Interview With Printed Scarf Designer, Sabina Les

Over the past few months, I've gotten to know Sabina Les, the woman who designs fabulous scarves, really well. We are both Collective-E and Accessories Council members and are at a lot of the same events together, so eventually we started talking at one of the events, and discovered we live nearby each other and have been close since! She gave me great styling tips when she showed me all the different ways I could wear my Sabina Les scarf...I was impressed! I wanted to take the time to ask her a few questions that you may be interested in hearing the answers to.

What made you decide to get into the scarf business?

I wanted to have an accessory line for a long time, something I could relate to. Scarves were a perfect choice because I'm a big fan and I couldn't find prints that I liked. With that in my mind, my designs have distinguished elegant, artistic and graphic personality.

Do you plan on adding any other lines?

Yes, I'm planning on expanding into other accessories starting with bags. Also, I'm collaborating with other designers.

How did you get on the Today Show?

I was doing my own PR and did a research on stylists. I "cold emailed" a fashion stylist pitching my scarves. Lucky for me, she emailed me back right away saying that she was looking for interesting scarves for the Today Show's fashion segment with the In Style magazine. She loved my scarves and asked for a few styles. About a week later, my scarf was on TV.

What were you working on previously and is it helping you now with your business?

I developed textile prints, branding, worked in merchandising and fashion design for some of the largest companies in the industry. Combining this experience with understanding of production process really helped me to stay on track with designing my own line and understanding that there is a lot of nitty-gritty details involved, sometimes more work than glamour!:)

If you would like to learn more about Sabina Les, go to: http://www.sabinales.com/

Di Manno Designs Zebra Headband Appears on Ugly Betty

I was watching an episode that I DVR of Ugly Betty one night and in the last scene noticed that Betty was wearing a Di Manno Designs Zebra Headband! I was so excited! I knew there was a chance that my accessories could appear on the show so I was watching out for it. My sister Angela was home with me watching it as well and said "this is a special moment" after seeing the look on my face when I actually saw the Zebra headband on Betty after it had been months since I sent the accessories to ABC. I called ABC just to confirm and sure enough it was a Di Manno Designs headband:) I was glad that one of the accessories made its way on an episode before the show goes off the air, which I believe is after this season. Don't know why, my friends and I watch and love this show! My mom and dad are also bummed that it is going off the air! Please don't take Ugly Betty off the Air ABC!

Another Way to Wear Your Pony; Lauren Conrad's Low Side Ponytail Look

Don't forget about all the different ponytail hairstyles you can do! In this picture Lauren Conrad is sporting a low side ponytail with soft curls with a chic white dress. The low side pony is a great way to wear your hair with elegant attire. I like the fact that it shows some hair from the front, but is not all down, making your facial features stand out and the soft curls add a touch of romanticism to the look. The other thing that is great about wearing your hair in a ponytail is once you are done doing your hair, there is no more fussing with it all night! With this dress, I would wear a Di Manno Designs White Patent Leather Pony (narrow size). It would add to the sleekness of the look without taking away from the diamond earrings.:)

Alexander McQueen, Style Legend of Our Time

This week we heard the tragic news of the designer Alexander McQueen found dead at 40 years of old at his home in London. This comes as a shock to the fashion world who embraced his brilliance and to all those who simply just loved his clothes, like me. I remember going into the Alexander McQueen store in the Meatpacking District, NYC and just was in awe of all the fashion works of art around me. I can't remember the last time I was in a store wanting every single piece in it!!! That is when I knew I loved his work; his sense of fashion. His designs were so bold, edgy and daring, but yet so tailored, feminine and sexy. I like the fact that when you wear his clothes, you know you will be making a statement! I respect him as a person and a designer because he didn't follow the norm, if anything went against it. I admire his strength and confidence to follow his dreams, make them real and not conform to the norm. I think that is why he has the following he does, because his clothes aren't boring and plain, they are extravagant and unique. I think people like to stand out in a crowd and Alexander McQueen clothes let you! I have a pair of Alexander McQueen black rimmed cat eye glasses. Funny, when I picked them out at the counter, I didn't know they were his brand. I am not really a label girl, I just like to wear what I like. But when I read the label, I thought, now I know why I like them!!!

So sad to see such an extreme talent leave this world at such a young age. But in his time here he managed to be named British Designer of the Year--- four times, named International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Year Awards, was chief designer of Givenchy, creative director of Gucci Group, had Alexander McQueen boutiques in New York, London, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Milan, collaborated with Puma on a line of trainers for the brand and was the first designer to participate in MAC's promotion of cosmetic releases created by fashion designers.

He was quoted in LOVE magazine saying, "I'm 40 now, but I want this to be a company that lives way beyond me, and I believe that customers are more important to making that happen then press. When I am dead, hopefully this house will still be going. On a spaceship. Hopping up and down above Earth."

I am sure the Alexander McQueen brand will live on and continue to inspire designers and people for many years to come.:) Thank you for that Alexander, may you rest in peace.

Accessorize Your Dress With a Di Manno Designs Wrist Cuff, 20% off Your Order, Valentine's Day Special Coupon

Who says wrist cuffs are only for casual attire?

Taylor Momsen in this picture shows that mixing a little rock n roll wrist cuff with an elegant dress works! It is a way to make your look unique and personalized. It also shows how one accessory can completely change a look. It lets you get a lot of use out of one dress! There are many ways to wear a dress depending on your mood...get creative and put that wrist cuff to use!

As much as I enjoy wearing my wrist cuff with jeans, I also like wearing them with dresses. I like pairing a Di Manno Designs black patent or black crystal covered wrist cuff with a black cocktail dress or even with a black tailored skirt paired with a white blouse. Or if I am wearing a red dress, I will throw on a black patent wrist cuff with it. With white dresses, I usually wear a red leather or red patent leather wrist cuff to add a little color. In the summer, with my colored dresses (purple or green, some of my favorite colors), I bring out a white leather or white brass studded wrist cuff to jazz up the dress.

Valentine's Day is coming up and we are running a Valentine's Day Special! 20% off all Di Manno Designs accessories from now until February 14th. Just type in VDAY SPECIAL as the coupon code at check out on our online store at: http://www.dimannodesigns.com/.

Add a little splash of red to your outfit on that special day!:) Enjoy!

Jennifer Aniston's Black Suit and Pony Look

In this picture Jennifer Aniston is wearing one of her sleek black suits with her hair up in a ponytail. I like the contrast between the tailored and chic black suit and her hair loosely pulled back in a ponytail with a couple of pieces hanging down in front.

To accessorize the pony, you could add a Di Manno Designs black leather or black patent leather ponytail holder with this look.

If you want a little more detail or color in the back you could add a Di Manno Designs black croc , python or red patent leather ponytail holder with this look.

To keep the look sleek, you could use a ponytail holder in narrow size. If you are looking to add a little edge, be bold and go with the standard size!

Being a Private Jet Flight Attendant, Another Source of Inspiration for Di Manno Designs

Ever since I was little, I always had a passion for travelling. And now that I have my own company, Di Manno Designs, I am constantly thinking of ways to improve or to add to it. Recently, I decided with my passion for travelling and the ideas and inspiration it would bring to me, becoming a private jet flight attendant would be ideal for me now. I realized how much I learned and experienced when I travelled in the past and thought that the aviation industry could bring me some great concepts and ideas with trips to new places for new lines and new business for Di Manno Designs. And of course the fact that I love people helped in the decision making process as well, since taking care of the clients on the jet is one of the most important jobs to tend to when flying. The job itself is not hard if you are a people person and good in the service industry, of course as in any industry, there are things to learn when starting out, but if you have a good crew, they will train and teach you. And the rest is up to you and maybe a higher power...and/or destiny...:) My very first few flights, I was trained by Damon Danneker, who is chief pilot at ARI Jets and was kind enough to spend extra time with me teaching me the business. Good for me that he is very patient and thorough! In this picture above, I am with Greg Delp, a pilot with ARI Jets who I just flew a few trips with. He has been in the business many years and is also a flight instructor, so I couldn't have gotten luckier learning the ins and the outs of the business with him on these trips! With Damon and Greg, I feel I am getting some good training! I am looking forward to learning and being inspired by different places and sharing them with you. Stay tuned!

In the photo above, I am wearing a Sabina Les scarf, (Signature Profile Paisley) to accessorize my black suit.