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A YOUNG FASHION
GOD
**note for photos: click photos to enlarge**
At age 3, I wandered into a clothing rack at a clothing store where my mother + the store clerk eventually found me. Go figure, right? Should've known then that I was destined for apparel.
My mother always dressed me cute, often in outfits that were sets, and as I got older, I started to appreciate and enjoy silhouettes, color combinations, matching and mismatching looks, patterns and textiles.
6th + 7th grade were the grades I began mixing pieces that didn't conventionally match, but "went" together. One of my favorite outfits of 6th grade was a suede baby yellow bubble vest & a 3/4 length sleeve top paired with flared denim jeans with white embroidery down the legs (I was featured on the front cover of Simi Valley's newspaper in this outfit while doing a silly dance move for a contest that I won...I'll find that photo someday!). I was also introduced to textiles in 6th grade during Home Economics class when we handstitched clothes for our stuffed bunnies. It was cathartic and extremely satisfying conceptualizing something, creating it, and bringing it into tangible fruition.
Another notable outfit was my first day of 7th grade where I wore a teal paisley skirt with a raspberry-colored 3/4 length v-neck shirt. Clearly it was notable enough to me to remember it over 20 years later. I was growing into my physical body, as well as my creative perspective.
By the time 11th grade came around, me and the girls I was hanging with were walking around campus every-single-day rockin' stilettos. Being distinguished from everyone else was an honor, even at the expense of being heckled/teased. It's rare that a teenager learns to embrace all of the things she was taught to play small in, society-wise.
I embraced my beautiful deep chocolate complexion in spite of verbal assaults. I adorned my crown with a variety of hairstyles that all represented my creative expressions. And I wore clothes and colors I was expected to avoid because "yellow doesn't look good on dark skinned girls." It took so much courage to listen to my own voice regarding my beauty. To saunter in my essence at such a young age is one thing I am proud of. It was the groundwork for how I choose to show up in the world, today.
There were these girls, maybe 2-4 of them, who began to roast me as they stood on the balcony of our school, watching me walk by on the lower level in all yellow, stating that I looked like a banana, followed by howls of guttural laughter. I can't even lie: I smiled bigly and began laughing with my back turned to them. I wasn't offended. They SAW me. They noticed ME and I showed up in all of my yellow solar plexus energy and audacity that day. I felt like I had "made it" in that moment. The fact that I could stand tall even after the mockery was courageous. What I told myself, even at that time, was that I would prefer to show up as someone I recognize and can defend, as opposed to being someone that I am not; someone that I don't recognize and would struggle protecting because I wouldn't know her.
I was 16 years old transitioning from 10th grade to 11th grade when I applied for a high school program that FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York City was hosting. It was a 1 week-long program where I learned how to do fashion illustrations, beginning by drawing live models everyday from different perspectives, practicing proper proportions, movement, silhouette, shadows, and other basic drawing and fashion drawing techniques. This experience confirmed my desire to pursue fashion design post-high school.
In 11th grade, I helped co-found the Fashion Club at my high school, which was in partnership with FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising). In 12th grade, I was president of the club and received scholarships to attend FIDM from holding this position. Our club attended FIDM's world-renowned fashion shows, toured the campus and visited the fashion district, which consisted of fabric stores and well-known fashion markets with clothing stores in Los Angeles. I also interned at a bridal shop during this time, learning how to work with a specialized clientele, fine fabrics, color swatches, custom garments and helping with bridal, formal and bridesmaids fittings.
 Nick from Project Runway Taught at My School, FIDMWe look like old friends, reunited! |  With Nick and My Sister, Jayme |  Andre from Project Runway Taught at FIDM, as Well |
|---|---|---|
 What an Honor to Meet Tim Gunn, Host of Project RunwayWearing my own design/creation. I was green at sewing at this time. I was also proud that I made and wore this outside, knowing it was one of one. |  Tim Gunn |
My experience as a Fashion Design student at FIDM, was the most challenging school experience that I have had to date. The fashion world in this capacity was foreign to me and I struggled to integrate my quirky, unique, avant garde creations with mainstream, "sellable" apparel. Children's wear, juniors, contemporary, maternity and menswear were markets I became interested in and explored.
I received my Associate of Arts degree in Fashion Design from FIDM, my Bachelor of Arts from Howard University in Fashion Merchandising, and began my graduate school studies at SCAD Atlanta (Savannah College of Arts and Design) in Fashion. While studying at SCAD, I did a study abroad program in Lacoste, France and took courses in photography and improvisation acting.
Fun fact: I also had the honor of attending an exclusive invite fashion exhibit in Paris, France to view highly notable designer works.
INDUSTRY
EXPERIENCE
During my senior year, I interned at a bridal shop, learning how to work with specific clientele, fine fabrics, color swatches and custom garments. I also modeled in bridal fashion shows, as well as church fashion shows and shows throughout the city.
I modeled in fashion shows as a teenager and enjoyed working behind the scenes as a dresser for Flaunt Magazine's 2009 L.A. Fashion Week fashion shows, as well as notable designer Lela Rose's NYC fashion show in 2010. For artist projects, I have modeled for photography works and paintings.
FASHION SHOWS | MODELING
 Modeling and Working at Rossana's Bridal Cottage |  Modeling Bridal |  Modeling Bridesmaid |
|---|---|---|
 Modeling for Co-workerI worked a Black Panther Party-inspired look to set one day, and my co-worker declared that he wanted to photograph me in this lewk. It was a rare opportunity that I had to be in FRONT of the camera, as I am usually behind it. |  Modeling for ClassOur Photography professor asked me to model while the photography students practiced using studio lighting techniques. |  Me in PaintMultimedia artist, Ervin A. Johnson, photographed me and painted over my image. He had a collection of works where he used this technique. INCREDIBLE artist! |
 Ervin A. Johnson's Exhibit |  Church Fashion Show |  Church Fashion Show 2 |
 Fittings to Model for Cultural AccentsI visited Cultural Accents, a beautiful apparel store in Little Five Points in Atlanta, GA, with a friend of mine. The owner is a kind Senegalese woman who wanted my friend and me to model her clothes in am upcoming fashion show. |  Modeling for Cultural Accents |  All WhitePhotographer Chanel Jaali went around to different cities to capture Black women in different colors being THEM in their divine essence. Atlanta's selected color was white and we rocked it. It rained and all and we carried the shoot all the way through, making new friends and participating in a monumental moment. (Me: Center; my sister: Green headwrap right in front of me.) |
 Modeling for Live Fashion Illustration ClassTook a fashion illustration course in New York City at FIT during the summer I was heading into 11th grade. The two of us were selected to model for this class on our last day and our fellow classmates sketched us. Memory of a lifetime. |  Modeling for Classmate's Fashion Show |  Model Walk Demo for Class Assignment |
 Model Walk Demo for Class Assignment 2 |  Senior Photos that I Was SOoo Excited to Shop For |  Me and Lela Rose, Fashion Designer |
 Lela Rose Fashion ShowHad the honor of working behind the scenes, dressing models for Lela Rose's fashion show around 2010 |  Model Look Board |  HU Student DrawingA Howard University student that I attended school with, but didn't know, asked if he could draw me. I was gifted this sketch (or maybe I paid for it) after he was done. |
 The Selfie... |  Drawing by Chelsia GraysonDuring the 2020 Covid era, an acquaintance of mine asked to draw me based on a selfie I posted previously. I said yes and this is the amazing result. She captured my essence. :) |
During my senior year while interning at Rosanna's Bridal Shop in Lancaster, CA, I was invited to work my first retail job at Gottschalks for 2 weeks during the Christmas season, restocking, organizing + gift wrapping.
While I was studying at Howard University, I was accepted into a summer internship program in 2010 hosted by BRAG (Black Retail Action Group) out of New York City. The internship consisted of presenting a case study with a group of 5-6 other hand picked interns, which I was team leader of, as well as on the job experience with a retail company. I interviewed and was selected for my preferred choice of employer: The Children's Place, working with finance, fashion design, graphic design and art departments. I worked in the corporate office in New Jersey everyday for 2 months and was asked to stay longer to help with several different departments. Though we did not win first place for our case study presentation, we were acknowledged for winning the scavenger hunt as a team, as well as our impeccable team work skills as the only group that worked fluidly and without conflict.
RETAIL + BEYOND
 The Children's Place: Corporate |  Fashion DesignerI visited this young woman's department for a brief minute. Fashion Design was my biggest passion at this time, so meeting her and observing their department while I was an intern in the finance department was amazing! |  H.R.: The Woman Who Hired Me |
|---|---|---|
 Working with Graphics |  Graphic DesignerThis man was so very kind! He invited me to research graphics online that would be good to use as inspiration for kids' apparel. |  My Corner Desk |
 |  Sitting at my Desk |  My Original Boss In FinanceI learned about how corporate dictates the sales, BOGO (Buy One, Get One), how to input certain codes in order to get barcodes, sales, etc. to activate at certain retail stores, etc. It was fascinating! |
 ColorsThis woman worked on the color ways. I LOVED working with her. She hired me to stay on the team when my scheduled time had reached its deadline. |  My Team for Our Case Study |  BRAG Gala Event with Tyson Beckford |
 Fellow BRAG Interns |  Choppin' It Up With Hilfiger |  BRAG Interns and Mrs. Cookie Johnson |
While I have done styling and shopping for film industry work, I first began branding for entrepreneurs through photography, logo designs, and personal shopping.
I've shopped + styled commercials for Auntie Anne's, Schlotzsky's, and Willy's, other photographers' photoshoot sessions, both nationally and internationally, my own clients' photoshoots, my client's branding (one of the custom lookbook's I created for a performing artist is posted below), fashion designers, background + principal actors on set (i.e. Lizzie season 2 episode 5 80's color blocked shirt, the Pig from Legacies season 2 episode 16) and stunt actors for shows such as Legacies Seasons 2 + 3, Good Girls Season 1, etc., designed for part of feature film, "Scheme Queens," coordinated costumes for stage productions (OTIS Music Camp, elementary school shows...), etc.
STYLING + SHOPPING
SHOPPING PHOTOS
 Shopped Lizzie's (on the right's) TopI found and purchased this top in multiples of 4. I was sent out to shop 80's apparel for one of the Legacies Season 2 episodes that was 80's-based. I was given very specific photos of what to shop. However, I came across this top and sent a photo to my designer. She loved it. Because the actors would be getting wet/stained/etc., I need to shop for at 3-4 multiples. I remember seeing 1 and then finding a 2nd nearby it. I prayed to find another 1 or 2 miraculously and sure enough did. |  |  Character I Shopped Hat For |
|---|---|---|
 |  Eden, The Superstar Behind the HatThis doll was the first one I spotted at Babyland, a Cabbage Patch store I went to shop for hats for a littler person casted in the Legacies season 2 season finale. My department aged and dyed the hat, and combined it with another hat to create the look the designer was going for. |  Ager/Dyer Made It THEE Hat |
 Other Toys I Shopped for Their Hats |
STYLING PHOTOS
LOOKBOOK
Video Channel Name
My client shared with me what aesthetic they are wanting to channel for their stage presence, day to night looks, and general everyday casual looks. I took their references, concepts and overall ideas they shared with me, researched those looks and images, integrated them with my own ideas of what silhouettes, colors and styles would align with their vision for their look, and their body type, and compiled this research into a lookbook. Click the PDF file to the right to view the lookbook.
One thing I have yet to do is execute "enough" of my design aesthetic and share it with the world. My career in fashion design is only mildly tapped into and I'm excited to eventually reconnect with my love of creating a perspective through apparel.
My favorite design aesthetic is quirky street wear with personality. I traverse different styles depending on what is inspired. I'm a sucker for a billowed pant leg, hoods, oversized pockets and color.
Some of my favorite designers include, but are absolutely not limited to, Tracy Reese, Alice & Olivia, Karl Lagerfeld, Shingo, and Madame Grès.
The designs featured below are primarily designs from undergraduate and graduate school projects. Some of the designs are pieces I designed and made custom for others.
DESIGN WORK
 Draping in Grad School |  Enlarged My Patterns Grad School |  Muslin of my Design Grad School |
|---|---|---|
 Custom Dress and Shorts Design |  Custom Dress and Shorts Design |  Sketching |
 Painting |  Drawing at the Basketball Game |  Digital Flat Sketches |
 Quick Sketches |  Sketches |  Sketches and Research in Class-Grad School |
 Sourcing and Sketching |  Designed Prom DressI hired my place of work/internship to make my prom design. I was timid and didn't add more details, but I still liked it. Chose my colors from color swatches. That was one of my favorite parts. That and selecting the bridal satin. |  Cut Fabric to Create: RIP TRAYVON |
 Bleached HaremI bought these cool harem pants while in France studying for school. I brought them back to the states, accidentally got bleach on them, and knew what I had to do: create a lewk by adding more bleach and wearing it as a jumpsuit |  Hand Sewing |  One of my Grad School DesignsNeeded a statement piece to wear for our trip to see Black Panther in theaters. It was an occasion. I had to represent and do the production justice. |
 me in own design |  Grad School Final ProjectWe used really cool and unique techniques, such as Shingo's draping and pattern techniques, to come up with design concepts and present them at the end of the quarter. |  |
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 Undergrad: My First Time Draping and Sewing a Top2006 |  Designed + Made Baby Outfit for Friend |  Skirt for School Project at FIDM |
 Family in My DesignsI wanted to make some cute pieces for my family to wear during the summer. We all rocked our designs in New York City. |  NYC |  Marsha N. Wilson Graduate Fashion Portfolio-Merged Docs_Page_45 |
 Undergrad School Assignment |  Marsha N. Wilson Graduate Fashion Portfolio |  Mega Trend Page |
 Mega Trend Color Palette |  Mega Trend DETAIL Page |  Tween Girls Flats |
 Men's Title Page |  Men's Flats |  Man and Guitar Illustration Before Illustrator |
 Tween Boys Flats |  Activewear Flats |
OOTD (outfit of the day)
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