How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Vacation may be the wrong word because I don't feel very rested.

I spent the majority of my Summer working on Fashion is for Every Body/Empower Tennessee's Boundless fashion show, which took place on September 9th. This year I dreamt a little bigger and those dreams manifested beautifully. Everyone we worked with, be they vendors, swag providers, models, volunteer staff or sponsors, all did their part to make it a memorable evening. Studio 615 was my dream venue and securing it was a major reason for the show's success. We will be back there next year on September 8th so mark your calendars now. 

Wearing jewelry by Sue Surdi Designs. Photo by Searcy Studios.

With Laura Citron wearing Opium Vintage. Photo by Searcy Studios

Wearing Ola Mai. Photo by Patrick Webster

Wearing Catland Forever. Photo by Annette McNamara

With Caitlin Stolley wearing Lily Guilder. Photo by Pixlreflections.

I'm also working on a brand new website for Fashion is for Every Body which will have photos from this year's show as well as information about the other projects we do throughout the year. All of our photos, videos, information and online store will be on the site. I'll let you know as soon as it drops. The FIFEB staff are working hard to implement some new ideas in 2018 and we can't wait for you to see them.

I've been doing some styling and consulting about the future of diversity in fashion. Non-sample-sized and those with disabilities, there's hope. The fashion industry and their marketing consultants are hearing you loud and clear. They know you want more choices. They know you're sick of spandex, modal and fast-fashion. Wheelchair people, they know you exist and you need adaptive garments that don't look geriatric or cost three times as much as non-adaptive pieces. 

And I'm sitting on a diverse sizing/diverse ad campaign for a local near and dear to me and a review for a revolutionary fashion-friendly tool for people with disabilities - but I can't tell you anything else yet.

 I even got to talk a little bit about my whole journey into fashion-awareness on WSM radio, which broadcasts right out of the Opryland Hotel.  It was such a wonderful experience I hope they'll have me back someday.

So that's why you're not seeing many posts on the blog. There's only so much I can do and, even then, it's really important to reiterate that if it weren't for my better half Clint, the hard work and dedication of the Fashion is for Every Body staff, and a few faithful friends I wouldn't have accomplished 90% of what's listed above.

I'm mentioning this because today is World Cerebral Palsy Day (for the rest of you. For me it's every day.) and having a disability like CP can greatly affect someone's life in an adverse way. In my case, and at my age, it is not regressive - which has actually been an incentive of sorts. For a long time I let it and my critics limit what I would do, until one day I realized I wanted to find out exactly what I could do. I still need help with almost everything, but I won't back down until I've done a little good in this world (yes, that's a Tom Petty reference. He lived a great life. I could do much worse).

If you'd like to know more about my take on Cerebral Palsy and how it's affected my life you can read my interview with Consumer Safety.Org here