About Me
FIRST AND FOREMOST: I give GOD all THE GLORY for bringing and keeping me in this life thus far and SECONDLY: I thank-him for GIFTING me with the miracle of KREATIVITY and also, for making me a person who can be both STRONG AS SHITZ and still be, SENSITIVE to humanity and cherish, the beauty of this earth we live on. Yes, I can stand at the edge of an ocean, marvel at the mystery of the sky and/or feel the plight of Africa's children and
shed a tear: I wouldn't be THE ARTIST OR PERSON I am otherwise:WHO IS THE FASHION GURU??? THAT WOULD BE ME....This name has been appointed to me from MANY professionals in the fashion world: IT IS NOT SELF-APPOINTED contrary to popular belief. Professionaly, I am a FINE ARTIST, A HAUTE COUTURE FASHION DESIGNER, AN INTERNATIONAL MODEL SCOUT, A CONCEPTUAL FINE ART DIRECTOR, AN INTERIOR DESIGNER,AN ENTREPRENEUR, A SINGER/SONGWRITER AND A FASHION HISTORIAN, LECTURER AND WRITER. My life has been a long list of "FIRSTS"....Fashion-wise, I have owned more free-standing boutiques than any BLACK designer in American history (4) in exlusive, European retail environments. My womenswear company - KILGOUR AND SWEET HAUTE COUTURE - is created with my wife: CELIA SWEET - KILGOUR from Memphis, Tennesee...I met her after she finished attending FIT on 7th Avenue in New York. Our flagship store in prestigious SHORT HILLS, NJ was the FIRST AND ONLY retail designer boutique owned by AN AMERICAN DESIGNER, black, white or otherwise.We owned TWO BOUTIQUES in Short Hills, one a 2500 sq ft Haute Couture made-to-order salon and the other, a trendy, in-your-face ready-to-wear boutique with TUPAC and LENNY KRAVITZ blasting your ear drums out. Our next door retail neighbors? GIORGIO ARMANI, CHANEL, FERRAGAMO, YVES ST. LAURENT, CHANEL & VALENTINO. Our past and present clients have been a steady, ECLECTIC mix of socialtes, business moguls, athletes, royalty and celebrities from all walks of life...the list is LONG AND EXTENSIVE...my four top clients: LENA HORNE, CAROLINA BARCARDI - THE HEIRESS ELITE to the BACARDI RUM FORTUNE, ANDREA FUICYNZNSKI,THE PRESIDENT OF CHRISTIES in Beverly Hills and HER ROYAL HIGHNESS - PRINCESS AMANDA BORGHESE of Milan and Short Hills, NJ...she has presented several of our Haute Couture shows under her tutelage. Moving along to MENSWEAR, my wife is NOT INVOLVED in that effort and the company is called: MIKEL KILGOUR - MAN 2000+ - I named it this in 1996 anticipating the arrival of a new millennium...that said, you should know that I always LOOK FORWARD because I feel: THE PAST IS TRULY DEAD AND GONE. I TRY not to rest on my laurels and I approach EVERY DAY as if its the FIRST DAY of my creative pursuits. For me, it keeps things FRESH and I an not BURDENED with a lot of BAGGAGE that can ultimately, STIFLE my flow. My past and present menswear clients include: MAGIC JOHNSON, STEVE HARVEY, BRAD PITT, GRANT HILL, BLAIR UNDERWOOD, MIKE EPPS, CHARLIE SHEEN, the late JOHNNIE COCHRAN, HERBIE HANCOCK, DR. DRE, SHAQUILLE O' NEAL, SNOOP DOGG, DAVID ROBINSON, MAURICE GREEN, BOYZ II MEN, TY LAW, CARL LEWIS, DORIAN WILSON, the late TUPAC SHAKUR, DAVID JUSTICE, BOB SUMNER,D.L. HUGHLEY, MIKE TYSON, DON KING
and WILL SMITH. My menswear collection was featured in the movie, FULL FRONTAL by Oscar-winning director: STEVEN SODERBERGH.On the subject of FINE ART, please refer to the website: www.thebungalowgallery.com.I also own an image and marketing company for PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES, FITNESS MODELS AND PERSONAL TRAINERS and you may review it @ your leisure @ www.athleticartdevelopment.com. Media-Wise, I have been the subject of scores of newspaper and magazine articles...highlights include THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, THE HONOLULU BULLETIN (I was the first BLACK designer to present a collection on the island), THE NEWARK STAR LEDGER, ESSENCE MAGAZINE, HARPER'S BAZAAR, FOCUS MAGAZINE, UPSCALE MAGAZINE, NEW JERSEY GOODLIFE MAGAZINE, BLACK ELEGANCE MAGAZINE, TODAY'S BLACK WOMAN MAGAZINE, NEW JERSEY MONTHLY MAGAZINE, THE BEVERLY HILLS COURIER, BEVERLY HILLS MAGAZINE 911 and BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE whose cover I appeared on in July of 2000 for their 30th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE...It was the FIRST TIME they referenced fashion on the cover since 1976 when IMAN was discovered by photographer, Peter Beard in Somalia. Ironically, it would be IMAN again, in September 2006 that would appear on the cover for the third, fashion-oriented issue in the magazine's history: This time with TYRA BANKS and KIMORA LEE SIMMONS in tow. I am truly honored that EARL GRAVES chose me to represent this LANDMARK issue which honored BLACK FASHION DESIGN on a global scale.Television - wise, I have appeared on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, GOOD MORNING NEW YORK, BET, CNN, CBS NEWS, FOX 5 NEWS, ABC NEWS, MAIN STREET AMERICA and NBC NEWS life with FRED ROGAN.Back to THE NEW YORK TIMES, when I moved to Cali, they announced in their fashion column that it was THE END OF AN ERA for the east coast and I shared that article with MARC JACOBS whereby they announced his appointment as the new Chief Designer @ LOUIS VUITTON. Not to be outdone, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES announced that I was like a new TOM FORD arriving on the west coast because I saved a menswear company name DION SCOTT from distinction...they reported that one, singular jacket I created for the company garnished over one million dollars in sales from their private clients which consisted of mainly pro athletes and musicians. My favorite menswear client is by far MAGIC JOHNSON...he has been a true friend and has gone ABOVE AND BEYOND regarding my FINE ART career. He had me present a exhibit of my works @ his exclusive Beverly Hills estate enclave and also at THE CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL on AVENUE OF THE STARS in Century City. GUESTS included BEYONCE, JAY-Z, P.DIDDY AND KIM PORTER, RUSSEL SIMMONS, MUHAMMED ALI, DAVE WINFIELD, KELLY ROWLAND, FAITH, HOLLY ROBINSON, CLARANCE AVANT, CHANTE MOORE AND KENNY LATTIMORE, who is on the ADVISORY BOARD of my gallery...the biggest suprise of the evening? MAGIC JOHNSON flew in JOHN LEGEND to sing 5 songs @ the event and it really blew everyone's mind...as aforementioned, MAGIC IS THE MAN...such a giving brotha...I'm sure you all know the extent of his generosity and caring for others.Alright, sorry to keep muttering on and ENOUGH ABOUT ME...I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT ALL MY PEEPS AND PEERS on this page and KOLLABORATION is always a possibility. On the subject of questions, THE GURU does not mind answering a few generic questions, but like ONE-ON-ONE consultation, I cannot do...that's why I do seminars all across the country for and it's not fair to those who pay for my advice...I will say this: FASHION IS A BUSINESS...PLEASE, REALIZE THIS: IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR LOOKS OR SOMEBODY FROM YOUR INNER CIRCLE TELLING YOU YOU'RE THE BOMB AND SHOULD BE A MODEL...A PROFESSIONAL MODEL IS A MARKETING TOOL...NO MORE AND NO LESS...YOU NEVER TAKE PRAISE OR FOR THAT MATTER, CRITICISM PERSONALLY...VERY FRANKLY, EITHER YOU FIT THE BILL OF THE PRODUCT THEY ARE MARKETING OR YOU DON'T: END OF STORY....BE SMART AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK JUST LIKE YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WERE APPROACHING ANY OTHER PROFESSION. FOLKS OFTEN SAY PEOPLE IN THE FASHION WORLD ARE SHADY...NEW ALERT:!!!!! PEOPLE ARE SHADY EVERYWHERE IN EVERY PHASE AND FACET OF BUSINESS DOWN TO WALL STREET IN NEW YORK...NOT JUST FASHION. YOU WILL ENCOUNTER GOOD PEOPLE AND ASS-HOLES EVERYWHERE IN LIFE BUT GUESS WHAT? SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO WALK ON FAITH AND LET GOD GUIDE YOUR HAND...HE WILL PROTECT HIS CHILDREN, IN THAT YOU CAN TRUST. IT MAY NOT BE IN A WAY YOU CAN UNDERSTAND BY TANGIBLE MEANS BUT GLORY WILL COME. Much love and respect guys...BE BLESSED and don't forget to shed that tear if you have to...IT'S THERAPEUTIC and IT CLEANSES...I say this to the ladies and the gents...THE MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE THOSE WHO ARE STRONG AND YET, THEY CAN TAP INTO THEIR SENSITIVITY. THAT'S WHO WE ARE
PEOPLE...HUMAN BEINGS...GOD'S CHILDREN...IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING STRAIGHT, GAY OR OTHERWISE...IT'S NOT THE POINT...PEACE TO YOU...THE GURU: MIKEL KILGOUR Home | Browse | Search | Invite | Film | Mail | Blog | Favorites | Forum | Groups | Events | Videos | Music | Comedy | Classifieds
