Valentina = Fabulous!

On Thursday, February 12, I went to the opening of Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity, an exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York.

Valentina Nicholaevna Sanina Schlee - known simply as Valentina - was a fashion pioneer. Never coming out with a line of clothing for the mainstream, she would only do couture pieces for women who best represented what the name Valentina was about. She had a customer base of 2,000 women which included illustrious ladies like Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Gertrude Lawrence and members of the Whitney and Vanderbilt families. Honey, she was fabulous!

While there, SK Wilbur and I bumped into people like the very elegant Amy Fine Collins, who was the the muse for the late, extraordinarily talented designer Geoffrey Beene. We also spotted Mary McFadden, a fashion designer who is known for much more than just fashion. SK Wilbur had a brief conversation with Gene Meyer, a menswear designer who now creates home furnishings and across the room we noticed Hamish Bowles, the style editor of Vogue magazine.

I couldn't help but notice that her classic, chic, effortless style was so similar to SK Wilbur's. When I asked him about it - he didn't even know who she was or that he was channeling her with almost every design of his! With both their styles being easy yet chic with attention to detail it really was both uncanny and fantastic. For any and all of you fellow fashionistas out there - this is a must see. Not only will you be inspired by her timeless style, you'll want SK Wilbur to make you one of his "channeled" pieces.

Love Life, Love Fashion!

Fashion, UN-Fashion and the In Between

Hey ya'll...

I am on a mission. I am trying to find ways to incorporate fashion into each of my diary entries. And because fashion permeates some facet of my everyday life, it really shouldn't be that difficult. WRONG! Just because I am the Diva-at-Large, doesn't mean that I don't come down with a case of the banal and routine blues. So this week I dug deep into my fabulicious soul and came up with some interesting topics that could be considered fashionable or NOT.

UN-fashionable - Reefer bongs and gold medals just don't mix. The controversy concerning marijuana use continues. Its effect on the body and whether or not it should be legal are still debatable points. But the fact is, weed is still considered an illegal drug in all cases but cancer treatment. Note to Michael Phelps: Although you've won 8 Olympic gold medals and may feel like you are impervious to scrutiny over little things like smokin' the pipe, you're really not! Just ask my friends at Kellogg's.

Fashionable - Congratulations, Ms. Jennifer Hudson. I am proud like you're my family! You taught the world how to be resilient after tragedy strikes. And you won your first Grammy for the Best R&B Album with grace, elegance and as always humility. And your SuperBowl rendition of the national anthem was off the hook! Go on, Girl!

"Whatever floats your boat" Fashion - God bless the woman who recently gave birth to octuplets. I'm anxious about having one! But then I found out she already had six other children at home! All I know is that I am going to send positive thoughts to those babies, because they are going to have to rely on a higher power (and a community) to survive the madness that will ensue once they come home from the hospital.

P.S.: Forgive my ignorance, but who is Robert Plant and Alison Krauss? Either way, congratulations to you too!

Love Life, Love Fashion!!

Out & About During NY Fashion Week

Hey ya'll! New York Fashion Week begins next Friday, February 13th (ooooo!) and while I wish upon a star that I'm invited to a show, I will be attending another event of great efforts.

Remember when I brought you news of SK Wilbur participating in the Supima Cotton runway competition? Well, the evening gown that was designed for that contest will be auctioned off at a charity event for the MacDella Cooper Foundation. I am very excited because I will be wearing an original SK Wilbur designed gown which makes me the "living model" for the auctioned piece!

The MacDella Cooper Foundation is trying to raise $500,000.00 to build a school for orphaned and abandoned children in Liberia. Here at SK Wilbur, we support worthwhile causes and believe in positivity and being fabulicious and spreading that love. So while we are spreading the love and raising money for this wonderful event, please pray for my feet. That's right, my feet! This past Saturday I had a fitting which included me wearing the potential shoes so we could make a decision about dress length. And my feet were KILLING me. So you know what's happening to them - they are going right back to Macy's where they came from. I've heard that sometimes we ladies have to suffer for pain, but that kind of pain seems unnecessary. And if worse comes to worse and I cannot find the perfect shoes, I will be wearing my house slippers. Can you imagine - the Diva-At-Large in perfect MAC make-up, luxurious denim gown and house slippers? SK Wilbur would not be happy, but I will still be a diva - always and forever! I am sure we will work this out and the evening will be a huge success, but I will have some kind of backup in my purse. And in the meantime, I will keep you posted. Stay tuned.

Love Life, Love Fashion!

Individualize Your Look

Party 2009!

The Diva-at-Large is experiencing an unfortunate pc (personal computer) meltdown, which can mean only one thing. This week you are stuck with me, SK Wilbur, your self-appointed fashion guru. Now just before the Diva went offline, we discussed topics for her latest entry in her diary. Admittedly, we love keeping you current on fashion news and sharing what is popping up on our style radar. But we wanted to focus on something, dare I say, bigger this week. I’m sure you ask yourself, “What could be bigger than fashion?” In one word –PARTIES! I am specifically referring to the party happening today in Washington D.C. also known as Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration. Ain’t nothing like a great party. And this is the party of the millennium that all of us can celebrate. This party’s purpose marks a new era in American history that signifies a shift in the paradigm. We as a people, whatever our ethnicity or color or age, can dream bigger and more vividly without boundaries because now we truly know that with hard work and dedication our dreams will come true. If that is not a reason to party then I don’t know what is. So now we would like to hear from you. Write back and tell us what this presidency means to you. And let us know how you spent this Inauguration Tuesday. Even if you aren’t mixing it up with the political glitterati in D.C., no need to keep it low-key. Break open that bottle of champagne, put on something festive, and toast the television. And don’t forget to invite a few friends over to share in this life-changing moment. True equality has never been so fashionable!

Peace & Fashion!

2009 - I Am Still Fabulicious!

Hello 2009!

Happy New Year! The Diva-at-Large is back! I hope all of you had a wonderful and safe holiday.

I know that it is common practice to make New Year's resolutions, but as a rule I don't. I am the type of person who prefers to set yearly goals. I feel like I have more of a chance of accomplishing them than if I "resolve" to do something. Maybe it is just semantics. But for me, it is much more mental. Last year, I accomplished five out of ten personal goals. I am pleased with the results! It's mine in 2009, so this year my goals include leading a healthier lifestyle, paying off debt, going on vacation, and saving money. Wheww! All this in just 12 months. I would love to hear some of your resolutions or goals, if you will, for 2009. Please post the ones you'd like to share as comments and we can discuss them, no matter how lofty.

Also, this year This Is My Life is going in a new direction so stay tuned for more in your face Diva-At-Large fashion advice and opinions.

Whatever this new year brings you, I know you will be fabulous!

Love Life, Love Fashion!