Alumni Feature
Fashionable Career
S
By Doug Goodnough
ince high school, Melissa Lefere-Cobb ’95 was deter-
mined to live in New York City and work in the fashion industry.
Thanks to a unique Siena Heights degree program – along with
a relentless work ethic—she said she was able to achieve both of
those goals. For more than two decades, Lefere-Cobb has worked
her way up to the pinnacle of the fashion industry. She is currently
the division head for Herve Leger, a well-known French fashion
house, in New York City.
She said Siena Heights’ fashion merchandising program started
her down the “runway” of her very successful career path. She
learned about the program while a student at Jackson (Mich.)
Lumen Christi High School.
“It was a great program that allowed me to go to Siena for
three years, and then my junior year I spent at the Fashion Institute
of Technology,” Lefere-Cobb said of the fashion merchandising ma-
jor, which is no longer offered. “It served me well.”
The year at FIT, located in New York City, gave her the neces-
sary experience and exposure to the fashion world, while still giv-
ing her the Siena Heights on-campus experience she wanted. She
earned her bachelor’s degree at Siena Heights and an associate’s
degree from FIT through the program.
Less than a week after graduation, she flew back to New York,
set up interviews and quickly had a job offer—despite not having
found a place to live yet. She began her career in fashion creating
samples for Sygne Design, a private label for companies like Ann
Taylor. Lefere-Cobb advanced quickly in the industry, eventually
working for brands such as Donna Karan, Nautica and Dolce &
Gabbana.
In 2004, she accepted a career-altering position with Oscar
de la Renta, giving her an opportunity to work with one of the
icons of fashion. She worked
with the famed designer on
a daily basis for more than a
decade.
“When I started at Oscar
de la Renta, I was like, ‘Oh my
gosh, this is the big time!’” she
recalled. “I had not worked at
a company that high level yet.”
She credited her “Midwest
work ethic” in rising to Oscar de la Renta’s senior vice president of
Global Merchandising and Sales in areas such as fashion jewelry,
ready-to-wear fashion and childrenswear.
Above: Melissa poses atop The Eiffel Tower during a recent trip to Paris.
Below left: A candid moment with former boss Oscar de la Renta.
Since 2015, she has also worked for the Yigal Azrouel and J.
Mendel labels before Herve Leger hired her in January 2018 to
help relaunch its brand. Lefere-Cobb said she is currently consumed
with rolling out the 2019 collection.
She said she enjoys working with both the designers and
managing the business side of fashion. In fact, one day she hopes
to become a president or CEO of a fashion label.
“The way I work with designers is very different than the way
I work with my sales team, or the buying team or ecommerce,”
Lefere-Cobb said. “I have a high level of respect for the talent,
but then figuring out ways to get what you need to drives the
business, it’s a little bit of a dance.”
She said the fashion industry has changed dramatically over
the past decade.
“Everything has changed, (from) people’s buying patterns,
their viewing patterns (to) their expectation level,” Lefere-Cobb
said. “People are spending less money on clothes and more money
on experiences. People are also very conscious of where everything
comes from, what their footprint looks like.”
So, what does she like to wear?
“I’ve always been pretty fancy,” Lefere-Cobb said. “Obviously
Herve Leger, Oscar and J. Mendel, and for fun throw in some Zara.
And lots of high heels and dresses.”
She and her husband are raising their two sons in the heart of
New York City and live not too far away from the 9/11 Memorial.
She said New York City is still where she wants to be.
“I love the energy. I love the buzz. I love the people,” she said.
“It keeps you on your toes. It keeps you young.” u
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