Do You Know Where You're Going To?

Diana Ross in Mahogany

I have always loved a good fashion show from the time I was a little boy.  My eyes would glaze over when I spotted a runway.  And it didn't matter where it was taking place - the church basement, on television, at the local mall, or the community center at the apartment complex the next town over- I was always front and center.  I really couldn't wait to see those glamour goddesses strut down the catwalk.

When Mahogany came out in theaters, my mother thought I was too young for some of the adult situations in the PG-rated movie.  But my mother had the paperback book version of the movie and I would dissect the photos of Diana Ross on the back cover.  In each photo, the music legend was decked out in an elaborate look, donning a different wig, her face painted like a work of art.  My mind drifted off to a world where my daily grind would be as fabulous.  I didn't know what kind of job it would be, but I was sure that it involved a runway and pretty ladies.  Although that was so many moons ago, the idea of a fashion show still energizes me.

An Original Geoffrey Beene Dress

I remember the first time I attended a show during NY Fashion Week.  It was prior to the tents in Bryant Park and Lincoln Center.  Magazine editors & fashion journalists would taxi around the city scrambling to see each designer's show.  I could barely sleep a wink the night before as I was so overcome with excitement.  I had met Peter Mulvey at the plantation.  He was the design assistant to Geoffrey Beene and he promised to get me into the show.  It was sheer madness outside of the show space as people waved invitations begging for admission from the stern doorkeepers and unfazed ticket collectors .  It wasn't until the last minute that I actually gained entry myself.  The lights went down and I stood mesmerized in the back of the ballroom at the Pierre Hotel on Fifth Avenue as I watched the impossibly tall and stunningly gorgeous models float down the catwalk.  It was a moment that crystallized my passion.  I still harbored doubts about being a fashion professional, but the pull of all that glamour and magic was too strong to withstand.

Although I still love a fashion show, I have learned that it is not the most important part of the fashion equation.  There is the business of fashion that supports the need to do a show.  I'm still working on that part.  But all the magic and flashbulbs and fabulosity of the shows during NY Fashion Week still cause my heart to skip a beat.

Peace & Fashion!

Taking A Minute For Me

After this weekend, it's time for me to take a moment to recharge.  So I am hightailin' it to Maryland for a few days to hang with my boyfriend's daughter and her family.  But before I go, I am gonna fill you in on all the happenings in my world.  As you know, last week my Communications Director released a teaser for our upcoming September launch titled "Have You Heard About Wilbur?".  Using Diana Ross's classic I'm Coming Out as background music, we received some positive responses from many of you.  But we need all of you to get as excited as we are about this new venture and just start "biggin' us up", as they say in the 'hood, to all your friends.  I'm sure we each have a friend who happens to be a full-figured woman who we know can certainly benefit from wearing one of my fab dresses.  So tell her about me.

On Friday, Ashanti and I attended the opening night Meet & Greet of the Young, Fat, & Fabulous Bloggers Conference at Re/Dress boutique in Brooklyn where we met the faces behind some of the most influential blogs having to do with body confidence and fashion & beauty for the curvy fashionista. Alli McG, the supermodel, accompanied us wearing the premier look from the upcoming spring 2011 collection.  We were received with warmth and adulation by all the attendees who remarked that the dress I had conceived was awesome.   If we can continue this kind of momentum with retailers, then, who knows, I may be able to finally quit my job at the plantation.

On Saturday, I started my day as a guest on a radio program on blogtalkradio.com.  My friend, Marcia, made an introduction to Muriella whose show Muriella's Corner is about changing the narrative.  And she thought it was important to have me as a guest since my mission is to remove the stigma of ugly plus size clothing by creating wearable, classic, and modern dresses for the full-figured woman.  If you missed it, you can still catch it if you click on Changing the Narrartive.  Immediately following the broadcast, my team began to arrive for a photo shoot for the follow-up to the "Have You Heard About Wilbur?" video teaser with my sister-in-law driving up from Maryland to do the behind-the-camera honors. It was an awesome experience with all the ladies involved looking magazine cover ready.  My new make-up artist, Lakia McCoy, is beyond talented and really worked the ladies faces as if she was completing works of art. And she was.  Once the images have been selected they will be released for all of you to become witnesses to the magic of fashion.

On Sunday, Ashanti, Alli McG, and I were once again in the throes of another fashion happening as our friend Dhylles launched her new venture called Katwalk Katerers.  At a chic little spot down on the lower east side in Manhattan, we watched as she presented an informal runway presentation (with Alli McG donning my dress for the 3rd day in a row) and announced that she would be more democratic with her approach to fashion by including models no matter what their size or height in her cavalcade of  upcoming events.  I think this will be empowering for all those men and women who feel that they've been ignored by mainstream agencies.  I wish her much success and prosperity.

So now you know why my tank is on E.  And I am happy to get away.  I'll be back in a few days, but until then let's keep on movin' up to a place of fulfillment and enlightenment.

Peace & Fashion!

Lean On Me

As I recovered from the excitement of Full-Figured Fashion Week which ended on Sunday, I had to reacclimate myself with my work groove.  And then I began to hit panic mode.  I awakened to the reality that time is quickly flying by and we still have not yet secured a corporate sponsor whose generous donation will fund our September launch.  I have survived panic mode in the past - BARELY.  It's really not attractive because it usually leads to desperation.  And desperation is the ultimate fashion faux pas of which I have been guilty of on more than one occasion.  I thought it prudent to seek the counsel of  a couple of acquaintances who are industry movers & shakers to see if they could possibly direct me to potential resources who might be able to assist with my company's financial shortage.  Yet, after sending them beseeching online messages, all I've gotten in return is the sound of crickets.  You know, when all you get is silence - save for the crickets whose melody informs you that your voice may have fallen on deaf ears.  It's just a little observation I picked up from my early days of watching Daffy Duck get no love on those Bugs Bunny cartoons.  Earlier this week I expressed my concern to my sister, Ashanti who is the company's Communications Director.  She confided that she'd also worried about our window of opportunity slowly shutting.  And today when we received news from one of our prospective corporate partners that their plans, which do not include Sorta Kinda Enterprises, are already pretty much set for the rest of the year, it was somewhat of a let down.  My sister, who is my partner, friend, and confidant then said something that silenced the voice of panic that had been rising up inside my head.  To paraphrase, she told me that we are going to be a success with this line of tailored dresses for the plus size woman.  The embrace from the plus size community supports it.  So success is already a given.  Our timeline may have to be adjusted, but we are going to move forward as best we can with the resources that are available to us so that we are prepared when the time comes.  I am not sure where my baby sister came from with all that knowledge, but she reminded me to continue to believe in the dream so that we can make it a reality.  There is surely power in words.  And Ashanti has spoken.

Peace & Fashion!

Baby Got Back (Pain)!

On Monday morning as I made my best attempt at being Suzy Homemaker with my Hoover vacuum cleaner, I bust a move that my back was not happy with. And as a result, my body was racked with pain. I couldn't even make it into the plantation this week. GASP! That's how bad it was. But I couldn't let it stop my game or alter my journey. So I did what any struggling designer and business owner would do, I presided over my empire (LOL!) from behind my computer screen. I'm not sure how we ever survived without the Internet, but I would have been dead in the water if it had not been for my Internet explorer.

On Monday, my good friends who are public relations professionals and I finished up a proposal we started working on last week requesting sponsorship dollars for my company's big debut to the plus size industry during New York Fashion Week in September. I've envisioned it more as an event than a runway extravaganza. The theme is The Super Woman and I am doing my part to empower and excite and clothe the curvy fashionista through my dresses. It's going to be a blast!

On Tuesday, I emailed the proposal to the company that we are interested in working with. Afterwards, I let my finger strokes do the walking as I posted an ad on craigslist for full figured fit models for this endeavor. I asked for measurement stats and photographs and added my height requirements. Some women just sent a photo and a phone number. One woman responded who was not even plus sized. I just don't know how to make it any clearer. But I got a lot of great responses. And Victoria, my seamstress, and I are holding a casting this evening to meet all the lovelies. Wish me luck!

On Wednesday, I tried to rest as much as possible during the day because I knew that I was surprising my honey for his birthday with tickets to see Diana Ross at Radio City Music Hall that night. After spending over $200 on those tickets, come hell or high water we were going even if I had to be carried in. Luckily, it did not come to that and I was able to work it out despite my back pain. This being my first Diana Ross concert, I had high hopes. And Ms. Ross did not disappoint. It was 1 hour and 40 minutes of delight with her singing some of my favorites.

While I am feeling a lot better, I must admit that it is difficult trying to be Mr. Fashion when you are walking around at half mast grimacing with pain. But like I always say, "You've gotta fake it, until you make it!" No truer words were ever spoken. Now please excuse me while I struggle to stand up straight and make it into Manhattan for some business I've got to handle.

Peace & Fashion!

A Little of This & Some Of That

If you're reading and following my odyssey, then you know that last week I made a bold move when I asked you to make a monetary donation to help me finish my collection. I tried to figure out another way to complete the remaining 7 samples without having to resort to taking up residence on the streets, but it seems that I have run out of options. Of course I never thought of pole dancing, but I don't think I have enough of a fan base to justify those kind of moves. And besides, my talent really lies in fashion design. Already I've raised $250. Thanks Guys! But we are still quite a ways off from funding this endeavor. So please keep it coming. I've robbed from Peter to pay George who has begun work on the next look. And I am elated by the thought of having my model Ila come in and have the muslin fitted sometime this week.

On Saturday night, I bumped into my friend Calvin C. on the commuter train. He admitted to being exhausted by his own fashion odyssey. I met Calvin several years ago after I had produced a runway spectacle showcasing my pieces as part of a charity event held at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.). We were introduced by one of my models and he was a graduating fashion design student at the time. Now he has created a website called styleapple.com in order to help people in the fashion industry find jobs. He holds me in reverence because he says I just put all my business out there. And in an industry that is known for hype and smoke & mirrors, that takes guts. I confided in Calvin that writing this blog is, in a way, cleansing and therapeutic. It provides an outlet to get things off my chest and leave them at the alter of disappointment and disgust. This way I am not emotionally held back from pressing forward. And I think we all need to purge every once in a while. But I need it more than most.

A couple of months ago, a young man introduced himself to me on the 6 train. As I squeezed into a seat with my dresses hanging above me, Eric J. asked me if I was a stylist or a designer. We exchanged pleasantries and business cards during my ride before I quickly reached my stop. But I was impressed by Eric's audacity because nobody ever approaches me on the subway unless they're begging for money. Last week we met at a Starbucks close to the plantation. Eric is a very talented hairstylist who hails from the hinterlands of Texas. And I shared with him my vision for the collection and showed him the sketches, the first samples, and the shoes. He was positive and deeply spiritual and we hit it off just fine. And now we are planning to work together on the photo shoot in January. I think that this will be a fruitful collaboration.

I've got big dreams. Each time I finish a collection, I believe that this will be the one that has store buyers ringing my phone off the hook with orders and shoppers chanting my name and magazines begging to borrow the pieces for their shoots. And then other times I wonder if I am on the right path to turn my dreams into reality. But I am always encouraged by friends, as well as strangers, to just stay the course. And that is exactly what I plan on doing.

Peace & Fashion!

Something In The Air

After my self-imposed fashion detox, I have begun to feel more like myself again. My creativity is in full throttle. And I am happy to report that my seamstress, Alaina, and I are beginning the work for the Fall 2010 collection. I think the crisp autumn weather may have unlocked a treasure trove of ideas that's given my vision a focus & clarity that has been absent over the last couple of weeks. Or maybe it was that epic fever I suffered this Monday past which caused uncharacteristic hallucinatory visions? Whatever the reason - I am in possession of a tote bag spilling over with sumptuous wools, the sheerest silk organzas, the most exquisite silk/wool, the softest foiled leather skins, and the fiercest premium denim. My sketches are taking shape and I have created a story for the season that has my intrepid fashionista borrowing from the boys. The title of this collection is Fine & Dandy and the theme is based on the English Dandy - that very well turned out gentleman who wears clothing with finesse and style and panache. I searched the web to find contemporary images of a dandy and, once found, I translated them into something sexy, yet attainable for the modern woman. I applied motifs that are common for the dandy, such as the bow tie, the dress shirt, and the pocket watch with chain. But the shapes & silhouettes are very womanly. Some are voluminous, while others are body conscious. Each style will be named after a music diva's songs - just like spring 2010. And since I am "youtubing" a lot of vintage Diana Ross circa the 1970s, I have chosen her for my musical inspiration.

As Marla & I diligently work to get the spring 2010 collection on store racks early next year, I continue to follow through with my dreams and goals. And it requires that I tap into my reserves and commit to what I love most - conceptualizing and sketching beautiful new dress designs that women will hopefully covet. And sometimes the outside noise can wear me down and distract me. But I am never down for too long because there is something in the air. And it beckons to me to just keep on.

Peace & Fashion!