What I Am Doing Now

It is the time of year where school breaks for the summer, seniors plan for prom and graduation, and families finalize their warm weather travel plans.  The winter chill has long melted away and all is right with the world.

 

And it's also time for me to launch my next crowdfunding project for the summer.  If you've been following me, then you know that I successfully ran a crowdfunding project back in March.  I offered my HAPPY tote at 40% off as an incentive for people to pledge.  When I reached my goal on the last day of the campaign, I felt like a winner.  I had tried crowdfunding back in 2011 when I was still designing apparel, but never made it to the finish line.  So I felt a real sense of accomplishment.

 

With my new crowdfunding project that will launch on Monday, June 9 on Indiegogo.com, I will be sharing a portion of the proceeds from the sale of my HAPPY crossbody and small purse style with The Hope Program.  The people at Hope work diligently to provide vocational, educational, and social services to New Yorkers who are unemployed so that they not only find gainful employment, but develop a career path.  I partnered with them last year for the Christmas holiday, but it's my wish that people will really see the value in this initiative, pledge, and in so doing, support this very worthy cause.  In our own little way, we can lower New York City's unemployment rate TOGETHER.

 

So please, share with your friends, tell your neighbors, alert your co-workers, and shout it out to your family.  Get HAPPY and Give HOPE.

 

Peace & Fashion!

Charles James & SK WiLBUR

 
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Charles James: Beyond Fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I was first introduced to the genius of Charles James when I was a fashion design student in my 20s  at FIT.  Ushered into the close quarters of the school's fashion laboratory, my class was allowed to marvel at the underpinnings of one of James's works of art while the gloved hand of one of the lab workers peeled back each layer of fabric and tulle.  Needless to say, the experience left quite an impression on me. 

So many years later, when I was presenting my collection of dresses for the curvy woman, I referenced the iconic photo of women elegantly sheathed in Charles James gowns shot by Cecil Beaton.  I just thought it was the height of haute couture.  And I wanted to show that women of size could be just as elegant.  Now after eschewing the bright lights and drama of apparel, my focus has shifted to handbags.  Yet, in the ensuing years,  I am still awed by one of my design heroes.

 

Peace & Fashion!

I'm HAPPY!

The Citrus Tote by SK WiLBUR

Originally, I was designing a collection that was comprised mostly of leather.  It was an extension somewhat of my Holiday pieces with a little flavor from the Scandal collection thrown in for good measure.  I'm not sure why I was still in that creative mind space because neither one of those collections did well for me at retail.  I guess I was stuck.  But as I was shopping the Garment District one day, I came across a roll of this incredibly eye-catching cotton canvas in a shade of total lemony freshness that beckoned to me.  I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but I knew I had to have it.  After some contemplation and deliberation, I decided to turn the fabric into a tote.  The reaction among my friends and family was so positive that I was inspired to see what other silhouettes I could create in the heavy canvas.  Eventually, I scrapped everything I was previously working on and decided to focus on the new aesthetic in combinations of canvas and leather.  What has resulted is a spring collection filled with clean lines and bold, ebullient colors.  That's why I am calling it HAPPY.

 

After my successful crowdfunding campaign that ended on March 28, the Happy collection

The Young Americans Clutch by SK WiLBUR

quietly debuted last week on www.skwilbur.com.  My cousin was featured in the music video for Pharrell's global dance anthem, Happy.  And that was pretty exciting.  But then I started thinking about all of the other dance songs with "Happy" in the title and I was thrilled to discover Ella Fitzgerald's version of "Get Happy" and it really spoke to me on a very visceral level.  Great horns and awesome vocals make me wanna swing.  So as the temperatures start to climb, the flowers begin to bloom, and we emerge from the very arctic winter, I want to wish everybody a very joy-filled spring.  Come on and let's get HAPPY together!

 

Peace & Fashion!

 

Peace & Victory in Fashion's Name

 



promote, Promote, PROMOTE!

Sometimes I get really tired of talking about myself.  In this era of the selfie, narcissism has become commonplace.  I try not to take it too seriously, but self-promotion, it seems, is one of the necessary steps to one's goals.  So, grudgingly, I continue to engage in the new world order.  I have difficulty embracing the 11th Commandment - It's ALL About Me, so I teeter  between seclusion and overexposure.  Is there such thing as finding the perfect balance?  Either way, I feel like I am doomed.  But to celebrate self-promotion (LOL!), I'd just like to mention that SK WiLBUR Minis are now being carried at Noir et Blanc, a lovely boutique located on 25th Street, just off Broadway.  The purses range in price from $15 for a small canvas style to $30 for a larger leather style.  And they come in an assortment of HAPPY colors and patterns.  Prices so low on items that are so cute, that you should rush there now so you don't miss out.  Hurry, Hurry!  Quick, Quick!

 

Peace & Fashion!

 

 

SK WiLBUR at NY Fashion Week

Don't act like you didn't know about New York Fashion Week.  It's the bi-annual event where fashion designers show their collections of clothes that will land on store racks in six months.  I've shown my apparel collections during NYFW and I've even done guerrilla fashion shows on NYC sidewalks that caused quite a stylish stir.  So I was really hyped to participate in "Small Boutique Fashion Week" this Saturday past.  It all went down at The Metropolitan Pavilion on 18th Street between 5th & 6th Aves.  Hey, Lincoln Center is not the only fashion party in town. And there were runway shows and vendors, including yours truly, who were selling their wares.  The ladies who attended were snapping up SK WiLBUR purses, handbags, and clutches and I found that really validating.  I was even interviewed by urban radio legend Jeff Foxx.  I'll be posting the YouTube link so you can see some of the newest pieces and listen to our chat.  Altogether, it was pretty awesome!

Make sure you keep it locked in here so you don't miss out on any of the Black Fashion Dude fun!

Peace & Fashion!

SK WiLBUR being interviewed by Jeff Foxx

Lovely Shakyra is rockin' the cotton zebra purse with the ostrich feather fringe

New Year. New Opportunities.

I am not a New Year resolution making type of guy.  Honestly, I find resolutions too easy to break.  But I do take a moment to examine the year past and say a prayer for the coming twelve months.  And my prayer is usually the same.  I simply ask God to make me a better me.  I want to be an exceptional husband, brother, friend, son, and uncle.  I want to be more patient.  I want to relinquish worry from my reserve of emotions because worry just prevents you from experiencing joy in each moment.  And I always pray to be a more successful businessman and fulfilled designer.

 

2013 was, for me, a year of transition.  I have proclaimed 2014 a year of triumph.  To that end, I am pushing myself creatively while putting myself in a position of opportunity.  I will be a vendor at The Carbon Bazaar Pop UP Shop this Saturday, January 25 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Mist Harlem located at 46 West 116 Street in NYC.  I will be showcasing new styles and all my previous styles will be drastically marked down with an additional 50% off.  I hope many of you will come out to support, so that we can really start this year triumphantly.

 

What would make 2014 a Year of Triumph for you?  Leave your comments below so we can dialogue.

 

Peace & Fashion!

 

 

A Year Later

My 45th birthday was a washout - LITERALLY.  Hurricane Sandy had decimated NYC and brought my beloved city to it's knees.   Even now, a year later, families are still displaced and homes remain uninhabitable.  Personally and professionally, my own perfect storm had wreaked havoc on my life.  I was so far in debt that I could not even see my way out of it.  And that made me question whether my fifteen year pursuit of my fashion design dream was really worth it.  There had been no balance in my life for quite some time.  All I did was work.  I had become so absorbed with "making it work" that I had little time to enjoy life's little pleasures.  As a result, I ate all my problems away and gained so much weight.  When I looked in the mirror, I didn't even recognize the joyless, fat person staring back at me.  It was Sandy that stopped me in my tracks and made me reconsider the things that really mattered.  On my birthday, in my home where I was left with no heat or electricity, I contemplated all those things and made the hard decision to forego my apparel design pursuits.  I was angry with the universe for not providing me with the opportunities necessary to become a financial success.  And I was angry with the curvy women who seemed to love what I did, but did not demonstrate their support of me monetarily.  But things always have a way of working out.

A year later, I am triumphant.  When my sister gave me a Handbag Workshop Class at a local college as a birthday gift last year, it opened my eyes to other options in design.  Now I am actually selling purses to women in Tennessee, California, and as far away as Oslo, Norway.  I finally feel validated in my design pursuits.  My bags are also being carried in two New York City stores.  I have lost 30 lbs. since my birthday last year.  And my partner of fifteen years who has supported me and loved me through the great and the not-so-great times married me earlier this year in a small, yet magical ceremony.  A year later, I feel like I am back on track.  I feel centered, more focused.  I love what I do.   Women actually demonstrate that they love what I do when they make a purchase and that really makes me feel good.  And I am taking time to enjoy the simple things again like time with family and friends, seeing museum and gallery exhibits, and exploring the city that I love so much.  So Happy 46th Birthday to me!  Sure, I could complain about some things, but I won't because I remember what last year was like.  And life is so much better now.

 

Peace & Fashion!

Point and Shoot

This Saturday past we shot the editorial campaign for SCANDAL, my fall handbag collection.  Our small team consisted of Ashanti - my sister, muse, and the company's director, Rebecca - my sister-in-law, photographer extraordinaire, and the mother of my delicious niece & nephew, Carlo - the newest member of the SK WiLBUR posse who is a talented videographer on the rise, and, of course, yours truly - the handbag architect, purse purveyor, and self-appointed Captain Clutch.  When you get down with such a small crew in such an intimate setting, it's all just sweetness and love and LOTS of hard work.

 

This go round I wanted to focus on the criminal aspect of fashion and how when you want something SO bad, you're almost willing to do ANYTHING to get it.  I've provided a sneak below of one of the images so that you can get a sense of the direction we went in this season.  Stay tuned because these covetable purses will be available for purchase within the next couple of weeks at www.skwilbur.com.

 

 

Peace & Fashion!

The Crime Scene

 

Under the Glare of the Flashbulb

ADULTERESS Shoulder Bag photographed by Patrick Sayo



Tomorrow is the BIG day.  My sister-in-law, Rebecca Rodriguez, is shooting the editorial pics for the SCANDAL Collection - my fall line.  And I am SO excited!  I can't wait to share all the deets with you next week.  Stay Tuned!

 

Peace & Fashion!

 

If Oprah Asked Me



Oprah & Me - The Dynamic Duo

By now, I am sure you've heard all the brouhaha concerning Oprah being dissed by a sales associate at a high end store in Switzerland.  Apparently the talk show titan/philanthropist/cable network owner/actress/billionaire wanted to see a handbag costing about $38,000 and was told that she couldn't afford it.  While I don't have anything that high end in my collection, I've got plenty of fabulosity and one thing to say, "Oprah, I've designed lots of bags and you can see any style you want!"  So if you happen to see Ms. O, just whisper in her ear that SK WiLBUR is ready, willing, and able to tend to her pocketbook needs.

 

Spotted Fur

Brown Tweed

Burberry Menswear

 

In keeping with my theme and focused on the grooviest, on-trend use of materials - menswear fabrics, leather, and faux fur, here is another sneak peek of a purse style that will be available from the SCANDAL Collection by SK WiLBUR this fall.  I think the chocolate leather and Donegal wool tweed nicely play off the spotted faux fur.  And the braided leather strap and gold metal hardware give it a luxe look.  Do you think it's a winner?  Weigh in and let me know.  And check out some of the fierce images that inspired this piece.

Peace & Fashion!

 

 

Cat Fight!

Working the CAT lapels!

I love a luxurious faux fur - especially of the wild cat variety.  None of the calories and half the fat!  Plus, it's fashionably fun and bold.  So for my fall/winter collection - SCANDAL - I fully embraced it.  Of course, my inspiration came from some of the most stylish, of-the-moment runways and sidewalks, too.

Peace & Fashion!

Tabloid Fodder - A little Tabby and a lot TIGER!

Tabloid Fodder Handbag - SEEING SPOTS!






Black and White Fur - MEOW!









On the Jean Paul Gaultier Couture Runway - Feline Phenomenon



 
 



Bag IT!

I am always inspired by other talented designers.  My new "Measure 4 Measure" Handbag was inspired by a Christian Louboutin sandal from a season or two ago that I thought was so cleverly designed.  Check it out below!

Peace & Fashion!

Christian Louboutin

SK WiLBUR

Perspiration & Inspiration

As I sweat it out during these dog days of summer, I am busy finishing up the pieces for Fall/Winter 2013.  The purses are a mélange of wool menswear fabrics, metallic leather, and faux fur.  Here is the inspiration and the actual piece it inspired.  What do you think?

 

SK WiLBUR menswear-inspired purse

Paris Designer, Bouchra Jarrar





Is it going to be a winner with you ladies this Fall?

 

Peace & Fashion!



Purse Dreams & Other Things

I'm finally ready to write & share again.  I'm looking at the glass as half full and speaking positivity into my life.  All this Zen stuff is just a way of preparing you for what I'm about to write.

 

This March past, after 24 years, I was let go from my position at the plantation.  GASP!  I'm not going to go into any details because it's just not important.  But I believe that the universe pushed me out of a place of comfort & complacency so that I could pursue my purpose ALL THE TIME at full throttle.  I am grateful for my time there because I forged lifelong bonds and it  has prepared me for this next phase of my life.  Now enough about that!

 

Me at work on an EXOTICA purse.

I am fully immersed in purse design and construction.  If you've had a chance to visit www.skwilbur.com, then you've seen the clutches and the totes that we're offering for sale.  The purses are also available at www.etsy.com/shop/skwilbur and at Only Hearts, a charming boutique with two locations in Manhattan at 386 Columbus Avenue & 230 Mott Street.  You can find more options like shoulder bags and other colors at the boutiques.  Ashanti and I are also doing purse parties.  We were hosted for two very successful events in Queens & Brooklyn.  If you'd like to host a purse party in your home, please contact us through the site or comment on this blog post.  Hosting has its privileges because you could be eligible for a FREE SK WiLBUR PURSE.

 

I am now creating the fall line which will debut this September on www.skwilbur.com.  It's still under wraps and I don't want to give too much away, but I'm calling the collection SCANDAL.  I was inspired by the hit TV show starring Kerry Washington.  I am working with materials like wool menswear fabrics, metallic leathers, and faux fur and it is HAUTE, honey!  Here are a couple of sneak peek photos just to whet your appetite.  If you'd like to pre-order, let us know at info@skwilbur.com!

 

 

Well, I need to get back to the matter at hand, and that is purse construction.  But I promise to be better  at keeping in touch with you!  Enjoy your weekend!

 

Peace & Fashion!

Beyonce & Beyond

I am not much of a football fan.  Yet there I was face-to-face with my mother's Samsung flat screen watching the Giants win last year's SuperBowl.  GO NEW YORK!  I will admit, too, that I was initially more excited to see Madonna during the halftime spectacle.  And Ms. Strike A Pose did not disappoint.  This year, without New York in the finals, I was more than a little crestfallen.  But then I learned that Beyonce (first name will do, thank you very much.) would be performing.  I can't say anything that has not been said about the sistah.  Her accomplishments really speak for themselves.  She is Bad To The BONE!

Beyonce in GQ magazine

And that is why I was so baffled by the Inauguration lipsync flap.  What Gives???  When I first noticed the headlines, all I could think was, "What The H*ll?!"  Anybody who can hear, knows Beyonce can SANG.  I thought the clamor would die down and I was completely satisfied when she wouldn't even address the tidal wave of negativity.  I even admitted to my sister, "I'm so happy she's ignoring all the BS."  But then, at the SuperBowl press conference, Beyonce asked the assembled reporters to stand as she flawlessly sang an acapella rendition of the national anthem.  I was really annoyed.  How dare anybody question Bey's talents?  After the last note was uttered, the songstress asked, "Any questions?"  With grace and humility, the goddess quieted the noise of the naysayers.  I think the lesson is that no matter how large you get, sometimes you must do things that require you to swallow your pride.

Now I am so pumped to see a lot of BOOTYLICIOUS, GET ME BODIED sounds and Sasha Fierce dance moves.  Let 'er rip, Beyonce!  I'll be cheering you on.



Peace & Fashion!

Coming Out in the Wash

Cynde Watson at NY Fashion Week

Last night I was fortunate enough to have been invited to the launch event for a new cosmetics line called RICH STUDIO.  Conceived and created by master celebrity makeup artist and former executive director of global makeup artistry/education for Bobbi Brown, Cynde Watson has developed a line that truly is rich in color and texture. I caught up with Cynde for a brief moment as she was busy overseeing the festivities.  She divulged that the new line is a personal and professional triumph that was a year and a half in the making.  And it shows!  Women of different hues had flocked to Honey Salon in Harlem to be beautified by the skilled makeup artists on hand.  Each woman was camera ready fabulous after her turn in the make up chair.

While sipping on delicious watermelon martinis, Ashanti and I met a bevvy of lovely people who are movers and shakers.  Some I'd met previously and others who I've wanted to come face-to-face with.  Audrey Smaltz, the founder of The Ground Crew, was in attendance.  Although she never remembers me, I always love seeing her.  She has a long, rich history in fashion from the early days of the Ebony Fashion Showcase that traveled all over the U.S. to the fantasy fashion show she presented on The Oprah Winfrey Show many years ago. Audrey is an authority on the industry.  And she gives it to you straight - no chaser.  So when she advised me to forego my line of accessible luxury pieces for the curvy woman and, instead, focus on cheaper fashions, it made me take pause.  She said,  "Wilbur, the client you dream of dressing is always trying to lose weight and she is not going to spend the money on the kind of quality you are offering.  Go CHEAP!"  That was difficult to hear, but it is something that I am definitely going to ponder.

There were others, too, like Bevy Smith, Leonard Bridges, Lamarr Nanton, Lloyd Boston, and Deborah Gregory, of course.  Way too many stories to bore you with at this time.  But if you keep up with me, I am sure they'll eventually come out.  After all, doesn't it always come out in the wash.

Peace & Fashion!

Don't Dismiss Me

A tense moment for me on "24 Hour Catwalk"

Early this morning on facebook, one of my supporters who happens to be a curvy girl, make up artist, and fellow entrepreneuer, posted something that made me stop and take pause.  She wrote, "I love being overlooked.  It makes me work harder."  I thought to myself, "Kelly Brown, you must be crazy!!"  After many years, 15 to be exact, of toiling in virtual obscurity, I am tired of being overlooked.  Truth be told, I'm tired of working harder.  I want my gifts and talents recognized by somebody who is in a position of affluence and influence so that my load can be lessened.  I want financial success to stop being so darn elusive.  So, of course, I had to comment.  After carefully weighing my words, I typed, "I intensely dislike being overlooked.  Ignored.  Sends a message that I have little or no value." I thought that would be the end of it.  I thought I could get on with the rest of my day basking in my glum.  Boy was I wrong!  Kelly B quickly responded, "Wilbur Pack, Jr. it has the opposite effect on me.  I don't take it as me having little or no value, I take it as someone not having the clarity to see the great value I know I have! take it in stride and go harder - it usually ends up in those who overlooked you regretting that they did!"

Kelly Brown

The universe has a way of sending just the right message at just the right time.  Kelly Brown delivered that message because I needed it.  Although I continue to move forward, there are moments when I falter and I just want to feel sorry for myself.  Yet, I know it is an emotion that is too heavy to bear on this path.  If I am going to reach my pinnacle, I cannot let these kinds of feelings weigh me down.  Now, I am refocused and re-energized.  Look out world because I am coming through.  And all of you who dare to dismiss me, you may want to give it a second thought!  My name is VICTORY.  If you want to check out my girl Kelly Brown, check her out at MASQUEmag.

Peace & Fashion!

Going Live

Thursday of last week, the revamped skwilbur.com premiered.  I wanted it to look a lot more polished.  Sophisticated.  I wanted it to have an aesthetic akin to net-a-porter.com - a shopping site with an editorial feel.  But the fabulous shopping experience offering "accessible luxury" that I had in mind would cater exclusively to plus size women who are still marginalized and underserved.

The company website has never truly represented what the SK WiLBUR brand is about.  At least, that's how I feel.  I just don't think my business partners and I were able to truly convey to the previous web designers what BOLD, MODERN, & CLASSIC style looked like to us.  I think Frantz, our latest and most thoughtful designer to date, has finally got it right.

About a month and a half ago, I was sitting in Starbucks in Penn Station reading a book while waiting for my train home.  A gentleman walked up to me and asked if he could sit in the empty seat next to mine.  I must have looked at him strangely because that's when he said, "I know New Yorkers are very particular about their personal space."  Honestly, whenever I am anywhere and I see an available seat, I sit in it - no questions asked.  "Oh you must not be from New York," I responded, "because New Yorkers don't care how uncomfortably tight it might be, we are going to sit down."  We chuckled and ended up having a brief and engaging conversation.  As it turned out, Alain (that's his name) was a Floridian until the age of nine when his family moved to New York.

When I noticed it was just about time for my train to be announced, I bid farewell to Alain and made my way to the correct track.  At Jamaica Station, where I needed to switch to another train, I saw Alan on the platform.  He didn't see me and I just laughed to myself.  When I boarded my connecting train, I saw my new acquaintance already seated.  "You're stalking me," I roared hysterically.  As the train cruised along the tracks, Alain confided that he is in construction, but has a background in film.  I showed him photos of my designs and disclosed some of what I had been working on.

"Well if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know," Alain offered.

"I could really use a web designer who won't charge me an arm and a leg."

"I just happen to have a friend who designs websites.  I will text his info to you."  I handed Alain my business card before getting off the train at my stop.

By the time, I was home I had received a text from Alain with Frantz's contact information.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Some people might call it destiny or kismet.  But I'd like to think that the universe was creating a pathway for me to connect with Frantz.  I am very pleased with the work that Frantz has done so far and I believe that Sorta Kinda Enterprises finally has a clear web identity on which we can confidently build from.  If you haven't done so, check us out.

Peace & Fashion!

Possessing A Prizefighter's Determination

Sometimes I struggle with what I am going to write in my online journal.  Someone in PR once told me that I should not share too many of my doubts.  She reasoned that potential collaborators/investors would be turned off by my transparency and seeming lack of confidence.  She said, "Investors are confident in people who are confident in themselves."  She's probably right.  But the truth is that self-doubt is just par for the course when you are in a creative field.  I've spoken to writers, filmmakers, painters, singers, and, of course, other designers and we all suffer with bouts of self-doubt.  There are actually many similarities in our approaches to attaining success.  But what strikes me most is that we are all bold and confident enough to put our creativity out there for the world to judge.  I think transparency can be very liberating.  It demonstrates that my struggles and imperfections are no different than yours and that is unifying.  It also lends me a certain approachability.

Oscar Dela Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather

I mean, I'd  like to be able to consistently create a minimum of two collections a year without worrying about how I am going to afford fabrics and the costs of construction.  And I wish I could mass produce without fretting over finances and wondering how I am going to turn a dime into a dollar and a dollar into twenty-five thousand dollars.  But in the end, I don't let the odds against me prevent me from dreaming and pushing forward.

Last week, I finally accepted that I would not be able to actively participate in New York Fashion Week which officially begins on September 6th.  And I learned that I was not one of the twelve recipients of the Mission: Small Business Grant from Chase Bank.  Back in June, many of you voted so that I would be considered.  It's a bummer to have to sit out this fashion week, but there is still a Spring collection that must be completed and you better believe that I have already started preparing for Fashion Week February 2013.  And I just know the finances to fuel my vision will come from somewhere.

Do not judge me based on my bouts with self-doubt.  Save the judgements for how I am able to weather those moments and keep it moving.  With fifteen years under my belt, it is clear that I am a survivor.  And I am a winner.

Peace & Fashion!

Everybody Is A Star

Last Saturday, I stood on line among other designer hopefuls for almost three hours  for a chance to be a competitor on the next season of NBC's Fashion Star.  Truth be told, I was a little disappointed with the outcome of my stint on "24 Hour Catwalk".  I may have lost, but I was the most graceful and distinguished loser in the history of reality TV.  I fully expected to be hounded by TV executives looking to add a more polished flavor to the reality TV landscape.  Surely the popularity of all this Jersey Shore Real Housewives Basketball Wives foolishness is waning and viewers are ready to get back to good old fashioned values.  Apparently NOT!  I have not even been approached by a production intern.  So I've continued to work on the plantation in the mornings and pursue my fashion dreams afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Last year when I auditioned for Fashion Star, it was pure chaos and disorganization.  No wonder I wasn't chosen!  How does one stand out from all the noise and mayhem?  Clearly, I could not be heard over the din.  This time, however, it was completely organized making my chances at being selected much stronger.

I approached the task with vim and vigor.  I got all artsy craftsy and made mood boards which creatively displayed my inspiration for my EYE CANDY collection with images of Alice in Wonderland and a still from "The Hunger Games" along with my sketches and catchy phrases like Sweet Sophistication and Mouth Watering Style.  I packed up my strongest pieces and brought along some pieces from my FINE AND DANDY collection so the judges could see that I wasn't just a one note designer.  I can do fierce and fabulous for the smaller sized divas, too!  I was determined to get a spot on this next season.

Almost two weeks ago, my honey had bought be a new pair of shoes, but I refused to wear them fearing I might scuff them prior to the audition.  Hey, I need to look polished and fabulous as well.  I shaved my head when I woke up that morning giving me that just shaved Black Mr. Clean gleam.  Although I had not stuck to my commitment to drop some weight prior to the big day, there was no way in the world that the judges would be able to pass me over this time.  I was ready to W-I-N!

When I got to the head of the line, I was still cool as a cucumber.  After all, this is what I am destined to do.  I got my application and was escorted into the hotel where everything was happening.  Then I was seated in a waiting area along with about 15 others as we listened patiently for our numbers to be called.

When they called 173, I made my way into the small room where numbered tables were set up in front of rolling racks.  I excitedly unpacked all my pieces and laid out my look books and mood boards and waited for one of the judges to approach me.  Jennifer introduced herself.  I pulled each look from the rack and explained my inspiration.  After I showed her the clean, professional workmanship on my pieces, she nodded and said another judge would be coming over to talk to me.   When the next judge came over, I animatedly explained my aesthetic and showed her the pieces, too.  She asked me, "Are you from New York?"  I answered, "Born and bred from Queens. Woo!  Woo!"  She smiled and exclaimed, "You certainly have a lot of energy."   My tongue-in-chic response was, "I hope it's a good thing."  When she asked if I had auditioned for any other reality shows.  I told her of my stint on "24 Hour Catwalk".  As she scribbled some notes, I cheekily added, "I hope you don't hold that against me."  We chatted briefly about how we didn't think there was going to be another season of "24. . ." and she finished by saying, "Okay, we'll be in touch."

I haven't heard from them since.  Each day my hope of becoming the next Fashion Star dwindles a little more.  But this is not the end of the road.  Tailor made opportunities for me are on the horizon.  I can just feel it.

Peace & Fashion!