Fashion & Beauty Insiders on American Inspirations

"Navy was a key color in my Resort 2010 collection- -a color that to me is quintessentially American. The chiffon float-back dress, for example, combines the classic color with a modern silhouette." - Designer Jason Wu

Courtesy of Jason Wu | Paul Morigi, WireImage

"Barack Obama's inauguration - it had such cultural and historical significance and was truly inspiring for our country." - Designer Tommy Hilfiger

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"Definitely our work with Bruce Springsteen; he has always stood for the soul of America. We have been making things for him and his wife Patty for years. Of particular significance was the the post-9/11 tours for The Rising and Devils& Dust. It was the perfect time to see how he brought a positive meaning to the word America for the people who lived here!" -Designers Robert Tagliapietra and Jeffrey Costello for Costello Tagliapietra

Kevin Mazur, Getty Images | Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

"The beach is one of my favorite sources of inspiration and places to be. Nothing says Americana more to me than spending time with my family at the beach and enjoying the sand, surf and salty air." - Makeup guru Bobbi Brown

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"When I moved to the U.S. [from the Philippines] in 1989, I wanted to visually understand the feeling of fall. I had seen photos in American magazines, but coming from a tropical country, I didn't quite get it. So one day, a friend drove me to upstate New York near Westpoint and we stopped at a cliff. The landscape was so beautiful and so foreign to me. It was an explosion of burnt oranges, golden yellows, deep reds and rich browns. The leaves were turning! It was a eureka moment." - Accessory designer Rafe Totengco

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"I love the nostalgia of visiting my grandparents in Palm Springs as a kid, and that sense of midcentury Americana that lingers in the air there. That was the inspiration behind my 2010 Resort Collection. " - Desginer Chris Benz


Courtesy of Chris Benz | Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

" My father is a first generation immigrant from India - the eldest of 14 kids! My grandmother on my mom's side is Dutch and immigrated to Ellis Island and then grew up on a farm in Iowa. So the flag is quite important to me and I also love the country. They helped me to understand that without hard work you will have nothing and nothing is worth having without hard work." - Designer Rachel Roy

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"The new Yankee Stadium. I went recently to watch the Yankees versus Mets game and I loved the patriotic feeling." - Estée Lauder's Aerin Lauder

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images | Peter Kramer, Getty Images

"It would be the night that Barack Obama was elected president. It encompassed all of the ideals that America stands for." - Designer Doo-Ri Chung

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"I love the carefree, easy feeling of barbecuing by the beach in Santa Cruz with my family when I was younger. I can vividly remember the colors of the sun setting over the ocean." - Designer Rory Beca

Courtesy of Rory Beca