Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Fall 2011
My week began with the expected chaos plus some surprises. Who would have thought that the night before I was to catch my flight to New York that a snow storm would hit Little Rock, Arkansas of all places! By Wednesday God had majestically sprinkled the city with 6-7 inches of beautiful white snow. The kids loved it because as usual they were not aware of the disaster that could be accumulating outside for mommy. Though I should have, I didn't panic.
Between you and me, I was 4 days away from debuting my fall 2011 collection and two of the strongest pieces lacked the details that made me say, "Ahhhh, it is done." The Fall/Winter 2011 collection is inspired by by my love for Godiva chocolates. Therefore this one had to be perfect! I absolutely love Godiva chocolates! I even carry a Godiva card in my purse. Lol. Imagine the utter elation that I experienced when Godiva signed on as an official sponsor for the Romás Fall 2011 Presentation.
One of the down sides to being a designer in Little Rock is the lack of resources. No where no how was I going to find a Godiva gold invisible zipper in Little Rock! I used the extra time that God saw fit to allow me to not sleep for nearly 2 days and perfect the last minute details. Friday morning I boarded the flight to New York, zipper less finale dress and all. No worries....I told myself that whatever was meant to be on that runway would be there.
Honestly, there are still times that I will almost doubt myself. Seriously, I am sewing these garments with my very own hands, not shipping them off to be carefully constructed by a manufacturer. Which leads me to wonder if I can really stack up to major conglomerates in the industry. Welllll....we shall soon find out because I'll never give up on this gift that God instilled in me.
New York.....I hit the ground running. Literally dropped my bags in the room and went to approve the space and began my fittings. (still running on 2hours of sleep in 2days) When Mood fabrics opened on Saturday, I was waiting. Yay! I got my Godiva gold invisible zipper and some extras. Zipper in hand I rushed off to rent a machine to sew it in. No such luck! :(But God had this moment covered the first time that I showed in New York. The hours are ticking and I decided to stay up that night and hand stitch the zipper in. I finished at 4am but wasn't close to being satisfied with sending the finale dress out with the possibilities of a mishap on the runway.
February 13, 2011 11:00am.......The show was starting in 6 hours and Oh yeah, the dress is without the zipper again because I'd ripped it out. I had to get that finale dress on the runway. "What am I gonna do Lord," i asked. And then it hit me, I'd met Marcy, broadway actress/singer last season and became a great friends. She'd shared her love for sewing as a hobby. Sooo a quick call to Marcy and her husband drops off a machine at the hotel. But by now I have 2 hours to put in an invisible zipper perfectly and then prepare myself! This was a reality series unfolding before my eyes. Was the dress gonna make it? Would I actually be on time for one of the biggest nights of my life?
In an instance, I felt my mother's faith rise up in me. I felt my brother, my sisters, my children, believing that I could do everything that God had destined for me and I started sewing on Marcy's beautiful vintage machine.
Ok, it's 4:00pm quicker than I could blink, the phone was ringing like crazy. The press had started showing up already and the show wasn't set to start until five. I snapped on a beautiful necklace that I'd been given for my birthday. It bears the birthstones of my parents and makes me feel as though they are sharing that moment with me. I inhale a deep breathe. "I'm ready." The elevator door closes and I know that once that door opens it all would come to a long awaited climax.
I'd soon find out if the months of sewing, the sleepless nights, the stressing, and praying was going to work in my favor.
I always knew that when I stepped into this world I’d have to be able to deal with criticism as well as praise. I knew I was opening myself up to be rejected or accepted beyond my belief. My life, who I am has prepared me for this moment since I was 2 years. I smiled as Karen, my right hand for the night, assured me that I was all good and the doors opened to much more than I'd expected....
TO BE CONTINUED
Fashionably yours,
Linda
Wow... with only two hours to spare you managed to sew the zipper in and get dress. I would have been a nervous reck Linda. However, I know you very well my dear friend. You do your best work under pressure!! I can't wait to read part two but I aleady know that the finalie dress was amamzing........
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