Fashion, Fat, and the Power of a Pair of Shorts...

I think I first learned the power of clothing as a young teen, when a group of my teen peers descended on my house after a long bike ride in the New England summer heat. I offered cold juice and water and a few pairs of shorts to the girls, an innocent desire to share refreshment and clean clothes. One of the girls accepted a pair of my shorts, folded them in half and then laughed and said something along the lines of, "I'd have to fold them in half for them to fit me."

Boom.

Just like that, every negative voice in my life that had told me I was overweight, ugly, disproportionate, pudgy, fat, etc, came swirling together in confirmation, in the voice of a 13 year old girl. I'd heard it a million times from my father, a few bullies at school, some members of my extended family, but this was different. My shorts were a flag of fatness. My clothes were a mockery, twice as big as the clothes of my peers.

For many years after that incident, I found excuses to avoid wearing shorts. I was too warm or none of my shorts fit right. For every reason someone could suggest I bare my legs, there was a reason not to. And it wasn't just my legs, of course, it was everything, sometimes even my neck. I hid in clothes that were baggy and ill-fitting and far too mature for a teenager. For years I drowned in turtlenecks and baggy pants, long skirts and shapeless tops.

Many years later, after much soul (and clothing store) searching, I dared to wear a short dress with tights. It felt frightening at first, but it was just one step of many. And then it happened... some miraculous combination of style liberation (great cuts, great colors, great FASHION!) and bravery and a bit of extra spending money allowed me to buy clothes that I looked great in. I experimented with colors and shapes and styling, borrowed from various eras long past and created a few pieces all of my own.

Shockingly for someone who had gone though a painful 6 or 7 year period of hiding under unflattering clothes, I had good taste, daring style and original ideas. Unlike the years of disappearing into a crowd, I suddenly stood out of a crowd- and received positive feedback! People liked it!

Fashion is far more than pretty clothes on skinny people. Clothes have the power to make or break your day, your year, your era, your life. Clothes can drown you or they can announce your entrance. Clothes can help you blend in or they can turn you into a star. Glitter, fringe and feathers can tell the world that you're a sparkly and daring person inside, whatever size you happen to be. Clothes can make you feel taller, thinner, curvier, more powerful, whatever.

If you've ever found yourself drowning in unflattering, boxy, oversized clothes for the sake of someone who might ridicule you... there's a dress out there to change it all. Or a pair of jeans. Or a crazy great shirt. A hat! A chunky necklace. A short skirt.

Don't give up. Don't drown. If you're a warrior princess inside, buy some more studded jackets. If there's a Carrie Bradshaw inside you just dying to get out, wear that fluffy pink skirt and feathered headband. Find the clothes that make you feel how you WANT to feel, not how you think others see you. The more you dress like yourself, your true self, the more you'll see your true self. 

And so will everyone else.

Interview with Project Runway's Amanda Valentine

The delightful Amanda Valentine was kind enough to take time out of her very busy schedule recently to chat with me a bit about her life post-Project Runway. Amanda, who has created outfits for many of Nashville's finest, has a wicked sense of humor, great business sense and also happens to have a famous brother in a little band you may have heard of, called Maroon 5.

Read on to learn more about Amanda...

Q: I really enjoyed watching you on Project Runway! You have such an easy going vibe about you and it was clear very early on that you were already an expert at what you do. You know, I actually really liked your moss dress! How long had you been in the design business before appearing on Project Runway?

Dang it I liked my moss dress, too!  I wanted to take a totally different spin on it- make it 60s and cutesy and wearable.  Ugh, I digress.  I started sewing when I was about 8 years old.  I grew up watching my mother quilt and make clothing for all of her children (5 of us total).  I kept up with it through junior high and high school and got my degree in Clothing and Textile Design from my hometown university.  When I graduated I moved to Los Angeles and got involved in a different side of fashion- styling and fashion PR.  So I spent the next several years growing that career but unfortunately neglecting design.  I kept sewing through those all those years but it was Project Runway that reminded me how much I had always wanted to be a designer.  I think my easy going vibe comes from years of working with all walks of life in production- celebrities, crazy directors, ad execs and record label presidents.  You have to collaborate in a crew that big and I've learned to be calm and accommodating.  

 Q: A couple months ago I had a nice chat with Michelle for my radio show and she just raved about you. The two of you truly seem like an unstoppable team. She said she’d totally be up for collaborating with you… any plans in the works for that yet?

Don't you just love that gal? I swear, I saw her that FIRST day of filming and said to myself, "Oh, we're totally going to get along…"  If you could peg either one of us down long enough we'd love to do it!  We both have a thousand different things going on, but every once in a while we meet in LA to hang out for a couple days and fabric shop.  That's become our "thing"…. 

Q: Do you still attend a lot of post-Project Runway events? I know they always seem to be getting all of the contestants together for these great parties in New York City…

I try to!  Unfortunately I can't usually justify a trip to NYC just to party, but I love getting the invites!  Because I lived in LA, that's my go-to big city and where I usually source fabric, etc, so I don't get to NYC as much as I'd like.  I HAVE made really great friends with some of the other "alums"- and it' s so nice to keep in touch with them here and there.  

Q:  Admittedly I’m a huge fan of Miranda Lambert’s since way back when she was still opening for Keith Urban and hawking her debut single. She seemed like one of the more fair judges on the show, too, with a lot of really encouraging things to say. You’re a Nashville girl. How cool was it to have Miranda Lambert as a guest judge?

I was THRILLED.  I think a lot of the other contestants didn't "get" Nashville and didn't totally understand why I loved it so much, so it was nice to have this killer country star show them how happening we are!  And by then I was so homesick I couldn't stand it, so I was thrilled to have a piece of home in the big city!

Q: You’ve had several fashion shows since PR. What was your favorite?

I had an incredible show at an airplane hangar benefitting the TJ Martell foundation.  Any time we can associate fashion with a charitable cause is a thrill.  It's such a flighty and often superficial industry, it's nice to have the opportunity to give back.  And the TJ Martell foundation is such an innovative and still very "Nashville" organization (a music industry specific non profit that funds innovative medical research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS).  

Q: Your brother is in Maroon 5. Does his crazy music-world-domination life ever spill over to your life? Has he ever given YOU any style tips, or do you pass on any to him?

What's funny is his fans have become my fans!  They are loyal and sweet and were so supportive when I got on the show.  My first styling gig was their very first music video, Harder to Breath (I assisted their stylist).  So I really have him to thank for getting me into the biz!

Q: You make such wearable, beautiful pieces. If a fan wants to buy one of your pieces, where should they visit or who should they contact?

I sell some pieces at the Trunk (mobile fashion truck and at their East Nashville location).  I also sell through my website amandavalentine.com.  I'm having a huge trunk show/pop up shop December 14th at Urban Outfitters- along with other designs, vintage and food trucks!  It's going to be a blast!

Q: What’s the best way for your fans to keep up with what you’re doing these days?

I am an instagram fiend.  It's my favorite of the social networks.  Look for me @valentimes.

Q: Wacky question time! Which Disney cartoon character do you think you're most like?

A combo of Cruella Deville and Ariel.

Q: If you had to bake a pie for Gordon Ramsay or complete a challenge for Tyra Banks on America's Next Top Model, which would you rather attempt?

Make a pie!  I'm a maker of things, not a model.  Having my picture taken is torture.

Interview With Model Khloé Webster

Today's Kendry Bird blog guest is the lovely model, ballerina and Miss Hawaii Teen contestant Khloé Webster! I had the honor of chatting with her about her aspirations in modeling, her favorite Starbucks drink, designers she loves and much more.

Q: Aloha! How old were you when you first realized you wanted to model?

I was 17 when I realized that I wanted to model. Ever since I was young, I remember lots of people telling me that I should be a model. I think it’s because I am 5’11 and Euro Asian. Many people call me the “Universal Asian” because they think I am Japanese, Chinese or Korean. Since I was training in ballet, that was my main focus, but one day when I was looking through Vogue and I saw all of the beautiful models and designs they were wearing, that’s when I said to myself  “I want to be a Supermodel."

Q: Who would you most love to model for?

My biggest dream is to work with Karl Lagerfeld and to be his new muse for Chanel. I absolutely love his work and artistic view. I have been a huge fan of Karl for a long time so it would be a dream come true to work with him! 

Q: You seem to do a lot of traveling- where are some of your favorite places in the world?

My favorite place in the world is the Big Apple. I went there for the first time last summer for a summer intensive at the Joffrey Ballet School for six weeks and I had the best time of my life. I enjoy New York so much because it’s the perfect place for fashion, the arts and ballet. I definitely hope to go back there soon! I would love to sign with a top modeling agency in New York City!

Q: Oh, NYC is the dream. The destination for almost everything America has to offer. So, what is your normal day-to-day style like?

My normal day-to-day style is elegant and chic. I love lots of pinks, creams, pastels and bright colors! And of course, black is always chic.

Q: I know you like One Direction. Who is your favorite(s) from the band?

Yes, One Direction! I love all of the guys from the band. They are so talented and I think that they are all cute and funny in their own way, but Harry Styles would have to be my favorite. I love Harry’s hipster style and his humor. And when he sings my heart melts, sounds silly but it’s true! Haha! I would love to meet One Direction someday and attend their concert as a VIP.

Q: What magazine would you most like to grace the cover of?

Vogue. I adore Vogue so much. It is one of my go-to magazines to see the latest style trends. I also enjoy looking at the international Vogue magazines from all over the world. To grace the cover of every top fashion magazine would be amazing!

Q: Who are some of your favorite clothing designers?

Some of my favorite designers are Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Dianne Von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson, Dior, Dmitry Sholokhov, Miu Miu and Kenzo.

Q: How can your fans keep up with your career?

For modeling I created a Twitter account. My fans can follow me at https://twitter.com/KhloeWebster

I also have a Facebook Fan Page. Fans can follow me there at https://www.facebook.com/KhloeAWebster‎

Good to know! And people liking your facebook fanpage will also show support for you, so everyone should click that LIKE button! Alright... You know what it is next! Wacky question time!

Q:  I know you’re a Project Runway fan, like I am. Which Project Runway designer would you like to go on a fashionable adventure with? 

I would really enjoy going on a fashionable adventure with Dmitry Sholokhov. I love his designs because they are so elegant and classy. It would be fun to go shopping with him and discuss how life is as a designer. I would also love to hear about his experience on Project Runway. He seems to be a very kind and fun person. And he is also very handsome.

Q: If you could be one other person for a whole day, who would you be?

I would choose to be Cara Delevigne. As a model, she is someone I really look up to. She is so young and unique. I’ve seen her in all of my fashion magazines, modeling for every top designer. I also enjoy seeing her on the runway for fashion week. Being Cara for a day would be an amazing experience as a model and I would gain a lot of knowledge about modeling since I am fresh.

Q: If you could only drink one drink at Starbucks for a year, but it would be free, which would you choose?

Starbucks has so many wonderful choices! I would order a tall, green tea frappuccino with soy milk. Green tea is one of my favorite flavors and is always a yummy treat!  

Thank you so much for joining us, Khloé! Anyone reading this who would like to learn more about Khloé should follow her on twitter and like her fanpage.

Help Angie Bacskocky Win a Grant!

You may remember that I interviewed Angie for my blog a while back- she was the very first interview for the new Kendry Bird blog, in fact!

Angie needs 250 votes to be eligible for a grant. You can help by taking just a moment to vote for her right here:

https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/35814

Feel free to pass this information on and help out an indie artist!

For more about Angie's work, visit her website: http://angelabacskocky.com/res/

New Interview with Project Runway Season 12's Kate Pankoke

I had the pleasure of interviewing Project Runway Season 11 & 12's Kate Pankoke. Listen in as we talk about weddings, princesses and Zac Posen:

Make sure to follow this blog for lots more interviews and fashion goodness!

IIMUAHII Debuts Innovative "Koji" Bag

Project Runway S10/All Stars S3's Elena Slivnyak has just debuted a truly badass and innovative accessory, the "Koji" bag. The Koji bag features a detachable bracelet and can be worn several different ways. In addition to being fashion-forward and fierce, it has been created with sustainable consciousness from locally (to San Francisco) sourced materials.

This is a bag I would love to have in my closet...

To learn more about the bag: http://iimuahii.com/iimuahii-koji-multi-purpose-handbag/ To purchase the bag: http://iimuahii.com/shop/koji-multi-purpose-handbag/

To see Elena on Project Runway All Stars, tune into Lifetime on Thursday nights!

Interview with Project Runway's Alexandria Von Bromssen

Here's the uncensored interview I had recently with Project Runway Season 12 Runner Up Winner Alexandria Von Bromssen:

Remember to subscribe to my channel for lots more interviews: http://www.youtube.com/user/KendraLSaunders and follow this blog for print interviews, updates and lots more!