#MusicMonday Ideal PR Media has a one-on-one with #singer #songwriter Tom McBride

Ideal PR Media host K-Love has a one-one-one with singer/songwriter Tom McBride before his performance at the Iota Club (Arlington, Virginia) about his new CD "Morning in Glen Burnie." He shares how the title track came to be and where he has visited that has the most attractive women. Take a look at the video and see snippets of his rehearsal for his performance and be sure to visit his website and support his project at www.TomMcBrideMusic.com! A very special thanks to Tom McBride and Maria at The Press House for allowing this post to be possible.

Leanne Marshall's 2014 Bridal Collection

Leanne Marshall's 2014 Bridal Collection Pictured L-R The Arlietta; The Anna; The Belinda

Season 5 winner of Project Runway, Leanne Marshall continues to drive the market with her whimsically intricate bridal collection. For brides-to-be wanting to stun the crowd in a unique masterpiece as they walk down the aisle, Marshall combines sleek silhouettes with the most recent trends in her collection. Marshall’s bridal collection fits the part for engagement party duos and wedding day gowns.

Leanne Marshall began her fashion career in 2006 and 2007 at Portland Fashion Week in Portland, Oregon. Marshall has shown at New York Fashion Week and Fashion Weeks around the world since 2009. Marshall has created a maternity dress for Heidi Klum as well as a series of dresses for Paula Abdul. Her handmade wedding gowns are available throughout select boutiques worldwide, and are also available online.

Pulling from several inspirations throughout her collections, Marshall finds the perfect balance between a simple design and adorning dainty details for women that want a sophisticated yet sleek wedding dress. Above are three favorites from her collection. These are loved for their whimsical and easy flowing styles which flatter just about any body shape. The IDEAL Magazine loves this collection. Below is the absolute favorite and The EDITOR's PICK, as this is something she would wear on her special day (The Danielle). To see the entire collection please visit www.LeannaMarshall.com

A very special thanks to Katherine Fleischman of Blink PR for making this post happen. We love the line!

Black Friday Style Talk with Tahira and K-Love at Vintage and Charmed DC

Happy BLACK FRIDAY! As you wait in line, check out the fashion video below. Ideal PR Media's stylist Tahira shows host K-Love how to take her night time look from a night on the town with her guy to a night out with the girls by changing a few accessories. Every diva enjoys styling tips and cute accessories. take a look at the video below.

Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas Album

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and Motown Records today announced the star-studded holiday season soundtrack album TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS ALBUM.  Available in stores and through digital retailers on November 25, 2013, the album sets the stage for Lionsgate’s eagerly-anticipated feature film release TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS, the latest film in the hit “Madea” franchise created by writer, producer, director and leading man Tyler Perry.  Lionsgate will release TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS in theaters nationwide on December 13, 2013.

TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS ALBUM rings in the holidays with 13 tracks by some of Motown’s greatest legends, including Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, and Boyz II Men with Brian McKnight. 

Motown newcomers Kevin Ross and Mprynt make their label debuts with two previously unreleased tracks, and the soundtrack album is rounded out by yuletide staples from Mariah Carey, James Brown, Pearl Bailey, Kelly Rowland, Ashanti, and Jeremih. 

TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA CHRISTMAS ALBUM Track List:

1.  Jackson 5 – “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”

2.  Stevie Wonder – “What Christmas Means to Me”

3.  Mariah Carey – “Oh Santa!”

4.  Jeremih – “Your Mine”

5.  Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – “Jingle Bells”

6.  James Brown – “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto”

7.  Pearl Bailey – “A Five Pound Box of Money”

8.  KEM – “Doo Wop Christmas (That’s What Christmas Is All About)”

9.  Kevin Ross – “Favorite Thing” (previously unreleased)

10.  Kelly Rowland – “Wonderful Christmastime”

11.  Mprynt – “Sleigh Ride” (previously unreleased)

12.  Ashanti – “Winter Wonderland”

13.  Boyz II Men & Brian McKnight – “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”

#GIVINGSHOESDAY RETURNS TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS WITH NEW PARTNER FERGIE FOOTWEAR FOR #GIVINGTUESDAY

Dress for Success is turning #GivingTuesday into #GivingShoesDay once again on Tuesday, December 3, to honor this national day of giving.  For the second year in a row, #GivingShoesDay encourages women to donate their professional shoes to one of over 50 Dress for Success affiliates across the United States.  But supporters of Dress for Success won’t be the only ones giving on this distinguished day of charity—the top 10 shoe donors across the country will receive a complimentary pair of limited holiday edition Palace heels from Fergie Footwear.

Joining the ranks of post-Thanksgiving campaigns such as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, #GivingShoesDay proved to be a tremendous #GivingTuesday success for Dress for Success, with almost 450 pairs of shoes donated through the organization’s nationwide network of affiliates dedicated to helping women reenter and progress in the workforce.  Having a complete outfit that a woman feels confident in is the key to making a good first impression in an interview setting and, therefore acquiring a new career, making the need for shoes ever-important to this organization.

“My dream has been to design a one-of-kind limited edition shoe for the holidays, and this year we finally made it happen,” said Fergie. “Because this is such a special design, I thought it only appropriate to share them as a gift with inspiring women across the country. The retail proceeds from this limited edition shoe are benefiting one of my favorite charities, Dress for Success.”

Fergie Footwear, owned by Brown Shoe Company, is known for fashion-forward footwear that captures the essence of the eight-time Grammy award-winning artist and style icon, Fergie Duhamel, who is not only a force in the music industry, but also a respected entrepreneur and committed philanthropist. Her debut solo album,
“The Dutchess,” spawned five Billboard Hot 100 top five singles, three of which went to number one.

The fire-engine red Palace heel is the latest in the Fergie Footwear line and this lively, limited-edition pump is perfect for the holiday party season.  In addition to awarding the top 10 #GivingShoesDay donors with a pair of Palace heels of their own, Fergie Footwear is also donating 40 percent of the proceeds from the sale of this shoe to Dress for Success through the beginning of the New Year. The Dress for Success affiliates that are participating in #GivingShoesDay are:

·         Albany, NY

·         Atlanta, GA

·         Austin, TX

·         Bakersfield, CA

·         Billings, MT

·         Boise Valley, ID

·         Boston, MA

·         Brookhaven, NY

·         Burlington, VT

·         Central Virginia

·         Cincinnati, OH

·         Columbus, OH

·         Corpus Christi, TX

·         Dallas, TX

·         Des Moines, IA

·         Dutchess County, NY

·         Fort Wayne, IN

·         Hampton Roads, VA

·         Honolulu, HI

·         Houston, TX

·         Indianapolis, IN

·         Kansas City, MO

·         Lackawanna, PA

·         Lexington, KY

·         Mercer County, NJ

·         Miami, FL

·         Mid-Fairfield County, CT

·         Midwest (St. Louis), MO

·         Missoula, MT

·         New York, NY

·         Northwest Arkansas, AR

·         Peoria, IL

·         Pittsburgh, PA

·         Racine, WI

·         Red River Valley, ND

·         River Cities, WV

·         San Antonio, TX

·         San Diego, CA

·         San Francisco, CA

·         San Jose, CA

·         Seattle, WA

·         Shreveport, LA

·         Sioux Falls, SD

·         South Central (Harrisburg), PA

·         Southern Nevada, NV

·         Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers), FL

·         Tampa Bay, FL

·         Tulsa, OK

·         Washington, DC

·         Worcester, MA

“Through her music, Fergie has always empowered women to be their strongest, most confident self and we love that she is continuing that same messaging through her footwear line, as well,” said Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide.  “Our partnership with Fergie Footwear provides an enticing incentive for women to give back on #GivingTuesday, but more importantly, it will also help Dress for Success get even more women back to work.”

To participate, women can check the Dress for Success affiliate page atwww.dressforsuccess.org/affiliates to find the address of the closest participating location and simply bring their shoes to that boutique on Tuesday, December 3.  For those who would like to donate shoes for #GivingShoesDay, but are not near an affiliate to drop-off the donation, the professional footwear can be sent to the Dress for Success Worldwide warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, where donations of clothing, shoes and accessories are always accepted.  These shipped donations must arrive byDecember 3 to be considered for #GivingShoesDay, with a note stating that #GivingShoesDay is what the shoes are being donated for.  Additional information on Dress for Success and #GivingShoesDay can be found atwww.dressforsuccess.org.

A special thanks to Katie Murphy at Dress For Success Worldwide

Just In Time For Thanksgiving...Outer Spice Brings Low-salt and No-salt Seasonings to your Rack

Just in time for Thanksgiving! Outer Spice is delivering four healthy new seasoning solutions to stores—and spice racks—everywhere. The new no-salt and low-salt seasonings, made by Austin, Texas-based Black River Trading Company, are all-natural, gluten-free spice blends that add depth to any meal. Outer Spice is the only spice blend created to serve as both an ingredient in every dish and a table-side condiment. 

“The real key to a healthy life is a diet rich in whole foods and spice. I created Outer Spice with health and harmony in mind,” said Stevens. “Black River Trading Company prides itself in fair labor practices and we’re directly involved with the communities we do business in. So when you buy our carefully crafted spice blends, you’re investing in a company you can trust, and a spice you can savor.”  

Thanks Derek! We are looking forward to trying these out this Thanksgiving and beyond. Can't wait to report on how tasty they are!!!

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop...My New Favorite Place For Sandwiches

Being a Washington, DC native good restaurants are not hard to come by; however, great restaurants are. I am always looking for wonderful places to dine and suggest to our readers, especially those who contact us from out of town regarding our personal favorites. So let me start by saying, I do not get excited about sandwiches. I just don't. But I am excited about Capriotti's and that says a LOT. But I cannot get over how tasty their food is!

Many times our readers inquire about casual dining, especially tourist who will be downtown or in Dupont Circle. We now have our NEW favorite casual place for sandwiches...CAPRIOTTI'S. Located right on M Street at 1800 M, with a M Street storefront diagonal to Ozio'z you will find the best sandwiches in town...LITERALLY.

Have you ever eaten anything and woke up the next day thinking about that food? Capriotti's did that to me! Tara, of Georgetown Consulting Group told me of their soft opening so I stopped by with a friend. I ordered the "Capastrami" which is Pastrami with coleslaw and Swiss cheese. Not a fan of Swiss, I was easily able to substitute provolone. A bag of salt and vinegar potato chips and a fountain lemonade completed my order. I was floored when I tasted it. I was thinking...coleslaw...really? And REALLY...that is what made it pop. I could only eat half of the sandwich that night and ate the other half for lunch the next day. I was concerned because I did not think the sandwich would heat well in the microwave with the coleslaw, but 45 seconds later, it was amazing.

The Grand Opening is Thursday November 21, 2013. BE THERE!!! If you can't make it then, you MUST stop in the next time you are near 1800 M Street, NW in Washington, DC or make a special trip just to taste! We were told Vice President Joe Biden has a favorite sandwich from Capriotti's (it has cranberry sauce in the sandwich!) and once you visit, you just might have one yourself!!! Ours...the "Capastrami" with provolone cheese! We will definitely be making special trips here to indulge. Please let us know if you visit and which sandwich is your favorite!

Thanks Tara!

NFL Athletes Support Becky's Fund Against Domestic Violence

Becky Lee with Athletes supporting Beck's Fund

(Photo Credit: V. Elaine for Ideal PR Media; Event Coverage: Neeta Wooten & Valeta Sutton)

The atmosphere was lively and full of energy filled with community activists and professional athletes attending this event to take a stand against domestic violence.

This event took place on November 8, 2013 at the Italian Embassy in Washington, DC with a goal to raise $100,000 and they did just that! All proceeds from this year's Walk This Way will support the Becky’s Fund "Men of Code" program that works with high school athletes and coaches in DC public schools to teach them to be leaders in ending and preventing dating violence. With the funds raised from Walk This Way, Becky’s Fund will work to expand the program, bringing Men of Code to five more schools across the country within the next year.

Guest enjoyed passed trays, tons of food, endless open bar and a host of professional and cause conscious patrons. While we were way too busy interviewing the fabulous attendees to taste any of the food, everyone appeared to be extremely enjoying themselves!Prior to the fashion show, guest enjoyed a musical and dance performance which was wonderful.

The main attraction for the evening was the Walk This Way fashion show with professional athletes and models. 

This year the event served as the launch of a new online auction featuring exclusive sports experience and travel packages. The auction can be found on BeckysFund.org running from 11/08 to 12/08

This year’s Mistress of Ceremonies was Julie Donaldson of Comcast SportsNet. Some of the athletes who graced the runway included Washington Redskins Kirk Cousins, Pierre Garçon, Fred Smoot, DC United Dwayne de Rosario; Baltimore Ravens Jameel McClain; former Baltimore Ravens Visanthe Shiancoe, former New York Jets John Booty, Two-time Team USA Olympic Rower Giuseppe Lanzone and Four-time Olympian Sanya Richards Ross.

So why did so many people come out to support this event? Becky Lee has developed an amazing cause called Becky's Fund. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to domestic and dating violence awareness and prevention. Becky’s Fund mission is to foster awareness of domestic violence, encourage advocacy among peers, promote activism through outreach programs, and create support for victims of domestic and dating violence. Becky’s Fund believes in introducing innovative and lasting methods to educate people of all ages and backgrounds in life about issues concerning domestic violence.

Ideal PR Media host Valeta Sutton and  Dwayne de Rosario

Ideal PR Media host Valeta Sutton interviewed Becky Lee and a few of the athletes supporting this cause so be on the look out for this video via our blog or our youtube channel soon.

A very special thanks to Becky Lee, her staff and Tara de Nicolas of Georgetown Consulting Group for making coverage of this event possible. We look forward to support this and all of your causes and events in the future!

Cover Me Beautiful is the EDITOR's PICK for the DC Fashion Week Haute and Modesty Show

Modest clothing designer Hanifah with Ideal PR Media Host Valeta Sutton

DC Fashion  Week 2013 was given a treat this year with its first ever Modesty Wear Fashion Show, "Haute and Modesty." Cover Me Beautiful was a part of this refreshing runway show and is our EDITOR'S PICK from the evening. Her pieces were stylish with eye catching fabrics and patterns that any girl would want to wear. The variety of fashion Hanifah presented in her collection was superb. While all of the lines presented that night were a pleasant alternative to the barely covered excuses for fashion that are placed on runways these days, Cover Me Beautiful was by far the best total collection of the night. 

Ideal PR Media host Valeta Sutton spoke with Hanifah about her line after the show. Take a look at her fabulous clothing and be sure to watch the exclusive interview at the end of the runway show below. It was a pleasure to see Cover Me Beautiful in the Washington, DC area, and we hope to have the chance to see her clothing again soon....FRONT ROW!!! While the lighting at the fashion even was more intimate, we hope you are able to see just how fantastic the designs are, even with a slightly darker picture than desired.

A very special thanks to Ean Williams of Fashion Week and Hanifah of Cover Me Beautiful. We look forward to DC Fashion Week 2014!!!

(Images: V. Elaine for Ideal PR Media; Event Coverage: Neeta Wooten (Editor-in-Chief), Valeta Sutton (Host), Tahira Mohamed (Stylist)

Ideal PR Media Interviews Hawaiian Singer Kimie

Hawaiian singer Kimie sits down with Ideal PR Media host K-Love while in Washington, DC on November 7, 2013 to talk about her current album "To the Sea," her USA tour "Hawaii 13," and the culture of her music and sound deriving from Hawaiian and Portuguese decent.
(Video below. If you are unable to view you may click this link: http://youtu.be/C08A0-GXNf0)

Unacceptable Levels (Film) Premieres at the US Capitol Building inWashington, DC

Ideal PR Media host Valeta Sutton discusses the "Unacceptable Levels" film with creator Ed Brown regarding the chemical levels in our natural water supply. Ideal PR Media attended the premiere where actress Fran Drescher attended in support to raise her voice and concerns regarding the topic as a cancer survivor. Take a look at Valeta's discussion with Mr. Brown about the development and meaning of this project in the below video



A very special thanks to Ed Brown and Kimberly Ecker at Jo Chicago for making this happen.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney x Goop Collection

The latest addition to the collaboration, sparked from the close personal friendship between the designer and goop founder, Gwyneth Paltrow, is an exclusive long-sleeve chalk white dress. The style is an elegant slim fit through the waist, dropping into a flattering flare, with subtle invisible zips at the wrists. The perfect standout piece for the party season.

In addition, goop has picked 2 styles of the designer’s newly introduced Beckett handbag in black, grey and the newly introduced ivory. The faux leather bags and clutches are the must-have item for the season.

The exclusive pieces within the Stella McCartney x goop capsule also include a charcoal grey knit all-in-one, a classic black blazer, a black jean and black wool trousers.

The Stella x goop capsule is available to buy on goop.com, with the exclusive pieces only available for a limited time, shipping to over 15 countries.

Monique Monte Will Captivate DC With Her Wearable Art on October 31, 2013 in Washington, DC

Wearable Art Piece by Monique Monte

Artist and Stylist Monique Monte

Monique Monte' is an artist and fashion designer that currently resides in Washington DC. She studied Art and fashion at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Hong Kong Polytechnic and Francis De La Mode in Paris. She focuses on sculpture and "wearable art". Her wearable art is all handmade using common household items. Her designs are all original and she teams up with local photographers to document her work. Many describe her work as “captivating” and “highly unconventional”

While Monique has styled the best of them, she is both a stylist and a fine artist, as demonstrated by her "Wearable Art" collection. Ideal PR Media had the pleasure of discussing this amazing gift with her. "I'd say that I am an Artist first. Even when I was mostly focused on styling I was constantly "recreating" clothes and adding unconventional items to them," said Monique about being a stylist or artist first.

Wearable art piece by Monique Monte using dyed cotton swabs

"I'm actually a trained artist so I paint and build sculptures. Building is my strong suit. I went to The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and studied in Hong Kong and Paris. I was exposed to a whole different level of fashion especially in Paris (seeing Haute Couture). After I styled for a while, I honestly got a bit bored and kept finding myself taking clothes apart and putting them together again. One day I went full force and decided to do an entire collection and used anything I could find to make it unique. From then on I mastered the technique of Household Haute Couture (she smiled). Just goes to show its not how much you spend it's how you put it together that counts," Monique shared.

Soon the art junkies, culture fanatics, lovers of exotic displays, and the who's who in the collectors world will have the opportunity to see Monique's wearable art, but also other pieces of her fine art collection. "My latest collection is a part of a theme called Utsukushii Akumu (Japanese) or Beautiful Nightmare (English). I will be showcasing about 4 or 5 wearable art pieces in a live sculpture garden exhibit," explained Monique

"The pieces will be worn by Asian models that are mythical characters that appear in your dreams. I will also be showcasing paintings and sculptures that are also related to the beautiful nightmare theme. There will be reprints of my work for sale to the public. There are certain paintings that will be auctioned off for charity," stated Monique about the nearly sold out event that will take place on Thursday October 31, 2013 at the Renaissance Hotel (999 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC) from 7:00-9:30 pm. While tickets are still available (CLICK HERE For Tickets), we are sure they won't last long! DC has never seen anything like this, so those in-the-know, and true lovers of fine art are sure to gather in packs.

Monique at a recent event celebrating her work

When we asked Monique to share with us a couple of her memorable experiences as a stylist, she was more than candid. "Well the most fabulous experience was my first experience. I was in my early 20's and I had to style 3 models at once. I was kind of thrown into it. I was told it would be one girl. Anyway I stepped up to the plate and once my nerves calmed down I felt so comfortable and at ease and thought to myself "this is what I was born to do," explained Monique.

"The other was actually working with the ladies from Dress for Success (a non profit that helps disadvantage women find clothes to re-enter the workforce). Seeing the joy I brought to the ladies faces when I introduced myself as a professional wardrobe stylist was priceless. They felt like royalty and I was more than happy to go above and beyond making sure they looked their best for their new careers. Their excitement and gratitude made me feel like a million bucks," she said describing another fabulous experience.

Be sure to check out Monique Monte and her work by attending this fabulous event on Halloween  October 31, 2013 (see event flier below...click the flier for more info). Her work will soon be showcased in the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC starting in November 2013.

A very special thanks to Tim Waters, Monique Monte and their team for making this interview happen

RALPH LAUREN HELPS RESTORE PARIS’S ICONIC ECOLE DES BEAUX-ARTS, HOME OF RENOIR & DEGAS

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NUSE: RL) pledges its commitment to help restore the elite Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, one of the world’s oldest and most influential, and most beautiful art schools

Founded in 1648, the school has been a breeding ground for exceptional artistic talent ever since, with illustrious alumni including Renoir, Degas, Monet and Matisse.

Ralph Lauren will dedicate funding for a two-year project that will oversee the restoration and modernisation of the listed building, as part of a broader Beaux-Arts preservation campaign.

In keeping with brining the institution’s teaching capabilities into the 21^stcentury, while also

preserving the classical Beaux-Arts style for future generations, Ralph Lauren will be

restoring the Amphiteatre d’honneur, the semi-circular lecture theatre at the heart of the school.  The theatre will be fully updated to include state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and improve stadium seating.

Money will also be used to modernize the school’s website with a series of digital content

providing global audiences with access to a multitude of conferences, workshops,

symposiums and new online classes, placing the institution at the forefront

of the contemporary art world.

The corporation has a rich connection with French heritage and a long standing commitment

to philanthropy with a love of Paris. To celebrate the patron sponsorship, the brand will host

an exclusive gala dinner in the  picturesque courtyard surrounding the L’Ecole des Beaux

Arts in the coming weeks. The event will also feature a special presentation of the Ralph

Lauren Fall 2013 Collection, the first time the designer has showcased outside of the US.

A very special thanks to Jessica Costanza for making this post possible.