Lest anyone attending “Fashion: The Real 411” last weekend get the idea this workshop for teen girls would be all about the latest styles, the first speaker of the day dispelled that notion pretty quickly.

“How do girls like you learn how awesome you can be in the world?” asked Ann Shoket, editor-in-chief of Seventeen.

The question is part of her initiative called Dream Bigger. In some ways, the answers were unfolding all day at this event courtesy of The Wonder Girls organization and held at LIM College in Midtown Manhattan. Mini-seminars were held much of the afternoon and the day ended with an inspiring talk from stylist Stacy London, the host of TLC’s What Not To Wear.

“The idea came because I love to attend workshops around New York,” said Lisa Bochner, creator of The Wonder Girls. “I was meeting so many women doing so many amazing things in so many fields. I wanted to get these women in front of teen-aged girls since I have one at home. There’s so much unhealthy chatter that bombards them. With all this technology now, they get less and less exposure to these kinds of people.”

Take it from someone who hasn’t been a teenager for a very long time, the messages coming from Bochner’s chosen speakers were not just beneficial for teens. Shoket spoke of always learning to become more knowledgeable and making sure to not just come up with the crazy idea but think about whether or not it can be executed.

“It’s not magic,” she said of her success. “It’s a lot of work.”

Later, when I asked her why she is interested specifically in teens, Shoket said she hadn’t set out to work with that age group. It was more like it evolved.

“I just kept doing it and being satisfied by it,” she said. “I really dig teenagers. They have unlimited potential. They’re a blank canvas.”

What Jill Snowden dropped on that canvas in one of the classroom seminars in the afternoon was instruction on how to craft a pitch. Director of public relations and marketing for The Sak, she gave a talk explaining the difference between advertising and PR, relationship building with editors, and how important bloggers have become to those in her business. The ensuing letters written by the girls were impressive in maturity and execution.

In yet another room, Tammy Tibbets of DonateMyDress.org – the non-profit site of the Seventeen magazine network -- educated the girls on corporate social responsibility and the importance of giving back. In another, former model Jill Johnson explained what life was like for a working model that is not a super model. She encouraged considering less traditional routes to success, learning to accept rejection and exposing oneself to new people and places. She also addressed peer pressure and how it doesn’t end in your teens.

“There is nothing important about being a model,” she said. “But being a role model is huge.”

Stylist Mia Morgan came equipped with mannequins, a rack of clothing and lots of accessories and gave the participants a chance to create looks and exercise their creativity while also learning the ins and outs of what being a stylist is all about. The girls came alive and oozed with confidence as they executed their respective visions with scarves and necklaces to change up looks.

Finally, it was time to gather and end the day with a dose of Stacy London. Sure, there was some discussion of summer jewelry trends, but this was not to resemble an episode of What Not To Wear. Her talk was illuminating for young women, but could have just as easily served as a wake-up call for all women. Here is just a smattering of the messages London imparted:

~ Fashion can be a tool or an obstacle.

~ Fashion is about how you want to be in the world, how you want people to treat you, how much you respect yourself.                                                                                

~ Beauty is not what’s on the cover of Vogue.

~ Style should be a reflection of who you are.

~ Don’t make appearance the only part of your personality that matters. Do kind acts, volunteer, get to know people. Build yourself from the inside out.

~ Never think of style as aspiring to look like someone else.

~ Don’t let anybody decide for you who you are.

It was particularly poignant when London shared a story of having red scales all over her body when she was a child and being plagued by the problem for three years. She was made fun of in school, was constantly dressing to cover herself up, and, despite treatment, she has scars to this day. So when one girl asked her about being comfortable in her own skin, London glowed.

“It took me a really long time to be comfortable in my own skin,” she said. “I’ve been a size 00 to a size 16. Now I’m 40 and I’m finally comfortable in my own skin. I had an awkward stage from about nine to 30. The last 10 years have been a lot more fun. I have battle scars. I’m proud I went through all that stuff. I encourage all of you to be fearless.”

It was so powerful to see the reaction of ultra attentive girls to such meaningful words.

This brought me back to the question posed by Shoket at the outset and the request she posed to the girls:

“Think about that. How could I help you dream bigger?”

My crack at an answer after experiencing a day with some fabulous women: Keep giving them information to counter the unhealthy chatter. Tell them more stories about how it’s OK to be different. Discourage cultivating beauty that is strictly exterior. Encourage cultivating beauty that blossoms from the inside out.

Keep the conversation going. Keep dishing up the real 411.

Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com.