LAFW

What is LAFW?  Los Angeles Fashion Week .

So this past Saturday I attended a fashion show at Ace Gallery with a friend Tehelah Lisett, a fellow fashion lover.  It was my first time going to a fashion show I wasn't working in, showing in or associated with.  I felt kind of weird at first as I wondered the crowded white halls of Ace Gallery, while I waited to meet up with Telelah.  I never actually have a chance to take in the sites and energy of a fashion show/ event before.  I felt like I had a serious staring problem! (lol)  I was seriously lost in a sea of fashion.  Lots of hits and misses in style all around me.  Every time I saw an accessory or shoes I liked I wanted to say, "Love those", like I actually do when I'm out and about.  Only this time, there were to many all around me, I felt like I was in that scene from A Night At The Roxbury, where the dude is surround by good looking girls and he's trying to hit on all of them..."What's up.....What's up...what's up...what's up, what's up, what's up"

As a designer, I've been asked why would I attend another designer's fashion show.  Why not?  The energy is amazing, why not be surrounded by other people who love fashion as much as you do.  Plus, I do have friends who are fashion designer's themselves and love to attend their shows.

Where's Waldo?  (pic via remyfox)

Jen Awad Fashion Show

One of my favorite parts of attending LAFW events is catching up with friends and fellow bloggers.

Laurie B and I

Well...tomorrow is my big night for LAFW.  My Spring/ Summer 2012 collection will hit the runway with dance and color.  I look forward to seeing many of you there! And let's hope I don't fall when I walk the runway.  Yes! I dread this at EVERY show! 

Details for Melissa Velia at Project Ethos, LAFW! CLICK HERE

Xoxo Loves!

Tyra Banks, really?

Hello Darlins,

So I recently did an interview with this fabulous fashion blogger Toni May from Fashion Loving.  In the post she wrote, "Melissa had her designs worn by big celebrities like Tyra Banks, Hilary Duff, Faith Evans and Kimora Lee Simmons!"  A statement which I also mention in my bio, here and there.  Anyways I wanted to share my story behind this statement and a little lesson learned through it all.

Did Tyra Banks, really wear something that I designed? Yes! Was it my own label? No.  When I was in my early twenties I was hired as an Assistant Designer at an up and coming clothing line (the name that I will not mention, for legal reasons). Anyways, the position started off pretty basic, with preparing line sheets, over looking samples, etc. Then, with-in a month or two into the position, things began to change.  I was still preforming my normal duties but now I was also designing, fabric souring, merchandising, styling, over looking it all basically.  All the Owner/ Head designer would really do was approve my work.  Yet, it was her company name on the label, not mine. Which, in most cases is understandable in this business (but for the record, all my work...is mine alone. NO ONE else designs my work).  Needless to say, I am truly grateful for the opportunity she gave me to run the show.

In the end, after a year with this company I was laid off because they couldn't afford me anymore and hired my intern to take my place. Wrong, yes!  So instead taking legal action, I decided to take this as a lesson learned and TAKE CREDIT for my work.  So here are a couple of pictures of my work for this company, that I managed to save or get a hold of.  Lesson to be learned; don't get taken advantage of and don't take advantage of others.

Sorry the pictures aren't that great.

Busy week ahead for me, hope you are have a fabulous week!

Fashion Homework

Good day Darlins!

I know I've been kinda M.I.A. on my blog lately, only because once again I had fallen into a pitty-party. Yes, just one of those moments in my life where I am just over worked, tired and feeling like I'm just going around in circles.  When in truth, everyday I come closer to more accomplishments in my life that I would have never dreamed of.  I am now on what I  CALL a new career/business path.  No, I am not walking away from the fashion industry, that would be like a fish without water.  Instead, I am simply swimming to a new beat.  A new goal and new direction for my company, in which I will share with you in due time.

For now, I'd love to share with you what I call Fashion Homework.  Way back when before the ever so fabulous world of Blogging, fashion magazines were your go to for everything fashion and style.  So when I was a  kid, I started what I called "ripping".  In which, I would rip out my favorite styles, editorials, photos and more from fashion magazines and save them in scrap books or folders.  Today, my fashion homework consist of "ripping", blog reading and entertainment watching.  One MUST always continue to do their homework in what ever field they're in. Learning, is truly endless.

Fashion Homework

Although time consuming (like all homework), these books are worth a million.  Don't forget to check out these great fashion bloggers for YOUR fashion homework, under my "Blogs I love" ------ >

Who's coming?

So as you may well know, I've been getting ready for my upcoming fashion show in 3 weeks.  Things couldn't be more hectic but I'm happy to say, I have found the ballerina I needed!

So who's coming?

I would like to personally invite you to what's to be my biggest fashion show to date! Come see what happens when the "Black Swan meets Tim Burton" on the runway. Here are all the details from Project Ethos: Project Ethos returns to LA Fashion Week with an explosive lineup of fashion, music and art. 7 Designers, over 70 models, a dozen live music acts and DJs including ROBATANISTS and YOLANDA BE COOL ("We Speak No Americano"), 7 Visual Artists and more. Cocktail attire, 21+ Avalon Hollywood, Hollywood CA Red carpet 8:00pm - 10:00pm $20.00 pre-sale, $25 @ door, $50 VIP It's as amazing as it sounds! I really hope to see all of you there, it would mean everything to me. For tickets email me at m.velia@melissavelia.com or leave a comment below. AND for all my fellow fashion bloggers, I have a special invite for you! Email me for all the details. RSVP here.

Coming up on Following Melissa Velia, the beginning of my new blog series Interviewing the Dreamer.  A new series of blog post, that will feature interviews with lovely people to aspire to be.....something, someone and those who have dreamed it and made it happen.  If your looking to be inspired, check back this week for my first interview.