The 4-1-1 On Lysistrata Jones

This Friday past I had the pleasure of seeing the new Broadway musical Lysistrata Jones.  Based on the Aristophanes-penned comedy "Lysistrata" first performed in 411 B.C., it is a modern and very contemporary retelling of how a group of young women, led by Lysistrata, decide to withhold sexual favors from their men in an effort to end the Peloponnesian war.  But in this version, there are cheerleaders, a losing basketball team, and a very funny joke about Herman Cain - the beleauguered GOP presidential hopeful.  Of course, in musical comedy land, nothing ever goes according to plan.  And that is where the fun and the fabulosity begin.

LaQuet Sharnell is SANGIN'!

Comprised mostly of Broadway newbies, the talented cast brings their A-game as they sing and dance with such fervor and freshness the audience has no chance but to root for happy endings for all the show's characters.  I was especially blown away by LaQuet Sharnell who plays Myrrhine and sings the showstopping "Don't Judge A Book" in the second act.  Also of note is the handsome Josh Segarra who brings the heat as Mick.  Initially, he is just the typical dumb jock, but the audience learns that there is a lot more there.  And when he sings the heartbreakingly sweet "When She Smiles" with such affection, you can feel the audience swoon.  And then there is the infectious energy of Jason Tam who portrays Xander.  He is such a cutie & serious eye candy.



Jason Tam - the talented HOTTIE



The show is cleverly written  by Douglas Carter Beane who is also responsible for one of my most favorite Broadway shows "The Little Dog Laughed".  He is accompanied by his real life partner Lewis Flinn who did the music and lyrics.  Together they have delivered a show that makes you laugh.  And you're still singing hours after leaving the theatre.

If you're like me and need a worthwhile diversion from work and the holiday season crush, you should race to get tickets.  It was a packed house the night I went.  I'm just saying. . .

Now it's time for me to get back to fashion.  But I can still see Jason Tam dancing in my head. . .

Peace & Fashion!

Make Up 2 Break Up



Tara Taylor sports a natural makeup look by Tara Taylor



This afternoon I lunched with Tara Taylor, a make up artist whose talent is beyond compare.  Even her name has a superstar ring to it, doesn't it?  I met Tara over a year ago after my business partners and I first launched the full-figured collection.  I first noticed her work in countless spreads for Plus Model Magazine -an online publication that addresses plus size fashion, beauty, arts, and modeling.  And I made it my mission to seek her out and beg her to work with me.  It turns out that Tara is as sweet as she is talented and I didn't need to do much begging after all.  Although I have several months before the photo shoot for the Fall 2012 collection, I wanted to make sure that I got on the calendar of this very in-demand talent before she was booked.  So today over Cobb salad and devil's food cheesecake, courtesy of Junior's restaurant, I shared my vision for the upcoming collection "Eye Candy".  She seemed to be taken with my ideas and immediately inserted the shoot on her phone's calendar.  I cannot wait.  But in the meantime, check out her work at www.tarataylor.net.  If you're a woman who wants to put her best face forward, you want to take advantage of her talent before she becomes the next Kevyn Aucoin!

Peace & Fashion!

Which Way Do I Turn?

Anna D. wears SK WiLBUR
available at skwilbur.com

Everybody is feeling the funk as a result of this challenging economy, including yours truly!  My business partners, Ashanti and Serosh, and I thought that if we built it, the curvy women would come, with credit cards in hand, in droves.  I mean, that is what they told us after the JET magazine article ran.  But it has only been a mediocre response, at best, with only a sprinkling of full-figured women expressing interest.

Each season I do my best to really capture the trends while creating looks that will  compliment a fuller woman's body.  I visit high end stores to research what is being sold, not just in plus size departments, but in contemporary and designer departments, too.  But for my Spring 2012 collection Out of the Dark, I made an extra effort to use design elements that would appeal to a curvy woman's aesthetic while camouflaging the "problem" areas.  The buyers at the major department stores told me that marketing to the curvy customer is challenging.  They weren't kidding!  Now, as an e-tailer, I am seeing it firsthand for myself.

But something's got to give.  Moving forward, my team and I are looking for ways to refine our image and carve out a niche for ourselves in the marketplace.  I don't think the idea is to slash prices as much as it is to continue to offer BOLD, MODERN, and CLASSIC fashion with value.  Stay tuned as we begin to implement subtle changes.  And if you know of any curvy woman in need of a fabulous dress, please direct her to www.skwilbur.com.

Peace & Fashion!

All Hail The Queen!

Yesterday, after I finished my work at the plantation, I did what I always do and headed to the Garment District to work on my forthcoming collection.  I have dubbed Fall 2012 - EYE CANDY.  It's all decadence and luxuriousness and fabulosity, of course.  I was walking down 38th street on my way to Mood Fabrics when I crossed paths with none other than the Queen herself - Queen Latifah.  I am an avid fan of the Queen since her early days as a rapper.  Before she was transformed into a glamorous Cover Girl makeup spokeswoman, she was making moves in the male-dominated rap music world.  Do you remember her 1989 hit song, Ladies First?  It was an empowering anthem dedicated to women all over the globe.

Years ago, I met Latifah when I was an intern at Cynthia Rowley.  She was gracious and witty and signed my copy of MODE magazine where she was featured in an editorial fashion spread.  It was definitely a thrill.  So you know, I had to acknowledge the Queen as we passed each other on the street.  "Hey Queen!" I shouted barely able to contain my excitement.  She nodded and waved as she made her way to 7th avenue.  And we both kept it moving.

One of my dreams is to one day dress the Queen.  Because, let's face it, when you get that kind of endorsement from royalty, you have certainly arrived.

Peace & Fashion!

What's Hapenning?!

So it's been awhile.  I've been busy.  And now I am trying to play catch up.

Gabourey Sidibe at the
premiere of
TOWER HEIST

I've been trying to dress Oscar nominee, Gabourey Sidibe, since she first stepped in the limelight for her portrayal of the title character in the film Precious. Two Thursdays ago, in the afternoon, I got a voice message from her Los Angeles based stylist.  She requested a dress for Gabourey's red carpet appearance for the premiere of her latest movie Tower Heist.  The only problem was that she needed the dress for the following Monday.  That only gave me 3 full days!  Unfortunately, I had nothing in my arsenal of fabulous dresses that was suitable for the curvy star.  DARN!  I was disappointed about missing out on this big break, but only very briefly.  Because now I know I am, at least, on her glam squad's radar.  Another opportunity will most certainly present itself - I'm sure of it!  I think she could use a little SK WiLBUR in her life, don't you?



This Monday past, on my birthday, my business partners and I launched the online POP-Up Shop at http://www.skwilbur.com/.  You are now able to purchase some of your favorite looks from the runway and they will be delivered to you in time for your spring fling.  As an added bonus, we are extending a 10% courtesy off each shopper's entire order.  AND you can buy some of your favorite handbags from the runway, too!  Sounds like a curvy girl's dream to me.  I'm just sayin'!

In the meantime, I've been clawing and scratching to build retail distribution online through established retailers like Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.  That's never a picnic, but I am up for the challenge.  In addition, I am busy working on the next collection for Fall 2012.  I've already completed the sketches and now it's time to turn the sketches into actual garments.  Whewww!  My journey continues. . .  And that's what's happening with me.

Peace & Fashion!

SK WiLBUR Pre-Season Sale Announcement

SK WiLBUR Pre-Season Sale Announcement

Blogging for my Life

Nicole Z. during the fitting with George

The past three months have been beyond hectic and jam-packed with fashion related activity.  Finally, I realized that I just didn't have the time to dedicate to blogging.  But I am back now and ready to share some of my adventures with you.  I listened with envy as many of my friends shared their stories about summer vacations while I was busy with my nose to the grindstone.  But I'm not mad because all my work seems to finally be paying off.

If you've been keeping track of me, you know that I reached a career high when I was featured in the August 8/15 issue of JET magazine.  It prompted fashionable women across America to reach out to me on facebook, twitter, and through e-mail to find out how they could get their hands on SK WiLBUR dresses.  It was a validating moment and I still find myself basking in the afterglow.  My business partners and I are looking to use the new demand for my aesthetic as leverage when we approach stores in the coming months.  I am now very excited about what the future holds for Sorta Kinda Enterprises.

Nicole Z. wears the finished look for the show

The fashion reality show that I shot over the summer has already started getting some mentions in the press.  Although I am still bound by reality show secrecy, I want you to be on the lookout for a new show that will be airing on Lifetime in the near future.  Stay tuned because you will definitely find me on one of those episodes.

As NY Fashion Week was drawing nearer, I was preparing for my first plus size runway show on September 13.  Although I had a deficit of $5000 to contend with, I was confident that the universe was supporting my efforts.  After all, I had just gotten national press and taped a reality show.  While I continued fittings with my seamstresses and tailors, I remained faithful that the money would come through.  Foregoing paying my personal bills, I poured every dime I had into the completion of my collection.  It was not only important, but necessary, for me to continue the momentum that began with the JET article.  I implemented an initiative to raise the money through kickstarter.com.  With kickstarter, you must raise the full amount to get the money.  If you don't, you get nothing.  Since I only received pledges from 5 people totaling $335, it was an idea that crashed and burned.  My diva friend, Josette Robinbson, who is in public relations, my boyfriend, one of my dear friends whom I met  a few years ago during my commute into Manhattan, and my great Aunt Edie all made donations to my cause.  But I was still short.  In the eleventh hour, the day before the show, it was my sister and business partner who was able secure the last $4000 through a personal loan.  My faithfulness paid off.  I still get choked up about it.

Edward Wilkerson & me during FNO

Days before my big runway show, Josette convinced me to come out for Fashion's Night Out.  I didn't want to do it because I still had plenty of work to do.  I had decided to gift the guests of my runway presentation with mini SK WiLBUR tote bags.  I couldn't afford to order them, so I decided to make them.  What a daunting task!  But back to my story, for Fashion's Night Out, Josette and I met at Lord & Taylor where I introduced her to my friend from several years ago Edward Wilkerson, the designer of the fabulously chic and affordable line Lafayette 148.  It had been years since I'd seen him and he is just as funny and lovely as I remembered.  From there, Josette and I moved on to the BCBG store where we might have been too early for the party.  But then we separated and I headed off to Lane Bryant on Fulton Street in Brooklyn where I was surrounded by plus size lovelies and the cast of the reality show Big Sexy.  Although I was exhausted, it was important for me to make an appearance so the ladies knew that I still had nothing but love for them.  But by 9:00 p.m. I was on my train headed home.

I was super excited about the show.  Women's Wear Daily had already confirmed that they would be in attendance.  Afterwards, writer Marc Karimzadeh from the trade newspaper interviewed me.  It was all too surreal.  The next day, my friend Albert who lives in Paris sent me a note on facebook with a link to the article.  Yippee!  Another validating moment for my career.  NY Fashion Week is not just for the rail thin models anymore.  It's time for the curvy woman to be represented.   And I am doing my best to be one of the proponents of that.

Peace & Fashion!