Just A Quick Look

This week, in the midst of trying to figure out how I am going to overcome what seems like insurmountable hurdles in moving my business forward, the video from Full Figured Fashion Week was posted on YouTube and Facebook by Gwen DeVoe, the founder of the weeklong celebration of curvy women.  It reminded me of how validating it was for me to be chosen to participate in the Independent Designer's Showcase.

Each season is going to have its own set of obstacles and each season I'm going to have to be more creative in finding solutions if I am going to attain the kind of success I have dreamed of for so long.  So today, I am not going to dwell on the headaches or the hurdles, but I am going to celebrate how far I've come on this journey.  Please watch the video below and enjoy!

Peace & Fashion!

Sneak Peek

I feel like I am going to bust waiting for my Full-Figured Fashion Week debut.  I will be showing my collection for Fall 2012 on June 15 on the runway.  Here are a couple of photos I took during the fitting process that are sure to whet your appetite.  Have you bought your tickets, yet?  Click here to purchase them now!

Peace & Fashion!

I'm Working On It



Ashanti wears SK WiLBUR @ FFF Week 2010 



Next week is Full-Figured Fashion Week.  Jam packed with seminars, panel discussions, and fashion initiatives designed to empower the curvy community, the festivities begin on Thursday and end on Saturday.  This will be the second year attending with my sister, Ashanti, who is also my company's Communications Director.  We have tickets for opening night where we will be sailing around New York City on a sunset cruise for an all white party.  Nice!  I am not sure what I will be wearing, but I have created a special look for my sister that I am sure will knock the socks off the crowd of curvy fashionistas.

Full-Figured Fashion Week is a huge opportunity for me to network with women who have come from near and far who may not be familiar with my fabulous design aesthetic.  After all, not all the action is happening on the catwalk.  I am really looking forward to getting acquainted with many of the ladies who come with high spirits and wide smiles ready to be encouraged and validated.  Although I will not be able to attend the finale runway event on Saturday evening, Ashanti will be there decked out in SK WiLBUR, of course, to represent.  She has strict orders to mingle and network as much as possible.  Once the ladies see her ensemble, I am sure they will have plenty of questions.  We did a preliminary fitting last night and all I can say is that she will look FIERCE.  I still cannot divulge any photos, but the day of reckoning is soon upon us.  Just wait. . .

Peace & Fashion!

The Bridge Is Out

Yesterday I noticed that there is a serious divide going on in fashion.  I think I've always known it, but it became more evident as my day progressed.  Plus size is still fashion's ignored stepchild.  Despite the 62% of women who are a size 14 and above, it seems like the chasm may be permanent.  My fashion mogul friend and founder of Full-Figured Fashion Week, Gwen DeVoe, pretty much tried to convince me while we were laughing and chatting over cocktails a few weeks ago. "Wilbur, the big boys still have not invited me to the table," she said explaining that high fashion is an exclusive club reserved for the fabulously skinny.  Sporting my rose-colored glasses, I really didn't want to believe her.  After all, I have received so much attention for my creative efforts concerning the curvy woman.  Just to name a few recent gains by the curvy community - -  during New York Fashion Week this past September, One Stop Plus staged the first runway show dedicated solely to contemporary fashions for the curvy woman.  Clingy and sexy dress designer, Monif C. recently celebrated her fifth year in business.  And big girls continue to make "special" appearances in mainstream magazines.  But so many people don't want to embrace the curvy.  A couple of weeks ago when I was in Re/dress, the Brooklyn-based destination emporium for all things vintage for the curvy woman, I met a lovely young lady named Jessica.  Jessica and I fell into a deep conversation like we'd been forever friends when she confessed to me that she had recently gone down to a size 14 from a size 24.  And she shared something with me that has stayed on my mind since.  Jessica thinks clothing manufacturers do not put a lot of effort or style into plus fashions because most women consider the weight temporary and are always striving to become a more socially acceptable size 6 or 8.  Hello Oprah!  I immediately disagreed with her because if that is the case then my career choice is a big mistake.  But maybe there is a little truth to it?  Yesterday afternoon I met with the buyer at Bloomingdale's.  I felt empowered by the many women whom I have met online and in person who have asked me when and where they'll be able to buy my dresses.  So I carefully pulled out each of my confections explaining how we could accommodate her customer by adding sleeves or changing colors and fabrication.  I explained to her that the customer wants to celebrate her curves and is looking for pieces that caress her curves, not tent-like frocks that do nothing for her shape.  "She wants more fashion," I added.  I informed her that I have over 500 followers on facebook.  I write a blog that goes out to about 250 readers.  And we maintain a website as well. When she calculated the retail price of one of my dresses, she thought it was a bit pricey for the Bloomingdale's customer.  I assured her that the Bloomingdale's customer is not resistant to price if she is getting value and fashion.  She told me that she'd never seen a line like mine before - a statement I found a little ambiguous to be sure. When I left that meeting, the buyer said that she was unwilling to change the status quo and add a new designer to her mix of vendors for now.  I was disappointed as I walked to Bloomingdale's to inform the sales team who had been so supportive over the last couple of months.  As I rode the escalator up to the 3rd floor, I saw a lot of fashion happening in other departments that were bustling.  In the women's department it was quiet and overflowing with a lot of the same clothes by the same vendors like Jones New York that are found in other stores such as Lord & Taylor and Macy's.  So although I am on the front lines talking to the customer doing my best to accommodate her fashion and style needs, she's losing in the long run. The message that is being conveyed is that because she's bigger, her access to more fashionable items should and will be limited.

Later in the evening, I had the opportunity to attend the book signing of WWD@100 at Bergdorf Goodman.  Populated by fashion industry superstars, my model Dee Dee and I along with Ashanti were a breath of plus size freshness.  And we did get snapped by one of the evening's photographers.  But Dee Dee commented that the atmosphere was very "clique-ish".  I am not sure how to infiltrate the fashion cognoscenti's sphere of fabulousness, but I am looking to build a bridge so that plus-size fashion is no longer an oxymoron.

Peace & Fashion!

This Just In. . .

WILBUR with MODELS DEE DEE, SAFIYAH, AND SAM



WILBUR, VLADA, ASHANTI, & ALEXANDRE GERTSMAN



THE BEAUTIFUL CROWD AT THE SUPERWOMAN LAUNCH





KYM HAMPTON (FORMER WNBA STAR) & DAUGHTER ARIELLE, WILBUR



GWEN DEVOE (FULL-FIGURED FASHION WEEK FOUNDER), WILBUR

SAFIYAH & SAM MODEL WILBUR



ALLIE McG, CHRISTINA, TASHA, AND DEE DEE MODEL WILBUR



I could share ALL the background details involved with putting together my launch event during New York Fashion Week.  Pulling all nighters, loading up the SUV, and picking up all the supplies are commonplace.  And those tidbits are just plain dull.  But I am always humbled by the obstacles and validated by the smallest victories.  Being able to hold the presentation at such a grand space with about 100 people attending was surreal.  Because you don't know if anyone is really going to show up.  And if it's only your family in attendance, that can be a little disheartening.  Now it's on to the next phase and that means getting the collection into stores.  I've been casting my net and because of our price point we are reaching out to many of the department stores that carry clothing for the curvy woman.  I am not going to disclose who we've targeted just yet, but having the dresses accesible to the consumer is one of the most important components of the business.  There simply is no rest for the weary.  And I've already begun conceptualizing and sketching the followup collection for Fall 2011.  That being said, I still look at the photos from the event and smile as I realize that I think I am finally on the right track.  And it feels good.

Peace & Fashion!

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF HUBERT WILLIAMS AT IMAGESZ OF US.

In The News

Last week, you could hear every curvy fashionista hoop & holler all over the blogosphere when it was announced that the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store here in New York City would begin carrying sizes up to a 14 (and some beyond) of haute fashions from the likes of Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and others.  It makes dollars & sense considering the average woman is a size 14.  I say, "It's about time!"  I'm happy for all those fashion savvy curvy divas with lots of money to spend because now they have real access to the exclusive designers on the 3rd Floor.  But I hope my zaftig friends will also support me in my inaugural plus-size endeavor and continue up the escalator to Salon Z on the 8th Floor where (hopefully) you will find my line for a fraction of the prices on the designer floor.  I'm just saying!

I'm always ready to put in my 2 cents even when I am not asked for a contribution.  So when Gwen DeVoe, the founder of Full-Figured Fashion Week and super duper entrepreneur dedicated to all things fashionable for the fluffy girl, was a guest of the Life Size Radio show on blogtalkradio.com I called in and offered my input.  Luckily, the host, Stephanie Arnold, and Gwen were happy to hear from me.  You can tune into the broadcast at Life Size Radio and weigh in on all the positive plus-size talk.  Since I am never weary when it comes to talk, I was invited once again to be a guest on my new friend, Muriel's show where she talks about Changing The Narrative.  This Saturday past I read an excerpt from my book Memoir of a BlackFashionDude which is only in its early stages.  And I discussed the fears that many of us harbor, including yours truly, when we decide to step out on faith and pursue our dreams.  I think you might find the broadcast enlightening and inspiring so please listen to it by clicking on Muriella's Corner.

That is all the news for now, I'm afraid.  But please look for my next blog entry where I will share more fashion and less talk.  All this talk has got my mouth kind of dry anyway.

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!

Take Me Home

So this Wednesday past was the opening night of Full Figured Fashion Week.  And if you've been keeping up, you have read about my exploits prepping for the BIG event.  It was my civic duty and design responsibility to make sure my sister/Communications Director, Ashanti, was representin' so I had my seamstress, Victoria, create a one-off look from the collection which will debut in September.  And I was very pleased with the dress.  To be perfectly honest, Ashanti was FLAWLESS.  But flawless can only be achieved with serious preparation, so I staged a "run-through" the previous Saturday at the house to make sure everything met my standards including earrings, shoes, mani-pedi, and handbag.  It turned out that the Kente Handbag I created was a huge hit with many of the attendees.  So when Ashanti met me Wednesday evening at the fab club BLVD on Bowery here in NYC, I knew she would be magazine ready.  The great thing is that so many of the women in attendance were magazine ready.  It was a moment that just soothed my fashion sensibilities and made my heart sing.  One of the first ladies I met while waiting behind the velvet rope was Ms. Christina Lewis who writes a blog called Musings of a Fatshionista.  What caught my eye with Chrisitna was the band of brilliant plumes that encircled her neck.  It was a moment that brought to mind a festooned Lisa Fischer - the fabulous R-n-B diva who wore a feathered confection when she picked up her Grammy in 1991.  At this point, I knew that these curvy girls were about to show me what FIERCE style should really look like.  After Christina and I talked for a moment she pulled out her camera and snapped photos of both Ashanti and me.  It made me feel like I might start showing up on someone's fashion radar and that was so validating.

I've Got A Feeling. . .

My Communications Director, Ashanti, and I will be attending the opening night runway event for the 2nd annual Full Figured Fashion Week on Wednesday, June 16 at BLVD. Started last year by plus-size trailblazer, Gwen DeVoe, Full Figured Fashion Week looks like a great initiative that celebrates the curvy fashionista as well as businesses that cater to her. So I will be there workin' it and connecting with store buyers and personalities as we prepare for our debut during New York Fashion Week. But you know that Ashanti, Wilbur's original curvy girl, has got to represent. So she will be wearing one of the designs from the new line in a fabric and color that I chose with her in mind. This Sunday past we met with my seamstress Victoria who nearly had the dress complete. And it was obvious that Ashanti will be a knockout.

On this Friday past, I held a casting at Mood Designer Fabrics to meet a batch of curvy cuties who would potentially model the new line. It was such a pleasant experience. No diva attitude and all the ladies were ready with a word of support. I am feeling positive about this new endeavor and I don't think it's going to take as much arm twisting as it has in the past to get retailers to invest in my aesthetic. Although I've been carried in quite a few stores over the years, none of them welcomed me or got excited about building a real business relationship. But I've got a feeling that my luck is about to change. . . for the better.

Peace & Fashion!