When you’re standing at the checkout stand looking at the headlines of the popular celebrity type magazines…you know the ones with maybe Tom, Angelina or any other famous face on the cover… have you ever wondered what it would be like to actually try and follow a famous person and actually get something written in one of those magazines? Well, it never really crossed my mind, mainly I try not to be one of those people who read the magazine then put it back in the rack…ok I did last week…but only because I now look for a familiar name, Cathy Hale from Austin, TX.
A few weeks ago Cathy dropped me an email from our website and that turned into a meeting for lunch. It feels kind of strange to be a reporter, interviewing a reporter about reporting on the reporting business! Believe me there was no lack of chit chat and her stories of fun escapades tracking down celebrity leads were great to hear.
Cathy started freelance writing for celeb magazines about five years ago. One of her first articles was for Star Magazine. She reported on Phil Bronstien (Sharon Stone’s ex beau) and Jerry Hall (Mick Jagger’s ex). There were reported to be having dinner together at a restaurant in Austin. She got the scoop, the details and it was published in Star. Unfortunately, her stint with the tabloid mag was cut short, “I didn’t mind making people angry or having a door slammed in my face once in a while, but I just couldn’t bring myself to crash a wedding,” Cathy said.
Cathy is now reporting for US Weekly, which she likes because the publication puts more positive spins on celebrities rather than dirt. Lately, she has been hot on the trail to find out more about Sandra and Jesse. She was one of the lucky few to get certified divorce papers from the Travis County Courthouse. Cathy said that, “knowing a celeb is in Austin is one thing, finding them is another!” But don’t fear, this mother of two young boys will fearlessly track down a lead and sometimes it is, just luck.
For instance, while trying to get some fashion inspiration for one of the “mom and kids” themed blog she writes for (listed below) she stopped by the upscale Austin store, Izzy and Ash. Jennifer, the owner told her that Sandra Bullock had just visited the store and purchased some items for baby Louis. The timing was perfect. Izzy and Ash was mentioned in the article for US Weekly and was a part of the cover story in the May 31 issue.
Since 2008, Cathy has been the voice of MommyQ, a top-ranked mom blog fueled by caffeine and cynicism. MommyQ features upscale baby gear, fashion, nursery decor, eco-friendly items and toys, while offering moms candid, yet humorous articles about parenting and motherhood with a twist of celebrity gossip and splash of fashion news. Cathy also writes fashion-related topics for Betty Confidential and Babble’s uniquely hip product blog, Droolicious.
How fun to have a national celebrity writer in our own backyard, helping to spread the word about Austin’s famous darling.
And as Cathy would put it, “Sandra Sightings” help is always welcome!
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Cathy has been quoted in a variety of online publications for her parenting tips and quips:
- Featured & quoted in WeTV.com article, May 2010
I Love Being a Mom Because…
- Contributing Reporter to US Weekly Magazine cover story, May 31, 2010 issue
New Mom Sandra Bullock is “a Natural”
- Featured in article on CafeMom blog, The Stir, April 2010
Cats Who Steal the Covers, Psychic Dreams: Sleep Secrets
- Quoted as “top American mommy-blogger” in The Observer, April 2010
Madonna Turns her Daughter Lourdes’s Growing Fame to Joint Advantage
- Pregnancy & Baby: SheKnows, March 2010
30 Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy
- Featured in Austin-American Statesman, July 2009
Mom Bloggers Become Powerful Online Force
- Quoted as fashion expert on iVillage, July 2009
Stars Who Hate Pants: Experts Weigh In
- Featured in Pregnancy Today, June 2009
An Eco-Friendly Baby Shower
You can contact Cathy for info regarding her blogs or to let her know about an occasional Sandra sighting at: MommyQblog@yahoo.com
Saying that Fashion Designer Richie Rich has led an interesting life is a bit of an understatement. From professional ice skater to an original NYC “Club Kid”, and successful fashion designer, Rich has been destined for a life of coloring outside the lines.
Once upon a time, “Richie Rich” was known as Richard J. Eichhorn. Originally from California, Richard was a gifted figure skater and actually toured with the Ice Capades at the age of 18.
Fresh out of high school and off the Ice Capades Tour, Rich moved to New York City and dove straight into the New York City club scene where he took on the new personality of “Richie Rich”. Rich became one of the original “Club Kids” and he and his friends were paid to throw big-budget parties all over New York City. He remained drug free because, as he puts it, he was already “crazy enough”. Many of his friends chose the opposite route and he is currently writing a book about his experiences during his time in the club scene.
Maggie Norris Couture is the epitome of luxurious fashion and her incomparable design expertise, from working with icons such as Ralph Lauren, shine through in her haute couture designs that feature 18th century inspired corsets worn by celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and elegantly tailored bespoke shirts worn by First Lady, Michelle Obama.
When asked who inspired Norris to become a designer, she replied “When I think back, I can recognize my affinity for design at an early age. As a little girl, I loved to think of my dolls as princesses, who therefore deserved the chicest looks. As a result, I began to sew dresses for them. In parallel, my mother was a real inspiration for me, as she felt strongly about the importance of dressing us elegantly in clothes that she had custom-made for us. Later on, immortal glamorous figures like Audrey Hepburn and Anna May Wong guided my inspiration and my creative talent.”
18th Century-Inspired Designs of Maggie Norris Couture Profiled on CBS Sunday Morning
Norris first attended the School of the Delgado Museum of Art in New Orleans, Louisiana and later moved to New York City to attend the Parsons School of Design and fine arts school, The Art Students League of New York.
She began at Ralph Lauren where she rose through the ranks to become Senior Fashion Designer for the Ralph Lauren Women’s Collection. Norris’ career exposed her to the luxurious fashion capitals of the world and her travels inspire the Maggie Norris Couture collection. Following her departure from Ralph Lauren after 13 years, she moved to Europe to lead Mondi design studio for a brief time before launching Maggie Norris Couture in 2000 in Manhattan.
Maggie Norris Couture incorporates the spirit of various artistic modalities, “… most of my collections are inspired by a culture, whether it is the opulence of Russia, the delicacy of India or the colors of Morocco…” says Norris. She loves to mix eclectic pieces of clothing, such as pairing a safari jacket with an evening gown, while always achieving the ultimate goal of sculpting and flattering a woman’s silhouette.
A mixture of art and delicacy, her one-of-a-kind designs are “refined, unique and timeless” and worn around the world by celebrities and socialites such as Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Diane Keaton, Sarah Bradford, Somers Farkas, and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Maggie Norris was featured in the “New York Fashion Now” exhibits at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in 2007. “Being honored by the museum as part of a new generation of young and successful New York-based designers was truly a privilege for me”.
In 2008, Norris introduced an accessory line, known as “Aquafolios”, which benefits the Fran Drescher’s Cancer Schmancer Foundation. The Maggie Norris Aquafolio is a leather carrying case for a stainless steel water bottle that provides an eco-friendly, yet chic way to be environmentally responsible. The design was inspired by a Lewis and Clark exhibition and continues the unique blend of history and design that defines a Maggie Norris Couture collection. Twenty-five dollars from each sale benefits the Cancer Schmancer Foundation.
Norris has also introduced a second line of accessories, the exquisite Asian-inspired ”Suki” Obi Cummerbunds which are composed of 100% silk taffeta and designed with a corseted front and back to sculpt and flatter the silhouette.
Norris recently introduced the Bespoke Shirting Collection, which is a collection of women and men’s tailored shirts that exemplify the luxury and quality that the Maggie Norris Couture line evokes. “My affinity to the haute couture craftsmanship is because of its unyielding perfection,” Maggie Norris says.
Maggie currently lives and designs in New York City where she creates custom haute couture pieces for her clients. She plans to expand the network of specialty stores carrying her collections throughout the United States and Europe.
Maggie Norris Couture Fashion Show at the Worldwide Maniac Foundation Launch Party
Austin-based Worldwide Maniac Foundation launched on June 19, 2010 with an event featuring performances by Josh Charles and Blue Lapis Light, and a fashion show with designers Richie Rich, Maggie Norris, and Carson Case, and celebrity athletes Bennie Blades and Chris Parrish.
Born near San Francisco and raised in Arizona and southern Indiana, Carson Case has explored the world developed her designer aesthetic from her travels to Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna, Rome, Los Angeles, and Miami Beach.
Born of a highly-creative family, Carson embodies the true nature of an artist, blending a variety of art forms that resonate with movement and freedom of expression. Blessed with many talents, she has excelled in music, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture and design. After years of creative development and in response to her continual passion for fashion, she now combines her creative outlets into an exciting and environmentally-conscious homage to fashion and nature.
“I don’t make a pattern; I hold the vision in my mind of the woman wearing the dress, and then I let it happen. I try to stay out of the way. I throw the fabric on the floor and cut, no measure, no markers. This creation process can be ecstatic and quick, ending with reflection and thanks.”
A conceptual designer, Carson`s inspirations are diverse. She draws from the elegance and quirkiness of film icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo and Lauren Bacall. She incorporates the mystical strength and empowerment of world mythologies that include Greek, Egyptian and Indian mythology, citing an affinity with such goddesses and mythological figures as Isis, Athena, Venus and Saraswati.
Trained as a ballet dancer, jazz dancer and choreographer for 17 years, she’s also inspired by many global genres of dance and movement, including yoga and tai chi.
Carson’s concern for the environment and sustainable living has been ongoing since childhood. In that, she not only embodies the philosophy of the brand, she lives it, offering a fresh face by embracing beauty and thought with depth of character and integrity, effectively bridging borders.
Carson Couture Fashion Show at the World Wide Maniac Foundation event in Austin, TX
It has been a few weeks since the annual Graphic IV fashion show, and it is one show that will stay with me forever.
The event was organized by an army of volunteers and sponsors. There was a silent and LIVE auction with proceeds benefitting the Breast Cancer Resource Center. All the models were cancer survivors and for the night these brave women got to show how strong they are. Each model wore a decorated bra and costume look of choice and the crowd cheered as they walked down the runway. Some models wore their own designs and others dressed in a celebrity inspired ensemble.
The Texas State History Museum filled up with increasing energy, but just as the momentum of the show began, it came to an unfortunate and immediate halt. A model stumbled and I thought it was due to nerves but then she collapsed on the runway. The room suddenly went silent. Thankfully, her doctor was in the crowd and immediately started CPR. The crowd was led in prayer by an attendee, people were sobbing and many left. The paramedics arrived and she was rushed out of the museum and they reported that she was breathing on her own.
A representative from the Breast Cancer Resource Center then stepped up to the podium and addressed the crowd. She said that what we witnessed was the ugly side of cancer and that is why they raise money to help battle this disease. She said that the remaining models insisted the show must go on! The energy and emotion for the remainder of the show is something I can’t even begin to describe. During the second half of the show emcee Crestina Chevez, News 8 Austin anchor, announced that the model was stable. The energy of the crowd was now, even higher.
The auction for the celebrity bras started and out came a model dressed in pink and white with a bra that had a familiar Hugh Hefner signature. (The bunny ears should have given it away.) The bra was auctioned off for $2,700! Barbara Formichelli, reported that the event generated a 37% increase from last year, in all, $47,500 was raised from the event.
I am sure that each one of you reading this have been touched by a brave survivor or know one right now. I would personally like to dedicate this post to my brave friend and co-worker at Time Warner survivor Cindy Stepken, my former mother-in-law Carol Bishop who lost her battle a few years ago and my sister-in-law Kathy Bemis, survivor.
Enjoy the pictures from the event, visit the BCRC facebook page and website and don’t forget the Stiletto Stampede for the Cure is set for October 16!
Austin-based Worldwide Maniac Foundation will launch with a celebrity event Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 7pm-11pm at the Austin Music Hall. The event will feature performances by Josh Charles and Blue Lapis Light, a fashion show with designers Richie Rich, Maggie Norris, and Carson Case, and celebrity athletes Bennie Blades and Chris Parrish. Fashionably Austin will provide a live web cast during the event.
Worldwide Maniac was launched in early 2009 as a foundation created to fund environmental and humanitarian causes. Founder and CEO, Michael Torres, was inspired to start a movement that would “create positivity and unity among the world as one”. Torres was involved in the corporate world for over 20 years and experienced a spiritual change in his own life that led him to leave his career and begin a new philanthropic venture.
Torres started Worldwide Maniac with personal funds and is funded by a percent of profits from the Worldwide Maniac portfolio companies and donations from individuals and corporations. Worldwide Maniac uses the money raised for the foundation “to build sustainable ‘off the grid’ homes with sustainable food gardens for those who have lost their homes due to catastrophic events or extreme financial hardship”.
All contributions to Worldwide Maniac are used to execute the foundation’s “vision of balanced humanity living in harmony with the environment”. Worldwide Maniac provides funding for disaster and hunger relief, health care services, shelter for the poor, micro-lending for sustainable giving, sustainable food production, green and eco-friendly housing, and research and education initiatives such as, alternative energy sources, sustainable food production, and environmentally sound housing.
The flow of the event will go as follows-First, musical performance by Josh Charles and Love at War. Then, there will be a film debut with Ed Begley Jr. in the film (from the show Living with Ed – one of the most Green Actors in Hollywood). After that, we will have Michael Torres speak to the audience about the work of the foundation and how they provide sustainable “off the grid” housing and food gardens for $15,000-$20,000 a family w/ a focus on Haiti and the Gulf States. He will also talk about a solution to our problems in order to unite people to take action (he has a background in providing eloquent solutions to very complex problems; after 9-11 Torres designed many of our nations counter terrorism systems but had no experience in it prior to). At the event he will also be providing a solution and wish for the world to see this. Then the fashion show with Maggie Norris, Carson Case, and Richie Rich will be taking place. And, finally the close out with Josh Charles will end the event.
“We all have a role in this”, and by creating an organization that is backed up philanthropically, Torres believes that “conscious capitalism” will be the key to success. Worldwide Maniac focuses on using the yin yang of fashion and entertainment to provide funding for environmental and humanitarian causes. Torres believes that by mixing creativity and sustainable living, our future will only grow in a more positive and promising direction. “As soon as we ‘pay it forward’, we begin to hit the tip of the pyramid”. By this, Torres means that by giving what we can, energy and love will overcome any obstacles that we may face.
Purchase Tickets to Worldwide Maniac Foundation Launch Party
Austinites can experience the Worldwide Maniac Event by attending the event on June 19 at the Austin Music Hall. Join us for an evening of eco-chic entertainment and experience a nightlike Austin has never seen!
Art: Local artist Leanne Venier* will be showing a collection from her exhibit, “Healing Abstracts” throughout the Hall.
Music:Austin’s ownLove at Warand Grammy SubmittedJosh Charleswill open the night with little rock and a little soul and special performances byBlue Lapis Light.
Fashion: High Fashion Designers Maggie Norris, Carson Case and Richie Rich will bring Bryant Park to the Austin Music Hall.
Athletes: College Football Hall of Member member Bennie Blades; Former Dallas Cowboy James McKnight, and professional skier Chris Parrish.
Austin Music Hall Tickets :
General Admission: $49, Reserved Seating: $69.Tickets include light hors d’oeuvres 7 PM – 8 PM and sampling from Featured Sponsors throughout the event. Cash Bar.
VIP Admission: $100-$125;includes special reserved floor seating and special gift bags. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres from Bess Bistro and Walton’s Fancy and Staple as well as specialty cocktails will be provided throughout the event in VIP lounge area. VIP ticket holders will also have photo opportunities with Featured Guests & Celebrities.
LIVE Web Cast: See the Worldwide Maniac Foundation Launch Party live on our web site!
If you’re not in Austin, you can still experience this incredible night of music, fashion shows, and celebrity interviews LIVE!
Fashionably Austin and netSpray will be webcasting LIVE from the Worldwide Maniac event. Fashion Reporter, Cheryl Bemis, will take you behind the scenes of the fashion show backstage activity as fashion designers Carson Case, Maggie Norris, and Richie Rich prepare for runway shows sure to provide thrilling creativity and dramatic display that will rival the catwalks of NYC.
Don’t miss our LIVE interviews with these celebrity designers, athletes, & performers during our exclusive web cast.
Register now for access to the Live Web Cast information, behind the scenes info and celebrity interviews.
Carson Case is a true artist with a background in painting, dance, styling and more as well as a considerable talent in the world of fashion design.
Born in San Francisco, California, Carson has lived around the world in the fashionable cities of Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Copenhagen, Vienna, and Miami. Her world-view has inspired her to expand her love of the arts to create women’s fashion line that celebrates her ethereal vision. Carson understands that the woman is the art, and that the dress serves to adorn and illuminate the inherent beauty in every woman.
Carson’s impeccable, flowing gowns and dramatic day dresses are a visionary delight and her collection will bring beauty and enchantment to the Worldwide Maniac event.
Richie Rich has been defined by many as New York’s modern day Warhol. Richie describes the A*Muse collection inspired by long-time friend, Pamela Anderson as “fun, sexy, surfer girl from Malibu meets Andy Warhol.”
Known as a “club kid” in the 80’s, Richie Rich’s new line with Pamela Anderson follows the same wild, colorful craze expected from a Richie Rich collection.His recent runway show at New York Fashion Week was quite the party, and you don’t want to miss a chance to experience a Richie Rich show live at the Austin Music Hall.
Fashion Designer Maggie Norris incorporates the spirits of various artistic modalities while mixing rare and luxurious fabrics such as duchess satin and flowing chiffon with 17th and 18th century antique textiles.
Norris’ eclectic combinations – such as a safari jacket paired with an evening gown create an intriguing collection that will sculpt and flatter women’s silhouettes. Her runway show at the Worldwide Maniac event will feature elegance and luxury that will inspire many with her lavish collections.
Is is me or is the Austin fashion scene been just a little busy this spring season! New stores are opening, designers are getting some great press coverage and we have some BIG events in the works.
When Melissa comes in town from the east coast, I know it means catching up on a long business to do list and it also means we get to host our Fashionably Connected networking event. Whooo!! This was our third event since we launched Fashionably Austin and this one was the biggest one to date. I would safely say that we had nearly 100 people in attendance at the Aloft Hotel. It’s nice to see the attendance grow and hear some of the success stories from us hosting the event and also hear about some of the business connections that have been started because of the networking.
Kristin Chan from the Wyatt Group, PR firm for Austin Fashion Week and Mike Torres chatted to the group about their upcoming events…Austin Fashion Week set for August 14-21 and World Wide Maniac fashion and music event scheduled for June 19. If you haven’t heard, Fashionably Austin will be webcasting LIVE! the Austin Fashion Awards AND the World Wide Manic event. More info about the pre-shows for both events coming soon. Melissa and I also introduced the Fashionably Austin team…summer intern, Lindsay from the University of Missouri and our photographers, Rita Quinn and Ashley Andreano. Our other two interns were not able to attend, Kathleen and Char. Also a special thank you goes to Corey Benz. She help greet guest at our welcome table. Thanks Corey and thank for bringing your mom…Olga Campos Benz.
Our special guest for the evening was Louis Black. She was a cast member of Project Runway 6 and moved from Dallas to Austin. She mixed and mingled with the crowd and is becoming Fashionably Connected in the Austin fashion scene!!
Our next Fashionably Connected event will be combined close to Austin Fashion week. Stay tuned!
Maggie Norris Couture - 
