On The Town: The Utmost Group to Speak at The Runway's Fashion 411 Speaker Series

Image from The Runway

The Fashion 411 Speaker Series at The Runway continues this month with insider advice to entrepreneurs and startups from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29. Chris Grindem, Executive Director of The Utmost Group, will share insider advice along with market-tested best practices to the fash-preneurs and anyone looking to learn a little something.

The Utmost Group is a Detroit-based boutique branding, marketing and communications firm focused on serving the greater good with social enterprises. Grindem has over 30-plus years in the advertising and marketing industry, working at many different advertising agencies, including Doner, JWT Detroit and Leo Burnett, but the experience doesn't stop there. He can also add entrepreneur to his resume, as he helped found the Optimization Group as well as The Utmost Group.

Attendees will learn all about branding, marketing, digital media and communications. The Fashion 411 Speaker Series is designed to teach success, so Grindem's successes AND failures will be talked about because, sometimes, the best way to learn is through another person's failure. As the great Henry Ford once said, "The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."

Tickets for the event are $15, and can be purchased on Eventbrite. The Runway is located at 300 S Washington Sq., Suite 100, in Lansing. 

Do It: This Weekend’s Fashion, Beauty and Style Events that Are Not To Be Missed

This weekend is chock-full of fun and fashionable things to do, so if you’re itching to hit the town, these events will keep you busy!

Beauty Breakfast at Saks Fifth Avenue | Thursday, July 23
The Junior League of Birmingham is holding a fun and fashionable Beauty Breakfast from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. At Saks Fifth Avenue. Learn about the latest trends in beauty while enjoying a tasty breakfast and mimosas. Door prizes and special gifts will be on hand for lucky attendees.  Following the breakfast, attendees are welcome to browse the Ralph Lauren Trunk Show. Tickets for the event are $35, and can found on Junior League of Birmingham’s website and all tickets include a $25 gift card to Saks Fifth Avenue.

Saks Fifth Avenue is located at 2901 W Big Beaver Rd., in Troy.

Detroit’s 314th Birthday | Thursday, July 23
Detroit is turning 314, and the Detroit Historical Museum is putting on a celebration for the city. Join the 313 Young Professional Society and DHM from 6 to 10 p.m., and enjoy music, fun, $2 Atwater Brewery beers and some of the best food trucks in Detroit. General admission is $10, and parking is available at Wayne State University's parking structures #1 and #6.

Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Ave., in Detroit.

Detroit's 314th Birthday Celebration | Friday, July 24
The Detroit Experience Factory is celebrating Detroit's birthday all day from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the DXF Welcome Center. Test your knowledge of the city with Detroit trivia, win raffle prizes and play sidewalk games. Free food and beverages from the best Detroit restaurants will be available to fuel attendees, and admission for the event is absolutely free. To RSVP for the event, go to DXF.

Detroit Experience Factory is located at 123 Monroe St., in Detroit

Day on the Town | Saturday, July 25
Birmingham's biggest retail event of the year is happening from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The streets will be closed to traffic and the bargains will be out in downtown Birmingham, “When Upscale Goes on Sale!” Not only will the shopping be plentiful, but also there is a ton of things to do besides shop. Outdoor games, bounce houses, live entertainment, miniature golf and crafts will be happening all day so your kids and significant others will have something to do.

Park Shelton Lobby Sale | Sunday, July 26
Another day, another sale and this time it's from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Midtown Detroit at the Park Shelton. Residents along with the shops at the Park Shelton are putting on a neighborhood sale include household items, furniture, antiques, apparel and much more. Parking is free at the meters on Sunday, and additional parking at the Park Shelton can be validated when you make a purchase at any of the ground floor shops.

The Shops at the Park Shelton is located at 15 E Kirby St., in Detroit.

FashionSpeak 2015: Introducing the FashionSpeakers

Itching for a FashionSpeak fix (it’s about three months away, OMG!)? We’ve got a little preview for you about how some of conference will pan out. If you haven’t been following closely on social media, we’ve already announced three FashionSpeak speakers and we want to tell you all about them.

First up – and not necessarily the first speaker of the day – is Roslyn Karamoko best known for her iconic Detroit line Détroit is the New Black. Roslyn is our buying expert who will be the lead on our “Career Discovery: Buyer” workshop. She’s originally from Seattle, WA., and went to school at Howard University in Washington D.C., graduating with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. After graduation, she moved to New York City, started in the Buyers Training Program at Saks Fifth Avenue and worked her way up into various positions in the buying and planning divisions at the luxury retailer. After putting in her time and getting great experience in the industry, she made a bold move and took her knowledge and expertise abroad working as a retail consultant in Singapore. In about 2013, Roslyn came to Detroit to call it her home, and has been making moves in the city ever since. Not only has she started her line, Détroit is the New Black, she has also opened up a brick-and-mortar store in Midtown.

The second workshop is all about opening a store, something a few of you fash-preneurs may look to do in the future. FashionSpeak’s presenting sponsor, Taubman, is delivering a tag-team of experts to speak on “What Does it Really Take To Open a Store?” This crash course to retail will feature speakers Maria Mainville, Lori McGhee, James Gravante and Emily Taucher who will paint a good picture on what it's like to open a store, and share their knowledge so you can take your business to the next level.

This one is for everyone in the fashion industry, whether you need it now or in the next couple of years. The workshop “Money: How To Get It, What To Do With It, How To Make More Of It” will be given by Kim Banat, Vice President of the Commercial Banking division at FirstMerit Bank. Kim has been with FirstMerit since December 2001, and has experience in various positions within the company, but her primary focus has been in commercial banking and portfolio management. That's what makes her the perfect person to speak about how you can get money for your business, and use it the right way.

Stay tuned for the final two speakers of FashionSpeak, and in the meantime, buy your tickets! Tickets can be found on Eventbrite, and are $40 for the day with lunch included. FashionSpeak 2015 is back at One Woodward in Detroit.

Wear It's At: Dressing for Fash Bash, Part 1

The level of fashion at Fash Bash is over the top in all the best ways possible, and if you're planning on attending but you have nothing to wear, we've got you covered. Over the next few weeks, we'll post different outfits to completely copy or to get a little inspiration. Either way, we have all of the ingredients to help you get red-carpet ready.

1. Tyrah Lace Cutout Two-Piece Dress $448, BCBG, metro Detroit locations.

2. Sorcha Necklace $78, Anthropologie, metro Detroit locations.

3. MICHAEL Michael Kors Elsie Quilted Box Clutch $198, Macy’s, metro Detroit locations.

4. Cole Haan Cryo Sandal $170, Cole Haan, 248.816.6947.

5. Alice + Olivia Alaina V-Neck Sequined Dress $478, Neiman Marcus, 248.643.3300.

6. Clustered Crest Cuff $48, Anthropologie, metro Detroit locations.

7. Steve Madden Semona High Heels Blush Suede $99, Lord and Taylor, metro Detroit locations.

8. Crackled Gold Foil Cluth $118, J. Crew, 248.649.2739.

9.Jonathan Simkhai Crepe Cut Out Jumper $625, Intermix, 248.643.1997.

10. Alexander Wang 'Steffaia' Ankle Strap Pump $475, Nordstrom, metro Detroit locations.

11. Lisa Freede Baguette Earring Cuff $80, Studio Marisa, Birmingham, 248.594.0900.

12. Black & White Clutch $8, Meghan Marion, Royal Oak, 248.268.4781.

Do It: This Weekend’s Fashion, Beauty and Style Events that Are Not To Be Missed

This weekend is chock-full of fun and fashionable things to do, so if you’re itching to hit the town, these events will keep you busy!

Image from Meghan Marion

Celebrate One Year at Meghan Marion | Thursday, July 16

Meghan Marion is celebrating one year of being in business, from 5 to 8 p.m., and everyone is invited. Enjoy light refreshments and live entertainment while browsing the racks of the store. Meghan Marion is offering special gifts with purchases over $75, and purchases over $150.

Meghan Marion is located at 405 S Main St., in Royal Oak.

Pop Up Shop: Thing Thing’s Shop Shop Shopping Reception | Thursday, July 16

From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., stop by MOCAD to browse the beautiful art that Thing Thing, a group of young artist, created for a pop up shop. A curated collection of lighting, objects, furniture and accessories created from innovative recycling practices will be available for purchase. The pop up shop will run until Sunday, August 2.

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is located at 4454 Woodward Ave., in Detroit.

Grand Circus Gala | Thursday, July 16

Enjoy a cocktail event filled with live music, cocktails and appetizers to benefit Grand Circus Park from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $150 for open bar, and $75 for three drink tickets. Purchasing tickets come with some pretty nice perks, too. All attendees who purchase tickets will receive a day pass to the Boll Family YMCA, and $150 ticket purchasers receive a 6-month membership to the Detroit Historical Museum. The money collected from Grand Circus Gala fund improvements and supports programs for the Grand Circus Park located in Detroit.

Grand Circus Park is located at 1600 Woodward Ave., in Detroit.

“Macbeth” Presented by Shakespeare in Detroit | Thursday, July 16 to Sunday July 19

Do you have a love for Shakespeare? If you do, don’t miss out on “Macbeth” presented by Shakespeare in Detroit. It takes place at New Center Park starting at 8 p.m. The production of Macbeth is sponsored by Rebuild Nation, Tom Delaney, and Midtown Detroit Inc. Enjoy this free event, and make sure to bring a blanket and lawn chair.

New Center Park is located at 2998 West Grand Blvd., in Detroit.

10^th Anniversary of Taj Cottage | Friday, July 17

The unique Taj Cottage will be celebrating 10 years of beautiful Indian couture clothing. Stop in from 3 to 9 p.m. and enjoy up to 50% off everything in the boutique. Drinks and light bites will be available to keep you fueled and energized throughout your shopping extravaganza. RSVP at sales@tajcottage.com.

Taj Cottage is located at 25580 Abbey Dr., in Novi.