Keep It Moving

At the end of last week, my business partners and I decided to terminate Marla's contract. Although it seemed like she was initially committed to the cause of getting the line on store racks, she lost steam after our disappointing Market Week turnout. Ashanti and I tried several times over the past three weeks to contact Marla so that we could strategize our next move, but our phone calls went unreturned and our emails were unanswered. We are looking into other options as far as a sales professional is concerned and are hopeful. But our success is only guaranteed by a strong team who believes in the goals of Sorta Kinda Enterprises. In the meantime, this Tuesday past, I took a handful of dresses with me and visited 3 different Manhattan boutiques that we are interested in selling to. And the idea of the old school door-to-door salesman is dead. May he rest in peace. Because each one of the style emporiums that I looked into will only consider our goods through email correspondence. I spoke to my friend Chris this afternoon about this phenomenon and both of us thought it rather ironic. Because clothing is very tactile, most of us like to see the way a garment moves, how it feels, its weight. But modern technology has eliminated an integral part of choosing one design over another. And then, what if the buyer dislikes the way my photos are styled or my choice of models. Will that influence their decision? It's all quite precarious. But I've been emailing the images to every appropriate venue possible. All I need is a breakthrough.

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!

Fashion Detox

Although I love fashion, it can be, at times, overwhelming. Even for me, a self-proclaimed style arbiter with the vested power to arrest perpetrators of fashion felonies & misdemeanors, the swirl of 24/7 non-stop fashion can be dizzying. With the crush of New York Fashion Week followed by intense preparations for Market Week, I was exhausted. And so the choice was detox or die. My counselor advised me to carefully, little by little, dip my toe in the waters of panache and elegance, but I never learn so here I am fully submerged doing the backstroke in an Olympic size pool of style. Inevitably, I will suffer from fashion burnout again. But for now I am restored to fabulous status.

My expectations for Market Week were not unrealistic. I know I am the new kid on the block. And without the working capital to hire a publicist, I also know getting my line of cocktail dresses out into the retail universe is going to be an uphill battle. But I had carefully selected my friend Mike's home on the east side in midtown as the space to show the collection to potential buyers. My boyfriend helped me carry all the dresses, a clothing rack on wheels, and framed poster size photos of the models wearing different styles into Manhattan on the train. I thought it would be a good idea to host a cocktail party for buyers in the evening so we could introduce ourselves in an atmosphere that was less serious, so I bought fresh cut flowers and the ingredients for a cocktail my mother (a sometime mixologist) created called the Wilburtini. My sister Ashanti rented martini glasses and asked her friend Christina to serve for the evening. Ashanti crafted the disc that was brimming with all of Whitney Houston's dance classics since it was the musical inspiration for this collection. We created the invitation which was emailed to all the targeted store buyers. Marla, our sales pro, was fit for a dress from the line so that she could truly represent. And I asked Vanessa, Goddess #2 from the June photo shoot, to please be present to do a little informal modeling. But as the time grew closer, I started to feel like we might not have the turn out I had hoped for. And since the drama at the U.N. had caused whole city blocks to be closed down, I thought it might deter a few from attending. So I began to invite some of my fashionable friends whom I have dressed asking them to please come by and help us celebrate. Smart move. Because not one buyer showed. Years ago I would have fallen into a deep funk, but I can cope better now because I have a better understanding. This is not the end for me or my dresses. I am a winner. So collectively, my team and I have got to knock on some doors and knock down others to make sure these dresses are on racks come spring. And God willing that is exactly where they will end up.


Peace & Fashion!

Good-Bye Summer. Hello Stress!

Okay, so August is officially over. And despite a fast approaching, fashion filled fall season, the all important sound bite is eluding me. All the cajoling in the world will not release the witty and snappy words from my consciousness and onto the computer screen. My mind is twisting and turning with worst case scenarios as we approach the witching hour. In exactly 3 weeks, our sales professional, Marla, will begin a grueling week where she will meet with store buyers in hopes of having them place orders. What if no one shows up? What if they don't place any orders? What if no one likes any of the dresses? It's like we are caught in a nail-biting episode of Deal or No Deal wondering if we've selected the case with the million dollars in it. Only it's my cocktail dresses that will determine whether or not we can make a deal. I spoke with Marla today to get a handle on how she feels everything is going. And as I suspected, it is difficult to determine right now because many people are still vacationing before the season really starts. So I am just going to have to calm myself by burning incense, meditating, praying, or whatever so that I do not become completely unhinged wreaking havoc on my business partners and on Marla. As I have heard over and over from my angels, "I can only do my best." After that, the universe must handle the rest. So now I am going to do my best to enjoy the last holiday of the summer - Labor Day. Anyone barbecuing?

Peace & Fashion!

Just Fine

Last week we signed on our new sales professional. Marla Freeman, a lovely, mild mannered mother of two, will be taking the reins and dazzling store buyers with her quiet charisma. They won't know what hit them! And the dresses will be hanging on the racks of some of the poshest stores here in the U.S. At least that is what we are planning for. But you know adding a new addition to your family is a little daunting. I can honestly say that Serosh, Ashanti, and I are truly a family. We respect each other and have developed our own language over the last few years. But we welcome Marla with open arms and we are looking forward to merging her talents with the language of Sorta Kinda Enterprises.

I just saw the movie "Julie & Julia" starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. Amy Adams plays Julie Powell, a woman who writes a blog about cooking the recipes from Julia Child's (played by Meryl Streep) cookbook Mastering The Art of French Cooking over a 1 year period. As a result of her project, she finds purpose, lands a book deal, and gains confidence. The story really resonated for me. Before I started pursuing fashion, I often wondered if I would die before knowing my place in the universe. Some days I still ask myself if I am living my life to its fullest potential. And writing about my fashion odyssey certainly gives me a reference point. I sure would love it if hundreds of people read my blog and were touched by some of my stories. And I sure wouldn't mind if a book deal came my way. That would be cool. But right now, this blog does what it is supposed to. It gives me an outlet to express myself and learn from my triumphs as well as my disappointments. And that's just fine.

Peace & Fashion!