Inaugural Moments for All

The My Signature Look blog has awaken from a long winter's nap since its last entry in December, but its commentary on today's fashion industry lived on through other writing mediums. As many of you know, I have been actively involved in the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce for more than a year serving as the writer/editor of its monthly newsletter and in event promotion. In late December, the GWFCC partnered with ShockTheory, an Atlanta-based communications firm, to launch LuxStyle DC, a new and improved online newsletter. The billed "Inaugural" edition featured new members, trend reports, interviews from the red carpet at several inaugural balls, and a cover story on Kai Milla, fashion designer and wife of Stevie Wonder. I had the fortune of interviewing Ms. Milla, albeit through email correspondence, about the inspiration behind her Presidential Inaugural Collection 2009. The Washington-native also offered advice to aspiring designers worth reprinting here, "My husband once told me, 'Designing is the same thing as music. When you do something, it's forever recorded. Do it right and you will never be bothered by it.' As a result of that good advice I never compromise on the detail."

[Detail was not lost in the flawless inaugural ensembles the Obamas sported on Inauguration Day. Congratulations to Isabel Toledo, Jason Wu, Loree Rodkin and Jimmy Choo for capturing Michelle Obama's elegance and sophistication, and to J Crew for matching Malia's and Sasha's youthful charm and innocence].

Milla's remarks apply not only to designers but everyone who strives to excel at what they do. I hope LuxStyle achieves its mission by bringing thoughtful, in-depth coverage to the DC-area fashion community and the My Signature Look blog to continue to offer a unique perspective on the fashion scene locally and worldwide. Here is to dreaming big but not forgetting the details along the way.