Upcoming Model Hunt Looks for Teen Girls — Winner to Get $500 Spree, Possible Magazine Feature

By Barbara Bradley

A teen model search set for Saturday in Collierville will give one outstanding girl a $500 back-to-school shopping spree at Macy’s, as well as a chance to be featured in a national teen magazine.

Macy’s and Justine, the teen magazine published in Memphis, invite girls ages 13 to 19 to try out from 2 to 4 p.m. in Macy’s junior department at Avenue Carriage Crossing.

Similar events have been held in four other cities. The winners of each search will get the shopping spree and will appear in Justine. A grand prize winner will be chosen from among them to appear in a fashion or beauty feature in Justine photographed by New York photographer Rick Day.

To enter, girls can get an application at the junior department at Macy’s at Avenue Carriage Crossing or download an entry form and rules from justinemagazine.com (http://www.justinemagazine.com) .

Even girls who don’t win the contest will get to walk a runway and show their stage presence before an editor from Justine, which, just between us, uses a lot of young girls from this area on their pages. Girls will be allowed to line up as early as 1 p.m.

Also on hand will be Monica Hudson, Macy’s spokeswoman and manager of Macy’s Teen Board. Teen Board members will help with the event. Hudson also plans to have them present a short fall fashion show prior to the tryouts.

Justine publisher and editorial director Jana Pettey, recently back from a search in Indianapolis, said she has been impressed by the quality of the applicants.

“There were girls who had their college and postgraduate schools all mapped out,” she said. One 13-year-old spoke four languages. “It’s refreshing to see teens who can speak on their feet and have the self-confidence to be a part of this,” she said.

Political wives show style

Michelle Obama continues to display confidence in her own sense of style.

The wool dress in blue-state blue she wore to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week fit well and the abbreviated sleeves, which hid her toned arms, gave her a softer look. Designed by Maria Pinto, a Chicago native, it offered a wide V- neck that drew attention to her shoulders helping balance her figure.

Brooches often ride awkwardly on a woman’s shoulder. But her big turquoise and silver pin, reportedly from her jewelry box, that was placed at the point of her neckline looked as if the dress were designed around it.

Obama set her own direction again wearing a print dress designed by Thakoon Panichgul, a young New York designer, on the night her husband accepted his presidential nomination. The multiple ornaments fastened around the neckline was an unusual touch, but it worked.

We plan to take a look at the fashion choices of Cindy McCain, the wife of Republican Sen. John McCain, in the next column.

Shorts ride up popularity polls

An article from The New York Times says shorts have made inroads as office wear this summer. But get this – the leggy look is being sported by men.

Designers are pushing more calf exposure, and young men who enjoy shorts as stylish streetwear are seeing fewer reasons not to walk them into the office. Even some fashion-forward men here have accepted capri pants (an acquaintance of mine calls them “man preez”) as a substitute for casual pants.

A Salt Lake City, Utah, ad agency tried out a no-long-trousers policy this summer when temperatures neared 100 for a long stretch, reported the Times. But men were expected to dress appropriately when meeting with clients.

So what about it? Are nice-looking walking shorts acceptable in Memphis offices ? Tell us what you think.

Fashion editor Barbara Bradley can be reached at 529-2370 or [email protected].

Originally published by Barbara Bradley .

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