Never Stop Learning: A Virgos Lounge Sequined Sheer Top, Zara Boyfriend Jeans, and Casadei Blade Pumps at the Met Museum Atelier

Never stop learning.
That’s a bit of honest advice I’d give to anyone looking to start out in the industry.
Expend every resource available to you. Read books, watch videos, go see talks, find ways to mix and mingle with others who share your interests until you feel you are going in the direction you desire.

The other day, The Met Museum offered a talk between Alina Cho and Donatella Versace. Alina Cho has a ticketed talk series called the Atelier, where she interviews fashion industry influencers like Anna Wintour and Alber Elbaz. Tickets are about $45 and you get the chance to pose questions at the end. It used to be my MO to always ask a question (so you’d get noticed), and always sit front row, but I’ve cooled a bit since my younger years! If you’re young and ambitious, I’d encourage you to be active when you attend a talk, not passive. If you don’t ask a question, you don’t exist.

When I first started blogging, way before all the fashion shows and bright lights, I’d hit up every fashionable exhibit in the city, and write about those since I didn’t have any events to go to (peep my Black Style Now? Critique on FBD from 2006). Before you get all the glamour, do a bit of grunt work–read, think, grow. I digress.
Back to the talk!

Donatella offered lots of advice to up and coming designers, while encouraging others to be bold and daring in fashion. She was certainly the embodiment of her brand in a Fall 2015 wide legged Versace suit.

As for me, I did my best to be comfortable. I’ve been traveling a TON and am actually headed to LA in a couple hours. At any rate, my Zara boyfriend jeans were on tap, along with an embellished Virgos Lounge top and blazer.

I always need a little bling, and did so with chandelier earrings, rings, and silver Casadei pumps.

I kinda went off on a tangent in this post, but I think it’s the beginning of a new series I want to inaugurate called, ‘Ask Claire’. Ask me anything about career, etc, and I’ll answer it in a blog post. Sound good? I’m cool doing a little virtual mentorship.

Stay tuned for the announcement post!
Until then, thoughts?
Images: Karl Pierre