I wish she had been given a bigger role. It’s great to see Chantal getting regular work. I really liked her and thought she deserved to win over Saleisha in Cycle 9.

Share This

1. Donate to a nonprofit that helps the hungry. Millions of people can’t afford the food they need to survive, both in the United States and throughout the world. Make a contribution to an organization that will provide food and aid to hungry families, such as the internationally-based Friends of the World Food Program; Feeding America, formerly known as America’s Second Harvest, which works on the national level to help America’s hungry; or your local food bank, which will ensure that the people in your own neighborhood have enough to eat on Thanksgiving day—and every other day of the year. To learn about more great hunger-related organizations you can help, check out our Razoo Giving Guide to World Hunger.
2. Donate a Thanksgiving basket. Many organizations collect turkeys and all the trimmings to distribute to local families in need. When you do your Turkey Day shopping, pick up extras of everything, and donate them to a local organization like Fairfax, Virginia’s Food for Others, or Los Angeles’ annual Gobble Gobble Give event, which feeds hundreds of homeless people around Echo Park. You can also volunteer to help assemble and deliver the baskets—just check in advance to find out what your local organization needs.
3. Hold a food drive. Get together with your family, friends, and members of your community to host a food drive, collecting canned goods for your local shelter or food bank. With permission, set up your food drive at your workplace or church, or just outside of the local supermarket. To reach even more people, send out a group email to solicit financial donations for the cause.
   
4. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. By helping out at a local soup kitchen, you can give a wonderful holiday to the people who need it most. Call the soup kitchen several weeks in advance to let them know that you’d like to contribute, and offer to do whatever they need help with. Serving food isn’t the only way to help—you may also be enlisted to help pick up donations, prepare food, or clean up after the meal.
5. Send a phone card or care package to a soldier. Soldiers stationed overseas don’t have the opportunity to come home and spend Thanksgiving with their families, so it’s a tough time of year for them. Help a homesick soldier celebrate the holiday by shipping a care package through a group like Any Soldier or Treats For Troops. If you want to really make it a day to remember, sponsor a phone call home by donating money or an old cell phone through the Cell Phones for Soldiers program.
6. Hold a Thanksgiving charity bake sale. Not everyone’s a master pie-maker—so use your own culinary skills for good by baking up a few dozen extra pumpkin pies and other assorted goodies to sell in advance of the big day. Donate the proceeds to an organization like Feeding America, which will ensure that the less fortunate will have enough to eat on Thanksgiving and beyond.
   
7. Donate to a charity that helps the homeless. While you may be tempted to give a few dollars to the homeless people you see on the streets, your money will make more of a difference when you contribute to an organization dedicated to providing help for those without shelter. Give to a large charity like the National Organization of Homeless Veterans, or a smaller regional group, like your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Our Razoo Giving Guide to Homelessness has details on numerous organizations that are helping homeless people to get off the streets.
8. Deliver Thanksgiving dinners to housebound people. Call your local Meals on Wheels group and offer to drop off turkey dinners to elderly and sick people around your neighborhood. Your visit will make the holiday a meaningful and special occasion to remember.
9. Visit hospital patients. For sick patients who have no families nearby to visit them, Thanksgiving can be a sad and lonely day. Call your local hospital to find out if there are any patients who’d like some company on the holiday. Patients aren’t permitted to eat non-hospital food, so bring flowers or a small gift instead.
   
10. Take part in a charity Turkey Trot or 5K run. Thanksgiving’s generally a time when people pack on the pounds—but joining in a charity run can help you keep fit and contribute to a good cause all at once. Many organizations in cities and towns all over America host Thanksgiving Day runs or "Turkey Trots," typically donating all proceeds to food banks or other local charities. Find your local race and start taking donation pledges for the big day. When the race is over, you’ll know you’ve earned that dinner. Or, if you’re not up to the challenge of running, volunteer to register runners or to pass out refreshments.

GlamSpirit
Wise Words From a Renowned Yogini

Moms Buzz
If you are Harry Potter fan, you will love the newest wizardly classic from J.K. Rowling, “The Tales of Beedle and the Bard!” And, yes, Moms Buzz is giving it away for this holiday season!! Our giveaway is valued at $259 in prizing! There is one lucky grand prize winner and 4 runners up!

Couture in the City
Couture in the City is proud to present with Whitehorn, our exclusive silk scarf giveaway! Oh and dare I say contest too! Yes these beautiful hand made scarves are 100% silk. And are designed by British designer Janey Smedley.

Albertus Swanepoel with model. Photo by Norman Jean Roy, courtesy of Style.com.

Last July, I posted an interview  with then-CFDA/Vogue Fund finalist Albertus Swanepoel. He had just been informed of his nomination and was quite simply flabbergasted. It wasn't that he lacked confidence in his millinery skills but rather hats, as he put it, were the 'orphan accessory' of fashion. Indeed, while his confections had graced the runways of top-level designers such as Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrera and Proenza Schouler (to name but a few), his work was still a closely-held secret amongst designers looking for a finishing touch for their runway presentations. This is what makes his runner-up status so exquisitely sweet. He graciously accepted to submit to a follow-up interview for The Luxe Chronicles.

1. When we last spoke, you were practically in shock over the news of your nomination. What were your expectations going into the competition? Did you ever think you could win?

Well, I did and I didn't think I could win. Of course, you always dream but realistically speaking, my business was by far the smallest of all the nominees and to be fair, my craft is very much a niche. I've always said that hats are the orphan accessory of fashion so just being selected as a finalist by the CFDA/Vogue Fund was a tremendous honor for me.

2. What went through your mind when they announced your name?

To be honest, it all happened so quickly. One minute John Galliano was giving a speech and the next minute, Charlize Theron was calling out my name. I do remember thinking to myself when I first walked into the room that my table was the farthest from the podium and wondering whether it was a sign of some kind. It's just now starting to feel real to me.

3. What does this prize represent for you? What do you think this will do for your career and business?

Well, just being nominated has done a lot for my business already. I'm used to working in obscurity and suddenly I'm sitting across from Anna Wintour and Diane von Furstenberg (CFDA President) in my little 400 square foot studio discussing the future of my business! Making hats is a very precise and time-consuming craft. Most fashion designers don't understand what it takes to make even just one hat. I feel like my nomination has made my craft less obscure. Also, when I look at past runners-up like menswear designer Thom Browne or womenswear designer Phillip Lim and what it has done for their businesses, I'm very excited.

As part of the CFDA/Vogue project, I will be collaborating along with some of the other contestants on a GAP line that will be sold globally. This is a tremendous opportunity for exposure and I'm quite excited about that. I also look forward to pursuing collaborations with fashion designers. Since winning, I've been contacted by Marchesa and by Roland Mouret, two designers I've never worked with before and my Spring orders are up significantly from last year. So, all in all, this has had a tremendous impact.

4. In addition to a check for $50,000 USD, you get a coveted business mentorship for one year. How do you plan to make the most of this opportunity?

Well, I need to submit a 'wish list' of potential mentors to Ms. Wintour next week so this has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Currently, I'm very, very small. I don't have a financial backer, I don't even have a PR rep! What I hope is to grow my business such that I can distribute my products in new markets. I would also love to develop other accessories such as jewelry for instance. I need help to achieve this and so I'm grateful for the guidance of a mentor.

5. Thank you for submitting to another Q&A for The Luxe Chronicles. My hope is that one day, you become the Philip Treacy or Stephen Jones of American fashion! Good luck!

Thank you!

pictures from www.style.com

Last week , Alexander Wang was awareded the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, worth US $200,000. I think he is definitely a deserving winner, with an amazing Spring Summer 09 collection and an army of dedicated followers including many celebrities. Alexander Wang has his own brand of laid back cool with his designs being labelled as ‘new grunge’.

Alexander Wang beat a whole list of promising hopefuls including Richard Chai, Alejandro Ingelmo, Irene Neuwirth, Juan Carlos Obando, Obedient Sons & Daughters and Organic. Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava and Albert Q Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus were each awarded runners up prizes of $50,000.

 The much talked about and coveted Spring Summer collection by Alexander Wang, featured his signature Grunge girl look but with a newer focus. More colour, more body concious and more sexy, his latest collection but still with that relaxed and ultra cool feel. Alexander Wangs clothes are also becoming more accesible for people like me with the launch of his diffusion label T by Alexander Wang which includes T shirt dresses and other casual pieces.

If you love the Alexander Wang Grunge Girl look, you will love this Farhi Sleeveless Knit Tunic Dress.

Charlize Theron announcing the winners was looking smashing in the black strapless Christian Dior apparel.

And this is 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Alexander Wang with Alice Dellal. The see through dress with the black front chopped boots looked killing on Alice.

And here are the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund runners-up Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava.

This is again Charlize Theron with the glittery John Galliano.

Here’s Agyness Deyn in black and red with the finalist Alejandro Ingelmo.

She’s the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Irene Neuwirth in a long poster red halterneck dress.

And she is the lady in white, the finalist Juan Carlos Obando standing besides Eugenia Gonzalez.

The 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists Swaim with Christina Hutson letting the photographers click their smiling pic.

And she is Bee Shaffer in Thakoon off-white with black zig-zag straps.

The Pegasus 89 is available for pre-order at End Clothing, in both a grey/red, and a grey/blue colorway. Featuring an encapsulated air unit the Pegasus can be overlooked by many, but don’t sleep on these classics, because the OG heads will surely be picking up a pair of these runners.

What will be shaken out of the retro running vault next from Nike?

Photos of each colorway after the break.

Nike Air Pegasus 89 Retro

Nike Air Pegasus 89 Retro

Nike Air Pegasus 89 Retro

Nike Air Pegasus 89 Retro

Nike has a thing for gray, especially on runners. They recently released two different all gray air max 90s and now they have released this practically all gray air max 1. This is not the first gray air max 1 but it is definitely the least dull. The colorful midsole is a mixture of pink and yellow that meet and blend in the middle. The multi shade gray upper is composed of various materials from suede to mesh and finished with white swoosh. Look to your favorite Euro site to cop, as these are Euro exclusives.

CFDA/Vogue fashion fund awards. 

Alexander Wang won the $200000 prize… with Vena Cava and Albertus Quartus the runners-up. The judges have this ‘trend’ of picking winners. One year he/she is someone more recognized and the next is someone more to the underrated side. Past winners are 04′ Proenza Schouler, 05′ Trovata, 06′ Door Ri, 07′ Rogan. I was hoping for Richard Chai or Vena Cava to get it this time but they went for the more well-known Wang instead. Actually, I don’t think his Spring 09′ collection was stellar… but with this sum of money he will surely churn out a show-stopping collection for Fall 09′. Another thing to look forward to is probably the GAP design edition. Alexander Wang for GAP, sounds good already.

And lastly, Rodarte won the Swiss textile awards, worth 100000 euros. Thats around 70000 lesser than the CFDA/Vogue prize but hopefully they will make good use of those fundings and expand into their own shoes and accessories line with that money. Rodarte’s own shoe line? Sounds very good too.

Alexander Wang took home the CFDA's biggest prize last night, flanked by runners-up Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava, and Albertus Q. Swanepoel of Albertus Quartus.

Wang now joins the ranks of past winners Proenza, Trovata, Doo Ri and Rogan to go with his two years of mentorship, not to mention the $200,000 to grow his business. So between his CFDA award and his Shu deal, Alex should be rolling in it like Scrooge McDuck.

Money jackets a la Jeremy Scott for Fall 09?