A year ago today...

A year ago today Freedom Star Mentorship along with 7 bright minds (14-17 years old), hosted Freedom through Fashion, a benefit concert and fashion show.

For nearly four months, this group of 7 students had to maintain the responsibilities of their specific positions, whether Stylist, Talent Coordinator, Producer, Social Media Manager or Event Planner, each student had areas they were responsible for.

More than half of our group represented the first graduating class of Frances Perkins Academy, with that in mind, Angela, Celeta, Kyle, Javier, Jelani, Christian and Shakeiy'a decided the proceeds of the show would go back to their school! I'm delighted to announce we met our goal and C.A.D. software was obtained for the student body of FPA.

Freedom through Fashion brought together emerging designers and artists including Under Ground System Afro Beat, People In Gear, a special dance session opening with none-other than Benny Ninja from America's Next Top Model!

It is a joy to look back at how much we conquered last year - Freedom Star Mentorship has only begun empowering - I am excited to see what we triumph over in the next decade!

Love - Sahar

Amy from Radiance Hair & MakeUp shares her inspiration

Sexy night vixen. In this look Sahar wears a great ruffled black dress, perfectly accompanied by a black hat and platform shoes. It's fun to get dressed up and add a dash of drama through your accessories--don’t be afraid to do the same with your makeup.

The perfect complement to an elegant black outfit is a red lip. It adds the perfect pop of color (be sure to find one in the right shade for your skin tone). Sahar wears Cover Girl “Flame” that has golden undertones to compliment her olive skin. Another look may be to tone down the lips to a neutral and play up the eyes with a smoky eye in any color. I recommend NARS “Demon Lover.”

~ Amy

www.RadianceNY.com

Freedom Star Style

Love holiday weekends, a time to slow down, catch up with friends,

and always a great excuse to dress to the 9's.

The warm weather inspired my skirt to get shorter-and-shorter as my heels got taller-and-taller. These 5 inch ROCK & REPUBLIC platforms are much more comfortable than they appear...even on the cobble stone streets of the French Quarter a.k.a. 4-wheeling for high heels - that's when they were really put to the test, and I'm happy to share no blisters or broken ankles.

Found this Victoria Bekham influenced dress roaming through the Fashion District - I think on 7th Ave and 37th Street - - but the little shop is no longer there. :(

Now that the basics were taken care of it was time to add a little funk.

Kept it dressy and distinctive with a touch of Freedom Star : dark silver, studded bow-tie necklace *.

I knew I wanted to play up the tuxedo theme from my pantyhose (Calvin Klein) that's when I remembered a little treasure I found for $10 at the Young Designer's Market in SOHO - - well hello TOP HAT.

Oh, my heart is smiling so big. :) Couldn't resist adding my newest bejeweled friend Octopus from True Love boutique in Denver.

And, voila my little black dress is holiday-weekend-appropriate!

* Bow Tie necklace special order only, will not be sold on my website.

Please order via e-mail sahar@freedomstaronline.com

Photographer: Rachael Inman

Radiance NY stops by to talk make up!

Amy Klewitz, friend and long-time supporter of Freedom Star and most importantly the founder of Radiance NY: hair, makeup and dance, stopped by our photo shoot to make sure I had the right look for this outfit. Here is her make up tip for those looking to mix a little warm & cool.

In this look Sahar wears a gorgeous wood linked necklace accompanied by brown and grey tones. This look is great as it combines both warm and cool colors, which gives you more to choose from as of makeup. Despite being dressed for the cool spring weather, this summer you are likely to mix these two colors. Sahar wears a nice warm lip with hints of peach to compliment this look - great for a natural summer glow, I recommend NARS “Warm Rose Brown” matte lip stick with “Wonder” lip gloss to add more peach tones to the mix.

Another place to play up this look is in the cheeks. By running a light eye and neutral lip we can play up the cheeks with warmer colors to bring out those cheekbones. I recommend “Honey Bronzing Powder” by the Body Shop.

Photographer: Rachael Inman

Freedom Star Style

In the eight years I've lived in NYC, this has been the coldest spring yet. I won't complain much longer, this weather is a great opportunity to pull out jackets I haven't worn in years...like this beautiful honey-brown hand stitch leather jacket I found at a street fair in the West Village back in'04.

To keep hope for spring alive I paired the jacket with olive linen pants by Twelve (forever21), and BCBG Girls wood and leather platform heels (they are super light and comfy).

No outfit of mine is complete without a little piece of Freedom, wood link necklace with vintage key from Freedom Star Accessories ...the perfect

finishing touch!

Looks like we might hit 80 this week...fingers crossed! Have a good week everyone!

xo Sahar

Freedom Star Style

I love spring but this rain is really messing with my shoe game. I'm ready to put away the boots and get into my lace & suede Betsy Johnson pumps. They've only been waiting in the closet for 5 weeks!

Thanks to Rachael

Inman.com I don't have

to wait for blue skies to try on my new spring outfit. Love dressing up for fun! (Thanks Rachael!) check out her shoe illustrations here:

http://tinyurl.com/5ubyjzz

It was love-at-first-sight when I found this empire waist lace top at Flavour Boutique on 86th Street in Bayridge Brooklyn. One of my favorite stops for good priced tops and dresses that you can wash and don't fall apart!

Freedom Star Accessories lock & heart key earrings ($12) and bold link bracelet ($18) and vintage clutch purse from Re/Dress NYC 109 Boerum Place, Brooklyn.

Makeup by Amy Klewitz of Radiance NYC, here's a little note from Amy about my look!

Sahar's light pink lace top paired with the soft grays in her hat and jeans inspired me to go for a nice neutral look. By using a soft peach across the lid to bring out the brown in her eyes and a medium line of liquid or cake eyeliner you get the soft but made-up look that complements both aspects of this outfit. I recommend Mac’s “Paint Pots in black or brown. Also by adding a peach cheek you stay on the neutral end but still adding some color highlight to the cheeks and a neutral lip.

Freedom Star spends a day with celebrity photographer...

Free Your Star - a student-run publication sponsored by Freedom Star Mentorship had a chance to spend a day at Jim Wright's photo studio. http://bit.ly/gEAUlJ

Rachael Inman.com - photographer and studio manager - gave us a tour, talked to us about photography and shot the cover for Free Your Star magazine! Check out behind the scenes video here!

Freedom Star Mentorship Presents...

Invigorating the entrepreneurial spirit in high school students is important to Freedom Star - so is building community. This semester Freedom Star high school interns from Frances Perkins Academy had a chance to collaborate with Academy of Urban Planning. Press play to see more!

Freedom Star Mentorship 2010

Freedom Star Accessories Summer/ Fall 2010

Back when Freedom Star was just a bunch of ideas floating around, I always said I wanted to use my friends as models. Real people, of all flavors doing their thing. I'm fortunate to have friends that are beautiful from the inside out.

Freedom Star Mentorship presents

Freedom Star Accessories at Fashion Denver

Freedom Star Mentorship Presents...

Frances Perkins Academy Fashion Show!

Eight freshman and sophomores from FPA: Angela, Celeta, Destiny, Sha'Keiya, Christian, Javier, Jelani and Kyle are Freedom Star Mentee's. Together we will plan, produce and execute an exciting fashion show on June 4th at 50 Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

It is going to be so much more than fashion, check out our web site and follow us on twitter and facebook to hear the latest news!!

GG stylist Eric Daman "always a lil' sugar always a lil' spice!"

Stylist Eric Daman and Michael Paladino share their input on how to wear Freedom Star Accessories safety pin bracelet.


Go ahead girl, take the sugar out of that dress!
www.freedomstaronline.com


*Turn up your volume, original sound recorded low

Proenza Schouler & Alexander Wang Fall 2010

I don't often find myself in a preppy mood unless it has a little edge to it. I am however in love with mixing in suit pieces that have a little peek a boo skin - anything that is generally considered a masculine cut. Jack, Lazaro and Alexander I want to wear your clothes RIGHT NOW! Thank you for creating such beautiful garments.

Style it up with a Freedom Star big link necklace and bracelet or my new safety-pin rock girl collection. See freedomstaronline.com for more.

Redress NYC: Vintage & Resale, Size 14+

Redress NYC in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn offers voluptuous women in New York a one-stop-shop for vintage and confidence. Owner, Deb Malkin, celebrated her one year anniversary in November. When I sat down with her this week she shared, " even in a soft economy Redress has been doing remarkably well."

It's really no surprise, I was in the store just 15 minutes before sitting down with Deb, and I was already in love with three purses. This situation would usually cause a dilemma - especially since we are all trying to save a bit more - but not at Redress. I bought all three purses for around $40! Deb says "You could style an entire Redress outfit for under $100, $50 if you look for the bargains!"

When you're done finding your next outfit enter Redress model search for an editorial in Plus Model Magazine or stay for a holistic class with a health every size activist.

A visit to Redress will leave you feeling empowered in your wallet, closet and heart. 109 Boerum Place, Brooklyn. www.redressnyc.com

You can see footage from my visit below or read more at ww.madisonplus.com.

Sahar

Gossip Girl Stylist Eric Daman meets Freedom Star

What do you get when you mix down-to-earth, creative freedom, and super model over night?

Emmy award winning stylist / costume designer for Sex and The City, Gossip Girl, all while spreading his creativity on countless independent films -

Eric Daman.

It was an honor to meet him tonight where he used Freedom Star Accessories to demonstrate how to get that uptown chic with a downtown twist he is oh-so famous for.

Watch style tips from Eric himself as he pairs Sariah dresses with Freedom Star watch necklace, black rose bracelet and black feather necklace.

Tenae was right...

...when she said we learned from each other. Freedom Star Mentoring officially launched this month. Last semester Tenae and Chelsea became the first young ladies to experience mentorship and internship through Freedom Star.

Some of our accomplishments included increasing Freedom Star's web presence, planning and executing a very successful Inaugural Unity Ball.

Freedom Star collaboration with Soulseye Productions will have footage of the event featuring Edyta Sliwinska from Dancing With The Stars.

The inspiration of our accomplishments had me thinking bigger and more fashion. Freedom Star Mentorship is now offering Fashion Show Productions Internship Program. Eight to ten high school students will create, plan and put on a fashion show. Proceeds from the event will benefit a cause or program the group decides on collectively. From stylists, event planners, producers to set designers everyone will have something fantastic to contribute. Pictures and video coming soon.

Mentoring is my true passion. I love watching the moment when inspiration is ignited, and a young woman/man realizes the next step to shaping her/his future. It's a process that is quite addicting. Speaking of...

My ambassador duties with Jarluxe have officially begun. On Saturday's I have the opportunity to spend time with the young ladies and gentlemen from Bronx High School of Visual Arts. We spend Saturday morning learning and creating, while preparing these smart and dedicated students to be Fashion's next Executives.

Inaugural Unity Ball presented by NY Partner Dance, organized by Freedom Star.

I am a Global Citizen

Global Citizen. Those two words sound so beautiful to me, mostly because of my experience as an immigrant. I've never felt completely at home anywhere since my family uprooted from Iran early in life. Seven years in New York, and the mish-mosh of cultures all forced to live together feels the most welcoming.

Chris Wilson and his wife, Nubia DuVall are the super powers behind the Global Citizen Project. The opening ceremony this past weekend was a surreal experience for me.

Seven immigrants were interviewed by Nubia DuVall, who translated each story into eloquently written pieces that hung below Chris Wilson's remarkable paintings. For my particular portrait we met at a restaurant in Union Square. Lighting inside was too dark for photographs - which is what each portrait Chris paints is based off of. We head outside where he takes a snap shot of me acting silly to get comfortable in front of the camera.

Apparently it only took an hour for Chris to decide on that particular photograph. For me it was an honor to just be able to share my story. I hope it inspires others to reach for their star. For more information see www.paintwilson.com

Chris Wilson, Painter (right)

Laura, Global Citizen (left and in portrait)

To Change Humanity You Must Start With A GIRL

Freedom Star Necklaces at Fashion Denver's New Location.

1070 Bannock

Denver, CO

Necklace that drapes around your waist to make even the most drab winter turtle neck look fantastic. $40

Black and Whit Big Link Necklace with metal chain. Go ahead get a little tough around the edges...still looks cute. For my bold girls. $25

So Long Freedom Star

This concludes my overwhelming experience at Freedom Star. I would like to most of all thank my mentor Sahar for having me and letting me give little opinions about certain things. I would also like to say that being here at Freedom Star has taught me a little bit more about myself and I realized that I can actually make things happen when I put my mind to it, how to be professional, and most of all, how to be more social.

~T

P.S thanks again Sahar and Freedom Star for having me.

This is my final design, which is a charm bracelet I made for my grandmother's birthday.

Freedom Star in the Denver Post

STYLE

How to wear

a little black dress

Five fashion pros show how they personalize a classic

By The Denver Post

POSTED: 12/08/2009

Brandi Shigley models her Little Black Dress at her new Fashion Denver space on Bannock Street. (The Denver Post | CYRUS MCCRIMMON)

The Promoter

Brandi Shigley, found of Fashion Denver, which promotes independent designers and retail stores, has a style all her own, which she demonstrated while roller skating around 1070 Bannock St., a space she’s moving into on Jan. 1.

Find her at: 321 W. 11^th Ave., 303-974-2200: Shigley bought the black dress she describes as “ghetto fabulous” at the trendy national chain Rainbow (her haunt is at 407 S. Broadway). Accessories from her Fashion Denver showroom are a Freedom Star necklace by Sahar Parirokh, Emily Marchalonis headband, and Knotty Gal Creations knitted handwarmers. The roller skates are from Regal Vintage. Shigley’s fashion philosophy: “Just have fun!”

fashiondenver.com

An Interns Voice...

I chose to share this poem because it speaks loud for people that aren't willing or afraid to speak for themselves. I felt I had to write this poem because I'm always the voice that's listened to in school. So I figured if I wrote this poem I spread awareness to people that make fun of others, because they don't have the latest fashions or because they are gay, whatever the case may be this poem is for you.

Just because I'm not shaped like a classic coca-cola bottle

and my hair isn't long and str8, but instead its hard and nappy,

which makes me BLACK doesn't mean that I'm not gonna be successful.

And just because you nor society accepts me doesn't mean I have to be criticized. Especially not by you, I thought you loved me but instead I feel hatred at times.

And guess what, she's tired, I'm tired, tired of being put down

because she has been chosen by men and women, and just because she is that way, doesn't mean that when she does meet God he is going to reject her.

But instead all these fake ass b*tches and p*ssy ass n*gge*s judge she because I have class. She's tired, I'm tired, tired of covering the pain with a smile which I wouldn't have to do if people would just fuck off and let me do what imma do.

Just because the sun rotates around the earth doesn't mean that I nor she has to wake up in the morning ready to be faced by the world, and she is tired, I'm tired of hearing the same old bullshit, but if you were living in my world where the sun shines bright on those who standout because their loved ones and society take away their hearts beats and make up reasons for them to feel like they don't belong.

Doesn't mean that their suicide thoughts are wrong.

So no more get in were you fit in because here everyones in.

~T

Tenae's Adventures

Hi I'm Tenae one of the newest interns at Freedom Star from Frances Perkins Academy. During my Tuesday and Thursday adventure to Bay Ridge Brooklyn I have more than enough time to see different things as I go from one place to another. By traveling I have seen the difference between the two places in which they have inspired me to write poetry and create my own piece of jewelry. So far being an intern at Freedom Star has been one of the greatest experiences because my mentor is very cool and supportive. I love working with her because she's not only teaching me but we're teaching each other.

I have learned how to make jewelry which led me to make a charm bracelet for my grandmother. Here is a start to the charm bracelet I'm designing. I picked the link because it looks antique and fits my grandmother's skin tone. The butterfly and the leaf charm are special because it represents my grandmother's love for the out doors and God's creatures.

During my internship I also got to be a guest designer, and re-create a Freedom Star signature look, Baran- which means raindrop in Farsi. Next time you guys hear from me I will have my inspiration poem.

Quiet Force

It's been over a month since I've written. I've thought about it plenty, but those thoughts quickly get replaced with others, the continuous checklist that replays in my mind. Don't get me wrong, no negativity here, just the first time I've sat down in a couple of weeks and digested my work.

It's true what they all say, actors, new start-ups - famed or not, it all just started happening, It went by so fast. And that ladies and gents is exactly what I am in the midst of. I'm here sharing it with you because of a promise, one I made to myself to reflect on the work at hand -learn from it as soon as possible, stand on a new plateau because of it, and gain momentum for the next wave of my dream.

Back in January I picked up the Town and Country on the lobby table of a dance studio - in it was a horoscope article about what 2009 had in store for me, a Libra. The article was quite positive, maybe just what I needed at the time, either way I distinctly remember it stating my career dreams would take off in September and October - and sure enough projects bigger than I ever imagined are unfolding.

A company I work closely with, NY Partner Dance, has asked me to be Project /PR/Marketing manager for their Inaugural Unity Ball. A charity event raising proceeds for two wonderful funds ~ UN 1% for Development Fund and Czech Cultural Center BBLA. Best of all the theme of the night is my first love - dance - multicultural unity through social dancing. It has been a pleasure to work on something from the ground up. To start with a brainstorming session and end with a proposal to the United Nations, a world class venue and contacting celebrity dancers (hopefully Edyta Sliwinska) to attend. www.unityball.info

I have been able to conquer such a task thanks to my two new interns. Tenae, I met her through a high school program called The Bigger Picture. Students get to intern two days a week for school credit - I think it's an amazing program, one I wish I had the opportunity to experience at her age. She has been helping me design my next line heading to Fashion Denver to be showcased for the month of November! So exciting, lots of new funky bold looks to one's that will suit the bohemian medieval princess from neck to waist! She is also going to be blogging soon, so keep an eye out.

I also met Chelsea, an LIM College student who is reaching for her dream OF becoming an event planner. Her position means a lot of leg work and thinking about deocrations for the Unity Ball. I can't wait for her and I to be standing side by side that night - for a brief 15 seconds of course - to take in all the hard work.

Can't wait to report back and let you know how it all went. Be well.

S~