While many were waiting on Michelle Obama's speech to kick off the DNC, many others were anxiously waiting to see what she was going to wear. She has already begun establishing her own trend. But is Michelle O the successor to Jackie O as a White House fashion icon?

The dress was created by Maria Pinto, a designer from Obama’s hometown of Chicago. She has been dressing Michelle and her two daughters since the beginning of the campaign. The color and the shape of the dress were great. The large brooch on the dress, which I found distracting, reportedly came straight from Michelle’s jewelry box. So imagine my chagrin when a darker turquoise dress appeared on day 3 with numerous large pins around the neckline. Maybe the pins are subtle references to the Obama campaign logo.

Isn’t it absolutely fabulous that Michelle O is choosing to use emerging fashion designers in developing her First Lady clothing repertoire? I think so! She could have worn anything from Oscar to Vera, but she chose to give exposure to new designers that are building their companies from the ground up. That’s a fashion and political statement in itself!

I have only seen one REAL Atlanta Fashion Week and that was the one produced back in 2005 by Kevin Knaus and GMC. Now I hear that there are at least three or more entities claiming that they are presenting the ATL's first Fashion Week. Charleston and Nashville have Fashion Weeks already but I thought that the ATL was the capitol of the South. Were a little late aren't we?  Fashion is a major industry here and spending on clothing is in the billions. So why aren't we celebrating the industry and local fashion talent with support from the City and the State of Georgia officially? I am not sure. But because these fashion weeks they're "unofficial", we could end up with all kinds of glamorous promises and no real business or exposure for local fashion designers.  Let's see how they all pan out. Hopefully better than our version of The Real Housewives.

Haute Atlanta

Atlanta International Fashion Week

Fashion Week ATL

No one attending the Atlanta Fashion Incubator's [AFi] Project Runway viewing party last night agreed with the judges' winner or loser! How could we? The challenge was called Welcome to the Jungle and designers were to create a day to evening  look for Brook Shields to wear on Lipstick Jungle. Jerell and Stell-laaaaaaa's "lethuh" belted cocktail dress was our pick for the night. There is no way that Keith and Kenley's high waisted chocolate petal creation should have won. It looked dated and done.  Now on to the loser.......seriously?.....Can you see Brook wearing Blayne's bermuda short emsemble on Lipstick? Seriously? Have you EVER seen the show? Blayne should have been auf'd with a quickness! Kelli's was "very Kelli" but the girl does have skills and should not have been OUT.

Where will you be watching next Wednesday at 9:00p? AFi will be hosting the 8/20 Project Runway Episode 6 - Good Queen Fun viewing party at the campus student center at AIU-Dunwoody in front of a 50 foot screen TV! You can't miss a stitch on a screen that size. RuPaul will be the guest judge and Chris Marsh from Season 4 will make an appearance. Love it or hate it.....folks will be talking about this one.

Don't forget the Dress for Success-Atlanta's Designed for a Purpose competitive fashion show on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at the Marriott Atlanta Airport. Come out and have a fashionably fun time for a very good cause! Buy your ticket today.

The Atlanta Fashion Incubator is a hosting a series of PROJECT RUNWAY Viewing Parties on Wednesdays @ 8:45p. The WEEK’S  will be held on Wed. 8/6 at the Lindbergh City Center TACO MAC. Please spread the word for big fun, fashion and dish!  Remember like FASHION....one day you're IN and the next day you're OUT!  See you there.....AUF

Lots of fashion folks are talking about attending the eye-opening event on HOW TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE presented by Fashion Group International-Atlanta on Wednesday, August 13th at ADAC. From blogs to Email Newsletters and Social Marketing, you will learn techniques to increase sales and strengthen your company's brand identity. Panelists from leading Internet Marketing companies will be sharing inside tips and tricks on how to promote your company online. Drinks and light appetizers will be provided. Members $10 and NonMembers $20. Reserve your seat today! RSVP to FGI 404.266.0191 by August 11, 2008.

  PANEL
CAREN WEST PUBLIC RELATIONS (CWPR): Caren West, Owner
A full service public relations and graphic design firm.

I would like to introduce you to local fashion designer Cleah Murray. She is a wonderful emerging designer in the ATL.  Fashion has been her lifelong dream and at the age of 9, she decided to take one of her mother's dresses and redesign it for herself.  Soon, Cleah began making prom and wedding dresses for customers.  She attended the Louisville Fashion Institute, and graduated in 1994. With degree in hand, she moved her shop from her basement to a storefront in Louisville, KY in 1997.  Her client base has continued to grow and she has gained both regional and national recognition for her design talent.  Cleah moved from her hometown and began doing business in Atlanta 7 years ago.  

"I am a true hands on designer.  I do my own sketches, make the patterns, choose fabric, and create m own samples.  All this happens before anything is sent to the manufacturer.  That gives me a first hand account of what can be done, what works and what doesn’t.  I want my clients to know that when you buy a Cleah design, you are truly getting quality custom work."

She has been featured in the Bronner Brother's Fashion Show, Rolling Out Magazine, and has also designed for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.  Cleah is the exclusive designer for the renowned jazz artist, Kathleen Bertrand, along with a growing list of Atlanta's elite. CLEAH DESIGNS are available at Controversy Boutique, 230 Auburn Ave.,  Atlanta,GA 30303, 404-880-9088, and at Bertin's Boutique, 150 E. Crogan St.,  Lawrenceville, GA 30045.

“I love doing clothes for those who are avant-garde, the fashion innovators and the hard to fit.  This presents a challenge and the ideas just flow.  I’m often inspired by the looks from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s...the detailing was exquisite.”       

cleahatl@hotmail.com

www.cleahdesignerinc.com

Mark your calendars for Monday, August 25th and the official kick-off the ATL fall social season with Fashion Cares 2008, produced by Jeffrey Kalinsky, creator of two namesake boutiques in Atlanta and Manhattan. The event includes a reception followed by a live auction and runway show featuring Kalinsky's style selections from such high end designers as Oscar de la Renta, Prada and Marni.  Proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure - the Greater Atlanta Affiliate and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund.  Last year's event generated funds of over $700K for these vital charities.  This year's goal is $800K. Notably, this annual event has evolved into one of the country's largest AIDS and *** cancer fundraisers. Check out one of the most fashionable events of the year!

We have been asked by the casting director from Project Runway Season 6 to inform all the designers we know to go online to apply to participate in the show this season.  Designers who make it to the semi-finals will have their design work assessed by Tim Gunn and/or a panel of fashion industry experts.  Atlanta auditions are happening this month! If you are a serious designer, this could be your dream come true. Apply today and represent the fashion capital of the South. 

The local design scene is waiting to hear who the finalists will be for Dress for Success-Atlanta's design competition fashion show Designed for a Purpose. This Saturday nine semi-finalists will present their originally designed business suits along with a creative "recycled" ensemble to celebrate the Going Green for Fashion theme for the show to be held on August 17, 2008.  Designers were challenged to design career wear for a woman who wears size 12 or larger. Dress for Success clients' clothing needs are reflective of the fact that more than half of American females wear these sizes.

Designers are also required to "re-create" a contemporary fashion item from old clothing.“We wanted our designers to experience what we do at Dress for Success Atlanta everyday; take something from the past and give it a fresh purpose,” said Victoria Hook, Dress for Success Atlanta’s Program Director.

Eliminations will be judged in a private showing on Saturday morning at Bauder College. In August, one designer will take home the grand prize package of two tickets to a premier fashion capital (New York, Chicago or Los Angeles), $500 cash and hold the exclusive title of Dress for Success Atlanta's Top Designer. The show is a major fundraising event, big fun and big fashion. Have you bought your ticket yet? You don't want to miss it!

Well it most definitely does! We are THE fashion capitol of the south...right? So who's your favorite local designer?  Who's on your A-list? Who's on your B-list? Who's on your "wanna-be" list? 

I'm calling out to the stylish, the fashionable and the best dressed of Atlanta for help.  We want to put the spot light on our city's established and emerging designers, the fashion community and industry professionals by showcasing the ATL fashion scene.  Who do you think is FIERCE?  ;)