Women of diversity

“Women are very good at denying themselves luxuries, as well as some necessities, in order to make ends meet,” said Fluhme, entrepreneur CEO of Fluhme, a Direct Selling/Party Plan Cosmetics Company (www.fluhme.com). “The problem is, when a woman cuts out key items of her beauty and wellness regimen — makeup, skin care, her gym membership, etc. – it will definitely have an impact on how she feels about herself. Her self-confidence can plummet and her sense of well-being can be negatively affected. It can affect her job, her friendships and even her relationships. That’s why I think it’s important for women to find ways to replace some of the more costly personal care activities with budget-conscious substitutes.”

Fluhme believes that women who routinely take care of themselves, tend to feel more confident and possess better self-esteem, which will reflect positively at work and at home. Her tips for beauty and wellness on a budget include:

• Skincare – One of the first things that people cut out when the recession hit was spending money on cosmetic procedures like botox injections and high end anti-aging creams. However, you absolutely don’t have to spend a fortune on high-end skin care to see results. There are over-the-counter products available that use very similar and just as effective ingredients as those sold at the dermatologist’s offices and plastic surgeon’s offices. When shopping for cosmetics online or from your local representative, look for products that contain ingredients such as Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, and Matrixyl, and you’ll see great results without the exorbitant cost.

• Makeup – When using a great affordable skin care line, exceeding your budget on your makeup is unnecessary. Radiant skin calls for light foundations and maybe a great powder to complete your look. Try a great tinted moisturizer with an SPF and a mineral pressed powder. And don’t forget, a beautiful shade of lipstick or lip gloss is an instant pick me up for your look and your mood.  There are so many options when it comes to makeup.  I recommend never doing without, but spending top dollar on high end names just isn’t necessary.

• Working Out – When the recession hit, many women eliminated their gym memberships, but you don’t need a gym to stay fit. Pop in a workout DVD, take a jog around the block, or work out at home with a pair of dumbbells and a jumprope. Exercise releases essential endorphins, which contribute to a great sense of well being.

“Confidence will always work in your favor, in every aspect of life,” Fluhme added. “When you let yourself go without the little things that can help boost your look and your mood, the rest of your life suffers in little, but meaningful, ways. Sometimes that little extra boost of energy and confidence can help you get noticed by your supervisors at work, or by that new guy in accounting with the nice smile. Just because you have to cut back on your expenses, it doesn’t mean you have to cut back on your investment in yourself. Getting through the rough economic times isn’t just about the quality of your income, but also about the quality of your life — and you can have both.”

About Tiffany Fluhme

Since childhood, Fluhme Founder and CEO, Tiffany Fluhme, has always had a passion for cosmetics. She knew that her career would ultimately lend her to the beauty industry. Fluhme graduated from college and earned a degree as a licensed  physician assistant, where she quickly advanced to work with renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Simultaneously, she created and sold her own line of cosmetic products called “A Touch of Tiffany.” The growth and consumer demand for her regionally-sold products convinced her to take a leap of faith to expand her brand nationally.

To interview Tiffany Fluhme, request product samples from Fluhme Beauty or for more information about hosting a Fluhme Beauty Event contact Russ Handler at 727-443-7115 ext 206 or russ@newsandexperts.com.

Russ Handler
Print Campaign Manager
News and Experts
1127 Grove Street · Clearwater, Florida 33755
Phone: 727-443-7115 EXT 206
www.newsandexperts.com

Wang made a list for the Associated Press of 20 nuggets of wisdom she’s gained in her career, not only as her own boss but reaching back to her time competitive ice-skating (she was a contender for the 1968 Olympic team), as a Vogue editor, and as a designer at Ralph Lauren.

She’s still on alert for new tricks and strategies _ guess that’s tip No. 21.

1. It’s not just about what you design, it is who you dress.

Wang tackled the red carpet long before she launched her runway collection. She was, however, already making bridal gowns and competition skating costumes, so it wasn’t a huge leap.

“I jumped into celebrity dressing when it was pretty new. There had been a moment of Scaasi with Barbra Streisand and Bob Mackie with Cher, but not in more recent times, so I jumped in with Valentino and Armani, and there was an article in Women’s Wear about how I was dressing Sharon Stone,” Wang says.

Stone’s 1998 Oscar-night combo of a purple skirt by Wang and white button-down shirt was publicity Wang never could have bought. Wang still has a strong awards-show presence, but, she says, it’s tougher now. “Now it’s the fashion Olympics to get people to wear your stuff. … The Oscars are killer.”

2. Timing is everything.

Even though her preference was for sportswear, the opportunity in fashion in the late ’80s-early ’90s was eveningwear and bridal because those were big, expensive show-stopping pieces in the spirit of Christian Lacroix. Now, Wang says, in this era of Theory and Topshop, she’d probably do the reverse and start with contemporary, everyday clothes.

3. Luck helps too: It’s better to be lucky than smart.

Sometimes the big break comes from something out of your control. Wang points to Jason Wu, designer of Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown and many more outfits since then. He’s a young talent worthy of all the hype and praise, but there are other still-undiscovered designers who are, too.

“Smart” comes into play when you recognize the lucky break you’ve been handed and make the most of it, Wang says.

4. Nothing is new in fashion; its about how you reintepret it.

There are only so many ways a garment can be sewn to be functional and flattering, Wang says. The challenge for the designers is to twist it and make it their own.

5. It’s not about the money. It’s about the money _ always.

“We creative people don’t like worrying about it, but to be in business today, you have to face the reality of the business climate,” Wang declares. “I’ve redefined my business model constantly.”

Wang’s current partnerships include more affordable lines at Kohl’s and David’s Bridal. Business deals that make sense _ and maintain integrity _ allow her to let the creative juices continue for her primary collection, which is costly, she says.

6. Relevance is relevant.

Right now, in 2010, women want clothes that move seamlessly within their lifestyle _ and budget. If you can’t mix a collection piece with something from a mass retailer, it’ll rarely see the light of day.

“Women don’t run around in ballgowns, I’m sorry to say.”

7. Everyone deserves true fashion at any price.

No matter how much something costs _ high or low _ it’s an investment on the part of the shopper, and she should be getting something that looks good. Style should be democratic, Wang says.

8. Fragrance is about the most personal thing a person can wear.

“Fragrance makes a statement about who you are,” says Wang. You want to be a girlie girl? There’s a scent for that. Rebel rocker? There’s a scent for that, too. City sophisticate? Check.

“Girls can attain fragrance and incorporate it into their daily lives and not spend a fortune.”

(And the messaging incorporated into fragrance ads really helps define your brand to a larger audience, she adds.)

9. A pair of shoes or boots can create attitude in a second.

You aren’t wearing the same persona in ballet flats as heels, and clunky Uggs create a different aura altogether, says Wang.

10. Fashion is expressive.

Building on the shoe-attitude theory, use accessories to change your outfit depending on your mood, but keep the core pieces classic. Change proportions, wear fine jewelry with T-shirts or a chunky necklace with a gown, she advises. But then keep those pieces and wear them a new way next year.

“Twenty years ago, fashion was all about rules: You wore a pump to a luncheon and a certain Hermes bag. Now it’s about what works for you _ be preppy, downtown or Goth, or be all of those on a given day.”

11. In design, all people have is their own barometer to guide them.

Yes, there are larger cultural trends that designers need to be aware of, but Wang says if she isn’t “feeling” a particular color or silhouette _ no matter how popular _ it won’t work in her collection. If she doesn’t believe in something, how can she convince others to?

12. “I have spent my entire career styling, dressing and designing only for women. Never underestimate the client.”

Wang says she doesn’t give a thought to what men will think of women wearing her clothes. If the woman feels pretty and sexy, she is pretty and sexy. Winning her over is all that matters.

13. Ready-to-wear: always out of my comfort zone.

The runway is Wang’s chance to show off who she is and her aesthetic. (Think artful and dramatic.)

She says: “Designing this is a torturous process. It’s never easy for me, but that’s been good. I always push myself out of my comfort zone. I don’t see a reason to do it if I don’t.”

14. Bridal: conservative, flamboyant _ you never know.

The bridal collection has to have much broader appeal and be targeted toward the client’s tastes, Wang says. Most brides aren’t as influenced by fashion trends as they are the vision of the wedding dress they’ve always dreamed of. She considers herself more of a costume designer in the spirit of Edith Head than a tastemaker when it comes to bridal.

15. It takes courage to put yourself out there.

Reviews can be hard to read, she says, because the reviewers are ignoring the bravery it takes on a designer’s part to churn out collection after collection _ on a strict schedule _ to an often fickle audience. A filmmaker, for example, often can reshoot something or extend a deadline when something isn’t working. A designer doesn’t have that luxury.

16. Dressing athletes is a crazy winning _ and losing _ sport.

Skating was such an important part of her own life that she gets very emotionally wound up with the skaters she has dressed, including Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek, she explains. She wants the clothing to contribute to a performance instead of hamper it, which could happen if things aren’t cut perfectly.

17. You’re not always successful.

“I had to learn to dust myself off and try again. That’s my real story. I went to Vogue and I was not getting the big jobs and then I went to Ralph Lauren. I didn’t feel like there was much more I could do at the time there _ and I think that’s given me the opportunity to struggle. You have to struggle to appreciate the successes in your life. It’s not real otherwise.”

18. You are only as good as your team.

No one can do it all, Wang says, herself included. Fashion is not unlike a team sport, where there are a handful of people who get the glory, but it took many to get them where they are.

19. Keep fighting. Don’t sit on your laurels.

If you hang back, even just one season or one awards show, someone else is waiting to take your place, she says.

20. Everyone’s journey/route is different.

Wang says she tries hard not to compare herself to other designers, businesswomen, wives or mothers. Everyone makes choices based on their own situation and no one else will ever fully understand those decisions, she says, they can only second guess them.

“I’ve tried to create a life for me that is complete. The truth is, everyone’s route is different. It doesn’t mean one is better than the other, they’re just different”

Groups of Mexican men trying to outrun border patrol agents and make it to the U.S. are common images offered by the media when news coverage turns to immigration.

The reality is different — and getting more so all the time.

Mexicans are not the only people who migrate to America. People from almost every country in the world migrate either legally or illegally on a daily basis. They come from North America, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia.

And here’s a factor that the media often neglect to mention: The changing world economy, wars, famines, and other societal problems have created a new immigrant majority — women.

Word of the change came during a recent roundtable discussion hosted by San Francisco-based New America Media, the parent organization of Labeez.org, at the Feminist Majority Foundation/Ms. Magazine headquarters in Beverly Hills.

Participating in the discussions were Kathy Spillar, Executive Vice President of Ms. Magazine and FMF, who served as moderator; Angelica Salas of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA); Eun Sook Lee, Executive Director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium; Sara Sadhwani, Immigrant Rights Project Director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center; Adriana Tome, also of CHIRLA; and Sheila Salinas, student and CHIRLA member.

The group discussed newly released data from the U.S. Census showing that the number of women immigrating to the U.S. has doubled since 1990. The trend led to a sea-change in 2007, when the majority of these immigrants to the U.S. were women for the first time.

Sergio Bendixen, President of Bendixen & Associates was contracted by New America Media to conduct a poll of 1,100 immigrant women in 10 different languages, as well as several different ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic levels.

Bendixen concluded that “The study clearly indicates that women immigrants in the United States have not only become important contributors to the economic and social condition of their families in the United States, but that they also have become catalysts in their assimilation to the American culture and in the decision-making process about U.S. Citizenship.”

The poll showed that people from different countries migrate for different reasons, including repressive governments, poor living conditions, unemployment, and a desire for education. These immigrants often become productive members of American society.

Bendixen said the poll indicated that women new to America initially earned approximately $500 per month, on average. Earnings rise to approximately $1,500 per month after five years in the U.S., he said.

Those women who had been in the U.S. for 20 years or more supported the belief that many women who migrate to the U.S., along with their families, do become an integral part of American society.

Adriana Tome offers an example. An immigrant from Honduras, she migrated to the U.S. after her husband died. Leaving her children behind, she worked in agriculture and a variety of low-paying jobs to send money to her children. Being apart from her children was too much so she went back Honduras only to have to eventually return to the U.S. in order to be able to provide for her children.

Tome says that since returning to the U.S. she has taken English-language classes and has made a point of integrating into American society. She stressed the importance of learning English and finding organizations to assist new immigrants.

Another common myth is that new immigrants are uneducated, have no desire to learn English, and are only in the U.S. to make money so that they can send home to their families. While this may be true in some cases, the reality is that many immigrants who come to the United States are educated. Many hold advanced degrees and have held professional jobs in their countries.

Upon arriving in the U.S., these educated immigrants must often take low paying jobs in factories, agriculture, or working at childcare or housekeeping. They often must re-enroll in school to obtain a U.S. recognized degree in respective professions. This has helped push a trend of immigrant women taking on new responsibilities such as breadwinner for extended periods of time.

Unfortunately, these new responsibilities come with new problems. One being seen too often is domestic violence, with incidents sometimes occurring in households where women must assume the roles husbands played in their home countries,

Along with challenges such as economic concerns, overcoming language barriers, and obtaining healthcare, immigrant women must often overcome the communication hurdles at their children’s schools. The Nation Korean American Service & Education Consortium’s Lee told the recent roundtable that schools often send information home to parents in English or Spanish, but not in any other languages such as Korean.

Lee said that she is often asked to translate for teachers at parent conferences.

“I feel it’s an intrusion,” Lee says. “It’s not fair to the parents. I get to know more about their child’s grades and behavior than I have any business knowing. Some things I shouldn’t have to know and parents don’t want everybody knowing it. Often because I am translating, the teachers feel they can say anything to me about someone else’s child.”

Lee’s said that the situation is common because many schools do not provide sufficient translators during parent conferences. That leaves school officials to count on children or other parents, to translate.

Despite the many obstacles, there are resources for new immigrants, and panel members urged women to join community organizations and share knowledge of navigating the system.

Aba Ngissah is a writer for Carib Press