Lasell College alumnis ’05 to ’13 currently living in Boston MA, share with students their success after leaving Lasell. On Tuesday November 19, 2013, seven unique fashion major alumni of Lasell College share to students how they made it in the fashion industry. Four of the women were fashion merchandising majors and three of the women were fashion design majors. The women describe to students valuable information on how to make it in the fashion world and how they got to the positions of where they are today. The women gave countless tips and advice that is beneficial to every Fashionisa!

From left to right: Casey Closter '13, Samantha Marquis '11, Nicole Folino '07, Stacy Scarsella '05, Tarah Martell Schweitzer '05, Julie Kontos '08 and Lindsay Reilly '13.

 

Casey Closter '13- Graduating just last year with a Fashion & Retail Merchandising degree Casey currently works as a coordinator for TJX companies. Casey launched this job from interning with the company and became well respected as a future employee. When she started looking for a job after college the company insisted that she stayed with TJX. She impressed them so well that they wanted her to stay with them. Casey tells us all about how hard work pays off and to always do your best, even in an internship. Casey's everyday job consists of managing the women's sportswear at Marshalls in Marlborough.

Samantha Marquis '11- Fashion Design and Production major Samantha urges designers no be prepared for the glamour side and the stressful dark side of the fashion world. Samantha is currently a full time stitcher for the Boston Ballet. Samantha describes her everyday work as not glamorous and extensively hard work with bloody fingers. She explains that this work is by far worth it when she sees a tutu she made on a billboard or at the Nutcracker. She has made Clara's party dress and the Dew Drop Fairy's tutu. The items that are made for the Nutcracker are used year after year and she tells students her excitement for one day taking her kids to the Nutcracker and seeing her beautifully designed ensembles on the dancers.

Nicole Folino '07- Nicole Folino defines hard work and dedication. A Fashion and Retail Merchandising graduate she explains to students that showing your importance and making your way independently will create your success. Nicole currently is the Boston Artist Representative for ENNIS Inc. ENNIS Inc. is a bicoastal agency representing talent in prop, wardrobe and food styling, hair and makeup artisty and production planning. Nicole explains that she used to pay her own ticket to go to work events and work hard at the events. Seeing how much she was needed Nicole was then invited to events with her ticket paid for. Nicole's story represents the awards of hard work and true dedication. She explains to students that in the fashion world you will work with a lot of tough people, but the harder people make you stronger and rise to a higher level.

Stacy Scarsella '05- Fashion Retail and Merchandising alumni Stacy is currently working out of the fashion industry as a senior producer for Bose. She still is part of the fashion process within working on campaigns from TV, Video, and Product Photography but is no longer doing fashion shoots. She used to work on shoots with Nicole Folino, above. Stacy says that she is finally at a controlled level and is extremely happy with where she is now at Bose.

Tarah Martell Schweitzer '05- Graduate from '05 Tarah currently works for TJX companies as a senior designer. Tarah works in the Playwear department. Tarah explains that she would never have imagined herself working in the playwear department but now would not want her life anyway. She represents the need to be open minded and patient and that your mindset and goals can change overtime.

Julie Kontos '08- Fashion Design and Production alumni Julie Kontos works as a clothing designer and graphic artist for the Navy Clothing and Textile Research. She started as an intern when she was studying at Lasell College and worked her way up to making it a full time job. Julie demonstrates the benefits of an internship and her experience encourages students of Lasell to intern as much as possible.

Lindsay Reilly '13- Lasell's very own store owner and designer, being just a graduate from last year. Lindsay Tia Designs is a custom made handbag company that Lindsay started five years ago. Lindsay tells students that no matter what anyone says you can make your dreams come true with hard work, effort and the vision. Lindsay is definitely a passionate fashionista and her bags exemplify her in this way being fun and ever changing styles.

Each of the girls have grown a sense of wisdom and strength while working in the "cut throat" industry. The girls explain to students to never settle, be humble, take risks, intern, know your worth, stand out to professors, and be patient.

Tips from Boston Fashionista Alumnis:

Never Settle: Once your bored at a job JUST LEAVE. There are so many different ways of doing things and each workplace will give you unique experiences. The people who will hire you in the fashion world want experience the more places you've worked the better

Be Humble: Never act like your above anyone else, even if you think you are. Be modest and show your love for the industry and respect for being accepted in.

Take Risks: If you want to go to New York City, L.A., anywhere-- do it now. The sooner you pick up and go to where you want to be the easier it will be. Right out of college, start off where you see yourself in many years to come and you will be much happier. If you want to go to New York City and make it in the fashion world, do it. Take a risk and if it fails, move onto another place in the city of many possibilities.

Intern- Experience is key! It's unpaid sure, but it is totally worth it in the long run.

Know Your Worth/Value- When applying to a job know what they need and don't sell yourself short. Research the job and make sure that you can fulfill the position. Don't be crazy and assume "I can do anything" because maybe someday that company will have a position you can fulfill but you will be remembered as the high school graduate applying for a VP position.

Stand Out to Professors- Don't just get by! Always do your best. You never know who is looking and who could be your ticket into the real world of success. Try to keep in touch with as many people as possible- connections in the fashion industry are essential.

Be Patient!- Your not always going to be doing exactly what you want to be doing. Things will slip and their will be downfalls. Experiencing the bad in a good light will make the future greater than you know. Things change overtime, in the fashion industry change is constant. Never be too hasty to let go when something's not going your way. Be patient and aware that hard work can pay off.

 

By: Julie Pomphrett

Fashion Communications & Promotion

Lasell College

 

At Career Connections: Fashion Alumni Roundtable & Luncheon

Tuesday November 19th

12:30- 1:30

https://www.facebook.com/LCalumnifriends

 

Beautifully Bare

Beautifully Bare

By: Kayla Roberts

On the runways during Spring 2014 Fashion Weeks, there was a major statement being made through makeup, and that is, making no statement at all. ELLE Magazine recently did a post to their website showing some of the bare cosmetic looks we saw on the runway this year.

Pulling off the “all natural” look doesn’t have to mean “no make-up”, right? Right. That’s why almost every cosmetic line has introduced “naked palettes” and a wide line of concealers, foundations, bronzers, and illuminators... all of which will give you that naturally beautiful, fresh faced look. 

To create that smooth, bright, flawless complexion, start by dabbing concealer on any noticeable blemishes try mixing a liquid illuminator into a tinted moisturizer that matches your skin tone and apply the mixture evenly all over your face using your fingers, being sure to rub it in completely to avoid streaks and blotchiness. 

The next step is in my opinion, the most important... Bronzer! Bronzer is my go-to for any look. Anyway, every girl looks better with a tan and some shimmer, right? Using a medium coverage bronzer brush, circle the bristles around in a bronzer for a few seconds to make sure the bronzer is evenly distributed onto the brush. Next, in small circular motions, apply the bronzer to your temples, nose, chin, and jawline, blending onto the neck. Using a higher-coverage brush, apply the same bronzer right under your cheekbones in an upward, streaking motion. 

TIP: The best way to find this spot is to make a fish face in the mirror, and apply the bronzer where your cheeks are indented. 

Highlight, highlight, highlight! Using a small, medium coverage brush, apply a matté compact illuminator to the cheekbones, sweeping upward towards your ears, the bridge of your nose, and forehead. This will create sky-high cheekbones and give you an all-over dewy glow. I also recommend dabbing a liquid illuminator on the bridge of the nose and around the eyes and arch of your eyebrows to brighten up your whole face.

Last but certainly not least, eyes! It’s easy to get carried away in eyeliner and mascara while applying our eye makeup, but when we are trying to achieve a natural look, it’s important to keep it to the bare minimum. Using a cream based eyeshadow, apply it to the lid, and right under the bottom lash line. Outline your bottom waterline in a white liner, and use a brown liner directly under the lash line. Curling lashes first, apply one coat of clump-free mascara to top and bottom lashes. The white and brown contrast great to brighten the eyes, but it won’t look overdone!

Here are some of my fav products to create this look, great for everyday make-up:

From top to bottom: MAKE UP FOREVER Aqua Cream in Taupe $23, NARS Illuminator in Laguna $30, Victoria’s Secret VS Pro Radiant FX Face Illuminator $15, NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna $36, DIOR Diorshow Mascara in Black $25, MAKE UP FOREVER Full Cover Concealer in Sand $32, NARS Blush in Natural Glow $29,  Victoria’s Secret Tinted Moisturizer and Primer SPF 15 in Medium $15

Sonjia Williams
By:Chrissy Remmes

Sonjia Williams is a former Boston resident and Lasell design student who has already made a name for herself in the fashion industry. After graduating, Sonjia moved to New York to pursue her dreams of becoming an independent designer. It was not long before she was awarded the opportunity of being a contestant on the hit show "Project Runway." Sonjia was very successful on the show, winning many challenges and even being chosen to create a look for Heidi Klum's kids line sold at Babys R Us. She finished the show with a bang after she shared her amazing line at Mercedes Benz Fashion week, receiving all great reviews. 

Sonjia shows no sign of slowing down as she just launched her first Sonjia Williams for Annabelle New York collection this past September. The collection was immediately admired by leading department stores locally and internationally. This Fall/Winter 2013 collection includes a lot of fur, and bold statement pieces that are "chic yet modern." 

Originally, Sonjia had planned on attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. After she was denied acceptance, she turned to Lasell which she said was ultimately the best outcome for her. In a recent interview with Boston fashion journalist Chris Muther, she said: "It's much better suited for me than FIT, I know people who have gone to FIT and they've told me it's a very competitive school. I think Lasell is much more personal. I gained a lot there. And now I'm putting it all to good use." 

Beauty Innovator: Elizabeth Arden

            Born as Florence Nightingale Graham, Elizabeth Arden grew up on a farm in rural Ontario in poverty. She immigrated to New York in 1907 and worked as a clerk in a beauty shop. By 1910 she had reinvented herself as Elizabeth Arden and opened her own salon on 5^th Avenue. Being one of the first highly successful women entrepreneurs, she began to formulate, manufacture and sell her own cosmetic products which led to expanding her business under the corporate name, “Elizabeth Arden” by 1914. Her business eventually included more than a hundred Elizabeth Arden salons in the United States and Europe. The company manufactured more than 300 cosmetic products which sold for a premium price to maintain an image of exclusivity and quality. Elizabeth Arden successes helped create the $150 billion global health and beauty industry that exists today, also developing advertising and marketing techniques that became part of the business landscape.

In her salons and through her marketing campaigns, Elizabeth Arden focused teaching women how to apply makeup creating such concepts as scientific formulation of cosmetics, beauty makeovers, and coordinating colors of eye, lip, and facial makeup. Elizabeth Arden was responsible for founding makeup as proper for a ladylike image, when at that time makeup had been viewed as only used by lower classes and such professions such as prostitution. Her products and services targeted middle age and plain women for who beauty products guaranteed a youthful, beautiful image.

In 1934, Elizabeth Arden rehabilitated her summer home in Mt. Vernon to the Maine Chance Beauty Spa, and later expanded her line of spas nationally and internationally. She was the first to introduce the destination spa concept to the United States. Arden Americanized the idea by creating a women’s sanctuary not only for well-being, but for beauty treatments, fitness, exercise and diet. Some of the nation’s most famous and glamorous stars of the 40’s and 50’s were guests of the 1,200-acre estate including singer Judy Garland, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and actress Ava Gardner.

The spa was also a major employer of local people and affected the economy, tourism, culture of the region and helped establish the resort industry that Maine is popular for. The spa offered its clients treatment rooms, steam rooms, exercise rooms and recreation rooms with several guest houses and a bathhouse. The property also included a chicken farm, pig farm, vegetable and flower gardens and riding stables for guests to access. In 1950, it cost $500 to get a six-week treatment at Maine Chance; equal to a little over $4,000 in today’s money. Seventy years later Maine Chance is gone, but its followers are present with similar destinations continuing to develop up all over the country.

Spa brands have existed since Elizabeth Arden opened her “Red Door” a century ago on Fifth Avenue, New York and over the course of her lifetime, Arden launched over 100 Red Door day spas around the world. Now 30 locations remain open in the United States, claiming that “every guest who visit should leave physically refreshed and mentally rejuvenated.” The concept of the Red Door spas were founded on the principles that the essential glow of beauty must come from within and the idea of enhancing your life through beauty, harmony and well-being. The spas offer a range of treatments from facials, hair care, waxing, massages and many other. The Red Door spas use innovative spa treatments that combine powerful ingredients and cutting-edge techniques to deliver outstanding results while feeling relaxed. Some of the treatments date back to Miss. Arden’s classic beauty techniques like her beeswax formula that was promised to moisturize the skin. Even though the legacy of the beauty trade is no longer with us, Elizabeth Arden’s brilliance continues to live on through her successful empire that paved the way for the rest of the industry. 

Posted by: Kelly Odell

Halloween 2013 at Lasell

Last night was Halloween and I had the pleasure of photographing the many costumes and creations of fellow Lasell students as they celebrated the spookiest night of the year. 

Some students went as groups, like these three who were the Three Blind Mice. They paired their own black dresses with mouse ears, sunglasses and canes. They had whiskers and pink noses on their faces, but differed with their different choices in shoe.

There were countless other animals crawling around campus similar to this Cheetah. She kept her costume simple and low-cost by pairing her own cheetah dress with black tights and shoes, and accessorized with black cat ears.

One of my favorite costumes of the night was this sleek Peacock ensemble. All homemade, she wore a black corset and black tulle skirt, then tucked peacock feathers into the belt. Her makeup was colorful, but simple, highlighting her eyes with matching peacock hues.

These two creative ladies made their black dresses into Magic 8 Balls. On the front of their dresses, was the white circle with an eight, but on the back they outlined a triangle with glowsticks and wrote either "YES" or "NO". Cute, creative and again, low cost!

With any collection of Halloween costumes, there was a plethora of fictional characters. This young man played up his red hair and dressed as a Leprachaun. His store bought ensemble matched black pants with a white collared shirt, yellow tie and bright green vest, covered in metallic gold shamrocks. He topped off the look with a velvet green top hat.

More from the collection of fictional characters were these two friends- a Cowgirl and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. The Cowgirl on the left found in her wardrobe a plaid cotton shirt and tied it over a red bandeau. She paired that with cut off denim shorts and black boots. Dorothy on the right wore a light blue checkered dress over a red sequin bra. She completed the look with red sequin flats and pigtails tied with a red bow.

Most groups went out just to have a good time, and did not correlate their costumes. Here is a group of Resident Assistants dressed as everything from a Secret Service man to the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski. 

I didn't spend the whole night behind the camera, because I was too Egg-cited about my own costume! My homemade costume was simply a large t-shirt with a yellow "yolk" ironed onto the front. I paired the dress with white knee-highs and white keds. Down the middle of my face, I drew a crack, like that of on a real egg shell. Let's just say, I cracked myself up all night with some egg-ceptional yolks... I mean jokes!

Whether you celebrate Halloween to eat endless amounts of candy, or you just love to get dressed up; it's always a fun night shared with friends and family. The students of Lasell show us how easy it is to be creative and comfortable when dressing up for their big night out.