FIDM bloggers at BoxEight Fashion Week

The Battalion - fashion forward, eco-friendly, and fabulous.

housewives recap.

tuesday night, real housewives of new york is back.
you should've seen kelly and bethany going at it. to say that there's major drama... would be an understatement.

K asked B to meet her at a bar, and when K showed up half an hour late, all hell broke loose. it was a trainwreck, and so high school. but i couldn't stop watching. i was hoping to see someone throw the first punch.... or get b%#&* slapped.

then mario and ramona went at it with simon and alex. i stopped listening, it was nonsense.

fyi: ramona graduated from FIT and was a buyer for macy's, calvin klein, and french connection! i have to admit, because i'm looking towards that same career path, i was quite impressed with crazy lady. but i'm more impressed to hear that kelly went to columbia university! kudos.

where was LuAnn??

some memorable quotes:

"Who is she?" "Evidently she's madonna." - Bethany

"Put a brar on" - Jill

"We're not friends! You're here and I'm here." - Kelly

"I'm not famous enough for you to pay attention to." - Bethany

"Take your little toys and go home. Your 15 seconds of fame is over." - Mario
"Wayne! What are you shaking his hand for? Kick his ass!" - Jill

Mr. Cool

Tracking down the most stylish guys on campus...

Photos by: Nora Iren Bratteng

...on roommates.

before i came to fidm, one of the many things i worried about was finding a decent roommate. all summer long, i was on a mission to find the perfect match. that's just the thing: college roommates can make or break your college experience so i was serious about it. when i found a roommate that shared the same interests i had, i thought the worst was over. we had great conversations, we connected, we got along well. whew! i dodge another one, i though.

ahhh...not quite. after living with each other for the past 3 months, i've discovered that this girl doesn't know how to pick after herself. she claimed she's "clean"... but she doesn't clean! i don't even think she knows what a broom or a vacuum is! seriously? seriously. listen honey, the trash ain't gonna take itself out. and that plate that you just finished eating your pasta on... ain't gonna wash itself. dang, i feel like i'm living with a boy or something. grow up woman... i am not your maid!

- annoyed fidm roommate

p.s. buy your own toilet paper!

Let's Find A Way to Meet Candy Pratts Price

check us out on YOUTUBE!

www.youtube.com/thefidmlife

the fidm bag

The FIDM tote bag has become the ultimate trademark look on campus. Most of us carry it. It was free, it fits all of our books, and it identifies us to this remarkable school. As fashion students, the oversize-tote bag has become the ideal carrier for the “stuff” we cart around all day, however, that amount of stuff comes with its heavy load.

Until they make bags that fly, I refuse to buy the black rolling tote bag. So.... on with the shoulder and back aches!

LET GO

by T. D.Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you, let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19] People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead.You've got to know when it's over.

Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to ...LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ...LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth ...LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents ...LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude ...LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better ... LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him ...LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....LET IT GO!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves ...LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed ... LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to ... LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things.GOD is doing a new thing!!! LET IT GO!!! Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then LET IT GO!!! "The Battle is the Lord's!"

seems to me...

the biggest challenge this break is getting through the two weeks without going completely insane. all my friends have left for home. some just an hour away, some 5 hours away, some 3000 miles away. even in a big city like los angeles when i'm surrounded by a sea of people... i can't help but feel so alone.

for now while my fidm family is away, let's try make the best of it.

"Feel the sweet coolness of the brisk wind in your face as you race forward into new and exciting territory.

Look closely and see the extraordinary beauty in the most ordinary of things.

Reach out to others and give them your best. Create joy out of nothing and know that joy is always yours the moment you choose to live it." - R. Marston

happy wednesday, everyone!

-FBG

On a Roll...

Just got my grades:

Fashion Sketching II - A
Textile Science - B
Industry Sewing - B
History of Costumes - A

GPA: 3.5

HONOR ROLL

- Megan
(3rd Quarter, Fashion Design)

We fight, We make up...

Where am I suppose to sew? OUTSIDE?!" - Michelle S.

Put discouragement behind you

Just as quickly and easily as you can become discouraged, you can let go of that discouragement. The only power that discouragement has, is the power you give it.

Though the challenges are great, you are greater. For you can act and learn and adapt, and act again with even more effectiveness.

If you feel yourself sinking into the false comfort of discouragement, choose instead to stand up. Boldly take a few steps forward, lovingly recall your deepest purposes and your most treasured dreams, and put that discouragement behind you.

Though there is always injustice in the world, there is always even more opportunity to make a positive difference. Though the challenges keep appearing, in each challenge is the chance to create new positive value.

You can decide how your life will be. And you have the power to make it so.

This is your moment to pick your head up, put a smile on your face, and with a quickness and determination in your step, move forward. Look toward your best possibilities, for you are here now to achieve great things.

-- Ralph Marston

Read more: The Daily Motivator - http://greatday.com/

fyi, fidm is on to us. they know about this blog and they are definitely tracking down the identity of the main blog girl.

in the meantime, writers and contributors of this blog have to be a little more careful about what they post on here.

mind you, the topics will not be short of inspiring. it will stay relevant as it is racy because we are here to tell the truth. take it as it is.

until next time, we love FIDM and we always will.

that's all for tonight. XOXO

Final project for Pattern Drafting Essentials, fashion design PD program - designer: J. Carlos Barron

the end of finals.

in the midst of crazy deadlines, los angeles fashion week, class presentations, and final exams, my average hours of sleep were between 2-4 hours per night from the past two weeks. there were a couple of nights where all i can afford was a power nap. if there's anything i picked up and adapted as a college student, it's two thing: procrastination and multi-tasking.

because classes at fidm meets only once a week, i tend put all my assignments off until the last minute (or the night before). that, my friend, is not a good habit. so because of my procrastination, i've become quite a professional at multitasking. one afternoon while i was at work, i had flashcards in one pocket to study for my color and design exam and my speech sheet in my other pocket so to rehearse for my trend analysis presentation. my manager kept giving me weird looks because i kept talking to myself the whole day.

just this past monday, i ran out of work during my lunch break to go to LACMA because i waited until the last minute to write my museum paper. there i was, in the car with my friend megan, typing up my paper on her laptop as she was driving. i got my piece of artwork, finished my board, and even picked up lunch on the way--barely making it to class on time. but i got it done.

so friday comes around and my sleep deprivation is starting to kick in. i have one more major exam left: merchandisng math. of course, the night before i finally begin to study for the test. little did i know, the exam was cumilative and it will cover everything i learned 9 weeks ago. so there i was again, pulling an all-nighter on a thursday night. i finished my studies, took a short power nap around 5am and got ready for 8:30am class.

as my instructor passes out the exams, i sat there praying. not so much for the test to be easy, but for fidm's fire alarm to go off so we can all freak out, go outside, and the exam can be postponed. the alarm never went off. so i sat there, half asleep, stumbling through most of the problems. then i realize... after this final, my second quarter at fidm is over. i took my test... 3 hours later, i walked out of there more nervous than i was when i walked in. that math test was a lot more challenging than i thought. i think i screwed this one big time. there goes my all-night studying.

so here's the moral of the story: DON'T PROCRASTINATE!

thefidmlife

The ANNEX

Wilhelmina Slater gets back to singing.

Vanessa Williams :)The Real Thing, on Concord Records, out June 2, 2009.

today on the FIDM life...

M moves in with Jean Carlo...


tune in tonight at www.youtube.com/thefidmlife

XOXO

it's FINALS week

we are not sleeping this week!

checklist:
portfolio done tonight
3 sketches to do tomorrow
a jacket for wednesday
christian louboutin project due thursday
two finals and a presentation

Running in Heels

3 interns, marie claire magazine. i can't stand that ashley girl. catch the show on the style network

FIDM Housing Drama: "Please Keep Us Together!"

Campus Trends Report

Photos by: Chris Choi

"I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes." - Yves Saint Laurent

Registration Confirmation Page

Quarter : SP
Year : 2009
Date: Mar 10, 2009Time: 6:11:17 AM
Last Name: ********
First Name: ********

SELLING TECHNIQUES - BLECKMANN

MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS - RUCKER

TECHN FOR MERCH PLAN & CONTROL - TROIANO

BRAND IMAGING - BARNWELL

MERCHANDISE PLANNING & CONTROL - LEE C

Total Units Registered for : 15

COMING SOON: FIDM Sartorialist!

Stay tuned!

:)

New exciting photos of campus trends to be posted soon!

XOXO

DEAD WEEK

I have a color project, a quiz, a museum report, a final exam, a case study, and a presentation due all in the next TWO DAYS. 

Found out what the problem was...

Finally got my Portal to open. 346547689567 days later!!

REGISTRATION HAD TO BE CANCELLED FOR MONDAY, MARCH 9; PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR REVISED DATES:

SPRING 2009 Current and Returning Student Registration Dates

Registration for current and returning students is only through the Portal. Dates apply to all campuses; hours will be 6:00am until 9:00pm unless otherwise noted:

Wednesday, March 4 - Professional Designation, Advanced, BS Degree (or any day below)
Thursday, March 5 - Two Year whose ‘Units for Web Registration’ are at least 71
Friday, March 6 - Two Year whose ‘Units for Web Registration’ are at least 52
Tuesday, March 10 - Two Year whose ‘Units for Web Registration’ are at least 32
(changed from Monday, March 9)
Wednesday, March 11 - Two Year whose ‘Units for Web Registration’ are at least 16
(changed from Tuesday, March 10)
Thursday, March 12 - Open to all, including Two Year whose ‘Units for Web Registration’ are less than 16
(changed from Wednesday, March 11)
Friday, March 13 - Open to all

Technical Difficulties... my @#$. The system is flawed!

FIDM Portal

Okay FIDM... this is NOT funny. Please get the Student Portal to work. I have registration this morning and I've been up since 5:45am. It is now 7:15 am. Seriously... I am not a happy camper. FIDM LA Registrar will never hear the end of this if I don't get all my classes for next quarter.

As if Day Light Savings isn't enough of a pain in the *%$# already...

CSI

The other day I caught the episode of CSI "Turn, Turn, Turn" with Taylor Swift... and I got to say that I'm really sad Gil Grissom is no longer with the team. :( He was my favorite. At least, Catherine (MarG-don't-call-me-Marge) Willows is still there. She is my hero.

Back to Taylor - She actually didn't do half bad at acting. Given, her job was to be the dead girl.

Draping more than fulfilling -

For me, draping is my favorite part of being a fashion designer.

In order for anyone to understand how a garment translates onto a body, it should be seen tangibly on a manniquen.

Yes, fashion sketching is important, but if you don't understand the construction of the fabric, how it is sewn, and how it goes together, being pretty on paper is not enough.

Utimately, it has to come together, beautifully.

How much do I drape?
Too much! More than I need to. I drape to the point where I miss other homework assignments. I have a habit of doing things over and over again.

When it comes to sewing and draping, I'm a perfectionist.
Anything else, that's another story.

--Michelle Sorlea

Debut Finale: Barbie Style!

i thought this was neat.

what do you think?

WHAT AM I DOING HERE?!

"Our kids couldn't read."

I recommend: "Our School: The Inspiring Story of Two Teachers, One Big Idea, and the School that Beat the Odds."

This is a book on my high school, the very school that brought my dreams to life. The strict dress code, 9-5 school hours, tutorial sessions, and college readiness classes are only portions of the school's criterion in comparsion to the school's tremendous success. Located in the heart of downtown, San Jose—Downtown College Preparatory Charter High School (DCP) seeks to reach out to one target audience—the neglected urban minority students from low-income neighborhoods. And the mission is clear: to prepare those students not only for college but to thrive while in college.

Many DCP students arrive with a reading and math skills below average and the school's primary objective is to teach them above and beyond that. An interesting chapter that I came across while reading was our founders, Jennifer Andaluz and Greg Lippman, reflecting 4 years later, "Our kids couldn't read." It was a hard look at reality. But that didn't stop them and this means starting at the very basics. "We didn't understand how time-consuming remediation is. We are going to require all juniors and seniors to take AP classes. But by not having remediation in place at the beginning, we set them up for failure," says Andaluz.

Another interesting chapter is "The Shortest Basketball Team in America". I take personal pride in this chapter because the story is about my first year on the basketball team. Renaming my name to "Neary", the story follows my basketball team into an exciting basketball season and the game against EPA. However, the upset lost against them wasn't the moral of the story. What drew everyone's attention was our "Uncommon Hoop Dreams"—another story about our boy's team. On the basketball team, or any sport teams for that matter, we are "student-athletes". Student comes before athlete. This emphasize to put education at the fore-front is key. It inspired me to work harder so I can do what I love. This means maintaining above 3.5 GPA every semester, every year.

Looking beyond this, the motivation behind this basketball team drove us to many victories later in the season. After 3 years as a beginner team, we finally landed a spot at CCS (central coast section) in division 5. I remember so many years ago, my coach (also then Principal/co-founder, Greg Lippman) telling us, "Go out there, do your best, shoot the ball! I don't care if we miss a thousand shots or lose by a million points, we're all going to college!" And I remember sarcastically thinking, "Wow coach, way to motivate us." Well, he was right. In 2004, DCP graduated its first graduating class, sending 100% of their graduates to 4-year colleges or universities. And the tradition followed each year after that…2005, 2006, 2007…

keep on keepin' on

It takes desire to make a difference... or so that's what they say. But I believe it.

I grew up in a poor family, the eldest daughter of four kids. Raised by a single mother, I had a hard time understanding value. I didn't put much value into things because one moment it was there, the next it was gone. Therefore, my motivation for anything was almost nonexistent.

As far as education, it was far from my family's priority. My oldest brother dropped out of high school when he was 16 years old. By 19, he was in and out of prison. In 2005, when I graduated from high school and left to a 4-year University, I thought I was done fighting. I was wrong.

Being the first person in my family to break this barrier, I had a lot going against me. But along the way, I have done a tremendous amount of growing up. Whether it's learning to live on my own, standing up for myself, or discovering my true passions in life, the ongoing challenges brought with them many opportunities. Those very things led me to where I'm at today: FIDM.
"When you encounter a challenge, find a way through it. If your first effort doesn't do the trick, make another effort, and another, until success is yours." - Ralph Marston

I found that my deep passion and compelling purpose is where I draw endless motivation. I've also discovered that it takes persistence. No amount of money, no length of education, and no measure of talent can get me anywhere unless I am driven, passionate, and persistent.

--T

Debut Recap!

My favorites from Friday Night's Fashion Debut...

* Jonathan's collection - the black, the white. I loved the lace dress and leather jacket ensemble.

* Mike's collection was the most shocking, yet innovative.

* Charles' collection reminds me so much of rick owens - very dark, gothy, and edgy - which i love.

* Lacey had an amazing 50-inspired collection. i adored the colors she used: burgundy, beigh, tan, and black

* Adrian - "little girl raging her grandma's closet, love love love love.... what a fabulous theme.

* Clay... oh to speak of extravagance, a collection of pure evening gowns. just when i thought his dress couldn't get any bigger or have any more ruffles, the finale gown appears behind the sliding door and out comes the biggest, most gorgeous dress of all. what a way to end a show.

:]

until next time, XOXO....

Set Yourself Free

There is no outside force holding you back. You are holding you back and you are blaming it on someone or something else.

The way you are able to continue holding yourself back is by maintaining the illusion that you're a victim. Once you release that illusion, you will naturally and easily move forward.
In fact, it is easier to fulfill your best possibilities than it is to avoid them. So let go of the blame and watch the limitations drop away.

Certainly there will always be challenges, and yet it is not the challenges that hold you back. For each challenge provides you with a pathway through which you can move toward fulfillment.
It is your very nature to accomplish. Lovingly accept your destiny, and allow that accomplishment to be manifest through you.

Set yourself free to follow your purpose. Set yourself free to truly live.

-- Ralph Marston