The Cutting Edge. FGI Mid-Winter Conference. Winter By Diana Cavagnaro

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1 Winter 2007 The Cutting Edge FGI Mid-Winter Conference By Diana Cavagnaro The Cutting Edge was an amazing whirlwind of Fashion & Design on November 15-19, 2007 in Sidney, Australia. We stayed at the chic Sofitel Wentworth Hotel and on the first evening attended an elegant cocktail reception at the prestigious Government House. On day two we traveled on the Ferry across Sidney Harbor enjoying a panoramic view of the city including the Harbour Bridge and the splendid Opera House making our way to the Taronga Park Zoo. Jimmy Jackson from the Australian Wool Innovation talked to us about the latest innovations. Super fine Merino Wool now has anti-bacterial and anti-odour properties, and the ability to moisturize as you wear it. We were treated to a fashion show highlighting the ultralite and beautiful merino garments. It was wonderful to see first hand all these latest innovations which have evolved from super conservative to stylish must have designs. Next we were escorted to the legendary Balmoral Beach for a Swim Resort Fashion Show by some of Australian s leading designers. They were gearing up for their approaching Summer season that is during our Winter season here. Our seats were right on the beach with a picture perfect day for the fabulous runway show. Following the fashion show we walked to The Bather s Pavilion and Executive Chef Serge Dansereau made yummy hors d oeuvres for us. Brian Rockford, King of Swim, discussed his life in the business and showed slides of his successful career. Topping off the day we journeyed to the Opera House for the evening to watch a performance of Destiny which was a tribute to Leonid Massine who is the creative star and choreographer to the renowned Ballets Ruses. After the ballet we had dinner at Guillaume at Bennilong under the sails at the Sydney Opera House. Graduates from the fashion school, the Raffles College of Design and Commerce, entertained us with a fashion show of their creative designs. Con t. pg 4

2 Holiday Greetings from your Regional Directors Wow! Sherry and Grace have been the Co-Regional Directors for the San Diego Fashion Group International for one year! And it has been a wonderful year for both of us. We are proud to have successfully launched the Mix It Up networking event, which meets the third Tuesday of each month and introduces us to the variety of neighborhoods here in SD as we explore new venues and meet new people. We have been impressed by the talent and energy of the people drawn to these events, and are focused on converting visitors to members with the assistance of our Membership Chair. We are grateful to our Board of Directors who have supported us, and have provided guidance for As we head in to 2008, we look forward to the organization of our student and recent graduate population under the leadership of Felena Hanson. This up-and-coming group of young professionals is looking for a name under the FGI umbrella, to be announced soon. After 10 years of success, and a rest in 2007, we look forward to launching a new Style fund-raiser in the Fall of 2008 in a newly created format. It will also be our opportunity to award scholarships to deserving students in the San Diego community. Watch your for events and announcements in 2008 as we move into the digital age. Make sure we have your current information to receive notices of events. Snail mail will be history. changes/updates to: fgisd@pacbell.net. Here is another way to keep up on FGI activities here in San Diego: go to and click on Other Regions San Diego and you will be in the know! Traveling? Check out other region web sites for their activities! Best Wishes for this Holiday Season to All Sherry and Grace Richard Tiland Richard Tiland joined Fashion Group International in 2007 while working at the #1 Medical Spa in America. His expertise in beauty has been seen on syndicated shows on AP Worldwide, Health and Beauty, Boomer show, TV Guide and numerous seminars in and around Southern California. After several years as an Alaskan Fisherman, Richard began his career in the spa industry at Gene Juarez in Seattle WA, in Nordstrom was his next challenging career move. Richard began working in Corporate store #1 spa and then transitioned to San Francisco to become a Counter Manager for Mario Badescu while free lancing makeup for reputable companies like Sisley, Trish McEvoy, and Laura Mercier. Currently, Richard works as the West Coast Director for a Luxury Spa Distribution channel that supplies spas like Canyon Ranch, Ritz Carlton, and Exhale. Richard sits as Program Co-chair for our San Diego chapter.

3 Memoirs of a Regional Director I am very honored to be a member of Fashion Group of San Diego. As past director, my board and I used our collective efforts to set up programs that were both interesting to our members and educational. We gifted design students with scholarships and designated monies to deserving charities. We also planned career fairs, educated women returning to the work force, and arranged events with designers who impact our industry and shared how they were inspired. I was enlightened by how vast the realm of fashion is-decorating a table top is just as much fashion as selecting a pair of shoes to accessorize your outfit. I now appreciate the fabric and construction of a garment just as much as the finished product. Connie Foote Sharp I have been involved in the fashion industry for 30 years. I started as a staff model and later opened the Grossmont Center Bullocks as Fashion Coordinator. I planned events, fashion shows, and programs throughout the store. Then I took time off to spend with my son s. I returned to work in retail sales and have been with Nordstrom Fashion Valley for 18 years. My best proposal came 6 years ago to be Bernies wife I accepted! I have served as FGI Director from 1997 and 1998, secretary, program and membership chairs. Dining by Design FGI member Olga Tuchscher Krasnoff kicked off the debut of her new book Dining by Design at Bloomingdales on a busy Saturday in November. And what a kick off it was, friends, fans and FGI members stood in a line that never seemed to get smaller as Olga penned personal notes for everyone, in the cover of her book. Never one to forget her friends, Olga created a chapter in her book in honor of FGI! Style and Supper proves that table tops designed by Olga are as fashionable and chic as anything seen strutting down the runways of Paris or New York. Pick up this beautiful book filed with color photos of original table top designs and wonderful menus and recipes by Olga s longtime friend Chef Patsy Bentivegna. Her book can be purchased as Warwicks and Bloomingdales! Congratulations Olga!

4 MIX IT UP TUESDAYS! Diana Cavagnaro and Barbara Beran Above: Selena Parker and Sherry Bittner-Brown Left: Felena Hanson and Grace Decker Page 1 con t. On day three we viewed Fashion Flash that is the same as our Trend Show that concluded with a panel discussion by Australian Fashion Cognoscenti. Next we traveled to the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) for a panel discussion by experts on Counter Culture, Retailing in the 21 st Century. The QVB is a magnificent vintage building with a breathtaking dome filled with splendid stores. We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping here and were able to visit the gorgeous shop of Claudia Chan Shaw, FGI Chairman for the event. In the evening we were bused to the Powerhouse Museum for slides and a panel discussion of the interior designer, Florence Broadurst whose murder still remains unsolved today. Signature Prints is now the owner of Florence s library that included 530 interior designs. The owners talked about reinventing the brand for a Contemporary Market that included adding accessories such as handbags with Florence s artistic flair. Helen O Neill was on hand to discuss her book, Secret & Extraordinary Life and I wouldn t be surprised if they made this book into a movie on the life of this eccentric woman. Internationally recognized, Akira Isogawa, displayed some of his Broadhurst print garments. Following this presentation we were able to view some of the exquisite pieces that the Sydney FGI had donated to the fashion collection in this museum. Very inspiring!! We were also treated to a private viewing of Diana: A Celebration which includes Princess Diana s wedding dress, Designer gowns and jewels from the Spenser Collection. It was awesome to see them up close and personal!!!! Day four was a visit to the Cerrone flagship store for a private viewing on Designs on Diamonds. When we walked into the store, the owner Nic Cerrone who is the most awarded jeweler in Australia greeted us. Nic sets up trunk shows around the world including America s Finest City that was recently held at the Hotel Solamar. The store was surrounded by pictures of his clients such as Terri Hatcher Con t. pg 9

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6 More Sidney Pictures! Clockwise from top left: George and Diana at the Government House The Government House is an historic Gothic revival building set amongst 5 hectares of gardens adjoining the extensive harbourside Botanic Gardens Merino Wool Show at the Tarongo Zoo Models in period costumes at the Government House MORE FGI ADVERTISERS TO SUPPORT!

7 MEMBERS & FRIENDS ON THE GO. Phyllis Parrish (second from left) and friends Sally Thornton and Sandra Maas Karen Rowley and Peggy Matthews Olga Krasnoff and Gayleen Nichols Mary G. Walker with friends Mama s Kitchen Fundraiser

8 More Sidney! Clockwise from top left: Diana with FGI President, Margaret Hayes Adame and Diane Lisle-Williams, Melbourne FGI. Diana with Diane Lisle-Williams and Nic Cerrone of the Cerrone Flagship Store. Diana with Claudia Chan Shaw, FGI Conference Chair, in her store at the Queen Victoria Building. Diana wearing $20,000 worth of Cerrone Pearls. Models wearing diamonds and pearls at the Designs on Diamonds showing. Black Tie Gala: George and Diana with Shawny Burns, Washington DC FGI, Susan Glick, Chicago FGI, Alexandra Adame, NY FGI.

9 More Sidney... Clockwise from left: Akira Isogawa displayed his Florence Broadhurst print garments at the Powerhouse Museum; Christian Dior made in Paris, 1957 (This evening gown with a precisely constructed inner bodice with boning is an example of the many garments donated to the Powerhouse Museum by the Sydney FGI); the famous Sydney Bridge (you can buy a ticket for $160 and walk across); model wears creation by graduate student from the Raffles College of Design and Commerce. Continued from Page 4: Janet Jackson, all decked out in his incredible diamonds! The models came down a beautiful staircase showcasing his terrific collections. Before leaving I tried on a $20,000 strand of pearls. Oh Oh so lovely!!!! In the afternoon we went to the Art Gallery of New South Wales for Living Life in Art. Sydney FGI Regional Director, Mary Gualtieri, arranged for her uncle Salvatore Zofrea to discuss his life as an artist since he immigrated from Italy to Australia. Salvotore is a widely acclaimed artist in the medium of woodblock printmaking. As it turns out a company in San Diego called ResMed has acquired several of his pieces for their office building. Next we went into the Yiribana Gallery to view one of the largest spaces dedicated to Aboriginal Art in Australia. These 4 fabulous days closed with a Black Tie Gala held in the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Grand Ballroom. This dinner was the inaugural FGI Sydney Awards for Excellence that was very much like our Style Awards. All the FGI members were given a chance to say goodbye to all their FGI friends and new acquaintances. These uplifting four days were jammed packed with all aspects of fashion in the Australian market. There was so much possibility for making connections with the Fashion Industries in Australia. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity for such an educational and uplifting experience. Kudos to FGI Sydney for all their hard work!

10 Holiday Party FGI Style In the beginning of December FGI kicked off the season with a Holiday Party for members that proved to live up to it s reputation of food, fun and sought after gifts! After a business meeting and election of officers we shared a delicious Italian dinner of pasta, salads and wine and caught up on everyone s active year. The Group! Gift giving began with expressions of delight and laughter as members brought out their competitive edge and stole gifts from each other. All in good fun and with the spirit of the game! Popular gifts that seemed to bounce around until they were considered safely owned were a great leopard clutch, a beautiful wire and beaded necklace and Olga s Dining by Design book. Enjoy the pictures! The Leopard Bag Journey!

11 More Holiday Fun The Necklace Exchange! Many Tried to Take Home Olga s Book!

12 2008 Board Members Regional Directors.Grace Decker & Sherry Bittner-Brown Secretary.George Bates Treasurer Chuck Horst Membership Chairs Chrissy Burns Education Chair.Felena Hanson Program Chairs..Rick Tiland & Donna Steinback Foundation President.Karen Rowley Nominations Chair.Diana Cavagnaro Hospitality Chair Sheena Gao Communications Chair..Susan Lazear Public Relations.Peggy Mathews Student Liaison.Kathy Taylor Newsletter Chair..Diana Cavagnaro Newsletter Editor Judy Thacker Friends of Fashion Group Advisory Board Darlene Davies Jeanne Jones Jeanne Lucia Kristi Pieper Bonnie Wright Charlotte Jacobs Joyce Glazer Lael Koytun Phyllis Parrish Mary G. Walker Yolanda Walther Meade Sally Thorton Upcoming Fashion Events Mix It Up 3 rd Tuesday of each month Spring Trend TBA Retreat February TBA Winter Bridal Bazaar with Fashion Show January 20, 2008 San Diego Convention Center For Info: (760) ASR (Action Sports Retailer)- Industry Only January th, San Diego Convention Center Donna Marsh - Grand Opening in La Jolla January 26, 2008 Zandra Rhodes Fashion Show February 27, 2008 Westgate Hotel For Info call (619) (Refer to FGI-SD web site for details on FGI Events) Newsletter Chair Diana Cavagnaro P.O. Box San Diego, CA