It's Not As Easy As It Looks

I remember when I was in 7th or 8th grade and I was on altar duty with the pastor at my parochial school.  There was a series of short films being shown to the student body during the service.  I was the one responsible for moving the tall, 20 ft screen off to the side once the film finished just before the pastor was about to administer communion.  I'd seen my peers move it effortlessly during previous services, so I had no idea how difficult it was.  The weight of the screen was unbalanced, however, and once I attempted to lift it, the screen and I both became very wobbly.  "Oh God, please don't make me drop this thing and then fall on top of it," I prayed silently to myself.  There was a chorus of gasps from the congregation as they watched me struggle to move the screen.  Luckily my prayer was answered and I was able to slowly inch it to the side without it crashing down in the pulpit.

My fashion design career is a lot like that screen I struggled to balance so many years ago in grade school.  I wasn't prepared for the unbalanced weight of it, but somehow I kept my composure and managed to keep it upright.  The last couple of months have been fraught with challenges that have threatened to topple my fashion dreams, and yet somehow I remain upright.

Nicole Z. wears Twizzler dress
with Suede Belt in Grape

This weekend past my sister-in-law packed up her family including my niece, nephew, Biscuit the chihuahua, and my brother and drove to NY to photograph my collection for Fall 2012 called Eye Candy.  She and my brother, N'Gai, have been dealing with their own set of challenges down in Virginia so I was just really relieved that they were all able to make it.  My A-Team that included the make up artist Lisa Warner, stylist Denardo Jenkins, the hat designer Otis Damo'n, and hairstylist Michelle Swiney were all on hand to bring the models to life.  And they agreed to wait for their compensation until my next payday.  Despite the financial challenges of running a fledgling fashion company, we were able to capture some great moments on film and have a good time while doing it.

It is never as easy as it looks, but the results are always stellar.  I am still standing and my dreams are intact.  So I press on.  Forward March!

Peace & Fashion!

Cinch It!

I met Deirdre so many years ago - the early 1990s, I think.  She got a job at the plantation where I work and we became fast friends after she corrected the way I pronounced her name.  "It's DEAR-DRA, DEAR-DRA," she proclaimed loudly in her slight southern drawl.  "Get it Right!"  For a white girl, I thought, she sure had a lot of black girl attitude.  Only thing missing was the neck roll.  I liked that she wasn't afraid to take me to task and she hasn't been able to shake me loose ever since.

Deirdre comes from one of those Irish Catholic families bigger than The Brady Bunch.  She shared with me one day early in our friendship that she had a brother, Kenny, who had a line of leather couture.  It was all studded motorcycle jackets and bustiers in fabulous colors like caramel, hunter green, mauve, etc.  The salmon with turquoise nail heads was one of my favorites.  When Kenny found out he had contracted AIDS, he got out of the business and moved to Woodstock.  Deirdre would become his caregiver until he passed.  Although I never met Kenny, I always felt a special connection.  Deirdre regaled me with stories of his brash, bold personality.  He sounded like the kind of person that lived life fearlessly.  The kind of person I'd want to be.

A few years later, when Deirdre was getting rid of some leather skins from the business, she gave them to me.  I had already begun my own journey in fashion trying to be as fearless as Kenny was.  This week, I finally used some of the leather from Kenny's collection to make a belt.  His spirit seemed to guide me.  It was like he was smiling down on me as I was guiding the leather under the sewing machine needle.  I am really proud of myself and the result.  Sometimes, I cannot believe that I've made this decision to follow my dreams and do something that I really love.  And I'd like to think that it is angels, like Kenny, who have made it possible for me to realize this dream.

Peace & Fashion!

Behind The Curtain on SK WiLBUR

I've been up until 1:00 in the morning several nights the last couple of weeks creating some of the accessories that we will be offering on www.skwilbur.com this coming fall.  Needless to say, I am exhausted.  But I'm not complaining.  In fact, I'm dying to share the images of the handbags and belts with you, but I'm going to hold out just a little longer.  In the meantime, however, I've provided the video interview that I did with The Stylish Maven during NY Fashion Week last month.  It is such a different perspective to see myself the way others see me.  So please take a quick look, learn about my inspiration, and get a sneak peek at some of the pieces that will coming to skwilbur.com this fall.

Peace & Fashion!

If I Told You That

 

SK WiLBUR, The Stylish Maven, & Nicole Z.
She is wearing the studded baseball jersey
sweatshirt with the "Licorice" tweed skirt
and heather grey gloves.



The SK WiLBUR "Lollipop" sleeveless top and skirt with the "Gumball" hat byOtis Damo'n Millinery. 



I was interviewed on this Friday past by Troy Artis, aka The Stylish Maven.  It really was a pleasure meeting him.  I was readying my model Nicole Z. for her on-camera appearance at the sample workroom, when he and his crew stepped out of the elevator.  I apologized for running a little behind, but Troy would have none of that.  "No apology necessary.  We're just going to check out the place so we can set up our shots."  His laidback manner made it a very pleasant, and easy experience.  Both his videographer and photographer were on hand to document each word and movement.  He asked questions about the collection, my experience on 24 Hour Catwalk, as well as the impetus for me to design for the curvy woman.  I think it all went swimmingly well.  As soon as the video is posted, I will supply you with the link.  In the meantime, I have posted a couple of stills from the interview.

I would be terribly remiss if I didn't address the untimely passing of one of my favorite R-n-B divas, Ms. Whitney Houston.  More than any other singer, she provided the soundtrack for my young adult life.  I felt very connected to her, like she was a friend or family member.   In fact, one of my very dear friends, Wanda Jones, whom I met so many years ago while in college, used to tease me that Whitney and I were "close personal friends".  But Whitney did seem to know me so well because whatever emotion I happened to be feeling, she had a song to express it.  When my baby sister called with the news on Saturday night, I was shocked and saddened.  I've been reminiscing with my best friend. . . talking about some of our favorite performances, posting them on my facebook page.  That has alleviated some of the sorrow.  She was an amazing talent who enriched my life.  Whitney will be sorely missed.  May she rest in peace.

Peace & Fashion!

Keep Moving Up. . .

Tonight I am being interviewed by The Stylish Maven, aka Troy Artis, for his web series on YouTube.  My model, Nicole Z., will be joining me on camera to preen and pose in a few looks from my Eye Candy Fall 2012 collection.  I see Mr. Artis as an artist, like myself, carving out at niche in the rough & tumble glamorous world of fashion.  As I have said many times in the past, "It's hard out here for a pimp!"  It's a declaration that I adopted from the movie Hustle & Flow.  And I say it only half-jokingly.  While I am not referring specifically to prostitution, I am very honest about the dedication that is required to make a name for yourself.  My journey really is an impassioned hustle.

I am very pleased and honored that Mr. Artis requested an interview with me.  He's already told me that he will be asking some pointed questions about my reality TV debut on 24 Hour Catwalk.  OH, THE PRESSURE.  But seriously, it's awesome to know that someone else beyond my family, friends, and followers is interested in what I do.

A lot more work needs to be done on the collection, but I figured this will give a sneak peek into my crazy creative process.  So stay tuned for the big reveal!

Peace & Fashion!

Sitting This One Out



Latest Handbag Creation from SK WiLBUR



This February, for NY Fashion Week, I won't be producing a runway show or presentation of my Fall 2012 collection.  In the past, I've had bouts with feelings of inadequacy because I believed that I was just falling short of the prize.  Not being able to be a part of the twice yearly fashion fray for financial reasons (it costs a lot to mount even the smallest of spectacles), I would live vicariously through the daily coverage in newspapers or try my best to ignore it altogether.  I was like the kid in school who missed the class field trip and was left out of the conversation with my peers because it was all they were talking about.  Call it peer pressure for the fashion set.  Even now, I wish I could be a part of the NY Fashion Week game instead of being a bench warmer.  But I am no longer grappling with those feelings of inadequacy that used to plague me.  I don't feel the same kind of pressure any more because now I am playing the fashion game on my own terms.  It is far more important to begin laying the foundation for a revamped and dazzling website for September where our goal is to increase website traffic and grow our customer base.  Besides, after all that work of staging and casting and inviting and styling, the payoff is sometimes not worth the headache.

Creatively, I am in a great place.  I am just waiting for the Curvies of the world to fully support what I do.  And then it's on and poppin'!  And God willing, I won't have to sit out another NY Fashion Week again.

Peace & Fashion! 

24 Hours A Day of Fashion

I was supposed to write something yesterday.  But between watching the Michael Jackson homage on "Glee" and sewing another handbag, I missed my mark.  If only I could have more than 24 hours in a day.  As Miss Scarlet said, "Tomorrow is another day."  And so, alas, here I am on my tomorrow.

I have had to come down from my reality TV high and get back to reality, actually.  So yesterday, after I did my time at the plantation, George (my incredibly skilled tailor) and I met with my new favorite model, Nicole Z.  She really is quite lovely and when you've found someone like her, a fitting, while it is work, really can be a lot of fun.  It's like having your own live version of a curvy Barbie doll and you get to change her outfits including shoes, hosiery, and jewelry.  Each time I work on a collection, when I see the clothes begin to take shape a giddiness starts to set in.  Yesterday really was no exception.

Next week is the beginning of NY Fashion Week.  I won't be doing a presentation of any kind and the collection won't even be finished until next month, finances notwithstanding.  My business partners and I are looking to use the money that we would use for a presentation more wisely when we revamp our website for a late August/early September re-launch.  But in the meantime, the boutique at www.skwilbur.com is still open for business.  So why don't you stop buy and order a fabulous dress or an amazing handbag?!

Peace & Fashion!