Since I was a little girl, watching Oprah when I got home each day became a ritual. It was a tradition I shared with my mom and my sister, and whether we were together or apart, it was always a topic of conversation.  Oprah’s shows were about more than just entertainment–her shows taught me about compassion, forgiveness, validation, gratitude, and awareness of situations unimaginable to me in my simple life.

For Christmas this year, my Aunt gave me one of the most directly relevant gifts I’ve ever received, “O: Words that Matter”. It is a book of Oprah’s greatest wisdoms, which sum up the three core lessons I’ve learned from her over the years, including the key messages Oprah attempted to leave us with as her final episode faded to black on May 25, 2011.

So, I thought I would honor Oprah here on my PR blog, for the PR machine that she was–she PR’d on acceptance, she PR’d on changing peoples lives one at a time, and her show became the biggest PR vehicle of all time (anything she covered on her show turned to gold!).

What I love most about Oprah is that she seeks to learn something herself through every single episode she creates.  What she learns, she teaches.  Through her show I have developed three core beliefs surrounding: gratitude, validation, and living your life’s passion.  Oprah’s teachings = my religion.

With that said, I wanted to publish my favorite Oprah quotes of all time; many of which are included in the book I so thoughtfully received from my Aunt. I started out with a highlighter and pen but soon realized I was highlighting the entire book — so here is my selection, words to live by, words to revisit, words to implement in my own life…

Oprah on Quotes:

“I love the written word. Over the years, the written word has inspired, challenged, and sustained me.”

“Here’s what my love affair with quotations has taught me: the more you focus on words that uplift you, the more you embody the ideas contained in those words.  I love the way Ralph Waldo Emerson once put it, we become what we think about all day long.”

Oprah on Dreaming Big, Becoming Brave:

“Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.”

“What would happen if we declared our home, our relationships, our lives a gossip-free zone? We’d probably be surprised at how much time we’d free up to do the work that’s most significant–building our dreams rather than tearing down others’.”

“The only courage you ever need is the courage to live your heart’s desire.”

“As much as you plan and dream and move forward in your life, you must remember that you are always acting in conjunction with the flow and energy of the universe. You move in the direction of your goal with all the force and verve you can muster–and then let go, releasing your plan to the power that’s bigger than yourself… Dream big–dream very big.  Work hard–work very hard.  And after you’ve done all you can, you stand, wait, and fully surrender.”

“Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.”

Oprah on Relationships:

“I know for sure that in the final analysis of our lives–when the to-do lists are no more, when the frenzy is finished, when our e-mail boxes are empty–the only thing that will have any lasting value is whether we’ve loved others and whether they’ve loved us.”

“People who don’t feel good about themselves feel even worse when those around them do well.  When they say, ‘Who does she think she is?’ what they really means is ‘How dare she exceed my expectations of who I think she should be?’…Who does she think she is?’ also translates to ‘Who do I think I’m not?’”

“The moment you put a mental label on another human being, you can no longer truly relate to that person.”

Oprah on Giving Thanks and Giving Back:

“When you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.”

“The best gift anyone can give, I believe, is the gift of sharing themselves…Every gift is your way of expressing how you feel about another person.”

“You receive from the world what you give to the world.  I understand it from physics as the third law of motion: for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction.  It is the essence of what Eastern philosophers call karma.  In The Color Purple, the character Celie explained it to Mister: “Everything you try to do to me, already done to you.’”

“It’s not easy being grateful all the time.  But it’s when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you.”

“‘When you learn, teach.  When you get, give.’ That’s another one of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou. What I know for sure is that what you give comes back to you.  That’s not just my theory or point of view–it’s physics.  Life is an energy exchange of giving and receiving, and the way to have what you want is to give what you need.”

“I live in the space of thankfulness–and I have been rewarded a million times over for it.  I started out giving thanks for the small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased.  That’s because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.”

Oprah on Joy, Fun, and Pleasure:

“My former boss, the general manager, said to me, ‘There’s no way you can make it in Chicago up against Donahue’…He used every tactic he could muster to entice me to stay–more money, a company car, a new apartment, and finally, intimidation: ‘You’re going to fail.’…I gathered the nerve to say no to him before standing up to walk out, ‘You’re right, I may not make it, and I may be walking into unforeseen land mines. But if they don’t kill me, at least I’ll keep growing.  I’ve grown all I can here. I have to move on.’ In that moment, I chose happiness.”

“What I know for sure is that pleasure is energy reciprocated.  What you put out comes back.  Your base level of pleasure is determined by how you view your whole life.”

“I define joy as a sustained sense of well-being and peace–a connection to what matters…you feel real joy in direct proportion to how connected you are to living your truth.”

Oprah on Honoring Your Body, Trusting Your Gut:

“Whenever your gut is out of kilter, trouble awaits.  Your gut is your inner compass.  Whenever you have to consult other people for an answer, you’re headed in the wrong direction.”

“Your life is speaking to you every day, all the time–and your job is to listen up and find the clues.  Pay attention to what makes you feel energized, connected, stimulated–what gives you your juice.”

“Trust your instincts.  Intuition doesn’t lie.”

“When you don’t know what to do, my best advice is to do nothing until clarity comes.”

Oprah on Aha Moments:

“I like to approach each subject with an open mind so I can listen and learn as much as possible and maybe even come away with an ‘aha’.  I had a big one: The yearning to feel heard, needed, and important is so strong in all of us that we seek that validation in whatever form we can get it.”

Oprah on Balance:

“The biggest reason I have so much endurance is because I do what I want to do.  I stopped trying to please other people. The other day I did something because someone else wanted me to and I was exhausted.  Why? Because the intention was wrong.”

“I’ve learned that you can’t have everything and do everything at the same time.  I hope you’ll tell yourself the truth about what matters most to you, know that your hours in this life are limited for attaining it–then decide how you’ll use your most precious resource.”

Oprah on Spirituality:

“What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for.  You become what you believe.”

“Whenever I’m faced with a difficult decision, I ask myself, What would I do if I weren’t afraid of making a mistake, feeling rejected, or being alone? Remove the fear, and the answer comes into focus.”

“Failures can be God’s little whispers; other times, they are full earthquakes erupting in our lives because we didn’t listen to the whispers. Failure is just a way for our lives to show us that we are moving in the wrong direction, that we should try something different.  It holds no more power than we give it.”

***

I look at these quotes as little “notes to self,” things I want to remember and wisdom I want to learn from as I navigate through my own life.

Oprah is all about passing on the knowledge, so I thought I was share these impactful words in the hopes that they will mean as much to someone else as they do to me.

OPRAH: Thank you for everything you have done for me. I won’t say goodbye, I’ll say, see you soon… on OWN… on Oprah’s Next Chapter! Can’t wait.

With love,
Alyson

The Savvy Auntie brand is all about a movement, a phenomenon heralded by fabulous kid-friendly women everywhere as a celebration of modern, cosmopolitan aunthood.  A savvy auntie, simply put, is a woman who loves a child who’s not her own (which according to the book represents approximately 50% of American women).

The first installment is the perfect gift for the soon-to-be-auntie or newly-appointed auntie, who’s trying to get her bearings in this new role of aunthood.  Recently becoming a proud Auntie myself, I can see how this would have been a helpful guide while my sister was going through all of the things that becoming a mother entails.  Never before has there been a manual so detailed with the Aunt’s perspective in mind.  It gives you all the tips to better understand what to expect during the 40-weeks of pregnancy, and lots of How-To’s for when your niece or nephew arrives (like how to properly hold the baby, how to ’swaddle’ the baby, and the best-of-the-best in baby gear).

If you’re an aspiring savvy auntie or know someone who is, I highly recommend this read.  Buy it, here.

*The Real Housewives of New York join event planner Janine Just and Savvy Auntie herself at the Book Launch Party at Pranna which was sponsored by VOGA Wine.

On Wednesday, February 16th, Bebe showed their Fall 2011 Runway Collection, dubbed “bebeBLACK” in the Style 360 Studios at The Metropolitan Pavilion.

An attractive audience overall, the front row featured dolled-up pseudo-celebs like Jersey Shore’s Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, singer/actress/host Adrienne Bailon, model Bria Murphy (Eddie Murphy’s eldest) and top fashion editors like Robbie Myers (Editor-in-Chief of Elle Magazine).

As the show kicked off, a spotlight panned away from the runway and over to the DJ booth where violinist Caitlin Moe stood.  She played a fierce rock & roll riff which led to an intro beat from DJ Mia Moretti and queued back to the runway.

The models embodied a similar look, rocking high, long ponytails with a single brightly-colored streak of blue, yellow or red, and headbands with off-centered pompoms.  Bright fire-engine red lips and a pale face accented each look with hair by BaByLiss PRO and cosmetics by Make Up For Ever.

The collection predominantly featured form-fitting ready-to-wear pieces in bold pops up color like magenta, poppy red, cobalt blue, and citron limoncello against black signature staples.  Patterns were mostly represented by solid colors except for a themed print referred to as “Barbed Wire” which took the aforementioned bright colors and splattered black barbed wire overtop, as well as a “Lady Liberty” print which featured the color green synonymous with the Statue of Liberty and “Lady Liberty Coins” on certain garments.

Many looks featured fishnet cutaways or fitted bodices paired with pleated skirts. Black dresses were always paired atop bold-colored tights and hints of leather, while wool, satin, metallic and velvet fabrics dominated.  All looks were worn with pointy steel toe stilettos.

A playful take on the classic “varsity” jersey was integrated into the line with a series of cropped jackets or jacket-dresses in bold colors with white cuffs, snaps and seams.  Standout looks included: the black liberty coin print crepe-de-chine pleated open back dress, the peacock velveteen and ponti dress with a black sateen bra overtop, and the barbed wire bodysuit covered by a sheer tulle skirt.

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

Five cross-genre females opened up the show with a tribute to the great Aretha Franklin: Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, Whitney Houston, Florence Welch, and Christina Aguilera.  It must have been a thrill for newcomer Florence (of Florence & The Machine) to sing with these powerhouses (although she turned out to be one of the best), and Christina redeemed herself after her Superbowl ‘forgetting the lyrics’ snafu. Also, it needs to be said: J-Hud is stunning.

Next up was Gaga, who might as well have been wearing a pointy-bra circa Madonna 1989 to go along with her high ponytail and her latest single, “Born This Way,” which just so happens to sound exactly like Madonna’s “Express Yourself” (with a rip of the bridge from “Vogue”).  In true Gaga style, she arrived at the venue in a cocoon/egg-like structure, and hatched on stage into her “egg yolk” costume.  But the most shocking part of her performance was actually the lack of shock–no blood spurting, no inappropriateness: the number was actually pretty tame. Ok.

Miranda Lambert was the third act of the evening, adding a little country and bringing the sweet factor to music’s wildest night.  She later won the Grammy for Best Female Country Artist.

Muse livened things back up with their Grammy-performance debut and a ‘revolution’ inspired performance, chanting “they will not control us and we will be victorious,” as banks flashed behind them and ninjas with pyrotechniques danced on stage.  They also later took home the Grammy for Best Rock Album, and frontman Matthew Bellamy thanked his beautiful, pregnant girlfriend, also known as: Kate Hudson.

One of my favorite collaborations of the night came from Bruno Mars, B.O.B. and Janelle Monae (although awesome trios remained a theme throughout the evening).  The black & white effect that took over the tv screen during Bruno’s set was fun, B.O.B. is just solid, and Janelle really went for it by diving into the audience for some crowd-surfing.   Not completely a household name just yet, Bill Werde, editor of Billboard Magazine, made a poignant comment on twitter, that with the right performance by Janelle – she would triple her album sales over the next 3 weeks due to the mass exposure.

Next was a heart-warming performance by Justin Beiber and his mentor Usher, kicking it off with a video clip of how they first met (and subsequently how The Beibs got discovered)–a nice little plug for his new documentary “Never Say Never” which just hit theaters on Feb 11th.   Justin started out on guitar doing an acoustic version of “Baby,” proving that hey, the kid can sing live.  Jaden Smith, Will & Jada’s 13 year-old prodigy, made a surprise appearance to ‘rap on the song.’ Quickly, the cameras panned to the nervous parents who had smiles from ear-to-ear and were cheering him on just like any proud parents would at a school recital : super, duper cute.  Still, I’m not so sure how I feel about their kiddiwinks getting into show biz so young, but I guess if you’re those kids, how could you not!? Usher ended things with his club hit, “Oh My Gosh.”

A “thank you” speech highlight came when Lady Gaga won in a very star-studded category for Best Pop Vocal Album, touting Whitney Houston as her main inspiration.  Supposedly, she didn’t have the courage to imagine herself singing “Born This Way,” so she pictured Whitney signing it when she was writing the new single (if by Whitney, you mean Madonna, then yah!). Implants were the theme: she wore butt implants, shoulder implants, and forehead temple implants to accept the award!  I really do dig her whole “weird is beautiful” message.

Another trio of the evening featured: Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons, and the legendary Bob Dylan who emerged on stage to sing with all of them.  I love Bob, but I felt bad, it sounded (and looked) like it was hurting him to sing.  His voice was scratchy, but not in the ‘Bob Dylan scratchy-voice’ kind of way.

Lady Antebellum, a huge winner of the evening for “Need You Now” (congrats Paul Worley!!) performed their hit “American Honey” live.  Their male and female harmony is just unbeatable.  They can do no wrong.

Super Fun Duo Performance of the Evening Award easily goes to Ceelo Green & Gwenyth Paltrow.  I loved it when Gwenyth sang his hit “Forget You” during her cameo on Glee–but this brought it to a whole new level.  Ceelo was decked out in a peacock-looking costume, and had actual muppets (yes, muppets!) as back-up singers.  To see Gwenyth bringing it live and putting on a show just as great as any other pop act could was really cool.  I know she has released recordings over the years on soundtracks from her films (ie: “Cruisin”), but I foresee another album in her near future after this.

One of my all-time favs, Neil Patrick Harris (affectionately known as NPH) had the pleasure of introducing Katy Perry – who recently cameo’d on his TV show, “How I Met Your Mother,” and I was surprised to see her do a ballad.  I liked the slower pace coming from her: no gimmicks or frills, just straight-up singing.  Of course she had to throw in a little fun though, and did a medley with Teenage Dream.

Next, another trio joined the stage, including John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban, who collectively sang a cover of “Jolene,” in honor of Dolly Parton while presenting her with the Lifetime Achievement award.  It was truly great (and not long enough). Hey John: Johnny Depp called, he want’s his look from “The Tourist” back.

Finally, my favorite collaboration of the evening hit the stage, a foursome: Eminem, Rihanna, Dr. Dre, and the lesser known Skylar Grey.  I love Rihanna (I really do), but I can usually take or leave her live vocal performance.  But Skylar Grey on “I need a Doctor,” *ohmigosh*.  Keeping an eye on twitter, people quickly were tweeting things like “who is this!?” “Rihanna sounds great, wait… is that Rihanna?” etc, etc.  It was indeed Skylar: although her face was hidden by the shadows.  She also co-wrote Rihanna’s hook for “I love The Way You Lie.”  *Obsessed*.  And Eminem killed it, natch.  He’s so angry, but so talented.  And deservedly won a Grammy for his comeback album.

Shocker of the evening went to Esperanza Spalding who took home “Best New Artist,”  begging the question… Who is Esperanza Spalding?  That had to be among the top google searches in the 24-hours that followed the show.  Brian Stelter of The New York Times offered to save people a step by tweeting a link to who she was (Thank you wikipedia).  While Beiber fans were left in total outrage and devastation, I’m sure she must have deserved the accolade, and I look forward to checking out her stuff.

In other shocks, Mick Jagger took the stage for his DEBUT Grammy Performance.  How was this his premiere Grammy performance!?!  The man is 67 years-old and he worked that stage like no other.  His energy and the way he moves his body is unreal.  He had the entire room on their feet, everyone from Cyndi Lauper to Drake were shown going nuts during this sequence.  I say, rock on Mick Jagger.

Barbara Streisand calmed things down a notch with her performance, which was mellow and sweet.  She’s wonderful. ‘Nuff said.

Returning to the stage was Rihanna, who came back to perform “What’s My Name” with Drake.  She was definitely channeling her inner Beyonce (by way of Tina Turner) with the long-legs and that choreography.  And I love Drake, but I think I speak for all Canadians when I say: he will always be “Wheelchair Jimmy from Degrassi” to us.

Closing out the show was another Grammy-stage newbie: Arcade Fire.  I have to be honest, I was a little surprised they were the closing act — although I was excited to support my fellow Canucks from Montreal.   I was not that into the strobe lights and the Xgames-like entertainment though: meh.

And then all of the sudden, the final award of the evening is announced and “Album Of The Year” goes to…. : Arcade Fire.  After a very brief thank you speech, they jump back up for an encore performance.   Since the backing band was already in place for song #2: I’d have to assume this was pre-planned, which was a little, how to put it… lame?  But still, so super cool to see an indie, talented, multi-instrument husband-wife duo and rock band pick up the most prestigious award of the night.  It was one of those “maybe there is still hope” moments for the music industry today, and according to his twitter feed – Kanye West approved.

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

The showroom, dubbed: The Nolcha Fashion Lounge, featured 19 independent designers from around the globe including: Abreu Rios, Adolfo Sanchez, Ailin, Alberto Parada, Bodyrock Sport, Chabahll, Courtesan Studio, Daniela Vlad, Eva Evanovich, Helicopter, Pitusa, Ricki L Designer Jewelry, Rey, Rudy Wolff, Room To Roam, Show Me Your Mumu, Tammam, Vivienne Pash, and The Art of EMJ.

Womenswear and Accessory brands were included in the mix. Six of the 19 participating brands were considered eco/sustainable, keeping Nolcha Fashion Week ethical as always. Care For Kenya joined the design roster in partnership with Show Me Your Mumu, a collection of modern mumus and totebags with proceeds giving back to the women of Kenya.

Guests had the opportunity to book a Nolcha Style Tour appointment with Nolcha’s resident Celebrity Stylist: Jess Zaino of The Style Network, VH1 and Glamour.com. Zaino took participants through the showroom, introducing each of the brands, and highlighting the trends from each collection. Guests were also treated to The Beauty Oasis, a retreat for fashion week-goers to pamper themselves with Hair and Makeup touch-ups by Paul Mitchell and Nails/Lashes by Kiss.

In the evening, a cocktail party followed from 7pm-9pm: with complimentary spirits from Rekya Vodka, Riazul Tequila, and Don Q Rum.

*Ramona Singer of The Real Housewives of New York posing with Nolcha co-founder Arthur Mandel, and her new signature bottle of pinot grigio “Ramona”

*The designer of Icelandic brand, “Helicopter” posing with her collection

*The Beauty Oasis: with hair & makeup by Paul Mitchell and lashes & nails by Kiss

*The designers of Abreu Rios with celebrity stylist, Jess Zaino

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

According to Rosie herself, 90% of kids in NYC live below the poverty level. So how did this all begin?  RBK first brought a 20-week program of musical theatre (with various established teachers and experts) to the public school system.  To start, every 5th grader in the select group of schools took part.

Ever since, they have added new schools each year, and as of this year, the first group of kids who started in 5th grade are now seniors about to go off to college. Remarkably, 100% of the kids in the RBK program get into performing arts high schools, and it changes the entire trajectory of their lives. Says Rosie, “It’s pretty amazing what art can do, and sadly art programs are cut all the time. For many children, its a very depressing, scary reality.”

So the gala was all about raising money to keep these programs going, and to ensure that the arts are a prominent part of public school in New York City, a city so famous for its artistic culture.  The evening included a live auction that sold off all kinds of hot ticket items including a ‘walk on’ role on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (which I heard went for a clean $30K), a heart-stopping performance by the kids, on-stage appearances by Rosie O’Donnell, and an exclusive concert by Cyndi Lauper, featuring both her new stuff and the classics (Time After Time, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and True Colors…yessss!)

Making the night even more exciting was the fact that AMP3 PR client and Z100 Radio Personality, Trey Morgan, included it as part of his “30 Deeds, 30 Days” project.  The idea?  We all ‘talk’ about how we want to give back, but there’s always an excuse (too busy, too tired, too poor), so Trey is attempting to prove that an ‘everyday guy’ can accomplish the unthinkable, all while maintaining his ‘day job’ at the station and his relationship with his (beautiful, newly wed) wife.  Let’s be honest, how do we choose between helping sick people, starving children or abandoned animals?  We wish we could do it all. For the 30 days of September, Trey is volunteering for a different charity each day, hoping to come out of the project feeling passionate about what he can do for his community long term, and hoping to inspire others to do the same.

For September 20th, Day 20 of his 30 Deeds – Trey volunteered with Rosie’s Broadway Kids.  Here is the footage of Trey chatting with Rosie O’Donnell.  Watch to see the breath-taking medley of Rosie’s Kids singing Cyndi Lauper’s greatest hits (@ 5 mins, 12 seconds), and first hand feedback from Rosie about the program:

Saying it best, Rosie tells Trey and the kids:  ”I was a kid at a public school with NO Mom and a troubled Dad.  It was a public school teacher who took me under her wing and loved me back to life.  She made me realize I was worth loving, and was the first person who said ‘I love you’ to me, and the first person who said ‘I love you back.’ Those are the words that every kid needs to hear every day of their life. I love all of you kids, and I’m so proud of you.“

This year, we exceeded our fundraising goal, bringing in well over $1 million dollars for this worthy cause. Kudos to Rosie for using her resources to ensure that theatre and the arts remain accessible to the talented children of New York City.

*Liza & I enjoying the gala!

*Cupcakes by the ‘Cake Boss’!

*Cyndi singing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”

*Cyndi singing “True Colors”

[Special thanks to my friend Evan for Photos + Video.]

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]

On September 12th, Athenian designer, Vassilios Kostetsos, presented his Spring/Summer 2011 collection at The Studio as part of Mercedes-Bens Fashion Week, and I was there to cover it for John Simon Daily.

The theme unveiled a definitive Grecian vibe with mens and womens looks perfect for a weekend in Santorini.  The collection was dubbed “Vases & Amazones” which stands for ceramic vases and The Amazons, who were a nation of women dwelling near the river Thermodon.  We spotted songstress “Jojo” sitting front row, anxiously awaiting the show to start.

Women donned black head wraps covering their ears with teased high pony tails and the men were chiseled and scantily clad.  The collection reminded us of mythological mermaids and mermen with a common detail of cubed fringe resembling fish scales as accents at the neckline, shoulders or hemline on many of the pieces.  Tropical colors including orange, coral and turquoise accented the white, silver, black and gold bases. A thread of burnt red ‘vases’ were printed on to some of the looks contributing to the theme of ‘vases and women by the water.’   Toga-inspired one shoulder garments were threaded throughout the presentation, along with exaggerated shoulderpads and printed flowing dresses.  The color palette for evening wear included olive green and tangerine organza with classic black and white accents.

His label, which launched in 1990, is newer to the United States.  He has spent the past 3 years between Greece and New York, focusing on his new American client and maintaining his various lines which include: haute couture, rock couture, art couture and his pret-a-porter collection.

Runway Finale Walk:

Now in its 9th season, Nolcha Fashion Week consists of four days of runway shows (both solo and collective), an eco-accessory exhibition, fashion business seminars, and special networking events.

The week, which showcases top-tier designers, includes a globally-minded and diverse group originating from Italy, Brazil, United Kingdom, Venezuela, South Korea, Russia, Sweden, Colombia, USA, China, Dominican Republic, among others.

Held at the posh Thomas Reuters building at 195 Broadway, the building’s Grecian architecture became home to Nolcha Fashion Week this season, where a series of 30 independent designers were selected to showcase their Spring 2011 collections throughout the week.

Day 1 at a glance: Monday started out with a collective show featuring: ELIZABETH KOSICH NEW YORK (swimwear), NKWON, KATRIN LIRANZO, and OLA STYLE and a solo runway show by bridal designer LIZ FIELDS.    The evening rounded up with another collective show, featuring runway designers:  NARCISS, SEGRETO LONDON, AFANADOR and accessories designers: ANA GUTIERREZ, ELLY CLAY, MARLA CIELO.

*Designer, Liz Fields with her models

Day 2 at a glance: Tuesday kicked off with a solo show by LUXXE, followed up by two more collective shows featuring: ALICE YIM, MARK PATITO; VIVIENNE PASH, and SEMPRELEI at 4pm and: DORA ABODI, PAUL AARRINGTON, STELLA SIMONA, and KABUKIU at 7pm.

Nolcha’s Ethical Fashion Preview and Accessory Exhibition ran in conjunction with the day’s shows, presenting 15 international designers who’s brands are all eco-sustainable and socially-conscious, including: ELENA GARCIA | GUNAS | SEMPRELEI | MIKSANI | NICOLE BRIDGER | TAMMAM | VELLA MODE | VICERRA | YALERRI | ZELE and accessories by ADHA ZELMA | BESSI & COMPANY | EVOLVE45 | M BRULEE INC and MALEKU JEWELRY.

*Ethical Fashion Collective – Runway Show

Real Housewives of New Jersey star, Teresa Giudice, made an appearance with her daughter Gia just in time for the 4pm show, in support of New York Presbyterian Children’s Hospital.   Teresa and Gia came to meet the winners from the hospital’s own Fashion’s Night Out event where two children from the cancer unit won the chance to attend Nolcha Fashion Week and sit front row with their favorite ‘housewives’ alum!

*NJ Housewife, Teresa Giudice with daughter Gia and Nolcha CEO, Kerry Bannigan

Day 3 at a glance: Wednesday night was a big night for all of the designers involved in Nolcha Fashion Week, as each had the chance to win a game-changing award.  Held amidst the luxurious Landrover Showroom on the West Side, the “Beyond The Runway Award” was up for grabs.  Throughout the week a series of industry judges attended the presentations in order to choose one deserving designer to win a business support package valued at $50,000 which included: Ernst & Young, legal by Orrick, branding consultation by MSLK, Website design consultation by Studio Light and retail placement with LooseButton.   After all 30 designers had the opportunity to make their mark, the winner was announced, an accessory collection:  MALEKU JEWELRY.

*Maleku’s booth at Nolcha’s Ethical Fashion Preview & Accessory Exhibition

Day 4 at a glance: The week came to a close on Thursday night with a Press and Buyers Cocktail Reception, held at the Nexus Showroom in midtown where Narciss, Gunas and Stella Simona got another chance to strut their stuff.

*Model, Designer and TV Host: Amber Lee Ettinger with the face of Derek Loves Shopping, Derek Warburton.

Founded by Rosie O’Donnell, Rosie’s Broadway Kids gives New York City school kids the chance to experience dance, music and drama who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

Last night’s performance of “Once On This Island” was breath-taking, and proof of the confidence and discipline these kids are learning through the program.  You could see the glint in their eyes: these are kids who we’ll be watching on Broadway or the Big Screen someday.  We were lucky enough to have the kids put on a full production of the show for us,  followed by a cocktail reception on the RBK roof terrace (special thanks to our sponsor, Devotion Vodka).

It’s beautiful to see these kids, who have bone-chilling talent, finding a way to express themselves on stage.  Through RBK, they are given the tools to pursue higher education and even a career in the arts.

In addition to the children who get selected to be part of the RBK scholarship program, ALL public school kids get the chance to see a Broadway show throughout the school year–an important exposure to the culture that our city is so famous for.

As Junior Co-Chair of this year’s Annual Gala for Rosie’s Broadway Kids, I’m helping to spread awareness of the organization and the important work they do.  Our next big event will be the Annual Gala on September 20th, which will be held in a beautiful ballrooom at the Marriot Marquis in Times Square.

The gala is what raises the funds to keep the RBK program going year after year.  At the event, the kids will perform again, and this time Rosie will be taking the stage along with special guest Cyndi Lauper!!  Z100’s Elvis Duran will be on hand to run the Live Auction for really fun gifts like: VIP tickets to Jingle Ball, a front row seat at Howard Stern’s radio show, and ‘President for a Day’ at Nickelodeon!

Ticket price for juniors is $100 and that includes Open Bar for 2 hours in addition to this special performance. If you’re interested in tickets or becoming a committee member, you can contact me via: alyson(AT)amp3pr.com.

(Photo credit: JohnSimonDaily.com)

(Photo credit: JohnSimonDaily.com)

Our stories start the same.

Kelly moved to New York at the age of 22 from a small town outside of Syracuse, without a specific purpose, simply because she knew the city was calling her.  She arrived without knowing a soul and with very few possessions, except for the beleaguered blessing from her father (which wasn’t easy to come by).

I moved to New York at the age of 22 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, without a specific purpose and without knowing a soul, because I too believed that this was the city where my dreams would come true. My parents were also very supportive, but with the cautionary “Alyson, New York is a lovely place to visit, but its really not a place to live.”

Soon–from our East Village apartments, we both discovered PR and that much of what we had been doing our whole lives–our skills and our passions–were perfectly suited for the business.

Fortunately, our similarities diverge here, and I was able to skip the decade of drug addiction, failed marriages and homelessness–although it does sound par for the course from what you hear about the East Village in the late 80s /early 90s.

Without judgment though, it was such a vicarious experience to read about Kelly’s trials and tribulations which have clearly led her to become the grounded, extremely successful, loving mother, and villain we absolutely love to hate on shows like MTV’s “The Hills,” “The City,” and Bravo’s “Kell on Earth.”

Her book is a true motivator for any female entrepreneur or business owner, outing that ‘little voice inside your head’ also known as ’self doubt,’ by identifying your ‘true voice,’ and when and where it’s time to listen to it.  She confirms that there are ups and downs in business, constant fear and excitement in career, and that it’s possible to be a woman and truly ‘have it all.’  I love that she admits she had no idea what she was doing at first–practice makes perfect.

Her attitude in business and in life is authentic.  Though our styles are completely different, I strive to follow her lead of authenticity and honesty, and I’m going to keep a “What would Kelly do?” approach in my back pocket the next time ‘times get tough.’

The book, which released in March 2010, is now on The New York Times Bestseller’s list, and with good reason.

Some favorite quotes from the book (via Styleit.com):

An explanation of the book’s purpose:

“…[T]his isn’t a book about how to be a smart businesswoman, because I’m not a smart businesswoman. Frankly, I’m not even that smart. What I am is fearless and intuitive. I’m attuned to the sound of my inner voice, and I’ve been following it blindly for most of my life, without any clear goals.”

On the name of her company:

“I named my company People’s Revolution not because I’m a Communist – a popular misconception – but because I happen to believe the world will change only when we change ourselves. And that starts with finding ourselves. And that starts with listening to ourselves…”

On the importance of hard work:

“It was becoming obvious that I needed more than witty small talk and the right look to survive in this town. [Y]ou can fake your way to the table, but ultimately you have to learn how to eat. Clothes do not make the woman (even if they do make her look good).”

On her work ethic:

“These days, I continue to call members of the media myself rather than outsourcing the work to my staffers, because you can never be too good for the things that first made you successful. I will always remember that at twenty-three years old, as an untrained and unknown publicity newbie from Syracuse, I tried my best to get the whole country talking about my message with no staff, no office, no assistant, no Blackberry, and no know-how, just with conviction, truth, and balls. And it worked.”

[Alyson Campbell for It's All Very PR]