Gisela of my heart!

Girl Crush! Designer Crush! Crush! Crush! Crush!

F*ck Flattering is her motto, she designs around a signature bondage skirt and her collection is made of sheers and spandex. I LOVE Gisela Ramirez. I, tend to gravitate to the lady like side of dressing but can't help but want to rock the entire colletion! Sexy and sassy and without hesitation. It's all about the confidence, spirit and how you feel. Gisela must feel AMAZING!

Gisela herself rocking the sack dress. Fabulous.

The famous bondage skirt

I really need this shirt.

Mexico: Art, Craft, Passion

I find inspiration everywhere as does anyone engaged in the world. This weekend I spent much of my time at the Egyptian Theater for the MEXICAN CINEMA: GUADALAJARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN LOS ANGELES.

Botellita de Jerez back in the day

My favorite film was "Naco Es Chido" a smart mockumentary in which director Sergio Arau (A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN) revisits his old musical group Botellita de Jerez, pioneers of “guacarock” in the 1980s. Naco es Chido reflects a former album title and is a term that came to mean being Mexican is cool. Despite repression and quite a lot of political and social resistance Botellita's introduction of their brand of punk/cumbia/bluesy/rock n'roll to Mexico in the early 80's would pave the way for many "spanish rock" acts commonly known today. 

Fellow members of Botellita de Jerez co-star along with the fabulous Yareli Arizmendi,best known internationally for Like Water for Chocolate. She portrays the brainchild & manager of the band's reuniting 30 years later. Both Arau and Arizmendi appeared to speak at an industry panel and for a Q&A for the film showing. Not only are Arau and Arizmendi super talented, but super stylish as well, which brings me back as usual to my love of style and design, particularly when it comes to fashion. 

All images are from Taller Flora 2010

I recently discovered another Mexican artist true to roots but revolutionizing fashion through eco minded and ethical co-operatives with local communities practicing indigenous textile practices. Taller Flora, created by Carla Fernandez, literally translates to Workshop Flora which is exactly what it is. A traveling workshop working with local art coops of differing towns every two months and engaging in projects grown out of their collaboration. Taller Flora celebrates indigenous dressmaking techniques, while re-imagining the traditional. Resulting in timeless contemporary clothing.

 Erin Lewis for Taller Flora 2009

Fernandez' influence and utilization of indigenous Mexican craft are inspiring collaborations from other fashion designers in the industry. Erin Lewis created a menswear mini collection for Taller Flora after workshopping with Fernandez to mine the historical processes textile techniques. The results, as seen above, are pretty fabulous!

 Carla Fernadez' 2011 Ready to wear line.

Carla Fernandez' ready to wear line merges modern industrial manufacturing with craftsmanship.  Read more on Fernandez and Taller Flora in this interview: "Future Folk." Taller Flora serves the community, conserves resources and is high fashion.  Who says it cannot be done?

Field Trip: La Bomba in Long Beach!

Hello Darling Dolls! Sorry I have been away so long! I've been working hard making the Frida Collection and starting Bridal goodies for y'all! I had to share a recent field trip I had in Long Beach during the much hyped Carmaggedon here in Los Angeles (the weekend closure of a the 405 Freeway that connects the coast line from north of California to LAX airport).

Carmaggedon turned out to be pretty cool for a couple of reasons. Angelenos and Southern Californians stayed home! No crazy traffic neighbors interacting with each other and people operating on a very local scale for a change!

I however took advantage of the much locally hyped  $4 JetBlue "Over the 405" special promotion where there were two round trip flights between Long Beach Airport and Burbank Airport just north of Hollywood. My mom accompanied me on a short day trip to Long Beach for the hell of it! We had a very fab and fancy lunch at Gladstones followed by my mad dash to the famous 4th Street's vintage shopping!

I had heard the stories about La Bomba, but man oh man was I psyched to actually get there! Not only is this store impeccable, well organized, color coded and absolutely inviting in every way, the staff is Super cool, friendly and let's face it quite dashing!

 

Nothing excited me more than the fact that I actually happened upon La Bomba the one weekend a month that they have The Pile open in the back yard. Literally a small mountain of goodies that you sort through taller than me!

The proprieter requests that you remove your shoes to climb the pile, i was wearing a dress and just ill prepared but next time I will have my climbing gear!

Man oh man did i find some fabulous dresses and fabrics to SweetLeigh ReFashion for the Frida Collection! Stay tuned for fab millinery and accessories from my haul! In the meantime GO TO La Bomba! It is for lack of a better term, the Bomb!

New York State of Mind

fffweek by Vanessa Leigh on Polyvore

It's Finally hear dolls! Sonsi Full Figured Fashion Week! I am packing a bag and heading east for FFFWeek! Here's an idea of my clothing inspiration for the extra long fashion forward weekend. Comfort rules while attaining to remain chic while beating the heat! What do you think of my traveling wardrobe?


This month the positive body image advocate behind Vogue Curvy and editor of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani has put three plus sized models on the cover of the June issue of Vogue Italia. Models Candice Huffine, Robyn Lawley and Tara Lynn are showing off their curves in a gorgeous black and white lingerie shoot by Steven Meisel. Sozzani also currently has a campaign on the site against pro anorexia websites. I am grateful to such a healthy celebration of the female form in the world's dominant fashion magazine. Vogue Italia has had issues completely dedicated to Black models in 2008 and more recently provacative issues with controversial editorial shoots around the themes of rehab and the chase for youth through plastic surgery. Vogue Italia is easily the vanguard and representing fashion in a way that respects it as an art form. As we know art should be available to everyone. Let's hope couture and rtw by our favorite high end designers will be closely following Vogue Italia's lead when it comes to size acceptance. If Lanvin can tackle children's clothing they should certainly be able to consider full figured women as a potential market, as we are ready and willing.

I will arrive for a blogger's luncheon on the 18th and the Fashion Week Finale Fashion Show, and then look forward to three days of quality time with one of my favorite cities! Of course a trip to NYC would not be complete without a trip to the Metropolitan Museum for the Alexander McQueen Exhibit.

I'll also be spying for my major fashion crush Daphne Guinness and checking out the famous Re/Dress NYC in the flesh. I suspect a mini spree wll be in tow this trip.


Social Media is an amazing thing. Two months ago I did not know that there was such a thing as Full Figured Fashion Week.  How awesome is this small social media world of ours that I'm looking forward to meeting in the flesh people who have already inspired me to change my life and pursue my dreams by their mere existence. It is a beautiful thing! If you are in NYC and would like to touch base send me a line! To a fabulous month darlings!

Grease

Grease by Vanessa Leigh featuring ASOS

Aso
$46 - asos.com

Day dresses-eShakti.com
$60 - eshakti.com






Alright Darlings! It's getting tot hat time where I have to decided what to wear to Grease! The above are my option inspirations. Obviously I tend toward the sweet but love a pink ladie in any incarnation. Opinions?

Growing Pains

All Swimsuits by Monif C.

It's been a few weeks since I last checked in and a lot has been going on. I have updated my resume, assessed my debt, been doing tons of research on starting a business. I have also been coveting the Monif C swimsuit above and evaluating myself.


This Monif C. Swimsuit screams Metropolis meets Barbarella poolside glamah! Monif C is a genius, obviously. Completng the vision of beauty is a curvy full figured model with an ideal hourglass figure. The model in this image, may not be a Victoria's Secret model but lately as far as i'm concerned she might as well be. Cause my fabulous curvy body doesn't look like this!

I have recently been inundated with the concepts and practices of "the secret," or the law of attraction; the practice of keeping your intentions at the forefront of your heart and mind. In putting your fullest positive attention to what you want in your life, the universe will respond and opportunities will present themselves to you for the taking.

Ah there's the rub. The taking. All of the skill, charm, charisma and talent in the world may never lead to success if you have no confidence. In recent months my confidence has taken quite a blow. Although i have had a fairly good self image most of my life it has been in combat with my body image at different times in my life.

Lately the battle has become a tug of war. My healthy ego has been losing out to my growing belly and thighs in the wake of some major life transitions. Me and my self esteem have been given a wake up call. I'm getting fatter, and with every pound my confidence is waning. It's day to day whether my skills, talents and charms are leading the way or my body image is.


Which brings up some major questions for me how committed am i to changing my body? How much do i believe i can change my body? How much do i want to change my body? Substitute the word body for life at will. All of this being said I strongly identify as a "plus size woman" or a "big beautiful woman (bbw)" or a curvy full figured woman. All of these identifiers are external labels and as much political as about self acceptance. Lets face it, acceptance should be unconditional for all in theory, self acceptance should be a right, but it's not so simple.

A friend of mine has started using something I said to her once ,when she was in a body low place, as a mantra. She has inspired me to use my own words as a mantra. "I love my body and everyone else's too." Another mantra i've come up with is "leggo my ego."


Now I am as vain as the next girl, but when it comes to my weight - being fit and healthy really is my priority. I believe that healthy comes in many sizes and i am on a journey of reaching all of my goals. One of which is a healthy body which at its most fit is full and curvy and yes i believe beautiful. 

There is a part of me that is thrilled for Jennifer Hudson's weight loss, but shocked that she is continuing to shrink. Horrified but not surprised when she recently admitted that people "treat her better" now that she's thin jennifer hudson.


Keeping your eyes on the prize and holding that vision of what it is you want for yourself, for the people you love and the world at large can be difficult.


Over the last year I have come to some difficult realizations about my behavior, habits and commitment issues. These realizations are difficult but amazing. I'm scared straight, freaking out, and excited as hell at the thought of all to come.


The task at hand is to keep learning how to manage these growing pains of mine. Physically, mentally and emotionally.


xo, 
V