About a month ago, I had the privilege of participating in an event at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) called 3 Days of Fashion. The event featured various seminars on draping, how to recognize fashion trends, social media marketing, a tour of the LA campus, and ended with a great mini fashion show from Nick Verreos, a FIDM instructor and host of TV Guide’s “Fashion Wrap.”

I had the honor of meeting and hosting a group of potential new students that were extremely talented and eager to learn new things. Pictured here are some of their creations from the draping seminar:

During 3 Days of Fashion, Mercedes Lauren Curran was a featured instructor. I found her energy during the seminar very refreshing and informative so I thought you’d enjoy getting to know her, too.

Q. As a publicist and event planner myself I enjoy working with a variety of different people, organizations and non-profits, how do you determine who to work with?

A. I always aim to look at the bigger picture when it comes to whom I work with. I tend to not be as mindful of the monetary connection but rather feel a greater personal reward when I believe that my work will have a positive impact on individual’s lives.

Q. You are a graduate of FIDM, how did attending a fashion school prepare you to be an entrepreneur?

A. FIDM is a college that teaches students how to be lifelong learners, to look at each project at hand and use creativity to find solutions. This kind of mind set is essential for any entrepreneur. I am so thankful to FIDM for enabling me to achieve so many of my aims in life already.

Q. Who is the most famous person you have worked with?

A. That is a tough one because fame is often in the eye of the beholder. While I was in college gaining experience in retail at American Rag in Los Angeles I would often assist Wynonna Ryder. She was very sweet. I also helped Julian Casablanca’s from The Stokes. I worked with lots of stars in 2008. Fame is a time sensitive and taste preference kind of thing, so hard to say.

Q. You are apart of the staff of Darling Magazine, what kind of publication is it? How often does it come out? How long has it been a publication? Is it in hard copy or only online?

A. Darling is quarterly publication that comes out with the seasons of the year – Fall, Winter Spring, and Summer. We are all about “The Art of Being a Woman.” There is no better way to express the heart of our magazine than through our mission statement. Darling Magazine holds the modern mold of woman up to the fire to evoke a discussion on femininity and re-shape an authentic design. Darling is a catalyst for positive change; leading women to discover beauty apart from vanity, influence apart from manipulation, style apart from materialism, sweetness apart from passivity, and womanhood without degradation. Darling leads woman to practice the arts of virtue, wit, modesty, and wisdom- all the while creating beauty and embodying love. Darling says women are not only interesting but original, not only good enough, but exceptional – not just here, but here for a purpose.” We are embarking on our second year of being a printed publication and we launched our online blog in November 2011. We are fortunate to have excellent writers for online and print. You can visit www.darlingmagazine.org to read our most recent posts as well as order the online magazine.

Q. You were featured as a speaker at FIDM’s recent 3 Days of Fashion. Do you also work for FIDM? If so, in what capacity?

A. Yes, I presently work for FIDM within their Office of Education and Community Affairs. I am proud to be a guest lecturer in classrooms all around Los Angeles; aiming to educate, inspire, and open opportunities to current students.

Q. Since this article will be featured in the Military Press Newspaper, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you if you have any family or friends in the military.

A. I was blessed to marry a wonderful man, Daniel Curran in 2009. My sister-in-law’s husband, Eric, is presently a Navy Corpsman. My grandfather, Hans Ewoldsen, served in the Marines in the 1960s.

For more information about FIDM or to attend their upcoming open house, Saturday, August 17th, 2013, visit their website at www.fidm.com.

Until next time my Veteran Fashionistas, as always, stay fashionable!

Jackie Thomas is a proud Navy Veteran. She has represented designers from Project Runway, Project Runway All Stars, All On The Line, etc. She produces celebrity fashion shows all across the country and abroad. She’s also a Guest Speaker for FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in San Diego.

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