Kaira Akita's ACE-in-one

When I met Kaira Akita last year, I recognized her as a force in the Atlanta entertainment scene. Not only did she hold her ground as “Keisha” – or Baby Mama #1 – against the whirlwind Tasha Smith in Why Did I Get Married, but she convinced us that “Diva” is a female version of a hustler in BET’s first, original sitcom Somebodies long before Beyoncé sang about it. What I did not know is how enterprising this young ingénue is. Founder of A Clothes Encounter, Akita manages to merge her love of fashion with her passion for all things theatrical.

What was once known as “a luxury consignment event” is now rebranded to A Clothes Encounter – The Fab for Less Fashion Collective. The original concept embodied everything great about being a woman: signature cocktails; girl bonding to the rhythms of Mary Jane, Jill and Badu; and more clothes, accessories and shoes than the best walk-in closet could sustain. The new brand is like a movie re-imagined in 3-D. It embodies event planning and management, styling services for the frugal fashionista and media design.

In order to understand the new vision, one must appreciate the former construct. The seeds for Akita’s original idea were planted when she downsized to a smaller apartment. This fashion nova had accumulated far too many clothes to carry to her new digs, so she decided to have a sale. In her mind she was having a “garage sale” of sorts, but this former event planner does nothing without panache. For Akita, that meant rallying girlfriends for cocktails, music and socializing, while ridding herself of baggage – literally. By the end of the evening, her girlfriend’s were inquiring about “the next one.” Akita gestated on that query for a while before conceiving the ACE abstraction.

According to Akita, she chose to focus on consignment or gently worn fashions because, “That is how I live.” (A girl after my own heart! I was first introduced to consignment shopping by my mother during the hunt for a prom dress. It was a satin taffeta, dual-hued forest green/black ruffled-mini, strapless, sweetheart neckline confection by Victor Costa for less than a $100– but enough about me.) Akita, not unlike your Savvy Shopaholic, believes that you do not have to spend endless ends to look good. Consignment, thrift and major discount retailers like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx are all part of the equation and “financially make sense.” The actress is complemented all the time on her well-crafted look by her friends who complain that they “could never find that stuff in a thrift shop” and assume that she shops in higher end stores like Neimans or Saks.

Akita’s mission is to make it easy for those who fluster easily over rows and rows of metal hanging racks. “I’m doing the legwork,” she says and she believes that her event is socially responsible as well. By recycling gently worn classic and designer duds, Akita turns one woman’s throwaways into another woman’s fab find. She also donates a portion of the proceeds from every event to partnering charity. You got to love a girl who gives back simply by being chic!

In her new effort, which is slightly down-scaled to accommodate her burgeoning acting career, Akita has partnered with such well known brands as Goodwill for the “Gorgeous by Goodwill” media campaign and Cook’s Warehouse for the “Cooking in Stilettos” event. Log onto www.aclothesencounteronline.com for details about her upcoming events and to read up on her special features like the “Boutique Spotlight.” In its latest incarnation, Akita plans to make it a bi-coastal feature of Atlanta and her home away from home, Los Angeles.

Kaira Akita is one savvy shopaholic to keep up with. Who knows, I just might see you at her next event…

The Dish Now-The Savvy Shopaholic Blog

INTRODUCING THE SAVVY SHOPAHOLIC BLOG

Judging from the title of this blog one might assume that I enjoy retail therapy: red tag sales, markdowns, close-outs or standing in line outside of some big-box retailer at the crack-of-dawn in the freezing cold in anticipation of getting first crack at the selection of bargain basement deals. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. I actually abhor shopping! There are a few things I find more enjoyable than shopping: reading the back of cereal boxes; doing the laundry; or getting in a session of P90X!

When I was a struggling college student, I dreamed of the day that I would be able to take my highly-degreed-big-money-earning-self on lavish spending sprees through the halls of Neiman, Saks, Nordstrom and/or Marshall Fields. Or better yet, I would be able to turn to any page in the Spiegel catalog and order with abandon. Let’s not mention the visions of point and click on J. Crew’s site or Zappos.com - Lord have mercy - the endless array of shoes on that site!

However, all of that was before I decided to become an actress and continue my financial disenfranchisement. Once I choose the lifestyle of “artist” the trajectory of my life went in a wholly different path. Upwards of 85% of Screen Actors Guild members make less than $10,000 per year and depending on the year that would include me.

As Hollywood is all about the aesthetic - money or no money - I had to step up to step out. In casually, laid-back LA where a night out is all about the cute top, low-rise, boot cut jeans and sexy heels looking the part can get pricey. Then you certainly can’t be seen in photographs in the same outfit. Quelle horreur!

Once I had that bang-up year of bookings, I was able to put my money where my dreams were. Trust me; I had my $125 Frankie B barely-above-pube moments, but I could not afford to keep that up (or sit down – my whole ass would be out!) Not to mention, once I had an opportunity to shop the way I had always dreamed, I discovered I did not really like the process. It was only when I did not have the money that I saw all the things I wished I could have. I am sure some of you have experienced that delusion!

So, this blog is dedicated to the girl whose life necessitates looking good while scrimping or the woman whose personal obligations demand financial discretion and time limitations. Here, I will treat you to new ways to dress to impress without spending in excess. Help you discover ways to shop that you never considered before. Treat yourself to a fabulous design without getting behind on the mortgage, car note or anything else. Creative spending in the name of looking good is how we do it over here!

I plan to help you uncover your inner, frugal fashionista because the economic times dictate it. Teach you to be a savvy shoppanista because we could all afford some thriftyness in these lean years. I guarantee you no one loves a good bargain the way I do! I am on a mission to help you look like a million (minus four or five zeroes.) I am the savvy shopaholic and this is a public service announcement.

For more dish on trending topics and news you can use see updated posts by my girls Tracy Nicole and Carol West who are Dishing NOW at www.thesdishnowblog.blogspot.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter at The Dish Now.