JCJC alumnus, Stephen Douglas manager of the new The Children’s Place retail store in Laurel.

ELLISVILLE – Some might say his drive and determination landed him the top job at Laurel’s new retail store in Sawmill Square Mall.  Oak Grove native, Stephen Douglas, however, chalks it up to his education and something he was born with.

“Retail is in my blood,” said the 33-year old and new store manager for The Children’s Place.  “My mom was in retail and my dad worked hard for a Hattiesburg company.”

Networking was also a factor for the ’09 Jones County Junior College graduate.  “My fashion marketing instructor, Finee’ Ruffin heard about the job opening from some friends at church, and she thought it was a perfect fit for me,” said Douglas.

His resume’ was impressive with more than a decade in retail management, when he met with store executives last May.  At 16-years-of-age, he admitted, he was attracted to the clothing at American Eagle.  He pursued his passion and landed the opportunity to open the clothing giants’ new store in Hattiesburg.

“Here I was holding the keys to a store worth $1.4 million,” said Douglas.  “I did that and worked at the country club and played baseball. I just never sit still.”

Douglas veered off the ’retail’ road after high school, enrolling at JCJC in 1996 as a nursing major. He quickly realized he wasn’t suited for the medical field. He also didn’t think getting a degree was important, so he pursued the retail business with a vengeance.

“I helped open Target in Hattiesburg, despite Hurricane Katrina, and served as the assistant clothing manager,” said Douglas. “I was promoted to senior team leader and trained other execs in La. and Miss.  After five years, I reached a plateau and needed to branch out.”

The realization that ‘experience’ would not be enough to land the top jobs meant going back to school.

Upon returning to Jones, assessment tests pointed Douglas to a familiar career path: Fashion Marketing and Business Management.

“I was 30-years old when I earned my A.A. degree and that’s when I understood I needed more education. A lot of places wanted a bachelor’s degree,” explained Douglas.  “So I signed up to take 16 hours of online classes at Franklin University, (through JCJC’s partnership)….and I should graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.”

Balancing a full time job and classes wasn’t easy according to Douglas.  He said his instructors offered numerous options and helped him plan for his future.

“They were dedicated to helping me and every student. I was never doomed to fail, unless I didn’t put forth the effort and commitment,” said Douglas.

Staying in the Pine Belt meant changing a dream to live in fashion capitals like Atlanta and New York.  However his teachers at Jones know this go-getter’s commitment to succeed is now benefitting Laurel and The Children’s Place.

“He is the perfect example of hard work and determination as well as what engagement and retention can do when it comes to producing a student who is serving Laurel with products and services that add to the economic development of South Mississippi,” said JCJC business marketing instructor, Ginger Keeton. “Stephen has also set a precedent as the first manager of The Children’s Place at Sawmill Square.”

The Jones graduate is in good company with nearly half of his staff enrolled at Jones. “I’m very proud to have Jones students here. I didn’t discriminate in hiring them. They just stood out because they were committed,” said Douglas.  “I know I can also mentor them and help them along.”

Ruffin knew this nontraditional student and children’s clothing store manager would not only succeed, but help his team rise to the top.

“He is a natural born over-achiever which is the main reason I knew while not a traditional fit for a children’s store manager he would excel with whatever task he took on,” said Ruffin. “There is no doubt in my mind that The Children’s Place is lucky to have him and will achieve great success under his leadership.”

With a sense of ‘Bobcat’ pride, Douglas shared that he aspires to being a district manager in the near future.  Douglas is bound to reach that goal while also inspiring future fashion and business management students to also dream big.

Trendy girls stay in the know of all of the latest fashion trends and fads.

The least fashion forward thing any of us trendy girls can do is spend all of our funds on our wardrobes, and that includes plastic money too. Instead of buying out the mall every time a new season hits, try incorporating some of your old items with a few of these top six trends for Fall 2010.

1. The ‘50s Silhouette: We decided to start here because we feel the most excited about this super-retro, ultra-sexy trend coming back for the fall, and so should you. Everyone reading this article can wear this trend. It doesn’t matter if you consider your body shape a little on the heavy side or a little too thin, your body will look great in this. Pulling it off can be as simple as adding a big belt to a dress you already own. You could also start with a high-waisted skirt or pair of pants, and add a cute top that’s been hanging in the closet since last fall. A pencil skirt can always make a lady look put together and classy. Throw on a pair of black pumps, and you can’t go wrong.

2. The Classic (Trendy) Trench: Let’s be honest, fall in Mississippi doesn’t mean that everyone pulls out the scarves and coats, but we couldn’t overlook this very important trend already popping up on the runways. Now, we know you might not have this item readily available to incorporate into your fall wardrobe, but we recommend that everyone own one. Rain, shine, or cold, you can always pull out the trench coat. To colder the weather, the better – this always-in-style piece can add flare to the everyday pantsuit. Don’t own a trench coat? No worries, these are easy to find, anywhere from high-end department stores to bargain basements. It will certainly be something you can integrate into your wardrobe for years to come.

3. Flirty Flowy Pants: If you’re looking for something a little more trendy to wear this season, the flowy pant has made a splash this fall in all colors and styles.  With the flowy pant, you can show off your adventurous side by trying a patchwork or artful graffiti pattern or put together something trend-savvy yet classy with velvet or sweater material. Rest assured, this pant can make the march to your cubicle feel like a walk down the runway at Paris Fashion Week.  While we love this trend, proceed with caution and choose your flowy pants wisely. Artful graffiti may look good on the 17-year-old working at one of those trendy clothing stores, but when you walk into a business meeting you will appreciate the fact that you shopped intelligently and bought the plaid flowy pant instead. Also be aware while flowy pants always look amazing on a size double zero runway model, they tend to make those of us average or plus-sized girls look a bit frumpy. If you decide to try this trend, buy a pant more fitted at the top that flows out gradually.

4.  Fall’s Trendiest Colors: Camel and oxblood, a deep red somewhere between red and maroon, are touted to be the colors for fall. You’ll find both colors easy to wear with the other trends for fall as well as easily used to add a punch of color to some of your old items. You can wear a pair of camel slacks with just about any color top, and designers pair the camel with the oxblood for a result that looks rich and modern. These hot new colors also work well as accent colors for your outfit; try wearing jeans or black pants, a fun top, with a leather camel bag and oxblood shoes. Again, we encourage you to look deep within your closet. You may be surprised at how many different outfits you can make with those two very versatile colors.

5. The New Power Suit: Most people who work in an office own some form of suit, and not a single one of us can deny the instant surge of power we feel strutting through the door at 8 a.m. wearing one. We love military and aviator jackets in the trend colors, camel and oxblood. Hardware embellishments and interesting details can add a little something to a plain grey or navy suit.  Remember ladies, don’t just reserve fashion for the weekends. Think about some of the other trends, and try to add those to your everyday suits. Consider a vintage ‘50s style brooch or a fabulous pair of oxblood pumps.

6.  Cape Chic: Because the people use the term “cape” to mean anything from a poncho to a shrug, this frequently worn item can be a little overwhelming. You can use your cape to keep you warm, cover some skin, or just add something fun to an outfit. Whatever your purpose, you really can’t go wrong since capes come in any fabric, pattern, or color you could possibly need and can dress up or down according to the occasion. Night out with your friends? Wear a poncho over a tank with a pair of jeans. Romantic dinner for two?  Go with a wrap or cropped cape to add some coverage to a tube top dress. Some of you brave souls may choose a gold brocade cape to go with your black slacks while many of you may take a more conservative approach. You can find a cape that works for you no matter your age or style preference.

Hopefully, you’ve not only learned about the top trends for fall, but also picked up some valuable tips on how to add these fads to your existing attire whether you usually shop at Target or Saks. Fashion is no exception to Aristotle’s philosophy, “everything in moderation.”  We, and possibly Aristotle, want you to look your very best and recognize that everyone has a different sense of style. However, remember to use fashion as a tool to help enhance how you already look and highlight your best assets without overwhelming people with too many trends at one time. With these tips, you are now ready for whatever fall may bring. Go forth!

-Candace-Hope Paterson

-Amanda Kirby