Nashville’s Disabled Fashion Ambassador and Changemaker Extraordinaire. Executive Director of Nashville Nonprofit Fashion is for Every Body
It's been an eventful year so far. If you've been following me on social media you know that I've spent the bulk of the last four months having a lot of damage to my eyes fixed by the amazing staff at Toyos Clinic. More on that - because it has forever changed my life for the better - soon. This time it's all about how to look fabulous for all six days of Nashville Fashion Week 2017 without breaking the bank to do it.
Read MoreNashville Fashion is more than just a week. It's a daily celebration of our city and the designers that create and show here. I'm going to spend the Summer showing off Nashville's fashion shows and events - and, hopefully convincing you to help me make my own inclusive fashion show a reality this Fall. Today I'm featuring opening night of Nashville Fashion Week: East Meets West, with designers from London, Georgia, Missouri and New York
Read MoreNashville Fashion Week is April 5-9 and I'm excited to be a part of it for the third year in a row. Tickets are still available for individual events, purchase your tickets here. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to get highlights from each night's runways as they happen. If you can't make it to Nashville Fashion Week you can still shop Music City's boutiques and artisans to get what is becoming an iconic Nashville Boho vibe. In case you've been wondering where I've been, I'm getting ready for a big announcement about a personal project that is near and dear to my heart and will have a big impact on the fashion community. Come back on April 11th for the full story.
Read MoreThe outfit, is basic, classic and neutral. That doesn't mean it's frumpy or boring. Neither am I, nor am I brave, lazy, or an opportunist because of my disability. These are perceptions that need to change. This is the year we change Nashville's perceptions about people with disabilities in a big, big way. I'm cooking something up, and I'll tell you all about it right after Nashville Fashion Week. Speaking of which, do you have your all-access pass yet? If not, get it here.
Read MoreI wasn't going to write about David Bowie. Not here, anyway; I figured it would just be overkill. There comes a point where too much attention, too much emotion is desensitizing. But there are tangible reasons why so many were moved by his passing. One of my friends wrote on Facebook, "He was more important than the music; he gave us permission to be unusual and be proud of it". Another observed that we mourn not because we knew him, but because he helped us to know ourselves. As someone who is unusual by default and not by choice, those words really resonate with me.
Read MoreIf you ever scoffed at the idea of "must have" garments (like I once did) this outfit should change your mind. I got all three pieces from one of my favorite shops, Couture for a Cause - which means half of the profits went towards local charities. The reason I got dressed up in the first place was to attend the early kickoff party for Nashville Fashion Week 2016 at 5th and Taylor. The dates for the 2016 shows were announced, as was the call for applicants for next year's regional Emerging Designer and 2015 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund.
Read MoreSomeone recently described me as "well-connected". The world is well aware that people with disabilities exist and Nashville is certainly aware that I exist. The difference between just existing and really living lies in engagement. It is only in engaging others that the disability starts to disappear and the focus shifts to how we can connect as human beings. Only engagement can lead to genuine inclusion. I prefer to think of myself as being connected to some incredibly good people because I had the courage to engage them, and they had the character to reciprocate. Here are some of these extraordinary, fashionable people hanging out with me during Nashville Fashion Week
Read MoreThe second week of April Nashville celebrated it's fourth Fashion Week - and, thanks to all of you, I was there to see it all. I have a lot to say about the designers I met, the friends I made, and the runway shows and events. But first we're going to talk about what I wore to the events. This year I had to come up with seven evening and two daytime looks. Fortunately, this year I had a lot of help. Three vintage boutiques, numerous accessory artisans and a gifted tailor saw to it that I looked like a million dollars all week long. Let me show you what I had the honor of wearing to Nashville Fashion Week 2015.
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