By Stacy Harshman

Andarina Designs was just coming together.  Inspired by a set of antique glass swizzle sticks, I had been working everyday, designing lamps and chandeliers that threw beams of light through rods of colored glass.

I told my good friend Marcy Clark how excited I was about starting my company.  After watching Marcy conceive of and launch Women’s Mafia, and attending fantastic Women’s Mafia and Yellow Sky Agency events for years, I told Marcy that within a couple of months, I’d be ready to let her plan the launch for Andarina Designs.

But Marcy had another idea.  She suggested I design the lighting for The Women’s Mafia and EngieStyle fashion presentation and launch party “Once Upon A Time” which would benefit a cause I love, the MillionTreesNYC project.  Marcy said she would love to see some of my pieces hung right over the runway.  I was thrilled!  And Engie’s first collection, Rouge et Noir was done in a palette that seemed just right beside my first collection’s rich jewel tones.  Oh, just one thing: the event was only two weeks away!

I called my brilliant design consultant, Roseanne Percivalle, and we stayed up late into the night making sketches.  We would need a lot of glass and each rod must be flame worked by hand before being kiln-cured.

Luckily I had just agreed to a collaboration with the ladies of the Bead Project at Urban Glass.  One of my glass instructors at Urban Glass, Laurie Korowitz, heads up this non-profit project, which teaches talented women glass-working skills.  My project would be their first paid gig!  As a brand new glass artist, I was thrilled to become a part of the community and to meet such a fun group of women.  We had already devised a work schedule but, with fingers crossed, I called Laurie to ask if we could…well… triple the amount we had planned to pump out over the next week.

I was still nervous so I wanted to consult with a stage lighting expert.  Serendipity, in the form of my amazing friend and neighbor Sven Henry Nelson led me to Derek Van Heel, and Derek soon made clear just how much light we needed, and his input changed our vision completely. Somehow, we found ourselves working on an eighteen by four foot, jewel-toned chandelier.

Engie is a new designer like me, so I knew how incredibly important it was to flatter her designs and make sure this event went off like a rocket ship.  With just over a week to make it happen, I decided to bring in Tinc Design and Production Company.

At 1am the night before the event, Sven and I were hip-deep in bundles of glass rods, meticulously counted and sorted by color.  We had pieces of perforated stainless steel hung on sawhorses in my dining room– we were still tinkering around with color placement!  The actual, massive piece had to be assembled on site the day of the show, and taken down right after!

We made runs between Union Square Ballroom and Brooklyn to pick up still-warm glass rods as Laurie and the Bead Project ladies worked right up until the last minute. I left them just enough time to get glammed-up and attend the show.
I was beyond happy with how the chandelier turned out. We were all pretty proud of ourselves!   As Marcy says, “a large group of women getting together is, in and of itself, a powerful thing.”  Working with the ladies of the Bead Project, I found that to be very true.   As much as I value getting to see my ideas become a reality and getting my company off the ground, I cherish the experience of collaboration even more.  I feel fated and lucky to work with Marcy, Women’s Mafia, EngieStyle, and the Bead Project.  It seemed like the bigger my ideas and plans got, the more perfect people showed up with the perfect skill set, at the perfect time.

Andarina Designs fits into a larger dream of mine.  I like to say it’s a feast with a seat for everyone at the table.

www.andarinadesigns.com
www.engiestyle.com
www.womensmafia.com
www.yellowskyagency.com
www.milliontreesnyc.org
www.2D-3Ddesign.com (Rosanne Percivalle)
www.derekvanheel.com
www.tincproductions.com

Madame Tong’s Redeux
Saturday, July 24th, 10 PM to 4 AM 256 Elm St., Southampton

We will be co-hosting a special launch party this Saturday night to bring back the best indoor-outdoor lounge in the Hamptons. This is the place we have all been missing since last summer!

(For more images and a resaurant review visit www.Danshamptons.com)

The new owners have expanded the dance floor into the backyard, installed an all-new sound system, and added 2 more bars and created an exciting new menu, sparing no expense in re-establishing Madame Tong’s as the place to be in the Hamptons.
Call or email us to be on the guest list!

Our house will be hosting happy hours on Friday and Saturday night before we head out for the evening’s festivities. We are planning to go Dune on Friday night and Madame Tong’s on Saturday night. Let me know if you want to join us!
Call our Hamptons Concierge David Shapiro for directions and to make sure you are on the list.

Our house is sold out this weekend (even waitlist), but we have a few spots for other weekends this summer. Call our Hamptons Concierge David Shapiro at 917-806-4117 for more information and to book your vacation. Make sure to mention that you are a Women’s Mafia member to secure the best rooms and rates.

Whatever you do, don’t let the last 7 weekends of the summer pass you by!

Will we see you out in the Hamptons soon?

On Sunday July 18th from 11:30am and 6pm the ladies of the Women’s Mafia will have an exclusive opportunity to experience the personalized attention and expertise of an elite NYC Matchmaker and get a complimentary headshot and full-body shot.

Dream Bachelor & Bachelorette is an elite full service matchmaking agency in NYC led by one of the most prominent leaders in the industry, Suzanne K. Oshima, Matchmaker & Founder.  Dream Bachelor & Bachelorette’s clients are the most eligible attractive bachelors who are highly educated and financially successful.

Dream Bachelor & Bachelorette is offering the sophisticated ladies of The Women’s Mafia an exclusive invitation to become a VIP Member of Dream Bachelor & Bachelorette.  As a VIP Member, you will be entitled to the following complimentary services:

•         Introductions to our Dream Bachelors
•         Private invitations to exclusive parties & events
•         Image consultation on your first date outfits
•         Professional photography (head & full length shot)

VIP Membership is by invitation only.  Members of The Women’s Mafia can register at http://www.dreambachelor.com/vip (please enter VIP Code: Women’sMafia)

Once you’ve registered, a confirmation email from Miss Njeri Semaj will be sent to you within 24 hours to schedule your individual appointment with Suzanne. Dream Bachelor & Bachelorette is fully dedicated to working closely with you to take the roadblocks off the path to meeting the one.

Call Njeri Semaj at 347.452.1979 to RSVP for Sunday  or later this week.

Bryan Batt signing books at Doris Leslie Blau (Image by Charity De Meer)

By Marcy Clark

Thank you so much to those of you who joined us for “An Evening at The Interior Design Building with Bryan Batt,” with the charming, witty and dashing author, designer, actor and star of Mad Men, Bryan Batt. The evening was presented by the dealers at New York’s venerable Interior Design Building at 306 East 61st Street, an amazing resource for museum-quality, highly collectible antiques, art and original home furnishings and accessories. We were thrilled to be joined by New York’s top Interior Designers, Architects, Editors, Publishing Executives and so many other special guests. Guests secured their very own copy of Bryan Batt’s poignant and humor-saturated memoir “She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother” and got to get their book signed. Design aficionados took the opportunity to shop and explore the 7 floors of the Interior Design Building, open for “Evening Hours” in partnership with our media partner for the event: 1st Dibs. Participating Showrooms included: Lucca & Co, Lee Calicchio, Sentimento, Liz O’Brien, John Rosselli, Doris Leslie Blau,  Atlantic Gallery, C.J. Peters, Suzanne Golden Antiques, Amy Perlin Antiques and Niall Smith.

Batt with Ron Wagner and Timothy Van Dam of Wagner Van Dam Design and Decor (Charity De Meer)

Bryan Batt meeting Lee Calicchio of Lee Calicchio Ltd.

Joan and Jayne Michaels of 2 Michaels Design Being Interviewed by French Film Crew StoryBox Press

Catherine Aaron, Bryan Batt, Lance Thompson at Lucca & Co.

Lisa Blecker, Barbara Kirshbaum at Sentimento Antiques

Brandon Vargas and Muffie Cunningham of Amy Perlin Antiques

Suzanne Golden of Suzanne Golden Antiques and Rubens Penna of Atlantic Gallery Ltd.

Nader Bolour of Doris Leslie Blau and designer Scott Guthrie

Brian Kish with LisaBeth Bastone of Doris Leslie Blau

Trudi Romero, Rhonda Cole of The New York Times, Gail Ahye of Vincente Wolf Home

Gail Karr of New York Social Diary, Bryan Batt

Lee Calicchio, Babette Cohen

Maureen Howard, Bryan Batt, Darrin Varden of Drake Design Associates

Jayne Michaels, Marcy Clark, Joan Michaels

Maria Rignack, Javier Maymi

Kelly Porter, Holly Orsburn

Elise Morrissey, Helen Hookway, Elizabeth Brush Saypol, Lisa Blecker

Jerome Whitehurst Jr., Teran Evans

Judith Powers, Peggy Schofield

Carolyn Sollis, Jonathan Preece, Audrey Margarite of Bunny Williams

Uberti Bona, Christina Vescovo, Eduardo Grigione

Ron Wagner, Timothy Van Dam

Frances Fontaine

Bryan Batt being interviewed by French Documentary Crew Storybox Press

Images here by Charity De Meer and Amber Des Vos / Patrick McMullen. For Full event images visit PatrickMcMullen.com.
All copyrights observed.

Presented at Union Square Ballroom on June 8th at 8pm

NY, NY. June 2010 – On June 8th The Women’s Mafia and EngieStyle hosted “Once Upon A Time” a fashion presentation and show featuring the debut women’s wear collection of top stylist Engie Hassan, “Rouge et Noir”, a line inspired by Old Hollywood Glamour and the silhouettes of the 1930‘s and 1940‘s. The room was packed with editors, socialites, supermodels, television and radio media, top fashion buyers and top fashion photographers alike. The event raised funds and awareness for Bette Midler and Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s MillionTreesNYC Initiative and was a who’s who of a New York’s young, hip charitable set.

Sonja Leix, Iman Hussein, Engie Hassan, Shauntele, Elisha Dang, Marcy Clark, Sam Lavey

The successful event was the third fashion show collaboration between EngieStyle and the Women’s Mafia. The Women’s Mafia hosted and co-produced the event and debuted its first print magazine that evening, which featured Engie Hassan on the cover. EngieStyle co-produced, directed and styled the fashion presentation for “Once Upon A Time” which also featured acclaimed couturier Shauntele and jewelry designer Ananda Khalsa, and the show culminated in the a preview of “Rouge et Noir.”

Displayed on gorgeous models provided by FentonMoon Media, under a dramatic $30,000 custom lighting installation by Stacy Harshman of Andarina Designs, the “Rouge et Noir” pieces were elegant, sophisticated and classic, and at the same time still had a modern sensibility. The presentation received a standing ovation from an enthusiastic crowd, which was followed by an energetic after-party and launch celebration for EngieStyle.

Looks by Shauntele in the EngieStyle Fashion Presentation

Looks from "Rouge et Noir" Engie Hassan's debut collection

Sonja, Engie, Elisha and Marcy: The Women's Mafia and Engie Hassan

“This event was very much in line with the Women’s Mafia mission of supporting independent design and providing fun and priceless experiences for our members. I was extremely proud of the amazing audience that we generated for this show and the unforgettable reception that the fashion presentation received. The EngieStyle team are fabulous partners and we look forward to planning with them for our New York Fall Fashion Week calendar”, says Women’s Mafia founder Marcy Clark.

Christina Vescovo, Engie Hassan, Wendy Levene-Goldberg, Iman Hussein, Marcy Clark

The glamorous event supported the New York Restoration Project’s (NYRP) MillionTreesNYC initiative. Thanks to all the participants the organization will be closer reaching it’s goal of a million new trees being planted and cared-for in New York City’s 5 boroughs by 2017.

Event Co-Chairs
Emily Conner, Matt Schmeelk, Wendy Levene Goldberg, Pamela Pekerman, Rachel Shulman, Anisha Joseph, Constance Victory

NYRP Junior Board
Jane Kelsey, Maya Rodale, Stephanie Owens, Christina Vescovo, Heidi Wolf, Sally Wolf, Allison Beck

CREDITS:
Artistic Director, Designer and Stylist: Engie Hassan, EngieStyle
Producer and Head of Public Relations: Marcy Clark, The Women’s Mafia

Fashion Show Designer: Sam Lavey, EngieStyle
Featured Presentation Designer: Shauntele www.shauntele.com
Featured Jewelry Designer: Ananda Khalsa www.anandakhalsa.com

Jewelry Designer Ananda Khalsa and Engie Hassan picking Jewelry before the presentation.

Shoes: EngieStyle’s proprietary collection
Accessories: EngieStyle’s proprietary collection
Hair by Tony Kelly, Cutler Hair Care www.cutlersalon.com
Makeup by Leora Edut www.makeupbyleora.com

Public Relations: Marcy Clark and Alex Beitler, www.yellowskyagency.com
Magazine and Graphic Design: Sonja Leix www.paperpixelarts.com
Web Design: Elisha Dang www.paperpixelarts.com
Lighting and Atmospheric Design: Stacy Harshman www.andarinadesigns.com
Associate Producer: Wendy Levene Goldberg www.fentonmoonmedia.com

Music by DJ Jay McElfresh www.sonodea.com
Videography by Anthony Bowman
Official Fashion Photographer: Shawn Punch www.shawnpunch.com
Event Photographer: Christopher London, Founder & Editor www.manhattansociety.com
Senior Associate to Ms. Hassan: Iman Hussein
Assistant to Ms. Hassan: Emily Endean
Assistants to Ms. Clark: Kristin Wahle, Nelson Vanherle
Additional Press and Promotional Partners: Cynthia Parsons McDaniel, Toni Russo, Myra Harmon

Special Thanks: Cutler Salon, GELMOR LACE, Austins Steak and Ale House, Bahar Shaarawy, Cindi Penrod & Penrod Studios Photography, Roberta and Gary Lavey, Elsayed and Salwa Hassan, Beverly and Barry Clark, Lysette Drumgold (Makeup/Hair), Shpresa “Elssa” Duli (Makeup/Hair), Kevin Uhrin, Amouage Fragrances (Gift Bag) FaceIt Beauty Bar (Gift Bag), NYC Points Acupuncture PC (Gift Bag), Sarah Anolik, Dr. Ameer and Summer Hassan, Jen Reck, Kelly Owens, Katrena Moore, Angelique Velez, Elssa D., Lysette Drumgold, Lauren Killip, Nikki Black, Cody Shultz, Anthony Pla, Nancy Diglawi, Areej Belal, Shergoh Alkilani, Celia Ammerman

Fashion Show last looks, under Andarina Designs Chandelier

Engie Hassan and Emily Endean

Pamela Pekerman, Event Co-Chair and Founder of Bag Trends

Supermodel Zuzana Snow

Personal Shopper John Sweiss, Engie Hassan, Tom Ford Specialist J.R. Mumford

Kevin Uhrin, Tracey Macgill, William Self

Iman Hussein of EngieStyle, Engie Hassan, Sarah Anolik of Vogue

Designs by Shauntele featured in the EngieStyle and Women's Mafia Fashion Presentation

Jewelry Designer Ananda Khalsa, Marcy Clark, Christina Vescovo, Model Lorianna Israilove, Stephanie Owens

NYRP Junion Board Members: Maya Rodale, Heidi Wolf, Christina Vescovo, Sally Wolf, Kristin Blumm, Jane Kelsey

EngieStyle and Friends: Amy Harmon, Iman Hussein, Engie Hassan, Sam Lavey, Myra Harmon, Emily Endean

With reporting by Nelson Venherle and Pernille Fristrup.

Christina Vescovo, Engie Hassan, Wendy Levene-Goldberg, Iman Hussein, Marcy Clark

By Christina Vescovo
NYRP Junior Board Member, Real Estate Professional and Women’s Mafia member

“It is wonderful to see a person contributing to society as an individual human being, regardless of social position or importance.” Raisa Gorbachev, fundraiser and philosopher, (1932-1999)
I was so inspired by the new friendships and the beautiful EngieStyle looks that sprouted in “Once Upon a Time.” It is amazing to work around women who value each other’s skills and talents more than each other’s clothes. However, there’s no better way to celebrate life and success than getting decked out for a fashion fundraiser!
From our first meeting, I intuitively knew that Marcy, Engie, Wendy, and everyone involved in planning this event shared the ability to forge an incredible result…because we each find mediocrity intolerable, our talents must not be wasted.
I was very excited to see a fashion show with an improvisation representing Engie’s early career. I imagine it seemed totally ridiculous that I was actually crying alongside the catwalk, but when I identified with meaning of the story that the models recounted, it was heartfelt. I believe that when you make sense of and find value in your experiences (good and bad), you move forward in life. I know we’ve all had moments that justified throwing in the towel, and I reflected on how much easier it is to attain happiness when you don’t let go of your goals.
I was also reminded that after all is said and done, my happiest moments are when I am able to bring people together for philanthropy. The significance of “Once Upon a Time” to me was that we all came together for a cause to make the city a more beautiful place. I loved seeing Wendy Levene Goldberg encourage several young models to contribute their time to charity; she inspired them to see how amazing it feels to give. I loved hearing my other philanthropist friend Emily Conner’s reaction to Engie’s first look: “I’m wearing THAT to my Christmas party!” And I think we all loved the audience’s applause.
Once upon a time, we each decided that New York City was the place to dream and to make life different. Thanks to Women’s Mafia, on Tuesday, June 8th, 2010, it all came together!

Christina Vescovo, Engie Hassan, Sam Lavey

Thank you Event co-chairs: Emily Conner, Wendy Levene Goldberg, Pamela Pekerman, Anisha Joseph, Matt Schmeelk, Rachel Shulman, Constance Victory; and my fellow NYRP Junior Board members: Allison Beck, Jane Kelsey, Stephanie Owens, Maya Rodale, Heidi Wolf, Sally Wolf.

I also want to personally thank: my hairdresser, Rodney Cutler, for donating four stylists; Alex Beitler (one of my first friends in NYC), for getting me involved in this show; Kasey Blaustein at Veev Vodka (I hear they love it); Jon Simon, NYC Points Acupuncturist, you help me keep my game tight; and NYRP, for letting me do what I enjoy!

Christina Vescovo

www.christinavescovo.com

Have you gotten your ticket yet for “Once Upon A Time”? Our celeb and socialite-studded charity event co-hosted with Engie Hassan of EngieStyle, benefits Mayor Bloomberg and Bette Midler’s MilllionTreesNYC Initiative. Tickets are selling fast and it is sure to be the event of the season!

Date: Tuesday June 8, 2010
Time: Fashion Presentation at 8pm, EngieStyle Launch Party 9pm ‘til Midnight
Location: Union Square Ballroom, 29 Union Square West, NYC

Get your ticket today or on Tuesday before 4:30pm to be sure you get in!

$100 VIP Ticket; VIP Seating for EngieStyle Fashion Presentation, Drinks, Access and Deluxe Gift Bags, Special Limited 1st Print Edition Women’s Mafia Magazine, Admission to VIP section of After-Party

$30 General Ticket; Complimentary Drink, Special Limited 1st Print Edition Women’s Mafia Magazine, EngieStyle Fashion Presentation and After-Party

Fashion Insiders Create Dynamic Fashion Presentation to Benefit MillionTreesNYC
EngieStyle and The Women’s Mafia Present “Once Upon a Time”
Featuring EngieStyle’s Debut Collection, Rouge et Noir
Tuesday, June 8th at 8pm, Union Square Ballroom

Expected Guests Include
Maria Teresa Fauci, George McCracken (Designer), Gloria Baume (Teen Vogue), Zuzana Snow (Supermodel), Celia Ammerman (America’s Next Top Model), Bahar Shaarawy, Jennie Alvarez (Designer) and more.

Event Co-Chairs
Emily Conner, Matt Schmeelk, Wendy Levene Goldberg, Pamela Pekerman, Rachel Shulman, Anisha Joseph, Constance Victory

NYRP Junior Board
Jane Kelsey, Maya Rodale, Stephanie Owens, Christina Vescovo, Heidi Wolf, Sally Wolf, Allison Beck

On June 8th at 8pm the international fashion stylist Engie Hassan and the NYC social club and online magazine The Women’s Mafia will present “Once Upon A Time,” a fashion presentation to benefit the New York Restoration Project’s (NYRP) MillionTreesNYC initiative.

The fashion presentation will showcase EngieStyle’s premier collection, “Rouge et Noir,” as well as the work of other featured New York designers. The official launch party for EngieStyle, a fashion styling, personal shopping and image consulting company started earlier this year, will follow the presentation and will include guests of the Women’s Mafia, the NYRP and Engie Hassan, Vogue alum and top stylist to royalty and celebrities.

Following an introduction from Marcy Clark, founder of the Women’s Mafia, the presentation will unfold as a fashion fairy tale: a glossy magazine spread come to life with Hassan as raconteur. The highly theatrical presentation, Creative-Directed by Hassan and co-produced by the Women’s Mafia, will present scenes from Engie Hassan’s life in fashion, featuring EngieStyle and Women’s Mafia endorsed designers Shauntele and Ananda Khalsa, and culminating in a preview of EngieStyle’s debut collection.

The Fall/ Winter 2011 EngieStyle Collection by Engie Hassan and collaborator Sam Lavey, utilizes contoured silhouettes, delicate and rich fabrics and the passionate colors of the 1930’s and 40’s, to create a defined wardrobe for the contemporary woman of today. Says Hassan: “My collection is inspired by the modest, classical style of the stars and starlets of the bygone Golden age of Hollywood. With ‘Rouge et Noir’ we seek to capture an aesthetic of extreme elegance, uniqueness and distinction. Cherishing timeless chic in a fast paced world.”

Officially launched by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYRP Founder Bette Midler in October 2007, MillionTreesNYC is an initiative of PlanNYC and is a public-private partnership led by New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the New York Restoration Project. The MillionTreesNYC initiative has set the ambitious goal of planting and caring for one million new trees across New York City’s five boroughs by 2017.

“We share in NYRP’s mission of beautifying and enjoying New York City and we are proud to support their efforts to reclaim and restore New York City parks, community gardens and open space.” Says Women’s Mafia Founder Marcy Clark.

Yellow Sky Agency PR will provide pre- and post-show coverage for all parties involved. Guests will include top editors of all major fashion publications, buyers, stylists, and a star-studded mix of international royalty, celebrities, socialites and top models. Wendy Levene, of Fenton Moon Media and Co-Chair on behalf of NYRP, will serve as associate producer.

Launched in 2005, the Women’s Mafia is founded on the idea that a large group of women getting together is, in and of itself, a powerful thing. The mission of the Women’s Mafia social club and online magazine is to support emerging and up-and-coming designers, artists, small businesses, products and charitable causes, while hosting remarkably unique, special and highly valuable social and networking events for members. Through the online magazine www.womensmafia.com Women’s Mafia editors cover top tier fashion, lifestyle, art and beauty stories for members and readers in New York, LA, San Francisco, the Hamptons and around the world.

Date: Tuesday June 8, 2010
Time: Fashion Presentation at 8pm, EngieStyle Launch Party 9pm ‘til Midnight
Location: Union Square Ballroom, 29 Union Square West, NYC

Ticket prices begin at $30 and go up to $100 for VIP seating and access.

$30 General Ticket

$100 VIP Ticket; VIP Seating, Drinks, Access and Deluxe Gift Bags

Event Proceeds Benefit the New York Restoration Project’s MillionTreesNYC Initiative
Contact Marcy@yellowskyagency.com for press tickets and information.

The event will feature a book signing for Bryan Batt’s new book “She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother” and will be an Open Showroom event – a chance to see what is new from the designers, dealers and furnishings experts at 306 E 61st.
Come to meet Bryan and secure a signed-copy of his book, stay to re-design your living room!

Will we get to see you soon?

RSVP to Marcy@yellowskyagency.com

For press and media inquiries into Bryan Batt contact Cynthia Parsons McDaniel 917.412.0555.

Fashion Insiders Create Dynamic Fashion Presentation to Benefit MillionTreesNYC
EngieStyle and The Women’s Mafia Present “Once Upon a Time”
Featuring EngieStyle’s Debut Collection, Rouge et Noir
Tuesday, June 8th at 8pm, Union Square Ballroom

Expected Guests Include
Maria Teresa Fauci, George McCracken (Designer), Gloria Baume (Teen Vogue), Celia Ammerman (America’s Next Top Model), Zuzana Snow (Supermodel), Bahar Shaarawy, Jennie Alvarez (Designer) and more.

Event Co-Chairs
Emily Conner, Matt Schmeelk, Wendy Levene Goldberg, Pamela Pekerman, Rachel Shulman, Anisha Joseph, Constance Victory

NYRP Junior Board
Jane Kelsey, Maya Rodale, Stephanie Owens, Christina Vescovo, Heidi Wolf, Sally Wolf, Allison Beck

Get your ticket today or on Tuesday before 4:30pm to be sure you get in!

$100 VIP Ticket; VIP Seating for EngieStyle Fashion Presentation, Drinks, Access and Deluxe Gift Bags, Special Limited 1st Print Edition Women’s Mafia Magazine, Admission to VIP section of After-Party

$30 General Ticket; Complimentary Drink, Special Limited 1st Print Edition Women’s Mafia Magazine, EngieStyle Fashion Presentation and After-Party

On June 8th at 8pm the international fashion stylist Engie Hassan and the NYC social club and online magazine The Women’s Mafia will present “Once Upon A Time,” a fashion presentation to benefit the New York Restoration Project’s (NYRP) MillionTreesNYC initiative.

The fashion presentation will showcase EngieStyle’s premier collection, “Rouge et Noir,” as well as the work of other featured New York designers. The official launch party for EngieStyle, a fashion styling, personal shopping and image consulting company started earlier this year, will follow the presentation and will include guests of the Women’s Mafia, the NYRP and Engie Hassan, Vogue alum and top stylist to royalty and celebrities.

Following an introduction from Marcy Clark, founder of the Women’s Mafia, the presentation will unfold as a fashion fairy tale: a glossy magazine spread come to life with Hassan as raconteur.  The highly theatrical presentation, Creative-Directed by Hassan and co-produced by the Women’s Mafia, will present scenes from Engie Hassan’s life in fashion, featuring EngieStyle and Women’s Mafia endorsed designers Shauntele and Ananda Khalsa, and culminating in a preview of EngieStyle’s debut collection.

The Fall/ Winter 2011 EngieStyle Collection by Engie Hassan and collaborator Sam Lavey, utilizes contoured silhouettes, delicate and rich fabrics and the passionate colors of the 1930’s and 40’s, to create a defined wardrobe for the contemporary woman of today. Says Hassan: “My collection is inspired by the modest, classical style of the stars and starlets of the bygone Golden age of Hollywood. With ‘Rouge et Noir’ we seek to capture an aesthetic of extreme elegance, uniqueness and distinction. Cherishing timeless chic in a fast paced world.”

Officially launched by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYRP Founder Bette Midler in October 2007, MillionTreesNYC is an initiative of PlanNYC and is a public-private partnership led by New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the New York Restoration Project.  The MillionTreesNYC initiative has set the ambitious goal of planting and caring for one million new trees across New York City’s five boroughs by 2017.

“We share in NYRP’s mission of beautifying and enjoying New York City and we are proud to support their efforts to reclaim and restore New York City parks, community gardens and open space.” Says Women’s Mafia Founder Marcy Clark.

Yellow Sky Agency PR will provide pre- and post-show coverage for all parties involved.  Guests will include top editors of all major fashion publications, buyers, stylists, and a star-studded mix of international royalty, celebrities, socialites and top models.  Wendy Levene, of Fenton Moon Media and Co-Chair on behalf of NYRP, will serve as associate producer.

Launched in 2005, the Women’s Mafia is founded on the idea that a large group of women getting together is, in and of itself, a powerful thing. The mission of the Women’s Mafia social club and online magazine is to support emerging and up-and-coming designers, artists, small businesses, products and charitable causes, while hosting remarkably unique, special and highly valuable social and networking events for members. Through the online magazine www.womensmafia.com Women’s Mafia editors cover top tier fashion, lifestyle, art and beauty stories for members and readers in New York, LA, San Francisco, the Hamptons and around the world.

Date: Tuesday June 8, 2010
Time: Fashion Presentation at 8pm, EngieStyle Launch Party 9pm ‘til Midnight
Location: Union Square Ballroom, 29 Union Square West, NYC

Ticket prices begin at $30 and go up to $100 for VIP seating and access.

$30 General Ticket

$100 VIP Ticket; VIP Seating, Drinks, Access and Deluxe Gift Bags

Event Proceeds Benefit the New York Restoration Project’s MillionTreesNYC Initiative
Contact Marcy@yellowskyagency.com for press tickets and information.

A few years ago a friend, who has happily been in a long term relationship for nearly ten years, was listening to me complain about not understanding the man I was dating, not feeling that things were moving forward and feeling overall confused about how to proceed. She told me straight: you need to take this class called “Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women.” She then proceeded to tell me some of the surprising things she had learned from the course – such as that shiny hair is one of the most attractive things about women to men (really?!?) or that men who are ready for a serious commitment can tell just by looking at a woman, literally, if she has most of the qualities that would make her a good mate and partner (don’t worry, you can learn to embody them more often!). I have been eager to take her first course ever since then, and finally signed up for it this May 26th and 27th in Tarrytown.

To prep for the course I interviewed the industrious, brilliant and insightful Alison Armstrong about some of the insights she has gained in her 20 years of researching men and women. Enjoy and sign up for a class or buy one of her books today! I read Making Sense of Men: A Woman’s Guide to a Lifetime of Love, Care and Attention from All Men in one sitting and my life will never be the same.

Women’s Mafia: A lot of New York women are always complaining that the men here don’t want to commit, they seem to be interminable bachelors. What can women look for to spot the non-phobic ones, or the ones that have zeroed-in on them?

Alison Armstrong: The thing they need to know is there are times when a man’s willingness to commit is not personal.  There are stages in a man’s life when a marriage commitment is not a possibility.  It is like trying to load the Halo video game program without enough memory on your computer.  Marriage is the biggest commitment a man can make next to fatherhood.  His life has to be in a particular place before he is going to be able to make a commitment.  That is regardless of how much he loves a woman.  Women think: “If he loved me more he would marry me.”  That is a mistake.

There is another side where a man’s willingness to commit is personal.  When I have asked men “Do you want to be married?” almost all say yes.  It is always followed by “When I meet the right person,” “If I meet the right person,” or “Hopefully, I’ll meet the right person.”  There are things that women do all the time that convince men that they are the wrong person – such as emasculating men all the time without even knowing it.

Women just dive in and hope that things will work, our desire is that strong.  The idea that men don’t want to get married is a myth.  It is just that what it takes for men to get married is different.  Men are much more realistic about marriage and what it takes to be happy in the long term.  If a man doesn’t want to marry you, then he is paying attention to something that is probably important: do you share the same values, do you give each other what you most need, and can you make each other happy?

Men have this idea that if two people can’t give each other what they need, they shouldn’t be together.  This idea is strange to women who go without what they need someone who can’t give them what they need.  Men actually honor what they need.

WM: There is a lot of debate in the post-feminist era about who should be picking up the check at the end of dinner, and how to handle it – how can a modern woman best handle this without emasculating her date? What should the expectations be in the 21st century?

AA: In talking to men, it is all about who initiates the date. If he asks you out on a date, then he expects to pay for it.  If you ask him out on a date, then you should expect to pay for it and be thrilled if he offers.  If it is a meet-up, then expect to go dutch.  If he offers to pay for it, then be appreciative and thankful.

If you are on a 3rd or 4th date and you are clear you want to keep seeing each other, then men say that if a women offers to pay they see it as a sign that she is more interested in a partnership than in taking them for what they’ve got.  There are many men whose values are they should always pay.  If a woman is with a man like that, then she needs to be willing to accept the kind of dates that he can afford to take her on.

WM: You write about the downward spiral in your book “Making Sense of Men” and how once a woman feels insecure, self-doubt and complaining can begin running a relationship and it can be very hard to get it back on track. Is there a way to begin to move in an upward spiral again?

AA: Creating an upward spiral — where the energy between you keeps growing and you are progressively more satisfied — requires maintaining in yourself the 4 most attractive qualities in women: Self-Confidence, Authenticity, Passion and Receptivity. Unfortunately, these are some of the most difficult qualities for women to maintain in relationships with men. Because, by not understanding men’s motivations, we interpret too many things as evidence that they don’t love us and our self-confidence takes a hit. And because we’ve become lousy at Receiving — we’re too busy proving we can do everything ourselves to let me take care of us.  These are two qualities that we directly address in our workshops.

WM: Many of us date people from different cultures, and even different countries. Are the essentials of men’s behavior the same across different cultures?

AA: We’ve had women in Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women from cultures around the world.  They report the distinctions we make and the tools we provide work equally well with their men.  They make slight variations for translating the words we give them and then they are good to go.

WM: It must be challenging to run a large organization, travel regularly, lead full-day workshops and nourish yourself and your relationships. Any tips for myself and the many other budding CEO’s in the Women’s Mafia?

AA: As uncomfortable as it may be, you have to confront that you have a limited amount of time and energy and spend it wisely.  Pay careful attention to what you’re willing to be accountable for and let men shoulder more.  Accountability is one of the biggest gifts men can give women — because it doesn’t wear them out the way it wears us out.  They are capable and competent problem solvers.  If women spend more time defining the problem and letting others provide for them their heart’s desire, we’ll all be happier and healthier.

PAX Programs Incorporated
(800) 418-9924
www.understandmen.com