It was something I was more interested in myself. When I went to see my sister dance at ballet, I was really into costumes and the arts, and my family was also supportive of whatever me and my sister wanted to do. I would say I pushed myself the most to be into design.Collection: Design
Well I am from Annapolis Maryland. I went to High school in Baltimore, but I grew up in Annapolis. It was a cute town. We lived on a waterfront community. It was good, even though I don't really fit the preppy boater kind of style.
Shoes are a big part of your look. I think that if your outfit isn't really something special, then fun footwear is a great way to jazz it up and make your ensemble more interesting.
Fabrics and lining make a big difference in the garment. If you're buying an expensive trench coat, and it's lined in something cheap, it doesn't feel as nice.
Fashion is not superficial; it is a dynamic tool to transform oneself, and it can be used to command the attention of those around you.
To be honest, I knew nothing about fashion at all. When I decided to go to college, I just wanted to do something different.
I hate the terminology of 'costume' because my clothes are not costumes at all. I think they're high fashion, avant-garde, and more couture, definitely, and yes, some of my pieces are not particularly wearable, but I wouldn't say they're costumes, I'd say they're more couture.
A bad investment is going for quantity over quality. If you're trying to be careful with your wallet, especially with the economy right now, you have to choose staple pieces.
There are a ton of A-list stars I'd love to dress - fashionistas like Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson. Also, Cate Blanchett would be fun and fabulous. My picks vary by the day and how I'm feeling. But, as a new, young designer, I'm open to working with everyone!
For me I'm a luxury brand trying to prove to people and the industry that it's not about being a TV celebrity in any which way, it's about being a designer and having a business and being successful at that.
I am confident and I work so hard to be confident. If I wasn't talented, then I wouldn't be as confident.
Working in a salon, you look at trends all day long. You're looking at color all the time, what new products are coming out. You're a part of the fashion industry, especially if you're working in a higher-end salon.
I came from a different world from other designers because I already had such a strong fan base that was interested in fashion. You have to give the little divas something.
I just think it's great to show a gown that's $8,000 and a shoe that's, like, $25 - but still look fabulous together.
There are still places to go, there are still dinners, there are still parties, and you can still get dressed up. That's part of having fun in fashion.
I hate hearing from anyone ever saying, 'Oh, you only make clothes for models. That's so annoying,' because it just never, never is the case. Our top-selling size is probably a 12.
We sell in Moda Operandi, which, if you don't know what it is, it's a beautiful luxury site that does pre-trunk shows for designer collections. We got them to change their algorithm online to go up to a size 24.
There's no one piece everyone should avoid, but obviously there are some things that don't fit the right way on everyone.
Now, with social media, it's a whole different world, which is good and bad. Back when I was in college, when there was no Twitter, no one knew what Vera Wang looked like - there was no face to the brand.
I'm really not into casual clothes for a cocktail party. I like to see fun people, having fun, in fun clothes.
If you book the same models that look and act the same in every show - I get the continuity, and it is beautiful to see, but there's also no life to it. I'm personally not a fan of that.
Christina Hendricks is still one of my favorite people to dress because she has this old Hollywood, vintage quality to how she likes to get ready.
I've dressed what fashion thinks of as the 'It' girls like Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, but I also just love people like Kathy Bates and Leslie Jones.
We have dresses that I actually think look better if you have more of a bust or more of a hip... or whatever it is. That's why, in a collection, it should be as diverse as you can be. I think there should be options for a lot of different types of bodies and women.
My first retailer was Saks Fifth Avenue. I didn't even know how to ship a box to a retailer. Like, how do you pack it? How do you send it to make sure it gets on the floor? You figure it out as you go along.
Women are wanting to wear my clothes not only because they're great clothes but because of what we represent.
My woman, the person who's buying the clothes, is from all walks in life. She's from different countries and cultures. She's going to be different sizes.
I think, more and more in fashion now, diversity is so important because that's what the customer is.
When you're an adult designer, you're either running a business, or you're helping someone else's business run. Either way, that's a lot of pressure.
I think a lot of women aren't really sure about their bodies, so they don't always get their fit right, whether it's too tight and too sexy or way oversized and doesn't show figure at all.
I think everybody needs a little bit of Minnie in their wardrobe.Collection: Thinking
The bows, the polka dots, the color, the playfulness - you don't have to over do it. You just have to be able to style it in the right way.Collection: Color
The thing is, if you're a designer, then you want to constantly push yourself and your designs. When we make a new collection, we're changing shapes, we're changing patterns. We get a dress on a model, and it's our first time seeing what the dress really looks like on a woman's body.Collection: Design