Douglas Says Launches his PLUS U Collection...

GREETINGS GOOD PEOPLE!

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the launch of designer Douglas Says collection named Plus U.

If you're not familiar with Douglas Says he's a fabulous designer who makes pieces for the plus size woman. He uses bold colors and graphics and luxurious fabrics that hug all the right curves on a curvy woman's physique.


The launch was held at Escuelita in New York City. Douglas pulled together some of the hottest runway models in the New York and New Jersey area, and it was quite a treat to see my beautiful curvy divas strut their stuff on the runway. There were also some notable faces in the audience, such as legendary model/author Barbara Summers, designer JustRaymona, makeup artists Byron Barnes, Kevin McQueen, Angelo Ellerbee (the man who's responsible for the transformation of Mary J. Blige - y'all remember Mary when she first stepped on the scene), Gwen DeVoe of DeVoe Signature Events and DSE-TV (does "The Mogul" ever sleep?), and the one & only Audrey Smaltz, whose "Ground Crew" helped backstage and enabled the show to run without a hitch.

Although the show lasted only 20 minutes the pieces shown in the collection were fabulous. They were full of vibrant colors and clung to the body like a second skin. Matter of fact, I'm ordering my dress now!

To get more information on Douglas Says go to www.myspace.com/douglassays , or his website, http://douglassaysplusu.vpweb.com/

A special thanks to Harmonica Sunbeam, who hosted the event after the collection launch. You keep serving, and buy me some sweet tea with those dollar bills!

Pix from the event:

Vogue Italia...The Black Issue

I'm sure all the savvy fashionistas have purchased the July issue of Italian Vogue. This issue is poised to be their best selling issue ever. It sold so many copies they had to publish a second printing (which is what I purchased). It was sold out in so many areas they were selling on eBay for $100 and up!

As I perused the magazine from cover to cover, I made a few observations and some may agree (and disagree) with me, and here they are:

1. If this was the "Black Issue" why did all the advertisements feature European (read:white) models? Some say that Black ads don't do as well as white ones but I disagree with that.

2. I know that Vogue Italia couldn't get all the legendary Black models, but where were MOUNIA, BEVERLY PEELE, BEVERLY JOHNSON, AND NAOMI SIMS!? That was a glaring oversight on their part, and who knows, maybe they had prior commitments. They are a big part of history, particularly Beverly Johnson, who was the first Black model on U.S. Vogue.

3. The Naomi Campbell layout was quintessential Naomi. I'm sorry, with all her public battles she's still THE ONE!!!

4. Toccara's layout was different. I'm glad they included a plus size model in the issue.

And last but not least:

I COULDN'T READ IT BECAUSE IT WAS IN ITALIAN!!!

Overall, I give it a B+. This issue is a true collectors item. You definitely want to purchase this issue, history has been made.

U.S. Vogue, it's time for an American "Black" issue, let's get to it.

Here are all 4 covers: