The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    News
    Looking the the latest plus size fashion and industry news around designers, influencers, and community happenings? Your plus size media publisher has you covered with…
    Show More
    Top News
    Duo Boots Giveaway on The Curvy Fashionista
    #TCFTurns5 Giveaway: Step into Style With the Duo Boots Giveaway!
    10 years ago
    Big Fig MattressXTCFStyle Expo
    Big Fig Mattress Giveaway!!!
    4 years ago
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    10 years ago
    Latest News
    Over 50 Amazing Cyber Monday Plus Size Deals to KNOW and Shop!
    1 day ago
    The Only Plus Size Fashion Black Friday Roundup You Need! Shop The Best Deals
    5 days ago
    2 Plus Size Shopping Events You Don’t Want to Miss in LA
    2 weeks ago
    Save Your Coin: TomboyX Accepts HSA and FSA Dollars for Period Underwear
    1 month ago
  • Style
    Style
    Yes, plus size style options exist and we are here to share the latest style finds, news, updates, and plus size style tips & tricks…
    Show More
    Top News
    Plus size woman Walking
    LETS TALK: Design Elements in Plus Size Clothes that KILL ME.
    11 years ago
    Duo Boots Giveaway on The Curvy Fashionista
    #TCFTurns5 Giveaway: Step into Style With the Duo Boots Giveaway!
    10 years ago
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Simply Be!
    10 years ago
    Latest News
    Style Watch: 4 Fabulous Finds to Make Your Plus Size Capsule Wardrobe Pop This Fall into Winter!
    2 weeks ago
    A ‘Lil Glitz and Shine with the Good American Holiday Collection!
    2 weeks ago
    The First Drop in the 2024 Rebdolls Holiday Collection is Giving Us Plus Size Glitz and Glamour
    2 weeks ago
    7 Tips for Using Poshmark to Find the Cutest Out of Season Plus Size Clothes
    1 month ago
  • Shopping
    Shopping
    Wondering where to find specific plus size clothing items for that special occasion or need? The best plus size shopping finds are here. We’ve done…
    Show More
    Top News
    Plus size woman Walking
    LETS TALK: Design Elements in Plus Size Clothes that KILL ME.
    11 years ago
    Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Hips and Curves
    Celebrating 200k FB Fans- It is a Spring #TCFStyle Giveaway with Hips and Curves!
    10 years ago
    Valentine’s Day Curvy Couture Plus Size Lingerie Giveaway
    A Valentine’s Day Curvy Couture Plus Size Lingerie Giveaway
    10 years ago
    Latest News
    Snuggle Up— These Plus Size Pajamas Will Keep You Warm All Winter
    11 hours ago
    Over 50 Amazing Cyber Monday Plus Size Deals to KNOW and Shop!
    1 day ago
    The Only Plus Size Fashion Black Friday Roundup You Need! Shop The Best Deals
    5 days ago
    Hate Your Bra? We Don’t Blame You— Try These 5 Alternative Bra Types
    7 days ago
  • Wellness
    Wellness
    Looking for ways to improve your body image and mental health? Check out our latest articles on plus size wellness that includes body image and…
    Show More
    Top News
    Torrid's Feature of Tiffany from On The Fatwalk
    The Enabling of Self Loathers and Shame – A Facebook Observation of Torrid
    12 years ago
    Rescue Stress relief
    Finding My Own Rescue Remedy & Taking Better Care of Myself…
    7 years ago
    Meeting my father and his/my family
    Staring into His Eyes for the First Time- Meeting my Father
    10 years ago
    Latest News
    The Holidays Can Be Hostile to Plus Size Folks— Here’s How I Survive
    7 days ago
    Fight the Draw of Diet Culture This Holiday Season with Intuitive Eating
    7 days ago
    5 Plus Size Peloton User Reviews That Are *Actually* Helpful
    1 month ago
    Save Your Coin: TomboyX Accepts HSA and FSA Dollars for Period Underwear
    1 month ago
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle
    Get inspired by the latest fashion, beauty, and lifestyle trends from your favorite plus size lifestyle celebrities. There is so much more to a plus…
    Show More
    Top News
    Open Letter Tim Gunn
    An Open Letter: Dear Tim Gunn, Let’s Make It Work
    10 years ago
    2017 MTV Move & TV Awards, chrissy metz, plus size celebrity
    ‘I Wear What I Want, When I Want’: Chrissy Metz Slays In Red at the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards
    7 years ago
    25 women of color e1615188552216
    25 Women Of Color Who Paved The Way for Body Positivity & Plus Size Fashion
    3 years ago
    Latest News
    2 Plus Size Shopping Events You Don’t Want to Miss in LA
    2 weeks ago
    Add these 15 Plus Size Halloween Costume Ideas To Your Inspo Board ASAP
    2 months ago
    3 Plus Size Apps That Will Up Your Confidence
    2 months ago
    Is Weed Yoga Really Worth It? We Tried it and Found Out!
    2 months ago
  • Shop TCF
Search TCF
More
  • Events
    • TCFStyle Brunch Series
  • Curvy & Plus Size Fashion Resources
  • About The Curvy Fashionista
  • Advertising
  • Contact
© 2008- 2023 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
Reading: Up Close and Personal with Edward Wilkerson: The Man Behind Lafayette 148 NY
Font ResizerAa
The Curvy FashionistaThe Curvy Fashionista
  • News
  • Style
  • Shopping
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop TCF
Search TCF
  • About
  • News
  • Style
  • Shopping
  • Wellness
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Write for TCF
  • Contact
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
  • Login
  • Community Guidelines
  • Style Star Ambassadors
  • TCFStyle Influencer Network
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact
© 2008- 2021 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
Interviews

Up Close and Personal with Edward Wilkerson: The Man Behind Lafayette 148 NY

Marie Denee
Last updated: 04/13/2012
By Marie Denee 8 Min Read
Share
Lafayette 148 in Plus Sizes

Lafayette 148 in Plus Sizes

It has been a while since I have interviewed a designer and when I had the chance to chat up the creative force behind Lafayette 148 New York, Edward Wilkerson, I jumped at the chance to do so!

Lafayette 148 New York is a luxury brand that exudes sophistication and one that is size inclusive- creating luxury stateside for the discerning plus size woman.  If you have ever had the chance to deck your curves in a piece of Lafayette 148 New York, then you know what I mean!  So, I had to talk to the man behind the brand who designs with us in mind as well!

Please read on to learn more about Lafayette 148 New Yorkand the designer behind the brand, Edward Wilkerson…

 

I understand that you knew you wanted to be a fashion designer since the age of ten, thanks to the impeccable style of your mother.  What was your first item you remember designing?

A one-shoulder drawstring dress.

EDWARD WILKERSONAs a young child, what inspirations from your mother did you take into your style and design today at Lafayette 148 New York?

My mother had an impeccable sense of style.  She was a working woman busy with raising a family but she always looked so polished and put together.  She made a big impact on my aesthetic. My designs today are inspired by the new women I meet, but I always keep in mind a woman like my mother who loves feeling chic even when she is juggling a full schedule.

You have been an integral force behind the brand. Can you tell me, who is the Lafayette woman? Is she inspired by your mother?

The Lafayette 148 New York woman does it all and looks good doing it. I meet a lot of loyal customers when I make personal appearances and they are women who recognize quality. They are vocal. They are career women. They travel. We design each collection with versatile pieces that work for different aspects of a modern woman’s life.  My mother is retired now but when I meet my customers, it definitely brings back vivid memories of what first inspired me to enter the fashion world.

There is such an ease of sophistication in your designs, an ease of luxury, can you share how you want the potential Lafayette 148 New York woman to feel in your clothes?

I want her to feel elegant in my designs. Elegance doesn’t have to involve fancy eveningwear, it’s about the way a woman carries herself. That’s why we offer such a broad range of designs and why our designs are so wearable. They let a woman show off her personal style whether she’s at work or being whisked away to a fabulous dinner. I want women to love wearing our clothes.

Let’s talk inspiration, you travel quite frequently! What is it about your travels that you bring back to your designs? What inspirations do you look for while traveling?

The great thing about traveling is you don’t know what to expect. I never know what I am going to see when I arrive at my destination, but once I’m there, I absorb everything from the colors and culture to the landscape and architecture. I apply whatever I find into the next collection.

For the spring, can you share what some of those inspirations were?

The Spring 2012 Collection was inspired by my travels last summer to the Island of Capri, Italy. It was so chic! I tried to capture the island’s beautiful, tranquil ambiance with a crisp seaside color palette and fresh nautical themes. It takes me back every time I see the collection.

 

 

Thank you so much for including plus sizes in your collection! It truly is a blessing! If you could think of one of the plus size models today, who would be your plus size muse for your plus size range?

I love Anansa Johnson, Beverly Johnson’s daughter. She models on her own terms and her confidence always shines through. She’s proof that true beauty comes in all sizes.

 

What prompted you to include plus sizes? Did you hear, read, or have a personal experience that allowed you to extend your sizes?

I have always made a conscious effort to design for real women.  There really are limited options when it comes to plus sizes in the high-end fashion world. That is why I made sure all women can find luxurious pieces in our collections. Every woman deserves to be styled in designs that are made for her body.

I know that you do not offer the full collection in plus sizes, but what or how do you choose which items you fashion for her?

When creating our plus size collection, we factor in both what’s fashionable and what will be most flattering. Feedback from our customers also plays an important role. We really do listen. For every design in our plus size collection, we create custom patterns and have fittings with a plus size model.  It’s an involved process, but so key to maintaining the consistent fit we are known for.

What does Curvy.Confident.Chic. mean to you?

No matter your size, if you have confidence, you will always be chic.

If you could leave the plus size woman with one piece of fashion advice, what would it be?

Be true to your own style.

 

This was such an honor to have a few moments to chat with Mr. Wilkerson.

You can learn more about Lafayette 148 New York by visiting the website.  You can follow along with the brand via Facebook and Twitter!  You can shop the plus size collections online at Lafayette 148, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue as well!

Are you a fan of Lafayette 148 New York?  Have you had the pleasure of frolicking in a piece of the collection?  What did you think?  I want to know!

TAGGED: Lafayette 148, plus size designers
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
By Marie Denee Founder & Editor in Chief
Follow:
Marie Denee is the founder and Editor in Chief of the digital plus size media platform, The Curvy Fashionista. With over 11 years of prior retail and management experience and her MBA in Marketing, Marie often is sought after for her industry knowledge, marketing expertise, and the ins and outs of plus size fashion.
4 Comments 4 Comments
  • Kimberly Gomez says:
    April 13, 2012 at 8:58 am

    Thank you for doing this interview. I’ve enjoyed Lafayette 148 for quite a while and am confident every time I show it to my clients, they’re getting high quality, beautiful garments.

    About a year ago, I noticed that the models they used for plus size were normal size models, so I called them out about it on Twitter (@impeccableimage ). They responded that they would be making changes and within a couple of months, the models were real size. I love that they heard and responded.

    Thanks again!

    Reply
  • Chelle W says:
    April 13, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    I am a very loyal Lafayette 148 customer – I love their fit and their quality.  It is so great to see them doing more of their more fashion-forward pieces in Plus sizes too.  Edward is inspired and inspiring; whenever I need a “perfect” outfit, especially for work, Lafayette is my first stop. 

    Reply
  • Z_Lauren_Z says:
    May 25, 2012 at 7:30 pm

    Thank God for Lafayette 148 – pretty much everything else made for plus size women is matronly crap or club wear crap.

    Reply
  • Kim Kyne says:
    March 25, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    How were you able to interview Edward Wilkerson? What a fabulous opportunity to get to know a noted designer firsthand.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Forever Savage Hooded Onesie blue
plus size lingerie

Snuggle Up— These Plus Size Pajamas Will Keep You Warm All Winter

You May Also Enjoy

Rebdolls Holiday Collection- MONTANA METALLIC RUCHED MAXI BODYCON DRESS
plus size dresses

The First Drop in the 2024 Rebdolls Holiday Collection is Giving Us Plus Size Glitz and Glamour

Team TCF By Team TCF
Hilary MacMillan Celebrates 10 Years of Fashion with a Drool-Worthy Fall Collection
Fashion

Hilary MacMillan Celebrates 10 Years of Fashion with a Drool-Worthy Fall Collection

Team TCF By Team TCF
Torrid jeans
plus size denim

TCFTop10: Where to Find Great Plus Size Jeans Under $100

Danielle Jennings By Danielle Jennings
Meet Stylist, Keia bounds the stylist behind Survival of the Thickest
Culture

Meet Keia Bounds, the Costume Designer Behind All THOSE Looks on “Survival of the Thickest”

dnicole By dnicole
Never Say Never Star Jeff Jenkins of Chubby Diaries (1)
Culture

A New Travel Show Centering a Plus Size Person? Ohhh Yes! “Never Say Never” with Jeff Jenkins is One to Watch!

Jillian Pfennig By Jillian Pfennig
Chouette Designs Photographed by Wildflower Photography
Accessories

Ethical Plus Size Engagement Rings: Custom Rings with Chouette Designs | LGBT-Owned Jewelry Brand

Brianne By Brianne
  • News
  • Style
  • Shopping
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop TCF
  • Events
  • Get Featured
  • Plus Size Resources
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
Instagram Facebook-f Twitter Pinterest Youtube
© 2008- 2023 · by TCFStyle Media · All Rights Reserved ·
Welcome Back!

Please Sign in to Your Account

Lost your password?