A Fashion Marathon

This month has been KILLAH! And I am not speaking in a "Oh, these Roger Vivier pumps are killing my feet!" kind of way either. The BlackFashionDude has been whipping the garment district into a tizzy in an effort to have all the dresses from the Fine & Dandy collection completed in time for the photo shoot. After the plantation was kind enough to advance my salary a small fortune, I was able to move forward with the rest of the dresses. In addition, I've had to fit girls for my turn on the runway at Queens Fashion Week this Saturday, February 20. Remember I was supposed to present my denim frocks last Saturday, Feb 13, but because of the snowstorm and with Queens being what it is, the show was postponed. So it's not too late, you can purchase a ticket today at www.queensfashionweek.com and see yours truly rock the runway. I've been busy sewing up the purses I designed to accessorize the dresses after my handbag artisan bailed on me. They are not perfect because I am nobody's tailor, but they are pretty adorable. . .if I do say so myself. And Otis, my milliner man, has created the MOST fabulous toppers that will adorn the model's heads at Saturday's show.

Last week I outfitted The Mad Fashionista in one of my designs. She is the ubiquitous guest in the tents and an intrepid reporter during New York Fashion Week. I sure hope she was able to get into some of the newspapers wearing my creation because she looked like a dream in the dress.

My partners in fashion crimes and I are looking to revamp our current website which has none of the dresses on it, so we turned to our trusted friend - craigslist where we posted an ad for a web designer. We got lots of responses and we've held preliminary phone interviews with a few applicants to see who really shares a polished web vision with us. I'll keep you posted when the new site goes live, but you can rest assured that it will be HOT!

It appears that I was not able to seal the deal with Gabourey and her stylist to dress her for the Oscars. At times it seemed like the underdog (me) was finally going to have a bonafide feather in its cap. We spoke on a few occasions and I rushed to provide beautiful and appropriate designs, yet now I am only getting the silent treatment. And with the Oscars approaching faster than fast, it doesn't seem like it's going to happen this time. But I'll be watching no matter what because glamor is what I love.

And finally, a very sad farewell to Alexander McQueen who hanged himself last week. He was a design genius and he will surely be missed.

Peace & Fashion!

This Christmas

Some people leave milk and cookies for Santa. Others leave M & M candies. Michelle Obama said she was going to leave Santa some apple slices with her milk & cookies. I am not sure what I will be leaving Old St. Nick, but it will be something thoughtful. Maybe he'd like a trimmer for his beard because he is starting to look a little, um, unkempt. Or maybe I'll leave him a membership to a local North Pole gym because it's been said many times many ways, "Thin is in." I know I need to be hitting the treadmill myself before people start mistaking me for Santa Claus. And that's just not cute! But this is the season to show your appreciation for people who mean a lot to you whether through a kind word, gesture, or gift. So if that means doing a fashion intervention and telling your good friend to retire that colorful '80s Cosby sweater, then go for it.

Two nights ago, George and I had a fitting with Ila for the next 2 looks. FABULOUS! I cannot wait to see the finished dresses. This year's Christmas gift from my mother is a sample from the line courtesy of her checkbook. Can you say, "Fa, La, La, La, La!" I will be picking it up early next week so that it can be tucked neatly under my tree. And I've been talking to acquaintances and friends to see if it will be possible to stage a presentation during New York Fashion Week. It is kind of a long shot, but I remain cautiously optimistic. In fact, if all goes according to plan, I will be inviting you, my readers and supporters, to come take a look. As soon as I have a date, I will let you know. I haven't participated in fashion week for several years now, so I am bursting with excitement.

Every day is filled with the promise of possibilities. And it feels great to be able to live out those promises. I think one of the finest things about Christmas is that this time allows you to assess all the wonderful things in your life. That is, if you're not too jaded to recognize them. Listen, I gotta go now and put the finishing touches on my Christmas decor. But don't forget your milk & cookies. After traveling all over the globe, Santa needs a hook-up, too!

By the way, check out the latest from my diva friend The Mad Fashionista. She interviewed me and asked some very probing questions I was not expecting. I think you'll find it fascinating and fun reading. Perhaps you may even learn some tidbit I had not yet disclosed.

Peace & Fashion!

Back To The Future with The Mad Fashionista

Monday afternoon on the upper west side Elisa DeCarlo and I shared intimate secrets over a bite to eat. Unfortunately, The Mad Fashionista, Elisa's larger-than-life alter ego, was reluctant to make an appearance. Apparently having barely survived a busy weekend which included selling vintage clothing items and a very long Jewish wedding and reception (Is there any other kind?) out on Long Island followed by a dip in a pool at Jones Beach in full wedding guest regalia, The Mad Fashionista needed to take a little time off. No worries. At least I could chat with Elisa in peace without the over-the-top antics of the Fashionista. Elisa really is quite lovely. And she gets weak in the knees for 40's and 50's fashion. Watching old black and white films from the time she was a pre-teen helped shape her fashion sensibilities. I, too, share an appreciation for that time in fashion when ladies were always well turned out. Remember those smart dresses that Doris Day used to wear? But I try to put a modern spin on ladylike looks from that period with a nod and a wink to the past. I like to think of my aesthetic as more Back To The Future as opposed to just Back.

Elisa will officially be covering New York Fashion Week next month in full Mad Fashionista mode. I, unfortunately, cannot provide one of my modern pieces this season. Because someone of The Mad Fashionista's comportment will surely be photographed by all the media outlets documenting her comings and goings, it is a real disappointment. But we have vowed to work together on a look for the next NY Fashion Week in February as we both will have more to gain by such a collaboration at that time. Until then, stay tuned for more drama and mayhem as my team and I prepare for Market Week beginning on September 20.

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!