Stacy Lomman, Author at lookonline https://lookonline.com/author/stacy/ A New York Fashion Industry E-Zine Thu, 08 Aug 2024 22:56:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://lookonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LOOKONLINElogo-150x54.jpg Stacy Lomman, Author at lookonline https://lookonline.com/author/stacy/ 32 32 Subscriber Spotlight: The Colorful & Creative Tinu! https://lookonline.com/subscriber-spotlight-the-colorful-creative-tinu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=subscriber-spotlight-the-colorful-creative-tinu https://lookonline.com/subscriber-spotlight-the-colorful-creative-tinu/#comments Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:12:50 +0000 https://lookonline.com/?p=46052 “Tinu” – All photos courtesy of Tinu Brooklyn-born, Nigeria-raised fashionista, Tinu is truly a modern-day Renaissance woman: a Billboard-charted singer, model, publisher, and even a skilled pole fitness practitioner. A committed wife and mother of two young children, she is also a collector, brand ambassador, trendsetter, and self-admitted “shoeholic” and couture addict. “Colorful Tinu” Tinu…

The post Subscriber Spotlight: The Colorful & Creative Tinu! appeared first on lookonline.

]]>

“Tinu” – All photos courtesy of Tinu

Brooklyn-born, Nigeria-raised fashionista, Tinu is truly a modern-day Renaissance woman: a Billboard-charted singer, model, publisher, and even a skilled pole fitness practitioner. A committed wife and mother of two young children, she is also a collector, brand ambassador, trendsetter, and self-admitted “shoeholic” and couture addict.

“Colorful Tinu”

Tinu exudes confidence, and she knows how to make an entrance. “I LOVE color, and African women have such a wide palette of beautiful color choices we can wear,” she said. “I live life colorfully and expressively. I cannot be a wallflower.”

“Tinu at the Rescue Dogs Rock Fundraiser Fashion Show”

She is a chameleon when it comes to her personal style. “I can go from Metallica to Giambattista Valli,” she said. “I wear clothes that reflect my innermost expression. I like the outfit to speak before I speak. I can enter a room without saying a word, and the party becomes electrified.”

Tinu with Iris Apfel

How does she choose her outfits? “The environment dictates the outfit. You need to dress accordingly,” she said. “If I’m going to an event downtown at Mr. Purple, I’m wearing hot pants, big earrings, and an afro. For an event on the Upper East Side, I will choose something like Hermes or Chanel. You don’t want to insult the host.”

Tinu, Barbara Tober and Cheryl Riley

Tinu is constantly on the go. She was preparing to fly to Palm Springs for the Barbie convention when we spoke. “I love dolls,” she said. “I might have more dolls than shoes. I rent an entire storage space to house them.” Not only is she an ardent collector, but she is also an ambassador for Mattel. 

Tinu twinning with doll

“I have an Instagram page, and a YouTube channel called Dollicious Life,” she said. “I dress like my dolls and post photos of us twinning. I also shoot them to look like they are life-sized.” An executive at Mattel saw her YouTube videos and asked her to review their products. “This all started during the lockdown,” she said. “I found ways to get my creative juices flowing.”

This multi-talented maven is overflowing with creativity. Tinu is also an accomplished singer-songwriter. She ventured into the music world around the same time Beyonce debuted and was quickly recognized by the industry. “Billboard magazine did a story on me as an unknown artist rising on the charts through grassroots promotion,” she said.

Tinu with Whoopi Goldberg

Her Second album, “Addicted,” featured a catchy, confessional tune called “Shoeholic.” The video went viral and was constantly played on MTV, VH1, and Europe. “All of the shoes in the video are from my personal closet,” she said and admitted having over 1000 pairs. The video started a craze, which inspired Tinu to start the Shoeaholic Club. 

She published a book and launched Shoeholic magazine in 2012. “The magazine was very successful,” she said. “Barnes & Noble picked it up immediately and stocked it until Covid hit. I’m excited to say it’s coming back in print and digital format.”

Tinu with designer, Kevan Hall

How did this NYU Stern business graduate and former banker fall into the fashion scene? “I returned to New York for college against my father’s will,” she said. The determined teen paid her own way and stayed with her uncle while attending school. “One day, I was window shopping along Fifth Avenue, and I was actually scouted by an agent,” she said. 

Tinu with Tommy Hilfiger

While modeling certainly immersed her in the fashion world, Tinu credits her mother as her biggest influence. “I remember growing up, my mother was so elegant. She was a fashionista with a closet full of Valentino and Chanel.” Tinu is part of an exclusive and clandestine couture club. “Couture collectors don’t want to be known to the outside world because spending that kind of money is considered taboo,” she said. “I used to buy at least one piece from four different houses every season.”

Tinu with John Galliano

For years, she was a fixture at the Paris couture shows. “I was always the youngest person and the only black woman in the front row,” she said. People were mystified and intrigued by her. Bill Cunningham photographed her often. He captured an image of her at the Dior show, just after 9/11, with a flag on her arm. When the photo appeared in the New York Times, it started a trend. “The next thing I knew, Gilles Bensimon and so many others were wearing flags too,” she said.

“Tinu in Dior Haute Couture wedding dress”

Dior is among one of her many favorite labels. John Galliano made her wedding dress, and they are friends. In fact, she and John vacationed together in Mexico while he was doing research for a collection. “We had a great time. I was dancing on the table in a Galliano couture piece,” she said. “This was before selfies. We just lived in the moment.”

Tinu and Karl Lagerfeld

Though it’s difficult for her to pick favorites, Karl Lagerfeld was one of them. “I miss him,” she said. It was always so much fun to visit him at the office on Rue Cambon and have tea and a chat.” Tinu covets her Chanel pieces and fondly recounts the time Mr. Lagerfeld made her a pair of custom thigh-high boots, a handbag, and a matching jacket.

Tinu has fond memories of attending the last Ungaro and Yves Saint Laurent shows at the Pompidou. However, perhaps the most special event was a private sale for Givenchy, years after McQueen left the distinguished house, where she acquired some of her most treasured pieces. “I received a VIP invitation, and, honey, you fly to Paris for that!”

Latest Comments:

  9. as always, Marilyn is right on time ….. terrific piece ….. and thank you for the inspiring photos of deRibes,…

The post Subscriber Spotlight: The Colorful & Creative Tinu! appeared first on lookonline.

]]> https://lookonline.com/subscriber-spotlight-the-colorful-creative-tinu/feed/ 1 Sustainability & Slow Fashion: “The New Disruptors” https://lookonline.com/sustainability-slow-fashion-the-new-disruptors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sustainability-slow-fashion-the-new-disruptors https://lookonline.com/sustainability-slow-fashion-the-new-disruptors/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:13:49 +0000 https://lookonline.com/?p=45610 John Bartlett and Kate Sheldon – All photos by Stacy Lomman In today’s economy, it is remarkable that one can buy an outfit for the same price as a latte. Fast fashion companies like H&M, Topshop, Forever 21, Fashion Nova, and Shein have been churning out cheap garments for years, and newcomer Temu has exploded…

The post Sustainability & Slow Fashion: “The New Disruptors” appeared first on lookonline.

]]>

John Bartlett and Kate Sheldon – All photos by Stacy Lomman

In today’s economy, it is remarkable that one can buy an outfit for the same price as a latte. Fast fashion companies like H&M, Topshop, Forever 21, Fashion Nova, and Shein have been churning out cheap garments for years, and newcomer Temu has exploded since its 2022 debut by offering items for little more than pocket change.

Manufacturing on a mass scale is not only environmentally irresponsible, wasteful, and, in most cases, unethical, but it also results in an inferior product. Garments wear out quickly, and because they can be replaced so inexpensively, customers are motivated to throw out the old and buy new so regularly that these items are considered “disposable clothing.”

Overproduction has contributed to global waste on a colossal level. According to Earth.org, approximately 92 million tons of apparel end up in landfills every year. The average US consumer throws away over 80 lbs of clothing annually. The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater and 10% of carbon emissions. Additionally, nearly 10% of the microplastics dispersed in the ocean each year come from textiles.

Caroline Priebe (Driftless Goods)

Shifting the Paradigm with “Slow Fashion”

In recent years, “slow fashion,” which prioritizes quality over quantity, values fair labor practices, and carefully considers how to reduce the impact on the environment, has gained momentum. Consumers are increasingly aware of the adverse effects that manufacturing has on the ecosystem and are looking for sustainable options.

As a result, vintage apparel, upcycling, and resale have become more mainstream, and designers passionate about sustainability are acting to align themselves with responsible, eco-friendly sources, suppliers, and manufacturers.

Maxine Trowbridge (Eve & Max)

Luxury fashion veteran and pioneer Kate Sheldon shares this passion. This former Neiman Marcus buyer started her consultancy company in 2007 and is the founder and CEO of The Fashioneering Lab (TFL), which launched in 2021. The TFL Community is a global network of industry executives and brand owners collaborating to drive essential industry transformation and future-proof the fashion sector while actively learning from one another.

Kate Sheldon & Tamara Davydova (Minimalist)

Sheldon described the business as 360 degrees of consultancy focusing on luxury brands that lean heavily into sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity — things important to her heart. “We’re a disrupter,” Sheldon said. “We’re coming up against old systems where people are producing six collections a year, which is inherently the least sustainable thing we should be doing.”

Vaishali Shadangule (Vaishali S)

Spotlighting The New Innovators

On Tuesday, TFL debuted its inaugural showcase at Studio 250 (250 West 40th Street), presented by KnitUp, Cobalt, Recurate, Natural Fiber Welding, Alternew, Style With Substance, and The Phluid Project. The showcase features designer and contemporary luxury brands that prioritize sustainability, technological innovation, ethical labor practices, and those shifting from linear to circular models, which aim to create a closed-loop system, reducing waste and maximizing the lifespan of clothing and textiles.

Elizabeth Goodwin Wellborn (Stick & Ball)

Eight designers from all over the world are exhibiting their collections through June 15th. The group is diverse, and while each designer has a unique story and point of view, they share the same core environmental values and foster fair labor practices.

The featured designers include Vaishali Shadangule (Vaishali S), Maxine Trowbridge (Eve & Max), Tamara Davydova (Minimalist), Paige Andreas (Arianna Andreas), Elizabeth Goodwin Wellborn (Stick & Ball), Rob Smith (The Phluid Project), Caroline Priebe (Driftless Goods), and Daryl Kerrigan (Daryl K).

Daryl K merchandise

Coinciding with the showcase launch on Tuesday evening, industry leaders gathered for a private cocktail reception and discussed new regulations reshaping the fashion industry. Attendees included former Creative Director, Global Forecaster, and Visual Storyteller for Saks Fifth Avenue, Ferragamo and Macy’s, Nicole Fischelis, and award-winning designer, animal rights activist, founder of The Tiny Tim Rescue Fund, and Director of Fashion for Executive and Professional Studies at Parsons/The New school, John Bartlett.

Rob Smith (The Phluid Project) and Nicole Fischelis

Redefining Luxury

TFL’s Executive in Residence and Advocate for Legal Excellence in Luxury Fashion and Sustainability, Elizabeth Henries, joined the conversation via Zoom from London, where she had just received an award for the Luxury Law Firm of the Year – Independent Law Firm.

Henries is the Founder and CEO of Henries PLLC, a boutique firm that provides integrated legal services to some of the world’s best-known luxury companies. Teri Agins, an award-winning journalist, author, lecturer, consultant, and former senior writer and columnist at The Wall Street Journal, served as the moderator.

Teri Agins

“The fashion industry is redefining luxury beyond the high price tag,” said Agins. “New luxury is quiet, modern, and responsible.” Henries agreed that consumers are looking for unique, artisan pieces, and they’re excited to explore new, custom brands like KnitUp, which utilizes digital technology that enables individuals to design their own pieces by selecting silhouettes, yarn qualities, color, and stitch patterns from KnitUp’s library.

The Phluid Project

“There’s a new generation of savvy consumers who are done with showing logos and cheap fads. They’re interested in upcycling, searching for high-quality and exclusive merchandise,” Agins said. Two retailers that Henries feels offer this experience and product assortment are London-based Wolf & Badger, a global online marketplace for independent brands with storefronts in London, NYC, and Los Angeles, and Cult Mia, an online platform that specializes in curating pieces that can’t be found elsewhere.

Wolf & Badger’s mission is building a community of ethical brands and conscious consumers who positively impact the world. Cult Mia requires every brand they carry to align with one of their four key values – sustainability, protecting local heritage, minority empowerment, and social consciousness. A portion of every sale order is donated to a charity.

Paige Andreas (Arianna Andreas)

Breaking Away From Outdated Models

“The traditional brick-and-mortar department store just doesn’t work anymore in the world of e-commerce. There’s too much product for that model,” Henries said. She highlighted UK retailer Selfridges as an example of a company reinventing itself to stay competitive.

The store’s new initiative, Project Earth, offers consumers more sustainable ways to shop. “RESELFRIDGES” consists of the five Rs: Resale (pre-owned), Repair, Refill, Rent, and Recycle. Shopping for pre-owned merchandise at a discount and renting designer apparel is not exactly a new concept, but it’s a vital step in the right direction for a large retailer.

The store also introduced a concierge service where customers can bring their favorite handbags, apparel, shoes, and jewelry to be repaired, reducing waste and consumption.

Tamara Davydova (Minimalist)

“Sustainability can be a huge cost saver. When a company starts making sustainable choices, they start saving money,” Henries said. “They’re shipping less and using less material, so they will inevitably spend less.” She explained that investors are becoming increasingly interested in sustainability, and many are approaching these ventures from an artisan perspective, where the goal is to preserve the art form through business practice and education to ensure that future generations can continue the craft.

“That’s encouraging,” Agins agreed. “I think sustainability is creativity, innovation, and exclusivity. That’s what the consumers want – what the younger generation wants.” She added, “My generation grew up with high-end clothes still in the department stores. We knew quality, and we understood connoisseurship, and I think that’s something the younger generation is trying to get back to because they see it in the vintage clothes — they see the workmanship.”

TFL’s Kate Sheldon sees all this promise embodied in the showcase participants and their companies. “As consultants, designers, retailers, and media members, we have a responsibility to present better options to customers, and this is a room full of people trying to do that.” She said, “It will be hard, but incredible things are happening, and I’m excited for the future.”

Latest Comments:

  9. as always, Marilyn is right on time ….. terrific piece ….. and thank you for the inspiring photos of deRibes,…

  10. Our comments section is back online again! We would love to hear from you.

The post Sustainability & Slow Fashion: “The New Disruptors” appeared first on lookonline.

]]> https://lookonline.com/sustainability-slow-fashion-the-new-disruptors/feed/ 1 FGI Celebrates Ashley Longshore During Women’s History Month https://lookonline.com/fgi-celebrates-pop-artist-ashley-longshore/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fgi-celebrates-pop-artist-ashley-longshore https://lookonline.com/fgi-celebrates-pop-artist-ashley-longshore/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 20:51:27 +0000 https://lookonline.com/?p=45072 Stylist Gab Saper & Fashion Reporter, Former Womenswear Designer and Manhattan Realtor Stacy Lomman – photo by Frank Rocco New Yorkers finally tasted spring yesterday as temperatures soared into the 70s. It was perfect weather for sipping sparkling rosé at a SoHo gallery. Last evening, The Fashion Group International celebrated Women’s History Month with pop…

The post FGI Celebrates Ashley Longshore During Women’s History Month appeared first on lookonline.

]]>

Stylist Gab Saper & Fashion Reporter, Former Womenswear Designer and Manhattan Realtor Stacy Lomman – photo by Frank Rocco

New Yorkers finally tasted spring yesterday as temperatures soared into the 70s. It was perfect weather for sipping sparkling rosé at a SoHo gallery. Last evening, The Fashion Group International celebrated Women’s History Month with pop artist Ashley Longshore at her new gallery on Crosby Street.

 Artist Ashley Longshore and Bergdorf Goodman’s Linda Fargo – photo by Frank Rocco

Longshore is known for her vibrant painting style, her focus on Hollywood glamour and pop culture, and her irreverent humor which is most conspicuous in her unencumbered cheeky self-portraits.

Inside the artist’s gallery – photo by Frank Rocco

In 2019 Longshore debuted ROAR: The Mighty Women Collection that featured 23 paintings of iconic figures in such areas as art, politics and philanthropy. Longshore expanded the collection over the next five years to 72 canvases of the world’s most remarkable women including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, Queen Elizabeth, Jackie Kennedy, Diane von Furstenberg, Gloria Steinem, Mother Theresa, Frida Kahlo and Lady Gaga.

The crowd applauds the artist – photo by Frank Rocco

Longshore says, “The allure of continuing this collection isn’t about the beauty or fame of these women. It is how they handled adversity and remained true to themselves always. That is the spirit that I want to capture.” Wherever you turned at last night’s event, you would be greeted by one of these colorful, famous women.

From left to right: Maryanne Gris, Fern Mallis, Ashley Longshore, Veronica Webb, Teri Agins, Linda Fargo – photo by Frank Rocco

Dressed in a prismatic coat made of cut-out paper flowers paired with hot pink opaque tights and pink platform Pradas bejeweled with tiny crystals, Longshore’s bold personality and love for fashion were on full display. She posed for photos alongside FGI’s President Maryanne Grisz and co-hosts for the event, including fashion icon and creator of New York Fashion Week Fern Mallis, supermodel Veronica Webb, author and fashion journalist Teri Agins, and Bergdorf SVP and Presentation Director Linda Fargo.

Longshore welcomed the crowd to her dynamic space and choked back tears when she said it had always been her dream to have a gallery in SoHo. She quickly regained her composure settling back into her bubbly, frisky self and followed with a shout of gratitude. “Thank you for loving art, thank you for loving creativity, and thank you for loving F*@%ing Fashion!”

 Left to right: Teri Agins, Marylou Luther, Nicole Fischelis – photo by Frank Rocco

A portion of all art sales will go to The Ashley Longshore Excellence in Arts Award providing non-restrictive grants to creatives. This year, the award will go to a female artist from an underrepresented community. For art inquiries contact: sparkles@ashleylongshore.com.

  9. as always, Marilyn is right on time ….. terrific piece ….. and thank you for the inspiring photos of deRibes,…

  10. Our comments section is back online again! We would love to hear from you.

The post FGI Celebrates Ashley Longshore During Women’s History Month appeared first on lookonline.

]]> https://lookonline.com/fgi-celebrates-pop-artist-ashley-longshore/feed/ 0