over and then I just try to spice it up. I believe in making a woman show off her true beauty… I don’t want to hide it; I want to enhance her!
Fashion, like any art, is seen as an expression of yourself. How do you use fashion to express who you are both personally and professionally?
I love this question. The last few years I have been painting on my fabric, special words and things, and I’ve also been designing my fabric prints. Whitney has one or two! I’m inspired by nature and Chicago architecture which is why many of my prints are things like concrete from a building or a crack on a sidewalk in an alley in Rogers Park. My graffiti skirt is hand painted by me on a print that is brick that is actually brick from a building in Chicago.
Has the way you approach fashion evolved as you’ve gone through different stages of your life, such as becoming a mother or expanding your career?
Yes, it had when I was pregnant. I did maternity when I had little ones. I did little children’s clothing. I’ve always dappled in men’s wear here and there, ties and bomber jackets, but in the end, I always came back to wanting to dress successful women who want to show their individuality and beautiful beauty.
You’ve designed for important women in Chicago’s public life. What’s the process like when creating custom designs for such influential clients?
It’s actually very much the same as dressing anyone else. These influential women just want to look nice and have clothing that fits them well and show off their personality in the end. Whether we are celebrities or just regular people we all want to look our best and feel comfortable, that is my specialty!