Find Your Fabulous: The Book Launch Event
Today marks almost a month since my book launch party took place. I hosted an event for family and friends to celebrate the publishing of my first book, Find Your Fabulous: The Fearless Fashionista Approach to Developing and Owning Your Style.
I was hesitant to have a party, because that’s not really my thing. There are a lot of moving parts, and I typically don’t like having to manage all those details. But I thought it would be a great way to acknowledge this milestone.
NOTE: Additional photos can be found here.
The Venue
Studio On Market was recommended to me as a potential venue. As soon as I walked in, I fell in love with the space. It was cool, interesting, unique, and had a New York vibe to me. I was sold!
The Decor
I loved the character of Studio on Market, and didn’t want to do too much “decorating.” Since it’s a photography studio, there are high quality photographs on the walls, they had high top cocktail tables, a leather sofa… I just wanted to add a few details here and there to tie in the color scheme of my book, and highlight the fact that this was a fashion event.
Rose gold sequin table cloths adorned the cocktail tables, and my mother made outfits for the mini dress forms and full sized dress forms that served as table center pieces and accents throughout the venue. My mother even tailored curtains in a blush color to ensure they matched the other decorative elements.
And I brought in a couple of clothing racks with some of my fashion pieces to further reinforce the fashion factor.
Rose gold table covers and miniature fashion dress forms.
Photo: Richard Wah
Photo: Richard Wah
Some tulle skirts, some sparkle, and polka dots…
Photo: Richard Wah
The Music
I wanted a cool and laid back musical vibe, so I stuck to artists and songs that would set the perfect mood. While growing up, my musical taste was heavily influenced by my father’s love of jazz, and the music of the 1990’s also had a significant impact on me. There was a jazzy, hip-hop, neo-soul feel to the selections. Artists such as Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Amel Larrieux, A Tribe Called Quest, Solange, D’Angelo (you get the idea) were in heavy rotation.
The People
There was representation from people from so many stages of my life, including family and friends—old and new, current and former colleagues—it was amazing. I felt a tremendous outpouring of love and support.
Photo: Richard Wah
Photo: Richard Wah
The Program
I wanted to ensure that in addition to the mixing and mingling, everyone understood what Find Your Fabulous was all about. I was introduced by the amazing Amanee Scott-Stephan. You can read her introduction here.
Photo: Richard Wah
I did a reading from my book.
Photo: Richard Wah
And my girl, Cassandra Moore facilitated a Q&A session, where I answered questions related to my journey to becoming an author, my inspiration, and my fashion philosophy.
Cassandra did a great job at facilitating the Q&A session.
Photo: Richard Wah
The ladies did an AMAZING job!
I know a lot of talented people, and it’s great when you can leverage the strengths of the people within your circle.
My outfits
For those of you who are familiar with me and my style, you know that I adore a tulle skirt. So I figured I had to work one into the rotation. I dusted off a pink tulle skirt that I had in my closet and had a couple of “Find Your Fabulous” t-shirts printed up—and that was outfit #1.
I needed a statement shoe, so I turned to SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker for a pair of sparkly stiletto Mary Jane pumps that were sure to turn heads.
#Twinning
Photo: Richard Wah
A closeup of the shoes…
Photo: Richard Wah
I bought a full length sequin gown a few months before I even decided to have this book launch. I figured that I’d find an excuse to wear it at some point, and I put it to good use during the “program” portion of the evening. I did a quick change into my sequin gown, and paired it with a pair of black patent leather mules with a clear strap. The heel was sexy, sleek, and added the punctuation at the end of the end of my fashion sentence.
Outfit #2
Photo: Richard Wah
The shoes…
How it Turned Out
My book launch party was a tremendous success. I had a great turnout and there was a great energy in the room. At one point, after the program ended, I stopped, took a look around the room, and people were talking, eating, smiling, having a good time, and I got a second to take in that magical moment. I could not have imagined a better evening.
Special Acknowledgements
Thank you to everyone who attended the event. Thank you to everyone who has offered a kind word of support, assistance, and advice while I was writing the book—and to everyone who has purchased a copy of Find Your Fabulous.
Thank you to my parents, siblings, children, niece, brother-in-law. Thank you to my friends and family who traveled from far and near to celebrate with me.
I hate naming names, because I don’t want to leave anyone out, but I do appreciate each and every person who has supported me.
I’d also like to shout out Omega Optical who helped sponsor the event.
Buy The Book
There were a number of people who were unable to attend and have asked how they can purchase the book. My newly designed website is live, and paperback and e-books are now available for purchase here.
If you already have a copy and would like to spread the love, books make great gifts. :-)
Check out my Facebook gallery for more pictures.
Thank you again for your support, and stay tuned for video content for the event.