Diana Cavagnaro | Downtown News

Feel Cool Jazz Campaign

(l to r) Ronna May Rivera and Goorin Bros. assistant shopkeeper Chase Nutter with the cool jazz hat collection. (Photo by Diana Cavagnaro)

Goorin Bros Inc., located at 631 Fifth Ave., in the Gaslamp, featured a launch party on Sept 21 for their new Feel Cool Jazz Campaign. Jazz from1950s Chicago inspired the designers, who displayed their felt hats in a variety of shapes, including fedoras, trilbies, and cloches. The hat designers chopped up hats like a bebop solo coming up with a two-tone brim and crown, and trumpet notes of color were seen through the hatbands.

In October two more hats will be added to the collection named with musical terms: Metronome and Sonata. The store was jumping with music from the Prohibition House Band, the Piano Jo Trio. The trio drew a huge crowd with their smooth jazz.

This fourth generation company has the only cut & sew manufacturer in Newark, New Jersey. Goorin Bros has an array of hat lines in its Downtown store in addition to the Feel Cool Jazz Collection. The Heritage Line is hand-blocked in Pennsylvania. The 1333 Minna Collection is a limited collaboration from artists and graffiti artists. In addition to adult hats they also have a stylish Kids Collection. To learn more, visit goorin.com/hat-shops/gaslamp.

Fashion Blogging 101

(l to r) Fashion bloggers Hackmann, Rosson, Gray, Thomas and Hackmann (Photo by Diana Cavagnaro)

The Fashion Group Intl. at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park presented Blogging 101 on August 29. They had a fabulous lineup of panelists: Jackie Thomas, Nacole Gray, Britt & Gretchen Hackmann, and Jennifer Rosson. Brian Hawkins, director of consumer marketing, moderated these distinguished fashion bloggers.

Jackie Thomas is a Veteran Fashionista who created Lauderdale Media. Thomas said that it is important to find a niche. With her military veteran experience, she decided to go that direction and can be followed at the militarypress.com. She advised the audience to ask themselves, “What do I want to see in print that I don’t see?” and then write about it.

Los Angeles-based Nacole Gray created the RichSkinnyPretty.com blog. Gray doesn’t like labels and wants to write about the whole spectrum. She said that it’s not all about being rich, skinny, and pretty but wants to write about the everyday girl.

Britt and Gretchen Hackmann are sisters who started nubry.com, a life through style blog that shows how you should dress. These fashion and style bloggers both have degrees in entrepreneurship and drive sales through e-commerce and content marketing.

Jennifer Rosson started the StyleYourLife.com blog. Rosson is a wardrobe stylist with a degree in fashion that has worked with Stacy London and was picked to join the network of stylists at Style for Hire. “If you look better, you will feel better,” she told attendees. Rosson said because her clients have all different budgets, she works with all price points.

This seminar gave the audience tips on having a blog and growing their fashion business. The Fashion Group International (FGI) is a non-profit organization, which hosts a variety of fashion events here in San Diego. For more info, visit: facebook.com/fgisandiego.

Upcoming Events

Oct. 2-6 – San Diego Fashion Week: Port Pavilion at Broadway Pier events will begin at 6 p.m. except for the trunk show on Oct. 6, which begins at 11 a.m. For tickets go to: fashionweeksd.com.

Oct. 19 – Heels2Heal: Fourth annual fashion show gala at the estate of Alex and Laleh Roudi to benefit Miracle Babies, starts at 5:30 p.m. Runway fashion show will be presented by New York designer Yigal Azrouel. Call 858-453-9600.

Oct. 19 – Exhibit Ambush Phase 2: Port Pavilion at Broadway Pier at 5:30 p.m. The event will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more info, call 619-955-5285.

Sept. 24 – California Dreams: Presented by Zandra Rhodes and the Westgate Hotel, and held at the new rooftop pool at 11:30 a.m. For reservations, visit WestgateHotel.TIX.com or call 800-595-4TIX.

Oct. 27 – Fall Bridal Bazaar: Presented by Gretchen Productions at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Make sure to check out one of the three fashion shows going on throughout the day. For more info call 760-334-5500.

Diana Cavagnaro is a nationally recognized hat designer and milliner, and has been in the fashion business for 30 years. The last 20 of those years she’s operated her business from Downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, while moonlighting in the Fashion department at San Diego Mesa College. She can be reached at [email protected].