Celebrity Stylist- Reinaldo Irizarry

Meet celebrity stylist Reinaldo Irizarry (pronounced erie~zarie), the latest phenomenon to take the fashion scene by storm. Having started his career in the industry as a visual merchandiser for Saks Fifth Avenue and even dabbled in design, he realized that there are a lot more career paths besides design and modeling and decided to take up styling. Having a strong editorial background has given him many opportunities to style photo shoots, be a Creative Director for his online magazine, A-List International (www.alist-international.com) and has given him the chance to style the likes of American Idol’s Ayesha Mercado and Mel B of the former Spice Girls. If you walked into his office, you would probably find a vast array of magazines, European in particular, arranged alphabetically of course and you would hear about every genre of music playing on his ipod; as this inspires him to create moods, themes and looks for styling. Whether his day begins at 5AM or 9AM, a stylist’s work is never done. He is always checking emails, making phone calls to clients or designers or PR Firms, picking up clothes for shoots, attending fittings and then making returns. Current styles [or trends] he is hyped up on at the moment are harem pants (he loves the way the modern woman wears it with platform sandals) and shoulder pads. He is currently filming his own reality show, Style Protocol, which is about his fast-paced life as a stylist and his goal to get to high-profile status. The show is being produced by DJM Multimedia and help from Daniel Magro. For more info on Reinaldo, Style Protocol, and contact info, go to www.reyalfashion.com.

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Michaela Kuechenhoff- Designer of Micha Designs

While I was at the Focus Fashion Show, I was introduced to a bubbly designer named Michaela. She showed me her jewelry collection, which consisted of  handmade, one-of-a-kind, avant-garde necklaces made from vintage watch pieces, belt buckles, brooches  feathers, etc.  Let’s just say- I was HOOKED! Her company was founded in 1997 and her mission is “Go Green.” She uses recycled and vintage materials while also using ‘offbeat’ materials like: leather, feathers, lace, door knockers, brooches, fabric roses, scrabble pieces, doilies, etc. Her mission “is to show that you do not have to compromise beauty to ‘go green’.” She gets inspired by materials, odds and ends from swap meets. She does not work from a sketch, thus allowing the creations to develop organically, draping materials over a mannequin. A few of her signature pieces are: “What time is it?”, “Buckle Up” and Hardware Deluxe Designs. She sells her pieces at numerous style houses, boutiques, Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdale’s and trunk shows. Her price points range from $40-300. Her necklaces are very popular with celebrities, including: Jessica Simpson, Kourtney Kardashian, Fergie and Audrey Kitching. I look forward to seeing more of Michaela’s unique pieces on the red carpet or out-and-about. For more information or to purchase, go to www.michadesign.com or contact Michaela at micha@michadesign.com.

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SHANE TAMOSHUNAS- ELEGANTLY DISHEVELED

I am truly fortunate to work in a place full of creative people. So, with that being said, it was no surprise when I heard that one of my co-workers, Shane Tamoshunas has his own jewelry and apparel line, “Elegantly Disheveled.”
His passion for deconstruction began as a child and jump started when he was working on a shoot. He wanted a pair of boots used on set but they cost $700. Unable to afford them, he decided to take matters in his own hands. He bought a pair of boots, sanded and painted them, turning them into the exact same pair as the ones at the shoot.

2007, he officially launched his line, “Elegantly Disheveled. He sands (by electric and hand) jeans, khakis and boots; deconstructs tees and jewelry. He takes knick-knacks that wouldn’t normally be used for jewelry and incorporates them into his pieces, which are unisex. “Not too masculine…not too feminine…” An example of a unique item that he puts on  his necklaces was a canary pendent he purchased at a thrift store for $2, or the face of a watch, which he would re-make into a locket. He wants “Elegantly Disheveled” to be affordable to people who want that one one-of-a-kind piece.

Depending on the amount of work, the line ranges between $30-100 and is available online at www.gas-d.com. Shane’s main website will be available soon.

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MATT KAYE- DESIGNER AT BAZANGO CREATIVE

Bazango Creative was the name that first popped into comedian Matt Kaye’s head when thinking of names for his apparel company. He is an eco-friendly company that takes thrift and new apparel  and turns them into works of art. The idea came to him during the ten years he was a house painter, people would offer money for his paint-splattered pants…and so it went from there. He found an investor and so, this past February, Bazango Creative was born. He paints a menagerie of colors and draws Johnathan Winters-type cartoon characters on jackets, shoes, tees, pants and dresses for men and women. He can paint on most types of fabrics, except coarse materials found on sweaters; but loves working with Dickies, which holds paints well, like canvas. Matt finds inspiration while looking through Juxtapose, graffiti magazines and the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat (*1960-1988* Of the Warhol era). He is currently selling online and at Monogrammit on Robertson Blvd, but wants to ultimately sell to more boutiques. His jackets and pants go for $390.00, long sleeve shirts go for $155.00 and tees for $120.00. For more info and to purchase a one-of-a-kind Bazango creation, go to www.bazangocreative.com and check out Matt Kaye on Facebook!

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JOSEPH RENE- HAIRSTYLIST

Joseph Rene, known for styling hair for high-end fashion shows, celebrities , magazine shoots and now…me…that is, for Beauty Fusion Beauty Show in Pasadena, CA; where I was a last-minute model.

I arrived at Salon Sessions the day before the show, not knowing if he could take me or not. His station was already packed with clients, but he asked me to kindly wait for a few minutes and then we would talk.

Just when I thought I was probably outta luck, his assistant ushered me back to his station, where there was a free chair. Despite that he was booked, he still managed to squeeze me in and had the time to color and shape my hair for the show the very next day.

At the show….

I observed Joseph working his magic on fellow models. Three girls had curled red carpet hair, with the help of the Enzo Milano curling irons…While he inserted colored extensions in others…By the time the show was over, every girl and yes, there were a few guys looked amazing. Even during a few stressful times during the show, this man kept it professional. When a workshop location went awry, he took charge and brought the show to the main stage, which got the attention he needed. During his presentations (with a rockin ’80’s theme), he would bring each of us up and explained (or demonstrated on the Enzo Milano and extensions models) in detail what he did to our hair. In the end, he achieved yet another level of his dream and I left with a bad-ass rocker hairstyle!

SPECIAL THANKS: Salon Sessions (112 S. De Lacey Ave. Pasadena, CA 91105  Phone: 626-795-8856) , THE MODELS!, Beauty Fusion Beauty Show, Joseph Rene (contact #626-243-3123), Enzo Milano, Chenice Beverly Hills, the Jr. Stylists: Liz and Charles, the make-up artists: Lupita, Johanna and Sandra from Millenium Cosmetics (8611 California Ave. Suite B  South Gate, CA 90280 Phone:323-249-0018), Fresh and Famous Clothing and Parris Harris.

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FALLING WHISTLES

Falling Whistles was a concept that started a year ago when Sean Carasso poured his heart and soul into a blog while on a trip to Congo. He had been on a shoe drop with Tom’s Shoes and had decided to explore the region. What he saw and experienced in the months ahead were heartwretching. One was of five boys that had been tortured and in this prison camp that Sean and his friends were able to acess. The boys told him of the whistle blowers…boys what were not old enough….given whistles and forced on the front lines…

When Sean was back in the States, he was still broken. Then one day, a friend gave him a whistle and told him to “just keep it alive…” From then on, he wore that whistle around his neck and people have come up to him and asked about the meaning of that whistle. It was then that he chose to “make their (the boys) weapon his voice” and now Falling Whistles is a company based out of Venice, CA that sells whistles along with the boys story. 100% of the proceeds go to programs that will help rehabilitate children through local leaders in Congo and to advocate the war.

Falling Whistles will be selling the whistles at Space 1520 and Steven Alan. The company has also partnered with jewelry designer Lizzie Fortunato and she will be making a whistle every season.

Sean hopes that he can distribute and share the information about the social issues in the Congo through fashion and the whistles.

For more information and/or to purchase the whistles, please go to www.fallingwhistles.com.