Cal State Dominguez Fashion Show 2013

Pan African Union, a student organization on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills, is coordinating their seventh annual fashion show to take place this year on March 29^th, 2013. This is the largest and longest running student coordinated event on the diverse populated Cal State campus. Every year Pan African Union reaches their 800 attendee capacity with industry professionals, special guests, college students and the surrounding Los Angeles Community.
Pan African Union has decided to turn their monumental show into an event for a great cause. This year the proceeds of the Pan African Union Fashion Show will be donated to Home Grown Radio, Read Lead and Lincoln Elementary School. Pan African Union has also been accompanied by remarkable sponsors like KJLH Radio Sportie LA and Icandi Styles

The Pan African Union Fashion Show has had special guest performances from entertainers like Brooke Taylor to TY$ and Joe Moses. This year, the PAU fashion show will have a special guest
The host Mrs Candi of Icandi Styles of this year’s PAU fashion Show ,  and her celebrity Designer Boutique staff. California State San Bernadino Student Brandon Christopher Allen and Vogue Italia model Elle Drane. To accompany the talented pair is popular Southern California DJ Juan Young.
Come join Pan African Union on a mind-blowing night to celebrate the community, up and coming designers, models and entertainment in the Los Angeles area!Icandi Styles is no stranger to fashion, with a few boutiques in the area and a large fashion following they were the perfect fit. Models looked great as they graced the runway. AGNB radio was in the house to represent for the college .This year, I attended the fete as a guest and was met with a sea of familiar and new faces. I took in the runway show from the VIP section with a fellow CSDH alum. The event took place in the Great Hall at College and drew a huge crowd from both the university and the community. Over 70 designs were presented on student models. These looks were designed by a wide range of talent, from students who’d picked up sewing within the past year to established professionals like Icandi Styles. My favorite designs included beautiful and ultra-feminine dresses, and one look that was positively desert chic.

Design by  Lily Laier.

Attending the show as a guest was a new experience for me. I had always been backstage in the past, experiencing all the stress and nervousness that any designer or organizer can expect to feel. As an alum, I coasted in and received entrance without having to state my name. I was served grilled shrimp on a silver platter, given a goody bag and escorted to the VIP section. All in all, the experience was nothing short of dazzling. Till next year!

WoW ..Icandi Styles on Cable T.V

Icandi Styles(Season 1)

By Elizabeth kowski, 03/08/2013

Icandi Styles's first season is set to premiere 2013 at 8PM ET/PT on A&E.

ADVERTISEMENT

For the first season, Candace Styles -- a fashion stylist and designer-at-large will serve as the new host while Express will replace H&M as one of the show's three retail store buyers.

Icandi Styles will join Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue as buyers on the panel in which a representative from each company makes purchase offers on the designs created by the show's designers. The winning designs in every broadcast will be sold in stores and on each retailer's website.

RELATED LINKS Reality TV World: Icandi Styles (Season 1) More Icandi Styles (Season 1) News

Fashion Styles

During a Wednesday conference call with reporters, Roe and ICandi Styles executive producer Shug Styles discussed the new upcoming season -- and what viewers can expect to see.

Shug, can you talk a bit about what you felt is different from other fashion type dramas?

Shug Styles: Of course. I just think the audience is more and more interested in real-world dynamics and shows that have real-world results and application. A real company, making real decisions , making real money and losing real money.

And you'll see in this season that level of competitive fashion shows and events and you will see this starting right off in the first episode .

And then I, on the tweaking side, you know, felt that we needed to get our models more heavily invested and connected to the process and also create a little bit of a dynamic between the designers and the models. And so we brought them physically closer together.

But the big thing is the models actually have teams and are actively participating with specific designers week in, week out and giving them not only advice but also working with them to try and lobby and get the stores to buy their products and our clothes.



Nonstop, what was your impression of the format of Icandi Styles and what you liked about it? What do you think the show added to fashion television?

Nonstop: Well it has never ever, ever been done before and it was just fantastic coming from my background as someone as a fashion journalist, and photographer. So I've been used to critiquing new trends right on the runway through to in stores immediately.

So it's just really awesome because, as we all know, people watch TV in a very multiple screen, immediate interactive way now. And with the website, so it's more, you know, young women and men are able to kind of get their hands on something physically as their watching it.

It's just awesome. So for me that kind of amped up the excitement and the suspense and as Shug mentioned the drama. There was definitely a lot of drama at the shop and on the runway -- which was brilliant.

So we were wondering if you could talk a little bit about what makes a designer worthy of a being brand rather than just someone who makes clothes?

Nonstop: That's a really great question.

Shug: Ooh, I'll let -- yes, go first on that, Todd.

Nonstop: That's a really great question and interestingly, you know, the talent we have on the show this season will be fantastic but also ranged a lot aesthetically, and as you mentioned, from a brand perspective.

So for some of them, it was a lot of the learning curve on actually what's more marketable and commercial, what is going to sell and how do you balance that with your own core aesthetic and the things that you believe in -- whereas other designers already kind of have that down pat and completely blew it away.
What i like about 100 Models 100 Bottles fashion show is all the newest designers, models and artist.We have that in an episold or two. This show is filled with action, business and drama .
Then towards the end, they sort of crossed over a little more and were helping each other out... . So I thought that dynamic was cool because it was at times competitive and at times very much like sharing and caring.

And of course the feedback that they got from the veiwers was just gold dust in terms of progressing their brand and taking negative as well as positive feedback. and You know, we did have special guests in certain episodes as well from various other areas of the fashion industry to give more advice on that. So it was a pretty unique experience, even if we didn't come out as the winner, on to how to move our brand forward.

Shug: And it's just a little bit like if you cut down a tree in the middle of the forest, who hears you? And I think what everyone recognizes in 2013 is the amount of noise there is out there and how difficult it is to break through in anything.

Why name the show afteryour company instead of something more catchy?you're getting the ultimate boot camp in not only design development but brand development. But we're retail...
And what I think is so fascinating about fashion specifically is Jessica Simpson's line is leveraged off her celebrity brand and it's called Jessica Simpson. Why not name it after the company?,its a Brand.
And so, just that relationship of brand to personality in the design world is more profound than in any other industry. Google is not called Sergey Brin and Apple was not called Steve Jobs. I think it is so profound within the fashion world that you connect your personality to the brand and that also creates authenticity.

You mentioned the special guests. Can you tell us a little bit about some of the special guests coming up?

Nonstop: I'm not sure. Am I allowed, Shug?

Shug: Nope... that's an issue. but we can talk about the press..

Nonstop: We have, well just one example is Susan Cernek from Glamour Magazine. kevin childs .And she's, you know, an extremely well versed fashion editor there and I've worked with her. She came to critique all the designers' pieces one week, give them really, really valuable advice for the show.

She's just one example of -- you know, the press side of the fashion industry, going back to the brand question, is absolutely huge and enormous and for some of those designers they were quite green on that side of things. So how it's going to be received by the press is another dynamic to creating your brand. So they got some really awesome, you know, tips from her.

How do you go about selecting the designers to be on your show? Because I know you probably have so many people fighting to get their chance.

Shug: Yes. I mean this year specifically because the show was already on air and people saw the clothes then for sale and in store and saw three or four of the people from L.A. not just sell through the store but continue to sell and expand their line. We had an incredible pool of talent. Everyone in the industry has reached out to us.

So there were accomplished people within the retail fashion world already who just had never been able to get any traction on their own brands . alot of our competion are haters slowly emerge over the past three to five years.

So it was an amazingly diverse group of people from every state in the country and internationally who tried out for the show this year. And I think you see it reflected in the clothing, how good it is and the level of quality and also in the amount of money being spent by the buyers this year because of their belief in the designers.

Are there any designers we should watch out for on the show, any standout designers?

Shug: Oh yes. 1 will tell you a lot because there were multiple sales but there are also some that didn't sell. So I'd rather leave that... I don't want to tip our hand in terms of, you know, what the results are.

But you will find them and connect them. And I think what's also great about the designers is they represent all different shapes, sizes and walks of life and I think, you know, that's the amazing thing about fashion. It's so personal for everybody. But were showing how we get down at the shop.

Everyone's wearing clothes today as they leave the house hopefully, but they're also -- they're wearing clothes that work for them and I think they'll each align with a different retailer. It's as personal a choice as your music.

I wanted to know about, and this will go to Shug, how did the sales fare for the first season's premeire and what do you expect to happen with the next one?

Shug: Well the show clearly did well for the execs as evidenced by two them -- the two we wanted back -- being back and participating. But additionally, they are still out there and you're seeing different shows appear in new outlets. One of our agents spoke about a deal with them for a season.

Candy, as the new host of the show, what interests you about the first season and what surprised you about the scripts?

Candy: Good question. I mentioned earlier I'm always wanting to be a part of any kind of new way of looking at things and doing things within TV and the fashion industry.

But for me, I mean, I've said this before and it's genuinely true, it was a dream job because it combined all the -- I love trainning people, helping people. It's one of my favorite things to do in the world and to get inside the heads and lives of all these other interesting, fascinating models -- some of whom were like overflowing with confidence and some of whom just didn't believe in themselves when they really should have.

It was just amazing and to bring out their stories onstage and see literally their dream come to life or get crushed was just to be the sort of conduit to that and was awesome. But I'm also a big, big fan of seeing fresh new talents straight out the blocks...

These are people, young people, who have got no money really and so many hopes and dreams and are just giving their absolute [all] to sort of put out new ideas and come up with fresh silhouettes and fabrics and prints.

So I really, really get a kick out of that and I think I don't know what surprised me, probably the bonds that I ended up creating with all of them. Because I also hosted the online show for FOX.com, so I spent a lot of time down at the design studio -- which is a much more intimate environment than, you know, the big runway stage with lots of lights and cameras and an audience.

So getting to know them and -- I root for them and I really, really care what's going on onstage and what goes down even though I'm supposed to be not biased. But it's very, very hard not to be because these Models, you know, like Shug said that more than one person gave up their full-time job to stay on the show -- which is a big deal. So I think for me, that was just it. It was an emotional and awesome journey.

I have a question for both of you. I'm not sure if you're able to answer this as soon as now. But are you able to share what types of events in throughout this season?

Shug: Does sex sell, that's one of them. You can interpret it in many different ways. As Alfred Hitchcock just said, he never wanted to show any of his leading ladies naked because he felt the imagination was the sexiest tool known to man. So, you know, I think you'll see that in how everyone reacts to that thought.

And the different episodes do have great different themes that play out and really challenge the veiwers to think outside of their normal day-to-day but also think to what being a fashion designer and a fashion brand really is -- which is diversity in what you can do.
.

But also, you know im going to highlite my team KP, snow white, redbone,CeCe , D nasty, Sam Bam and Tati, Nikkio,Munchie Bruno and Gemini and Belvi.

Candy: Yes, definitely. For me, we have one episode which was about any size fits, you know, shape and size having clothes for any figure, and for me, that's a universal to not just America but the world because men and women come in all shapes and sizes. My thought has always been since coming into the fashion industry that trends have to be for everyone and they're not just for runway models.

So I think that for me was fascinating and really made me happy to see that, you know, these clothes are being created for everyone. But also, it was interesting to see which designers just nailed it and which really struggled, because it's not as easy as you might imagine. So that was a very interesting episode.

Shug: Real people. Real fashion.

As far as the department stores go that you selected for your show, was there competition with other retailers who wanted to try to get into the show and compete for the Sales?

Shug: Absolutely, and there were a ton of retailers who wanted to get involved with the show who recognize that the show was an incredible proving ground for new designers and they're constantly looking for new voices and new creativity. Fuck these haters in Ladera.

But then on the other side obviously, you know, they get to sell the product, so there's a direct correlation to what they do that's very different than their normal approach to television.Its all real ..

They're on Main Street in America. They are the corner tenant of the best shopping centers and malls in America. They are Fifth Avenue. They are Broadway. You know, they are really I think, you know, - they are the ultimate stores and they really , I don't think the network would have done the show unless there were stores like us envolved.

you see some of the stuff that goes on off stage, Nicole, our trainer is very committed. And when you watch some of the episodes, they are blunt and very honest or tactful. But I think it's interesting to see how each designer reacts to that criticism, because sometimes, they do take it personally.

And at first, they don't listen and then they learn the hard way. Other times, they really kind of do change their whole idea that week based on their my advice and then it's kind of, "Wow what's going to happen right in front of the cameras?" So that is, I think that's one of the key interesting narratives of the whole journey and season because some people don't want to listen. And so, it's fascinating.


Candy:And I can also empathize, because I also have my own line of clothes and shoes, so I've also stood in front of buyers and thought, "Oh my God, are they going to like this." I'm pouring my heart out onto this table with all my new thoughts and my ideas and money. So you sort of -- I can totally understand how it feels to be [on that side]

Shug, where did you find this brilliant woman?

Shug: , are you kidding me? It's the gift that keeps on giving. She is incredible. Got her from Palmdale.

Have you watched other reality TV shows and taken notes on what works and what doesn't?

Shug: what I'm so proud of as one of the co-creators of the show is that we built in something for today. This show couldn't have worked five years ago because people weren't doing as much e-commerce and they weren't buying product through their tablet or they weren't watching television and also playing games on their social networks with their friends.

And whether it's the docu-soaps that do well on cable or the big primetime shows, you know, I think that was an element of this show that makes it really broad and fun for an entire audience to watch.


Nonstop: I'm the quarterback.

Shug: Exactly. No, the player coach. And so, I think that is a great analogy and it's so true. And obviously everyone in television sees how well events do -- whether they're sporting events or live events or live to tape events. I think it's a big advantage in today's world to have those elements. And let's forget the original granddaddy of all those but the game shows -- which were the ultimate competition.

You've done a lot as an executive producer. How do you continue to basically juggle all the projects that you have in the works and just also continue to meet the demands of the viewers?


Shug: But you gotta multitask also. I think what's amazing about today is you look for the right partner from distribution as well. So what we do with the network is very different than what we would do on a website we own like College Humor. And the amount of energy, attention and focus that goes into a broadcast show is more than anything else you work on because it hits the largest audience, is on the largest platform and has the greatest opportunity to push and move culture.

And as storytellers and creative people, that's what we're hooked on. We're hooked on where our creativity meets cultural impact. And that's what I think drives all of us who are in showbiz.
By Elizabeth kowski, 03/08/2013