A Sharp Eye; a feature on Polyvore and Moi!

A Polyvore tutorial from the Lifestyle website A Sharp Eye

A few weeks ago, my friend Nancy Ireland, co-creator of one of my must read websites A Sharp Eye emailed me for a bit of help with an article she was writing on Polyvore. Nancy knows I am a self described, "Polyvore addict". You have all seen my Polyvore fashion sets, because whenever I create one, I post it to my blog as well as Instagram.

Nancy's website, A Sharp Eye, is a fun. informative daily read that gives you the 411 on all things cutting edge on topics such as travel, entertaining, fashion, events and happenings, gifts, technology, health, family and philanthropy.

I love love love websites that synthesize the world for me. A Sharp Eye, like my other daily read Need 2 Know, a news summary. are essentially my Cliff Notes on life. If you feel inundated with information, here are two places that take the toil out of keeping pace and I am ever grateful.

Nancy is also a wonderful client of mine at Richards. As her Personal Shopper, I have joyfully, attended to her and her families wardrobing needs for the last 15+ years. I also hope, I return the favor of simplifying her life, by taking the toil out of shopping; pairing down the trends, keeping my eye open for things that she will love and building on past purchases with new items to freshen them up. (For your complimentary appointment, please call me at 203 622 0551).


Imagine how pleased I was that Nancy decided to personalize her informative Polyvore piece, by siting DivaDebbi  as an example of how the site resonates professionally and personally for its users. You can read the entire article here.

Once again, she takes this oft misunderstood website, gives a synopsis of it's backstory and explains to the lay person, how you to can bring the shopping world to your finger tips in just a few strokes.

Case in point;  when I was one of the keynote speakers for the Breast Cancer Alliance luncheon in 2012, peplums were having a moment. I got it in my head that in October, I wanted to wear a pink peplum dress. Good luck finding it...

But find it I did! I was able to use Polyvore's shopping site to find something in minutes, that I could have fruitlessly shopped for, for weeks.  5 minutes later, a pink peplum dress was ordered and on it's way to me from Matches in London.

DivaDebbi and friends
Breast Cancer Alliance Luncheon 2012

So here's to friends and all the tips we share to make every day of our fast paced lives, just a little bit easier.

Happy reading, happy shopping and my thanks, Nancy...

xox,
DD

Breast Cancer Awareness Month:Touch the Ta Ta's

I Wear Pink for All Women! by divadebbi 

October, International Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great thing. Cities, all over the world alight and align for this cause that effects 1 in 8 women each year.

It also brings with it, a certain wariness for survivors.  Believe me, it's not that we are not grateful for funds raised and donated, but it resonates at times like a sledge hammer and sometimes, rings a bit hollow.

Since August, I have received dozens and dozens of PR pitches to promote products that are donating proceeds from sales of specially issued products.  Forgive me for being weary, it just brings a lot of difficult memories to the fore.

The photo of me above, with my sister Loren, was taken at last years Breast Cancer Alliance of Greenwich annual Luncheon and Fashion Show. 

For the last several years, my employers, the Mitchell family, have generously underwritten part of this event and provide the fashion show.

Last year, I was asked to share my survivor story, which I did, in front of many special friends as well as over 900 other women and men.  It's taken me a year to write about it...

I Wear Pink for...My family, for me and for all women

I Wear Pink for...My family, for me and for all women by divadebbi 

I am very proud that Polyvore chose my set to feature on their home page as a "Member Spotlight" for this set (10-8-12). It such an honor! My set was selected from many thousands and viewed by over 200,000 people in just one day!!! I also received dozens of lovely messages from supporters. What a beautiful gift.

*Update: Today Polyvore created a new page that highlights all that is going on with trends, stars, members etc.  They again chose to feature this page.  It has now been viewed by over 500,000 people all over the world.  Really, I'm speechless...

It's October, which of course is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It will be a parade of pink, but it's all for a very good cause. I am also proud to be speaking at the Breast Cancer Alliance of Greenwich's annual fashion show and luncheon on October 25th. This incredible organization has raised and donated millions of dollars to research every year since it's inception!!!

 That is a huge WOW and I am pleased to have Co-Chaired this years Silent Auction, which we feel will be a great success.   You can view and bid on our items by clicking on this link.

As a nearly 16 year survivor, I am ever grateful to my family, friends, Doctors, clients, employers, fellow fundraisers and Polyvore friends for their unwavering love and support.

Truly, great strides have been made from the money that is raised for continued research, so do be generous. Truly, there is hope, because on many levels it's already here...

To your good health and mine,

xox,
DD

Student Stars Strut Their Stuff for Breast Cancer Awareness

Co-President Oliva Cohen in Givenchy with a Nancy Gonzales clutch

Breast Cancer Alliance Jr. Committee Fashion Show and Fundraiser
Richards of Greenwich

Despite some students having attended their Sr. prom just hours before, neither rain or sleep deprivation, could keep these dedicated from modeling in the fundraiser they planned.  Four local High Schools came together as one, to raise money and awareness, to fund mammograms for the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven, CT.

The committee of 18, was lead by BCA Junior Presidents Olivia Brindak, Oliva Cohen, Alex Combias, Amanda Lyddane, Caroline Drennen, Caroline Johnson, John Mayberry, James Skinner and Jake Fields.

They girls looked absolutely dazzling, modeling dresses of their own choosing from Herve Leger, M. Missoni, Lanvin, Pucci, Michael Kors, Paula Ka, Yigal Azrouel.  The guys too, looked fashionable and handsome, in Zegna and Cucinelli, a far cry from the Varsity athletic gear they are frequently attired in.


Co-Chairs Dee Mayberry and Virginia Lyddane met with the students monthly to brainstorm  the event and silent auction and were on hand to make sure everything went seamlessly.

 BCA President Debbie Black, charmed and welcomed guests, many of whom were proud family members and friends.

 Event Co-Chair Dee Mayberry and BCA President Debbie Black

                                                                                 

As usual, Andrew Mitchell-Namdar, vice-president of marketing for Mitchells/Richards and his team did a fabulous job organizing the numerous behind the scenes details.

Andrew is also a member of the Breast Cancer Alliance advisory board. He will be instrumental in executing the annual Breast Cancer Alliance Luncheon Show at the Hyatt in October. At it's peak, there have been close to a thousand guests in attendance...no small task!

I had the privilege and pleasure of providing the commentary about each of the students, sharing a bit of their current interests and accomplishments, with descriptions of their bold, colorful choices.

                                                 Andrew-Mitchell Namdar, Debbi O'Shea
                                               
        

David Hennessey of Greenwich Time graciously covered the event. All photos are courtesy of The Greenwich Times as well.  Here are some excerpts from his front page article:

( Quoting Andrew-Namdar Mitchell):

The Breast Cancer Alliance is a cause that is "near and dear to our hearts," he added, saying that breast cancer awareness should not be confined to October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"This is a 365-day-a-year disease," he said.

Richards Personal Shopper and BCA committee member Debbi O'Shea told the audience Sunday morning that she is a 17-year breast cancer survivor.

Early detection and knowledge about the disease are crucial to fighting it, particularly for young people, she said, adding women as young as 19 are now being diagnosed with breast cancer.

"They never think it can happen to them, and it can," she said. "Know and discuss your family history with your mother and father."

Breast Cancer Alliance Board of Directors President Deborah G. Black said the junior committee, composed of students from Greenwich High School, Greenwich Academy, Brunswick and The Stanwich School, holds other events throughout the year, including a spinning, Zumba, and yoga fundraiser at Equinox in February, to raise awareness about the disease".

This is their big fundraiser," she said of Sunday's event. "St. Raphael really reaches out to the under served."Since the BCA's inception in 1996, the organization has provided more than $16 million in funding, and the junior committee plays a major role in BCA's visibility and impact in the community, Black said.

"Nothing can dampen their enthusiasm or our pride in them," she said.

Read more: http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Teens-model-for-breast-cancer-awareness-3501441.php#ixzz1stZ4ZHYEBreast Cancer Alliance of Greenwich Fashion Show at Richards of Greenwich.


It may have rained outdoors, but inside Richards, it was all sunshine and smiles.

xox,
DD

Breast Friends

I love this day!  For the last 15 years, the Breast Cancer Alliance of Greenwich has worked tirelessly to raise millions of dollars, providing grant money for the brightest and best researchers.  It takes a full year of planning and dozens of volunteer to seamlessly pull of a luncheon, silent auction, raffle packages and the Richards runway fashion show for close to 900 women and I am very proud, to have served on this committee for the last 3 years.  No small feat and a huge round of applause and congratulations to glamour puss Co-Chairs Jill Ciporin, Julia Dunn and Paige Montinaro (above), who looked stunning in Brioni, Lela Rose and Giambatistta Valli.

Speaking of stunning,  this year's key note speaker was Hoda Kotbe,Co-anchor of The Today Show, NBC, Correspondent and Author.  Oh yeah...and breast cancer survivor too.

One Woman's Story

I would never wish a breast cancer diagnosis on anyone.  It is a life altering before and after fact, that forever changes the fabric of your life.  I have however, met amazing people through this journey; surgeons, survivors, "previvors" and scores of women who fund raise for organizations that I hold dear,  The Ashkikari Breast Center ,  The Breast Cancer Alliance of Greenwich and the internet support group that was my life line, Force.


It's been a lovely month!  I was asked  by Dr. Roy Ashkari,  to Chair the Ashikari Breast Center's April 2011 Gala.  Most kindly, I will also be their Honoree.  I was also asked by the President of the Breast Cancer Alliance, Margaret Sinclaire,  to be featured with my survivor's story.  Trust me when I tell you, there is no way to refuse either of these powerhouses!!!  Truly, I am grateful to them and honored to be asked.  Below is a copy of One Woman's Story: Debbi O'Shea, as it appears in their Summer 2010 Newsletter:

Every experience is unique, but the things you learn as a result of surviving a cancer diagnosis are often shared. Know this: you cannot face your mortality without realigning your priorities...things change, quickly but often for the better.