Yemi Sekoni is the owner and director of Donahue Models & Talent – Rhode Island’s oldest model and talent agency. Her company books some of New England’s top professional models and talent to work with many corporate giants across the region, helping these companies convey critical marketing and advertising messages to their target audiences.With over 35 years of experience in various areas of the acting and modeling industry, including theater, TV, film, print and runway, Yemi also holds a Bachelors Degree in Education, a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing and an MBA.
She is the chief-in-editor of fashion magazine called TRADE SECRETS which is a culminating outlet for all of her passions – education, performing, marketing and creative writing.
Professor Elizabeth Trujillo Contracts: Illusory Promises
Here is a case from my contracts course which explains the concept of exclusive dealings and implied duties. In this case, well-renowned 20th century fashion designer lost a lawsuit for not following her own 50-50 promise to an employee.
Case Name, Citation Number, Author Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, 222 N.Y. 88, 118 N.E. 214 (1917)
Procedural History
Plaintiff (Wood) sued Lucy, Lad Duff-Gordon for contract breach. Defendant denied contract breached and said that contract lacked elements of a legal contract–Wood never promised anything. Trial court denied Lady Duff-Gordon’s motion for a judgment on the pleadings. the intermediate appellate court reversed on the grounds that the contract lacked mutuality because Wood never promised to do anything. Wood appealed the dismissal of the complaint.
Facts
–Lady Duff Survivor of the Titanic and famous 20th century clothing designer.
–She has designer stores in NYC & Paris; Set fashion early 20th century;
–Wood had contracted an agreement with Lucy to exclusively endorse clothing with Lucy’s name and to market her fashion designs–In exchange, Lucy would get 50% of the profits
–Lucy then gave her endorsements to products without Woods’ knowledge
–Wood sues for contract breach.
–Lucy agues there were no essential elements of a legal contract! There was no written contract; it lacked mutuality; and he didn’t commit to do anything therefore no bargain for exchange.
Issue
Is there an implied duty of “best efforts” in an exclusive contract, when its not written?
Holding
Yes because there was an incentive that he had an implied duty; her duty was to give exclusive rights to the plaintiff to market her clothing.
Rule
Requirements contracts have an implied obligation of good faith and fair dealings; exclusive dealings contracts have implied term to use reasonable efforts to fulfill duties.
Reasoning
–Hon. Cardozo: it implied that the contract required wood to use “reasonable efforts to market Lucy’s name and designs
–The law has out-grown its primitive stage of formalism when the precise word was the sovereign talisman, and every slip was fatal
–When you have exclusive contract you have BEST EFFORTS DUTY
–Deal was one of exclusivity which naturally meant there was incentive for Wood to use reasonable efforts to generate profit for both parties.
Disposition
Reversed
Notes
UCC §2-306(2) “Best Efforts” agreement for exclusive dealings in the kind of goods concerned imposes an obligation by the seller to use best efforts to supply the goods and by the buyer to use best efforts to promote their sale
Prince’s Takeaway
Say what you mean and mean what you say. In every exclusive dealings, either on paper or in oral, implied duty of good faith AND best efforts are imposed.
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Al Sharpton launches hunger strike over Loretta Lynch vote; Republicans use abortion fight to block attorney general confirmation for Loretta Lynch; Hilary Clinton takes a firm stance on driver’s licenses for undocumented workers; Brazilian Model Gisele Bundchen takes her last cat walk in São Paulo; and GOP Presidential Contender Marco Rubio says he attended a gay wedding. All this and more, please follow the links below.
Timeless Tuesdays at the Bond Lounge. A once a month special occasion (the first Tuesday of every month) where you can network with professionals and see the latest trends in fashion.
This month’s fashion look: David Josef Fashions
David Josef is a well-renowned fashion designer here in Boston–specializing in women’s clothing. Designing women’s clothing for over 38 years, he has done it all. He has been blessed to have sold his clothing in department stores across America–stores like Neimann Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdales, etc–and has done television and movie work in New York.
David Josef Fashions, he says, is a “feminine, tailored, uncluttered, and simple look.” They are elegant designs which last for a life-time. His inspiration behind his designs stems from his clients who have grown with him over the years. He understands his clients needs and concerns from day one–taking the time to actually listen to them–and transforms them into beautiful celebrities, while still keeping them up to date with cultural standards. However his biggest pride and joy, is using his keen fashion designs to raise money for Amiee Takaha’s Farm Animal Sanctuary in Arizona.
In a recent fashion show, held at the Beehive restaurant in Boston, Ma, David hosted a charity event to commend the good works of his good friend Aimee Takaha. Aimee Takaha is not only a dear friend to David, but a lifetime friend towards unwanted and abused farm animals. Aimee’s lifetime career is rescuing unwanted and abused farm animals or animals that are going to slaughter house. “Aimee would actually go to these auctions, where animals could be potentially bought for slaughter, and buys them,” David says. She knows she can’t save all of them, but the ones that she does save are rehabilitated and loved back to life.
In a short video (below), which was shown at the fashion show, Aimee was commemorated for her great works in restoring the lives of abused farm animals–and how over time they are able to love people again. “They are loved back to life!,” David says. And through the power of David’s charity fashion show, and his great support group of friends and clients, they were able to buy all the seats at Beehive Restaurant and raise over $15,000 for Aimee so she can continue her good work at her farm in Arizona.
David Josef’s biggest advice for future fashionistas and fashion designers is to be passionate but know how to sew. “It’s tough,” he says. When he first started in the 1970s, there was nobody who was doing what he was doing. But now everyone is doing it. Regardless he says, “You need to have a passion; be poor for awhile; and most importantly know how to sew.”
To see my photos from the fashion show go to my Flickr Acct: “David Josef Fashions”
To follow David Josef and his designs go to his Facebook Page: David Josef Fashions. You can also find him at on Google.
To email him, email him at david.josef.fashions@gmail.com
Timeless Tuesdays at the Bond Lounge. A once a month special occasion (the first Tuesday of every month) where you can network with professionals and see the latest trends in fashion.
This month’s fashion look: The House of Findings
Mayra Gonzales is a vintage collector, and has been since the late 1970s. She discovered her passion for vintage apparel, when she was a teenager living in New York City–she shopped at flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales, and church markets. And it was then when she really discovered the value of green and reusable fashion. She always knew that fashion was her career in life, so she began her first job at a garment district store in New York–working there for 10 years (1979-89).
The House of Findings is a “collection of collections.” It is a traveling pop-up shop, co-founded with her loving husband Biorn Maybury-Lewis, which houses women’s vintage clothing & accessories, global finds, emerging designer clothing and up-cycled wares. It started as an online website, Mayra says, but it then converted into a pop-up shop because it is so much fun and it keeps them busy. Her reasons why women should have House of Findings in their closets are: they are reasonably priced, and every clothing and jewelry is on target with today’s trends. “The quality is there!” she says.
Her advice for aspiring young fashion collectors is to just do it. Wake up every morning and take one step–you have to do it everyday. Just keep working on it. Whether it be making a blouse, buying a sewing machine, or bargaining with your friends to buy your clothing. Just one step at a time and you will get there.
Timeless Tuesdays at the Bond Lounge. A once a month special occasion (the first Tuesday of every month) where you can network with professionals and see the latest trends in fashion.
This month’s fashion look: Kinda Touma
Kinda Touma (Kin-dah Toh-ma) is not just a title but the name of the fashion designer who put all of these beautiful looks together. Kinda is a local fashion designer here in Boston, Ma, where she specializes in High End clothing for women who want to feel feminine but yet classy– and she started her journey into fashion, as a young girl in Aleppo, Syria, where she was designing women’s clothing with her Barbie Dolls.
Growing up in Syria, she says, was wonderful. And after she graduated from the University of Aleppo in Architecture, she flew all the way to Boston and attended The School of Fashion Design. Kinda’s first break began in 2010, where she put on a charity fashion show for ovarian cancer. It is charity events like these that got her foot into the door of fashion and won her fame among the locals in Boston.
Her biggest advice to fashion designers out there is to never give up. She says to never put an obstacle in your way and to keep going with your passion.
As of now, her upcoming plans is to put a hold on fashion shows, until September, so she can focus on new looks. However she will have sample sales in a month. As for Heloisa Fitzgerald, jewelry designer of this show, will showcase her jewelry again during the week of Feb 16th at the State Room in Boston. For more information, go to www.heloisafitzgerald.com
A special thank you, as always, to Gilda, manager of the Bond Lounge, for coordinating this networking event, and Joe Freeman, talent manager of Dynasty Models, for providing the models to showcase these designs.
Timeless Tuesdays at the Bond Lounge. A once a month special occasion (the first Tuesday of every month) where you can network with professionals and see the latest trends in fashion.
This month’s fashion Look: Venni Caprice.
“Venni Caprice is a hand made couture collection by Boston designer LKC (Lori Kyler Christensen). She has been making and designing clothing since she was a young girl. What started as a talent passed down from her grandmother, later flourished into a career path. After years of being a professional makeup artist, Lori made the leap into the fashion world by starting a small clothing label called Venni Caprice in 2008. Without any formal training, this self taught designer created wearable art for years, perfecting her craft. Venni Caprice has become one of Boston’s Best known locally made clothing labels.” –VenniCaprice.com
A special thank you to Gilda, from the Bond Lounge, for coordinating this networking event; and Joe Freeman, Talent Manager of Dynasty Models, showcasing these beautiful fashion designs.
Here is an introductory video of URBN Radio and Podcasts Hosts Prince Sefa-Boakye and Jaclyn “JZ” Zukerman–interviewing each other for the first time at UR Business Network studio on YouTube!
Prince Sefa-Boakye is a Political Correspondent for URBN as well as his own personal website. His show “Prince in The City,” is really about him and the adventures that he has in any city that he is in. He says he can be in San Diego, Ca, (which is where he is from), Boston, Ma (where he currently resides) or anywhere else in the world. His show mainly talks about politics (both national and international) and people from all over the world with different walks of life. The people that he has own his show are politicians (San Diego, DC, Boston), entrepreneurs (Joanne Cornwell, founder of Sisterlocks), intellectuals (Dr. Cornel West), athletes (Charlie Davies, US National Soccer player), and even street performers (Rueben Lucky Hall, City Walk Legend) . His future plans is to finish his law school education at Suffolk University Law School and continue to hone his craft in Politics as a Political Correspondent while attending a few fashions shows here and there.
Jaclyn Zukerman aka JZ is an entertainment correspondent for UR Business Network. Originally from New York, JZ relocated to Boston, Ma in May of 2014–and she is a jack of all trades. Her Show “The Social Scene with JZ” speaks for itself. She covers all the social events here in Boston, whether it be cocktail parties or fashion shows, and interviews celebrities, entrepreneurs, DJs, movie producers, TV producers, entertainers, and musicians. Some of her biggest interviews were with Moniqua Plante (Nashville TV star) and Rami Rank (TV Producer of “Dexter”). Her future plans is to move her radio show onto the TV screen as a T.V. Personality Host and coordinate Red Carpet events with Magazine Editor, Meshi Davis, in New York, LA, and Boston– where people can network and enjoy themselves. Right now she is coordinating a networking event in Boston, MA this December on the 18th–so do contact her and be a part of the social scene.
A once a month special occasion (the first Tuesday of every month) where you can network with professionals and see the latest trends in fashion with class. This month’s fashion featurette: Seven Looks.
“Seven Looks” was inspired by seven upcoming fashion designers, from Framingham College, who put together an ensemble of clothing wear from “Alice and Wonderland” to urban street wear. One of my guests, Meshi Davis, Magazine Editor of Bon Vivant Society, was able to speak with one of the designers, Corey Ortiz, and will be doing a story in the near future.
A special thank you again to Jaclyn Zukerman and Gilda (from the Bond Lounge) for coordinating this networking event; Dynasty Models for showcasing the beautiful fashion designs; and Framingham College for providing us with intelligent and talented fashion designers.
To get more information on the next fashion show at the Bond Lounge, contact Gilda at 617-956-8765 and visit their website at www.bondboston.com
Fashion Designers: Framingham College Students
Models: Dynasty Models
Photos: Prince Sefa-Boakye
To see these photos go to my Flickr account, by clicking on the link below.
Timeless Tuesdays at the Bond Lounge. A once a month special occasion (the first Tuesday of every month) where you can network with entrepreneurs and see the latest trends in fashion with class. This month’s fashion featurette: Fashions of The Future.
A special thank you to Jaclyn Zukerman and Gilda (from the Bond Lounge) for coordinating this networking event. Jaclyn is a new socialite from New York and is in Boston to cover the latest social scenes. You can follow her on Twitter @jaclynzukerman.
To host networking events at the Bond Lounge contact Gilda at 617-956-8765 and visit their website at www.bondboston.com
Fashion Design: Fashions of The Future by Charles Neumann
Models: Dynasty Models
Photos by Prince Sefa-Boakye
York and Dillo is putting out a special collection, of their uniquely designed bowties, on sale for a limited time only–below are a few of their newly created designs.
If you wish to purchase these beautiful designs and others from York and Dillo go to shop.yorkandillo.com