Favorite Designers

I’ve been asked a lot who my favorite designers are and why. This isn’t such an easy one for me, although most would expect it to be. Although I feel like I’ve evolved a lot over the years with style choices; be it interior, clothing, landscaping, holiday decor, etc.. However, one thing I have stayed consistent about with my style is that it’s all about how I’m feeling that day when I wake up or that night when I am getting dressed to go out. I am not sure if it’s my overexposure at a young age to mood boards and the glamorous sets and catwalks that set the mood for the particular outfit or collection of the moment but nonetheless feeling is EVERYTHING to me. It’s actually the same for visiting a restaurant or store for me. If I’m not feeling the aesthetic, you could be feeding me the finest chocolates or selling me the most precious diamonds and I wouldn’t like it. Vice versa, if I’m in a cozy cabin surrounded by snow, a wood burning fireplace and the most gorgeous flowers and wallpaper, I’d eat Dominos and be thrilled.

Unfortunately or fortunately for me, this is the way I am with clothes. When I wake up, my mood determines what I should wear. What I’m doing that day certainly will play into my mood but oddly my mood is more powerful than the activities of the day. It doesn’t make much sense, I know but regardless, if I dress to my feelings I tend to have a more productive day then if I don’t!

That all being said, who and why do I love?! Some all-time favorites certainly include Anna Sui, Marni, Marc Jacobs, Zimmerman, Pucci, Miu Miu, Prada, Chanel, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Camilla, Yohji Yamamoto, Gucci and anything from Couture.

A lot of these are due to experiences getting to know designers and watching the evolution of their collections come to life. Additionally, seeing the passion, joy and artistry behind the production of a collection is truly magical. From the moment a collection is dreamt of, it sort of becomes this fairytale that is brought to life. And the designer and team are the dreamers. Having worked with these designers year after year and watched them put their hearts and souls into the magic they create is so inspiring. The creation of a dream, what could be better?

Often it is these designers who I turn to wear when I am feeling creative or artistic. Putting full looks together for me, is a chance to be a creator myself, to put my own artistic abilities to use by pairing the art of another. I suppose on the flip side I could take a painting class or arrange flowers but, I don’t think I speak that language the same way.

The other half of the time, when I am not feeling fashionable and or stylish, my go – to’s are jeans and a tee shirt, in summer a swimsuit covered by jean shorts and a tank. Less creative you might think -however, I’m having an equal amount of fun putting those looks together! When I’m going for my more “all American” look, I tend toward designers like Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, James Perse, vintage t-shirts and body suits by Wolford or Alix NYC. I also enjoy mixing in some of the more casual pieces from what I consider more “artistic”, avant garde, designers.

Clothing for me is such a joyful way for me to show expression. I take far too long to get dressed most days, with a goal to of course look as though I have not taken any time at all. My favorite designers change everyday based on a reflection of myself and who I am feeling at that moment. I love that we are all our very own art directors in our lives. A chance to represent any version of ourselves that we choose, at any moment.