FIDM Honors the Designers of Juicy Couture!

On Wednesday, November 12th, I had the opportunity to attend a reception on the park at my alumni, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The reception was in honor of the design team, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor of Juicy Couture, and to unveil the Juicy Couture Dedication Wall.

This was a very exciting and inspirational evening for myself, not just because I had the opportunity to mix & mingle with the fashion elite; but because 1/2 of the Juicy Couture design team, Pamela Skaist-Levy attended FIDM the same years that I attended. Although she was a design major, and I a merchandising/marketing major; we still have something major in common...the love of fashion.

The evenings festivities took place under a tent in the FIDM park. Decorated with the Juicy Couture signature colors of pink & white, guest feasted on a variety of delicious cuisine, while waiting for the guests of honors to make their appearance. While feeling my way through the setting, I had the chance to introduce myself to the FIDM President, Tonian Hohberg and a host of other prestigious staff and faculty. Also, on staff with FIDM, as a instructor, is Nick Verreos (Nikolaki Fashion Owner/Designer) of Project Runway fame in 2005.

When the Juicy Girls (as they are more affectionately known) arrived, the mood in the tent immediately launched into full swing. I watched as members of the media vied for their positions to capture their best shots. The design team thanked the guest for attending. Pamela thanked her husband, CSI and Las Vegas, Producer, Jefery Levy (whom was in attendance) for being a great support. The ladies were then presented with a Proclamation by Council Woman, Jan Perry before we were all escorted upstairs for the unveiling of the Dedication Wall.

I'm amazed by the Juicy Couture story: Pamela and Gela met through mutual friends in 1988. With $200, the ladies began to create and design what would become the beginning of a fashion empire. By 1997, Juicy Couture was launched and has now grown into a major lifestyle brand with products for women, children, men perfume and accessories. Juicy Couture is best known for its somewhat risque pink, terrycloth sweatsuit that had "Juicy" written across the butt. Now, Juicy has a vast variety of merchandise to fit the lifestyles of a host of fashion savvy men, women and children.