Vans Warped Tour and Interview with Truth Campaign Tour Rider Angela Ying

Hi lovelies,

Did you catch the truth campaign’s latest Left Swipe Dat video? Check it out below! Also, check out my interview with a "truth tour" rider, Angela Ying, who's a Public Health major at Brigham Young University and works for the American Red Cross.

It's an awesome project, learn more below and how you can get involved!

Becky G and Fifth Harmony teamed up with truth as well as King Bach, Grace Helbig, Harley Morenstein and AlphaCat to call attention to the impact that smoking images have. 

This summer the truth campaign is traveling across the country – empowering this generation to use their power and creativity to end tobacco use for good. 

For the 15th year, the truth tour will have two crews of truth “tour riders” who will hit the road from June through September and connect with more than one million young people at over 100 stops including stops on the Vans Warped Tour and the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

The tour riders will have a singular message to young people: let’s be the generation to “Finish It” and end tobacco use for good.

The full schedule for the tour is available at: thetruth.com/events

Candy Washington: What inspired you to get involved with the truth Campaign?

Angela Ying: I was inspired to get involved with the truth campaign because I remember watching the truth commercials growing up and just being in shock by what I saw. I always thought to myself, “Why would anyone ever want to touch a cigarette when all these facts are out here plain and simple?” Those ads played a huge part in my decision to never smoke. Knowing that about 1 out of 3 youth smokers will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease, I wanted to get involved and make a difference in the world. I wanted to inspire other teens and young adults and show them that they didn’t have to smoke to have fun. I’ve also always wanted to combine my passions for public health issues and touring in the music industry, so when I heard about the truth tour rider position, I applied right away.

CW: What has surprised you the most while being on the Vans Warped Tour?

AY: The most surprising thing to me while being out on the Vans Warped Tour is how open teens have been about talking about cigarettes and tobacco. Every 6 seconds, someone in the world dies from a smoking-related disease and when I hear stories from so many people about how tobacco has impacted their lives, it makes that statistic so much more personal and real. Some stories have brought me close to tears and those personal shares remind me that the truth campaign does change and make a difference in lives. It makes the truth message and my role in sharing that message with others that much more important to me.

CW: How can we get involved and help out in the movement?

AY: Visit thetruth.com and sign up to #FinishIt! The teen smoking rate is at 8% now, which is down from 23% in 2000, and we need everyone’s help in joining forces to get that down to 0%! You can also “X” your profile picture on social media to show that you are committed to being a part of the generation to end smoking.

CW: What's not to be missed during the tour?

AY: Anything that’s happening at the truth truck! We have live music by the DJ J. Dayz all day long and fun, interactive games. The lip-sync competitions in the truth zone are always a blast too and can get pretty intense, which is awesome.

CW: As a self-described hippie, how has that helped you connect with others during the movement?

AY: I’m all about being eco-friendly and trying my best to protect the earth. Most people don’t know that about 1.69 billion pounds of butts end up as toxic trash each year. The environmental impact of cigarette butts is a really easy way to connect with teens about the issue of smoking if they haven’t necessarily been personally impacted by tobacco. Due to the fact that cigarette butts are the number one littered item around the world, everyone is impacted by cigarettes. truth is all about sharing facts in a casual, comfortable way, and I think my laidback personality also makes me easily approachable.

CW: Anything else you want to share with my readers?

AY: Follow truth on Twitter and Instagram at @truthorange to see our adventures on the road! We also do awesome stuff year-round so you don’t want to miss out. And if you’re in the area, make sure to check us out on tour. The schedule is: thetruth.com/events. We want to hang out with each and every one of you!

Summer beauty interview with Emily Loftiss, 'The Queen of Everyday Glam'

Hi lovelies,

Check out the details on my interview with 'The Queen of Everyday Glam,' Emily Loftiss as we discuss how to keep your hair and skin looking healthy these hot summer months!

"Summertime can wreak havoc on our beauty routines.

While salty beach air and a strong summer sun are a welcome relief from the gray, snowy days of winter, our hair and skin can suffer the consequences.

Which is why the rising temperatures give us the perfect reason to evaluate and revamp our current beauty and wellness routines.

Beauty expert and ‘Queen of Everyday Glam,’ Emily Loftiss shares tips with us to keep ourselves looking gorgeous and healthy this summer."

WATCH NOW!

MORE ABOUT EMILY LOFTISS:
Southern born Emily Loftiss is the "Queen of Everyday Glam!" A former pageant queen and Radio City Rockette, with a love for fake eyelashes and rhinestones. Emily's stand out, charming southern personality mixed with her love of fashion has sent her on a wild ride from fashion weeks to national television.  With an international readership from over 117 countries of her popular blog "Loftiss Says", Emily has been a featured contributor on Huffington Post, AOL Beauty, Chic.tv, Brides, Southern Living and Red Carpet 101 as well as a Style and Beauty expert on NBC "The Steve Harvey Show," CBS, “The Insider", "The Real",  MTV's "Made." She was named "the IT girl" by Rivera Magazine and Henri Bendel, and "One to Watch" by Southern Living Magazine, spokesperson with brands as Trina Turk, Old Navy, ROC Skincare, Birchbox and Instyler. Emily's passion though, is helping real women on a budget feel just as glamorous as the celebrities she styles for Hollywood's Red Carpets. She's passionate about helping women of all sizes navigate trends, find a good tailor and play up their best assets!

Get Your Man Back: An exclusive interview with author Chase Stonebridge

Hi lovelies,

Luckily for us single gals Valentine's Day is far behind us. Although, I must admit, that even though I'm quasi-recently single, I had a wonderful time on V-Day this year. I went on a first date with a guy that works at the National Geographic, got Spanish tapas, sparkling sangria, and heard about crazy stories of adventures from filming in the wilderness. Then I met up with my favorite and most special Valentines of all, my friends. 

However, it can be a time when we reflect on love lost and start cyber-stalking our exes. Thanks to Google, Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram, text messages, and more, our exes are truly never left in the past. Well, if your ex is worth getting back, then they don't necessarily need to stay in the past and you can easily win him back and have him in your arms before the next Valentine's Day rolls around. 

If you want to know the simple secrets to getting your man back, then read below for my interview with Chase Stonebridge, dating coach and author of Get Your Man Back, a breakthrough three-step system to help women get their ex-boyfriends back - as long as they are worth it. Grab your copy here, comment below with any questions or tweet @CandyWashington.

Hi Chase, I'm so excited to chat with you and I'm sure my lady readers are as excited as I am, especially with Valentine's Day having just come and gone. Tell us, what was the inspiration behind your book, Get Your Man Back?
It got to the point where I had so much information from bartending and life in general, that I was basically forced make sense of it all and create something to help women. Otherwise, I would feel as though I was doing a disservice to the women that I came across by not sharing my knowledge with them.

I've been through the ups and the downs of relationships, and everything in-between. Through life experience and thorough research, I have discovered the triggers, the signs, the basic rules of dating and getting your man back.

After hearing so many women's stories,  I was able to create a system that would help women get their ex-boyfriends back, but only if he is worth it. The coolest part of about my final product, the book, is that women were not only gaining confidence but it was empowering them for future boyfriends, relationships, and the day-to-day basic interactions with men. 

Do your guy friends feel as though you have broken your 'Bro Code'?
Personally, I'm not crossing anyone. I actually think the antithesis of that is being done.  Essentially what I am writing actually has NOTHING to do with the guy in the first place. Just his state of mind. This is ALL about the woman from the inside out. Guys don't talk to each other with the awareness of, "if she does this one specific thing, I'm gonna get back with her." It's not like that. 

What was the most surprising thing you found out about both men and women while researching the book?
I think that in the beginning stages of research when I was separately interviewing recently broken up men and women, it really opened my eyes as to how eager the women were to keep the connection going with their exes. They needed a string to dangle from. Almost every single woman had to have some sort of tab on him, otherwise she thought that he would just forget about her.

This concept is something that I talk about in great detail in the book, the counterintuitive state of that moment, ending a relationship with a guy but still wanting to have a connection to him. I received over 200 testimonials from women thanking me JUST FOR that portion of the book. That realization of how important the time right after a break up is, really opened my eyes. 

Let's get a bit personal, what is your craziest break-up story? And did you end up getting back together with her?
For me, one of the more outlandish stories I had was getting out of a two year relationship. Lilly (her name for the story) and I were best friends for a very long time before we started dating which usually is a pretty good rule of thumb that something is headed in the right direction.

However, as time passed, we started growing apart is I had to travel more for work. She began thinking that there was another woman involved because we were communicating less because I was in the road. Of course, there never was anyone else. That being said, the way I viewed her started to change over time and eventually I suggested that we take a break.

After three weeks of bickering, arguing, and two broken lamps, we finally decided to give each other some space. I don't want to give too much away, but the way that she handled herself after that drove me crazy in the best way possible and we ended up back together for a long period of time until we amicably decided to see other people. I talk about it in the book. 

What can you reveal to my readers about how to get their ex back without giving too much away?
Without giving away the secrets or even going into the three-step system, one piece of advice for a recently heartbroken woman would be to realize YOU ARE SINGLE. Until you come to terms with this, at least for the time being, you will never be able to fully move on. Your insecurity will subconsciously hold you back until the moment when you can wake up and look in the mirror and say, "I'm single, I'm sexy, and I am a hell of a catch. Let's get this day started!" That's actually when you start getting him back...

Where can we go to buy your book and connect with you?
You can download your copy here. You also will get tips and secrets every week sent to your inbox. 

Interview with celebrity on-air fashion and lifestyle expert Dawn Del Russo on holiday fashion finds

Hi lovelies,

Just in time for last-minute shopping and gift-giving, I chatted with Dawn Del Russo of My Intimate Affair with Fashion to discuss last-minute gifts that won't break the bank, stocking stuffers, gifts for boys and girls, the hard-to-shop for person on your list, and what to buy for the guy on your list.

More About Dawn Del Russo: Dawn Del Russo is a celebrity on-air fashion & lifestyle expert. Dawn has been featured on Fox 5, CBS, NBC, E News!, Pix 11, Inside Edition, Better TV, Martha Stewart Radio as well as host for a local TV program. Dawn's fashion tips have been seen in national and internationally in print like InStyle, Cosmo, Real Simple, Life & Style and US Weekly magazine. She recently was a top stylist on Glamour Magazine's hit show "Dress to Kill." Dawn is the author of "101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle." Her tips cover, beauty, fashion, healthy body and mind, stylish living, and finding inner confidence. She has worked with top runway models, celebrities and socialites. Visit her trendy boutique Bella Dawn for stylish finds and world recognized styling services. Dawn can be found chatting about fashion on twitter @DawnDelRusso, posting finds on Pinterest, giving daily celebrity style tips on her YouTube channel, virtual style advice, "Posing" for her 45,000 followers on Pose app, and writing about her favorite beauty and fashion finds on her site My Intimate Affair with Fashion.

Interview with designer Altaf Maaneshia: Perfect for the fun, flirty, and sexy girl

Hi lovelies,

I just got the fashion scoop on one of the hottest, new women's wear designers out there, Altaf Maaneshia. Featured in WWD and Apparel News, Altaf is freshly off of his Spring/Summer 2015 Collection Mystique Garden that was presented during both the New York and Los Angeles runway shows. 

"Altaf Maaneshia returned to his favorite Forties-inspired dresses marked by extreme shoulders and nipped waists done in mixed materials, slightly imprecise fits and odd color combinations, such as mustard yellow and neon coral.  Separates, such as a bomber in a vivid floral print with metallic brocade trip and ivory silk shorts and a minidress, felt sporty and fresh."
 - WWD

His price points range from $50-$350 and luckily for us, I scored an interview with the designer and below are featured pieces from his collection. 

Candy Washington: What was it like to showcase your designs during LA Fashion Week? 
Alta Maaneshia: Overall it was a great experience to show during LA fashion week. LA gives you great opportunities to socialize with people. I love to design for entertainment industry and LA is the best place for that.

CW: What was going on behind-the-scenes, that we can only find out here?
AM: I have been traveling internationally to showcase my latest  FW '14 collection. I have been working around the clock very hard. Spending time with family and enjoying life. 

CW: I loved the models big, tousled hair and deep red and burgundy lipstick on the runway. What role did hair and make-up play into telling the story of the collection?
AM: Spring Summer '15 was inspired by the idea of a garden and this is the reason why we chose a "nest" inspired look. It created a cohesive look transpiring where the inspiration came from.

CW: Who is quintessential Altaf Maneesha-girl?
AM: The Altaf Maaneshia girl is between the ages of 20-30 years old. She likes to have fun, be trendy, stand out in a crowd, wear structured clothes. She is a defined, strong woman.

CW: What's next for your and your designs?
AM: I am working on the Fall Winter '15 collection as we speak and putting together the finishing touches.  After some final tweaks and altercations, my vision for this collection will be transpired, I don't want to give too much away quite yet, but what I can say is that you can expect to see thick chunky wool, leather and comforting stretchy fabrics.

CW: Is anything else that you would like to share with my readers?
AM: Be an inspiration for others. Live your life passionately!

Trumaker: The new menswear brand revolutionizing the shopping experience and interview with the CEO

Hi lovelies,

The online and in-store shopping experience is constantly changing and evolving. New to scene and changing the shopping game is Trumaker, a new type of menswear brand that bridges retail and e-commerce.

In their words: “Trumaker’s individually tailored fit and carefully crafted design gives an alternative to traditional menswear and bring an entirely new service to the everyday man. 

Utilizing its mobile app, Trumaker sends experienced Outfitters to customers’ homes or offices for 30-minute fittings where they take measurements, gather style preferences and provide tailored wardrobe consultations. Gone are the days where men need to spend hours at the store scouring for the right size or discovering the right fit; the Trumaker experience starts at the beginning, eliminating the dreaded process of shopping that men avoid.

Trumaker is launching sweaters, leather goods and belts. Its current portfolio includes shirts for both work and play,as well as a complete ready-to-wear line of luxury tees, cashmere sweaters and accessories.”

Check out my exclusive interview with their CEO Mark Lovas:

Candy Washington: Hi Mark, what was the inspiration behind Trumaker?

Mark Lovas: After developing the Guideshops for Bonobos, I spent a lot of time evaluating the menswear landscape. I discovered that custom clothes for men are all commoditized and that they targeted a very narrow slice of the market -- Wall Street types who were looking for a convenient alternative to their local tailors. I saw a big opportunity to serve a much larger market by creating an upgrade brand via Outfitters who would go to customers' homes and give them personalized style consultations.

I wanted to create something for men that they may not have had access to before: bespoke tailoring at their doorstep and access to an individualized experience that they can only get at a tailor, but now made more accessible because we come to them. Everything we make as a result of a fitting is built to fit every man's specific body.

CW: What are some of the ways Trumaker is revolutionizing the shopping experience?

ML: Trumaker is revolutionizing shopping through its business, product and experience.

• Business - Many made-to-measure brands are commoditized, using custom to make the brand seem more "complex" but not actually providing much personalization. We are bringing to our customers a truly individualized experience and taking built-to-fit a step further -- eliminating the dreaded process of shopping for men.

• Product - High-quality and carefully designed apparel are our number one priority. Our customized pieces are meticulously constructed in San Francisco with custom fabrics and finishes -- ensuring a perfect fit -- down to the thread.

• Experience - Most men don't know how to shop, don't have time to shop or don't care to shop in general. We utilize our mobile app to send local experienced Outfitters to customers’ homes or offices for 30-minute fittings where they take measurements, gather style preferences and provide tailored wardrobe consultations. The Trumaker experience starts from the beginning; once we have your measurements, everything you buy comes built or sized for you, so you have the benefits of online without worrying about size.
   

CW: What are some of the menswear brands that participate in Trumaker?

ML: No menswear brands participate in Trumaker. We are an independent company that strives to provide the everyday man with carefully crafted, classic but still unique and perfectly fitted shirts. Some have said we are "J. Crew cut for you." Our shirts that may be similarly priced as J. Crew's, but we are an upgrade because we save men the trouble of discovering the right fit or taking a shirt in to get tailored.

CW: Can you tell us more about the mobile app?

ML: Our outfitters use the mobile app to take orders. Technology is #1 for our Outfitters; there is a lot of technology involved in building a shopping platform that can take precise measurements and translate those numbers into a tangible product. What contributes to our company's uniqueness is that we are powered by mobile technology to streamline a process that should be innately simple for the customer -- getting a great fitting shirt.

CW: Anything else you want to share with my readers?

ML: Trumaker's business is going very well. We currently have Outfitters in 10 cities nationwide (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville and New York) and the company is on track to quadruple its sales from last year, growing 20% month over month. We currently offer built-to-fit shirts for both work and play and just recently launched blazers, as well as a complete ready-to-wear line of luxury tees, cashmere sweaters and accessories. We plan to own a greater share of a customer’s closet over time, using our measurement and sizing data to build a smart assortment of ready-to-wear items to complement our built-to-fit offerings.

Meet the new sustainable fashion company VIDA and CEO Umaimah Mendhro

Hi lovelies,

I wanted to introduce you to the recently launched new e-commerce fashion company, VIDA. You can shop sustainably and responsibly just in time for the new holiday shopping season. Read on for the fashion-insider scoop below and an exclusive interview with the co-founder and CEO Umaimah Mendhro.

The sustainable fashion scoop on VIDA:
“VIDA brings global consciousness and an impeccable sense of taste to style-seekers through carefully selected artistic partnerships and luxurious, responsibly produced clothing and accessories—starting with a line of tops and scarves.

VIDA is able to produce limited and one-of-a-kind items to meet demand, giving you a say in what designs are produced.

VIDA will launch with 200+ designers and artists from around the world, including photographers, graphic designers, painters, sculptors and more, from Karachi to Kuala Lumpur, San Francisco to Sofia, London to Barcelona and Venice to Tokyo.

VIDA offers more than 75 designs on 5 types of products:

• 100% modal scarves: $40

• Cashmere-modal scarves: $75

• 100% silk square scarves: $95

• 100% silk modern short sleeve top: $65

• 100% silk modern sleeveless dress top: $75

• VIDA gives shoppers access to high quality silk, modal and cashmere products and unique designs at reasonable price points.

Through carefully selected manufacturing partnerships, VIDA is able to ensure fairness and economic empowerment at every step of the process. VIDA has partnered with responsible producers and offers all craftspeople a living wage and literacy classes.”

Interview with co-founder and CEO Umaimah Mendhro:

Candy Washington: What was the inspiration behind the collection?

Umaimah Mendhro: Growing up in Pakistan, I dreamt of becoming an artist, yet couldn't get myself to pursue that path because I was worried I might not be able to make a living. Throughout my professional career in the US in technology and business, I kept my love for design and remembered the huge footprint that the textile industry has in Pakistan. Many of the millions of people working in the industry are struggling to make ends meet. 

We founded VIDA to give emerging, global artists an opportunity to share their gift with the world while getting an opportunity to make a living. And to give shoppers access to beautiful, original pieces that are made in a way that create a positive impact. 

CW: What are the eco-conscious elements within the collection?

UM: We create products to meet consumer demand. So, unlike other retailers and designers who may have excess inventory from season to season, we drastically reduce waste by sticking to a model that only produces what consumers will buy. To that end, we also keep very little product on hand. 

VIDA believes in sustainable and fair manufacturing practices. We work with our manufacturing partners to ensure that our producers receive literacy classes and a fair wage, enabling them to build a better life for themselves and their families.

CW: How did you select which artistic partners and brands to collaborate with?

UM: Artists can post their designs (any type of art--from watercolor to photographs to digital art) directly onto our site. We produce those designs and make them available to our shoppers, encouraging our shoppers to be a part of the process. 

We focused on finding emerging talent all across the globe. We looked at artists showcasing at Fashion Week across cities all over the world, those recognized by the industry, as well as those who already had a fanbase on social media.  VIDA designers include: Elle Magazine’s ‘Up and Coming Fashion Designer from Sweden,' Emma Lundgren, Vogue.com’s top 10 fashion grads to watch, Cigdem Keskin from Turkey, and Tokyo based ‘Top Hat Designer of the Year,’ Honoyo Imai. We've really tried to include work from artists we personally admire, and we've found that those were often the pieces that resonated with our shoppers as well.

CW: What are some of your favorite pieces from the curated collection?

UM: The beautiful part about the collection is that it offers such a rich diversity of artistic perspectives - across over 20 regions around the world - from Milan to Tokyo and San Francisco to Sofia. I am particularly excited about our tops. They're very easy to wear and flattering, yet strikingly beautiful. And the slate and white palette will pair well with everything. I also think that any of our warmer cashmere-modal scarves are perfect as we head into winter. We have vibrant, colorful designs based on watercolor paintings like "Maria" (by Maria Virginia Montiel from Barcelona) along with more understated pieces based on photography like "Project Rare" (by Jennifer Corrales from San Francisco) -- it's a curated collection with something for everyone.

CW: Where can we go to shop the new line? 

UM: VIDA products are available at http://www.shopvida.com/. 

Be kind to your heart this Valentine's Day: Interview with cardiologist Dr. Richard Krasuski

Hi lovelies,

As we are gearing up to spend Valentine's Day with our sweethearts, we need to be mindful to take care of our own hearts. Luckily for us I got some one-on-one time with cardiologist Dr. Richard Krasuski on how to keep your heart healthy.

xo,

Candy

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