Wait

Sunday night I went out dancing with friends. And I had a ball shaking my money maker to some of my favorite 70s R-n-B classics. But I just couldn't miss the Golden Globes, so I asked my mother to DVR it for me. Thank God for her! Early Monday morning I watched all the nail-biting drama unfold before I could be bombarded with images and news online. I'm crazy about the movies and I am always interested to see if my faves for the year are in line with the award voters. And since I LOVE the whole idea of glamour, I have my eyes glued to the red carpet. Although this is football season, cheering for my favorite couture clad actresses teetering on sky high stilettos is my preferred kind of spectator sport. And even with the soggy-from-the-rain red carpet, the ladies did not disappoint. A couple of my favorites included Jane Krakowski in an amethyst one shouldered number by J. Mendel and Halle Berry who was a knockout in her sexy, black form-fitting Kaufman Franco gown. Of course the actress I was waiting to see was first-time nominee Gabourey Sidibe. Since I have designs on her, professionally speaking of course, I was interested to see what direction she and her stylist had gone in. And I was pleased with the results. A jewel tone (emerald) is great for her dark skin tone and the Empire silhouette is perfect for her body type. But I think she would have really sparkled in one of my creations. I'm just saying! But I wait and hope that I will be able to clothe her for one of her future soon-to-happen red carpet appearances.

In the meantime, my fit model, my sister, and I got caught up in our own glamour moment when we glided into the New York Times event space on 41st street for the Supima Cotton Runway spectacle. Although I was not among the chosen finalists to show this time around, the powers that be were gracious enough to extend an invitation to yours truly, a previous participant from 2008. Although I've been mistaken for being quite reserved and modest (LOL!), I decided to make a splash for this event and have Ila wear one of the looks from my upcoming Fall 2010 line. She was quite an eye catcher even in the elbow-to-elbow sea of fashionistas. So much so that she caught the attention of a camera crew that immediately began to interview the two of us. Once I become aware of when & where that interview will be broadcast, I will share it with all of you. Coco Rocha, the mannequin of the moment and one of my sister-in-law's favorite models, announced the winners after a breathtaking runway spectacle. I definitely agreed with the judge's pick for Best In Show - Gina De Silva. Her work was impeccable and her aesthetic is sublime. Glamour was in full effect in each of her designs. Afterwards, my companions turned back into pumpkins as they doffed their Wilbur creations and slipped out of their pumps. It was back to reality as my sister and I made our way home to Queens and Ila caught the subway uptown. Now my wait to hear whether or not Gabourey will wear me continues.

Peace & Fashion!

The Prologue

Today was the final fitting for the first dress for the Fall 2010 collection - Fine & Dandy. And I think it went swimmingly well. George and his team were able to really articulate my vision and bring it to life. I am a vessel for my creativity, so it is essential that my perspective be clear, concise, and translatable. Because if it is not, George's skills would be squandered. Each season I try many different incarnations with materials and concept before I settle on one that best expresses where my head is at that given moment. I began to conceive and sketch this line mid-summer. It is important to me that my sketches - my work - tell a story. It must have a beginning, middle, and an end. Yet, after I had all my sketches together and laid out on the dining room table, the story was not unfolding. So I would tweak the shape of a skirt here and the bodice of a dress there looking for a narrative. And still the sketches were not transforming to sentences. And then suddenly, weeks after summer had ended, it was as if a light bulb came on. I had a moment of clarity and the story became crystallized. I settled on the dandified gentleman as the inspiration for the dresses. And then I feverishly re-sketched some of the looks because a couple of the dresses just didn't fit in with my new storyline. It is a process that requires patience. Yet once the flicker of an idea is ignited, I am able to construct entire new worlds. I look forward to visiting this world as each of my dresses is assembled. Silhouette, shape, and line will build on one another until my story is complete.

Peace & Fashion!

Rewriting The Scene

So it appears that Roger and I will not be collaborating after all. When we met, he remarked that he could tell I liked being the boss. But, honestly, being the boss is no picnic. As the heads of a business that has yet to take off, my partners and I are responsible personally for all the expenses including taxes, model fees, production costs, etc. We are, essentially, magicians who somehow do our best to turn a dime into a dollar. The business has not generated any revenue since its inception in 1998. And all of us work unsatisfying jobs on the side, funneling our monies into Sorta Kinda Enterprises. It is SO not glamorous. Honestly, I started my own line because I could not get a job in the industry. And although I lacked the experience, I was no longer interested in putting my dreams on hold. So I stepped out on faith. And I was willing to take that leap of faith with Roger. Unfortunately, he was not honest. When he did not return my last 2 phone calls after Monday's initial meeting, it became painfully apparent that we were not on the same page. My friend Kathryn M. was intuitive enough to caution me and point out that taking on a partner does not a fairytale make. And she is absolutely right. The decisions we make in desperation never end well. And blindly offering Roger a partnership before "courting him" was a sad, desperate attempt to decrease our production expenses. Better to have learned that lesson now rather than later.

On a sunnier note, today was the first fitting with my tailor, George, and my fit model, Ila, for Fall 2010. And it went very well. Even Ila, who seemed quite unimpressed when she glanced over my sketches last week, said she couldn't believe how great the muslin looked. I am always excited to see my ideas translated from the page to an actual garment, especially when it's done with precision and attention to detail. And I am just pleased with the initial outcome. Despite my money woes, my creativity is running rampant. This collection, in particular, has ignited an eruption of clever ideas and challenged me to explore further my notions of what is bold, modern, and classic. I have definitely hit my stride and I am going to continue to ride the crest.

So sometimes the script of our lives calls for a rewrite, but somehow we are where we need to be when the next scene takes place. And I am patient enough to see just how the story ends.

Peace & Fashion!