After indictment, Roger Stone offers tips on how to dress for your day in court - USA TODAY

Christal Hayes USA TODAY

Published 5:23 PM EST Jan 31, 2019

WASHINGTON – If you're in danger of being indicted but aren't sure what to wear, don't fear. Roger Stone is here with all the fashion advice one might need for a day in court. 

"You have to think long and hard about what you're going to wear for your arraignment in U.S. district court," Stone said in a video with the conservative news outlet the Daily Caller. 

Stone was indicted last week on charges that included obstruction, witness tampering and lying to investigators about efforts by top Trump campaign aides to learn about emails the Russian government had stolen from political rivals. 

But ever since he appeared made his first appearance in a blue Ralph Lauren polo and jeans, Stone has made the rounds on cable TV, discussing the case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller and what is next for the longtime Trump adviser. 

On Thursday, Stone took on a different issue: fashion. 

The Republican consultant is well known for his lavish and sometimes slightly bizarre fashion choices, which include top hats and very round tinted glasses. 

In a 3 minute video with the Daily Caller, he offered advice for how to dress for your day in court and avoid fashion faux pas. 

"I'm Roger Stone and as you know, I've always believed that the clothes make the man," Stone says. 

He offers tips, such as not dressing "above the voters" in hopes of not appearing too wealthy, never buttoning the top button on a suit and made clear that "neckwear is crucial." 

"And of course, going out without a pocket square would be like going out completely naked," Stone argued. "You have to have a pocket square."

He didn't stop with just outward appearances, though. Stone even offered some advice on undergarments.

"Of course, I am wearing underwear. I was not going commando today," he said, adding his undergarments were "boxers, not briefs" and made in France. 

Stone claimed all of his attire, including his custom-made suit and French underwear were 20 to 30 years old when he could afford such lavish items. He claims now to be "dirt poor" because of his legal fight and a lack of business due to the Russian investigation. 

Also on Thursday, prosecutors revealed more about evidence they have compiled on Stone from searches of his home, apartment and office. Prosecutors said they had seized hard drives, Apple iCloud accounts, email accounts, financial records and the contents of his cell phones and computers. 

Prosecutors said they have access to communications that date back several years. 

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Fashion Entrepreneurs Must Display These 3 Traits To Attract Investors - Forbes

Entrepreneurs in AFF's programs get hands-on support as well as financial assistance.Roberta Annan

Yves St Laurent studied under Dior. Donna Karen worked for Anne Klein. Tom Ford was a design assistant to Cathy Hardwick. Starting a career as a fashion entrepreneur, or in any of the creative industries, does not follow the typical entrepreneur’s journey. In fashion, the apprenticeship model reigns supreme.

Roberta Annan started the African Fashion Fund (AFF) in part to make it possible for African designers to have access to global apprenticeships. “I believe in apprenticeship. It’s so important. If you look at all the major fashion brands in this world, they worked under somebody before they became big. I wanted to find a way to promote that,” she said. Through their fellowship program, AFF has helped placed African designers in apprenticeships in New York with designers such as Bibhu Mohapatra and EDUN of LVMH. AFF covers all of the associated costs.

Annan’s work on the fellowship program taught her that “visibility is not enough. There are still serious challenges that these businesses face.” The AFF began to complement their fellowship with access to markets. They placed brands in showrooms. Through that, they realized that once the orders were made, designers faced problems in production and manufacturing. It became clear that you needed to control the value chain from an idea to the ethical sourcing of materials to production to retail in order to make a profitable fashion brand in Africa. And of course, to produce a line, you need money. So, AFF started doing angel investments.

Last November, the AFF increased their capability to finance creative businesses in Africa. Through a partnership with the Ethical Fashion Initiative under the United Nations International Trade Center, they launched a 100M Euro fund, the Impact Fund for African Creatives. Their mandate is to invest in creative businesses continent-wide, but they will have a “strong focus on West Africa” where there has historically been less capital available. The Impact Fund for African Creatives will start by developing an accelerator to build a pipeline of viable fashion businesses. At the end of the accelerator, which will focus on all aspects of the fashion business, the designers will showcase their brands at a major international fashion week.

If you are an African designer reading this, I am sure that you are asking yourself, “How can I get into this program and inject some of this capital into my business?” Luckily, Annan shared the three things she looks for when she is evaluating a creative business for investment.

Roberta Annan poses with Huma Abedin and Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of VogueCourtesy of Roberta Annan

If you are at the idea stage, she’s looking for originality, commitment, and adaptability.

Originality.

When Annan meets a creative, the first thing she is looking for is originality because it means that “the creativity has to come from within.” She can immediately tell if a design delivers a unique perspective or is simply a copy by the passion in the entrepreneur’s eyes and voice. “When somebody has a long-term vision for an idea, that is convincing to me as an investor. This is someone who is not just going to give up this idea. They have to stick with what they believe in,” she shared.

Commitment.

Second, and tightly related to originality, is commitment. Annan understands that there are challenges when starting a business in the African context. She had her own challenges when trying to get the African Fashion Fund off the ground. Despite this, she must be convinced that the entrepreneur will not lose sight of their dream. “People invest in people. They invest in their passions. I invest in you because I know you are going to stick with it regardless of the challenges,” she said. When she meets an entrepreneur, she looks for “the fire in the belly. Something from within that makes you want to survive.” The people who survive as entrepreneurs are those who never give up.

Adaptability.

The third attribute she looks for is adaptability or malleability. Annan believes that you have to “drive your own passion, but if you are not willing to adapt your model to what an investor or a business advisor may want then it is difficult to work with that person.” There is a big difference between someone who wants to simply make art and one who seeks investment so that they can commercialize it. One of the biggest areas of disagreement is on the value of the business. According to Annan, “designers value their company based on how much people like them or how much exposure they have in the media” while investors will do a valuation from the business’s financial statements.

If you are past the idea stage and actually are running your creative business, “it becomes a numbers game.” At this stage, Annan is also asking herself, “How quickly can they adapt this to other markets?” While she wants her designers to contribute to an increase in intra-African trade, she is also looking for designers who can acclimatize to markets in London or Milan.

The second question she is asking is, “Are they ready for scale?” Being ready for scale means that they already have a strong team running the business with solid production and manufacturing processes. She is looking for businesses who are “ready to run with the investment.”

Finally, commitment remains critical although at this stage it’s taken on a new flavor. It’s no longer just about sticking through the tough times, but also a commitment to the bigger vision.

Annan’s vision for The Impact Fund for African Creatives is big. The Fund’s goal is to return 250M Euro from their 100M Euro in investment. Annan tells entrepreneurs who are thinking about seeking investment from her fund to ask themselves, “Are you willing to go with me on that journey? Because it’s going to be a tough journey.” If they do make it through, then not only will they be generating wealth and elevating the work of African designers on the global stage, but also will be the designers who will give the next generation of African designers their start.

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Plus-Size Fashion is Here to Stay - Quartz

Thin, white, young, stereotypically “feminine” or “masculine”—those are some of the characteristics that traditionally defined who the fashion industry prioritized.

That’s starting to change. Fashion is under mounting pressure to cater to all customers, as tech-empowered shoppers wield more influence over brands and new upstart labels, willing to serve the shoppers established brands have ignored, are rewarded. This isn’t a passing phase: By 2025, management-consulting firm Bain & Company predicts luxury shoppers will consider a brand’s values, such as inclusivity and diversity, just as much as the quality of the products it sells when deciding how to spend their money.

One area in fashion seeing major strides on this front is size inclusivity. Plunkett Research, a market-research firm, recently estimated that 68% of women in the US are now a size 14 or greater. But historically brands have treated anything above a size 14 as a whole separate category, so-called plus sizes. Many brands didn’t even bother making clothes in these sizes, and when they did, the designs were bland and the fit often terrible. They left a giant gap in the market that trend-conscious, fit-focused labels such as Eloquii and Universal Standard are now filling, with quite a bit of financial success.

Runways have similarly tended to a very narrow range of body types—literally. That’s shifted as well, in part thanks to brands such as Chromat, a New York label that has made a name for itself with its diverse casts and energetic shows.

Exclusivity is going to continue to be a big part of fashion, in the sense that limited quantities and high prices will still be important ways for brands to keep their cachet. But brands are also beginning to recognize that it doesn’t apply to customers any longer. On that front, inclusivity is the future.

Quartz News is a weekly video series bringing you in-depth reporting from around the world. Each episode investigates one story, breaking down the often unseen economic and technological forces shaping our future.

Click here for previous stories.

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The biggest Valentine's Day fashion trends, according to an expert - AOL

While we have a few ideas for what we want to wear come Valentine's Day, we are always eager to hear from an expert on which trends we should try -- and which to avoid.

We caught up with celebrity fashion designer Katherine Polk, who has dressed all of our favorite celebs, including Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez, to pick her brain on V-Day trends and tips. And as the founder & creative director at KRP Creative, we knew she wouldn't lead us astray. Check out all of her advice below!

The top do's and don’ts of Valentine’s Day dressing 

"1.Be yourself. 2. Be comfortable. 3. Wear lingerie that fits. 4. Stay true to your style. 5. Don't try too hard. 6. Don't wear something too tight. 7. Don't dress for him or her. 8. Long and fitted or short and loose is my rule to live by when shopping and dressing!"

Hottest Valentine's style trends this year

"Delicate Chantilly lace tops and bias silk dresses [will be on trend this year]. Chantilly lace is great for layering and super sexy. You can show skin, but make sure to pair it with something less revealing like a gorgeous pair of silk pants. Find a beautiful bra to wear underneath that's meant to be seen and you’ll look stunning. For those who are looking for a slinky dress, the bias cut silk option is the way to go. For those of you who like to show some leg, I love a long sleeve dress with a high slit."

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How to perfect classy, sultry and mystery all in one outfit

"I always live by the rule that you should keep your dress long and fitted or short and loose, but rarely short and tight. The key to classy is the long and fitted option. I suggest a beautiful silk mid-length dress or a lace midi paired with a silk trench for the ultimate mysterious, classy and sexy look."

"Another option for those ladies who love a shorter dress would be a beautiful silk draped wrap dress paired with some thigh-high suede boots. The key is to have the dress layer over your thigh high boots. Accessories can also make a huge difference to an outfit. To add a bit of class to your ensemble, natural diamonds are always a go-to accessory. Think simple diamond earrings or a classic diamond tennis bracelet."

Top trends for accessories this Valentine’s

"Hoops are the go-to accessory. A larger 2” hoop can be a little naughty and a smaller 3/4”  hoop can read a bit classier. Either way, you should always have a set of hoops in various sizes for each mood! I love styling these with delicate gold and diamond stacked rings. The stacking ring is a must-have in every woman's jewelry box this season. They are so versatile and easy to style with any outfit -- both day and night.

Natural diamonds are always on trend and can put the finishing touch on any outfit. They're a lasting symbol of romance and elegance, making them perfect for Valentine's Day. You can't go wrong with diamond studs.  Studs are a look that never go out of style and can look sexy and sophisticated no matter what you're wearing, whether it be a cocktail dress or a pair of jeans and a t-shirt."

Shop our favorite jewelry pieces for V-Day below!

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More from Aol.com:
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Stuart Weitzman is launching a capsule collection inspired by the Lunar New Year

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Kyrsten Sinema Is Not Just a Funky Dresser. She’s a Fashion Revolutionary. - Slate

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema participates in a mock swearing-in ceremony with Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C.

Zach Gibson/Getty Images

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In July 2017, Democratic women in Congress organized a protest against the enforcement of an “appropriate attire” dress code that was being used to keep reporters in sleeveless outfits out of certain parts of the Capitol building. Two dozen representatives wore shirts and dresses that showed their arms one sunny Friday, beseeching then-Speaker Paul Ryan to modernize the rules.

Kyrsten Sinema, at the time an Arizona congresswoman, didn’t pose for the cutesy photo op the Dems staged on the Capitol steps. Nor did she tweet about her “right to bare arms,” as many of her colleagues did. But few legislators stood to benefit from the loosened rules as much as she did. In her three terms in the House, Sinema became known for a signature style: bold colors, graphic patterns, glittery hoop earrings, and lots of flouncy sleeveless dresses befitting the climate of her home state. With a few notable exceptions (see: eccentric “hipster” Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut), women in Congress usually favor more conservative ensembles: solid neutrals, structured sheath dresses, and shapeless trousers. The evident joy Sinema took in dressing outside the Washington norm was a welcome departure from the dutiful businesswear that currently populates the Capitol. It was also appropriate for the image of a post-partisan, aisle-crossing “social butterfly” she strove to present.

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Over the past year or so, ever since Sinema launched her successful bid to represent Arizona in the Senate, her look has gotten even more conspicuously glamorous. She’s traded chunky, narrow spectacles for oversize butterfly frames. Her heels have gotten higher, her patterns more eye-catching, her textiles less customary for the Capitol. When Sinema meets with constituents and interest groups from Arizona, she is quite often the flashiest dresser in the room.

We're working with @azfb to lower health care costs and protect Arizona farmers from harmful, job-killing tariffs. pic.twitter.com/NdlascZRca

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) September 8, 2018

ICYMI: We heard from Tempe residents and @TempePolice on what they need to keep our communities safe. We're working to strengthen community policing programs, provide more mental health resources for officers, and combat the opioid epidemic. Learn more: https://t.co/xBYOfZez5H pic.twitter.com/qL7s0Zuzqq

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) October 11, 2018

We brought together student vets and administrators from across the state to work on veteran initiatives and ensure every #AZvet gets a great education. Thanks to all who joined us at #BootstoBooks. pic.twitter.com/U5XEWn39zT

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) October 26, 2018

The senator got a flurry of attention for her new look in early January, when she was sworn in by Mike Pence in her most flamboyant getup yet: bejeweled white stilettos, a thin-strapped tank top with gigantic pearls around the neckline, a form-fitting skirt printed with a photorealistic pink rose the size of a throw pillow, and a smattering of gems and jeweled brooches. The outfit, and the swagger she displayed while wearing it, landed her with a full-page photo on the front cover of the New York Times’ feature on the women of the 116^th Congress. When the general public got wind of Sinema’s over-the-top accessories—a gray fur stole for indoors, a glittery polka-dotted tote and retro pink jacket with a fur collar for outdoors—she became the subject of breathless praise, an icon of femininity in a Congress with more female legislators than ever before.

The response to Sinema’s showy new wardrobe has been colored by her bisexuality. Read any thread of tweets extolling her furry cover-ups or kitschy prints, and you’re bound to find references to the year “20biteen”—the natural successor to “20gayteen”—and salutes to Sinema’s recognizably queer style. Her pink coat with jeweled buttons prompted one bisexual Slate colleague to wonder about “the overlap between bisexuality and vintage clothing.” “I know it exists,” she said. “I’ve spent too much money on ModCloth to believe otherwise.”

There is a long history of femme queer women adopting the high-octane girlishness of past eras, particularly in the pin-up mode of the ’40s and ’50s, as a way of reclaiming power in femininity and standing out from the mainstream straight-lady styles of the day. With her old polka-dot dresses, her current turn toward the glam, and her undying commitment to statement glasses, Sinema places herself in the context of generations of bi women seeking queer visibility.

Visibility is a given when you’re wearing the shoes Sinema has sported at work in recent months. In a span of about eight weeks, Sinema was photographed wearing at least four different pairs of boots that would elicit side-eyes in most run-of-the-mill office buildings, to say nothing of the Capitol. One was a knee-high pair with laces and towering heels, and three (three!) were over-the-knee styles, including one taupe suede pair Sinema wore with a minidress to give an address about the government shutdown on the Senate floor.

Arizona’s future depends on finding smart solutions on water. We’re working with @usbr Commissioner Brenda Burman to advance the drought deal and stand up for #AZ priorities. We will always fight to ensure Arizonans have the clean reliable water we need. pic.twitter.com/6MxbhtBAHo

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) January 16, 2019

I look forward to working with @SecWilkie to ensure #AZ's veterans get the care and benefits they've earned. We will hold him and @DeptVetAffairs accountable if they fall short. pic.twitter.com/I3gxVdnQRK

— Kyrsten Sinema (@SenatorSinema) January 15, 2019

Productive meeting with Senator-Elect @KyrstenSinema today. Lots of issues where we can work together on behalf of #Arizona, including securing our water future. pic.twitter.com/f1s7r9U7NQ

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) November 20, 2018

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema walks near the Senate Chamber on Jan. 24. Not pictured: above-the-knee boots.

Zach Gibson/Getty Images

The response to Sinema’s boots has been predictable: In addition to adulation from queers and fellow flashy dressers, there have been lots of gross sexual comments from men and lots of scoldy exhortations to grow up and act a lady from people who probably enforce a fingertip test on hemlines in their own homes. But you know what? Those people now know the name of an Arizona senator who’s been steadily revising her politics to better serve a rising profile in a pretty conservative state and, depending on how lofty a secular bisexual’s political ambitions can be these days, the entire country. Any legislator can write a nice bill or make a nice speech. It takes a real visionary leader to move the Overton window on Senate-appropriate footwear.

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Six UK fashion retailers fail to cotton on to sustainability - The Guardian

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Six UK fashion retailers fail to cotton on to sustainability  The Guardian

Audit committee singles out firms who take no action to reduce impact on environment.

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/jan/31/six-uk-fashion-retailers-fail-to-cotton-on-to-sustainability-environment

MPs say fast fashion brands inaction on ethics is shocking - BBC News

Fashion retailers JD Sports, Sports Direct and Boohoo, are "failing to commit" to reducing their environmental and social impact, MPs say.

Amazon, TK Maxx and Missguided were also described by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) as being among the "least engaged" in sustainable fashion and labour market initiatives.

The EAC said it was "shocking" the firms were "failing to take action".

Boohoo said the report did not reflect its commitment to sustainability.

The findings are part of the EAC's inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry.

The inquiry was prompted by the popularity of "fast fashion... cheap clothing, with quick turnover that encourages repurchasing".

Disposable fashion has come under fire, not only for the amount that ends up in landfill, but also because it can release toxic chemicals in production and plastic fibres when it is washed.

Last summer the committee wrote to 16 fashion retailers asking what they were doing to cut the environmental and social impact of the clothes and shoes they sell.

Specific questions included what the brands were doing about using organic or sustainable cotton; limiting the discharge of hazardous chemicals and the re-use or recycling of unsold stock.

The interim report ranks brands according to how "engaged" they are in their commitment to sustainable fashion and labour market initiatives.

The "most engaged" were named as Asos, Marks & Spencer Tesco, Primark and Burberry.

All of them use organic or sustainable cotton and old materials and encourage customers to return old clothing.

The "moderately engaged" retailers were Next, Debenhams, Arcadia Group and Asda.

The EAC said each of them had taken "some steps" to address environmental sustainability issues.

All of them except Next run a return scheme for discarded clothes and all of them except Asda use organic cotton in some clothes.

Kurt Geiger was also approached but did not respond to requests for written evidence, the EAC said.

'Re-iterate commitment'

The retailers were also asked if they were members of the ACT (Action, Collaboration, Transformation) labour rights and living wage agreement and the SCAP (Sustainable Clothing Action Plan) to reduce their carbon, water and waste footprint.

With the exception of Burberry all the other "moderately engaged" and "most engaged" retailers participated in one or other or both of these schemes.

Of the six "least engaged" retailers none was a member of either of these initiatives,

In a statement, Boohoo said it wanted to "re-iterate its commitment to being involved in the ongoing discussion on the sustainability of fashion.

"This initial report does not fully reflect the policies and procedures and independent initiatives that we have in place, or the extent of our ongoing commitment in the area of sustainability."

JD Sports said "As a business, we participate in a number of ethical initiatives which fall outside the narrow list referred to in the Committee's report."

It added that most of the group's sales came from third party brands, including "two [Nike and Adidas] internationally recognised as industry leaders with regards to driving sustainability".

"Private label sales make up the rest of the Group's sales and there is an ongoing project to review options on improving the sustainability of our manufactured garments," it added.

Amazon declined to comment.

'Customers can choose'

EAC chair Mary Creagh said: "It's shocking to see that a group of major retailers are failing to take action to promote environmental sustainability and protect their workers.

"By publishing this information, customers can choose whether they want to spend money with a company that is doing little to protect the environment or promote proper wages for garment workers.

"We hope this motivates underperforming retailers to start taking responsibility for their workers and their environmental impact."

The committee concluded that the UK fashion industry's current business model was "clearly unsustainable, especially with a growing middle-class population and rising levels of consumption across the globe".

How did the fashion brands do?

"Least engaged": JD Sports, Sports Direct, Boohoo, Amazon, TK Maxx, Missguided

"Moderately engaged": Next, Debenhams, Arcadia Group, Asda.

"Most engaged": Asos, Marks & Spencer Tesco, Primark and Burberry.

Kurt Geiger did not respond to the EAC's requests

The committee said it intended to publish its final report in the coming weeks in which it will outline recommendations for government policies to "encourage a more transparent, fair and sustainable fashion system".

Francois Souchet of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation said the committee was right that the "fashion industry's current business model cannot work in the long term".

He said worldwide one truckload of clothing was landfilled or incinerated every second, while less than 1% of old clothing goes on to be used to make new clothes.

"We need a redesign for the fashion industry, so business models increase clothing's use, clothing is made from safe and renewable materials and old clothing is used to make new clothes."

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N.Y. fashion week reaches beyond runways toward diversity - KFGO News

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 11:25 a.m. CST

By Alicia Powell Chris Michaud

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fresh on the heels of Paris's glittery fashion week, all eyes are trained on New York where designers are gearing up to present their latest looks for fall and winter 2019, starting next week.

Formally known as New York Fashion Week: The Shows, the series of presentations, runway productions, parties and other promotional events kicks off on Feb. 7, preceded by three days of menswear collections.

Fashion icon Tom Ford will unite the sexes with a Feb. 6 show featuring looks for both men and women.

"Fashion week is a celebration of fashion's role in our culture," said Leslie Russo, vice president of IMG fashion events, which puts on the shows.

"We all wear clothes," Russo observed. "I think you would really see over the last few years how fashion week has changed the conversation around things like diversity in casting.

"On the runway," she explained, "size diversity in terms of designers now featuring models that are, you know, beyond a size zero."

In a similar vein, a slate of globally oriented shows will span regions from Indonesia to Hong Kong and Azerbaijan to London, including Indonesian Diversity, featuring modern looks from Jakarta including hijabs.

Five designers, among them Norma Kamali and Mara Hoffman, are celebrating "conscious fashion" at Fashion For Peace.

"Fashion is a universal language that has the power and potential to create inclusiveness in human beings around the world," said Fashion for Peace's Sadhguru, the famed yoga guru.

Sustainable business practices such as fair wages and an ethical work environment are also being touted, with Roopa Pemmaraju's use of natural fibers and the recycled materials of Tribe & Glory.

Other anticipated shows include a return by popular designers Rebecca Minkoff and Elie Tahari, and emerging designer LaQuan Smith. Notably absent names include Victoria Beckham and Escada.

In recent years the Big Apple's fashion week has also programmed fashion-themed events away from the runways.

"The idea (is) that consumers can have a bigger participation in the fashion week events and really engage in fashion beyond just the clothes," Russo said.

"The conversations and cultural conversations that fashion ignites is something that we felt like the timing was right for," she said.

Talks on fashion as an agent of social change, female disruptors and a talk with journalist Noor Tagouri are among off-runway highlights, along with a documentary on legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.

Organizers said the bi-annual event brings more money to the city than the New York marathon, the U.S. Open or even the Super Bowl.

NYFW: The Shows officially opens with a tribute to Oscar-nominated costume designer Ruth Carter and a curated installation of her work.

(Editing by Leslie Adler)

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Minnesota fashion upstart wins Poshmark contest, lands coveted spot in Macy's pop-up - Star Tribune

For her entire adult life, Allyson Sensenbaugh has loved going shopping for cute clothes.

Yet when she examined her purchases more closely, she usually found details she would have changed. “I kept a sketchbook,” Sensenbaugh said. “I would draw how I would have done things differently or what I would have added.”

In 2016, Sensenbaugh finally took her decades of drawings and turned them into real-world clothes she wanted to wear — clothes she hoped other women would want to wear, too. With no formal design training, and only a beginner’s understanding of the fashion industry, she launched AliMadi Fashion from her home in Prior Lake.

“My dream job has always been to design clothes,” said the 45-year-old entrepreneur.

More than two years later, Sensenbaugh’s company is making a name for itself. AliMadi clothes are available direct-to-consumer through AliMadi.com and, through Saturday, at a pop-up shop at Macy’s in Los Angeles. Sensenbaugh landed the coveted spot after winning a design contest through Poshmark, one of the world’s largest online marketplaces specifically geared to buying and selling fashion.

At the Los Angeles pop-up, Sensenbaugh’s designs are displayed next to big retail names — Cindy Crawford, Bose speakers — marking a new level of success for the Minnesota upstart.

‘I was supposed to aim higher’

The shift toward a fashion career started with Sensenbaugh’s 40th birthday. At the time, designing and selling her own clothes weren’t top of mind. Sensenbaugh only knew she wanted new opportunities and experiences out of life. She started casting about for ideas, for what came next. “I looked at a lot of opportunities and did a lot of research for six to nine months,” said the Bismarck, N.D., native.

Nothing struck her right away. “When you put something out in the world, it will start speaking to you,” Sensenbaugh said via phone last week. “But nothing was speaking to me and I couldn’t figure it out.”

Then it hit her: She wasn’t destined for any of the practical paths she kept exploring. “I was supposed to aim higher.”

Even though designing clothes was a lifelong passion, Sensenbaugh never imagined it could be a plausible real-life venture. That is, until she went flipping through one of the style magazines that teetered in a pile on her nightstand. She came across a how-to article on starting your own clothing line. “I ripped the story out of the magazine, hung it in the closet, walked by it every day for a month, and always thought, ‘Could I do this?’ ” she recalled.

One day she walked by and something shifted. “Can I do this?” became “I’m going to do this!”

California dreaming

The article explained how to dive into the fashion industry, Sensenbaugh said. The first step? Start sketching. Sensenbaugh had already mastered that part, thanks to all those redesigns of her various purchases.

Step 2 was “go to school for fashion design.” That one was less of a slam dunk.

A marketing major in college, Sensenbaugh was a mother of two with a full-time job. Going back to design school simply wasn’t realistic. So she turned to Google and YouTube to learn everything she could. “I’m completely self-taught,” she said.

Sensenbaugh took a big step in 2016 by hiring a Chicago-based company that serves as a liaison for upstarts like hers. They introduced her to the fashion world, helping her make connections with patternmakers, seamstresses and American manufacturers. “That helped me get off the ground,” she said.

As Sensenbaugh launched her initial line later that year, she saw herself heading down the wholesale route. “I wanted to sell to boutiques and stores,” she said.

But after attending a trade show in St. Paul, she realized she didn’t love the wholesale business model. “I wanted to have more control over pricing,” she said. “Plus, I love getting in front of my customers and learning what they are looking for.”

So she poured her energy into e-commerce, selling directly to fashion lovers via her website. Today, a visit to AliMadi.com brings timeless styles with creative flourishes — some fun floral prints, bows, the occasional well-placed stripe.

The most recent AliMadi collection was launched just before Thanksgiving 2018. A few days later, Sensenbaugh noticed an announcement about the Poshmark contest, with a chance for designers to land their designs in its Macy’s pop-ups. Contestants needed a minimum of 15 styles and five pieces available in each style. Thanks to her new collection, Sensenbaugh had just enough to enter.

Normally, designers must pay to place products with Macy’s, but contest winners got the placement for free. And that’s how AliMadi, a Minnesota label with a sunny vibe, made its way to Los Angeles. As she spoke by phone recently, Sensenbaugh remembered telling her husband: “I had a feeling I would end up on the West Coast or in the South. Half my collection is very springlike.”

Laine Bergeson Becco is a Minneapolis-based writer.

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Designers at New York Fashion Week urged not to hire minors for upcoming shows - Fox News

Kaia Gerber, the 17-year-old daughter of Cindy and Rande Gerber, wins Model of the Year during the 2018 Fashion Awards in London on Dec. 10. (Joe Maher/BFC/Getty Images)

The Council of Fashion Designers of America is urging fashion houses not to hire models under 18 for New York Fashion Week next month.

CHANEL DEBUTS 'WEDDING DRESS'-INSPIRED SWIMSUIT AT PARIS FASHION WEEK

An email blast went out from the organization’s head, Steven Kolb, on Monday, telling fashion pros: “As you cast your New York Fashion Week shows, please remember to promote diversity and inclusion, on and off the runway. American fashion can lead the path. Additionally, we strongly encourage you to support the well-being of younger individuals by not hiring models under the age of 18 for runway shows, and to create areas backstage for models to change in privacy.”

The move comes after Vogue vowed last year to stop hiring minor models.

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Kolb has also campaigned for private dressing rooms for models backstage at all fashion week venues.

This article originally appeared in The New York Post.

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