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Thursday, May 28, 2015

eMerge Summit: Women, Innovation and Technology

You get the eMerge Women, Innovation and Technology Summit. You also get a room full of powerful and prominent women who are ready to change the game. With thousands of people in attendance on May 4^th, 2015 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, it was a great opportunity to network and engage with others in the field and see how women are making an impact in the world of technology and innovation.

The WIT Summit was a new initiative created by eMerge America and featured 3 Keynote Speakers, Martine Rothblatt, Abigail Posner and Genevieve Bell. Rothblatt is the Founder and served as Chairman and CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio, which is now referred to as Sirius XM.

Martine Rothblatt welcoming guests to the first annual WIT Summit on May 4, 2015 at the Miami Beach Convention Center

Posner was added to the Google team 3 years ago and helps develop creative and strategic ideas for the digital space. Bell is Vice President and director of User Experience Research at the Intel Corporation. The Summit also had various breakout sessions facilitated by speakers in different aspects of innovation and technology, as well as, an impressive interview with a #CertifiedCOOL 11 year old fashion designer, Ariel Swedroe, who uses technology in her work.

1. GET TECHY. Women need to access technology in order to be attracted to the field. They need to engage more.

2. DON'T BE A HATER. The success of women should be the success of another. Celebrate each other.

3. BE THE PROBLEM-SOLVER. You will be remembered for one of two things... the problems you create or the problems you solved.

4. FEAR IS GOOD. When you experience fear in your career, it can be sign that you are moving in the right direction... the unknown... the unfamiliar. Fear can be healthy if it moves you to action.

5. POWER OF PERSISTENCE. You will access the power of persistence when you do things with love. Amen! This is one of our core principles at COOL.

By: Joanne Joseph

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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

FASHION FILES: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Could it be true that Alexander McQueen be the new face of the 20 bill in the UK?

This legendary English Fashion Designer, raised in the East End of London was considered by the Bank of England to be a part of the group of visual artists with a great historical significance in order to take place of pride on its new £20 note.

The UK has had very talented individuals in the Visual Arts field whose work have challenged British artistic perspective all around the world. Especially when it comes to leadership, innovation, and social interaction among society.

So, what would be the one unique single thing everyone would love to see come out of an ATM? Why not see your favorite fashion designer?! It would definitely be a fashion upgrade in your wallet.

Dresses from Alexander McQueen pertaining to different collections from 2011-2013

McQueen making dress alterations

McQueen didn’t have the perfect childhood. While he was growing up, he did challenge himself and endured hardship. All of this helped in shaping him into the fashion icon that he is today.

He was brave, sure, enthusiastic, self-exposed, unique… He was and is a legend...

“McQueen was an uncompromising pioneer in design; because his clothes were engineered with a precision and invention that put his contemporaries to shame; because he led a French haute couture house to international critical acclaim and commercial success.”

said Alexander Fury, The Independent’s Fashion Editor.

A selection of gowns designed by Alexander McQueen worn by (far left) Naomi Campbell, Taylor Swift at the Met Costume Gala in 2011, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Middleton's wedding dress in 2011 and First Lady Michelle Obama in Flame Red" at a formal dinner at the White House in 2011.

McQueen is one of the most respected designers in the world. His resumé includes working as Chief Designer for the French Haute Couture House Givenchy and taking the title as Creative Director for the Gucci Group. With awards such as International Designer of the Year by The Council of Fashion Designers of America, 4 British Designer of the Year awards and let's not forget a Most Excellent Commander of The British Empire (CBE) by the Queen herself in 2003; we would say that McQueen seems like a prime candidate to be featured on one of the strongest currencies in the world.

With such a #CertifiedCOOL icon imprinted on the new bills I wonder if people would even spend the haute notes or covet them as priceless keepsakes.

By: McKenna Martinez Crozier

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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

COOL PEOPLE: JOHN BRAMBLITT

THE BLIND YET VISUAL ARTIST

John Bramblitt is not who you would call ordinary. After going blind due to complications with epilepsy in 2001, John, whose dream was to become a creative writing teacher, was crushed. Feeling deeply depressed John discovered the world of painting and the results have been quite impressive:

John had never painted before going blind. Yet after about a year of practice and figuring his way through, John has mastered the concept.

Sold in over twenty countries his art has appeared in print, television, and radio. It’s also been showcased in the CBS Evening News, ABC, BBC Radio, and featured in The New York Times and Psychology Today.

John uses brailed tubes to identify colors and preconceived recipes for color combination. He also paints using his hands as a guide for the paintbrush. By doing this he states that it helps put down better lines on the canvas. John has also used different types of paint and can figure out which is which by their texture.

Though he is self-taught, he has learned to use raised lines to help guide him through the canvas, giving him a haptic visualization of what the picture looks like.

John Bramblitt is not what you would call ordinary. No, he is in fact exceptional. In his first art show John refused to tell anyone he was blind because he “didn’t want it to affect the way [people] perceived the art.” He has also embraced his condition. This is evident in how he signs each of his pieces where you’ll see two circles with “X’s” painted over them. Absolutely fantastic.

Here is an awesome CBS interview about the man himself:

Bramblitt has demonstrated to all of us that a set back (whether minor or major) does not mean you should despair because we are much more capable than we know. Sometimes it takes setbacks to discover what those capabilities are.

By: Oliver R. Pernt

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Friday, March 27, 2015

TECH TALK: THE DEZER COLLECTION

SUPER CAR ROOM UNVEILED AT THE DEZER COLLECTION

As a certified car lover, I always enjoy the opportunity of spending time with cars and with people who enjoy them as much as I do. Luckily, I was able to do that this past Saturday at the Dezer Collection on 146th Street in North Miami. I was there for the unveiling of the brand new Super Car Room, which was hosted by Michael Dezer, an Israeli-Born, New York real estate developer and founder of Dezer Properties.

The night started off with a brief meet-and-greet in the entrance room where the Mahindra Formula E Racing Team of India and special guests waited in anticipation.

As we roamed the museum, it was a match made in heaven. The event was a merge of fashion, tech, design and art. There was a huge “Super Car Room” mural made by the awesome London native INSA, a graffiti artist who created the Gif-iti app. With the use of his app, you can point your phone towards one of his murals and see it move! You can even view one of his murals from space when using the app. That is innovation at its best!

INSA Space Gif-iti:

After about an hour of roaming the museum, we were invited to have dinner in preparation for the unveil. Dezer and others said a few words and then the curtains were pulled.

From a Lamborghini Diablo to a Porsche Carrera GT, the collection was impressive. Yet the vehicles that caught everyone's eyes was first, the 650hp Mercedes-Benz Mclaren SLR 722 Edition. The Benz is a more hardcore version to the original SLR. You add 33 more horses and a stiffer suspension and you'll create the perfect car for the weekend drive to the racetrack. A little fun fact is that the 722 nameplate is derived from the victory race won by the legendary Sterling Moss in the Mille Miglia in 1955. The car was a Mercedes 300 SLR with the starting number 722 (indicating he started the race at 7:22 a.m.).

The next car is non-other than the $2 million dollar, 1000BHP Bugatti Veyron. This car is different from just about every other car I have ever seen in the sense of presence it gives off.

It was a perfect evening for the car-enthusiast. To see more of the iconic cars from the event, such as the Batmobile, the Aston Martin DB5 from 007 or the supercars like the Bugatti Veyron, visit the Dezer Collection.

By: Oliver R. Pernt

See more COOL here

FASHION FILES: SANDAL SEASON

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

FASHION FEATURE- TRESEMMÈ: MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK FALL 2015

TRESemmè Presents Collections From Rebecca Minkoff, Erin Fetherston & Marissa Webb

For those who missed Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, we at That's COOL blog have you covered. Here are are some of our favorite looks from the Mercedes-Benz Fall Fashion Week 2015 collection, sponsored by TRESemme.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: A model walks the runway at the Rebecca Minkoff fashion show with TRESemme during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at The Pavilion at Lincoln Center on February 13, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for TRESemme)

The Marissa Webb Collection

The shows featured designs from Marissa Webb who is known for her soft, yet structured and tailored designs

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A model walks the runway at the Marissa Webb fashion show with TRESemme during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at Milk Studios on February 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Albert Urso/Getty Images for TRESemme

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: Designer Marissa Webb walks the runway at the Marissa Webb fashion show with TRESemme during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at Milk Studios on February 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Albert Urso/Getty Images for TRESemme)

The Erin Fetherston Collection

Fetherston showcases her whimsical and feminine designs.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 18: A model walks the runway with TRESemme at the Erin Fetherston fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at The Salon at Lincoln Center on February 18, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for TRESemme)

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 18: Designer Erin Fetherston poses on the runway at the Erin Fetherston fashion show with TRESemme during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at The Salon at Lincoln Center on February 18, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for TRESemme)

The Rebecca Minkoff Collection

Minkoff's designs can be described as edgy and playful.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Designer Rebecca Minkoff walks the runway at the Rebecca Minkoff fashion show with TRESemme during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at The Pavilion at Lincoln Center on February 13, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for TRESemme)

You can find more of Webb's #CertifiedCOOL collection at Barneys in New York and other selected cities. Minkoff's pieces are sold in over 900 stores worldwide including Nordstrom and Macys. Fetherston's designs can be found online and in stores such as Bloomingdales and Nordstrom.

By: Joanne Joseph