My Name is Bennett

Tim Tebow - A player without a team

Today is the last day of New York Fashion Week.  And, truth be told, I'm feeling a little wistful because I haven't been an active participant for several seasons.  I am sort of like the football star, Tim Tebow, who has not been given the opportunity to peacock on the playing field.  Although the air is crackling and charged with an energy that is intoxicating and everyone is cheering as the designs hit the runway, I sit sidelined in front of my computer screen or thumbing through the daily newspaper trying to keep up and engaged.

 

As an apparel designer, I never reached the pinnacle where I showed my collection in the tents during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  Yet, I was savvy enough where I was able to garner the attention of the press by staging a couple of guerrilla fashion shows on the sidewalk outside the tents.  It was a lot of work, but it was great fun and I felt like my work was validated when I appeared in national newspapers and on morning talk shows.

The piece from NY Amsterdam News

 

These days, after reinventing myself, I am quietly plugging away with my handcrafted purses focused, instead, on making money and building my brand.  Although the pop of the flashbulbs has dimmed momentarily, I am quite pleased with my accomplishments so far.  And faster than you can say, "Fashion Touchdown," the lights will shine brighter than before.

 

In the meantime, check out my newest offerings at www.skwilbur.com.  And tell your friends, too!  Word of mouth is a powerful tool. 

 

Peace & Fashion!

The End of an Era

This week Oprah Winfrey aired the final episode of her wildly successful talk show.  For me (and many others), she was an integral part of my growth as an individual.  Watching her show inspired me to dream of a bigger life for myself.  I reasoned that if someone from her background could achieve her kind of success, then certainly, by following my heart, I could too.  My expectation has never been to become a billionaire, but to be enriched by living a life free from regret.   In fact, I believe her net worth was a by-product of just living her life authentically.

One of the measurements I had for my success as a fashion designer was to be a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show.  Alas, that is not going to happen now.  Yet, I feel like my fashion success is inevitable.  I have no regrets.  And I am just going to have to find some other standards to measure my victories.  I am sure Oprah will.

Peace & Fashion!

An Offer I Can Refuse

On this Sunday past, I received an email from A.J., a fashion blogger and writer. She was interested in featuring pieces from my spring collection in a story for an online magazine called Liberating Style. I was flattered. I perused her blog and the webzine to make sure it was a quality publication that I would want to be associated with. It was well done. And besides, I thought it would also increase my audience. So I responded. I needed to know readership and hits and what she wanted from me. She requested the look book and provided the site's stats that I asked for. I promptly emailed the look book to her. When she wrote back she explained that the editors had scrapped the idea of the story for Liberating Style and told me that they would run photos from the look book with style descriptions. But she did offer me a consolation prize of being featured on another site she wrote for. Although I was disappointed, I thought, "Why not?!" And after speaking to Ashanti, I was convinced. A.J. told me that all she needed now were a couple of my samples. After all, they could not recommend a designer without first seeing the workmanship and construction of the garments. In closing, she said that they had no policy with regards to returning the samples. I then explained to her in the following email that although they had no policy with returning samples, the way it was going to work was that we would charge her for the shipping & handling and the samples and once she returns them in pristine condition, we would be able to credit her for the samples. She then wrote back saying that since her company does not require payment for featuring designs like print magazines do, they then require that they get to keep all samples at no charge. She also implied that because they have a wide audience I should be fine with giving my dresses away for free. I was really quite outdone by her boldness and obvious entitlement and I had to spell things out for her. Below is my final response.

I am well aware of the influence of webzines as well as print media as I have been featured many times in both mediums. And because of my vast experience over the last 11 years in the fashion business, I am a little troubled by your policy. Perhaps I should explain that it takes a substantial amount of capital and hard work to bring my designs to life. A great deal of detail goes into the selection of fabrics, trim, and construction and I am not in the practice of giving my gifts away for free. When you approached me first about the feature in Liberating Style I was very flattered indeed, as I did state this in my reply. But then you told me that you would only be using the images I sent you with detailed descriptions of each style and not featuring me in an editorial capacity as you first had stipulated. Although I was a little disappointed, I assumed you did not find my pieces edgy enough for editorial. And you did offer to write a piece about me on the Models & Moguls site as somewhat of a consolation. And now it seems that you want me to send you my dresses for free? What is the guarantee that you will even write something favorable about me once you receive them? Did all the designers that you feature on the site, such as Prabal Gurung, send you samples from their lines for you to keep? Something sounds fishy with this arrangement. So, unfortunately, I am going to have to decline your offer. But when I show during NY Fashion Week in September, I'd love for you to come as my guest. You will then get a bird's eye view of how well the dresses are constructed and that they also fit to a t.

Selling my soul to the devil was never part of my business plan when I started on this career path. And this devil wasn't even camouflaged in an A-list publication like Vogue. I have sacrificed way too much to get to this point. And I need to honor my dream and all the hard work and money I've put into it. Not give it away.

Peace & Fashion!

My Issue With September

On Sunday, after church service and immediately following a quick stop at Pathmark, I decided to take a trip to the multiplex and check out The September Issue, the new "Anna Wintour" documentary. Actually, the film is not so much about the famed editor-in-chief as it is an examination of the detailed steps necessary to assemble the largest issue of Vogue magazine. Filled with an eclectic cast of eccentric characters, we witness the drama unfold as the overwhelmingly talented Grace Coddington, a visionary and the magazine's creative director, locks horns with Ms. Wintour over content. We are also invited to watch the imposing, yet affable Andre Leon Talley, Vogue's editor-at-large, deliver over-the-top and amusing sound bites wearing equally over-the-top and amusing ensembles. And then there is the scrutiny and dissection of Sienna Miller, the actress and the issue's cover girl. Her hair is a mess and her teeth need to be photoshopped. In fashion periodicals, everyone is perfect because flaws are erased. If only I could, with the swipe of a key stroke, get rid of some of my physical shortcomings before leaving the house each morning. But back to reality. Perhaps what I found most fascinating about the film is that the power that Ms. Wintour wields in the fashion industry is very real. Retail titans and accomplished designers around the globe seek the approval of the fashion star who is notorious for her icy disposition. And she is often asked by super brands, like Gap, to recommend designers for their company's top creative positions. I found that aspect of the movie a little depressing and daunting as I have no relationship with Anna Wintour. In fact, I am not even on her radar. How am I supposed to advance in an industry so crowded with fashion starlets in the making? Either I will or I won't, but, in all reality, the odds are stacked against me. Only time will tell.

As a movie, I found The September Issue to be a little plodding. It was not compelling enough to recommend to anyone not in the fashion industry. For a breezier and more interesting story, check out Valentino: The Last Emperor.

Peace & Fashion!

Shop 'Til You Drop!

It's time to party! This Thursday, September 10, from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m., the entire city is playing host to it's own block party. And we're all invited! This includes Queens, too! (All my peeps from Queens throw your hands up!) Fashion's Night Out is a global initiative being implemented to revive the heartbeat of the now beleaguered retail beast. Several stores, uptown - downtown - and across town, will feature appearances by celebrities, designers, and models. There will also be music and cocktails. I am going to be scouting locations for the best mojito! Don't worry, I've got a designated driver and his initials are M.T.A. No DUI drama from the BlackFashionDude. A specially designed t-shirt will be sold for $30 at all participating stores with profits going to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Fashion with a purpose. What a novel idea! I think I may check out Michael Kors at Macy's Herald Square. Maybe I'll share a mojito with him. He's such a character on Project Runway. And we can exchange double entendres and witty banter. Hey, you never know! In my world, everyone is my friend. I'll be starting my trek on the upper east side and easing my way downtown. So if you see me on the street, just holla and join the parade! I'll be the one in full fashionista mode.

Peace & Fashion!

A New Diva on the Horizon

Two days ago I spoke with Elisa DeCarlo, a fellow blogger whose over-the-top alter ego goes by the name of The Mad Fashionista. Elisa is a writer, actress, and storyteller who created The Mad Fashionista as a way to match wits with the elitist androids who are at the top of the fashion food chain. Her curvy, full figure and outsize personality are the antithesis of many editors-in-chief of high fashion glossies. Anna Wintour @ Vogue eat your heart out!

I met Elisa, or was it The Mad Fashionista, at a charity event last February when she expressed her delight with the denim gown my sister, a curvy girl herself, was wearing. When she discovered that I was the creative mastermind behind the elegant frock, she wanted to know more. Unfortunately, Ashanti & I were swept up in the pop of flashbulbs and the fizz of fabulousness during the entire evening so we really did not get a chance to chat further. But after I started journaling about my odyssey, The Mad Fashionista reached out to me and offered words of encouragement and pointers about maintaining a blog. I thought, "How wonderful for this diva to be so considerate and giving." I knew then that The Mad Fashionista and I would forge a wonderful friendship. And then I discovered that although she adheres to the fringes of fashion, she's also been featured in The New York Times Styles Section. This campy character that Elisa DeCarlo has created has a lot to say. Quirky, yet fabulous and elegantly trashy, I will again come face-to-face with Elisa and her alter ego when we meet on Monday. So while I wait for Oprah and Michelle O. to get back to me, I am going to have my hands full working with Elisa by adding a little more sophistication to The Mad Fashionista's wardrobe. And who knows what opportunities lie ahead.

Peace & Fashion!