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Spring Was in the Air (and the Food) at the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party
Story, photos By Jill Beckel The 2017 Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party featured cuisine from Rittenhouse Row’s best restaurants, cocktails from their best bartenders, informal modeling of spring trends from Rittenhouse Row member boutiques and salons, and a silent auction with Rittenhouse Row experiences and merchandise. Located at the Hyatt at the Bellevue, food and beverages were provided by: 24 Wood Fired Fare, a.bar, a.kitchen, Alma de Cuba, Barclay Prime, Baril, Ben & Jerry’s, Butcher and Singer, CODA, The Dandelion, D’Angelo’s, Davio’s, Devon, Di Bruno Bros., Garces Restaurants, Lacroix, Marathon Grill, Metropolitan Bakery, Mission Taqueria, Parc, Rita’s Italian Ice, Rouge, Schweid & Sons, Termini Bros. Bakery, Verts, Bar Volver, Wrap…
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Falling in Love with Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Since I was a teen, I wanted to live a bi-coastal life with my favorite seasons on the East Coast (Spring, Summer and Fall) and escape chilly Philly to somewhere warm in the winter (usually California and sometimes Florida). Perhaps I don’t own any warm weather property (yet) however I can escape the cold to the land of sunshine and lollipops, especially now that my back is fixed up with no pain and I’m literally less than 5 degrees curved now from scoliosis fusion surgery! So this trip was extra special and an encouragement from my Scoliosis Inspire & Inform group to take a one-year “Spineaversary” to celebrate being back…
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Stand Out in Rocked-Out Motorcycle Jackets, Vests and More from Vicious Vesture
Story by Jill Beckel, photos by Vicious Vesture Explore Philly first met Shelby Cobra of Vicious Vesture at the Punk Rock Flea market in Philly and knew right away that she was one cool chick! She makes and sells all her own unique clothing items that have a rocker edge. She started her business two years ago with the help of her mom and has been working side jobs as well to keep it running. As an independent designer, Shelby often gets frustrated by the fashion industry and wants to see change. Fashion corporations who mass produce items are making millions off the backs of children in China and underpaid women in Bangladesh.…
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‘Tis the Season for Modeling, Photography Scammers and Catfishing
By Cassie Hepler One thing a lot of people ask me as an established model/actress/photographer and vetted journalist is how to spot a scammer. Well, fortunately for you, I have been getting hit hard lately. And the scams are getting more and more complex with legit looking websites, one person who got targeted by scammers even had to put a disclaimer on his website and even friends trying to sell off their beloved vintage furniture for a move cross country are getting hit. I’ll break it down for you so you can see the email/text pattern (there is never a direct phone call made, red flag number one), the horrible…
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Progression of a Model and Actress: How I Got Into Modeling and Acting
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler This is by far one of the most frequent questions I get from models, photographers, strangers, coworkers… pretty much everyone. So I wanted to share my story which may help inspire others to chase their dreams. I was sitting at a corner cafe in Paris enjoying my beer blanche de bruxelles when someone stopped me on the street and said, wow you should be a model/actress! Just kidding! That’s the cliche and not the norm (although that’s usually how runway models seem to tell the tale). My story is a more DIY tale much like me. I was attending college at Penn State University, obtaining my…
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A Growing Showing: Philly Fashion Week Brings International Designers to Rub Elbows with Emerging Local Talent
Story, photos by Eric Smith “Growth.” That’s the one word – or derivation of it – that comes up in conversation with fashion insiders describing Philadelphia Fashion Week, an event featuring local and international designers, with the 2015 fall show having just gone down the catwalk in the city from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. From fashion icon Fern Mallis, to Philadelphia Fashion Week co-founder Kevin Parker, to event attendee and local designer Renee Hill, the consensus is that Philadelphia Fashion Week continues to pick up steam and provide a place for local designers to mingle with international talent. Mallis, creator of New York Fashion Week and driving force behind…