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!

Here I Am!

Okay, so it's been a minute since I last wrote something here. Maybe some of you have been wondering where I've been. And the truth is that I've been crazy busy. And now we've gotta play catch up.
A couple of weeks ago I attended the opening of the new exhibit American High Style at the Brooklyn Museum. This is not to be confused with the very splashy opening night gala of the American Woman exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan that was attended by celebrities like the Oscar De La Renta clad Oprah Winfrey and fabulous fashion royalty. No sirree! No red carpet or television cameras or popping flashbulbs or overcooked chicken breast. There was, however, a bar stocked with wine, sparkling water, and soda and tables with assorted finger snacks like cheese and crackers and hummus that were a big hit with many of the ravenous visitors. This was the kind of event attended by the everyday fashion enthusiast, some of which were wearing shorts and flip flops. Pretense and posturing were absent as we were all just there in that great exhibition space to enjoy the majesty and workmanship of garments created by the likes of Norman Norell and Charles James. And the gowns were awe inspiring. But I think that sometimes it is nice to wear shoes and pretend to be a little more civilized. The dried chicken, however, should remain optional. I'm just saying!

Peace & Fashion!

2010

As a new year approaches, I always make an assessment of my life. Where am I as a human being? As a fashion designer? What happened this past year that I am proud of and what can I do to improve my life and perhaps the lives of others? I thank God that I am still blessed to be able to pursue my goals and for the wonderful people that support me, challenge me, and propel me forward.

2009 was a year of a few firsts for me. I threw caution to the wind and made the decision to design a line of cocktail dresses. I'd wanted to do a line of more tailored and sexy looks for a little while now. But with things being the way that they are and it being difficult to break into a market crowded with well-known names and faces, I had put that part of my dream on hold. I was informed by an industry expert that what I really wanted to do accounted for less than 20% of consumer dollars and made more sense for me to turn my energies toward a line of tops for the young contemporary/junior market. There it would be less difficult to get my big fashion break. But it never took off the way my business partners and I had hoped. I have not yet found anyone willing to invest in my line of deliciously vibrant, rainbow-hued tops or my brilliant business model to sell them online to digitally astute young women between the ages of 15 & 22. After all, this is where they socialize (twitter anyone?) and share (facebook) and learn (wikipedia). I've gotten far more interest with the dresses than I did with the tops. Experts be damned!

I also started writing this online diary, at the urging of Ashanti & Serosh, my two fashion partners in crime. They felt like people would want to hear more from the man behind the seams. "What you have to say is important," is what they tried to convince me of. I always feel like such a small fish in a big pond in the fashion game and that's probably never going to change. But this blog has given me a voice to share the good times and some of the bad. I've been able to release some of the bad just by sharing it with you. And you've read that so many factors come into play with this industry defined by glamour, smoke & mirrors, and ego. By now you've learned that I am an eternal optimist and feel like my proverbial ship will definitely come in. My entire being feels so connected to this journey and I know the universe will provide the answers to all of my questions. I just have to keep doing what I do so that I can get to where I am supposed to be.

With each collection under my belt, I become more and more confident in my creativity. As I look back and see my growth as a designer, I wonder to myself how I got to this place. I've evolved beyond my own expectations and I know I've got more growing and more learning to do. It is my wish for 2010 that all of you accompany me on this odyssey, every small step of the way, and celebrate my evolution and my maturity. Hey, you may even learn something new about yourself in the process. So Happy New Year and Welcome to 2010! It's going to be great!

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!

Something New, Something Blue

Early Thursday morning my new fit model, Ila, texted me to say that she might be late to our afternoon appointment with George. No worries. It gave me a little time to sort out finishes and details and purchase alternative fabrics for some of those details. I realized that the denim I'd chosen was just too heavy and stiff. There would be no movement. And the foiled leather skins that I purchased, although really amazing, would be all wrong with my latest cocktail confections. So instead I chose a more supple, lighter weight denim and went with a luxurious silk faille. Most people don't know a faille from a taffeta, but you can definitely feel the difference. And it's about $15 more a yard! Trust me it's not only going to feel more fabulous, it is going to look more fabulous.

Working with a new fit model, a new tailor, and different denims has me feeling somewhat trepidacious. Let's face it, venturing off into the unknown is always a little unnerving. But 11 years ago, I made a decision to pursue something I really loved. And it constantly calls for me to press the refresh button and start anew. While keeping things status quo makes me feel very comfortable, there is no growth and no evolution. And there is definitely no way for me to become the successful fashion designer I am meant to be if I am just maintaining. So the initial feeling of dread gives way to the excitement of possibilities. And that is why I try to welcome newness into my world. Because I know that I am only moving closer to achieving my goals.

Peace & Fashion!

Fashion's Next BIG Thing?

I am tired. This latest endeavor to launch a line of denim cocktail dresses has been emotionally draining. And I'm not even out the gate! Roadblocks to fashion nirvana have been reported by me ad nauseam. I am so ready for the style council to smile upon me and grant me entree to the VIP area behind the red velvet rope so I can hang out with Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera. When my great Aunt Edie wrote in my 8th Grade autograph book, "The elevator to success is broken - Take the stairs," I had no idea how right she was. So after 11 years of climbing stairs, I am beginning to wonder if the elevator will ever be repaired. As my tailors near completion on the remainder of the looks, I have been hunting for accessories, including shoes, jewelry, and handbags for the photo shoot scheduled on June 20. I called in a favor from my sister-in-law, Rebecca Rodriguez, who is a positively talented photographer to take up the lens after I realized I had no budget to pay my long-standing photographer, Eric. I will be casting the other model for the shoot in a couple of days, but could not work with Ford Models after I was informed that their models do not work for anything less than $1,250 a booking. Ouch! That is just way beyond my company's budget. But after all the dust settles, I know that my journey is very similar to many others who have preceded me. In my heart of hearts I understand that Ralph, Oscar, and Carolina did not get to their perches in the VIP area without struggles. I just wish the elevator was working. . .

Peace & Fashion!