamonds, ruby gemstones and white gold.

The onset of dramatic Victoria’s Secret wings under way, Karolina Kurkova strut down the runway at the 2006 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show wearing the Hearts on Fire Diamond Fantasy Bra and a matching set of wings. The $6,500,000 bra was comprised of more than 2,000 diamonds, complete with a 10-carat diamond-brooch centerpiece. 

In 2007, Selita Ebanks was dressed in the $4,500,000 Holiday Fantasy Set, which as she described was not as pretty as it looked.

“Yeah, diamonds hurt,” she said in an interview with huffingtonpost.com.  “I don’t know about wearing diamonds on your crotch.”

The set included the bra, thong and garter, which were embellished with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and yellow sapphires.

“It’s like you’re walking and scraping,” she said.  “This is not cohesive to get a man.  No man wants a scratchy vagina.”

Adriana Lima came next in 2008 after the holiday vixen, wearing the Black Diamond Fantasy Miracle Bra.  The black-diamond bra, worth $5,000,000, was designed by celebrity jeweler Martin Katz who jeweled the bra with 3,575 black diamonds, 117 one-carat round diamonds and 34 rubies.

Also dripping in diamonds was the 2009 Harlequin Fantasy Bra that was worn by Marissa Miller and had 2,300 diamonds with a 16-carat, heart-shaped diamond pendant as the focal point.

The Bombshell Fantasy Bra, modeled in the 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show by Adriana Lima, was next in line for the million-dollar bra title. Six Diani craftsmen spent more than 1500 hours to complete the $2,000,000 bra comprised of more than 3,000 white diamonds, light blue sapphires and oval-shaped topazes, which were all set in 18-karat white gold.

Continuing the celebratory expression of femininity, Miranda Kerr will wear a $2,500,000 bra on the runway Nov. 29 during the television debut of the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.  The Fantasy Treasure Bra features yellow diamonds, white diamonds, citrines, aquamarines, pearls, white gold and yellow gold.  Accessorized with a touch of everything, the Fantasy Treasure Bra preserves the legacy revealing the grandeur and elegance beneath every woman’s surface.

Jessica Abercrombie
All photos courtesy of Fashionista

The aftermath of Black Friday

I’ll admit that I was a little bit crazy to volunteer to work Black Friday, but money is money right? Though trying to park to clock-in on time for my shift was a challenge and so was weaving my way through the mall between ladies’ massive Victoria’s Secret bags, parents wielding huge toy boxes from Target and everything else on sale being dragged down the walkways.

Photo Credit

I work at Justice, but that didn’t mean the clearance-searching maniacs steered clear of the store looking for better bargains, because in reality, the store was ultimate chaos.

The store looked much like any other 40% off sale or super clearance sale we ever have plus about ten times the people looking for holiday gifts, birthday gifts for next summer just because it was cheap, and parents taking their kids on shopping sprees and taking advantage of the sales.

Seeing all of the shoppers did make me jealous and the food court was just as insane and packed full of people and things. I should have contemplated going shopping instead because work was nothing short of hectic.

I remember a few years back, my mother and I had woken up at 4 a.m. to get the cheapest deal on Kitchen Aid mixers at Kohl’s. Apparently everyone else had seen the commercial on TV as well, because when we got there all they had was a huge line stretching around the entire store and sales that weren't worth waiting in line for. I don’t remember exactly, but I’m pretty positive we just went home after that.

Aside from working today and that one Kohl’s venture in the past, I haven’t really taken any intense trips to brave the Black Friday crowds unless I find something I really need or want for a great price, which is rare.

Things I have learned: Get up early because you still have a tiny chance at getting what you woke up for, be prepared to be patient and focused because everyone else wants what you want and make a list of what you’re after. I definitely lost count of how many parents walked into Justice today asking if we have any more of that one blue sweater you have to buy for all the girls in the family or if I can check back stock for the extra purses, because honestly, someone probably got to them first.

For those who were not braving the cold weather Friday morning, be sure to check out all the insane online deals today for Cyber Monday!!

Ashley Loose