ATL Plans Fashion Retail Corridor

Construction is to resume in July on Streets of Buckhead, a $1.5 billion luxury development in Atlanta’s toniest neighborhood. Developer Ben Carter, who halted the project in March, said 20 retailers, including Oscar de la Renta, Van Cleef & Arpels, Brioni and Etro have signed leases. Streets of Buckhead, planned for a seven-block area, is to feature 600,000 square feet of retail space, along with 350 rental apartments. Carter said he’s using the lull in construction to renegotiate building costs, with the savings making up “for the downtime in construction.” From WWD Issue 05/22/2009

African American Women SHOP A LOT, Duh!

Last week, Essence held its annual Smart Beauty panel at the Mandarin Oriental in NYC. Panelists included Sam Fine and Mikki Taylor. The event found that

African-American women spend $7.5 billion annually on beauty products, but shell out 80 percent more money on cosmetics and twice as much on skin care products than the general market, according to the research.

WHY? African-American women sample many more products to find the ones that are most effective on their skin. She'd rather purchase aspirational products like Chanel and Versace over brands rep'd by celebrities. "She spends a lot, but there's little satisfaction. What keeps us buying is the hope that this product will do what it's supposed to do," says Fine

Fashion Gaming with Pat McGrath

“Coming Soon: The Fashion Week Video Game” – “A Fashion Week video game is coming out next year. Created by 505 Games, IMG, and world-renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath, the game will offer players a "true insider's point of view" of Fashion Week. It will include ‘world-class industry gurus,’ models, and celebrities, and will be available for the iPhone and for Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony consoles. Women ranging in age from pre-teen to mid-thirties are the target audience.” (New York Magazine’s The Cut)

Louis Vuitton Learns to Twitter

“Louis Vuitton gets twittering” - “With this new presence on Twitter, we hope to provide not only additional customer service to our clientele, but also a unique look at all aspects of Louis Vuitton”. - according to Daniel Lalonde, president and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton US:

May Fashion Outings

May 19 - September 29 Tired of paying retail? Join the rest of us at The Thread of Life Fashion Design and Entrepreneur ship Classes & Career Development sponsored by SINGA, 608 Rhode Island Ave., NE Washington, DC, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. (202) 526-6940 or jrhsinga@yahoo.com. Wednesday, May 20 Models, Bottles and Bikini's at Cab ana's in Georgetown, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Dennis Ro Che of Ro Che Salon’s hair model showcase of the hottest swimsuits for summer served with complimentary margaritas and appetizers. Wednesday, May 20 Moonlighting in MD - Celebrate the Grand Opening of South Moon Under’s new location at National Harbor in conjunction with DC Magazine. 100 American Way National Harbor, MD, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM A 20% discount is offered with a purchase and the chance to enter to win a gift package. Friday, May 22 Runway Action DC Black Pride Presents Super Fly Fashion Show, Renaissance M Street Hotel - New Hampshire Ballroom, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Tickets are $35. Saturday, May 23 Pay Your Respect and Bid adieu to WDC's Calico Corners, 4400 Jennifer St. NW Closing after 10 years. All in-stock fabrics are 50 percent off; trims and drapery hardware are discounted 75 percent. Thursday, May 28 Bubbles & Brows Beauty and Shopping Event, Topaz Hotel 1733 N St. NW, 6:30PM - 9:30 www.uptowngirlent.com. Merci, QYANA AGINA, Blogging Maven for Simone's Butterfly!

NYC Launches Fashion Retail Plan

Today Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a retail action plan called FASHION'S NIGHT OUT to jumpstart retail sales in NYC this fall. The initiative involves a day of special personal appearances and other incentives to get people out shopping. Fashion's Night Out kicks off on September 10, the first day of fashion week! How do we convince Mayor Fenty that fashion = economic development? Hmmmm. We've got a few ideas.....

NYC : MEET BYRON LARS, MODEL CALL @ THE MET, BARBIE ON THE CATWALK, VALENTINO's OPULENCE

SIMONE BUTTERFLY TAKES ON NEW YORK!

In preparation of the 5th Annual Capital Catwalk Salon Event scheduled for June 5, 2009, we packed up our cotton candy pink suitcase and hopped the BOLT BUS for what turned out to be the most stylicious action packed FashionWeekend we've had in months.

Friday 5/15/09:

We met prominent NY designer, Byron Lars whose fashion career spans over 20 years.

On Friday, June 5, 2009 (7pm to 9pm) we will present Lars with the 2009 International Style Maven Award at the Capital Catwalk Salon Event - (Tickets are on sale right now, darling!)






Fun Facts about my new friend BYRON LARS:
Fashion Designer. Freelance Sketcher and Pattern Maker

1991 Showed first collection
1993 En Vogue fashion collection designer
1990-1998 Ran Byron Lars Shirt Tales
1997 Designed fashions for BARBIE
2000 Launched Green-T label
2001 Launched Beauty Mark label, 2001

Byron is not only a genius, but he is a genuine, affable and generous. An Oakland, CA native, he currently lives in NYC. His apparel is featured at DC boutique Everard's Clothing located at

West End Store: 1120 20th Street NW / Washington, DC 20036
Georgetown Store: 1802 Wisconsin Ave, NW /Washington, DC 20007

Saturday, 5/16/09
We called our favorite NY gypsy silver town car driver Sam and....

9:30 am Simone Visits the MET: Model as Muse Exhibit



Surrounded by stunning photography by Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, we glided through the 5 rooms lined with vintage VOGUE, ELLE, HARPER's BAZAAR magazines and mannequins dolled up in vintage Dior and Charles James, etc.

The exhibit traced the history of fashion models from the European days of Haute Couture and Praline, a house model selected not for her photographic looks but her exquisite poise and carriage to the New Look models who expressed movement despite the boned bodices and crinolined skirts of the day by bending from the hip, making swan like jesters with their necks and arms rather than posing with stiffened waists through the status conscious lady like looks of the 1950's and the overt ssensuality and highly individualized looks of the 1960's. Covering the Body Politic of the 1980's when apparel which long loss her rigid underpinnings now highlighted a youthful body; the grunge of the 1990's and Gautier's modern day fantasy fairy tale opulence, the presentation was lush, extravagant and informative. BRAVO!

Highlights for us include:

Marisa Berenson (Mariessa's name sake) who appeared on the scene in 1966


Donyale Luna (first black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1964) featured wearing an aluminum dress from Qui estes-vous Polly Maggoo, a short moving picture that represents the first time I've ever seen Donyale outside of a magazine. Priceless.


Beverly Johnson first black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue (1974) who was discovered while attending law classes. Inspirational.

Reference to the epochal Battle of Versailles where the top American designers presented in Paris against the French designers. America WON. See our interview of Bethann Hardision a Battle of Versailles model (www.simoneswashington.blogspot.com) for more information on this fab event.


11:00 Simone Gets BARBIElicious at Dylan's Candy Bar


What's a birthday party without presents?
We decided to visit Dylan's Candy Bar to sample the newest BARBIE confection created especially by Dylan to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Barbie. Want to taste test for yourself? Attend the Capital Catwalk as a VIP guest and satisfy your sweet tooth...fashionably.

1:15 pm Simone Is Mesmorized by Flick: Valentino: The Last Emperor


We lucked up and found a theater in NYC still playing the documentary on Valentino. Sitting in the middle chair of the 20th row, we along with 3 other couples spent 1 hour and 50 minutes being drizzled with a steady stream of Valentino Red opulence. Darling it was really quite exquisite.

Favorite quote: "I love beauty, it's not my fault." -Valentino