From Brooklyn to Paris: Single Black Female....

ya'll know the rest..ADDICTED TO RETAIL AND PROOUUD OF IT!

Well i am back in Paris now but last Friday night was one that I won't soon forget! I was HONORED to recieve recognition and a scholarship award from the Black Retail Action Group...the awards ceremony was held at the beautiful CIPRIANI Wall Street! Almost Everybody who is anybody in fashion was there and I made sure to meet and greet each one! My sponsor is Bloomingdales so I was seated next to the president of bloomingdales..my mama of course and the VP of finances for bloomingdales...I had an opportunity to meet Patrick Robinson VP of design for the Gap who also has his own line at Target...unfortuately it was too loud for us to have a normal conversation..so all he caught was my name..Raeana Roberson...and he said "oh wow we have the same last name"...right..I let that one go because I wouldnt mind being related to him, lol Tracy Reese was also there...( I am a former TR intern) and I walked up to her and said "hey I think I know you from somewhere..oh thats right I was a TR intern" ok soo lol at my corny humor but she has never seen me glammed up and didnt recognize me initially....then we schmoozed took pics blah blah Tracy is so sweet dont let anyone tell you differently! Well..I also had a chance to say hey to Constance White Style director of Ebay whom I met at The High School of fashion Industries before...she was also the Mistress of ceremonies...I ALSO met one of my fav models..Alek Wek...Robert Chavez President of Hermes Paris was honored..Harriete Cole, creative director of Ebony, and Gilles Bensimon (you may have heard the name over and over on Top model) he is the international creative director of Elle magazine! phew! WELL Harriet Cole is also a life coach and when she spoke she was very inspirational! She said that the fashion industry can be a warm enviroment (it can also be a rutheless cold hearted..shut yo mouth!) last night was one of those warm inviting times in the industry because BRAG is like one big family, and last night was the family reunion! even me... little ole college student saw so many familiar faces and had a chance to reconnect with people...I am looking forward to becoming a BRAG intern this summer and next years BRAG award ceremony! Enjoy the pictures and be sure to check out the Black Retail Action Group..Not exclusively for african americans...there were people from every race in attendance supporting BRAG..However, the reality is that our industry continues to struggle with the notion of creating a diverse workforce. Unfortunately, people of color in executive positions do not reflect the population. Other examples that come to mind are: not many women of color grace the runways of fashion week on a consistent basis; designers of color do not have a major presence in retail stores; and most of the ad campaigns out there do not speak to the enormous buying power of these important populations...the president of BRAG said he only longs for the day when he opens a high fashion magazine and see's all black models and there isn't a circus of press revolved around it (in reference to Vogue Italia's hooplah with the ground breaking Black Issue)...In other words it will be such a normal occurance to see african americans in positions of greatness that no extra hooplah is necessary...suddenly I feel an extreme amount of pressure to be GREAT! I owe it to the people who paved the way for me...to take advantage of every opportunity at hand, and pave the way for those who will come after me.

Mood music 4 ya! from Ms. Junior Independant

In the car i was smiling but I had no idea what I was sitting in..my bro drove me there and unfortuately he failed to mention prior to me sitting that he had spilled oil in the passenger seat :( soo once i arrived I had a noticable oil stain on my derrier..totally blemishing my Karen Millen dress :(

BACK IN MY CITY! New York the city that never sleeps...for a night owl like moi

The Beautiful Cipriani!

The silent auction! I could have bid on an Hermes Bag for as low as $500 and I didnt I could kick myself now!

myself and Constance White...style director of Ebay

from left, Jeffrey Tweedy VP of Sean John, Gary Lampley President of BRAG, Super Model Alek Wek, Gilles Bensimone of Elle Mag, Actress Malinda Williams, Phil Robinson...not sure what he doesbut he's from Diddy's dynasty lol

NOT SO flattering pic of me with the president of BRAG...I ONLY TAKE PICTURES WITH THE CAMERA VERTICALLY! lol ok..diva moment anyways you cant look perfect in every picture!

Myself...with Alek Wek..notice how we are the same height...proving that if I were at least 80 pounds lighter..I COULD BE A SUPERMODEL..saying this while I am eating a pot..of yougurt...yes readers...I said a pot