Celebrating In Style

My mother in her
"Birthday Suit"

This week the career takes a back seat as my siblings and I celebrate my mother's 70th birthday.  It's a huge occasion for us because many from both sides of my family have not lived long enough to see this age.  In fact, my great Aunt Edie who turns 80 next year and my mother are the only "chosen" ones so far.  To commemorate the celebration, I, of course, designed a dress for the old girl.  It will also be included in the Spring 2013 collection I am calling Clandestiny.  It's all color blocked saffron and marigold linen with a cotton ikat thrown in for good measure.  Here's a sneak peek and a lovely photo of the two eldest family members.  Stay tuned and I will keep you posted on all the festivities.

Peace & Fashion!

My mother and my Aunt Edie

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!