Michelle: When I first started the line, I had a partner.  At the time I lived on Spring Street in Manhattan, and she lived on Clifton Place in Brooklyn.  Though we stopped working together after the first season, I kept the name.

M: I have experienced “designer’s block” in times of extreme stress or when I’m pushing myself in the wrong direction. But I don’t freak out about it. I think the art of being creative calls for letting go but also being involved in life. My real “problem” is probably that I have TOO MANY ideas.  I am constantly editing, editing, and editing. I also keep a notebook - uh, pile - of my sketches and photos from magazines that I can always refer to if I need a kick.  I often revisit the same ideas, which used to frustrate me, but now I think of these ideas as elements of the Spring & Clifton look, and I hope to evolve them with each collection.

O: How do you strike a balance between being classic and trendy?

M: You can get really tripped up if you go too far on either end of the spectrum: what’s new is unrecognizable, and what’s tried & true feels uninspired. I used to think I had to reinvent the wheel with every collection, but now I think it’s more important to just evolve the Spring & Clifton look from season to season. 

M: Everywhere! I’m constantly observing everything and tucking it away into the inspiration file. I love traveling. I try to make it a point to go to museums and galleries. I look at the work of designers whom I admire. I’ve gotten ideas from reading the New York Times. I’ve used movies and books as references. I love flea markets and eBay. I love New York nightlife and how girls put themselves together.

For my Spring 05 collection, for instance, I was collecting old Playboys from 1960-1970 for the pin-up illustrations of Alberto Vargas. I love his illustrations for the detailing on the clothing and the shoes.  Anyway, I realized that the pin-up was the ultimate sweater girl…and the idea for the collection was born.

O: When it comes to knitwear, do you think expensive equals good?

M: Oh, hell no! I don’t think that expensive = good. I mean, it can, but it doesn’t exclusively guarantee goodness. The most stylish women in the world know how to strike the perfect balance between high brow and low brow, and it’s that contrast that is so much more interesting to me. I’m also a huge flea market/thrift store scourer.  I don’t know what my life would be like without secondhand things, which have so much personality.  As far as knitwear goes, when you start getting into the finer yarns, like cashmere, of course the price is going to go up.  That to me is something worth investing in, but in general, I like to offer a range of prices with Spring & Clifton.

M: I think that a big trend we’re going to see is clothing with a socially conscious message.  For Fall 07, I’ll be using a Bamboo/Cotton blend yarn, which I’m attracted to because bamboo is a biodegradable textile material that is really kind to our environment. I’ve done bamboo/cashmere in the past, and I was surprised at how many new clients I picked up because people really responded to the organic factor.  I think it’s something that people really want.

Don’t take this to mean that the clothes will be at all hippy dippy or anything.  I’ll be making bamboo interesting, stylish and sexy! It’s also amazingly soft, which is important to me because I’m big on comfort. One of my design mantras states that there’s no style without substance, and I think this reinforces that idea.

O: As a designer, do you feel the pressure of always having to dress stylishly?

M: I challenge myself to constantly push my personal look forward.  I think that it reflects in my designs and makes me a better designer. When I’m starting a collection, I always have in mind what I need in my own closet.  I want to know what women want before they know they want it!  My one bad habit is my tendency to reach for my jeans first. I really have to fight that some days!

M: I’d save my 2 cats, Cooley & Slice! If I had extra time, I’d grab my vintage blue hoodie with the silkscreened birds on it. I am really a blue hoodie kind of girl.

O: What type of women do you want to see sporting your designs?

M: That girl on the street that you have to stop and check out twice because something about her style caught your eye.  I’ve seen all kinds of women wearing my sweaters, and at the end of the day, I want anyone who gets a feeling from my clothing to be able to wear it.

O: Where can Omiru readers purchase your clothing?

M: Barney’s Co-Op, M.Z. (my store on the Lower East Side), and online at Shopbop.

Omiru:  How would you like people to describe Sweetees?

Melody: Fresh.  I love it when a customer says, “Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen that anywhere else.”  I feel it’s my job to create something that doesn’t exist necessarily or something that others aren’t selling.  We’re a fun, girly, colorful, happy brand. 

O:  Design influences?

M:  I get inspiration from travel.  I love seeing all the different cultures—the artisans, the colors, prints, and embroideries.  I’m not one to look at what everyone else is doing.  I’d rather go off of my intuition rather than follow the runways.  Why?  Everyone else is following the runways.

O: Favorite travel destination?

M:  I don’t think I could pick just one.  South America.  Mexico, for their colors and embroideries.  India has beautiful colors and fabrics.  Morocco has amazing cool stuff that’s different. 

O:  You work with your fiancé at Sweetees.  How’d you meet?

M:  We met while traveling.  We were both part of the Semester at Sea program, a university on a boat that travels all around the world.  We traveled to fourteen countries, but we were both from the same place. 

O:  What’s it like working with your fiancé?

M:  Really good.  He and I work on totally different aspects of the business, so it works out.   We’re not stepping on each other’s toes—we’re filling each other in.

O:  How do you separate work and life?  Or do you?

M:  It’s still a work in progress.  We try to discuss other things when we’re not at work, but work and life bleed into each other.  We manage to make it work.  At the beginning, all we did was talk about work.  Now, we strike more of a balance.

O:  What’s your current favorite piece from your collection?

M: I really like our rib and chiffon group.  You can dress it up and dress it down.  It’s daywear, but the chiffon makes it dressy.

O:  What do you like about LA style?

M: It’s laid back, but not too laid back.  There’s a balance. 

O: What do you love about LA:

M:  I love the subcultures in LA.  On a weekend, you can go to Olvera Street and feel like you’re in Mexico.  You can go to Little Tokyo and feel like you’re in Japan.  The subcultures are all so close to each other, but they’re not mixed.   

O:  Celebrities love Sweetees.  Turning the table, though, whose wardrobe would you love to raid?

M: Gwyneth Paltrow or Angelina Jolie.

O: Fashion Dos:

M: Scarves.  Accessorizing outfits correctly, putting things together well.  Layering in the right way.  A great handbag and shoes. 

O: Fashion Don’ts:

M: Tucking your shirt in.  Hiking your pants up too high.  Trying too hard and going overboard.  Being a fashion victim.  It has to be organic and natural to you.  Don’t be something you’re not. 

O:  Little known fact about Sweetees?

M:  It was started when I was in college at age 19 by two young entrepreneurs. 

O:  Where can we buy Sweetees online?

M: Find Sweetees online at ShopIntuition.com, RevolveClothing.com, and LisaKline.com.

Lisa: Comfortable and welcoming.  I’ve designed my stores to feel like a home—warm, friendly, and easy to shop.

O:  Who are you buying  now?

L: Our Beverly Hills store just opened a couple of weeks ago.  For women, I’m buying Johnson (shorts), Miguelina, Bailey 44, Rachel Pally, Cynthia Vincent, and Charlotte.  For men, I’m buying Ever, Fred Perry, Theory, Modern Amusement, Salvage, Chip & Pepper, and LA Denim.

O:  Current bestsellers?

L: For women, Rebecca Taylor, Splendid, Robert Rodriguez, Ingwa Melero, Juicy Couture, Chip & Pepper, and Joe’s Jeans.  For men, Splendid, Ever, Modern Amusement, Theory, and Juicy Couture Men’s.

O: What do you buy for the girl who has everything?

L:  A Botkier purse.  Straight-legged denim.  Shorts—perfect for wearing with a tunic dress.  A cool belt.  Fun jewelry.

O:  How about for the guy who has everything?

L:  A cashmere sweater from Autumn Cashmere.  Black or grey denim for Spring.  Or jewelry—a wallet chain, money clip, bracelet, necklace, or cufflinks.  

O:  What trends do you think will be huge for Spring?

L: For women, dresses—especially minidresses and tunics.  Great tops that are long enough to be a dress, paired with shorts and high heels or boots.  Skinny legged denim.  Leggings.  Belts.  80s infuences.  Patent leather accessories.  Miniskirts.

For men, western influences, rocker looks, and straight legged jeans.

O:  What trends do you wish would just go away?

L:  None.  I really love all the trends that are happening now!

O: 5 Things you like about LA?

L:  It’s a beautiful place to live with great weather and no seasons.  You can take risks.  There’s room to be creative.  It’s hip and fashion forward.  It’s a place where dreams come true.  

O:  5 people whose wardrobe I’d love to raid:

L:  Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston, and Halle Berry.

O: Best Fashion Tip?

L:  Wear what makes you feel comfortable, even if it’s not the trend.  

O:  Your foolproof outfit?

L:  Jeans, a sexy top, a sweater, and heels.  Oh, and a killer purse.

O:  Little known fact about you?

L:  I like to race cars.  I’m also a mom with two kids.  

O:  Last Words:

L: If you have a passion and a dream, go for it. 

Shop Lisa Kline’s boutiques from the comfort of your own couch at http://www.lisakline.com/.

Brooke: I’ve made jewelry since I was a kid - I remember being verrrry proud of my clasps made from fishing swivels. I sold my first piece to a store when I was 18 and living in Chicago - a simple, beaded necklace that sold for just enough that I could buy more beads. When I was 20, I became more seriously interested in jewelry making, and thanks to my friends’ advice, I began to approach stores and slowly built my business from there. I am constantly looking for new mediums in which to dabble. Metal is my first love, but I am so drawn to color…you can expect to see some enamel and resin pieces on my site soon!

O:  In a nutshell, describe your design aesthetic.

B: Metal and Color. I love combining organic, handworked metal with vibrantly colored glass. Hammered textures with high gloss = Perfection.

O: What trends do you think will be huge for Spring?

B: Dark denim skirts with low, slouchy suede boots, because that’s pretty much all I’m planning to wear. I also hope the tendency towards long, layered, drapey clothing continues. I like to cover what needs to be covered, while avoiding frumpiness.  Flat shoes need to stay in style forever - who do I call to make that happen?

O:  What trends do you wish would just go away?

B: Please don’t communicate with me through the seat of your pants. I need not know if you are ‘Sexy’ or ‘Juicy’.

O: What’s on your radar?

B: I would love to see more bike friendly cities - my dream life is biking to my (hopefully few) errands in a small city by the ocean. Until then, I’ll take biking to the post office and grocery in a dedicated bike lane. In fantastic pants.

O:  How about your favorite piece from your collection?

B: The Delicate Dish Earrings are my current favorite. The earrings combine little concave sterling discs - which I heatform until their shape just begins to give way - with uniform teardrops via balled rivets that allow each component to move separately. I give the earrings an oxidized finish, then burnish them lightly in selective places, which gives them a great, soft glow.

O: Best Fashion Tip?

B: Wear the comfortable shoes.  Trust me.

O: Fashion Dos:

B: For the love of Maude, be yourself! Wear the pants that fit, the shoes that won’t let snow slosh in and settle, and the big hair that everyone is jealous of! I think you’re beautiful.

O: Fashion Don’ts:

B: Don’t try too hard. Don’t spend half an hour in your closet forcing yourself to find something other than black shoes to wear with that outfit. You love those black shoes. Wear them. (But think about the colorful headscarf, yeah?)

O:  Little known fact about you?

B: I have an imaginary friend…or three. (Hi, guys!)

O:  How would your best friend describe you?

B: I had to pick through the sappy bits from the email my boyfriend (and best friend) sent me. Having done that, I’m left with: “Even though she may sometimes smell, she is truly my inspiration.” Thanks, babe.

B: Online, I can be found at Orange Button, Imogene, and my own website. I try to give each online shop different items, so be sure to visit each one! For a list of retail stores in which to find my work, go here.

O:  What can we expect next from you?

B: Glossy resin in my familiar, organic shapes.  Look for seashells…and teeth! More castings, more enamel. More color!

Can’t get enough of Brooke?  Shop her latest collection at http://www.brookemedlin.com.

But what’s so special about Fidelity? The line only features stretch jeans because a "A great denim cut in the right shape should shape and mold, meaning it should define your tush a little bit, and it should shape your legs."

Omiru had the chance to chat with the dashing denim designer, who dished about the story behind his company name, why he loves dark skinny jeans so much, and the reason fit is the most important factor in denim design.

JT: If you want to make denim the right way, it’s a full time job. The more devotion you put into it, the better the product is. Long story short, I was looking for a name that would be a right name for the brand, which I wanted to make into a way of life. I was reading an article on Prince, my favorite since he marches to his own drum. It talked about how he had fidelity for his music, and I realized I never knew was fidelity meant. I looked it up in the dictionary, and found out that fidelity means a faith and devotion to someone or something. I thought to myself, "Wow that’s a pretty powerful word." And I had my name.

O: Do you find it hard to strike a balance between classic and trendy?

JT: It’s very hard. I want to make a timeless pair of jeans, but in this day and age, because of the media, people are often fixated on gimmicks. I have been tempted so many times to come up with crazy branding in logo-ing, but at the end of the day, I decided to remain true to the classic jeans. I work in the box, but I work on the very outer edges of the box.

JT: Your being a writer and my being a designer, you and I can agree on one thing: every time I sit down to design a season, all I know is that there is a lot of pain coming down the pipes. You have to re-work it and re-work it. I’ll have nightmares on washes and fit. I’ll go over something little for over a week. But if you don’t have any pain, you don’t have any breakthroughs. I know when I’ve done a good line when it’s been a really painful and agonizing experience.

JT: Fit, fabric and finish–they all have their place. You can take a cheap fabric and a high-end fabric and make the same garment with the same pattern. And when you put it on a person, the two will fit completely different. Both finish and fabric have importance, but at the end of the day, I think fit is the holy grail of women’s denim search. A pair of jeans can an unknown name, or it can have a very well-known name, but when a woman tries it on, if it fits, that’s it. I can have all the prints or great fabric in the world, but if a woman comes in and tries on my jeans and they don’t fit, I have made a big mistake.

JT: Yeah. I can say that because I’ve been on both sides. I started off by making cheap jeans, and I thought I knew everything. When it came time for me to tackle this whole high-end game, I quickly realized that what I knew before was going to be useful, but it in no way really defined what a great jean was. I had to rethink and redesign and redevelop me patterns and re-learn how to use denim. Do I believe in high-end denim? Obviously, I do because I make it. I could go back to low end denim but I don’t find it as fun and gratifying and challenging.

O: What can we expect for the fall?

JT: The trend right now is dark and skinny. What I like about dark and skinny is that it’s sexier than hell and you can wear boots with it, and you’re a rock star, and you want to crash cars in it. And that’s the type of thing we need, and that’s the type of thing I love. You’re going to also see black and you’re going to see grey, which is really exciting. Aside from a skinny, I would do a high-zip trouser, which is also very sexy, and it’s probably the future after the skinny.

JT: Girls who are not toothpicks think "Oh I can’t wear the skinny." But I’m going to share one image that comes to mind–Marilyn Monroe. And she was the farthest from skinny. She was the most voluptuous woman to come out of Hollywood. It’s a whole ensemble, and skinny jeans are more of an accessory. You can wear them tucked in, you can wear them tucked out, you can wear them with sneakers, you can wear them with a tank top. It’s an accessory.

O: Quickly…High-rise or low-rise jeans?

JT: High-rise.

JT: Skinny.

Omiru:  You dabbled in movies before moving into jewelry design.  How did your time in the entertainment industry shape your sense of style?

Jessica: I got a few small parts in classics like Hellraiser V, but I think things have a way of working out the way they’re supposed to.  I knew I wasn’t the next Cate Blanchett, and what I really needed was something to channel my creativity into, and I found it in jewelry design.  As far as style in the entertainment industry, I was always interested in fashion.  I watched the Oscars and the Emmy’s for the clothes and jewelry rather than the actual awards. As for how the entertainment industry shaped my style, I always loved old Hollywood—the flawless glamour that always seemed so effortless.  I’m working on a lot of vintage inspired pieces for my spring line.

O: How did you decide to pursue jewelry as a business?

J: I was making jewelry as a hobby, for my friends and for myself.  At the time, I was waiting tables, and just about every night someone would buy one of my necklaces right off my neck. So I started bringing piles of jewelry to work with me.  One day I realized I was making more money from the jewelry than I was from waiting tables…so I quit.

O: What makes your jewelry special?

J:  I mix a lot of opposites to give them life—masculine and feminine, gold and silver, oxidized and polished, delicate and bold.  I feel more and more inspired every season– I think I learn a bit more with everything I make.

O: Your jewelry has been featured in hit TV shows, ranging from Friends to Desperate Housewives.  How did you make that happen?

J: Some wardrobe people and stylists have just found me—tracked me down and come to me for jewelry.  I also have a woman I work with who sells my line directly to these shows.

O: 5 Things you love about LA.

J: I love traveling the world for inspiration, but I also give a lot of credit to my LA, my home.  I love that you can see mountains, desert, beach, and city all within an hour drive.  I love the broad cultural mix.  I love the food choices.  I love the pace—slow if you want, fast if you want—depending on your mood.  I love my friends.  I love the diverse style.

O: You only took one class in metal fabrication, with no further training in jewelry design or fashion.  How did you become the designer you are today?

J: Designing is an ongoing learning process— I feel like I grow as a designer every day. When I took that one class, it got me excited about being creative with my hands.  That’s how I work— I’m much more tactile than I am visual.  I design by doing, not by thinking.  The class was something I just took for fun, and it helped me find this random hidden talent I never knew I had.  As far as the actual designing goes, the ideas just kind of come.  I’m inspired by everything I see.  I get a lot of ideas when I’m traveling— I’ve been some amazing places and plan to travel to many more.  I’ve been inspired by my travels to Turkey, Thailand, Cambodia, Cuba, Morocco, all over Europe, and more.  My next big trip is to Bali.  

O:  How about family influences?  

J: I also just happened to grow up surrounded by artists.  My entire family is self-employed in creative fields.  My mom is an artist/graphic designer, my stepfather is a photographer/exhibition printer, my stepmother is a graphic designer, my dad was a musician—and now an art dealer, and my sister is a chef.  I never thought for a second that I would grow up and have an office job—and I was right.

O: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

J: Never go to bed mad.

O:  What’s your bestselling piece of jewelry?

J: My Antique Keys.

O:  How about your current favorite piece?

J: I have several: a long gold double leaf necklace with silver mini charms, a long open clover tassel necklace, a flaming heart necklace.  

O:  What jewelry trends do you think will be huge for spring?

J: Vintage-inspired, big medallions, pearls, mixed metal.

O:  What trends do you wish would just go away?

J: In clothing and shoes—Balloon skirts, shoulder pads, and platform flip-flops.  In Jewelry—“horn” jewelry and big wood beaded jewelry.

O:  What’s on your radar?  

J: Buying a house.

O:  Little known fact about you?

J: I’m a bit superstitious.

O:  Best weekend escape?

J: Mexico.

O:  Favorite music?

J: 80’s music.

O: Current obsession?

J: Knee-high boots that lace up.

O: Best Fashion Tip?

J: Don’t try too hard, and accessorize.

O:  Where can we buy your jewelry?

J: At my website, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Henri Bendel, and about 150 boutiques around the country.

O:  Last Words?

J: Seize the day, embrace life, and appreciate your friends.

Shop Jessica Elliot’s jewelry collection at www.jessicaelliot.com.

Tamara: It is almost impossible for me not to connect to my past. I’m proud of my Armenian heritage, growing up in Moscow, and pursuing my goals in NYC. I find influences and inspirations from anything I experience, which I then transform into my designs. There are subtle touches of details in every piece.

O:  What makes your clothing line unique?

T: I can never design the same piece twice. There are certain details, which evolve into new ideas, but they are never the same. Through my technique and style of draping, along with my vision and background, I am able to deliver a unique collection every season. I don’t necessarily follow the trends, but I utilize them in my own way to keep my collections timeless and fresh.

O: Describe a typical day for you.

T: There is no such thing. Every day is a different challenge.

O:  How would you like people to describe your Spring 2007 collection?

T: I hope that people will understand and appreciate the art behind my collection.  I aim to express the individual wearing my pieces. I am not saying that I judge a person by how they are dressed, because you can’t judge a book by its cover. But great clothes can affect how the individual feels about themselves regardless of how much they spent on the look.

O:  What trends do you think will be huge for Spring?

T: For women, I believe there will be a lot of volume, flirty dresses and color. For men, I see a rebirth of a personal style by mixing the old with the new tailored pieces. I think the emphases on the waistline (for men and women) will remain essential. However, trends don’t always work for everyone. Designers present their vision, editors pick the trends, buyers merchandise the stores, but the customer decides on what they want to wear. It’s the circle of Fashion Life.

O:  What trends do you wish would just go away?

T: Empire waistlines and pleated pants because they don’t work for everyone.

O: What are your current obsessions, fashion or otherwise?

T: I love comfort, style and practicality: sweater dresses with great boots, a belt, and a beautifully cut coat.

O: How about your Best Fashion Tip?

T: Personal style is a must. Paying attention to your body and proportions because “trends” don’t always work for everyone. Concentrating on a part of your body you want to “show” without compromising comfort, style and confidence.

O:  Little known fact about you?

T: I drape every piece in my collection and design with a passion rather than a calculation. Inspiration comes from love, which brings beauty to our lives. I strive to deliver nothing less.

O:  What can we expect next from you?

T: Long-term future plans include a collection of handbags and shoes because I love accessories as much as the clothes. I want to be able to offer a complete look for my customers.

O:  Last Words

T: I would like to thank my family, friends, colleagues and everyone that has supported me in expressing my vision. I am eternally grateful to those who have believed in me. Thank you!

 Can’t get enough Tamara?  Check out Omiru’s review of Tamara’s Spring 2007 Collection.