Tips to make friends and influence people at New York Fashion Week

Atmosphere gets crazy during New York’s biggest week in fashion. The heels. The hair. The heat. The heartache. And that is only for standing in line for the after party.

An example: Tommy Saleh’s NYNY party at Le Baron was occupied to instant capacity Monday when the W magazine and Donna Karan shindigs downtown ended and everyone streamed over en masse. We counted 4 doormen – not the typical friendly 2 – manning the crowd, constantly asking everyone to move back, move aside, move out. To no benefit.

Few lucky ones who did get in (think models, New York City DJs and the kids from Public School) had a great time, as expected with any Saleh fete. But there are ways to mitigate the horror. And win friends in the process. Here are some some those.

Carry cigarettes and a lighter. Fashion people smoke. I do not see this changing. Even if you do not smoke, you will be asked for a ciggy or a lighter (or both) if you are hanging around outside any of these events. Be a good one and carry a few extras. It helps made easy conversation.

Or – and this is tried and true – step outside with your group of smoking friends when they go for a smoke. You will meet the most interesting people.

Share your car. Are you a member of Uber? Great. Be a pal and call for a car the second you feel the energy shift and can tell people will want to leave in T-minus five, four, three, two….

Put names on lists. Got the hookup at Tribeca Grand, PURPLE, Vanity Fair, The Standard, Electric Room, Acme or The Jane? Make the call (and by call we mean text) to your guy on the inside and put some names down. It is more fun to roll with a crew than with a plus-one anyway.

Carry a charger. The anxiety journalists, models, bloggers, promoters, DJs and business people feel when their battery goes dangerously low is palpable. Some carry portable chargers that prove invaluable when your phone dies halfway through the evening. Or, you could just try to enjoy the evening as a fully present individual blissfully untethered to a device. But that is an advanced move best enjoyed deliberately, not by dead-cell-phone default.

Keep you hands down. Take 2-3 photos during the runway show and then put the phone down. Otherwise your raised hand will be immortalized in the shots of everyone behind you, and they will hate you for it.

Don’t pinch seats. By which we mean do not sit in an assigned seat which doesn’t belong to you. Far better to stand in the back and then be called to a place of honor than to assume a seat up front and face public removal when its rightful owner arrives.

Go with the flow. Plans change. Traffic stops. People get tired, hot, hungry, sick or love-bit. It is completely okay. There will always be another season, another show. Think ahead...think of the future.

My Favourite Celebrity Hairstyle This Week - AnnaSophia Robb

I am obsessed!

I have a total crush on AnnaSophia Robb's chic 'do. Find out here...

I don't know about other people, but I'm psyched for The Carrie Diaries to start back up this fall! AnnaSophia Robb is doing a fantasticjob portraying young Carrie Bradshaw, and I drool over the fashion every single episode. The charming girl recently stepped out with this cute side bun and I'm totally crushing! My hairstylist friend feels the same and I couldn't wait to share his tips for recreating the look at home.

“This is a chic and casual bun that is super flattering and super simple to achieve. Her look is disheveled and polished, which makes it so interesting!" My friend says. "The hair is soft on the face and her makeup is clean and classic. The thing that I like the most about this style is that it's effortlessly elegant and takes only 5 minutes or less to perfect.”

How to get the look at home

1. It's important to always use a hydrating and color-safe shampoo and conditioner to jump start the styling process. It's also important to integrate a hair treatment if your hair is heavily styled. 
2. Before blow drying, gently apply a quarter size of styling cream on wet hair to nourish and detangle hair. This creamy styling balm will help protect hair during blow drying and leaves the hair soft with natural movement that you will need for this hairstyle.
3. After blow drying, separate hair in an untidy way. Part in the middle or on the side.
4. Tease at the top. Use a light hairspray.
5. Smooth the result with a styling gel like while still maintaining the rounded volume.
6. With both hands build a low bun and keep loose. Strike the balance between undone and polished by pulling a piece or two around the face and out of the bun. For additional volume right above the bun, pull the bun downwards.
7. Secure with hairpins and use the Flexible Gloss again to polish the look.

Men & Earrings

Well, as many people think, wearing earrings is not just confined to females. If sparkling studs adorned in a variety of hues can turn a plain Jane into a glamour queen then simple yet stylish hoops or studs can, quietly transform, enhance a man's physique.

In ancient times, men's earrings were considered a form of art. This is quite evident in the 19th century engraved images of men with earrings, especially of Persian descent, exhibited on palace walls. In other parts of the world as well including India and Egypt religious leaders, kings and pharaohs respectively were seen wearing men's earrings. Earrings for men were also popular in Assyria and Babylonia for they reflect the wearer’s status in the society.

At one time, metal earrings for men were considered to protect the person from evil spirits. Such ancient customs show as to why gold and silver hoops are among the most popular men's earring style. Ear-lobes were perhaps man's first shot at body piercing. In 1991, the oldest mummified body on earth was found in a Glacier in Austria. According to the tests the body was more than 5000 years old; it had pierced ears with holes, which were enlarged to 7 to 11 mm diameter.

In the western world, the fascination of earrings for women can perhaps be dated to the 1920's in Western Europe. As for as men are considered, ear piercing began to get popular towards the middle of 20th century. In earlier days, ear piercing was done with the help of a safety pin for making holes in the ear. However, in recent times better piercing techniques such as ear guns are being used to set in earrings in one's ears. Moreover, during the flamboyant 1980's, men's earrings gained even more popularity with the famous musicians, entertainers, performers and athletes often flaunting them. Usually, two kinds of men's earrings are available- studs and hoops.

As ear piercing for men started gaining popularity, most of fashion enthusiast men were seen sporting a single stud in only one ear. During those days, it was considered a taboo for males to sport studs or hoops in both their ears, or in just right ear. However, in present days, you can find a number of men with more holes in their ears than even some women! Some people think that men's earrings denote homosexuality. In fact many heterosexual males simply like to sport earrings as a fashion statement. In fact, ear piercing is a more or less universal practice for both women and men; it's only in the west where some considered it effeminate.

In the past, men adorned themselves in elaborate earrings even in the western countries. For instance, during the Elizabethan period many well-known men including Sir Walter Raliegh, Francis Drake and Shakespeare wore gold earrings. It is argued, while the Roman Republic turned more effeminate with luxury and wealth, earrings became more popular among males than the females!

Today, it’s not just well-groomed urbanites that are seen sporting jewellery, indeed, in the streets, men's earrings are believed to symbolise toughness. Some think men's earrings play up sexuality while retaining masculinity, often making a man look cool and a lot snazzier. Be it diamond, platinum, gold or silver, or even semi-precious stones, men's earrings have become an essential part of men's jewellery.

Try these celebrity summer hair styles

From the red carpets to the streets, women across the world are changing over their hairstyles to tackle the warmer weather which brings frizz and the need to pull hair away from the face and neck. But the days of a messy bun piled high on the head seem to be over! It's easy to recreate celebrity summer hairstyles yourself at home using many hair extensions products available in the market!

Braids are going to be huge this summer, and you can get a braid that turns heads, even in case you don't have long hair. Whether it is worn loose off-to-the-side, or in the waterfall style, the braid is both simple and elegant. For teenage girls or ladies who have thinner hair and want to add bulk to their braid, try clip-in and bonded extensions that are available in different brands.

When it comes to loose updos, the messier the better! And what  a nice way to achieve a messy up-do than with volume? By adding in extension strands, this hairstyle can give your hairstyle an added charm and appeal.

The low ponytail will never go out of fashion! Models, actresses, and ladies across the world are embracing the simplicity of the ponytail and different hair extensions in the market have made it even easier. With their latest clip-in ponytail extensions, women can now add both length and volume to their pre-existing pony. 

Fashion Expert Nina Garcia Answers 30 Questions

Why 'Project Runway' judge feels at home in Philippines
MANILA, Philippines -- "Project Runway" judge Nina Garcia feels completely at home in the Philippines, saying the tropical country reminds her of her starting days in Colombia.

The 48-year-old fashion journalist, who is presently the creative director of fashion magazine "Marie Claire", on Friday attended the Jag Origins show at the Philippine Fashion Week as a special guest.

"Thank you to the Philippines for giving me such a phenomenally warm welcome, and for making me feel so at home, so welcome, so embraced." - Nina Garcia in an interview

Born and brought-up in Colombia, Garcia cited the similarities of her native country with the Philippines, "starting with both being Catholic nations, and the family I think is part of priority for both cultures."

"Also, the weather is very similar, the fruits, the warmth and attitude of the people, the climate, it's very much similar to Colombia," she said.

In an interview with Abunda, Garcia also retraced her struggling days in the fashion industry. The author of 4 fashion-themed books also shared her philosophy about style, and speak about what it takes to make it big in this "cut-throat" industry.

Here are 30 questions that Nina Garcia answered for our readers:

Let's start light. If style had a name, what is it?
Personal.

You are having dinner with Pope Francis. What are you wearing?
Black.

If fashion had a color, what is it?
I would say red.

If you meet the devil, what do you think he would be wearing?
He's not wearing anything.

If you go to heaven, which designer would you bring along with you?
Alexander McQueen. Because in my opinion what he did is so beautifully feminine. It was heavenly. When he went feminine, when he went soft, it was just ethereal.

Who is the sexiest man in the world?
My two children.

Lights on or lights off?
Lights on.

It's your last night on earth. Where are you and what are you wearing?
Haute couture, for sure. In Paris!

Dress you would never, ever wear?
Tight, shiny and short. Not happening.

Name one woman who can wear anything and look great.
Kate Moss.

New York or Colombia?
Both.

Black or white?
Black.

Are diamonds really a woman's best friend?
No doubt about that.

Describe Nina Garcia's personal style in one word.
Streamlined.

How do you approach being a judge on 'Project Runway'?
It's difficult, because you do not want to hurt anybody's feelings, but at the same time you want to help them, and you want to be truthful and you want to be frank. But my biggest nightmare in being too frank is that I would ever disappoint anybody, or break anybody's spirit.

[I think about] how I can say it in a way which is not mean or offensive... While I do not want to break anybody's spirit, I do not want to waste anybody's time.

When I am sitting there with those designers, I am judging them with their peers, I am judging them with what I see in the market, with what I see as an editor.

In a country not as wealthy as the United States, how can you make fashion relevant?
I believe that fashion has no economic or geographic boundaries. Fashion is an expression of the culture, but it is also creativity. And now more than ever, with the power of social media, when you have something which is unique and is fabulous, it can become viral, it can become fashion statement.

What is the difference between fashion and style?
Fashion is an expression of a time, of a place, of history. It is putting things into context. Style is really very personal, it is kind of timeless. Style is really about how you put yourself together, it is something very personal. Fashion is just an interpretation of the culture around us.

If style is indeed personal, why are even talking about style?
Because it communicates. It does communicate, the way you put yourself together. It's almost like a language without words. It is the first thing you see, so it can communicate something. Style is a journal.

If you look back in history of the women who are most memorable and most stylish, they were never the fashion followers, they were the ones who were unique in their style, breakers of the rules. They were authentic, genuine, original. They were not following the trends.

How has show business affected style and vice-versa?
Back in the '30s and '40s, the studio controlled the image of the actresses. There were no stylists then, but the studio controlled these women, the way they put themselves together, the way they spoke, the way they presented themselves. Now that has changed. Now it is the stylist who is controlling their image. They stylists are controlling what they wear. Do I agree with it? No. I wish I could see more of their personal style.

Do you agree that stylists have tempered the flamboyance in show business?
Yes. Nobody wants to be in the list of worst-dressed. It's interesting because when the stylist get to flamboyant, or a star is too creative in their outfit, people get turned off, sometimes. Then there are artists like Lady Gaga. She owns that.

Now it is show business and commerce. What you see on the red carpet is going to translate all across the world. It is business, so it has been watered down, because at the end of the day, there is that "show business sells clothes."

Is there anything original in fashion today?
There is original interpretation (laughs). There is a few that are original, but there are original interpretations. It's very hard to have an original creation. And I would venture to say that in the past may be 30 years in design, there has not been so much originality. It is just an interpretation.

It will happen (originality). I don't feel so pessimistic about it. I think it's just the times that we have been living. It's been very comfortable, and there is so much money, but so much at stake, that if you take a chance, if you have something that doesn't make it, you have a lot to lose.

A quote in your book says, 'We are survivalists, we are nurturers, we are women.' Talk about it.

We are women, and I think that now more than ever, in the 21st century, we have the possibility to do so many things. We can have families, we can have jobs, and we're very good at it. We can juggle so many things. We are survivalists because we keep the family, and that's where it all starts.

Trends: how should we view them as consumers?
Cautiously. I am not a proponent of being a fashion victim, and I think when we get too caught up in the trends, we fall into that category. I think we should use them sparingly. I think we should use them when they work for us. But I don't think we should use them just for the sake of using them.

How can we tell a good designer from a bad one?
A bad designer, in my opinion, does not have a point of view. When you see a designer, you should be able to tell, "That's so and so." A bad designer does not have a distinct point of view. I should be able to look at their collection and be like, "That is so and so." It should be authentic to them, it shouldn't be, "One day, I'm going to do this, and the next day, I'm doing to do that." It should be authentic, genuine, real, and should be able to communicate.

What is your single most important message on style to aspiring designers?
We go back to being personal, being original, being authentic. I often speak to many designers in Colombia and South America who are trying to break into the business, and they ask, "What is it that we have to do? What is it that will bring us that international attention?"

It is being genuine, being proud of your heritage, being proud of what you do, owning what you're good at, as opposed to trying to be somebody else, or trying to be something else. That's my most important message.

In every part, not only in design. When I get asked questions from students, like, "What were my challenges in the American market [as someone from Colombia]?" I really felt very proud to be Colombian. That, for me, was a source of strength. I didn't find it as a disadvantage. That gave me an advantage. It was my equity, and it was my point of distinction. I saw things from a different perspective than the Americans.

What did you learn from "Project Runway" that you didn't learn from magazines?
You know, the show is really a microcosm of what happens in the real world. It is that tough, it is that cut-throat. It's either you make it or you don't make it. It just gave me more empathy for the designers, for the designers who are the creators. It was more upfront. It's more condensed. It's more there. I see it.

Obviously, in my every-day work, I run across many designers, they are living in real life. But here I see it repeatedly, and I see it so closely. I have more empathy for them.

How do you survive being in a fiercely competitive field?
Focus. Determination. Passion for what I do. I am passionate about what I do, I have always been. I knew it from very early on. I think that what is most important is that I feel very grounded. My family keeps me very grounded. This is an industry which can seem very glamorous, that can be very alluring, can make you fly. My family is what keeps me grounded.

How do you handle praise and criticism? How do you handle people who dislike and people who like Nina Garcia?
I try not to listen to who does not like Nina Garcia, but actually, I like criticism. Criticism makes you grow. Criticism makes you think. It can't be all praise. I doubt praise. I question praise, I do question praise. I don't like to be praised all the time.

And may be that's why I'm such a frank judge, because I do like to hear -- play ping-pong -- to hear what is the criticism. It helps me. It helps me grow. If it all were praise, we would live in a bubble. And for a designer, it's very important to hear from their customer, they need to hear it.

Here is a woman styled by Nina Garcia. Describe how she looks.
High, comfortable heels. Probably wearing a jacket. Pants. White crisp shirt. A beautiful accessory. That's it. Very simple, streamlined. To the point. Strong.

Are you comfortable with fame?
I don't think of myself as being famous. I just do my job. I like to do my job. I am passionate with what I do. I stepped into the TV thing by accident. It's been wonderful. It's a wonderful program. But I still love what I do. I love the magazine world, I love the business.