Life as an Ai Student!

I started my journey at the Art Institute of Charlotte in January 2006. I was very nervous and excited to start my fashion education. My first quarter was a wake-up call because all of the work in my classes. It was very time consuming but I was ready to take on the responsibilities so I could make the best out of my college years. I have had a lot of late nights and stressful days here at Ai and it has made me a better and stronger person. I have learned a lot about the fashion industry and that information will help me in my career. The Art Institute of Charlotte has given me a lot of great opportunities and has provided me with what I need to be successful in the fast paced fashion industry. I have tried to make the best out of every situation that I have encountered here at Ai and now I am ready to encounter any situation in the industry. I am ready to be successful!

Politics and Fashion!

Fashion, like politics, can be a moving target!

Michelle set the stage in St. Paul, Minn., in this purple sheath dress and waist-cinching belt.

The wife of presidential candidate Barack Obama is being regarded as someone with an enviable sense of style.

Michele Obama is a FaShIoN icon! Not since a fresh-faced Jackie Kennedy entered the White House has so much attention been paid to a potential first lady's fashions. Michelle Obama's style sense is garnering as much attention as her political views.

The 5 Essential Pieces of Clothing for your Wadrobe!!!

In every girls wadrobe, there should be 5 essentials pieces of clothing. In my closet, my 5 pieces are a dressy white tank top, a white blouse, a black tank top, a black pencil skirt, and a black tube dress. All of these items you can wear for work, on the weekend, and at night. For the work outfit, you can wear the white tank or the white blouse with the black pencil skirt. I added chanel earrings, a diamond ring, a black chanel purse, and black glasses. These accessories add a sophisticated look and complete the outfit. Now for the weekend outfit, jeans and a black tank top are perfect. The scarf and earrings add some funk to the basic look and the black flats are for comfort. Lastly, the evening outfit is a black tube dress with fun black heels, gold zebra earrings, gold bracelets, and a black clutch to finish it off. All of these looks are trendy, fun, and versatile.

Color Trends for Fall 2008!

Top 10 Colors for Fall 2008
Here are all the colors women should have in their wadrobe for Fall 2008:
The Blue Hues
Blue Iris - This is Pantone’s color of the year for 2008, according to their report. A rich beautiful blue with purple undertones which has been a firm favorite amongst such designers as Leger, Costello Tagliapetra, Diana Von Furstenberg and Oscar De La Renta. Combining the regal richness of purple with cool and calming aspects of blue.
Royal Lilac - Dramatic Royal Lilac is a combination of bluish purples and cheerful red undertones.
Shady Glade -It provides a willing companion to shady glade, a mossy green base color which is a departure from the more traditional greens of the past.
Caribbean Blue -Gives memories of tropical vacations which adds intensity to its color companions.
Twilight Blue - Twilight Blue is a twist on a classic navy, a strong, powerful steady color.
The Red Hues
Aurora Red - Reds and purples are a keynote combination for Fall 2008. Given its dash of energy and vitality to the palette Aurora red is not exception.
Withered Rose - Moving on to dusky brownish pinks, Withered Rose blends with almost any shade.
Burnt Orange - Powerful and robust, Burnt Orange is subtle enough to be worn by most skin tones, but steady enough to be a backdrop and strong enough to be at the fore front of an outfit.
Ochre - Adding a touch of lightness traditional autumnal color is Ochre with a hint of mustard against mellow yellow.
Understated Shitake
Shitake - "The color of a Japanese mushroom, this complex yet modest shade is intriguingly understated," states the Pantone report, "especially when teamed with the robust colors of fall" '08.
The Color Purple - Prominent in Fall 2008 Designer Collections
All these colors are very important to have in your wadrobe for Fall 2008. These colors will give you an awesome fashion foward look, but if you really want to look glamorous you must wear the color blue iris.
More Info on Colors!

Sagging Pants!

Baggy Jeans
Baggy Jeans became popular back in the 1990’s. Some say the trend started in prison, where oversized uniforms were issued without belts, because belts could be used as a weapon. Others say rap artist such as Mark Wahlberg, back then know as “Marky Mark” help popularize the baggy jeans and exposed underwear. But no matter who started it, the trend became very popular in the 90’s. It was mostly celebrated by the hip-hop culture, but designers such as Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger were celebrating the trend.
Jeans are considered too baggy if they are so low they expose the underwear, and now states are trying to outlaw them.
Cities such as Atlanta, are trying their hardest to ban saggy jeans, and are considering it to be a crime against the indecency laws. Eugene Williams, mayor of Lynwood, led a campaign to impose $25 dollar fines against anyone who reveals three inches or more of their drawers. And in Louisiana there are several cities where residents can be fined for $500 for showing their Calvin’s.
But is this going against our US constitutional right of freedom of expression? Many people believe that it is not right to dictate how people can and in this case, can’t dress. Benjamin Chavis, the former executive director of the NAACP said “I think to criminalize how people wear their clothing is more offensive than what the remedy is trying to do.” In agreement to this statement, The American Civil Liberties Union has been steadfast in its opposition to the dress restrictions.
To some, saggy jeans are disrespectful. The way that people walk in saggy jeans, to some, is considered to convey a thuggish swagger and disrespect to authority. But when it comes down to it, people might not like saggy jeans, yes but there is really no way to dictate how someone should dress. People do walk funny in saggy jeans, but it’s no reason to outlaw them. The clothes that people wear are a reflection of who that person is, it’s a way to express themselves without saying a word. Making such a big deal about saggy jeans is one of the farthest things that people should have on their minds, especially when there are so much bigger issues that are going on in the world.
History
Designers
Sterotypes

History of Modern Tattoo!

The History of the Modern Tattoo
In the 21st century there are many forms of artistic expression. Some people use music, painting, theatre and dance. Others use their bodies to show their creativity. Tattooing is one of the most common forms of artistic expression in our modern society.
The earliest form of tattooing began in the early 19th century, when sailors discovered Native Americans that were tattooed and became intrigued with the art. Sailors began to experiment with tattoos, and soon tattoo shops were located right on the docks. Sailors were getting tattoos of images that were inspired by the spirit of the times. Society image of tattooing began to change and become more popular. Tattoos changed from anchors and crucifix to portraits of famous Hollywood stars. This led to celebrities publicly displaying tattoos, and helped to popularize the art in the media’s eyes.
Tattoos have experienced a growth trend due to a greater number of tattoo ink colors and fine artists entering the field. High profile celebrities in music, sports, and entertainment continue to get tattoos making it more socially acceptable. Television is helping to expand this trend even more through the creation of reality shows such as, Miami Ink, LA Ink, and London Ink. One of the most famous tattoo artists from LA Ink is Kat Von D, who is known for her distinctive style. She was also seen in the hit E! series It's Complicated tattooing Denise Richards.
Tattooing has expanded to people of all walks of life, its everyday people like you and me. The art of tattooing has blown up; it’s not just a simple choice. The design possibilities are endless. Let your imagination run wild!

Fashion Week in Charlotte NC!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Charlotte, North Carolina is having it's first annual fashion week starting September 18th! This great event lasts until September 21st and will be hosted at the Blake Hotel. It is produced by Networkz 2000 LLC. There will lots of shows and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. Carmen Webber from the first season of Project Runway will be the host of the Fashion Week. Charlotte Fashion Week will have lots of new fresh designers, such as Tara Davis, Veronica Pearson, Luis Machicao, and many more. This event is a huge step in creating more fashion foward events in Charlotte NC. Do not miss out!

For more information go to www.charlottencfashionweek.com