You might still be in summer mode, but you can't deny it – fall is right around the corner. And while Bryant Park is certainly a reliable compass to guide your wardrobe by, you'd be doing yourself a great disservice by ignoring the official kick-off of fall fashion: The Lexus Fashion Preview.
As one third of 'Project Runway's judging panel, Nina Garcia has been a tough advocate for wearable womenswear, often ripping apart contestants' poorly executed designs with a blunt review -- on Season 2, she memorably told contestant Santino Rice his attempt at Heidi Klum-inspired lingerie was "not aesthetically pleasing" -- while reserving her hard-won praise for a small and select few. Without a body of design work to her credit a la co-judge Michael Kors or the supermodel qualifier of 'Runway' host, Klum, it's easy to wonder what gives Garcia the right to judge, but aside from the fact that the ELLE Magazine Fashion Director has spent more than a decade working with stylists and designers identifying runway trends women will actually want to wear, you'll be hard pressed to find the new mom and author of 'The Little Black Book of Style' looking any less than her best. We asked her how she does it.
With your position at ELLE, your 'Project Runway' taping schedule, and your newborn, how did you get this book done?!
Fashion plays an immense role in my life. Between my job as Fashion Director at ELLE and acting as judge on 'Project Runway', working on this book was really an extension of what I do everyday. Having a baby has definitely consumed a lot of my time, but fashion is a huge passion of mine and I am really excited to share my tips, experiences and knowledge.
What does 'The Little Black Book of Style' tell women that they can't read in ELLE or any other fashion magazine or book like Tim Gunn's 'A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style' for instance?
I know firsthand how overwhelming fashion can be so I really tried to teach the basics -- the fundamentals of fashion that every woman needs and wants to know. From a woman, editor and fashion-insider's perspective, it is truly Style 101. LBBS is not a heavy read and I made it this way so that people would be able to use it as a guide and reference it whenever they felt the need. It really encompasses basic tricks of the trade and is essentially the cliff notes of fashion so to speak.
Continue reading Elie Tahari: The Most Driven Man in the Fashion Business
When Lela Rose sent her fall '07 collection down the runway at New York's Bryant Park in February, I could not believe the models were wearing Payless shoes. Dripping in Van Cleef & Arpels diamonds and draped in Rose's billowy cuts, it seemed inconceivable that the parade of pretty patent and embroidered flats were actually affordable to more than the celebrities and power editors that populated New York fashion week's front row seats and after parties. That's exactly the effect she wants her brand to have.
Continue reading Designer Lela Rose Loves Fashion's Highs & Lows
Continue reading Everyday's a Hollyday: Hollywould's Holly Dunlap
"I'm about to be a muthf@#ing fashion supastar," former 'Project Runway' contestant Mychael Knight promised in his exit interview from the show which aired September 2006. "I'm gonna make an album," he continued, "I'm gonna come out with a cologne. I'm gonna come out with a home line. I'm gonna have a fashion magazine... All that's next for me, baby."
Nine months later, Mychael has crossed two things off his list -- the first being a jewelry line.
In partnership with third generation diamond jeweler, Louis Glick, Mychael has designed a collection for the woman who'd be as comfortable wearing her bling with a wifebeater, jeans and Guisseppe Zanotti heels as she would with a $40,000 couture gown.
(These earrings are made up of 22 round diamonds set in platinum for a total weight of 39.42 carats.)
"I design for a woman who isn't afraid to be a woman," Mychael explained to me and AOL Black Voices' own Kenneth Gibbs Jr, echoing the gist of the introduction he gave at Fashion Week last September before sending his feisty collection of cleavage-baring minidresses and swimming costumes down the runway.
Now sitting in the Penthouse Suite of Manhattan's Maritime Hotel previewing 10 pieces from his line of bracelets, necklaces and chin-grazing earrings -- which make up a total weight of 394.68 carats -- he knows, "Some people think it's too much," this idea of a woman sporting a daytime look of denim and diamonds, but for Mychael who is also set to release a unisex scent named 'Majk' later this summer, 'too much' is relative.
"I want to do it all," he says, careful to add he's not just trying to make a quick buck off the name recognition 'Project Runway' has lent him. "I turn down a lot more than I accept," which is why his clothing line has yet to come out.
While opportunities have come his way, he says none of the offers would have enabled him to create the kind of quality line he wants to design. But the designer who has worked with Queen Latifah and Ciara and made a name for himself pre-'Project Runway' styling and designing for video and photo shoots promises the jewelry line, fragrance and all the other things on his To Dominate list won't distract him. Calling fashion his baby, he says simply, "It's just taking longer."
"I really believe in what I do," he says at the close of his 'Project Runway' interview and he's still as confident as ever.
Just when I fully believe it's all about the maverick indie designers with their asymmetrical silhouettes, razor cut hems and more affordable prices, experienced designers like Luca Orlandi send looks like these down the runway.
(left to right: green silk and linen long jumsuit on Marie Fuema, silver silk and linen dress on Tanya)
Replete with the confident craftmanship, subtle details and spot-on styling that come from a seasoned designer who's already made his name, Luca Luca's 2008 Resort collection is Jackie O reincarnate with a little Charlotte York inspiration.
(left to right: white annd orange print top and skirt on Elsa, white silk organza embroidered dress on Ana)
Keyhole cutouts and slits, embroidered silks and eyelet lace defined the Luca Luca fashion parade held at Milk Studios in Manhattan's Meatpacking district on rainy Monday, June 4, with the occasional print spicing up the simple palette of white, sand, lemon, tangerine and silvery-gray. Turn the green jumpsuit above around and a sexy razor slit reveals a hint of back. Slip on this pleated white organza shift and float down the street as each layer moves with the rhythm of self-posessed strides.
The accessories were the perfect compliments, as apropo for cosmo girls-about-town as ladies-who-lunch. Oversized don't-recognize-me shades added a little bit of power-lunch-at-the-Ivy glam while oversized envelope clutches suggested their sophisticated holders were carrying more than lip gloss and a mirror inside.
Newsboy caps brought a touch of street to the resort as well, while preserving effortless polish.
Strappy transparent footwear -- usually associated with strippers -- were surprisingly classy and instantly classic a la the jellies you used to rock daily -- admit it -- all 1980s summer long. Matching clear plastic bags were a hit too, made, presumably, to hold pooches or beach accessories.
When Luca came out for his bow at the end of the collection, he gave a practiced wave and tipped his head in a bow exemplifying to the three members of his design team who came out with him, a confidence and experience they have to look forward to.
MORE LUCA LUCA
Check out his Pre-Fall 2007 Collection
Hear what he has to say about Paris Hilton, skinny models and more
For young designers who are starting out, it isn't enough to simply conceive and produce a beautiful line of clothes. Most aim to show their creations in a fashion show, although that's prohibitively expensive for many established designers -- easily in the tens of thousands of dollars for a simple show. And even if they had the money to do it, few young designers would know who to invite, where to hire models, how to hire a venue or who could handle their show's music.
Luckily for young designers there's Gen Art, an organization that supports emerging talent, perhaps most notably by mounting a group fashion show each season during New York Fashion Week in which they present a group of new designers in a runway show in front of press, buyers and just plain fans of fashion. In other words, they make a coveted fashion show a reality for many promising designers who otherwise would be unable to have one. Who's benefited from being shown by Gen Art in the past? Zac Posen, Rebecca Taylor, Hollywould and Chaiken are amongst the now-popular labels which helped get their foot in the door with Gen Art's help. 
"What makes Gen Art unique is that we not only introduce some of the best new designers in the U.S. and abroad to the fashion press, buyers, and industry, but we also give them exposure before a consumer audience," explains Lee Trimble, its Fashion Director. "Most people don't know that we are one of the few fashion organizations to successfully bridge the gap between the fashion industry and the general public. By selling tickets to our shows, we are able to provide designers with much wider exposure outside the fashion industry to people who might be interested in buying their collections but aren't invited to insider fashion events."
The organization does much more than just launching those two influential shows during New York Fashion Week. Throughout the year, they help young designers in cities like Los Angeles and Miami as well as the Big Apple, sponsoring events like shopping nights in key cities across the country featuring clothing by young talent and offering advice and feedback. (The organization also has film, art, and music divisions, helping emerging talent in those media as well.)
Tomorrow night one of the organization's key annual events, Gen Art Styles, will be held at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. This unique fashion show is a competition awarding promising young designers, who will display their entries in a colorful runway show. It's always an entertaining evening -- 'Fashion Police''s Robert Verdi will MC, and judges include designers like Cynthia Rowley and John Bartlett --which will show off lots of young talent in a variety of categories ranging from evening wear to avant garde fashion. Past Styles winners include the likes of Peter Som, Rodarte and Duckie Brown. This year's winners will each be awarded $5000 to reinvest in their business.
The competition to make it into tomorrow night's award show was fierce. Over 800 applicants from everywhere from the Netherlands to Uzbekistan entered to try for one of the evening's 30 spots. A panel of top fashion industry execs, including editors from 'Vogue' and 'Harper's Bazaar' and buyers from Saks Fifth Avenue and Henri Bendel helped choose tomorrow's finalists. At the helm of the decision-making process is Fashion Director Trimble, a Los Angeles transplant with many years of experience spotting new talent and helping it grow. She says there are many components to what makes a promising new designer.
"I look for a number of things: quality of construction and fabrics, innovation in design, and commercial viability," she explains. "I always ask designers where they are selling, where they hope to sell, and how they are staying afloat to help determine whether of not they have longevity in the business. It's unfortunate if a designer only has enough funding to produce their first run of samples and can't sustain the financial impact of producing an order for a store, so I always ask them how they plan for growth."
Trimble is excited about the caliber of finalists who will be shown at tomorrow's Styles show. As she puts it, "We have a really strong lineup this year. One designer finalist, Joel Diaz, who designs the line Jolibe, was head designer at Helmut Lang for four years before starting his own line. He has a strong outlook; his aesthetic is very current and I think he has a good chance at the show. I also like H. Fredriksson, who we've shown at our fall runway show in NYC. We're huge fans of hers are we're glad she was selected as a finalist."
In terms of advice for young designers, Trimble says it's important to be realistic, listen and pay attention to people's reactions, both good and bad. "Many new designers just starting out think that fashion is going to be all glamour," she says. "I recommend that designers listen to the feedback they are given from buyers and editors that see the line and don't take criticism personally. Industry feedback can be extremely valuable. If it helps you improve the line without losing your core vision, then I encourage it."
And when it comes to encouraging emerging designers, there is perhaps no organization that is more active than Gen Art.
For more information about Gen Art and tomorrow night's Gen Art Styles 2007 show, visit www.genart.org.
Special to Stylelist by ZANDILE BLAY
Remember the last time a quiet stroll through your local department store attracted a gaggle of fragrance-spritzing sales associates your way? We're guessing you didn't enjoy the experience and so are perfume companies. Finally.
In response to the ineffectiveness of spray tests at fragrance counters and paper scent strips in magazines, perfume companies are unleashing less aggressive yet more sophisticated ways for customers to experience their fragrance. Among them is the ScentTester, an interactive sampling kiosk.
The machine, developed by ScentTest Communications, allows you to voluntarily smell a fragrance by pushing a button. Similar double-sided advertising displays have also debuted across the country. In addition to showcasing pictures of the fragrance, these displays automatically diffuse the scent in the immediate area, so you can see and smell the fragrance simultaneously.
Traditional magazine scent strips have not been left behind either. Instead, they've been upgraded into ScentSeal's, a technology pioneered by Arcade Marketing, which seals a sample of the fragrance in a small foil packet, and allows you to experience a more authentic version of the fragrance. This is the primary benefit behind another breakthrough fragrance marketing technology: The ScentPak.
The Scentpak is a cushion-shaped satchel that releases a soft puff of fragrance when squeezed, and lasts for up to six months -- or 50,000 squeezes. Giant fragrance manufacturer Coty, which produces popular scents like ckONE and Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker, is already scheduled to debut ScentPak samples of their fragrances at selected Target stores.
According to Theresa Molnar, executive director of the Sense of Smell Institute, these techniques which emphasize experiencing the fragrance versus star-studded ad campaigns is what increasingly savvy perfume buyers need.
"I don't care who the celebrity is. If customers don't like the fragrance, they are not going to buy it. Before, people didn't realize that perfumes smell different on everyone. Now, the consumer is more educated."
(Brad Barket, Getty Images)
Julee Wilson -- who regularly rotates between nearly 100 perfumes -- is this educated consumer.
"I like to walk into a store and really look for a fragrance by myself," Julee says, "I think it's a truly personal experience that needs to happen on your own time and void of simply opening a strip in a magazine."
Pamela Peckerman, owner of bagtrends.com, shares those sentiments. "Packaging and presentation is important," she says, "but it ultimately comes down to the smell."
>Check out our Top 10 Perfume Picks
Special to Stylelist by MEGHAN RABBITT
Move over Hanes cotton classic. There's a new batch of T-shirts lining store shelves, and they're more graphic, stylish, artistic -- and pricey -- than ever before. "With so many brands and styles to choose from, consumers are willing to pay more for not only quality, but also uniqueness," says Shelly Chaney, vice president of marketing for Michael Stars, an upscale designer who has a line of tees. "More than anything, people want versatility -- they want to be able to wear something to the office as well as out after work or at home on the weekend."
But just because you can't afford a closet full of $400 tees doesn't mean you can't get in on the trend. Here are six picks under $100. It's Tee Time!
The Graphic Tee
This Old Navy cotton tee ($12.50) is soft, doesn't cling and comes in more than a dozen cute styles. For this price, we'll take one of each.
The Statement Tee
Make a stylish political statement in GAP's Inspi(red) T-shirt. Fifty percent of the profits from the sale of this $28 top go to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.
The Retro Tee
Lucky Brand may be known for their jeans, but Lucky's current range of tees -- for both women and men -- include graphics featuring everything from throwback cartoons to old school bands. Prices range from $38-$54.
The Preppy Tee
LaCoste's new $69 polo -- in brighter colors and figure-hugging fits -- turned an old country club standby into a classic among the young, preppy set.
The Fitted Tee
With prices ranging from $25-$75, Michael Stars tees come in a variety of styles in the label's signature ultra-soft cotton. "We want to remain true to the classic basics and at the same time, give customers the trends that are in high demand," says Shelly.
The As Seen on "X" Celebrity Tee
Morphine Generation's tees ($88) are a staple at celebrity shopping hotspots (like Kitson in L.A.) and for good reason: Their "burn-out" line is made from 100 percent cotton that's been shaved to give it a thinner, cooler texture and look.
The Limited Edition Tee
Jamie "JRV" Valhouli considers his hand-printed t-shirts and hoodies moving canvases for his original artwork -- all of which he sells as limited edition prints as well. Inspired by his first year living in Los Angeles, where the artist is now based, the Lost Angels tee ($42) pictured here "exploit[s] the living paradox that is the City of Angels," Jamie explains. Visit JRV Design to place an order online.
Every wedding season has a trend, whether it's the dress of the moment, the cake combo to die for or the must-have wedding song. But this year's trend appears to be one that will stand the test of time -- creating environment-friendly nuptials.
Los Angeles-based paperie and press Soolip has made an annual tradition out of their modern bridal event, "A Soolip Wedding," giving brides-to-be the opportunity to check out the latest in everything from bridesmaids' dresses to catering companies all under one roof in one afternoon. But when founder Wanda Wen was deciding on this year's theme, she felt it was time to highlight ways to make weddings more "green."
(Fancy Strapless Gown with ruffle train by Conscious Clothing)
"Having a green theme was on my mind last year, but it wasn't at the forefront of the public's mind," Wanda says. "But the timing this year was great, with the Oscars taking a green initiative and the release of 'An Inconvenient Truth.' Initially, there wasn't a forum for people to think that weddings and eco-friendly services could go together, but they can and they should."
Considering the exhibitors Wanda brought together for the Soolip event, it wasn't hard to figure out how to take the green route for one's white day. Green Weddings and Events, specializes in all-around eco-friendly wedding planning, taking care of everything from invites to jewelry, catering and even the honeymoon. For the do-it-yourselfer, WedShare.com gives husbands- and wives-to-be the opportunity to create their own wedding site to help them manage guest lists and send out e-mail reminders without the burden of a paper trail. The Jenny Yoo Collection boasted stunning bridesmaids dresses created with more than one wear in mind and attendees were treated to a fashion show of Monique Lhuillier's latest gown designs, while Vanilla Bake Shop shared delicious cupcakes made with real, whole ingredients.
(Shangtung Bridesmaid Dress from the Jenny Joo Collection)
"This concept wasn't even thought of, let alone heard of when I was married 10 years ago," says Hasblady Guzman of the Bokaos Salon. "But now it's becoming the norm. At my salon we use Aveda because all of their bottles are made of 85 percent post consumer waste, and there [are] no animal byproducts or chemicals. We even have environmentally friendly hair dye so brides can take care of themselves completely and in a very natural way."
And while it may not have been at the forefront of most brides' minds, it seems the event made more than a few converts. Says bride-to-be Melissa Harris, "Weddings can be one of the most wasteful experiences of a young couple's life -- especially considering it's one day. If anything, I think weddings should be one of the first events people think of going green with."
Considering A Soolip Wedding is planning on making the green wedding a recurring theme and some of the exhibitors are offering their services on a national basis, chances are the trend will spread itself well past the West coast, creating a brand new genre of Bridezillas. Hey, at least this faction will have the earth's best interests at heart.
Find the perfect wedding dress for you with help from bridalwear designer Amsale.
Let's face it. There are lots of great designers out there, but it's not all that easy to find someone who's doing something new -- really new -- with clothes. And then there's Angel Chang. Whether its a transparent raincoat embedded with tiny little LED lights around its collar (and a hidden spot with double A batteries to power them) or a nightclub-friendly dress which changes color as your body heats up, Chang's creations merge style with technology in a way which (in our iPod-and-cell-phone-era) is just plain modern. No wonder she was recently named a recipient of a prestigious Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, an honor which has been presented in the past to the likes of Proenza Schouler and Zac Posen.
Chang, who is in her late twenties, says she's creating clothing which speaks to her contemporaries. "My generation is always on our cell phones and on the internet, but the clothes that are out there have been designed the same way for decades," she says. "Our lifestyle is so different today, and we need to have clothes that can accommodate it."
Chang recently showed her third collection at a well-attended presentation in Chelsea during New York Fashion Week. It included feminine dresses with hidden compartments for perfume, just as her current collection offers sporty separates with iPod controls discretely tucked into waistbands and on jacket sleeves. The style is all hers, but she works with tech-savvy engineers on many pieces to create salient fabrics which add another dimension to the clothes. The pieces are often about subtle and truly original details, as is shown by a poufy, girly skirt with hidden 3D images of violent weapons on its trim. That 3D technology, the result of a collaboration with high-tech fabric whiz Adam Beckerman, has never been used in clothing before.
Chang, originally from the midwest but a New Yorker since attending Barnard College in the late '90s, says she was inspired to launch her collection while working as a design assistant at Donna Karan, where she worked after time in the design studios of Marc Jacobs and Viktor and Rolf. "Much of my job was buying vintage pieces for inspiration," she recalls. "it was strange to me. Now we're just copying and rehashing the past. For me it felt like, 'If there's a WWII bomber jacket and you're just copying that, you're not really listening to the demands of what people need today.'"
She says that her inspiration for many of her pieces, which are carried at Opening Ceremony and other tastemaker boutiques, comes from her own experiences. Case in point: that light-up raincoat, on which she collaborated with Ted Southern, who has created wings for Heidi Klum to wear on the Victoria's Secret runway. "9/11 happened and then the blackout happened in New York," she explains. "In those times, i felt really vulnerable in the space that I was in. During the blackout, I was fearing for my life, because I didn't know who was in front or in back of me. That's how the light-up raincoat came about. You don't really realize these things until you're put into extreme situations."
These days, Chang's extreme situations include the challenges of creating her line while running her own business. "It's so different on so many levels," she reflects. "A key difference was that when you're in a corporate environment, jobs were so compartmentalized that my focus was on [just] design, and to really understand clothing, you need to understand the business side."
Chang's business is in great shape at the moment, with a new sales showroom and the Ecco Domani honor added to the equation over the last few months, and she's working to design more unique collections. Who does she see as her typical customer? As she puts it, "When I think of the person I design for, I think of a globetrotter. She travels around a lot, she is very cosmopolitan and well-cultured. She's a fun, young, very hip and with-it kind of person who really loves innovation."
All of which describe Angel Chang to a T.
Angel Chang's clothes are available at Opening Ceremony and other boutiques nationwide. For more information, visit www.angelchang.com.
Is there anything Isaac Mizrahi doesn't do? He's responsible for two successful collections of wearably feminine clothes (luxurious couture pieces and a super-affordable line for Target which also includes home accessories). He also creates menswear, hosts a TV show and periodically does everything from designing costumes for theater to appearing on shows like "Ugly Betty" to commenting on the red carpet. But this irrepressible designer has indeed come up with something new to add to his workload: he recently launched a succinct line of wardrobe essentials which are only available online at his website, www.isaacmizrahiny.com.
The online capsule collection includes basic-with-a-twist items that you'll want to wear everyday, from an appropriate-for-everything dress to a year round light cashmere cardigan to the perfect white tee. There are a couple of accessories too, like a roomy silver-handled canvas tote which would make schlepping even the heaviest load seem stylish and a pair of just-girly-enough loafers.
Prices aren't as low as Target's, but shopping on the site is reasonably guilt-free. That tote is $48, for example, and for just under $400, you can snag an investment-worthy, sturdy raincoat. The pieces feature many of Mizrahi's trademarks like a punchy shade of bright pink and an Audrey-Hepburn-meets-preppy sensibility, but most have a "where did you get that?" insider feel as well.
Mizrahi says the collection allows him to connect directly to his many fans. "I launched the online shop because I love the idea of reaching out to the actual customer without having anyone else in on the dialogue," he explains. "It's just me and her. She gets to see what my ultimate favorite things are. These pieces are all my ideas of perfect classic things that a girl can't live without."
But his website includes more than just a store: it's a compendium of all things Issac, including videos of his recent show at New York Fashion Week, tidbits on his favorite things to do and places to go, links to information on all his collections, and even tips for how to customize simple ballet flats with studs and a plain navy blazer with elbow patches and a crest. "I love the idea of revamping things rather than throwing things away," he says. "I love the idea of encouraging people to put their stamps on things, which is my definition of the word style."
Today, twenty years after he launched his first line, Mizrahi himself defines style for many of his fans. By the mid '90s, he had won three prestigious CFDA awards, was the subject of a documentary ("Unzipped") and had become synonymous with modern American style. And over the last few years he's reached the masses as well as the fashion cognoscenti, as his partnership with Target, which began in 2003, offers truly stylish clothing and accessories at affordable prices. The collaboration has been so successful, in fact, that it's paved the way for everyone from Karl Lagerfeld to Proenza Schouler to create collections for mass retailers. "It makes me very proud that somehow we blazed this trail," he says. "The thing I'm proudest of in the end is that I will forever stand more for the democratizing of fashion than I will for being exclusive and snobby."
Mizrahi is pleased with the way the Target venture has evolved since its inception. "The business has grown which has allowed us to do more, go out on more limbs and really explore the customer," he says. "Success breeds success or something. It's unbelievable what we can achieve now -- the quality for the money. I guess it's also cause I have great people I work with who add so much to the process."
Although he's got anything but a life of leisure these days, Mizrahi says all his different projects compliment each other, As he puts it, "One project feeds the other. I need to work on clothes in order to make the TV thing happen, and ideas for my women's line are spawned from doing my men's clothes. It's like a creative ecosystem."
What will this "creative ecosystem" spawn next? "My future will be more of the same," he smiles. "I love what I do."
To find out more about what Isaac Mizrahi does (and go shopping too!), visit www.isaacmizrahiny.com.
Ease your winter wardrobe into spring.
Experiment with spring's biggest beauty trends.
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Preview the trends you can expect to see in-stores this fall.
"When I see the fabrics, the designs just come to me," says Ukrainian-born, Chicago-based fashion designer Vika Brown of the luxurious fabrics that inspire her Eclectica (by Vika) label. But while inspiration may come to the Macy's "Distinction in Design Award-winner" the minute she finds the right fabrics, she aims for her designs to have the staying power of classic pieces. "I want to create clothes that will last for longer than one season and compliment what's already in my customer's closets."
Her commitment to creating classic, timeless pieces is one of the reasons you won't see super-bright colors or wild prints in the Eclectica collection. The color palette for her spring and summer line is made up of natural fabrics like linen, cotton and silk charmeuse in black, white and other neutral shades. "I basically wanted to design very classic pieces that are more modern and a little bit sexier for summer," she says adding "I try to create pieces that are very beautiful and flattering on all body types."
This said, she credits fellow designer Narciso Rodriguez -- best known for his sleek, black and white clothes -- as one of her many style inspirations. Not all her inspiration comes from such obvious sources, though. 'If I had to dress a celebrity," she says "I would pick Jessica Simpson. ... You could do so much with her style. She can be very classic or very funky."
Vika has been interested in fashion for as long as she can remember. She got her start by designing dresses for friends and relatives before emigrating to the US in 1998. After experimenting with different hand-knit projects using novelty yarns and receiving plenty of encouraging responses, Vika took the plunge and launched her first collection under the Eclectica name in 2002. "I always knew that I loved fashion and that I had to be involved in it somehow," says the designer.
Chicago shoppers can find her collections at Unique-So-Chique, Wolfbait & B-girls, Eskell, and Habit, or online at the Second City Style Store. Fashionistas anywhere can shop for Vika's pieces at www.secondcitystore.com/store/home.php?cat=9.
Visit www.vikabrown.com for more info.
