Tracy Christian Shares Sante Grace on The Business Spotlight with Dori DeCarlo

0:00 She is sure, she is sure, she is strong, she is true, is true, she is brave, she is she is you. She is you, she is you, she is sure. She is true, she is strong, she is straw, she is true, is true, she is brave, is bray, she is she is you. Hello, everyone, welcome to today's Word of Mom Radio. Here on the Word of Mom Media Network. I'm your host Story Di Carlo, and you know we are here week after week, show after show, breaking those myths that entrepreneurs and business women, especially those of us building our businesses from home, they were just dabbling in between bake sales and getting our nails done. We're not. We are smart, we are savvy, and we are sharing the wisdom of women in business and in life. And I am very excited to be bringing our guests into today's show. Tracy Christian is a veteran talent agent with more than twenty five years in the entertainment industry. She is the president of TCA Management, a boutique talent agency representing trained character actors, producers, and writers.

1:16 Named as one of the top Black female executives by Forbes, Hollywood Reporter, Essence, Black Enterprise, and More, Tracy has represented a list as varied as producer Mona Scott, Young Academy Award winner, Octavius Spencer, Emmy and Golden Globe winners, Elizabeth Moss and Jeremy Piven, Emmy nominees, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jamie Hector, Grammy Award winner Tony Braxton, and industry veteran Tricia Campbell. Tracy is by coastal with residents in both Los Angeles and in New Jersey, and after years of having difficulty finding clothes that accommodated her lifestyle, Tracy started Santa Grapes, an upscale plus size clothing line. Tracy functions as both the founder and head designer. The line has been featured in multiple fashion magazines and blogs like Fashion Bomb Daily, Who What Where, Refinery twenty nine and Time Magazine, and now Here Onward of Mom Radio. So with all that being said, Tracy, welcome to the show.

2:31 Thank you. I'm happy to be here, I am. Thrilled to have you, and I have to tell you some of the people that you represent are just some of my favorite actors. Right now. It's met Elizabeth Moss. I mean, having watched her all the way from the West Wing. She was just a teenager to where she has gone. It's a wonderful thing to see a woman, yeah, in control of her career, like that same thing with Octavia Spencer. Wow, talk about somebody who's become that household name and really representing women that don't take a lot of stuff and are strong enough to step out of the box. So I would love for you, Tracy, to take us on your journey from talent agent to fashion designer.

3:20 Well, it's really simple. I have a beautiful, big, broad life and I couldn't find any beautiful, big broad clothing. So like even in college, you know, my friends and I would go skiing, and I'd have to rent men's clothes to go skiing because they just didn't exist in women's sizes. You know. I guess whomever is responsible for making women's ski clothes thought the fat girls were staying home eating bomb bonds and we weren't out on the slopes too. But it's always been a bit of that. And then as I became I'm a working professional in the entertainment industry. You look at your boss or your boss's boss for an example of success. Right, what car does that person drive?

4:13 Where do they live, how do they conduct themselves? How do they dress? And for me, I was never going to be able to replicate that because the clothes were not available ARMANI was in making a suit a woman's size twenty or you know Chloe or Stellem, a car. It just it didn't exist for me. So what I would do is I would go through Vogue and Harper's Bizarre and I would pull out these images and then go to my seamstress and we'd make the alterations that you need to make for something to you know, look good on my body. And I replicate this stuff. And I knew fabrics. I worked for a converter for a while, so I knew fabrics fairly well. And I would pick out all of the text that we were to use and I would create a collection. So I did that for years, you know, making clothes for myself. And it was expensive, and you know, you learned a lot of production lessons. And it meant that when my suitcase was late, you know, with me traveling somewhere or even worse, stolen, I was really up a creek because the other girls could go downstairs in the hotel and just pick up clothes or go to the local mall and buy clothes.

5:28 But I was stuck. There's no such thing as Lane Bryant in the South of France. I was not going to be walking down, you know, the cosset with my client in some dress from I don't even know. But it taught me I'm probably not the only one with this challenge, right there are options that we don't have once you get above a size twelve or a size fourteen. So I knew I wanted to start the clothing line, but I have a career and I didn't have time to give some make patterns or whatever. But when the pandemic struck and we were all sitting around wondering what the next step was, I literally heard a voice one night that said, create your clothing line, and I got up at three o'clock in the morning, I bought the domain and that's when I started.

6:23 Women start with why I say it all the time on this show, we really do. Women see a need that's not being filled and we fill it. And I love that you did this because again, like you said, you shouldn't be reduced to having to buy men's clothing because some designer decided that, oh you know women of that size aren't going to be doing this really, so it's foo how did that helpen They know exactly. And it's amazing because when we were talking about this earlier forty something years ago, I can't believe it's literally forty two years ago. My gosh, that friends of mine were plus size models for Sears and Macy's, the catalogs and stuff.

7:12 Back then, in nineteen eighty two, a plus size model was a fourteen to an eighteen, depending on the clothing. In today's world, a plus size model is a size eight. And we wonder why women have such screwed up images of our bodies because of what Hollywood puts out. And when there is a woman with curve, where do they go? Where do they find fashion? There are a lot of challenges. One, human beings are getting bigger, period, just they're getting bigger. So what was a size six in nineteen sixty is no longer a size six, So it's a it's screwed up in that way.

8:01 And then in women's fashion, there's no law that says, okay, a size ten is this measurement as opposed to men's clothes that are sold by the measurement right. So if you're a size sixteen neck, if you know, for a men's shirt, that's a particular measurement. It's not about are you fat and skinny, you're this, you're that. It's just what the measurement is. And what it allows manufacturers to do is to manipulate women a bit. So when you have something that's European made, it runs smaller. When it's American made, it runs larger because the Western body is a little larger. So if you're buying Liz Claiborn or Donna Karen or whatever, you can buy a whole size small.

8:54 It's all kind of a mind game, and it does really that socialization has really screwed up women who try to fit. Look, everybody knows what spinx is, everybody knows what skims are. We alter our bodies to fit the clothes, when really it should be the other way around. The clothes should be changing to accommodate us. That's how screwed up we are. And I tell people all the time, forget about the size and my clothes. Decide how you want to look in that outfit, and then just by the size that gives you that the number has no relevance. But that's so hard, that conditioning is so hard for us to undo.

9:40 It really is, and it's an amazing thing because it shouldn't matter when you look at all of these companies out there now where I have a friend who's a size for that that little teeny thing, and had bought something, how to return it three times she wound up head having to get like a three X for it to fit her little tiny body. I'm like, in what world is this like the twilights over those little chin characters or something. That's fast fashion. So there's a real lack of consistency in sizes based on the cost of the garment, where it's made, how it's made. We really tried to we're conscious of that, particularly with plus sizes, and so we really work on what I always say, we're here to end the crying in the fitting room. Very few women who run into the fitting room knowing that everything is going to fit or look exactly the way it looks on the model or the mannequin. But we give as much of an education as we can and describing the garments, describing what the fabrics do, and why clothes that are a little better made look better on a curvy body. Now, you probably we were talking about when you grew up, and you grew up at a time where people were very conscious of you wanted a good belt, you wanted

11:12 a good bag, a good pair of shoes. Those were the foundations of your wardrobe. And people knew if you had a good pump, all you had to do is take it to the cobbler and you could put a new soul on it. You could polish it and it was like new. You got a good pair of fair gambo flats or you know some other thing. You save for those kinds of things, and they'd last forever. They were quality made, and that meant something. Never mind the prestige, but it was an investment. I'm gonna wear I'm gonna buy this basic black pump, buy this designer because I know I can wear it for the next thirty years.

11:54 So even if it costs one hundred and fifty dollars, amamortizing that over years, not three months. Well, fast fashion came in and they kind of threw all of that out, and now you'll see women who are twenty five just really entering the job market. Between thirty five, they don't know about bridge, They don't know about better, they don't know about an investment wardrobe. What they do know is I went to Bloomingdale's and this blazer was two hundred and fifty dollars, and then I looked online at Shean and something that looks exactly the same was nineteen dollars.

12:37 So they buy the nineteen dollars, but they're not taking into account one is it gonna look like? Is it gonna look like the other blazer when I get it? No, how's it gonna fit? What's the fabric? Am I gonna sweat like a pig in it? And how many times am I gonna have to spend this nineteen dollars? Think about that, Think about what Tracy just said, because sheep is expensive, It really is. So we're going to say thank you to our sponsors and we'll be back here in just a moment. On Word of Mom Radio. She is brave, she is bold, she is you, and we want to tell your story. Are you ready to share your journey with us on Word of Mom Radio?

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14:09 We need your help. Donations are critical in order for us to continue our work. We also need volunteers to help with research and development. Please visit Unsilenced Voices dot org for more information. And we're back here on Word of Mom Radio. We are talking with Tracy Christian about our clothing line, Santa Grace. I love. I'm serious. I love what you were saying because people really think, oh well, I got it's for such a better price from this place. Like I said before, we broke, Chepe is expensive. So it doesn't matter if you only spend fifteen dollars on something. If you wear it once and have to replace it, it's already torn when you're taking it out of the bag, and then they don't bother have and you send it back because why bother? But it doesn't matter because it's already torn.

15:04 You're not gonna wear it anyway. Either way. They gave you your refund of your money, but you've wasted your time on something that's gonna look good on you, those signature things. And you know, I laugh because I think of my mom back in the day. You always wanted to make sure you have the little black dress with a cute little bolero jacket or this jacket or you know, the different things you can throw over it, but you want that shell underneath to be able to dress up, dress up, dress down. It's like having those pants, oh look, and those shoes. You had a good pair of pumps. You had a good bag. You had a good suit, whether you were wearing it to a job interview or to a funeral. You have these staples in your closet. And I don't I think fast fashion is like fast food. Okay, Taco Bell is delicious, right, but I know I can't eat taco bell every day. I have attack and diet. It's not good. And it's the same way with fashion. With style, people see me before they hear me, and what do I want to be saying to them? What do I need them to know about Tracy Christian She and other fast fashion outlets are not giving the message that I want people to believe about me. So it's not an issue for me not buying those clothes. I think budget wise, I always tell women you got a shop according to

16:34 what you have. I'm not saying that people should go out there and you know, be poverty stricken trying to buy a dress. No, that's stupid, but be aware of are you investing money or are you spending it? And again those core things. People don't realize that you can have four or five core thing. Good blazer, nice jacket, great skurt. Great, but you can move that around so many different ways. Yeah, and they always go down to you can wear them for years. The a line skirt, the style never changes and it looks just as fresh today as it was twenty years ago when you bought it. It's a very kind of French way of shopping and style, you know. And I love going to places like France and Italy and you'll see these women who are impeccable, impeccably turned out, whether they are twenty one years old or eighty one, And sometimes you see them wearing the same thing, but the clothes are cut so well that it's beautiful.

17:41 Right. The woman who's a young woman whoever, she looks sexy, and the older woman looks phenomenal too. So that's really what the brand is about, offering those options to plus size women. And sadly, I meet a lot of women who have never had the opportunity to wear real silk or real cashmere or linen, and they find out, oh wait, I'm using I'm wearing a natural fiber. I'm not schitzing like I did when I was wearing a polyester blouse. You know, natural fibers usually incubate as well as breathe. So when you wear something like silk, think about when you ski. Your undergarments are called silks, right, Why because silk is both an insulator and it's breathable. So you can wear my silk pants in the summer and not be sweating around your crotch, and you can wear them in the winter and not be cold. And then there's something about drape. If you know who Halston was or designers like that. Particularly in the seventies, they were very concerned with drape. And when you take a luxury fabric, they kind of hang off your body in a certain way.

18:56 And I don't even know what it is, but instantly people look at you and know this is a quality product. It doesn't take any training. It's just something in the eye that people can see. Okay, these pants are more expensive than these pants. This sweater is a better sweater than this other thing. And it speaks very loudly, but very quietly. And if you're a person like me who was climbing the corporate ladder, who needed, you know, famous people, wealthy people to instantly trust her? A lot of that I was able to do with the clothes that I wore.

19:41 If you and we all know, if you see, you know, a tradesman, If you have a plumber come over to your house and he looks a certain way, kind of don't trust that guy if he's dressed inappropriately. If you have another guy come out and he's wearing like worksman's pants and the proper boots and he looks appropate, you trust this person. Well, the same is true in business. You want to do business with people who are smart enough to look the part. It puts you a step forward that you can actually walk the walk and talk the talk. So how we present ourselves to the world should be a very conscious thing. Agreed, and getting back to what you were saying, with some people that wear the same things, that's what accessories are for, it really is. That's what scarves are for.

20:29 And a shell and different jewelry. You're putting your hair in a different way is going to change the way your outfit whoops, even though you're wearing outfit. Whether you're wearing a new lipstick or a bright red lipstick, a hoop versus a stud. You wouldn't you wouldn't think it does that. It changes the entire song that the outfit is singing. You're fragrance, even how you tie your scarf. I wear a lot of scarves because I have neck and spine and youry and believe it or not, a lot of times I'm in a neck brace and nobody ever knows it because I'm always wearing a scarf. I'm not in a neck brace now, but that's one of the reasons that ten months out of the year I will have a scarf on it. Nobody notices, but people compliment me all the time. Oh, it's so nice to see a woman wearing a scarf, and oh.

21:19 Because it looks like you put the extra five minutes to groom yourself right. So it says, even though people aren't even conscious that they're thinking this about you, they're thinking to themselves, Oh, Dori's really well put together. She's a really well turned out person. Because women don't take the time to wear scarves any longer. We don't. And one of the things I like about your line is that it's classy, got great stuff. But I think very often women in business dress the way they think a man in business would dress if he was a woman, as opposed to just owning your womanhood and dress it. And so that's one of the things that I like. Thank you, Yeah, bind those curves. You're accentuating the great parts of your body. You know, women are supposed to have curves, were supposed to be soft and touchable, as opposed to this fourteen year old boy body that girls all of a sudden longed. I don't get it. I just don't get it. I never will.

22:19 So I always applaud people that are just comfortable in their own skin. I remember nel Carter, Do you remember nel Carter? Of course I saw. Her do ain't misbehaving and oh wow, red dress, and I mean every guy in the audience. Her tongue was hanging out a foot because she owned it, and she worked every curve and just was out there. They were eating out of the palm of her hand. Because when you are dressed well, you feel better, you give off a different vibe. And just because we're curvy, rock them, rock the curve. Well.

23:00 I think when you're curvy, when you're curvy, you're at an advantage, right if you're owning your femininity. And it was very important to me. You know, I'm obviously African American, and in my community, you're supposed to be curvy. So for us, being a SI sixteen was not a slight and I knew many of my Caucasian friends and that community. It was like this, get as small and as skinny as you could be, and then go and get you know, fake boobs and a fake bottom and you know what have you. But we really celebrate curves. So our line really celebrates curves. I am inspired by the seventies, like remembering my mom and her girlfriends getting dressed to try to get into Studio fifty four, and I remember rap dresses and things like that, So I really want to celebate bring a waistline. You know, even if it's street fashion that we're doing, I want to accentuate, you know, that coke bottle kind of figure. There's lots of looks that you can create with our line, Like we're soon going to come out with an oversize kind of boyfriend suit which doesn't really have any curve to it except the way I'm gonna wear it. It's true, we want plus women. It may even be for the first time

24:31 in their lives, able to look in the mirror and have an appreciation for their full bus line or their big butt or their wide hips and you know, and we're senching in their waist and there's you know, lots of different ways to do it. So, you know, one of the things that we do live on ig live styling when you buy something from us. You know, if you buy a rap dress from us, they'll get a little post that tells you the proper way to tie the dress and shows you different ways to wear it without having to go out and buy special undergarments and showing you, look, the wrap dress looks great pairing with this other thing. And sometimes it's not even our merchandise, but just something I think other women might have in their closet, because I know the industry has kind of forgotten about the plus woman. It's been about covering you up rather than how do I accentuate the femininity? How do I create a space for you? And if you can see something like this, you know, people are really shocked at the looks that we can create just with you know, using the right fabric, and we do use absurdly expensive fabrics. So what we do is I used to sew my own clothes, so I got to be very friendly with a lot of the jobbers in downtown LA.

26:00 And some of that stuff falls off a truck sometimes if you're from the East coast, you know that phrase. And I would go down there and silk that normally retails for twenty seven dollars a yard, I would be able to get for ten bucks. And I literally would buy all the silk in the store and warehouse it and so, and we'd just make our collection from that silk. And that allows it allowed us to be priced competitive. Our prices are more than like if you shop at fast Fashion, we're definitely more than that, but we're less than or the same as like a Lord and Taylor or Bloomingdale's or you know places of that filing Head company, if you remember those stores. That's what allowed us to be competitive. And lots of women I get lots of emails about they didn't know the difference between satin and silk.

27:03 They didn't know they'd never had a cashmere sweater in their lives. And that's that's why we're here. Look good, but feel good. Looking good and feeling good is a great thing and a great way to wrap this up as we are closing out here, Tracy, what do you want to leave our listeners with and how may they reach out to you? So I am all about joy, right, not to be modeling, but we only have a certain amount of time on earth, and you shouldn't spend that time in polyester. I want people to love well, it's true, right, I want people to love their lives. Like when I get dressed, I'm able to look in the mirror and I love what I see. And that's what I want to offer to your audience. So you can reach me through our website, which is Sante Grace dot com. We also have a presence on both ig and TikTok under Sante Grace. And if you have any questions about the line or just reach out to me. And if you're a part of Dori's audience, definitely damn me. I'll give you a twenty percent discount or whatever you'd like to purchase. You just have to mention word of mom radio.

28:21 Well, I am putting that in our show notes. And I really encourage you. I really do encourage you. Take a look at Sante Grace. We need to celebrate our curves. We don't need to hide them under tons of things that aren't flattering. Work every curve. There's just something so feminine about a woman, a real woman's body in beautiful clothing that is designed to accentuate, not high, the body that you've been given, because, like you said, we don't have that long and to live it. How you know, if only I can, if only, if only, if only Bloney be yourself, celebrate every single thing that you can celebrate about yourself. Just go for it and know that every time you do, you give somebody else permission to do it too, that girl who no matter what she does, this is who she is, and somebody's going to make her feel bad and other people are going to make her feel great. But the other the reality is it all comes from you. So get in front of that mirror and love who you are. And I love that you are out there celebrating that. Tracy, thank you so much.

29:42 I so appreciate you coming and sharing your journey with us. I really do. Thank you for having me truly absolutely. Having my pleasure. It really has And for all of you tuning in, thank you so much for being with us. We're going to close out with our fat theme song from Smith's Sisters and the Sunday Drivers. So till next time, this is Dory de Carlo saying, go out and create a marvelous youth. Bye for now. She is sure, she is. Sure, she is strong, she is strong, she is true, she is true, she is braized, she is she is you.

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