Fashion Show

It's been said that the right outfit can make or break you. And nowhere is a good first impression more crucial than a job interview. But not everyone has a business suit hanging in the closet. That's where Success In Style comes in. The organization, which is celebrating its 10th year, is dedicated to helping disadvantaged men and women dress for success for job interviews. The organization also provides fashion advice and interview coaching. Ellicott City resident Jeannette Kendall founded Success In Style (SIS)

South Carroll High School recently formed a new business partnership with DejaVu Boutique in Mount Airy. Through the agreement, Jamie Sauro, the company's director of operations, and Veronica Cello, general manager, will be business representatives working with the school to provided a speaker for the school's clothing course, and will also participate in mock interviews and set up a booth at sporting events. The company will also co-sponsor a fashion show in January, with proceeds going toward the South Carroll High prom.

Two years ago, a dejected Bishme Cromartie almost gave up sewing altogether. He had just received a rejection letter from the famed Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. "I just sat there and cried. You would have thought that someone died in my arms," the 21-year-old recalled. "I stopped sketching and sewing. ... I started questioning myself. " Cromartie had done everything right. A creative type, he earned A's and B's at Reginald F. Lewis High School in Hamilton. He had been designing since age 7, when his aunt showed him the basics.

Joseph Abboud (Wednesday at The New York Public Library) Creative Director Bernardo Rojo offered a dramatic collection that included plenty of color, fabric options and lots of great outerwear. Presented at the New York Public Library, the collection began with one of the hottest colors of the new season -- canary yellow. There were a slew of colors to chose from: white, cream, navy, cornfield blue, coral, red, charcoal and other shades of gray to black. I was  impressed with the diversity of shapes, types of garments and fabrics and particularly loved the patent leather jackets in red and navy blue.

Nationally known model Isis King is still waiting for her money. So is Marlin Mills, CEO of the Scottish Rite Maryland, which owns the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. Both say that 10 months after last August's Baltimore Fashion Week, neither has been paid in full for their services by the event's founder, Sharan Nixon. The pair say they are considering legal action. Claims that have come forward this week are the latest in a list of issues related to Baltimore Fashion Week, a multi-day fashion show that showcases designers, models, stylists and vendors.

Sunday, May 13 Paca plant sale Historic Annapolis Foundation hosts the annual William Paca Garden Plant Sale, featuring heirloom flowers, vegetables and herbs, native trees and shrubs, and some of the newest seeds offered in this year's catalog. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. All plants are grown by Historic Annapolis Foundation volunteers. Proceeds go to the maintenance of the reconstructed, 18th-century William Paca Garden. Admission is free. Entrance to the sale is at 1 Martin St. Information: 410-267-8146 or go to annapolis.org.

More than 200 girls and their American Girl dolls hit the runway at Towson Town Center on Saturday, Jan. 28. The walk was short and the line was long, but there were smiles all around. "I got to tell the guy what I liked," said Savannah Shafer, 7, of Lutherville, with her look-alike American Girl doll after walking the runway. "I wasn't nervous," she said, smiling. "I like playing with my American Girl online. " All of the girls participating had a chance of being selected for the American Girl Fashion Show, to be held March 24 and 25 at the Hippodrome Theater.

Tuesday night's "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" was what we've come to expect from the annual safe-for-CBS peep show: beautiful women, elaborate lingerie (Miranda Kerr wore a $2.5M bra), oogling celebrities and some live music in an attempt to distract us from wondering how the models got in that kind of shape. Last year's "Fashion Show" focused on Top 40 (Katy Perry and Akon), while this year's event showcased hip-hop (Maroon 5 and its "Moves Like Jagger" being the exception)

When the Center Club held a focus group asking its members what events they wanted to hold, some suggested a fashion show. But any old fashion show wouldn't do. It had to mean something. "We talked about our members being very philanthropic and wanting to give back," said Nancy Sloane, director of membership and marketing for the Center Club. "So that was a component we wanted to make a part of the fashion show. " At 7 p.m. Friday, the Center Club will host its first-ever runway show, Couture at the Club: An Evening of Ravishing Fashion.