Renowned fashion and beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson has spent her career turning fashion into a force for good. After consulting and working for nearly every famous American brand from Tommy Hilfiger to Caroline Herrera, Stephenson’s affinity for philanthropy has made her one of the most revolutionary forces in the industry. Today, she is the Founder and CEO, of GLAM4GOOD – an organization dedicated to building community and facilitating positive social change through life-changing style transformations and empowerment through fashion. The GLAM4GOOD foundation has received numerous awards and honors, and even led Stephenson to First Lady Michelle Obama’s Fashion Education Workshop at the White House. On top of Stephenson’s notable glamorous beauty, she has transformed her passion for fashion into a social force to be reckoned with.
A branding executive and pioneer in fashion consulting since the early 2000’s, Bonnie Morrison has utilized her cultural prowess to bring some of the biggest brands in fashion to their peak success. From Men’s Vogue to Coach, Morrison has worked with every major fashion house in the world, using innovation, strategy, and process-driven knowledge to enhance communication and quality of a franchise. In her free time, Bonnie has used her personal wisdom and industry expertise to advocate for various social justice issues, stressing the need for better communication in American society today. Morrison’s Instagram account called ‘fiercegrandma’ discusses everything from Black Lives Matter to improving interconnectedness to finding ways to unleash your fullest potential. As a young black woman in the fashion industry decades ago, it was people like Bonnie Morrison that made me believe in myself.
Simon Doonan is an author and fashion icon legendary for his unforgettable storefront window displays at Barney’s in New York City. A former style columnist at Slate Magazine and multi-faceted award winning fashion visionary and writer, Doonan channeled his exit from the fashion world into another cherished creative endeavor – writing. As a new judge on NBC’s hit primetime craft competition show ‘Making It,’ Doonan is a jack of all trades. Along with his conditioned penchant for productivity and strong focus from decades in corporate fashion at Barney’s, Doonan embodies the essence of fashion – sharing stories of fashion icons through writing and making the most of every professional opportunity to highlight his passion for the industry. In his latest biography,Keith Haring, Doonan recounts the story of an icon who prioritized inclusivity and socially conscious art for the people – an approach Doonan seeks to carry out in his own work today. In this week’s episode, Simon Doonan and I sit down to discuss his new role as the ‘Simon Cowell’ of crafting, how to channel inspiration for good writing, and what ‘art for everyone’ looked like through fashion history from the life of Haring to Basquiat.
Designer Jedda-Khan always knew fashion was in his blood. Jedda may have been upset after initially coming in second place at an emerging fashion designer competition in NYC, but that was just the start of Jedda’s career. Jedda’s work was so unique and innovative, all eyes that saw Jedda’s designs wanted more. Today,Jedda-Khan NYC is a top independent luxury brand for men and women in Brooklyn, exclusively made to measure – all curated and designed by Jedda himself. Since his Spring 2005 debut on the New York runway, Jedda has been a staple among fashion elites – redefining luxury with an elegant twist for the modern woman. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Jedda to discuss staying true to your artistic vision through adversity and how to turn passion into a successful business and personal brand.
Since she was a little girl, Dayna Isom Johnson says she always knew she wanted to “do something big.” As one of the first fashion publicists I ever met in New York, Johnson is the epitome of effervescent joy and hard work. As a trend expert with over a decade of experience, she finds her passion in helping people around the world unveil their personal style through artfully curated pieces. Today, Johnson is an Etsy trend expert and judge on NBC’s hit prime time craft competition show ‘Making It.’ Johnson sat down with me in this episode to discuss her path as a small town girl chasing big city dreams, keeping your inner child alive, and how to make passion the focal point of your work.
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