In the ever-changing and equally fickle world of fashion, a great trend can easily fade away into a comical cliché. Remember when torn jeans, and baggy overalls were all the rage in the 90’s? Or when Member’s Only jackets were a must have in the 80’s? Gone are those seemingly fond yet historical views on fashion, but just when you thought it was safe to throw out your airbrushed sweatshirt the 80’s have made a sweeping comeback onto the runways and shelves of retailers. Just like that, fashion and its designers have duped the consumer. Leaving you not knowing where to turn when your pockets are full of cash and you are determined to shop until you drop. That is where I come in.

My name is Stephanie Arms, and I am a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., “Classy Phi” Chapter of Clark Atlanta University.  I moved to New York in December of 2003, and being a native of Los Angeles with a longstanding interest in fashion, I went directly to Fifth Avenue.  I have always considered myself a budding fashionista, always keeping up with the latest styles and frequently making stops along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.  However, the experience of walking down Fifth Avenue in New York City for the first time left me captivated and in somewhat of a fashion shock!  Everything down to the fiber of my being forced me to want to know everything I could find out about Haute Couture.  New York is THE hot bed of style and individuality. You can rarely say that Jane or John Doe New Yorker has a cookie cutter look. There is something new everyday whether it’s Downtown in Soho, Midtown in the Fashion District or Uptown in Harlem. My first job as a young black business professional was in commercial real estate development. That field was not directly related to the fashion industry, but certainly put me in the company of many industry favorites. In addition, I was introduced to a network of fellow HBCU graduates trying to get their foot in the door of many of the more popular, and lucrative, industries.  In fact, it turned out to be a close knit group of Black Greeks from across the United States and the Caribbean.   Being around this eclectic group of individuals helped me to understand some of the differences that exist in a person’s own reality regarding fashion and its impact on their social, and professional lives. I began writing social commentaries and blogs on the internet, and realized that everyone has an opinion on what is or is not style. With that understanding, I made it my personal goal to expose myself to as many up and coming designers in New York City as possible. I wanted to combine the fashion elements I see on the street with those in the store windows of Fifth Avenue, while defining what I like to call…. “Style.”

With the demands of life in this fast-paced world, one might not have the time or the energy to read the many magazines on newsstands to keep up with the latest fashion trends. The purpose of our “Window Shopping” section will be to create a space to showcase new talent as well as established designers of color, and to display the hot fresh designs from the runways in Milan, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles.  More importantly, this section will be beneficial with helping us all to find our own personal style. I consider myself to be Bohemi-Chic! The question is, “What’s YOUR “Style”?”  For the young professionals who are just breaking into the career world, we will explore topics like “What is a Power Suit?” For the distinguished social butterflies we will try to discover the “Perfect Little Black Dress” and for the new age Renaissance man we will look to answer the question, “Do the Clothes Truly Make the Man?” (I say always, but what do you think?)

African-American designers have always been on the forefront of fashion making sure we are producing head–turning, cutting edge ensembles. The Pulse Greek Network is an outlet for ideas, news, and social awareness, while striving to make sure that everyone is connected to each other through mutual interests. I hope that everyone will enjoy and take something from the Fashion corner, even if fashion is not your forte, you should always feel amazing in the clothes you wear. Style is a reflection of the person within…..”IF YOU LIKE IT, I LOVE IT”!

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