Just A Quick Look

This week, in the midst of trying to figure out how I am going to overcome what seems like insurmountable hurdles in moving my business forward, the video from Full Figured Fashion Week was posted on YouTube and Facebook by Gwen DeVoe, the founder of the weeklong celebration of curvy women.  It reminded me of how validating it was for me to be chosen to participate in the Independent Designer's Showcase.

Each season is going to have its own set of obstacles and each season I'm going to have to be more creative in finding solutions if I am going to attain the kind of success I have dreamed of for so long.  So today, I am not going to dwell on the headaches or the hurdles, but I am going to celebrate how far I've come on this journey.  Please watch the video below and enjoy!

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!

Hey, Mr. Mercury!

Elizabeth Taylor in costume as Maggie the Cat

It's been hotter than hell!  So during the week, holiday included, I sought refuge inside where I could luxuriate in an air conditioned space.  For the most part, I stayed home venturing out only when absolutely necessary, i.e. putting my time in at the plantation and grocery shopping.  See, my life really isn't all runway shows and ducking from the paparazzi.  So it left my mind plenty of time to go creative crazy!  And as a result, my ideas for the next collection have come fully into focus.  The name of the Spring 2013 collection is CLANDESTINY.

While I remain steadfast in my mission to create sophisticated, tailored pieces for the curvy woman, this time my muse is sexier.   She smolders.  My mind zeroed in on the timeless beauty of Elizabeth Taylor, specifically in her role as Maggie the Cat in the movie "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof".  Ms. Taylor looked oh-so-sublime in the scene with Paul Newman in which she is wearing a second-skinned slip.  Talk about tailoring!

The basic story arc for this collection has to do with a high-powered businesswoman taking a lunch break from the boardroom to meet her built-like-a-Greek-god lover at a nearby hotel for a passionate turn between the sheets.  Hey, divas need love, too!  Just to reiterate, I design fashion pieces that allow a woman to seamlessly transition from 9 to 5 to cocktails after work and beyond.  This scenario would be one of those beyond moments.  Stay tuned as the collection and all its elements come together.

In other news, I'd like to thank you for helping my team and I reach our goal of garnering 250 Votes in Chase bank's Mission: Small Business initiative.  We have moved forward to the next level.  I am not sure what the next step is, but you can be assured that I will keep you in the loop.

Peace & Fashion!

When The Fake Fur Flies

Yes, it's true, I've been out of the blogging mix for awhile now.  And I've been quiet on purpose.  Frankly, I am just tired of writing about my money woes.  And my lack of money was heavy on my brain and my heart.  You just didn't need to read another post about it, because I know everybody's in the same proverbial boat.

Photo Courtesy of Richard Lew

I really relied on the universe to provide the pathway to eliminating my $8000 deficit for my samples.  I prayed, fasted, and meditated.  There were tears and a couple of sleepless nights.  In the end, the money came at the last minute from a resource that I have called on before.  Every door and window was shut, except this one and I am really grateful.  Just imagine if you had come to see my runway presentation and all I had to show were a couple of dresses and some really pretty drawings.  That's just not the look.

Photo Courtesy of Richard Lew

Photo Courtesy of Alec Turner



Ashanti in SK WiLBUR original
design with model
MariJo and Wilbur



Photo Courtesy of Richard Lew



Full Figured Fashion Week was an AWESOME experience.  It was validating for me as a designer and empowering to the hundreds of Curvies who descended upon NYC for the occasion.  It started with a "Meet The Press" Event for all of the designers.  All of the bloggers and people from the media got a chance to meet Ashanti and me up close and personal.  There were also PR people there from some of the cable networks.  We are looking to get more involved with TV.  There was an All White Attired Cruise around NYC, a fashion show at the Bloomingdale's flagship on 59th street, a networking party where I got to meet new people and reconnect with some of my industry friends, and then the Independent Designer's Runway Showcase where my pieces came down the runway.  It was all like a whirlwind.



Blogger Gaelle-Vanessa Prudencio
in a custom
SK WiLBUR look and Wilbur



But work is never-ending.  And I love it!  If you haven't heard, we're trying to get all of our friends on facebook to vote for SK WiLBUR at http://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/ so that we can become eligible for a $250,000 business grant from Chase.  If you haven't voted yet, please vote now.  And if you have friends on facebook, please urge them to vote for us, too. We're pretty close to the goal.

I have already begun work on my Spring 2013 collection.  The working title is "CLANDESTINY".  It's all about looking chic from day to evening, of course.  But I wanted my muse to be a little more vampy, sexier,  for that lunch break tryst.  Sounds scandalous, right?!  A lady's got to be prepared, no matter the circumstance.  If she's wearing SK WiLBUR, she always is.

That's it for now!  Don't forget to VOTE.  We'll chat soon.  I promise.

Peace & Fashion!

I LOVE EYE CANDY!

So it's time for the big reveal.  It's really just a preview of what's to come.  But I am so excited, I cannot keep it to myself any longer.  This is EYE CANDY by SK WiLBUR.

Since no man is an island, I must ackowledge my team for the wonderful job they did to bring my vision to fruition.  The models are Nicole Z., my mother Barbara, and my niece Samarra and my nephew Nile.  I cast myself as Wilbur "Wonka".  My make up artist, Lisa Warner, created the make up looks based on "The Hunger Games" and Old Hollywood photos.  My fashion stylist, Denardo Jenkins, gave suggestions that were inspired.  He also helped accessorize the models and the set as well.  My hairstylist, Michelle Swiney, went above and beyond the call of duty when she visited my mother to do the initial work on her hair two days prior and then was on set bright and early to touch her style up and create beautiful hair for Nicole and Samarra.  My cake stylist, Louisa Harris, unleashed her creativity to come up with two beautiful mock-up cakes for the shoot.  My cousin, Alicia, was my candy stylist who brought an assortment of sweets for display.  My sister, Ashanti, who is my right hand (sometimes my left) baked the cupcakes and was responsible for the Eye Candy posters.  She assisted everybody on set as well.  And lastly, my sister-in-law, Rebecca Rodriguez, who is the official photographer for SK WiLBUR - Sorta Kinda Enterprises, LLC always brings the heat with her trained eye and her incredible photoshop skills.

We almost never hear about the behind-the-scenes crew, but it's such an integral part of creating an image.  I love my team and I depend on them.  Let's continue to ROCK ON!

Peace & Fashion!

Sneak Peek

I feel like I am going to bust waiting for my Full-Figured Fashion Week debut.  I will be showing my collection for Fall 2012 on June 15 on the runway.  Here are a couple of photos I took during the fitting process that are sure to whet your appetite.  Have you bought your tickets, yet?  Click here to purchase them now!

Peace & Fashion!

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!