Fashion transforms by creating an image and allowing the
person to become something they may aspire to be. There are influences that go deeper than just
the look and feel. This article series
is being written to allow you a sneak peek into the lives of some of designers
that are part of the 2012 Phoenix Fashion Week.
The interviews comprise of candid discussions and questions asked of the
designers and my interpretation of their answers. The write-up will be a summary of the
conversation.
Suzanne Lay’s first dream was to be a Rock Star…speed up the
clock and now she is a rock star Fashion Designer. Her mom taught her at the age of 8 years old
how to sew and she fell in love with it.
As she was growing up she started to make her own clothes and then for
her friends. While her other friends
decided to pursue education in sciences, Suzanne’s draw was still towards
fashion and clothing. She went to
Columbia College in Missouri and attended the fashion courses there and again
reaffirmed her love for fashion.
Suzanne Lay wants the image of bold and enviable style to be
reflected in her fashion. The designs
are somewhat of an alter ego of a Midwestern girl in that she wants the
clothing to stand out and when a person walks into a room that they are noticed
and different and others want what she is wearing. One of her strongest influences came from the
experience she had in an internship with Zandra Rhodes, a well-known British
designer, whose own lifestyle is also as dramatic, glamorous and extrovert as her
designs. This education and knowledge
helped to shape and develop her design philosophy.
Regarding the fabrics used for her designs she utilizes
knits as well as woven fabrics that feel really good and that are conforming
and fitting and forgiving to really shape well on any figure. She has been inspired as well as inspired
others with her color combinations and designs as there is heart and soul woven
into them based on the life trials and tribulations that have been
experienced. The corresponding theme
captured is how love burns deep and the ability to find strength in your
heart. These concepts have enabled
Suzanne to develop a clothing line that is romantic with hard edge looks that
are edgy and sexy.
Her goals are to get into as many boutiques as possible and
drive towards high volume production.
She is definitely reaching many markets and her home one of St. Louis,
MO. She hopes her designs enable others
to create a lifestyle they want to share with everybody. Suzanne Lay’s main tagline – “Bright colors.
Bold looks. Enviable style.” says it all.
The key messaging emphasizes being an “Enviable Woman”, which is a woman
that when she wears these clothes she aspires to be beautiful and feel better
about herself. There is excitement and
spontaneity that just seems to exude from the designs as well as the voice that
Suzanne has about what she has created.
The runway is calling to Suzanne Lay, watch out and get ready to rock
and roll!!
Website: http://www.suzannelay.com/
Twitter: @SuzanneLaySTL
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