I was recently lucky enough to be a participant in an important panel discussion sponsored by Girls, Inc. Along with Dana Buchman, designer; Shelly Lazarus, Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide; Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour; and Dr. Jennifer Wider, a women’s health expert, author, and radio host, I addressed all-too common issues facing young women today.

From the stress to be perfect to the gender stereotypes we still face in school and in the workplace, nothing was off-limits, and the discussion was fast and furious! It made me realize how fortunate I am to be in a space where I can affect change, and I am excited to hear what you have to think about the solutions we offered! Click here to watch the footage and then comment below to make your voice heard!

Full-Figure Fashion Designer

Anna Nicole is a native of Detroit, Michigan but has lived in Los Angeles most of her life. After gaining work experience, primarily in retail, Anna decided to join her mother (producer, Dorez Douglas) in the entertainment industry. She worked on several projects in the Wardrobe Department, including a showcase video for actress/comedian Angelique Bates (formerly of Nickelodeon’s hit show, “All That”). The costume designer noticed Anna’s passion and desire to learn. She told her about Los Angeles Trade Technical College’s distinguished Fashion Design Program. Two years later, Anna had completed the program and received her certificate.

In July 2005, she decided to establish Jahqoi, Inc. Jahqoi now handles both retail and wholesale sales. Currently Anna Nicole is working on a new collection for JahQoi that should be available July 2008. To view our designs visit: www.jahQoi.com

Working as a fashion designer has really made me feel more comfortable in my skin. I am able to appreciate the curves of my body and how they enhance the details of the garment’s design. I am also very proud of my ability to help all of the women out there like myself, who need more appealing options. Clothes can’t make you a star, but they sure can make you shine.

Celebrity & Personal stylist/Author/creator-designer-Rigged Tee Shirt Couture/Tee parties

Barbra Horowitz is not only a celebrity/personal stylist and designer she now adds newly minted author of Closet Control, Producer, and on air personality as the West Coast correspondent for British Vogue online. Barbra is continuously showcasing her fashion expertise and organic wisdom in a growing number of mediums and venues.

Barbra comes by her innate and clever sense of style not as a learned skill but as a way of life. Her father built a business selling high-end menswear at discounted pricing, and her mother is an out-of-the-box, over-the-top talented jewelry designer. Growing up under the precise fit of men’s clothing and the free form expression of jewelry design, this allowed Barbra to hone her clients image into one of perfect proportions while creating a casual elegance that is never on the nose.

As soon as Barbra was old enough to get a part-time job at her favorite boutique, Contempo Casuals, there was no stopping the retailers that would employ Barbra. From Ann Taylor, MGA (now Guess) to eight years on and off with Nordsrtrom. Once Barbra had the art of selling clothing, she switched gears into cosmetics to study the complete makeover. Running counters for cosmetic giants such as: Borghese, Lancome and prescriptives.

After ten years in retail, Barbra leveraged her ability to transform her customers head to toe and reset her sights from selling products to selling people – fashion models to be exact. As a model agent, Barbra effortlessly knew how to develop the young talent that was put before her and managed their photo shoots, from what they would wear to how their hair and makeup was styled. After eight years in San Francisco, she relocated to Los Angeles where her final post was working for the world renowned John Casablancas’ Elite agency in Beverly Hills. Barbra had the opportunity to handle top models-turned-actresses Charlize Theron, Shannon Elizabeth and Bijou Phillips, booking them for catalogue, high fashion editorial and top advertising campaigns with Bebe, Charles David and Guess.

In 2000, Barbra’s entrepreneurial passion spurred her next career move. After years of selling for others, it was time for Barbra to sell herself. She cut a vintage oversized men’s t-shirt down to a sexy top for clubbing, but stopped short of finishing it because she didn’t know how to sew. Wendy Schechter, the costume designer for the 2001 Britney Spears movie Crossroads, showed her how to lace the sides with excess material, and her line of Rigged Tee Shirt Couture was born. With her unique passion and spirit and an “I-don’t-know-how-to-sew/fashion-on-a-dime” mentality, Barbra was off and running to Goodwill to create her arsenal. Ms. Spears was Barbra’s very first customer, and she went on to dress Cameron Diaz, Heather Graham and Sarah Silverman, just to name a few.

While carried at celebrity favorite LA boutiques, such as Fred Segal and Madison, Barbra quickly realized that these one-of-a-kind creations could not be manufactured and created the Rigged Tee Party, where she would custom-cut her tops for party guests before their eyes. Barbra’s clientele included famed interior designer Kelly Wearstler, Keisha and Forrest Whittaker and producer Jennifer Klein. Bat mitzvahs and corporate clients Air Jordan/Nike, Guess/Marciano, Forever 21, Miss Sixty, Skyy Vodka and Vanity Fair soon followed.

In 2004 Barbra finally became a professional stylist working with such celebs, comedian Chelsea Handler, Friday Night Light’s star Matt Czuchry,
Eureka’s Ed Quinn, High School Musical’s Jessica Tuck, The two meanie mom’s on the Adventures of Old Christine TricIa O’Kelley and Alex Horner.

Barbra’s true passion which inspired Closet Control published by Sterling Press is playing the role of “the people’s stylist” Spreading the word that working with a stylist is not just for the red carpet or the rich and famous anymore. Barbra has been invited in to the homes of real people teaching her eco-selfish and eco-nomical approach to buying the clothes that you like and making them work for your life. Barbra is frequently flown around the country to work with clients and has just introduced her Virtual Styling Services. I am very excited says Barbra,
My virtual styling services will allow men and women to work with me from all over the world. With a webcam and laptop the possibilities are endless.

Time to go in the closet…and take a tough-love look at what’s inside!

Wardrobe consultant to the stars, fashion journalist, and style guru Barbra Horowitz is on call for a little clothes therapy. With expert guidance and extremely practical how-tos, Horowitz shows how simple it is to send your fashion-happiness quotient into the stratosphere. She describes her unique fashion philosophy, and introduces her core concept of “eco-selfishness:” working with what you already have to get what you really want by revamping, recycling, and reselling. Throughout, there are easy instructions for restyling clothes along with sidebars packed with streamlining tips and case studies of real-life wardrobe renovations. Plus: the book includes a full-length DVD of a real-life closet therapy sessions with Comedian Chelsea Handler, Styx Frontman Tommy Shaw and lifestyle expert and author Jessica Weiner and much much more.

Barbra lives in Los Angeles with her two pugs Buddha and Sabina and is in the works on her second book.

To learn more about Barbra please visit www.barbrahorowitz.com.

and to learn more about Closet Control please check out amazon.com.