#LocalLove: Featuring Gossip & Glamour fashion clients
Fashion Calendar: 2nd Annual Sustainable Fashion Forum
Gossip & Glamour is heading to Portland this weekend for the 2nd Annual Sustainable Fashion Forum. The event is part of Design Week Portland and will bring the style community together for panel discussions and in-depth conversations about sustainability in the fashion industry. The goal is to explore the future of fashion by starting an open and honest dialogue on the deep social and environmental effects that fashion has on our world, and most importantly, what we can do to positively affect change. Produced by Brittany Sierra of Laptops and Small Talk, the event runs on Saturday, April 21st from noon to 8 p.m. at Yale Union. Speakers include Davora Linder of Seattle's Prairie Underground, Whitney Bauck of Fashionista.com, Carly Mick of Keen Footwear, Ellie Hughes of Selflessly Styled, and more.
Gossip & Glamour will be doing an Instagram takeover of The Sustainable Fashion Forum account all day on Saturday. We invite you to follow along for event updates and a behind-the-scenes look at the event. Tickets to the 2nd Annual Sustainable Fashion Forum are $35. Click here for more info.
Wine Women & Shoes returns to Fairmont Olympic this fall
The annual Wine Women & Shoes event will return on Friday, Nov. 9th to the Fairmont Olympic in Downtown Seattle to raise funds for Olive Crest. We are currently working to secure our event partners in the following categories: fashion, food, wine. Please email Sydney@Gossip-Glamour.com for more information.
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fashion calendar: flora and henri Earth Day Celebration
In honor of Earth Day, flora and henri is hosting a special celebration on Friday, April 20th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come celebrate the earth and the heavens by enjoying a variety of in-store festivities including:
- Complimentary tarot card readings by Mindy Sue Bell (First come, first serve from noon to 4 p.m. Email info@florahenri.com to reserve a specific time slot.)
- Fresh cut flowers and gorgeous potted plants from The London Plane
- Body oils, treatments, and scrubs from Amulette Studios
- Body products by Herbivore Botanicals
- Fresh juices and healthy bites from Jujubeet
flora and henri is located on Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood at 401 First Ave. S. If you're planning to head down, don't forget to check out the newest General Porpoise location for a sweet treat. RSVP on Facebook by clicking here.
+ We recommend taking an Uber but there’s also paid parking available at two nearby garages located at: 450 Alaska Way & 93 Railroad Way.
Spring's must-have accessory: The Andieanderin necktie
Seattle stylist Darcy Camden recently named neckties as one of her favorite spring fashion accessories, so it's no surprise that we've seen this trend pop up all over town adding a splash of color to outfits and starting meaningful discussions along the way. Andieanderin ties have been featured on King 5's Evening magazine and will appear in an upcoming issue of Seattle magazine, but my favorite place to spot them is on the streets so that I can see how real women style them.
The pink Andieanderin tie, inspired by Malala, made an appearance on the red carpet at the 425 magazine Women to Watch event earlier this month. Worn by writer and editor Shelby Moyer, the Malala tie paired perfectly with a black and white knit top and bright yellow trousers. It was the perfect way to celebrate women around the city and give a thoughtful nod to women around the world. (Pictured below: Ally Svenson, co-founder of MOD Pizza, Brooke Fox of Movin' 92.5, Amy Lunch, regional VP of Comcast, Shelby Rowe Moyer, assistant editor of 425 magazine, Kim Peterson, owner of Uniquely Savvy, and Claire Durrell, founder of LEAD. Photo credit: Pavel Verbovski.)
Andieanderin create neckties for women and girls that are inspired by influential women, both past and present. The debut collection made in the USA features 7 styles that celebrate a range of fabulous women including Oprah, Beyonce, Michelle Obama, and even Mother Teresa. Each tie comes packaged in a beautiful box with a storyboard that highlights the accomplishments of the woman who inspired the tie.
"We are in a pivotal time in our society," says co-founder Lisa Santos, "and felt the need to celebrate the women who are pushing us forward on issues of gender equality, race equality, and pay equality."
The ties are great conversation starters and come in sizes for both women and kids. Join the necktie revolution and shop the collection online at Andieanderin.com.
Speaking of street style and spring trends, check out how our stylish friend and fellow style blogger Jenn Haskins of Hello Rigby, styled her pink Malala tie with a dark floral kimono and white boots, as pictured below. (Photo credit: Rebecca Klein)
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FACEBOOK LIVE: Behind-the-scenes with Andrew Hoge
When it was time to select a keynote speaker for this year's Gossip & Glamour WHAT SHE SAID Style Summit, we knew there was an obvious choice. Our goal has always been to find someone inspirational, who is actively working to build and contribute to the fashion community in Seattle, but we also wanted to find someone who was willing to share their lessons learned as they looked back over the trajectory of their career. Andrew Hoge was a clear choice and though he's a relatively fresh face on the style scene, his contributions are noteworthy for more reasons than one.
Andrew has recently been appointed the style and society writer at Seattle magazine and also writes about fashion on his personal lifestyle blog, andrewhoge.com. He will also maintain his current role as the Director of Celebrations at The Fairmont Olympic. Andrew is a true inspiration and a testament to the possibilities that lie ahead for fashion and lifestyle bloggers in the Pacific Northwest. He's bold, curious, he is compelled to tell the stories that matter, and in many cases, the stories that matter are those of the unsung hero who is quietly working, quietly making, quietly doing things that make this city such a great place to live. In many ways, Andrew is telling the story of WHAT SHE SAID as it relates to art, culture, and of course, fashion.
In his keynote, Andrew touched on his early career, including internships with Luly Yang and Oscar de la Renta. He also went in-depth on his present-day life which includes managing his work commitments with his personal life, side projects, and of course, his lifestyle blog. Andrew’s advice to those wanting to get into this community and make their own way is simple: get offline and build relationships in real life.
View Andrew's full Facebook LIVE interview with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle. You can also follow Andrew's fashion adventures on Instagram @Andrewhoge.
Photo credit: Vivian Hsu (podium shot)
Facebook LIVE Q&A with Amanda Zurita
Amanda Zurita: freelance writer, editor, world traveler and long time supporter of the Gossip & Glamour Style Summit. If Amanda looks familiar, it's because she's actually a Style Summit veteran. She was our first-ever Keynote speaker back in 2016 when we launched the summit, and, like a boss, delivered a beautiful keynote before embarking on a 12-month global travel adventure a.k.a. "remote year". This time around, Amanda joined the "Fashion Essentials" panel at the style summit sharing tips on content creation and the lost art of writing.
In her Facebook LIVE interview with Darcy Camden, Amanda talks about everything from her insane travel schedule (she's gone each spring/fall in Spain and Italy doing tours and guidebook research for Rick Steves) and talks about her latest passion project, UGH Life, a digital media platform for women. UGH loosely stands for Ultimate Girls Handbook and is a place for women to tell their stories and bond over shared experiences. Watch Amanda's full Facebook LIVE interview.
Photo credit: Vivian Hsu Photography (panel discussion photo)
Facebook LIVE Q&A with Amanda Winters of Blue Nile
Blue Nile fashion PR pro Amanda Winters took the stage at the Gossip & Glamour Style Summit on March 11th at W Bellevue like a boss. As part of the "Fashion Essentials" panel, Amanda shared her best tips on how bloggers can work with publicists to create meaningful brand collaborations. Her insight is spot-on because Amanda is also a lifestyle blogger and understands how integral solid relationships with publicists can be.
Amanda is a wealth of knowledge for influencers looking to work with brands and be savvy with their content— plan your content 6-8 weeks in advance, reach out to brands with a plan on how you can tell their product’s story in your everyday life, and know that a “no” from a brand isn’t a forever no, persistence is key. Circle back when you have a different angle, and most importantly, work on building the relationship so that you can better understand the needs of the brand.
Follow along with Amanda on her personal Instagram, @CallmeWinters. You can also view Amanda's full Facebook LIVE video with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle.
Panel discussion photo credit: Vivian Hsu Photography
Facebook LIVE Q&A with Amy Sarabi
We were thrilled to have Amy Sarabi, Zumiez Private Label Design Director, participate in the "Future of Fashion" panel at the WHAT SHE SAID Style Summit. The former Project Runway Designer shared what it was like to experience the ups and downs of fashion today, and what it's like to receive feedback on her work from Tim Gunn. The bigger question, would she do it again? 1000% yes.
In her Facebook LIVE interview with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle, Amy talks about upcoming trends - 90’s are out, early 2000’s are in -, gender fluidity becoming more apparent in retail, and how people will shop differently in the future. Get educated by one of the best trendsetters we know and watch her full interview on the Gossip & Glamour Facebook Fan Page.
Panel discussion photo (pictured above) by Vivian Hsu
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Facebook LIVE Q&A with Designer Elisa Yip
Style Blogger + Designer, Elisa Yip, has been designing for over 20 years and she's all about the WHAT SHE SAID Style Summit because, for a long time, she didn’t even know fashion even existed outside of work. The summit helped her realize there are so many amazing, fashion-oriented people right in her own backyard. Her interview gets real when she talks about the truths of blogging and how isolating it can be. Needless to say, she's happy to discover that there's a huge blogging community here in Seattle, you just have to reach out to the right people! Connecting with people in the same industry has helped her to become a better blogger and ultimately a better designer because both online and offline conversations impact her designs.
So, what’s for the Seattle designer/blogger? Elisa wants to create a space for bloggers to connect with each other, judgment free! Follow her on Instagram @EforElisa to keep in touch and learn more. We also invite you to watch her full Facebook LIVE interview with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle. (Panel discussion photo credit: Vivian Hsu)
Facebook LIVE Q&A with Brittany Hicks
Brittany Hicks, founder of GIFT and buyer at Amazon Fashion, had amazing insight to share on the "Future of Fashion" panel at the Gossip & Glamour Style Summit. In college, Brittany studied Supply Chain management and didn't originally intend on working in the fashion industry. For college students looking to break into the market, she recommends looking for interdisciplinary fields of study that aren't directly associated with fashion in order to give students a broader perspective of the market. In today's competitive landscape, companies are looking for students who can add value to their role.
Ultimately, fashion and technology are intersecting, as in the case of Brittany's current job at Amazon Fashion, and it’s an exciting time to join the conversation. Watch Brittany's full FB LIVE interview with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle. You can also follow Brittany's fashion adventures on Instagram at @justcallmehicks.
Brittany's top fashion take-aways
- Having a desire to work in fashion is broad. There are so many opportunities to work in print, digital, behind/in-front of the camera, in e-commerce, on the sales floor, etc. If you want to work in fashion, there's a role for you if you're willing to work for it!
- Working and studying supply chain management is the perfect way to prepare you for managing a retail business within a corporation.
- Be open! You don’t know what you don’t know!
GIFT IS FOCUSED ON THE CONVERGENCE OF THE FASHION AND TECHNOLOGY SPACES, AND THE NEED FOR MORE WOMEN TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS SHIFT.
Click here to learn more and get involved in Brittany's non-profit GIFT.
Panel discussion photo credit (above): Vivian Hsu
Seattle brand Van der Pop In the News
Facebook LIVE Q&A with Sabrina Tan of Gypsy Tan
Superstar fashion blogger Sabrina Tan of Gypsy Tan went from 0 to 147k followers in only 4 years. In fact, her style blog celebrated its 4th birthday just this month. Sabrina generously shared her time and insight with us at the WHAT SHE SAID Style Summit last weekend and offered her best advice on how to succeed as a style blogger. On the 50k Club panel, Sabrina spoke about the importance of carefully curated content and why it's important to put followers first.
We love Sabrina because she brings it to you straight, wiping away all the glamour that is often associated with #bloglife because, at the end of the day, it’s #joblife. Check out how she approaches her community in the full Facebook LIVE interview with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle. You can also follow Sabrina's fashion adventures on Instagram @Gypsytan.
If you liked this video, you might also like our interview with Seattle style blogger Aika Yokoyama of Aika's Love Closet.
Facebook LIVE Q&A with Chelsea Lankford of True Lane
Writer extraordinaire and fashion influencer Chelsea Lankford of the style blog True Lane, recently spoke on the 50k Club panel at the Style Summit about her experience in the blogger sphere— from the extreme challenges of becoming a full-time blogger to the unmatchable rewards of her dedication. Blogging is definitely not the same as when she first began in 2010. The market is now highly saturated but that doesn't stop her from continuing to grow her site. She believes that her creative energy and amazing content allows companies to have a choice when it comes to picking influencers that truly fit their brand. In her Facebook LIVE interview with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle, Chelsea shares tips on how to get noticed as a blogger and also talks openly about the drawbacks of being a full-time blogger. We invite you to follow Chelsea's fashion adventures on Instagram @truelane and watch the full interview on the Gossip & Glamour Facebook Fan Page now.
Chelsea's best tips on how to get noticed as a blogger:
1) Connect with local influencers in real life. Seems like a no-brainer, but we live in a digital world and it's so important to get offline and make meaningful connections.
2) Tag brands in your content and send images they can use on social media to their PR team. This is a genius idea to get noticed in the sea of social media. If you have great imagery featuring brands you love, share it! Just be sure to give credit to the applicable photographer and make sure they are ok with you sharing the images with the brand.
3) Use the right hashtags. Instagram lets you use up to 30 hashtags. Use them to be discovered and to connect with likeminded users.
If you like this video, you might also like our video with Seattle style blogger Sabrina Tan of Gypsy Tan.
Facebook LIVE Q&A with Aika Yokoyama
There's always more to discuss after the panel ends at the Style Summit, so this year we took the conversation backstage with Darcy Camden of Styled Seattle. She interviewed #WHATSHESAID panelists and took a deeper dive into their stories.
Aika Yokoyama of Aika's Love Closet was part of our 50k Club panel and gave us insider tips on how to be successful and actually make money in the blogger space. Aside from creating a standout, personalized brand, she discussed the importance of having a media kit and rate card. This is essential for bloggers who want to work with brands and build relationships. She also discussed the importance of having a mentor to help guide the way. Aika credits fellow blogger and friend Molly Clifton of Style Miss Molly with helping to fuel her growth. Aika now pays it forward by helping fellow bloggers in their personal areas of development. Follow Aika on Instagram @AikasLoveCloset. You can also check out the full interview with Aika on the Gossip & Glamour Facebook Fan page.
If you like this video, you might also like our interview with Seattle style blogger Chelsea Lankford of True Lane.
The Evolution of the Seattle Style Blogger
The rumors are true. We are in fact living through a digital revolution and fashion influencers play a huge role. What will the future of fashion look like? How will brands and influencers get on the same page? And most importantly, how will we save the blogging culture we've worked so hard to build here in the Pacific Northwest? We explored these questions and more at last weekend's WHAT SHE SAID Style Summit at W Bellevue.
When we started the summit just three years ago, the blogging scene in the city was a very different place. Influencers hadn’t yet mastered photography, they weren’t yet thinking about themselves as personal brands, they hadn’t yet figured out how to effectively work with brands, and the community wasn’t gathering to connect in real life on a regular basis. In fact, back then, there weren't many bloggers who had more than 2k followers, and today, 10k is the average. Fast forward to 2018 and the style blogging scene has exploded in Seattle. In addition to a high volume of bloggers in the market, we’re seeing regular meet-up groups, active comment pods, more engagement on social media platforms, and a major trend of bloggers quitting their day jobs to pursue their creative passions full-time.
It's an exciting time to be a blogger in Seattle. Not only is there economic prosperity in the city, there's an opportunity for bloggers in the market to partner with brands and businesses who desperately need (and want!) their expertise on content creation and social media. The question becomes, how can we leverage what we’ve built? How can we make the creative work that we're doing sustainable? And most importantly, how can we leverage the platforms we’ve created for the greater good?
The answer is by moving forward with a level of consciousness we can be proud of. We need to raise the bar when it comes to creating content and sharing the stories that truly matter. There's a lot of noise out there in the blogging sphere, but I truly believe that the only style bloggers who will be around in the next 3 years are those who are committed to sharing authentic content that makes the world a better place.
If Amazon is raking in .60 cents for every U.S. dollar spent on apparel and accessories, we need to be working overtime to support the brands who are fighting for the rest of that dollar. I challenge my fellow style bloggers in Seattle to rise to the occasion in the year ahead and support small businesses and other lifestyle brands (and causes) they are passionate about.
In the words of our Keynote speaker Andrew Hoge, "Being a good human never goes out of style".
Photo credit: Vivian Hsu
Styled Seattle x Gossip & Glamour team up to support Hope Place
We are thrilled to announce our most ambitious spring styling project yet! Over the next 2 weeks, Styled Seattle and Gossip & Glamour will work together to style 100 women and children from Hope Place, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and drug addiction, operated by Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. Each woman and child will receive a brand new "Sunday Best" outfit to match their fresh new lease on life, providing much-needed hope and healing just in time for Easter Sunday.
For some of these children, it will be their first experience receiving a new dress for Easter. For many others, it will be their first Easter re-united with their mother. For many at Hope Place, Easter is about personal redemption. The Hope Place recovery program provides these women with a year of support and love to break addictions and re-build their families with dignity and respect.
Over the next week, the Styled Seattle team will be scouring the city to shop for 100 unique outfits, hand-picked for each individual resident. Then, on March 26th and 27th, volunteer stylists and fashion friends of Gossip & Glamour will gather at Hope Place to style the women and children in their new Easter outfits. We can't wait to share the results of this styling journey with you later this month!
* * * UPDATE * * *
We want to extend a BIG thank you to our lead stylist Jessica Branning and to all the volunteers who helped make this Easter styling project a success! Check out the press coverage below.
The Seattle Times shares 3 spring trends you can wear right now
Seattle handbag designer Kacy Yom was recently featured in a Seattle Sunday Times story on 3 big spring trends you can wear right now. The round-up written by Andrea Dashiell covered a variety of major trends for the season including prints, color, and shine.
Pictured above, Kacy Yom's Bo-Ah Tote in Marigold. Check out the full story and find out how to warm up your winter wardrobe here.
Andieanderin featured on Evening Magazine
King 5's Evening Magazine recently shared the Andieanderin story with viewers and fashion fans all over the city were instantly intrigued. This Seattle-based fashion accessory line pays tribute to influential women, both past and present, through their line of 100% silk neckties. Featured women from the debut collection include Oprah, Beyonce, Malala, Frida Kahlo, and Michelle Obama. Check out the full clip from Evening Magazine here. You can also learn more about this fabulous local brand by visiting their website at www.andieanderin.com.
15 Seattle women in business + why we love them
In honor of International Women's Day, we're sharing a local round-up of our favorite women in business who are making waves around the city and inspiring us to reach for our dreams.
1. Cara Ingham and Lisa Santos - Last fall Cara and Lisa successfully funded their Kickstarter campaign to launch Andieanderin, a fashion line of neckties celebrating influential women in history. The goal was reached, production was completed (in the U.S.A.) and the rest is still being written. I am so inspired by this power duo of women and the work they are doing to empower women to continue fighting for social change. (Check out their necktie inspired by Malala, above.)
2. Brittany Hicks - As a denim buyer for Amazon Fashion, Brittany regularly keeps pace with the break-neck speed of fashion and e-commerce. In addition to her work with Amazon, a company who has recently been credited with earning .60 cents on every U.S. dollar spent on apparel and accessories, Brittany also runs a very cool non-profit called GIFT, which stands for Girls in Fashion and Technology. Gift is an organization dedicated to increasing awareness of tech-focused fashion careers and helping prepare students for success in the industry by changing the narrative around what it means to be a woman working in fashion + tech.
3. Kacy Yom - Let's rewind to 2008 when Kacy Yom was first opening the doors of her Ballard handbag boutique, Arm Candy. She had no idea that the experience would secretly serve as market research for her own handbag line. Inspired by the years of feedback from customers on what they loved (and hated) about designer handbags, Kacy decided to launch her own line, merging her personal design inspiration with functional details that modern women craved. Her handbag line is now featured at The Spa at Four Seasons and is available for purchase at KacyYom.com.
4. Suzanne Mills - Noticing a void in Ireland's bridal market, Suzanne Mills launched Myrtle Ivory, a Dublin-based bridal shop that offers brides a unique and highly-personalized dress shopping experience. Suzanne is now based in Seattle and is currently working on a new start-up that involves leveraging her experience in the bridal market using new digital platforms. We'll share updates as they roll in!
5. Jamie Lampitt - Fact: We don't get nearly enough sunshine in Seattle. Also fact: Getting a golden glow from a tanning bed is really, really bad for you. Jamie knew there had to be a compromise, so she launched Rainglow Airbrush Tanning to give women a safe and healthy alternative. Her studio uses an organic, paraben-free tanning solution that provides beautiful, streak-free results for women who don't want to give up their golden glow. AMEN to that!
6. Jennifer Jedda - Not everyone has the chance to get out and explore the globe and that's what inspired Jennifer to launch JJCaprices.com, a site that would ultimately allow her to pursue her global travel dreams while also supporting artisans around the world. On her site, shoppers can find one-of-a-kind treasures, read blog posts about Jennifer's time in each country, and learn the backstories of the brands she supports. Jennifer currently stocks merchandise from 20 countries and gives a portion of the proceeds from every sale to World Vision to help support women and girls in developing countries.
7. Darcy Camden - As the founder of Styled Seattle, Darcy Camden can frequently be found running around the city in heels. In addition to styling consumer clients, she also works with corporate clients including ROOT Sports and King 5. She regularly hosts style segments on New Day Northwest and Q13, and somehow finds time to host (and produce) fashion events around the city.
8. Crystal Southcote - A solid social media presence is an integral part any fashion brand doing business today, that's why companies need trusted resources like Southcote Digital. Founder Crystal Southcote and her husband Nick regularly work with clients to create customized solutions that are both visually stunning and highly effective. I am constantly impressed by their hard work and creative vision. Take a peek at one of the images they produced for Kacy Yom's spring lookbook.
9. Tiffany Troiano - There are many stylists who specialize in hair -or- makeup, but very few who excel at both. Tiffany Troiano of Tiffany Colors definitely fits the bill and been helping clients look and feel their best since 1997. Over the course of her career, she's worked with a variety of local and national brands including DirecTV, MTV, Nordstrom, The Seattle Art Museum, Dolce Vita, Zumiez, and more. She also regularly appears on Q13 Fox for beauty, fashion, and lifestyle segments.
10. Jane Hedreen and Amy Augustine- If you haven't yet visited the flora & henri concept shop in Pioneer Square, drop what you're doing and go right now (or at the very least check it out online). Last spring, when Jane and Amy first started talking about opening a store on 1st and Jackson, we were skeptical, not because we didn't understand their creative vision, but because retail had not yet moved in that direction. Moorea Seal was still doing business in Belltown and their store location was further south than the usual Pioneer Square shopper normally ventured. Fast forward to today and everyone is moving into the neighborhood, including cult-worthy donut shop General Porpoise. Clearly, Jane and Amy were ahead of the curve.
11. Suk Chai - Designer, entrepreneur, local legend. Suk Chai is many things, to many people, but to me, she's an amazing wealth of knowledge who graciously shares her insight to help support other emerging designers. Prior to launching SCHAI, Suk studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked for brands like Liz Claiborne before heading to design collections for Nordstrom's private label. She's a graduate of what insiders like to call "Nordstrom University", and credits the retailer with teaching her the ins and outs of the industry including sourcing and quality control. Suk is an incredible designer and is a true testament to the caliber of designers who are emerging from the Pacific Northwest to share their talent with the world.
12. Lindsey Arnold - Going green doesn't have to mean sacrificing the things you love, which is what inspired luxury beauty-addict Lindsey Arnold to launch the Velvet Report, a platform that educates women about vegan beauty products and lets them shop from an edited assortment of products.
13. Wendy Feller - It seems like a no-brainer but it really wasn't until recently that someone came up with a functional AND flattering raincoat for women in Seattle. Feller is Wendy's response to the unpredictable and often drizzly weather in the Pacific Northwest. Her range includes everything from parkas to trench coats, and according to the website, men's jackets are coming soon.
14. Joyce Poon - When it comes to comes to exploring Seattle-based entrepreneurs who are not only operating a business but growing and scaling it, look no further than Joyce Poon of Noir Lash Lounge. After successfully opening several lash bars in Vancouver B.C., she continued to move her operation down the West Coast and now has locations in Seattle, Bellevue, San Francisco, and Santa Monica.
15. Amy Sarabi - As the Design Director for Zumiez Private Label, Amy oversees 13 brands and regularly travels the globe to source design inspiration. During her early career, Amy was a contestant on Season 7 of Project Runway receiving feedback on her work from the likes of Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, and Nina Garcia. Amy loves to travel and recently spent two years living abroad in Thailand. During her time there, Amy started a women's empowerment project and taught a local tribe of women how to design, sew, and sell goods to support their village. Amy also worked on an exhibition for the Thai Royal family which involved reverse engineering dresses that French couturier Balmain designed for the queen.