Vanity Salon Style Party

When I first walked into Vanity Salon I immediately felt at home.  The wall is lined with antique vanities with oval and rectangle shaped mirrors, a leopard print couch sits in front of the display window, and chandeliers hang from the ceiling.  The decor puts you in the mood for some fun styles!

Vanity Salon located at 1413 Hertel Ave Buffalo, NY 14216 is responsible for the amazing hairstyles for Carol Ann Rice Rafferty's collection in Runway 4.0.  Vanity Salon offers Style Parties for you and your girlfriends!  Enjoy wine, cheese, a fabulous up do, and a lesson on simple ways to style your hair!  Honestly I can't think of a better way to spend an evening out.

The owner, Gina Calamita, invited us to a Style party last Wednesday to practice the looks before the day of the fashion show.  Above are photos from the Style Party.  I was so pleased with them!  The hairstyles were better than I had ever imagined.  I knew I wanted simple, sleek and sophisticated up dos with a vintage flare (kind of 50s with a modern twist), high pony tails, beehives, buns, and side swept curls.  The hairstylists were very fun to work with and they knew the look I was going for immediately.

THANK YOU so much Vanity Salon, Gina Calamita, Mallory Pemberton, and Alexandra Mary Damis!  I'm definitely coming back soon!

To book an appointment at Vanity Salon Call 716.836.4574 / vanityofbflo@gmail.com

Tues & Thurs, 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fri, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Designer - Carol Ann Rice Rafferty
Accessories by Rice Rafferty
Marketing Coordinator, Design Consultant, and Fashion Stylist - Kara Rice Rafferty (me)
Styling by Rachel Mancini
Visit www.ricerafferty.com for photos from Runway 4.0 (coming soon)!

Clarence artists participating in Buff State fashion show

This week has been crazy busy getting ready for the Runway 4.0 Fashion Show for Buffalo State College this Saturday!  Wednesday we had a very fun Style Party with wine and cheese at a salon (will post pics soon).  The hairstyles are even better than I imagined.  It was a magical experience to see my ideas come to life.  The models looked absolutely beautiful!  Thursday was rehearsal for the runway.  We worked on our choreography for the show which is more difficult than you would think.  Now it's time to work on the final details before Saturday and get a good sleep tonight. 

Check out the link below about Rice Rafferty in the Clarence Bee (Clarence, NY):

Clarence artists participating in Buff State fashion show

http://www.clarencebee.com/news/2011-04-13/Lifestyles/Clarence_artists_participating_in_Buff_State_fashi.html

Runway 4.0

Runway 4.0 is just around the corner.  Did you get your tickets yet?  Buffalo, NY has really become quite a fashion center.  Our proximity to Toronto and NYC provide much inspiration.  Buffalo State College also offers a fashion and textile technology program; it's the only baccalaureate program in Western New York.  The program prepares students for employment in the apparel, textile, and fashion industries.

What is the event?  It's a fundraiser fashion show featuring student, alumni, and local designers.  This isn't just like any other fashion show.  The show has Djs, amazing lighting, and graphics.  This is the high fashion event of the year, so you don't want to miss this.

When? April 16 - two shows 4PM and 8:30PM at the Pierce Arrow Building on Elmwood Avenue

My mother's new fashion collection inspired by regeneration, consisting of up cycled denim and psychedelic patterns, will be featured in the show with our Rice Rafferty accessories.  Our "Trashion" show dresses, constructed from plastic bags, will be on display at the VIP party and some models will be wearing them.

www.ricerafferty.com
www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

Japan, our thoughts and prayers are with you

Does anyone feel a lot of anxiety right now?  The world is in turmoil.  The images of Japan repeatedly flash through my mind.  We're all connected no matter what country we were born and raised in.  We all know at least one person in/from Japan.

On a personal note, we just received word our good friend Sachiko is ok.  She said she's unable to use facebook, but she can get on her email account.  They keep feeling aftershocks since the earthquake and they're all pretty startled.  Her friends and family are ok too.


If you're interested in making a donation contact the Red Cross.

Featured in Food Network Magazine

In the August issue of Food Network Magazine, one of my photographs from a photo shoot I art directed made it in the magazine.  It's always exciting to see your hard work pay off through your marketing efforts. Homemade ice cream is one of the most delicious things you will ever try.

Runway 3.0 Fashion Show

Runway 3.0 Fashion Show - Buffalo, NY - May 1, 2010

Carol Ann Rice Rafferty, a Buffalo State alumni and Adjunct Lecturer is opening the show with her line of couture clothing - Ultra Feminine Warrior - collection of wearable art includes; garments, wearable art objects and accessories inspired from military armor such as gorgets, ...gauntlets and gaiters illuminated with fiber optic lights.

Garments and accessories include hand dyed silk. For more information about these one of kind items from our cottage industry see - www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

ACTIVE WEAR made in the USA

Active wear is now a huge part of our lives. It's not just what you wear to the gym or when you're out for a bike ride. Active wear has become part of our street wear - wear it to the mall, the grocery store, or while you're doing a few chores. The great thing about wearing active wear all the time is it makes you want to work out more. Active wear is way cuter than it used to be too.

Are you tired of the made in China clothing? I know I am. Below are a few links to some active wear made in the USA.

Yoga Wear & Yoga Clothing Made in the USA

Organic Cotton and Natural Dyes
www.bluecanoe.com

Women's Yogawear, Premium Sportswear and Denim Fashion House
www.hardtailforever.com

Yoga and Rock Climbing clothing
www.prana.com

Runway 3.0 Fashion Show

Rice rafferty is proud to announce we're participating in the Runway 3.0 Fashion Show event May 1, 2010 in Buffalo, NY for Buffalo State College. We're so excited! Carol Ann Rice Rafferty is designing a line of clothing for the event. Both of us are collaborating on the accessories as well as the styling for the models. The theme of the fashion show is technology, so there will be lots of interesting designs (probably many are Lady Gaga inspired, of course!).

We hope to see you there!

Are the trends this winter for YOU?

***Fashion Trends for Autumn 2009 - Winter 2010*** thigh high boots, capes & cloaks, see-through clothing, leather, ripped jeans and military fashion

Trends of course are not meant for everybody. Trends, like art are supposed to be extreme and push the boundaries of how we think about the world around us. Trends pave the way of tomorrow.

When you're a teenager it's more acceptable to try all the trends...sometimes even in one outfit! oh my! As you get older you develop your own style; you have likes and dislikes from years of following trends (or avoiding trends). The key is analyzing the trends, understanding them and adding one element to your wardrobe to freshen things up.

Every woman should dress to compliment her own body shape and skin tone. I recommend the book Color Me Beautiful by Carole Jackson. Yes, it's from the 80's, but its lessons are timeless. The most important thing about personal fashion is it should make you feel good. What makes one woman feel confident and strong may make another woman feel miserable. Don't forget the phrase, "look good feel better." Take trends as a mere suggestion and follow your instincts.

Christmas Gift Show at Babeville

Are you looking for something special for your loved ones this Christmas? Say no to products Made in China! Support your local artists. Come visit our table at Babeville this Saturday. We are featuring devore & velvet scarves, mosaic crosses, and unique jewelry items.

http://www.buffalowomensgifts.com/festival.htm
Saturday Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Asbury Hall at Babeville (Ani DiFranco's venue formerly known as "The Church"),
341 Delaware Avenue (at West Tupper)

Is NEW Always Better?

Living in the United States in 2009 you face certain pressures as far as status quo. If you don't own the latest cell phone or ipod or drive the hippiest car you may be looked down by certain "friends." Computers and cameras are viewed as disposoble. The prices of computers have decreased greatly within the past several years, so if you have a problem with your computer it's cheaper to just buy a new one. (Does this disposable attitude extend to personal relationships as well.) With all of these disposable products i begin to picture our giant landfills becoming larger by the second. What's the point of all this? Our spending habits aren't even helping the economy anymore because of all the labor has been shipped overseas. So basically we're left with no jobs, no money, no friends and lots of garbage. Our thirst for spending is still intact like a vampire's thirst for fresh blood.

It's time to return to the simple life (no, not the Paris Hilton reality tv show). We need to find the things in life that truly make us happy not what the media tells us should make us happy. Turn off the tv, the computer, the ipod, and yes even the *gasp* cell phone and spend time with your friends and family, develop a hobby, or volunteer somewhere. You can't avoid shopping altoether obviously. It's the small things that count, so when you feel that hunger stop yourself from going to the cheapest places like Walmart or the Dollar Store and go to local shops around your community. Support your local restaurants, theaters, coffee shops, and artisans.

while i was away...

Hello All! I'm sorry its been awhile since I've posted. I drove from New York State to Georgia and back. Everyone should do that drive sometime. We live in a beautiful country with such different landscapes, plant life, and animals. I saw alligators, turkeys, palm trees, spanish moss, oak trees, lakes, oceans, etc...

While I was away I read about the shooting in Pittsburgh, Pa, August 4, 2009 at an LA Fitness center in my old neighborhood. The gunman lived a few streets away from me. I rode the school bus past his house for years. This is the kind of stuff my grandma would have nightmares about. She was always watching the news and worrying about things...now I see for just reason! My prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the gunman. He was very disturbed and isolated. It's sad he didn't have anyone to turn to. We must reach out to people who look as though they're going through a difficult time.

On another note my favorite writer/director, John Hughes, died August 6, 2009. You may know his movies - Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Home Alone, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club and many others. I was looking forward to his future films. His films will be appreciated for generations to come. RIP