Jason Wu for Target

New at Target 

starting today February 5th

This post is not only about the new line of clothing and accessories by Jason Wu now 

available at Target but it's about my own connection to him.

First let's look at some of the new collection.

So it was the fall of 1999...

I was creating one of a kind fashion dolls for a living

and also doing graphic design.

One night I got an email from a guy in New York asking me if I could create him

a doll logo similar to the one I used for myself.

He said he admired my work.

At the time...my fiancé had just left me and I was in the middle of moving home.

Not a good time for me.

I explained that I was too busy to take on a logo design at the moment.

I assumed it was just another amateur doll designer

and would probably just be a waste of time.

That email came from a boy named Jason Wu.

Imagine how shocked I was when a year or so later...dolls started showing up manufactured by

Integrity Toys with Jason Wu's name on them and a logo somewhat 

similar to my own.

Well, I thought that's probably all that will be seen of him.

Nope...the next time I saw him was in a piece on tv about how he designed the Ru Paul doll.

The fabulous Ru Paul doll.

Yes, he was just a kid.

other dolls designed by Jason

This is just a small sampling of dolls he designed.

He went on to design for Ashton Drake and other companies.

Lots and lots of dolls.

But perhaps you know him from this....

Yes, he designed Michelle Obama's Inaugural gown.

He's a favorite designer of her's.

His designs grace the red carpets in Hollywood.

He began his fashion foray with the money he'd made designing dolls.

He was still in high school when he contacted me back in 1999.

His is a fantastic success story where talent and hard work and genius have given a very 

deserving artist the recognition and success he deserves.

I adore this little black dress.

So here we are...13 years later...

In 1999...we were both designing dolls but I was much more well known in doll circles than he.

And now here we both are at

He designing an exclusive fashion collection and I working the Guest Service Desk in OKC.

Funny how life goes...isn't it?

Of course if I'd known he was going to be super famous one day...I would have some how found 

time to do his logo. But at the time I had too much going on and I thought .... I've got to let this one

go...besides....I'm sure nothing will ever come of it anyway.

Just shows....you never know.