While the political rivals had a field day this week with Ann Romney’s nearly $1,000 blouse, it appears Ann Romney is not the only presidential candidate’s wife with expensive taste. Despite her penchant for more affordable clothing, First Lady Michelle Obama has quite a pricey wardrobe  herself.

Ann Romney with presidential candidate husband Mitt Romney

From Balenciaga and Helmut Lang to Michael Kors and Marchesa, the first lady has been known to wear some big name, and expensive designer fashions. Last week alone, Mrs. Obama was  scene in two different L’Wren Scott cardigans, with price tags between $2,000 and $3,000.

Last Thursday, Mrs. Obama wore the designer’s peach embroidered cardigan to a  White House event, Take Your Child To Work Day. The very next day she wore similar piece, this one white with red to greet troops at Fort Stewart, in Georgia, with the president.

It should be noted, however, that Mrs. Obama is also well-known for boosting sales at the more affordable J. Crew and has been seen shopping at the discount store Target.

Tampa Bay Fashion Week

Tampa Bay Fashion Week is now accepting applicants for Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2012, featuring 2013 Spring/Summer Collections.

The deadline for all applications is June 1, 2012.

If you are interested in showing your collection at Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2012, please e-mail designer@fashionweektampabay.com for application, registration and fees. Please be sure to provide your full name and website information so they may view your collection. Thank you!

Sunday night I went to yet another fantastic fashion show that was put on by the W Scottsdale.  They invited me to their Annual Hair Wars Supreme Salon Tour Show and it was a “Hair Raising” experience to say the least! When I arrived, the line was seriously wrapped around the building and around the corner for this fashion show! When I saw everything….I began to understand why!  The celebrity of the night and host was no other than BRAVO’s Shear Genius, Ben Mollin. He welcomed everyone and was a fine host for the evening.

Hair Wars fashion show consists of ten local salons here in the valley that chose their models picked a theme and went to work! As I headed backstage where all the models where hanging out in costume, I felt like I was in another land! From The Wizard of Oz to Candy land!  I met two gentlemen named Eric Shunk, a local photographer and his friend Jonathan.  Jonathan introduced me to Sara Pena, owner and stylist of Sleeping Beauty Salon here in Phoenix. She was so sweet and all of her models looked amazing! One particular model was Jonathan’s girlfriend, Amanda, who wore an angel costume with big white wings on her back.  She certainly looked fabulous!  I also ran into one of my good pals and model Adel Belgaid. He told me that his theme of the night was a love story. He looked very debonair if you asked me! I wished him luck and off I went to take more pictures.

Enough of the meet and greets! I saw some wild and crazy hair tonight! There were ten salons all being judged on their creativity and their hair creations. The Salons were:

1. Saints & Scissors Salon- Circus Theme
2. Ramon Bacaui & Hair Med Spa-
3. Studio 326
4. Salon Surreal Salon Day Spa
5. Sleeping Beauty Salon and Boutique
6. Ohano Salon Spa
7. Elysium
8. Salon Mila
9. Hair n High Definition
10. Beauty By Veronica

Wow! Here’s to all of the amazing Hair Stylist of these salons who did such a great job on the runway! Every salon had it’s unique style with their choice of music and theme’s which I mentioned earlier. I do have my favorites but I will leave that to the professionals to chose the top three who were stylist Ethan Murray, clothing designer Angela Johnson and FOX 10 television personality Kristin Anderson. The winner will be going to another competition for their region to try and win the “Supreme Salon” title.

In the mean time, I didn’t get the privilege to meet all of these wonderful owners or stylists of these salons but I am sure it’s because they were too busy making sure that every strand was in it’s place as you can imagine. I could see all the hard work they had in all of their masterpieces and you know it’s a good show when you have the W crowd participating!

As the night went on, the wind picked up and it became a little chili outside, with heaters in hand no one was going anywhere! After intermission, it was back to my seat for the remainder of the show which got a little more interesting as the night was coming to a close.  Hip Hop dancers, creative poses, more interesting weaves, colors and a lot of hair took the second half of the show to another level! After the show, the judges made their choices for first, second and third place and here they are:
1st = Saints & Scissors
2nd= Hair in Hi Def
3rd= There was a tie – ‘Ohana Salon & Spa / Salon Surreal

I spoke with Sondra Bohanna this week, one of Saints and Scissors stylist and she was still so ecstatic about the win that she said she was still in shock!  Great job Sondra! Your hard work really paid off!
The Stylists Models were:

1. The Ring Leader (who played the drums)
2. Popcorn Girl
3. Snake
4. Fortune Teller
5. Fire Breather
6. Bearded Lady
7. Magician
8. Acrobat
9. Drag Queen
10. Clown with Balloons

I enjoyed tonight’s show very much! With so much time, effort and creativity put into this Fashion Show I can always enjoy and appreciate someone else’s talent! I am grateful for all the girls that always accommodate Beyond Beauty Basics!  For letting me come and take a peak of all of their fun shows so that I can report to you, all the talent that lives in the city, our city, Phoenix! These girls that I talk about are Katie Brashear and Gina Bagby! These awesome ladies at the W Scottsdale are just amazing and wonderful! Also want to thank Benjamin Moline, Marketing & Entertainment Director for Windy City Media, LLC.  I heard that he was the gentleman that helped out with this event and he did such a great job!  Also I want to thank Kirsten Fargotstein as well for all the additional information regarding Hair Wars. Well ladies and gentlemen, as the start of this new year and now it’s the beginning of February….I can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeves for the rest of the year!