This year’s silent auction  benefited LIFE beat and MCCNY Homeless Youth Services. Only the auction was silent…and a good time was had by all:real queens, faux queens, wannabe queens, or queens for the day.

YOU figure out who is who!

Miss Day was volunteering at the event but she was all smiles too.  See her with RuPaul.

…not quite,”she” is actually Rupaul’s protege~the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race~BEBE.

Day betta work…on a freakin’ WEBSITE so we can ALL see MORE of her fabulous photos. 

Peer pressure is a beast isn’t it…

1. How do you pronounce Fashiona? It is pronounced Fash-in-a.  Only Col. Dad and Mr. Random are allowed to say Fash-own-a  
2. What happened to that  class that she was supposed to teach?  Long story short: lesson plans were done, the offer letter was sent and start date was set…twice(true story), but alas the class was canceled.

Ironically, the WWD, otherwise known as the fashion bible, reported this week that enrollment in fashion colleges and schools  including: Parsons, Pratt Institute, FIT, St. Martins, Savannah College of Art and Design has increased at least 25-30%. Both the schools and the industry heads agree that even creative students need  to be more well-rounded and learn business skills as well as honing their crafts. 

Fashion 101: School adjust to the economy.Photo by Tyler Resty as shown on WWD.com

…so Miss Fashiona has other irons in the fire…got that shoe habit to support.

And yes she will bring the funny back tomorrow.

Day went to Night of Thousand Gowns‏ and has the pictures to show for it. Hail to  the queens…

She also interviewed one of the co-producers, Randolph Sturrup last week. Did you catch her non subtle insertion of FAMU’s colors of green and orange?  He asked her opinion of the fashion but she deferred since she was the one that supposed to be asking the questions.  

Now fresh after watching show number 5 thanks to DVR…Miss Fashiona is ready to bring it. 

Summary Fashiona style:

Jason spends quality time with his cutie pie daughter at Dave’s.  Fashiona marvels at how he talks to her like she is a little “G”  and his daughter actually understands what he is saying. 

Pierre goes home to Trenton to visit with his family.  The more Fashiona learns about him the more she is mystified by his fascination with self serving Brooke. 

Christian with his chocolately  self, makes out with Brooke at Ashlie’s job. Fashiona does concede that Christian is fine…a playa player still; Morehouse educated and charming but still on the prowl.

Ashlie,who is clearly not Fashiona’s fav character won some major bonus points by putting “Sexual Chocolate” in his place.

Fashionwise…Fashiona gets where they are coming from.  Ally is young and it shows in her playful choices…but sidebar to Ashlie…even she saw the drama with Christian coming.  Fashiona digs the guys’ fashion choices for the most part.  But Ashlie…honey just PLEASE ease up on the make-up …blue eyeshadow and the blush…not a good look.

Salma Hayek, Jada Pickett Smith, Eva Longorina Parker and Fashiona’s own Day, Miss A, Ms. M and Ms.Now-am-I size-2-after the -baby are all proof that petite women are only petite in stature only. They are all serious forces to be reckoned with.

Hanky Panky has also introduced their signature lace low rise thongs in Petite fit for the first time in the US.

Ladies, Fashiona is just the messenger…the only thing petite on her are her freakishly small wrists.

But seriously,aren’t all thongs “petite”?…just asking!

What DOES matter to her is that they are loyal and honest and agree to disagree.  They support her (and viceversa) when she is on the right path and give her tough love when she is being self-destructive.  Another quality that her close friends have…is their ability to  learn from their mistakes and to resist the “woe is me” mentality.

Consider celebrities like:

• Mary J. Blidge vs. Lil Kim~Mary has evolved from a being young woman with a troubled past into a dynamic wife and step-mother with an admirable singing career.Lil Kim is turning herself into a Barbie doll.
  

• Hillary Clinton vs. Sarah Palin~Both suffered a major political defeat last year. Mrs. Palin has continued whining incessantly while  Ms. Clinton accepted the position of Secretary of State.
  

  ---

In the example of Tyra vs. Naomi Campbell: They are both about the same age and achieved comparable success in their respective  modeling careers. Tyra has traded in her swimsuits for a TV career (not that Fashiona particularly cares for either show but does applaud her growth).

Ms. Naomi (who even more beautiful in Fashiona’s opinion)seems to be finally emerging from her cycle of cell phone temper tantrums and using her fame for good causes. Ms. Campbell first launched her Fashion for Relief in 2005 to help bring aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Photo Credit: EPA

Naomi Campbell modeling for her Fashion for Relief event London last year.

Next week she is partnering  with  India’s Vikram Chatwal  to help Mumbai recover from the horrific terrorist attacks they suffered last year. Some of the most glamorous designer labels in the world, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Zac Posen, Roberto Cavalli, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Matthew Williamson, Diane von Furstenberg, Manolo Blahnik and Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee are all lending their  designs to  a charity fashion show held on March 28. to help kick off Lakme Fashion Week.

Has Naomi really turned a corner in light of her more positive recent headlines? …Fashiona certainly hopes so and maybe it hints to  Naomi  “cleaning” up her inner circle?

Truer words have never been spoken and is one of the premises behind the hit show Harlem Heights which follows the lives of 8 black professionals and their friends who are all post college 20 somethings in their pursuit of  love, life and happiness.

Four episodes into a 10 part series, Alicia “aka” Fashiona interviewed Randolph Sturrup,co-creator of the show.  She and he went to college together at Florida A & M and  have a shared love of business and the creative world. 

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: What is the average age of the cast? They seem young…or are we getting older?

Randolph: They are between 25-30 and remind me of us when we first came to New  York…full of dreams and boundless energy.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: You are right…it is like a flashback but these days I prefer stomping around Brooklyn.  I see that June Ambrose, a well known stylist,  is attached to the project.  How involved is she?

Randolph: For most part the cast, “dressed” themselves and June came in as needed. How do you like their style?

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: I have plenty of comments on that but I will save them for a post next week. But for the most part, they are true to their own style and that counts for a lot.  What was the casting process and is any part of the show scripted?

Randolph: All the cast members knew each other directly or indirectly and so there was a certain chemistry built it.  I call it a docudrama-because it is a documentary with all the drama.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: Drama yes…4 episodes in and I can sense a bougie showdown coming between Ashlie and Brooke.  All that pettiness is the no 1 reason I never pledged.  I knew that New York City  would be more than enough of a hazing process for me.  I  worked briefly with Briana and I appreciate her realness then and now.

So  far, we are getting a taste of what the cast is doing these days. Will we get to know more about their various backgrounds and what really led them to Harlem?

Randolph: Yes, in later episodes, the cast of characters reveal more of themselves. One of my goals was to really start a conversation on what really happens after college.  You and I have been in situations like in episode 4 where  the  offensive question comes up “Why didn’t you go to regular college?”(referring to choosing a HBCU). We all have our stories and reasons for the choices we make… Harlem Heights shares that experience of these 8 and their friends.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: Again I applaud you for  spearheading such a quality production.  What is next for you?

Randolph: My plate is full right now with pending projects and when I get the green light, you will be one of the first to know.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: One last question: The girls on the cast  are very attractive.  Do you have your eye on anyone?

Randolph:(Laughing) I am like Papa Smurf to them.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona does not  buy it and drills him off the record…

See the remaining 6 episodes of Harlem Heights Monday nights on BET 10 pm eastern/9 central.

Alicia “aka”

Fashiona is positive that the cab driver that got them “lost” in Williamsburg a few weeks ago is still looking for his kneecap dignity after Topaz told him about himself in English and Arabic.

Another noted exception is when the two of them went to a Prince concert. Since decorum and Prince don’t mix…they made it their night’s mission  to out-scream the groupies in the front row wearing purple from head to toe.

Speaking of purple…it is everywhere for Spring. Traditionally purple is more of a Fall color, but why not for Spring?

Photo By: George Chinsee ~ Gucci  18-karat yellow gold and purple agate necklace.

Photo By: WWD Staff ~Badgley Mischka

Photo By: WWD Archive ~Cuff designs by Kara Ross.

Fashiona took her meds, ate a cookie (just one),tucked herself in bed ridiculously early, and woke up just as early, perhaps the reason she absentmindedly left her wallet at home.  Still  a much better start than her   disastrous Friday the 13th in February.

Back to Fashion:

While Fashiona was gallivanting in Atlanta, Paris was wrapping up their Fall 2009 Fashion Week.  The French ALWAYS put on a good show…fashion and otherwise.

Leave it  to the Parisians to show  real crystal glass slippers…like the ones in Cinderella (the cartoon version was first movie that Fashiona ever went to).

Maison Martin Margiela, the ultra reclusive designer who is Belgian (like Hercule Poirot) but shows in Paris has been rumored to be leaving his post and has been reportedly  less involved in the daily design functions.

Whether there is truth the rumor or not…Fashiona loves his calling card.

Photo Credit: Dominique Maitre

Pretty…even prettier in size 39 or 7 1/2…Got that Fairy Godmother?

Why  Saks???

Well…to see Shoshanna, who has become a fabulous designer in her own right…but many  people still know her  best as Seinfeld’s super young ex-girlfriend.  On Thursday March 12, she is previewing her Spring Line at Saks Fifth Avenue. For fashion followers in the New York City area…feel free to make an appointment and tell them that Fashiona(and Lindsey) sent you.

Shoshanna’s asymmetrical strapless bubble dress has been photographed on several well-known ladies(maybe soon to be the newest IT girl,Ashley Tisdale can’t hold the reins forever).

Audrina Patridge, Leslie Bibb, Demi Lovato and American Idol’s Kendall Beard

Today was  beautifully sunny so she decided to walk around Buckhead…quite walkable in heels but she stashed her flip flops in her bag just in case.  Fashiona has been on her fashion game but has sadly been losing her battle with carbs lately.  Atlanta is a great Southern town…complete with constant refills of super sweet tea and seemingly unlimited bowls of pasta. Everyone has a personal trainer but what Fashiona really needs is  some discipline and a carb czar to remove the biscuits  from her hands.

Thankfully, she did burn some calories today walking around the mall and to and from a business lunch.   Most of the time she is not the best at window shopping but today she did well even with the constant promotions and giveaways and other lovely incentives to buy things she doesn’t need…according to Mr. Numbers.

Here is a few snapshots for you of some Atlanta finds outside Neiman Marcus…have a lovely weekend.