On the Friday, November 13th Wendy will open her studio doors to recording artist Chris Brown. Brown joins Wendy for a chat and to exclusively premiere his new video “Crawl” from his forthcoming album “Graffiti.” Wendy said she wouldn’t be doing any “swoop downs” on him but, just chatting.

This show will definitely be one to watch.

Although the site was officially launched November 1, 2006; the idea and plan were birthed November 24, 2005. It took a year, an investor, startup capital, and a developer to see my vision com to fruition. The months of work put in researching, networking and writing was worth every minute and has proved itself to be an asset and the best learning experience I have ever had.

This experience would not have been possible if I hadn’t met a special supporter of SavvySocialite.com. It was their guidance and experience that I was able to make it happen. I would like to dedicated this month’s issue to Mr. Edgar Brookins I am eternally grateful to you  for seeing my vision for SavvySocialite.com and supporting it 110% . Thank you for your continued support!

As SavvySocialite.com approaches it’s fourth anniversary this month and I am truly excited for what is in store for this year. This is the first time in 4 years that I can dedicated 100% of my efforts into making this site a world class destination for women; think of SavvySocialite.com as a little friend in your head!

Much of the past years I have spent the majority of my efforts and talents into making other sites increase their value and market share at the expense of my loyal readers and my site.  I made a huge mistake; I neglected this site. I am here to say, “Today is a new day” and I am looking forward to sharing daily post, video, advice, events and life experience with all of you.

The next year will be better! From new columns, contributors and features to more events and give aways for readers and subscribers.

Thank You for your continued support.

Happy Anniversary!

Editor in Chic

So its over. OFFICIALLY over, and it has been that way for a while but, some how you both have been able to be friends and not in the “friends-with-benefits” way. Does your new boyfriend have the right to have a problem?

WASHINGTON – JULY 2: A wax figure of television personality and former supermodel Tyra Banks is unveiled at Madame Tussauds wax museum July 2, 2008 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

Who? Age? Zulema N. George, 34 years old 

Where are you? Hometown?  Brooklyn, New York; Kingstown, St. Vincent

What is your favorite charity? Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Eradicating breast cancer is very important to me.  Although no one in my immediate family has suffered from this disease, it has always been a personal mission of mine.  Growing up I participated in many walks and fund raisers where the funds went towards breast cancer treatment and research.  In my opinion The Avon Foundation is doing a great job in helping both men and women who suffer from this disease. 

Who is your favorite designer?  I don’t have a favorite designer.  My style combines pieces from many different designers. I take a shirt from one designer and pair it with a skirt from another.  I like to mix and match; people are always trying to figure out where I get my outfits! I try to keep my look as dramatic and funky as I can!! 

Why did you choose this profession? As far a designing handbags, I have always had a sense of style and a flair for fashion.  Handbags and accessories are my weaknesses and I basically became tired of purchasing handbags and decided to start designing my own.  My position as an Office Manager sort of chose me as opposed to me choosing it.  A very good friend of mine worked at the firm, she decided she was leaving the firm after we returned from Kenya and after finishing her thesis.  She spoke to me about the possibility of me taking over her position and I was like “okay”!  Especially since I wasn’t working at the time since I quit my previous job to go to Kenya to do health care work!!

Who or What inspires you? My inspirations come from my own wants and needs.  I am a handbag and accessories junkie and I became tired of purchasing bags and accessories I knew I could create myself.  I ended up buying more than one handbag to serve one purpose.  I figured I could design handbags that incorporate more than one need, add my flair and make them funky!

What makes you a Savvy Socialite? Everything!!! I took a chance and followed my dream and I’m making it work!!

What advice do you have for other Savvy Socialites? Follow your dreams; do not be influenced by the naysayer; if you think your design or idea is hot, then it is!! Do your research, make connections and learn from each experience, good and/or bad.

www.imagebyak.com
www.myspace.com/anavaakisasa

Who? Age? Theresa Dawn Royal. 30 something.

What is your sign? Gemini/Cancer – on the cusp. 

Where are you living now? Hometown? I reside in Bowie, Maryland. I was born in Washington, DC but, raised in Silver Spring and Lanham, MD respectively.

What is your favorite charity? I have a toss up between 4 favorite charities.  My mother had a 5 year battle with breast cancer and she beat it.  Unfortunately she died several years after her cancer battle of heart failure.  Therefore, I support the Cancer Society and Heart Association in memory of my mother.  I battled asthma until I was in my early 20’s when I finally outgrew it.  Therefore, I also support the Lung Association.  Finally, two very good friends of mine were killed by their husbands over domestic disputes.  I am a strong advocate of any organization that brings awareness and helps Domestic Violence victims.

Who is your favorite designer? Vera Wang.  

What is your signature scent? Kenneth Cole – White (for women)

What is your profession? Business Owner of an Event Planning Company properly named Royal Events, LLC.

Why did you choose this profession? This profession chose me, I didn’t really choose it.  About 10 years ago I was always asked to plan company parties and meetings and I realized that I had a knack for it and the rest is history.

Who or What inspires you?  Other business owners who have a dream and who have determination inspire me.  I am also inspired by all the unsung heroes and sheroes who are making a difference in our community. On the celebrity-side, Oprah Winfrey inspires me daily.  She is the epitome of a strong business woman and I admire her very much.  I have aspirations of being on her show one day in the near future. 

What makes you a Savvy Socialite? I think my tenacity and strength of character make me a savvy socialite.  I also think having a sense of fabulous style makes you a savvy socialite!

What advice do you have for other Savvy Socialites?  Keep God first, pray without ceasing, never give up on your dream, watch what you say for words have power, treat everyone with kindness and respect, keep striving for your goals, never give up even when the odds are stacked against you, always dress your best when you leave the house for you never know who you will run into, stay optimistic and positive and always, always, have faith in YOU!

Name? Age?Christina N. Hodges, Age 28

What is your sign? Capricorn

Where are you now? Where is your Hometown? Jacksonville, FL; Hometown is Durham, NC

What is your favorite charity? Bethel Baptist Institutional Church (my church in Jacksonville, FL). Both of my pastors (Rudolph McKissick, Sr. and Rudolph McKissick, Jr.) have been integral in my spiritual growth, but also in motivating me to take my career to the next level. I also love the work of Sisters Network, Inc. – a national African-American Breast Cancer Survivors organization since my mother is a 12 year breast cancer survivor.

Who is your favorite designer? I don’t really have one, but if I had to choose I would say Ralph Lauren because I like simple and classic designs which are very similar to my personality.

What is your signature scent? Estée Lauder Pleasures

What is your profession? Chief Operating Officer/Partner and Financial Planner – Optimum Capital Management, LLC

Why did you choose this profession? I always knew I was a business-minded individual who loved working with numbers, but I honestly thought I would use my B.S. degree in Business Administration in the Marketing/Advertising field. I had the opportunity to work in the Marketing department for a life insurance company which initially opened my eyes to world of financial planning. From there I worked with several large financial planning firms to develop my financial planning skills and for the last 5 years I’ve created my “dream career” combining my love for both finance and marketing.

At Optimum Capital my partners and I focus on not only assisting clients with their finances, but also on teaching the community about the importance of economic empowerment. Our unofficial company scripture at Optimum is I John 3:18 “Our love must not be a thing of words and fine talk, it must be a thing of action and sincerity” and we have the unique opportunity to not just say we’re about change in the community, but to actually make it happen because we truly love what we do.

Who or What inspires you? God, my family and my business partners. I’m also inspired by past experiences/people that have tried to stop me in the past – they motivate me to just keep moving forward despite the situation.

What makes you a Savvy Socialite? Everything! I am doing something that I have always wanted to do and enriching other peoples lives.

What advice do you have for other Savvy Socialites? As a black female in a predominantly white-male profession a female planner in this industry is rare and a black one is almost non-existent. Yet my advice to others is don’t be discouraged by what the “social norms” but create your own path for others to follow. Of course being the trailblazer means that you’ll have to face tests and trials you’ve never faced before, but know that they only come to make you stronger. Further, if you’ve been given a vision, follow it through to the end in spite of what circumstances arise in the meantime. Remember that it is just a preview of much better things to come but you must go through some refining processes to get there. Trust me, I’ve been through my fair share of “trials” that should have made me quit a LONG time ago, but because I persevered in spite of how I felt, I’m starting to reap the rewards of my patience.

Lastly, be mindful of your image… and I’m not just talking about your image on the outside. Make sure your character on the inside matches what you project for others to physically see. You can have the finest clothes, makeup, etc. but if you have a nasty attitude you can negate all the hard work you put into keeping up physical appearances.

Monif C. , one of the hottest contemporary plus size designer literally “ripped the runway” earlier this spring on BET’s Rip the Runway. Savvy Socialite.com had the fabulous chance to chat with Monif C. as she celebrates the opening of her new store in Manhattan, challenges she faced breaking into the fashion industry, and how she defines success.

SS: Tell us what inspired you to create Monif C.?

MC: I always tell people that my inspiration to design Monif C. came from my own desire to wear beautiful clothing. I feel like I came out the womb a size 18, so I am my customer and I know what we need. I would go into the stores that everyone shops in and say, they should design this and why don’t they sell this, and then one day when I decided to switch careers, I said, why don’t YOU do it! At that point I decided that if I didn’t design what I liked to wear, I would have to walk around naked because I just couldn’t find what I wanted in the stores. I knew that if I just designed what I loved to wear, other savvy, sophisticated women like mewould follow suit.

SS: What really differentiates Monif C. from other plus sized clothing lines?
MC: Monif C. is truly high fashion, designer, contemporary fashion that is usually found in trendy boutiques and it just happens to be made especially for plus size women. I always say, these are the clothes that even the skinny girls want to wear! You’d be surprised how many girls call us asking if we can special make some of our styles in size 2, 4, and 6. I am not trying to up size current styles and trends like many plus size clothing companies do. My line is designed with the same philosophies as other well known “skinny” designers, but I design them specifically for the plus size body. You won’t find polyester fabrics and other throw away styles. We use premium fabrics like silks, laces, and velvets oftentimes imported from Italy and Europe.

SS: When did you get your big break?

MC: I actually created my own big break. I started my career path far from the fashion industry; I used to work in Corporate America and later went on to run a nonprofit program. When I was looking for a career change, I decided to embrace this urge that I have had for years to start my own clothing line, and I just went for it. The same week we launched back in September 2005, we were featured on TLC’s What Not to Wear and then a month later Glamour Magazine featured our “Enid” Velvet Skirt as the best plus size holiday item. We knew we were on to something then.

SS: How do you define your success?

MC: I define my success by the smile I see on my face in the mornings. Honestly as cheesy as it sounds, I am so happy to be doing what I love that I know today I am successful.

SS: What is was of the biggest challenges you have faced as a designer?

MC: The biggest challenge I face as a plus size designer is the lack of retail outlets that sell sexy, sophisticated plus size clothing. Many tradition retail stores are still unsure about the viability of the plus size market despite reports proving that the customer is there and they want fashionable, designer contemporary clothing. Since I am my customer, I know that we are looking for this style of clothing, so I decided to open my own store to give my customer the opportunity to come get the entire Monif C. experience.

SS: What entrepreneur do you admire most and why?

MC: There are a lot of them, but in the fashion industry, I really admire Diane Von Furstenberg. When the wrap dress “died” so to speak, she was able to refocus and create an even larger lifestyle brand today and she is definitely an inspiration to women.

SS: How excited are you to be the first plus size contemporary designer to open a store in Midtown Manhattan?

MC: I am SUPER excited! Really this is a dream come true for me because I remember when I was a young girl saying, I wish somebody would design nicer clothing for me. It is personally satisfying to realize my dream and I hope to soon see Monif C.’s around the world.

SS: What advice would you give to other Savvy Socialites who are is interested in the fashion industry?

MC: Intern, intern, intern! A formal education from a fashion school is great, but you will never learn the ins and outs of this industry unless you intern with someone. I believe strongly in internships and I recommend seeking at a smaller design company because you’ll be able to get to see the entire operation from design to PR to marketing to retail.

SS: Where can we find your fabulous clothes?

MC: You can order at anytime from www.monifc.com and most often we can ship the same day! For those that live in and around the New York City area or are traveling here, come shop the first Manhattan boutique for savvy plus size women. We offer the entire Monif C. line as well as accessories.

Jennifer Hudson.

I damn near fell out of the couch when they called her name. I was so happy for her I was crying just as much as her.

Usually I don’t watch the Oscars because, they bore the hell out of me. I mean do I really care about the Best Short Film Animation of a Foriegn Film? Doubtful. But, because I missed Halle, Denzel, Morgan and Jamie win theirs I decided that this time I would not miss the opportunity to see another African-American win. So I popped burned my kettle corn and got cozy just to see if this fabulous woman; who is the personification of faith and determination would take the honors of Best Supporting Actress (although she probably should have gotten the lead title) that she so rightfully deserves and she did!

Way to go J-Hud. You’re a long way from American Idol Ms. Hudson (even though your red carpet outfit was a little “different”). Thank you for paving the way for other African-American actresses of substance and character.