Tag: designer

Minnie Rose

Lisa Shaller-Goldberg is the brainchild behind the Minnie Rose fashion brand. In this interview Lisa talks to Marta Walsh about her fascination with fashion which began as a child, her inspirations, the celebrities who love wearing Minnie Rose, and future plans.

When did your fascination with fashion design begin?
As far back as 7 yrs old my fascination with fashion began. My mother would dress me head to toe in Pucci dresses with matching hat and gloves and purse, shopping on Worth Ave. while visiting my grandparents in Palm Beach! I started minnie rose in 2005 named after my 2 grandmothers!

Can you tell us how it all began: the Minnie Rose fashion line?
I describe the collection as, a mature, elegant, casual lifestyle collection.

“I love designing what I believe in and what I know my customer wants to wear next. “

What does the name Minnie Rose stand for?
The name stands for classic beauty, comfort, security and love. Things that remind of those times!

Where do you draw the inspiration for the styles and colors of your designs?
Inspiration can come from anywhere.

What should we expect to see at Minnie Rose in the upcoming season?
Fall was definitely inspired by the current economic. Situation, with the launch of Miss Minnie Rose teen collection we are doing gold Lurex sweaters with giant $ sign and the words save it on the back, with of course matching hat and gloves!!!

Who are some of your favorite designers of all time?
My favorite designers: Emilio Pucci of course! Moschino for whimsical fun and Donna Karan for the fit and true understanding of a woman’s body.

Which celebrities are rumored to wear Minnie Rose?
Celebrities are Christie Brinkley, Kim Catrell, Faith Hill, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus , Cameron Diaz.

How do you go about designing for Minnie Rose?
I love designing what I believe in and what I know my customer wants to wear next.

How would you describe your own style?
At 45 my personal style is now casual sophistication!

What’s next for Minnie Rose?
What we see in the future Minnie Rose, Miss Minnie, Mr. by Minnie Rose, my puppy by Minnie Rose and eventually perfume and cosmetics

It was a pleasure to interview Lisa you can find out more about her fashion line Minnie Rose at the official website: http://www.minnierose.com/

Alexis LaMontagna

Alexis LaMontagna is a Los Angeles native fashion designer. In this interview Alexis LaMontagna describes her fashion line as really sexy but comfortable to fit real women with real curves, her muse for her Fall 2008 collection: Dita Von Teese, what she loves most about being a fashion designer, and plans for the Alexis LaMontagna Menswear and Children line.

When did your fascination with fashion design begin?

My fascination with fashion probably started when I was about 3 or 4 years old. I remember always being late for preschool because I would be arguing with my mom about what I wanted to wear to school. She would buy me all of these really expensive, girly outfits and all I wanted to wear was some really tomboyish outfit out of my brothers’ closet that didn’t match and a pair of pink cowboy boots.

How would you describe the Alexis LaMontagna fashion line?

I would describe the line as a whole as really sexy but also comfortable. I really try to make clothes that fit real women with real woman curves, because that’s what I think is beautiful and sexy. Although, sometimes the word sexy is associated with tight and short and although there is some of that, there is also the throw on a pair of comfy jeans that look like they came out of your boyfriends closet and a wife beater look that I also find to be equally as hot.

How do you go about deciding what garment to design?

There is no real formula to how I decide what garment to design. My style is constantly changing and there is always at least a few pieces that are in my head that I wish were in my closet so I just start with those and then I usually build in outfits or what I think that piece would be cute worn with. I guess I just design what I want to wear at that moment.

“The gown, the model, the music, I felt that it just all really worked together. Seeing that model walk down the runway in that dress still gives me chills.”

Where do you draw the inspiration for the style and color of your designs?
I draw inspiration from everywhere! Sometimes I will be driving and listening to music and all of a sudden a certain song will make me feel crazy inspired or talking to my husband about all of the places that we want to travel to always gets me really inspired for some reason too. The worst is when I get in bed and I’m about to fall asleep and then all of a sudden out of nowhere I feel really inspired and my brain just starts going crazy thinking about all of the pieces I want to design. I’ll lay there for hours picturing all of these crazy cool clothes walking down the runway and the next thing I know I have to get out of bed and I’ve slept a total of two hours!

 

Who do you see wearing Alexis LaMontagna fashions?

There are quite a few people that I would love to see wearing my clothes. I designed my Fall ’08 collection with Dita Von Teese as my muse so obviously I would LOVE for her to wear my clothes. I also really love Kate Hudson, Drew Barrymore, and Eva Mendes and would love to see them in my clothes. They are all really beautiful, sexy, confident women with great style.

What would be one of your most memorable garments you’ve ever designed?

One of my most memorable garments that I have designed would be a black and red striped denim gown that was the finale piece for my Fall ’08 runway show. The gown, the model, the music, I felt that it just all really worked together. Seeing that model walk down the runway in that dress still gives me chills.

Can you tell us more about the Alexis LaMontagna collection for this season and for the upcoming season?

Well, my inspiration for this season was 1920’s Hollywood Goth Glamour. I love old Hollywood Glamour but really dark so that’s what I created for Fall. Spring is totally different, it’s still a little bit dark because that’s what I like but its got more of a hippie feel to it. I love the music of the late 60’s and 70’s and the whole idea of Woodstock and what it was all about and seeing pictures and imagining what it would have been like to be a part of that really fascinates me so I tried to really use that as my inspiration for Spring. Also, obviously Spring is a bit more relaxed than Fall so you’ll still see some of the really classically tailored and structured pieces that I loved in the Fall collection but mixed in with some more comfy breezy dresses and wide legged slacks, tanks, ponchos, etc.

Who are some of your favorite designers of all time?

Some of my favorite designers of all time are Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld, Coco Chanel, John Galliano, and the list goes on and on!

Where can we shop for Alexis LaMontagna fashions?
A couple of the stores that you can find the line in are Maxine on Ventura Blvd in Studio City and Diavolina on Robertson Blvd in West Hollywood but for a full list of stores you can go to www.alexislamontagna.com.

What do you love most about being a fashion designer?

What I love most about being a fashion designer is when I get to see a woman put on one of my pieces and feel really good in it. To know that something that I created from one of my ideas can make somebody feel sexy or beautiful is just so cool.

How would you describe your own style?

I would describe my own style as rocker hippie. Vintage bell bottom Levi’s and a vintage t-shirt with black hair and black nail polish I think would be the best way to describe me.

What’s next for Alexis LaMontagna?

Next for Alexis LaMontagna is to try to grow the line so we can start on Menswear and a childrens line, which I’m really looking forward to!

It was a pleasure to interview Alexis you can check out more of her amazing designs at her website: www.alexislamontagna.com

Rachel Pally

Rachel Pally is the talented fashion designer behind the Rachel Pally fashion line. In this interview, Rachel talks about how she fell in love with fashion design while working at a custom shop in college, the Rachel Pally design philosophy, and what made her fashion line take-off as a must have brand among celebrities.

When did your fascination with fashion design begin?
I was working in the costume shop for my dance department in college and just fell in love with it. I loved making costumes and seeing them worn, and I started to make things for myself. Pretty soon my girlfriends were borrowing my pieces and I thought, “Hey! I should give this a try!”

Can you tell us how it all began: the Rachel Pally fashion line?
After I started sewing my own clothes, I sold them on consignment at a store/gallery in Chinatown in LA and things kept selling out. So I made a set of samples and shopped them around to stores.

How would you describe the Rachel Pally design philosophy?
Easy, sexy, day-to-night, night-to-day, body conscious

“I started before there were any other brands using jersey for anything other than t-shirts, so I was offering a product that couldn’t be found elsewhere. And the collection has such a large range, women of all ages and sizes can find something that perfectly suits them.”

Where do you draw the inspiration for the styles and colors of your designs?
From women I know, women I see on the street, magazines, movies, travel – I am always inspired by things I see.

What would be some of your most popular garments you’ve ever designed?
The cropped gaucho pant, the sailor pant, the full tie tube dress, the Mexico dress, the caftan dress…..

To what do you attribute your success in the jersey arena?
I started before there were any other brands using jersey for anything other than t-shirts, so I was offering a product that couldn’t be found elsewhere. And the collection has such a large range, women of all ages and sizes can find something that perfectly suits them. And our fit is fantastic so people keep coming back for more! And I received a lot of celebrity press early on, which built the brand name, got me into magazines, and really launched the company.

What made Rachel Pally designs take off as a must-have brand, especially among celebrities?
The fit, the availability, the ease of wear…..and lots and lots of PR and gifting!

How does your experience in dance influence the Rachel Pally fashion line today?
Jersey has such beautiful drape and motion – having a body in there makes the clothes come to life. My dance background also makes me aware of women’s bodies – what does and doesn’t look good, where things should cling and where they should drape.

What should we expect to see at Rachel Pally in the upcoming season?
We just shipped our swim collection and we have cashmere and double-knit ponti coming out for fall. Just keeping it new and fresh every season!

Who are some of your favorite designers of all time?
Marni, Balenciaga, Donna Karan, Lanvin

How would you describe your own style?
Eclectic.

What’s next for Rachel Pally?
A vacation! And then….who knows!

Many thanks to Rachel for taking the time to interview for Style Interviews you can learn more about her designs and fashions at: www.rachelpally.com