VERY big news for Cabiria

Hello friends,

Well, you've probably realized by now that I'm not the most frequent blogger.  I have HUGE respect for those who are diligent enough to get on every day or week and make all those posts and videos and photos and such!  But when I DO post, it's because I've got great things to tell you.

For the past few months, I've realized that Cabiria is missing an element.  We are an aspirational brand, using high quality fabrics and finishes, which due to the cost of materials demands that we charge a higher amount.  The brand is incredibly well received, but I want more women to have access to our pieces.  With that in mind, we will soon be unveiling our new, lower price point line, La Strada per CABIRIA.

"La Strada" means The Street in Italian, nodding to the street style, fashion forward aspects of the new line.  It's also the title of another Fellini film from 1954, lest you thought we'd forgotten our roots. The pieces will still be designed with our acclaimed eye for detail and impeccable fit, but will now include more wash-and-wear pieces, more stretch to the fabrics, and some contemporary design elements. 

The main line of Cabiria will still go on, creating pieces in fine fabrics and detailed finishes, and we will continue to manufacture all our pieces from both lines in the heart of New York's Garment District.  I'm very much hoping this brand diversification will open up the door for more women to wear Cabiria very soon.  The aim is to deliver this new line in time for a late summer delivery to shops.  

In the meantime, we've had lots of continued press appearances.  During NYFW, Le Monde came over from Paris to interview me, as well as a South African women's magazine Sarie, and the television show Kwela, also based in Johannesburg as part of their Be Your Dream Foundation and charity.  I was also featured as a Plus Size expert on Channel 2 News for CBS here in New York, and on the Go Curvy show in Los Angeles.

During all this, I had the pleasure of finding out that Mary Lambert wore a one-of-a-kind Cabiria dress in her 1Mic1Take music video for her beautiful song "Sarasvati" as part of her current tour.  True, she sits at the piano for the whole video, but you can still see the cool (complicated) beveled lines of the dress.

In late March, we were featured on The Steve Harvey Show in a "Steve's Got Style" Spring Fashion series - very thrilling!  In the "Florals" group, we have the Stefania dress in Blue Gerbera with Butternut trim second from left:

and in the "Prints" group, we have the Stella in Digital Snakeskin blouse and Flavia Giraffe print wool skirt on the far right:

Finally, as always, I love showing photos of happy customers.  The first one is Holleigh in Singapore, being fabulous in her Flaminia in Tropicalia dress and killer sunglasses.

And last but not least, Meaghan of Little Lime Dress fame wearing her Sofia in French Apricot silk jersey to a wedding this past weekend.  Just gorgeous.

The brilliant and talented actress Ashlie Atkinson, a wonderful supporter of Cabiria, also just picked up a one-of-a-kind 4-ply silk floral Sofia to accept an award in Little Rock, Arkansas this weekend, and the eminently talented filmmaker April Janow also picked up some pieces to wear to present her new documentary "At the Feed and Seed" at the Bare Bones Film Festival in Muskogee, OK.  Such an honor to make these talented women feel good while they're out doing amazing things!  I hope to share photos with you soon.  In the meantime, if you're a Cabiria customer, please send in photos of yourself in your fancy outfits!  It really is fulfilling to me as a designer.

As I bring the new La Strada per Cabiria collection to market, I'll probably have my head down, nose to grindstone and all.  Please reach out if you have questions, suggestions, or ways to open up the market further.  I'm always interested in new ideas.  In the meantime, have a glorious spring!

All the best, 

Eden

Berlin Fashion Stars at Curvy Is Sexy

Hello friends,

What a crazy few weeks it's been!  When I last posted, I was in the middle of the most serenely beautiful rain forest with a waterfall in the back of my tiny casita.  Less than a week later, I was in Berlin at the Curvy Is Sexy trade show, part of Berlin Fashion Week, and paired with the more established shows Premium and Bread and Butter (I love that name).

Tanja, Alex, Manuela and Roxi wearing Cabiria at the Curvy Is Sexy show

Manuela Cosenza and Tanja Marfo in the Sofia in French Apricot

I was not an official exhibitor, and I wanted to make sure I didn't step on anyone's toes, so I had to plan my marketing carefully.  I also very much wanted to see what the European market accepts and expects for plus sizes.  I had a number of prearranged models and bloggers come meet me at my apartment and try on their pieces, then head to the show together.  The impact of so many women wearing the same dresses in the space caught a LOT of attention, and before long, people were snapping photos.  It worked!

Manuela in Stella in Digital Snakeskin and Flavia in Giraffe

Then, Silvana Denker, who is the European face of Carmakoma, ended up interviewed on German TV RTL Punkt 12 and a Danish TV station wearing Cabiria as well!

Silvana Denker in Paola in Jade

Here's the embedded link to Cabiria Clothing in Berlin on Germany's RTL Punkt 12 during Berlin Fashion Week January 2014.

Silvana Denker in Stella in Blue Snakeskin and me in Sofia in French Apricot at Curvy Is Sexy

Next, Jorge Gonzalez from Germany's Next Top Model and Germany's Let's Dance came with my model Sandy Dietrich, and went on TV, with her wearing Cabiria as well.  Those shots landed in the newspaper Bild, along with Sandy in the celebrity pages at the catwalk shows audience.

Sandy Dietrich in Stella in Blue Leopard interviewed for Germany's Next Top Model at Curvy Is Sexy

Sandy Dietrich and Jorge Gonzalez posing on Berlin Fashion Week's red carpet

Sandy Dietrich wearing Stella in Blue Leopard with Jorge Gonzalez and Bruce Darnell of Germany's Next Superstar

As a side bonus, I also got to meet my wonderful retailer from London's Ms. SVG Boutique, Monique Howell (who wore the Flaminia in Tropicalia), and reconnect with the legendary and talented Anna Scholz.

Monique Howell of London's Ms. SVG in Flaminia in Tropicalia

Anna Scholz and Eden at Curvy Is Sexy in Berlin

I'm incredibly happy with the reception and press Cabiria received in Berlin.  Meanwhile at home, I'm so happy to announce that Blair Chic Boutique in Chicago is our newest vendor! Please check out their wide variety of stock at 1343 N. Ashland Avenue and get into the lovely things you see on this page.

Finally, to anyone who thinks that Plus Size Fashion isn't a real contender, I offer this: on January 10th, Cabiria was in Forbes Magazine.  The magazine devoted to all things money and business.  Forbes!

I still have stock in a number of the pieces you see here, so go order them while they are available and help me fund the next collection!

Until the next adventure, all my best.

Eden

Television, Theater, and Stylish Curves!

Hello friends,

In celebration of the Hot Hot Heat of Summer, I've got nearly everything in the store on sale for 25% off. Come check it out!

Now on to great news: When I went out to Chicago on our store tour, I was so privileged to meet Amber of Style Plus Curves blog. She ended up modeling the line at the Vive la femme event, and now has written an incredible article about Cabiria on her blog. I am so lucky that my work allows me to meet wonderful, gorgeous women who really like how Cabiria looks on them! Hooray! Plus seriously, she looks amazing in everything she puts on.

We have also been incredibly fortunate to be included in some big time television and theatrical productions in the past few weeks, too! In New Orleans and Los Angeles, the new musical UPSTAIRS played to sold out crowds, and starred the lovely Katrina McGraw as Inez. Here's a few images of Katrina wearing a sample of the Aimee dress that is currently being re-worked with sleeves for next season:

And incredibly, we are going to be on television this fall on the Fox Network! The television show "Us and Them", based on the UK show "Gavin and Stacy" is coming, starring the outstanding and funny Ashlie Atkinson as Nessa. She's wearing the Sofia in Oxblood Beetle through the whole trailer and will have it on several times during the first season, including the first episode. I'm so excited! She really does the dress justice, and is a very funny lady. So great! Here's the trailer and some stills:

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer, and thanks for following the further adventures of Cabiria!

All the best, Eden

Home Again and a Celebratory Giveaway!

Hello friends!

I've returned safe and sound from my fantastic trip across the Upper Midwest to meet the customers and store owners who've been such great supporters of Cabiria. It was an astounding success, not only because I got to meet you all, but also because I got to see people's faces as they came out of dressing rooms wearing the clothes, beaming. It's an incredible feeling of accomplishment when that happens, and I feel lucky. Thank you!

First stop was in Milwaukee at Boutique Larrieux in the Historic Third Ward. Lydia's shop is gorgeous, in a converted warehouse space with exposed brick, dramatic lighting and great bead-festooned dressing rooms.

Lydia was a great hostess, and got saucy modeling some of the pieces herself in rotation. I also loved that I got a 3 person shot in the Sofia in Giant Peonys - triplets!

The next evening was at the jewelbox of a boutique, Vive la femme in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago. Stephanie and her staff are such a bundle of joyful energy, and that's not just the mint juleps they served! She also had Jen and Tish from Spa Soak, a local business, come out to do hair and makeup for the attendees, thus, evening though there had been rain, my hair looked fabulous. Speaking of fabulous, Stephanie's staff Amber, Amanda and Perry all modeled dresses during the event and looked stupendous. I think they are directly responsible for selling them just by showing the world how great they look in Cabiria.

The following day, I woke up at the crack of dawn and started driving from Chicago to St. Paul for the last event at Bombshell Boutique in St. Paul, MN. That is a pretty but long drive... Denise was our hostess for this event, and pulled out all the stops. She event baked biscotti! Yum. I loved meeting Denise and her staff and customers - it felt like coming back to a dear friend, though it was the first time. One of my favorite moments was a woman came in looking for a dress for her retirement party on Monday, but felt that the neckline on the Valentina was a little too low for her. So I got a needle and thread from behind the counter and stitched it up for her and she walked out happy! So much fun!

At the very last minute of the event, my dear friend Emily came in the door with her fiance. She had driven quite a way to make sure she got to see me and to buy a Francesca in Orange Dot to wear for her wedding reception. I am so honored that she chose to do this and she looks stunning in the dress!

The day after I came home, the Supreme Court knocked down DOMA and Prop 8, giving full rights and recognition to gay and lesbian couples who marry in states allowing same-sex marriage. I love love and romance and all things involving two people finding a partner, so I wanted to celebrate. Inspired by Emily's choice to wear one of my dresses for her own wedding, I am offering a free Francesca dress from Cabiria to the first plus size bride marrying a bride (or groom marrying a groom who is fond of wearing plus size dresses). You will have to prove that it is an incipient marriage with an invitation or photos or license or something, but it would be my honor to celebrate with you!

Finally, the wonderful website Madison Plus Select has released the Francesca in Robin's Nest, worn by the lovely Ivory May Kalber, on their curated website for sale. I'm a lucky girl indeed.

Here's to celebrating all kinds of success!

Eden

Store Tour Details and Things Cooking

Hello friends,

I am so very excited; I'm about to embark on a Store Tour of the Upper Midwest this coming week, and I want to let you in on the details!

On Thursday, June 20th from 4pm to 8pm I'll be coming to Boutique Larrieux in Milwaukee, WI at 315 N. Broadway. Our wonderful hostess, owner Lydia Hamilton will be supplying champagne and snacks, and I'll be bringing new items for you Wisconsin ladies to try and enjoy.

The next night, Friday, June 21st from 6pm to 8pm I'll be at Vive la femme in Chicago, IL in Bucktown at 2048 N. Damen. Stephanie Sack, fantastic plus-size mogul and hostess, will have Spa Soak on site to do hair and makeup, and there will be mint juleps and canapes! I'm so excited. She's created a Facebook Event page as well, just to see more, including unreal beautiful photos of a lovely customer wearing a bunch of the new styles sent over for the event.

Then, we're off to the Twin Cities! Saturday, June 22nd from 4pm to 8pm I'll come to Bombshell Boutique in St. Paul, MN at 794 Grand Ave. for our third event. The gracious Denise Alden will be hosting us, providing pink bubbly, some snacks, as well as drawings and giveaways. I love it! Bombshell will also have new styles provided just for the event.

In other news, Madison Plus Select has started releasing new items on their website, featuring the beautiful Denise Bidot wearing our Sofia in Giant Peony silk waffle weave pique lightweight dress, along with our previous offerings. Check it out, including the illustrious owner Aimee Cheshire wearing the self same dress!

Finally, behind the scenes news at Cabiria HQ is that we maybe, pending, could, might, possibly have a great new investor. What this means is that we really hope to have a Fall/Winter line ready to release to you all in proper time for the cold weather. However, if it makes more sense to do it big and right, we'll hold off and release a Spring Summer line further down with all sorts of bells and whistles. Either way, Cabiria is moving forward in big ways. I cannot WAIT to bring it to you!

Please come to the Milwaukee, Chicago, and St. Paul events next week. I really am looking forward to seeing you there!

All my best, Eden

GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!! Telemundo, WNTW, and a new Boutique!

Hi friends,

I'm so pleased to know Aimee Cheshire and her extraordinary website for plus size independent contemporary designers (like me), MadisonPlusSelect.com. She curates designers who wouldn't otherwise have a broad platform, and she does it with panache!

Last week I was part of a press event for Madison Plus Select and the new pieces on the website, and then this week, she had us featured on Telemundo's "Mujer de Hoy" program. As in gorgeous plus size Latinas who look amazing in my bold patterns and curve enhancing dresses!

Here are some photos from the press event (it was dark, so lots of flashed out shots, mea culpa),

and the video from Telemundo yesterday:


In another piece of wonderful news, I just shipped a big selection of Cabiria pieces to the amazing, classy Boutique Larrieux in Milwaukee, WI. The boutique is located in a pretty shopping district of landmark buildings in the Historic Third Ward, and Lydia Hamilton's shop is a perfect jewel in the center of everything.

You ladies in the upper Midwest have wonderful taste!

Finally, the TLC show "What Not To Wear" came into Curvaceous K in NYC last week, and makeover girl Carly got one of our silk jersey dresses! Not only that, but she'll be featured in the episode trying it on and loving it! Such an unbelievably wonderful addition to our great press - I can't wait to find out the air date and show you the reveal.

Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful journey. I get so excited to see people respond so positively to Cabiria and my work!

All my best, Eden

More stores, including New York and New Orleans!

Hello friends,

It's been such a great ride so far since these dresses have hit the market. I'm so very excited that as they get more attention, more stores want to carry them, and then you, my dear reader, can actually see, touch (and buy) them!

This week brought some amazing things: NHK Japanese TV show "El Mundo" shot a segment about us while we were still in production, and it aired this past week, showing us in the factory! I'm currently trying to figure out how to get the segment trimmed to show you just us, since the show is an hour long. Very cool and Cabiria looks great!

Now the best news - I love independent plus size boutiques, and I'm thrilled that Cabiria is now in 2 more of them! New Orleans ladies, The Voluptuous Vixen in the French Quarter has Cabiria in stock in the next few days, and my New York City sisters, Curvaceous K on the Lower East Side has Cabiria on the racks as we speak. Here's a shot of what landed at Curvaceous K before she even had a chance to put them on pretty hangers:



To add to the fun, Stephanie Sack at Vive la femme in Chicago made a video showing off the new shipment of Cabiria dresses as well. Check out the great video!

And don't forget Bombshell Boutique in St. Paul, and everywhere on Madison Plus Select and Pionna and of course on our Cabiria website as well. If there's an item you want to try on from the website, TALK TO YOUR RETAILER and ask them to order it in for you. I'm perfectly willing to work with stores this way, and it helps create a network of customer, store, and manufacturer. Conversation!

Finally, I'd really really appreciate it if everyone could "Like" the Cabiria Facebook page. It's important to be able to get information out on the business without it all feeding through my personal account, and it helps promote the brand as a whole. PLEASE "Like" us, and if you have ideas on how to get more Likes, please let me know. Thank you all and go shop!

All the best, Eden