The White Graduation Dress Designer

It is now the HEIGHT of White Graduation Dress Shopping season and there are frantic Mothers and daughters throughout the country desperately seeking the PERFECT white dress that they are required to wear for Graduation.

I am intimately familiar with all of the needs of these shoppers because I  graduated from a private Catholic girls school where we all had to we all had to wear the same white graduation dress.

Georgetown Visitation Class of 2010 in Kathlin Argiro Graduation Dresses

Since I launched my company in 1997 I have designed and made White Graduation Dresses for thousands of girls – including designing a custom dress for each of the graduating classes from my alma mater (Georgetown Visitation) since 1999.

To date, I am the ONLY designer that  has a dedicated White Graduation Dress Collection.

I have sold my White Graduation dresses to countless high end stores throughout the years including Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman. I currently sell them by private appointment at my Design Studio Loft. I also have a program called GRAD ON THE GO  for customers that are not in the New York area.

Kathlin Argiro - White Graduation Dress Designer/Expert working with a Customer

To make an appointment or for more information contact me:   kat@kathlinargiro.com       917 543 177

To view the Collection visit my website:

www.KathlinArgiro.com

Kathlin Argiro 2012 White Graduation Dress Collection

Dress Designer’s Guide to the PERFECT DRESS in 3 easy steps

I. Finding THE DRESS!!!

a. Bring your MOST trusted friends & advisers

Styles: Blythe, Holly, & Ballerina

 b. Choose unique, meaningful locations to shop like

Kathlin Argiro Design Studio

that will provide expert advice and a memorable experience!

 

Fantasy Couture

 c. Be open minded!

The perfect dress for you may look  different  than you expect!

Modern Chic

d. Explore all options and have FUN!

II.  Dressing your Besties!

Styles: Ballerina, Blake, Tiffany

Choose style(s) and Color based on:

a. What YOU love!

b. What will best suit the body types & personalities of your friends.

III. Brides & Bubbly Appointment

Kathlin Argiro Wedding Sheath

 Sip champagne, celebrate with friends,  and enjoy expert style advice at the Kathlin Argiro Studio Loft  in  Dumbo, Brooklyn.

To Schedule a private appointment contact:

Kat@KathlinArgiro or call 917 543 1773

Chic, Fashionable alternative to Priscilla of Boston

I was very sad when I heard that Priscilla of Boston was closing. It is an unfortunate sign of the times in the rough and tumble (totally unforgiving) world of fashion.

While it is sad to see a timeless brand with an incredible legacy disappear in an instant, it is especially sad for brides across the country who have been left to scramble to find new bridesmaid dresses and bridal gowns.

I have an exciting, chic and fashionable option for those brides and maids!

The uber chic BLYTHE dress in ivory lace

The Blythe dress has been a favorite amongst brides looking for the perfect rehearsal dinner dress or for the non traditional Bride who is opting for her ceremony in the courthouse and a party with friends.

The BLAKE, PRESENT, and HILDA dresses.

My collection is unique and gives brides and maids the ability to create a semi custom dress in three simple steps! You can meet with me at my Design studio loft for a one on one personal style consultation with you and your girls. Just give me a buzz @ 917 543 1773 or shoot me an email:  kat@KathlinArgiro.com.

If you are not in the NYC area, I have a program called BRIDES & BUBBLY that makes it super easy to work with me from any where in the country!

The BALLERINA, BLAKE, and TIFFANY dresses.

To see my full collection go to www.KathlinArgiro.com

Dumbo Arts Festival – Art for a Great Cause!

Each year the Dumbo Arts Festival  highlights Brooklyn’s  presence in the arts community by presenting the best in local, national, and international art amid the breathtaking backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

ChromaTweet street art installation of colorful tabs in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Festival attracts 200,000 visitors over 3 days with the participation of over 500 artists from a variety of disciplines and gives art lovers a rare peek inside the Artist’s studios.

My husband, Steve West, is a founder of the Festival. Last year he  sponsored  the Monks of  Dorje Ling Buddhist center  in Dumbo to participate in the Dumbo Arts Festival for the first time to raise money for the Little Lama project.

Little Lama original Artwork

THE LITTLE LAMA PROJECT

The Little Lamas come from a district in the north-west region of Nepal called Mugu, along the Himalayan Mountains and the border of Tibet. It is extremely remote and the poorest, least developed district in Nepal.

This year the Monks will be participating in the Dumbo Arts Festival again. They will be presenting an outdoor exhibition of  Original artwork created by the “Little Lamas“ (young monks) who attend school at the Jonang Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Buddhist Sculpture at the Dorje Ling Buddhist Center in Dumbo, Brooklyn

  MEDITATION AT THE FESTIVAL

The Monks are also offering a very rare opportunity to participate in an introduction to Buddhist Meditation practice led by Meditation Master Khenpo Choejor on Saturday, September 24th at 4:30 pm.

In addition to the artwork of the Little Lamas, the Monks will be offering Himalayan crafts, Tibetan music, and traditional arts demonstrations including the traditional Tibetan Buddhist Art of Torma where  figures are  made of flour and butter and are used as offerings and as an aid to meditation.

    OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THE MONKS

Steve and I got married at the Temple at the Dorje Ling Buddhist Center  in Dumbo in December 2010. Although we are not Buddhist, we have had the privilege of developing a friendship with the Monks by working with them on the Little Lama project for the Dumbo Arts Festival.

Our Wedding at the Dorje Ling Buddhist Center in Dumbo

Come see the outdoor exhibition of the  Original Artwork of the Little Lamas at the corner of Jay and Water Streets in Dumbo.  Framed drawings are $40 and unframed drawings are $15.

100% of proceeds from the sales of these drawings will be used to support the continued education and care of the Little Lamas who would otherwise not have the basic necessities to live a normal life.

Dates and time for the Dumbo Arts Festival

Friday, September 23rd,  6pm to 9pm

Saturday, September 24th,  12pm to 8pm

Sunday, September 25th, 12pm to 6pm

Inspired Creation Celebrating Fashion’s Night Out

                                         Chic Bronze Sequin Dressong

Fashion’s Night Out has inspired me to create an uber chic Dressong (my signature Dress/Sarong combination) that can be worn an infinite number of ways.

Join me at my Pop Up Shop celebrating Fashion’s Night Out in Dumbo where I will be doing LIVE Dressong Demonstrations!

This dress is gorgeous from every angle!

Sheer netting detail

Bronze Sequin dress back detail

Bronze Sequin sheer netting and cowl detail

Branding Wisdom Courtesy of Lady Gaga

This post is from the www.BravoBride.comnewsletter.I am not a big Lady Gaga Fan but I think she (like Madonna) is brilliant at building her personal Brand.Carolyn Higgins, president of Fortune Marketing Company, has condensed Lady Gaga’s branding wisdom in her spot on blog post below. Enjoy! I was never a fan of Lady Gaga. I grew up in the age of Madonna rolling and gyrating all over the stage in her fetish-style costumes and Ozzy Osbourne biting the heads off bats. Lady Gaga and her outrageous outfits and risqué lyrics didn’t faze me. She was just another wannabe exorbitant artist that the general public was eating up and I didn’t pay much attention. That is until I saw her on 60 Minutes; then I realized what a marketing genius she is and gained a new respect. She built a brand (Lady Gaga) from scratch and is now, according to Anderson Cooper, “the most talked about entertainer in the world”. Lady Gaga didn’t get famous by accident. No, she diligently studied “the art of being famous”. This is a woman on a mission – a woman with passion and drive and I gained a whole new respect, if not for the music, but for the business woman and brilliant marketer she is. Here are 6 things all business owners can learn from Lady Gaga: Master the “Art of Fame” – Lady Gaga didn’t become famous by accident.  She knows what it takes to be famous because she invested the time and energy; she studied it. Nothing she does is by accident. She plans every outfit, every song, every interview, every moment of her life. Are you a master of what it takes to become famous in your industry? Do you understand what others in your industry have done to make it big? Can you honestly say you KNOW what it takes to make your business as successful as you want it to be and that you plan each and every action with achievement of that goal in mind? Know your audience and connect– Lady Gaga knows her audience, she has a huge fan base of young and old who feel disconnected and disenfranchised in the world and she speaks to and connects with them in her music, her image and her interviews. She moves them because she understands them so well. Who are your “fans”/customers? What moves them and what do you do to move them? What do you do on every level to connect with them? Be inspirational – People are drawn to positive people, businesses, and outcomes. If you aren’t excited about your business, no one will be. Lady Gaga embraces and uplifts the insecure, outcast, “freak” in us all. Hers is a message of self empowerment and self acceptance- and that has helped her succeed. What is your message to the world? Make it personal – Lady Gaga uses her own experience to connect. She grew up feeling like an outcast; she was different. But instead of using it to isolate herself she turned it into a way to connect to others.  How can you tell your story to connect with your customers and prospects? What need, problem, or niche do you fill that is lacking in peoples’ lives? People connect with people – make it personal! Be outrageous – No one ever got famous or popular by being timid. Lady Gaga made a truckload of money and became a worldwide phenomenon by taking risks and by standing out from the crowd – by being outrageous. What can you do in your own industry to stand out and be outrageous? Don’t be afraid to take risks- don’t follow the crowd. Change it up sometimes – Never be boring! Every time you see Lady Gaga she’s sporting a different look. She’s always outrageous, always edgy and always true to her brand – but she’s always fresh and new and exciting! How can your company and brand keep it fresh and new and exciting so that every time a customer or potential customer comes into contact with you they get a new/fresh look or perspective?  Maybe it’s a new product or service offering. Maybe it’s a new process… find a way to keep it interesting and keep your customers engaged! Carolyn Higgins is president of Fortune Marketing Company

LIVE Fashion Sketching at Fashion’s Night Out Dumbo

My Fashion Sketch of my friend Maggie the Artist

To Celebrate Fashion’s Night Out I will be doing quick fashion sketches of my friends and fans that visit my Pop Up Shop at 68 Jay St Bar (corner of Water St.) in Dumbo.

Me with my friend Maggie the Artist

Here is a quick fashion sketch of a sculptor I met in Brooklyn Bridge Park this morning who was in the process of upholstering a boulder  in preparation for the Dumbo Arts Festival.

My Fashion Sketch of the Sculptor and her upholstered boulder

Here is a picture of the sculptor, Elisabeth Demaray and her upholstered boulder.

Fashion’s Night Out

I am sooo excited to announce that I will be participating in this year’s Fashion’s Night Out celebration!

I am creating a pop-up shop in Dumbo, Brooklyn at 68 Jay Street (Ground Floor) at the corner of Water Street.

These are the exciting activities that I have in store for all my Fashionista friends and fans!

Personal Style Consultation with Designer

Meet designer Kathlin Argiro – a favorite of Stacy London! Kathlin will show you her semi custom dress collection and help you choose the best silhouette for your figure, style, and occasion. There will also be FAB dresses from her Collection available for purchase on the spot!

LIVE Fashion sketching by Kathlin Argiro

Kathlin Argiro will create a custom fashion sketch ON THE SPOT just for you! Each sketch will capture your INNER FASHIONISTA and will a be a unique keepsake from FNO in Dumbo!

Exhibit of original Fashion sketches by Kathlin Argiro

Original fashion sketches by Kathlin Argiro will be on display and available for purchase.

I am officially listed on  the Fashion’s Night Out website under Dumbo, Brooklyn.

I hope to see you all at FNO Dumbo!!

Homage to McQueen

I am writing this blog post with an awe-inspired heavy heart.

I finally saw the Alexander McQueen exhibition this week and it is, in a word, AMAZING. The depth and breadth of his talent is hard to fathom…even from my perspective as an evening wear designer.

The tailored pieces were a testament to his Savile Row pedigree but his mastery of the Fine Art of Fashion is on primeval display in his couture evening wear pieces. I challenge you to find another designer that could create a dress from oyster shells and make it look like an angel that had descended from Heaven.

Mr. McQueen was enamored with the Victorian Era and Romanticism. He even found inspiration in the colors traditionally worn for mourning in that time period as evidence by his superb lilac faille corset with an overlay of jet beaded Chantilly lace.

However my unequivocal favorite was the spectacular gold feather form fitting jacket set a top a confection of gold embroidered tulle that morphed the model into an infinitely chic hybrid of a Greek goddess, golden pheasant and mermaid. Be still by beating fashion heart!

There were countless astonishing pieces in this exhibition but I must draw attention to the Hologram of Kate Moss swirling in three dimensional splendor in the air before our very eyes. In addition, the video that featured Shalom Harlow in a white belted trapeze dress being elegantly (yet quite strangely) spray painted by robots on a swirling platform before the audience. The description sounds like I was hallucinating…but no…it is just McQueen!

I am humbled and saddened that the fashion world has lost such an incredible talent as Alexander McQueen but many believe that genius and madness are close cousins and it seems that (in the case of Mr. McQueen) that juxtaposition became too close for comfort. Perhaps he is better suited for the fantastical world which he was so inspired by.

I have included a few of my sketches from the exhibition as a homage to this great master.

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen

iNYspiration: Tinsel Trading Company

Everyone needs a little inspiration to get through the work week. So I have decided to treat you to a “peek a week” into my designer brain for delicious morsels of inspiration to get you fashion brains brewing!

There was no question that my first inspiration post had to be about TINSEL TRADING. There is not a designer working in NYC (or visiting from around the world) who does not use this store as a treasure trove of inspiration. They not only offer one of a kind vintage finds but also unique, new trims that always spark trends.

Everywhere you look there is another delectable visual treat to tantalize the designer senses!

Wall of silk flowers

This third generation NY Garment District gem is not to be missed and is a notable favorite of such arbiters of taste and style as Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren and Zac Posen in addition to being featured on many TV shows and movies.

A cabinet of curiosities!

A rainbow of ribbons

A basket of mini flamingos - where else could you find this?!

Tinsel Trading Company

1 West 37th Street

New York, NY 10018