Spot Light: The Woman Behind Dado

A couple weeks ago I was commissioned to write a Fashion Preview on Dado Boutique's Spring 2014 Fashion Show for a local publication. Incidentally, I learned that the woman behind this $209,000 (and growing) fundraiser fashion show is the dynamic force that keeps her clients coming back for more. Meet, Dalida "Dado" Atallah, owner and operator of local, high-end women's boutique, Dado.

A view from the back of Dado's latest location. Originally opened on Park Ave, Dado moved to Brighton in 2011.

Atallah self proclaims to hate personal feature stories, but I could not help bragging about her a bit. Let me tell it to you simply.

The facts:

• Attalah opened Dado in 2007, backed by a small $25,000 loan and no former experience in Fashion or Merchandising. 
• Atallah hosted her first free fashion show fundraiser for clients in 2009.  
• In total, the Dado Spring and Fall fashion shows have raised over $209,000 in proceeds for the Wilmot Cancer Center. 
• The Fall 2014 Dado Fashion Show had unprecedented attendance of 700 people and raised $36,000, catapulting Dado into a "legit" fashion show scene status. 
• The primary marketing strategy for Dado is word of mouth. 

Talk about a grass roots effort. What drives this 40-some-odd-year-old dynamo? She acknowledges her customer when she states, "It has always been the number one objective of the whole show for the customer to have a good time." 

She admits that people come to the show for all kinds of reasons with merely twenty percent or so of those attending being actual customers,  but ultimately it is the customer that drives her business and her ideas. "It's all about building a relationship," says Attalah of customer service. 

Dado model poses at the Spring 2014 Fashion Show, displaying hair byThe Spa at Del Monte .

Known for providing trendy clothes, targeted to the over thirty, fashionably chic and affluent population, Atallah resists the industry standard of using uber young, shapeless, tall models. Rather, with a grateful nod to her shoppers, Atallah sends actual customers down the runway. Of this decision, she comments, "Since when was fashion only for twenty-year-olds? Twenty-year-olds don't even have the money to afford this fashion."

Atallah directs models backstage, between runway walk and photo-ops  at the Spring 2014 Fashion Show.

The Nitty Gritty on Local Fashion

When something is described as "local," what comes to mind? 

The "shop local" guilt trip? Local farmers. Local musicians. A local fashion show?

Is the "local" label something special, intimate? sub par, amateur? 

Let's talk about local, Rochester fashion. What really irks me about a lot of local fashion events is that, often times, Rochester fashion events depict what is in stores currently, rather than what is being predicted for the the future. This means we are viewing merchandise for purchase, not fresh designs. "Fashion Week of Rochester" is the prime example. I got so pumped when I heard that there was a group of people trying to bring a Fashion Week to Rochester. But...

"Fashion Week of Rochester" cracks me up! Not because I scoff at the effort to increase awareness of the industry. (No, I applaud that!). Rather, it seems unprofessional and, yes, amateur to choose a title that DIRECTLY imitates the world renowned Fashion Week(s) of NYC, London, Paris, and Milan and yet so clearly has the exact opposite mission. 

Fashion Week throughout the world is a show case of designs a year before they hit stores. During fashion week, trends are acknowledged, analyzed and assessed. Designers garner inspiration. Merchandisers plan their purchases. Celebrities make appearances and the financial elite make purchases to have their hands on trends before anyone else does. 

In contrast, Fashion Week of Rochester is a local fashion event that encourages local business by showcasing what is currently in stores and ready to buy. It is an event for advertising, publicity, and a local celebration of garment sales...direct sales to you and I, the consumer. No prediction, no trend analysis, and no Rochester designers are showcased. It's a nice enough event to show off your latest hair style and a sexy pair of heels while enjoying a fancy cocktail. 

Rochester, let's celebrate FASHION by exposing some of the unique designers that are out there making it happen in our city. Do you know that they exist? Did you even know that we have local designers? 

I would like to applaud Tanvi Asher, of Peppermint Boutique for putting together Peppermint Origins: Sewn Seeds, a local showcase of fashion DESIGNS this Saturday, April 27th. Tanvi, designer behind the Peppermint collection, will be showing her designs for this Fall 2013 in collaboration with designers Andrea Geer and Josean Vargis. This collaboration of designers is as much about the educating the consumer as it is about viewing the designs. As described on sewnseeds.com, "The Show will be more than a display of fashion. Origins will show the entire journey of the designers, documenting their processes from inspiration to finished garment."

Brava, Tanvi and the Origins Collaborators! THANK YOU for taking the time to respect the consumer. What to expect?

I expect some glitz. I expect to wear my latest hair stye, a sexy pair of heels, and have a few great cocktail, too. But, this is more than a glamorized shopping bazaar. Beyond that, I expect to be educated and invigorated to support local designers who have professional talent and a long term vision for our city's fashion culture. Let's go get some fashion cred, Rochester.

(for more info and to purchase tickets, go to sewnseeds.com)

Fall Return to Femininity: The Elegant Hippie

This Summer's quintessential hippie style has evolved into a Fall 2012 return to glamour. Curvy woman are tired of styles that look like a tent. Slender woman want to demonstrate their assets as well. Have YOU been wondering how to wear the soft, billowy trends without loosing your best attributes or drowning in fringe?

Free Form, Shapeless, Fringe-y: Summer 2012 Hippie Style

That's where the 1930s come into the picture.




The truth is that the late 60s/early 70s hippie style wasn't just urban and native American influenced. In fact, the shape of clothing was paying tribute to the beauty of 1930s starlets, from sweeping a-lines, to the sex-pot, high-waisted, man-inspired suits. The exaggeration of the hourglass shape wasn't about pushing up your curves. On the contrary, it was about creating a gorgeous silhouette, starting with the defined shoulder. The 1930s was the birthplace of the hippie, the elegant hippie.  


Dress the Elegant Hippie, based on body type:

For Pear Shaped women: balance your curves by exaggerating the width of your shoulders. Well-constructed pants favor your hips, rather than hide them.

Shoulder Emphasis Tilda Swinton

Antropologie, Cacoon shape creates width above waist. SHOP IT

Hourglass and Voluptuous Women: emphasize your beautiful sternum and bust-line with fabulous necklines and feminine construction. The boat-neck is a classic. Sexy is the suggestive silouhette of the shape rather than the revealing of it.

Jean Harlow

Subtle, Sexy Modern Boatneck SHOP IT

Figure Phenomenal Boat-neck Sheath Dress SHOP IT

For the tall or long ruler, "boy-shaped woman": bring attention to your waistline. Create a waistline. Also, utilize multi-layered, multi-textured outfits, like no one else can.

1930s Pants

High Waist and Good construction echo 1930s and 1970s. SHOP SIMILATR

For Petite and Short Women: add length to your legs with platform heels and stick to flowing, lengthening shapes that elongate the torso without creating definite lines.

Add caption1930s early platform shoe

The Platform gained more popularity worn on Starlets such as Carmen Miranda in the 1940s.

Style.com Fall 2012 Shopping Guide READ IT

Wearing Your Tagline

One of the most challenging aspects of getting dressed everyday is deciding WHO you want to be. Who you are is already unique. You have a set of skills, a sense of humor, and a history all your own. Not to mention your personal goals and fears.

How do you convey who you are in that simple "first impression"?

A quick 17 seconds is about all the time you get when someone creates a first impression. The fact is, YOU CAN'T SAY it all. In a time of snapshots, soundbites and taglines, you must edit. 

1. Decide: who you want to be. 
(Something so psychological really is at the core of getting dressed each day.)

2. Be honest: people read through bull.
(Present yourself in a genuine way. This means your facial expressions that match your outfit and clothes that match your lifestyle.)

3. Brand yourself: if your outfit was a tagline, what would it say? 
(Let this guide your shopping habits.)

Whether interviewing, on a first date, or just making an acquaintance, stepping out the door with an appearance and a smile that is honest and highlights the best in you allows the opportunity to take the next step. 

Remember,

If you don't know what people see when they see you, NEITHER DO THEY. 

Only YOU can define yourself honestly and successfully.

_________

First impression research:

First impressions are formed within 7 to 17 seconds of meeting someone;  55% of a person's opinion is determined by physical appearance (read more).

Visual first impressions count when making personality judgements (read more)

 Top photo by  Kate L Photography. 

Model, Leah Kane.

Review: Rochester Fashion Week, Saturday Show

The Height of Fashion

The height of this fashion show was it's fabulous close-r, Embrasse-Moi, who sent whimsical and bridal lingerie down the runway with taste and elegance. Clearly, they saved the best for last to keep people seated


If I didn't know better, I would have preferred to shop out of the Futurepointe costume wardrobe rather than off the actual vendors. Futurepointe, a vibrant, urban contemporary dance company in Rochester, was the heartbeat of the runway, gracing intermission with their usual lively, intoxicating performance. The perfect mix of retro glam and down-home, soul-healing creole, I felt like I was watching a retro inspired mardis gras parade. Definitely, the highlight of the show.

Image Copyright FUTURPOINTEDANCE.ORG.

I must mention that one model, especially, captured out attention like a starlet. She was a picture perfect runway walker with petite boyish features and the grace of a 1930s MGM Grand film star. I'll have to get back to you on the particulars, because there was no model listing..

but I am pretty positive this glory goes to the effervescent, Miss Nina Lutz.

Photo by Frank Petronio.