Fashionista

How to Make It in Fashion: June 21, Dream Hotel Downtown, New York

Anna Deutsch

Friday May 17th, 2013

Zana Bayne’s Path from High School Fashion Blogger to Celeb-Approved Harness Designer
How I'm Making It

Zana Bayne’s Path from High School Fashion Blogger to Celeb-Approved Harness Designer

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With her piercing blue eyes and voluminous raven hair, Zana Bayne is striking, even before you factor in the fact that she is usually wearing a harness. The self-taught leatherworker has made quite a name for herself since launching her namesake label in 2010, dressing celebs like Madonna, Lady Gaga and Chloe Sevigny as well as fashion insiders like Taylor Tomasi-Hill and Sally Singer.

We caught up with Bayne to talk about how she went from high school fashion blogger to in-demand accessories designer with clients like Prabal Gurung and Lady Gaga.

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Published at 3:00 PM

Friday May 10th, 2013

Courtshop’s Nicole Tondre and Lisa Fuller on Launching Their Hit Denim Line and Being ‘Decidedly Non-Fashion’
How I'm Making It

Courtshop’s Nicole Tondre and Lisa Fuller on Launching Their Hit Denim Line and Being ‘Decidedly Non-Fashion’

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Nicole Tondre and Lisa Fuller of Courtshop definitely embody their brand: unpretentious and totally cool, which can be a tough combo to find in downtown Manhattan. They opened the doors of their Nolita boutique in 2008 and it quickly became a favorite destination for hip girls looking for understated wardrobe staples at reasonable prices. The one thing that they felt was missing was great denim that fit the same bill, so they launched their own in-house line in 2011.

I met Nicole and Lisa at their brand new Mott St. location. No longer an under-the-radar cult fave, Courtshop is now stocked in 100 stores including Stevan Alan, Shopbop.com and Bonadrag.com, not to mention worn by the likes of Drew Barrymore and Michelle Williams. After scooping up a pair of high waisted summer shorts (this column is actually a cover for my shopping addiction), we popped around the corner to sip sangria and chat about denim, dogs (Lisa has a naughty Boston Terrier and Nicole has an American Eskimo mix) and how they build their brand.

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Published at 4:31 PM

Friday April 26th, 2013

Ex-Kiki de Montparnesse and Victoria’s Secret Designer Jennifer Zuccarini on Why She Started Her Own Line
How I'm Making It

Ex-Kiki de Montparnesse and Victoria’s Secret Designer Jennifer Zuccarini on Why She Started Her Own Line

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Jennifer Zuccarini’s resume was already ridiculously impressive before launching her own line last year. The ambitious designer cofounded the uber-seductive Kiki de Montparnasse before becoming design director at Victoria’s Secret—talk about lingerie street cred. But developing a line all her own was always the goal, and in 2012 she did just that with the launch of Fleur du Mal. More than just another lingerie line, Zuccarini’s vision was to create an experience that celebrates both getting dressed and undressing, and everything that surrounds it.

We talked to her about how it all came about.

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Published at 4:15 PM

Friday April 19th, 2013

Starr Hout and Laura Cramer of Apiece Apart on Taking Risks and Going Out on Their Own
How I'm Making It

Starr Hout and Laura Cramer of Apiece Apart on Taking Risks and Going Out on Their Own

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Laura Cramer and Starr Hout launched Apiece Apart in 2008 with the idea to create a simplified wardrobe. While the best friends always loved fashion and lusted after Pheobe Philo designs and vintage treasures, they found the constraints of time and money made it hard to find the pieces that they really desired. Then, while day dreaming the hours away on a road trip through West Texas, Laura turned to Starr and said ‘wouldn’t it be amazing if you just had a few things you could pack in a bag and you could take anywhere?’ Apiece Apart was born.

Their inspiring backstory, right this way…

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Published at 5:00 PM

Friday March 8th, 2013

How I’m Making It: Rebecca Taylor
How I'm Making It

How I’m Making It: Rebecca Taylor

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Rebecca Taylor is a well-known name when it comes to outfitting modern women. Her refined, feminine designs are found in boutiques and department stores worldwide and regularly worn by It girls like Alexa Chung and Kate Middleton. But long before she had a flagship on Madison Avenue, Taylor arrived in New York all the way from her native New Zealand with little more than hopes of being a designer.

Taylor attributes much of her success to the blind optimism that accompanied her to New York back in her twenties. Not long after arriving she decided to launch her namesake label with a business partner, and the two did everything from sales to shipping themselves. More than 15 years, that namesake label is as well known as the famous fans who wear it. Hot on the heels of her Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Fall 2013 collection, we caught up with Taylor eager to find out how a girl from across the world (literally) ended up building a multi-million dollar business here in New York. Here’s what we learned…

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Published at 5:15 PM

Friday February 22nd, 2013

With Handbag Designer Clare Vivier
How I'm Making It

With Handbag Designer Clare Vivier

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Clare Vivier’s eponymous handbag line all started with a simple laptop case. Struggling to find a fashion-meets-function bag to suit her busy lifestyle, the former television journalist simply designed one herself. The rest, as they say, is fashion history.

We caught up with Vivier to learn more about how she managed to build her brand from scratch–and as it turns out, she’s far from slowing down with lots of plans on the horizon (like doing footwear–yes please–and a store in NYC). Read on to find out how she does it…

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Published at 4:00 PM

Wednesday February 13th, 2013

Tuesday February 12th, 2013

Assembly New York: Work/Play
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Assembly New York: Work/Play

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This season, Assembly New York designer Greg Armas explored the contrast and overlap between work and play. The resulting collection was playfully polished. It had the label’s signature cool kid vibe without trying too hard.

“It’s all about blurring a line,” said a very hands-on Armas, who was literally going back and forth from backstage to up front with the models just to check that everything was perfect. “The intention is taking the office and the after office and crossing those over.”

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Published at 5:30 PM

Monday February 11th, 2013

Jonathan Simkhai Fall 2013: Going 2 Tone
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Jonathan Simkhai Fall 2013: Going 2 Tone

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Jonathan Simkhai‘s girl changes her tune each season, while always managing to maintain the same sophisticated-hipster vibe. Last spring was all about Venice Beach, but this fall she’s gone to gritty London in the punk rock 80s. And we like it. “I looked at lifestyle and what makes people happy. There are all these things Read more →

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Published at 1:17 PM

Sunday February 10th, 2013

Mara Hoffman Fall 2013: Mystics and Misfits
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Mara Hoffman Fall 2013: Mystics and Misfits

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Regardless of season or occasion, Mara Hoffman proves that fashion can be a purely joyful experience. Wrapping yourself in energetic layers of chunky knits and kaleidoscope prints would make even the gloomiest winter day so much more tolerable. Hoffman definitely stayed true to her global vision delivering a technicolor collection with a variety of tribal Read more →

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Published at 3:26 PM
Rebecca Taylor Fall 2013: Pretty Tomboy
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Rebecca Taylor Fall 2013: Pretty Tomboy

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For Fall, Rebecca Taylor used leather, shearling, zippers, and embellishment to add a tough edge to her downtown girls. And while the collection had plenty of skirts and pretty frocks, there was a definite nod to the boys happening. “It’s like you’re at CBGBs in the ’70s wearing a really cool dress,” Taylor told us Read more →

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Published at 2:06 PM

Friday February 8th, 2013