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!

It's A Wonderful Life

Sometimes I feel like I am writing more about my disappointments instead of my triumphs. My frustration with some of my setbacks is palpable, to be sure. Yet, I wake up each morning blessed that I have another opportunity to move toward my goals.

A few days ago, Plus-Sized Supermodel, Mia Amber Davis, died suddenly as the result of a blood clot after undergoing minor knee surgery. She was only 36 years old. I met her a couple of years ago when she was the moderator for Queens Fashion Week. I was still designing dresses for the 0-12 sized woman. She met me backstage before the show to learn a little about me, so that she could polish up her introduction. After she had asked all the pertinent questions and looked over my rack of samples, she looked me in the eye and queried, “What about us plus size girls? Where are the dresses for us?” Although I had always planned on designing a line for the fuller woman, I’d put it off because I thought that my road to success began with straight sizes and I was still struggling to make a name for myself. I answered her, “I’ve gotta crawl before I can walk, but I promise it’s coming.” She gave me a look like she only half believed me and nodded her head saying, “Okay,” before she moved on to learn about the other designers in the show. A year later when I presented my inaugural collection for the curvy woman, I invited her to attend. We hugged and kissed before I told her, “See, I did it.” She smiled approvingly and told me that she thought I had done a great job.

Mia was a trailblazing force in the curvy community and by example she demonstrated that beauty and poise come in a variety of sizes. She kicked down doors and excelled as an actress starring in the film Road Trip, TV producer, and the creative editor-at-large for the premier online publication Plus Model Magazine. An inspiration to me and countless others, Mia’s life exemplified what it means to live your life to the fullest. She was happily married and she was loved by her family and by an industry that idolized her for her beauty, but embraced her for her kindness. Hers truly was a wonderful life.

Peace & Fashion!

Like A Great Bra



Wilbur, Dee Dee, & Ashanti at WWD book signing party.



I may be experiencing some issues with finding a distribution channel so that my dresses are available for women living outside of New York City.  But I refuse to dwell on what I do not yet have and instead focus on what must be done next.  I am impassioned by my efforts to bring more fashion to the curvy woman and I know that the universe is creating a pathway for that to happen.  In the meantime, I press forward and rely heavily on my circle of sisters, the wonderful women who comprise the curvy fashion community and nurture my creativity and support me emotionally.



Keicia Derry wears WILBUR.  Photo: Jeff Fasano



On Monday afternoon, I had lunch with Tara Taylor. A makeup artist with limitless talent, I'd spotted her work posted on facebook.  Talk about beautiful!  I was awestruck.  And she is more lovely as a person than her skills could ever be.  We officially met at the 5 year anniversary celebration for another plus designer, Monif C., a couple of weeks ago.  And I told her that I just had to have her share her talents on my next project.  And so she's agreed to collaborate as I prepare my collection for Fall 2011.  But more than the work, Ms. T was there with assurance to let me know that, despite my less-than-stellar showing with Bloomingdale's, there is a plan and I just have to remain steadfast and focused.  After our 3-hour afternoon chat fest, I felt like there was a renewed sense of hope.  And for that I was grateful.



Wilbur & The Curvy Fashionista - Marie Denee



During our meeting, Tara informed me that The Curvy Fashionista, a blogger who'd written a lovely post about me a little over a month ago, was going to be in town.  I begged her to arrange a face-to-face meeting since The Curvy Fashionista, nee Marie Denee is west coast based and I wasn't sure when the next opportunity might arise.  Tara, who is connected to everybody fabulous in the curvy community, reached out to Madeline Figueroa-Jones, the founder and the creative mind behind the online glossy Plus Model Magazine.  It just so happens that the ladies along with Alissa, Ms. Stylish Curves herself, were all together for a style symposium hosted by Just My Size.  So before they made their way to dinner, I made my way to their hotel where we chatted and had a love fest.  It was just an awesome experience to be in the company of these positive curvy role models.  And feeding off their energy just inspires and motivates me.

So this group of women is really like a great bra.  Their support makes me look good and I look forward to a relationship where I do the same for them.

Peace & Fashion!