Dream On

Last night was the opening for Lonette McKee's show Can't Help Lovin' at the Algonquin Hotel.  My family and I took our seats in The Oak Room around 8 p.m. and I began to get giddy with excitement.    It was really happening.  I'd designed an outfit for Patti LaBelle years ago, but I never got a chance to see her wear it.  This was going to be the first time that I would witness a celebrity actually wearing one of my looks.  It was almost surreal.

Before the show was about to begin, I excused myself from the table to go to the restroom. And I was hoping to see if Lonette was waiting in the wings.  Then I saw her, standing in the hotel lobby preparing to enter the show space to begin her set.  She asked, "Oh Wilbur, did you come out here to check on me?"  "Absolutely," I lied only partially.  She confessed that she'd had difficulty weaving the grosgrain ribbon through the button holes on her french cuffed shirt.  I immediately went to work threading the cuffs with the ribbon.  It took about 15 minutes before I had the perfect bow!  And then I had to return to my table because the show was about to begin.  Oh well, my bathroom break would have to come after the show!  It didn't matter.  My bladder issues took a backseat to Lonette's stage presence and the way she carried me and the rest of her audience on a journey through song of some of her greatest moments in show business.  Songs from her films "Sparkle", "Round Midnight", and "Cotton Club" were pitch perfect fabulous and a couple of Billie Holliday faves were arranged in such a way that breathed new life into them.  She also sang a few songs that she had written over the years and when her musical director Bette Sussman joined her at the piano for one selection it was an awe-inspiring moment that I will never forget.  I never would have thought as a little boy of 9 years old that I would grow up and work with this woman from the silver screen whose beauty I dreamed about for so many nights.  This was a wish fulfilled.  And I hope there are many more dreams that turn into reality to come my way.

Peace & Fashion!

Vitamin Me

I have always held myself to an incredibly high standard.  My feeling is: If I'm not going to do my absolute best, then there is no point in me doing it at all.  Yet, lately, despite my best efforts, I feel like I am falling short.  I have promised to write in my online journal regularly, but I have not.  It is with the best intentions that I start my week promising to get back to my exercise regimen and start eating right so I can drop some of these unwanted pounds, but I have not committed to climbing out of bed at 4 a.m. so I can get to the gym before I head for the plantation.  And by the middle of the day, I am so frustrated that I just want to head over to Dunkin' Donuts and buy a half dozen of those chocolate glazed cake donuts.  And at 320 calories a pop, that kind of behavior is just really counterproductive - to say the least.

The truth of the matter is that I have just not been motivated.  With the holidays here and me trying desperately to stretch my dollars to make sure that there are gifts under the tree for my loved ones, I have become increasingly disgusted by my financial situation.  And I do not want to pour that kind of energy into this blog.  Earlier this year I wrote that I was only giving myself one more year to make a go out of Sorta Kinda Enterprises.  And after the less-than-stellar reception by retailers of my spring collection, I am feeling disconnected from my dream and beginning to wonder if this may very well be the end of an era that was filled with some triumphs, but mostly struggles.  I have almost always felt certain about my path in fashion - like the universe had called me to this career.  And although I have not yet counted myself out, I cannot help but start to wonder after 12 years if I have been on some crazy vanity ride.  I told my sister, Ashanti, who is also one of my partners in fashion crime that I have been put in a place of total surrender.  In the past, I have done everything outside of magic tricks to keep up the momentum of getting the Wilbur brand off the ground.  Any one who has known me during the last decade and change, knows that it's the truth.  But at this point, the well has run dry of all resources.  So as my church folks say, "I've got to let go and let God."  To that end, we are working with Nakeisha Jennings of Prime Planners who does brand building and raises money through corporate sponsorships.  She has quite a Rolodex at her fingertips and I am praying that she is the key to finishing and presenting my fall 2011 collection "Eye Candy" this coming March.



Wilbur & Kitty Kat are all smiles at the wedding reception of A & R



My dream has sustained me all these years.  Fashion saved me from a life without purpose.  And whatever the outcome, I know that there is something better around the bend.  I am wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.  I am going to take a moment and revitalize my spirit and try to refresh myself so that I can be better prepared for this part of my fashion crusade.  See you in 2011!

Peace & Fashion!

Over The Rainbow

Ugghh! It is hot and it's making me feel very lazy! But as I assess everything that I have done this summer, individually and collectively with my partners in fashion crime, I realize that there is just no rest for the weary. And like the energizer bunny, I just keep goin' and goin'. Deep down, it is my fear of not reaching my goals that propels me forward. I have learned that I gotta make my fear work for me. And as an entrepreneur, I've learned to be especially proactive. I've already sketched my collection for fall 2010. I know you're probably saying to yourself that I must be crazy. After all, we just hired Marla, our sales professional, to get the inaugural spring collection into stores. But when you are working on the tightest budget this side of Fashion Avenue, you've got to plan your spending well in advance. And it is essential that we not run out of money. Fall 2010 sketches have elements of the subtly masculine and the overtly feminine because that dichotomy is just so provocative. And it can be kinda sexy, too. Whoever said sex sells knew what they were talking about. In addition, Ashanti and I have just re-designed our business cards. Ashanti is the wizard of illustrator and photoshop. Well, if I'd only had the skills. Maybe the wizard can give me some? Enough of channeling Dorothy for now! Serosh and Ashanti and I have just completed the updated version of our executive summary to reflect our new business direction. Having a document as a point of reference helps us to remain focused with our eyes on the prize. Plus, we are going to submit it to someone who will hopefully point us in the direction of raising a little working capital. That's the kind of wizard I'd like to meet. Now if I could just get my size 12 feet into these damn ruby slippers. . .

Peace & Fashion!

All That Glitters Is Not Fashion Gold

How many times have you invested in something or someone only later to find out that he/she/it was not what you expected? You had, in fact, been bamboozled - hoodwinked - misled. Well, my fashion followers, that recently happened to me. One of the seamstresses that I hired for my biggest project ever swears that she is the product of a couturier from Thailand and blessed with a gift for clothing construction. She also claims to have worked closely with Marc Bouwer, a designer known for his clingy, sensuous gowns that have graced the backs of R-n-B divas like Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, and Patti LaBelle. Her expertise clearly went out the window while working with me because I got shoddy, unfinished workmanship and a poor fit. But thankfully I quickly recovered after realizing that I had been handed a chunk of fashion fool's gold. I called on some of my trusted tailors that I have been able to forge strong working relationships with and they went to work immediately and aborted a major disaster from happening. What has resulted is cocktail dresses that are as pristine on the inside as they are on the outside. And I am just blessed to be in the esteemed company of such gentlemen. Today was one of the last fittings with Valencia, the goddess. This journey has been a revelation and a lesson in resilience. And it has also provided me with a great opportunity to meet some really gifted and talented dressmakers. I look forward to working on many projects with the quiet dynamo, Alaina. And my Hispanic posse of tailors whom Valencia has dubbed The 252 Crew has been patient and proven themselves time and time again. I can forge ahead next season knowing that these people have got my back creatively. Sometimes you can make the wrong turn and discover that you've actually struck pure gold.

Peace & Fashion!