LOFT’s Alia Ahmed-Yahia Tells Us Her Summer Must Have

The Fabulous Report loves LOFT and we know you do too.  A little over week go (January 26), I  attended a preview for the summer collection at Industria Studio.  As always the collection was superb and classic needless to say, I loved it and so did apparently a lot of bloggers. Many of whom are now being accused of violating FTC rules and of course this left many bloggers up in arms and are accusing Jezebel with poor reporting practices. YIKES.

I  was genuinely pleased with the collection– no bribes for me here.  Though, I did receive a $10 gift card, watch out LOFT here I come– want to join me, in a spending spree?  Going once…Seriously! That said, rather than rave about the collection, I decided to do something different and contacted LOFT Senior Fashion Director Alia Ahmed-Yahia. I asked the fashion director for her take on the absolute must have for the summer from the collection.   You really are going to enjoy what she picked; plus, what’s better than a  “stylist” to help you pick pieces than the director herself?   The selections range in price from  $12.50 for a Raffia pins to $98 for a Sailing Ferns dress (my favorite).  There’s something for every budget.  Sadly, you will have to wait till May for the collection to hit stores so mark your calendars.

Alia’s MUST-Have LOFT Picks for Summer

- Oversized Bag – Summer is the easiest season of the year to pull off oversize printed bags. I’m loving large scale zebra prints for summer. LOFT’s large metallic neutral zebra tote is perfect to wear to work and is large enough to pack it for a quick weekend trip! (Zebra print tote $59.50 )

- A Graphic Printed Dress - I love LOFT’s sailing ferns maxi dress.  It can be worn to the beach or dressed up with some statement jewelry for a night out. (Sailing ferns dress $98)

- Raffia Pins in neutral colors- They instantly add interest to any basic look!  And can be worn in a variety of ways – on a scarf,  a brown braided belt, or even to accessorize a basic sandal.  (Raffia pins – small 12.50, large 14.50)

- Lightweight Anorak in Green – It’s my replacement for the summer cardigan. You can dress it up for a cold office environment by wearing over a floaty dress and adding a hard leather brown belt over the  jacket. (Anorak $79.50)

- Jeweled Metallic Flats- I especially love pairing these with a short for a more casual look.  (Jeweled flats $69.50)

- Jeweled Bib Necklaces.  They provide an instant uplift to an easy summer knit dress. (Jeweled bib necklace $44.50)

Images  below courtesy of LOFT.

See the choices in pictures…

… Continue Reading

Exclusive Interview with Rosemary Reed

Michelle Obama, who just began her reign as the First Lady has fashionistas intrigued, her choices are often well analyzed and studied — she even has a blog devoted to her clothing choices.  Not since Jackie Kennedy Onassis,  has a First Lady (in my opinion) made such an impact on fashion.  Ms. Onassis wedding dress  from her marriage to John F. Kennedy has made such an impact as has been the described as on the most iconic wedding dress of this century. Cool, right? The dress was designed by Ann Lowe an African American designer and it feels like we’ve come full circle.

All of these has got us thinking about the impact of women of color on fashion and we reached out to Rosamary E. Reed who wrote a book about African American designers. The book, “The Threads Of Time, The Fabric Of History: Profiles Of African American Dressmakers And Designers From 1850 To The Present,“  available at amazon.com. We asked Ms. Reed take on Michelle Obama, Jackie Kennedy, current state of fashion and of course her book among other fun topics.  Ms. Reed, is quite an interesting person and here’s our interview with her.

TFR: What’s inspired you to write this book?

RR: Even though I had a small boutique, Toast and Strawberries,selling jewelry and accessories, I found I didn’t know anything about Black designers of the past.

What was the journey  to create this book like?

Finding information was easy at first. (I placed a call)to Howard University’s library.  (The librarians) gave me good name suggestions. Then (another)to our local library.  It had a Washington, DC directory from 1860 which listed women who were dressmakers, etc.

2a. Why do you mean when you say ‘easy at first?’

a. After (researching)the first round of designers from the libraries, I found it difficult to locate other women who did sewing as a business in various cities. I had to ask, use either memories of descendant or from older women,and do research to ascertain the details.

While writing this book which designer story was the most inspiring to you?

Elizabeth Gardner. She came from a free NYC-Boston family.  She and her mother sewed so well that they donated $200-600 a year to their church. Also, she helped young women in her area to get better jobs. She also wrote to the elders in her church complaining about their not valuing the help and guidance of the women.

Like many of my favorite Black designers, all overcame so many obstacles.

Out of the designers that you featured in your book which do you think would have had the biggest impact in fashion if her race was not an issue or she had been born in a different time?

Ann Lowe would be that person. She actually felt that she was a world class designer. But her story made me feel a sadness– I felt as if all these women would have done better after 1980. Though, what they accomplished was amazing.

Jackie O' Wedding Dress to JFK

In my research of Ann Lowe, I’ve come across some conflicting information in regards to Jackie Kennedy Onassis feelings about the dress. Some scholars suggest the Former First Lady hated the dress and only choose the dress in order to please her mother and future husband while others suggest she loved it and choose it herself. What’s your take?

My research also said that Jackie wanted a plain Vera Wang-Audrey Hepburn type of dress. Father [Joe] Kennedy and her mother, Janet, wanted a traditional dress. Jackie was only 22 years old. She had little to say about her wedding.

Really? This makes me sad that she didn’t choose the dress her self. It was a gorgeous dress. Do you think she would have chosen it later in life on her own?

Jackie, again, was a clothes horse. Simplicity, she felt, was more her style. Vera Wang is doing a dress that actually looks like the Lowe wedding dress with ruffles and detail. Both details made a come back in today’s wedding dresses.

How did Jackie Onassis come across Ann Lowe?

Ann did designs for upper class women, and did work for Jackie’s mother. Ann also did prom and other dresses for Jackie and her sisters.

We now have an African American woman in the White House the fabulous Michelle Obama- What do you think Michelle Obama legacy will be to American Fashion?

(Michelle)Obama is interesting because she mixes casual and designer clothes. She’s current and well built. (She has) a good firmness. I think she, as a lawyer, might feel that fashion is not serious’ enough for her talents.

That’s interesting. What makes you say this?

The 1970s were a time of black pride ethnocentricity. Today The Obamas seem to want to be neutral. They have a lot of white staff who want them to be post-racial and hide the fact that they are black. This antagonizes so many Americans and even people of color in the White House. It’s terrible!

… Continue Reading