Nashville’s Disabled Fashion Ambassador and Changemaker Extraordinaire. Executive Director of Nashville Nonprofit Fashion is for Every Body
Several weeks ago I attended the grand opening of Toyos Eye Clinic's Green Hills location. Guests were treated to sumptuous bites from The Chef and I and a fashion show featuring some gorgeous, high-end frames. What really made me want to share their story with you is their dedication to the patient as a person. I was very impressed with the work Toyos does to ensure people, locally and worldwide, have access to quality care.
Read MoreLast week I did something I haven't done since I was 28 years old. I had a birthday party. Only three people showed up for my 28th birthday party, so I assumed only a handful would show up this time, too. I seriously underestimated my wonderful friends. When it was all said and done about 20 people came out to celebrate with me.
Read MoreI spend a lot of my time watching models strike poses at runway shows and photo shoots. Most of them are now friends of mine, as are the designers that create the pieces that float down the runways or end up on the pages of magazines.It's hard work, and they deserve a lot of credit for what they do. But what I do when I'm out among them is just as hard, and I'd like to explain why.
Read MoreThis year's Sunnyband Spring Fashion Bash was an exercise in Girly-Girl Power with a dash of Prince Charming thrown in for good measure. After the cold, cruel Winter everyone was ready to put on their best Spring frock and don a whimsical Sunnyband to watch the runway shows at Play Dance Bar.
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.
Read MoreThe details for the final runway show for Nashville Fashion Week 2015 have been finalized. On Friday night at the Bi-Centennial Mall Ampitheater Ready-to-wear designers, including Michael Magnone of Circle of Gentlemen, Lagi Nadeau of Lagi Nadeau, Megan Huntz, Alfredo Bove of Religion and Vanderbilt graduate, Timo Weiland of Timo Weiland. You can get tickets to this event here: http://wls.io/hrENuDI. This year Krystle Ramos of Pura Vida Vintage and Tiffany herself at Tiffany's Boutique selected numerous pieces for me to wear to every single event.
Read MoreToday is Spashionista's birthday. Seriously, it's not an April Fool's joke; the blog turns three today. I am very, very proud of several things that Spashionista has accomplished so far. It's safe to say that I've raised awareness of curvy, 50+ women with disabilities. Pura Vida Vintage reopened last week in a new, wheelchair accessible location, and you can expect to see me in lots of Pura Vida Vintage pieces, expertly altered to fit me by Only One Tailoring. In fact, if all goes well, next week you'll see me in vintage from several local shops. Speaking of which, many of you are having trouble finding the links to Nashville Fashion Week. I'll try to simplify it for you in this post
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