April Spring

I admit it! I’ve watched the Devil Wears Prada 6 times.  I love the inspiring fashion ideas as much as the humor and fashion culture.  Watching fashion based movies is more than just entertaining, it’s inspiring because we get so many ideas of great looks of what to wear.  In fact, for Thanksgiving I wore a Devil Wears Prada look when I layered my White FOXERS western sheer with a 3/4 quarter sleeve black scoop neck sweater, a Nancy Parker necklace, long earrings, FOXERS black leggings and knee high Calvin Klein boots…oh and of course the News boy black hat. Thank you DWP stylist.

My new favorite movie (filled with great fashion for evening plus GREAT business lessons) is “Valentino!”  I watched it Monday and again Tuesday night!  If you know me, you know that I like to read biographies and business case studies like the great cases from my entrepreneur (I have spell check this word every time class books and from magazines like INC and Fortune.

What I learned and loved from Valentino the movie is the art of hand work on evening gowns is beautiful and it is possible to make a great garment completely without a machine; that a fashion show can be more elaborate than your basic white background and still look basic enough to showcase the designs; that every great design house has some key personnel including the designer/visionary, a talented seamstress/tailor, a business manager who manages the marketing and the financing arm. As for fashion to take home with me I loved Valentino’s rule about “No ankles” showing for an evening gown. Can I add that I only love long dresses and I even love a slight drag on the ground look for BRIDES Maids….come on Brides it’s the one time you can really be Haute Couture so take the opportunity and make your day as glamorous as possible, make it a Valentino wedding even if it’s on the beach. Fairy tales with princesses don’t have three quarter dresses.

Back to “Valentino”, the movie reveals that designers, when given the opportunity, continue to grow as they are developing a line and up to days before a show may develop the most outstanding piece for that show. I have heard this happens with many major designers. So business partners keep the business going and let the creative force run it’s limit because as the energy builds the creations continue to develop. Only exhaustion can stop the flow or when that one piece says “This is it!” to the designer. Giancarlo Giammetti, never stops Valentino when he’s on a roll and he seemed to admire that ah ha moment too. The same courtesy is given to Giancarlo from Valentino when he was building the stage and to our surprise the looks turn out amazingly fantastic every time now that’s a great fashion house recipe, Valentino and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti along with his very talented dress makers. Get the movie! If you’re in the apparel business in any way this movie is a must see. If you love beautiful clothing it’s a must see; and if you love to see passion at it’s best it’s a must see.

Until the next great read or view, I am only a post away. Live, Love, and Laugh, April

Click the link below to find out more about the movie from Amazon.com

One of my most frequest suggestions to young entrepreneurs is to choose people in your industry who you want to be like and learn everything you can about them.  I played this video twice and took notes.   Josie Natori – How We Got Started