While she may ... Read More »]]> It’s a tough world out there, especially when you can’t seem to decide what you want to do with your life. Trust me, I get it. Maybe you love fashion but you just can not seem to figure out where to start. Not only is the fashion world one of the most competitive, it is also one of the most confusing. Do you want to be a stylist? Maybe you’d enjoy being a designer or a merchandiser? Maybe not! There are so many opportunities in the fashion world that are just waiting for you to jump at them.

While she may not be able to find your dream job for you, Althea Harper sure can help narrow down the possibilities. If you are on the edge between two different possibilities, narrow them down with Althea’s help. She offers a unique look into the world of a New York fashion designer! You even have the opportunity of visiting her studio for a more personal touch.

As the runner up contestant during Season 6 of the hit series Project Runway, Althea made quite an impression on the judges: Tommy Hilfiger called her work “genius” and Tim Gunn predicted that Althea is “going to blow people away.” Having worked with some of fashion’s most influential names, including Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Zac Posen, Anna Sui and Tory Burch, Althea now designs and manages her own self-titled line of clothes, which she shows at New York Fashion week.

During your time with Althea and her team, you’ll get to spend a full day in the life of a fashion designer. You’ll be watching as she prepares her new collection: reviewing samples and sketches, meeting with vendors and suppliers, approving fabrics, lab-dips and trims, fitting models, or running errands when necessary. Althea will also spend time answering your questions and offering advice.

Read our interview with Althea after the finale of Project Runway Season 6.

Visits are a personal experience and groups can contain between 1-4 people per visit.  To learn more or to book your appointment with Althea, visit www.1000passions.com!

Althea Harper is the owner and designer behind her own self-titled line of clothing, ALTHEA HARPER, which hit the runway in 2009. She has worked with such fashion luminaries as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Zac Posen, Anna Sui and Tory Burch. Althea was seen on the hit TV series, Project Runway. Her line has been seen worn by famous socialite sisters Kim and Kourtney Kardashian.

Read about Leanne’s Fall 2010, Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 collections.

For more of Leanne Marshal’s line, go to www.leanimal.etsy.com

It is evident that Leanne’s feminine touch behind her Spring ’12 collection reflects her prior experience in designing costumes for ballet performances. The ... Read More »]]> I’ve always been a huge fan of Leanne Marshall from Project Runway (Season 5), so there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to see a handful of elegant garments today. A fellow Brooklynite (shout out to Williamsburg!) continues to present her talent through breathtaking collections. Ever since her big-win in Project Runway, she quickly went back to making dresses to sell! It’s always good to see these up-and-coming designers work hard to pursue their dreams.

It is evident that Leanne’s feminine touch behind her Spring ’12 collection reflects her prior experience in designing costumes for ballet performances. The colors of the dresses were soft and all the models looked so graceful on the runway. Overall, her collection was visually striking and I know all the ladies in the room wanted to take home a dress or two.

Luckily, the show producer Gregory Moore was kind enough to accommodate me on the front row at the end, where you see and study the clothes the longest. What I saw was impeccable craftsmanship behind each piece. You can tell there are no shortcuts in the process of creating these garments for Leanne. She delivered a range of techniques from lace-on-fabric applique seam to skewed ruffles, and a lot of pleated garments. Now, that’s what I call the art of hand-sewing. It doesn’t surprise me that celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Paula Abdul show interest in her designs. Kudos to you Leanne Marshall, keep up the great work!

Leanne Marshall’s runway show was attended by Chrissy Kim and Blaire Brown, interns for Chic Galleria Publications, LLC.

Photo Credit: Chrissy Kim

Chrissy Kim is a recent graduate from Penn State University, where she studied Marketing and International Business. She studied abroad in Paris for a semester to improve her French and become trilingual in English, Korean, and French. She is now a Business Coordinator at Cosmopolitan Magazine and is enjoying her city life to the max. Prior to joining Cosmo, Chrissy interned at Marie Claire and Siwy Denim, Inc. She now studies at Parsons The New School for Fashion Design at night. Tweet her @ChicGalleria and follow on her personal Tumblr & Twitter.

As Tim Gunn would say, “Make it Work!”

Despite Jason Troisi’s dismissal in Project Runway Season 8, he ‘made it work’ off of Lifetime Television’s reality competition. His hard work paid off last night at the Exit Art venue, where he beautifully presented his collection for New York Fashion Week. He noted, “I have spent every single day sewing; Not just for a few hours, but the entire day, the entire night, every waking minute I could find, was spent sewing.”

For his debut fashion show, he created his collection with different types of fabric ranging from wool, tulle, leather to rubber. ... Read More »]]>  

As Tim Gunn would say, “Make it Work!”

Despite Jason Troisi’s dismissal in Project Runway Season 8, he ‘made it work’ off of Lifetime Television’s reality competition. His hard work paid off last night at the Exit Art venue, where he beautifully presented his collection for New York Fashion Week. He noted, “I have spent every single day sewing; Not just for a few hours, but the entire day, the entire night, every waking minute I could find, was spent sewing.”

For his debut fashion show, he created his collection with different types of fabric ranging from wool, tulle, leather to rubber. The color palette consisted of his hallmarked ‘nightmare’ black to blue, magenta, tan, and different shades of grey. A mix of men’s and women’s clothing, each piece had its own story to tell. Along with his flawless collection, a variety of shoes were presented compliments of DSW. His jackets and dresses were nicely tailored and form fitting, which shows his understanding of different body shapes and types of clothes that accentuates good features. It was clear that his clothes are made for those who feel confident in their own skin.

At the end of the show, he strutted down the runway with his signature gray tool belt where he keeps his utilities and his lucky charms. How can you not adore Jason Triosi and his enthusiasm?

Jason Troisi’s runway show was attended by Chrissy Kim and Blaire Brown, interns for Chic Galleria Publications, LLC.

Photo Credit: Chrissy Kim