We've Flipped for Phlipped Fashions: Meet Jennifer Felizardo

Phlipped Fashions, brainchild of designer Jennifer Felizardo, is a clothing line dedicated to the girl in her late 20's to early 30's who likes to be fashionable but doesn't want to look like everyone else. "She is all about being ahead of the trends and looking her best," says Jennifer. A 2012 graduate of the Art Institute of York, PA, with a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion and Retail Management, she developed this fashion line 2 years ago. Her love for fashion started when she was a little girl who created doll clothes from mismatched socks. Then at age 14, she was given a sewing machine and she has been sewing ever since!

Born and raised in a little burg outside of West Chester PA (West Grove), Jen moved to Columbus last August when her future brother- and sister-in-law insisted it was huge into fashion. Doubting that to be a reality, she researched and found that we are the THIRD largest fashion city in the US!!!! Holla! At that point, she was convinced that if she wanted to take Phlipped Fashions to the next level, she better "Go West, young... lady!"

While still working on her undergrad degree, she used her passion for revamping gently-used and second-hand clothes into unique, one of a kind styles... and flip, Phlipped Fashions and her design aesthetic were born! Jennifer tells us:
The reason I started Phlipped Fashions stems back to when I was a child. I was the middle child of five. Parents and older sisters came to America from Africa and we didn't have a whole lot. I got a lot of hand-me-downs which where never in season. So I began to take them apart and make them into things that were in season. I didn't really think that I could make a career out of that until I spoke with a designer names Michael Tull, based in Lancaster, PA. He said "Fashion is everything. If you buy something like a tee shirt and add some glitter and a pocket, that's fashion. You've created something that no one else has thought of." That had me thinking of all the things over the years I have reconstructed; realizing that I can make my passion into a career and doing reconstruction doesn't make me any less of a designer than the person next to me!!! 

Meet Ashley Arend- AFM Social Media Manager

Little Tree Photography

Ashley Arend got involved with AFM/AFW because Amee BellWanzo invited her to join the group, as she needed help with maintaining the website and social media outlets.  Knowing that Ashley wrote a blog, Amee thought this would be something right up her friend's alley!  Because Ashley knew a little bit about AFM and believed in what they were doing, she agreed to step up. Of course there was the perk of getting to spend more time with Amee!  A year later, she is certain that she has no regrets and is proud to call herself a “mobster.”

Troy Mueller Photography
Betsy Stevenson, designer

Finding Your Inspiration.

My beloved readers: I have writer's block. 

After much thought, I have decided that I'd like to blame the weather, as it was a glowing 60 degree day yesterday, and now it's 30 and raining, hailing, and snowing all at once. It's hard to feel inspired when I've gone from daydreaming about silk maxi dresses and summer festivals, to being hit in the eye with a lone snowflake, surely sent from a frozen hell. 

Now, naturally it was time to sit down and write a blog entry, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't think of anything to say that wasn't weather related. I could have written a four page tangent on the bipolar habits of seasons in the Midwest, or about my hatred for driving in the winter, but I decided that might be a tad inappropriate. I remembered learning that a useful way to get over writer's block was to write down everything that came to mind, regardless of if it was completely nonsense, or total crap. I went through with that exercise and wrote everything down: 

"My name is Brianne. I need to be writing a blog entry, but all I can think about is this nasty, ugly weather. Ugly sweaters. Ugly sweaters to keep out the ugly, ugly cold..."

At the end of an exhausted seven-hundred word document that contained nothing but psychobabble, I gave up on my journey to develop something cohesive. I put aside all thoughts of what I wanted to write about, what my topic should be, and I moved on. I tried to get inspired little by little throughout the day, but it just wasn't working.

Eventually it was time to set my laptop aside and begin getting ready to go out with my friends. Unfortunately, when I started to look for something to wear, I realized that my writer's block had extended into my closet. No matter what I looked at, I couldn't get in the mood to put it on, or accessorize it, or to pair my hair and makeup to the total look. Frustrated and officially running late, I decided to try the same method that I'd used earlier for the blog. I put on anything that seemed like it might go together, combinations that I would have never normally tried, and I just kept going. The result was forty-minutes of a tornado speed closet spree, and an overall look that left me satisfied.

Immediately after getting dressed, my inspiration was sparked and I came alive with entry ideas aplenty. I quickly learned that inspiration for something unique isn't always so easily found, even for people who are naturally creative. Sometimes you have to take an unconventional journey in order to find the things that inspire you the most. Whether it's an English writing method, a drive through snowy fields, or even just hanging out with your girlfriends over dinner: Inspiration is waiting for you somewhere.

(All images courtesy of Paramount Pictures.)

Face Melting for Fashion: 3 Rockstars' Style to Steal

As a designer and a stylist, I am constantly getting fashion inspiration from music. Really, for me, the line between the two almost doesn't even exist- I hear a song and picture a look or I think of a style and instantly put a soundtrack to it in my head. And don't even get me started on music videos, which are basically a giant inspiration explosion in my head.

That's why I was so excited to be included as one of the stylists in this year's Face Melting For Fashion! What the heck is this, you ask? Well, it's a collaborative event that's part of Alternative Fashion Week and it teams up local stylists, photographers, and bands for an awesome merging of music and fashion. The stylists get the opportunity to style the bands for a photo shoot and a live concert, where the photos will be revealed. And when I tell you I'm pumped for this event, it's an understatement. I. Am. Puuuumped!

So, with all that excitement in my head, I decided for this post I wanted to focus on the fashion/music connection by putting together some looks inspired by some of my favorite front women in rock music! And because I fully believe that fashion doesn't have to be expensive, everything you see on this post is under $100!

First up is Karen O, the amazing and one-of-a-kind lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, who, with the help of her designer friend, Christian Joy, has become a major fashion icon over the years. Her style can be a little hard to pin down: a little mod darling, some Rainbow Brite, and a whole lotta Elton John. But basically you're looking for a lot of print (like the matchy-matchy top and pants), embellishments (like the studded jacket), and whimsy (like the manicure earrings and statement shades).

(Click the links for purchasing info)

jacket | top | sunglasses | eyeliner | earrings | bag | shoes | pants

And next is another one of my favorite style stars, Grace Potter, who is the soulful lead singer (and multi-insturmentalist) of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Her look is bohemian and sultry with lots of leg. 

kimono | hat | cuff | necklace | bag | bandeau | top | boots | shorts

Last up is Lizzy Paplinger, the female half of my current favorite band, MS MR. Lizzy's style is bright, funky, and so-totally-90s. If tight and cropped is your thing, this is the style for you!

top | glasses | shorts | hair chalk | bracelet | bag | shoes | jacket

So I hope these lovely songtresses gave you some inspiration for amping up your wardrobe. And if the looks above aren't your thing, don't sweat it! If we can learn anything from these style stars, it's to be who you are and wear whatever you want! 

See you all at Face Melting for Fashion at King Avenue 5 on Friday, April 25!

xx Ashley

Blogger at StyleOnHigh.com

If you like what you see here, come check out my personal blog here or like my page on Facebook. :) 

Meet Designer and AFM Co-Founder, Kelli Martin

Energetic. Raucous. Funny. Innovative. Edgy. Outspoken. Quirky. Adorable. Dynamic. All of this and more describes Kelli Martin, co-founder of the Alternative Fashion Mob and owner of fashion line Anti.Label.

Kelli and I met over a year ago at fellow friend, artist, and Fashion Mobster, Rachel Murdock's Halloween party. Needless to say, Kelli's costume was not your ordinary, off-the-rack type and it was obvious from the beginning that she was a force to be reckoned with. And many in Columbus must agree as Columbus Alive featured her and fellow Mobster Amee BellWanzo in their 2013 class of "People to Watch."

This 33 year-old has already experienced so much in the world of fashion and has no trouble expressing her thoughts and feelings about the industry. A Westside Columbus native, she left the Midwest for LA at the tender age of 19 to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and follow her dream to become a fashion designer.