I para-para-ed for smelling salts and was flooded by your incredibly thoughtful comments and emails! Thank you for taking the time to write to me. My work in writing and design wouldn't have come this far without you cheering me on.
I haven't said a peep, but many of you have already found the link to my fashion line. I've been working on it for quite a while, and now that the samples are ready, I'm proud and nervous but most of all thrilled to share them with you. Introducing LA CARMINA - seasonless outerwear for modern Marie Antoinettes.
My inspiration: Elegant Gothic Lolita and Aristocrat fashion, Tim Burton films, Victorian mourning, and Rococo/Versailles.
Signature design: asymmetrical collars, rows of silver buttons, corset lacing, tiered bell skirts, gathered shoulders.
I'm starting with lightweight, ladies fashion coats but will later expand the range. And yes - every style will be available in plus sizes!
How and why did I start my apparel company? As you know from my How-Tos, I'm always making (or rather, mutilating) Goth/Punk clothes and accessories. I went to law school, but quickly realized that working in a firm wasn't for me. Can you picture my smudged eyeshadow and Robert Smith hair behind a desk?
The East Coast winters were turning me into a popsicle, and to my horror, my mother sent me a North Face jacket. I'd rather freeze than cover my frilly corsets with something so un-Rococo! So I decided to "Deface the North Face"; to turn a ubiquitous caterpillar into a gaudy, tacky, Technicolor butterfly. Behold.
I covered the coat with a vintage faux fur shrug and added feathers, kawaii patches, glitter Spandex, and a glow-in-the-dark tube. It was unbearably fun to wander around and soak up reactions. (Once, Ronan and I went to a movie. The cashier gawked for five full seconds, then slowly enunciated: "Where are you from?" I replied: "Mars!")
I knew I wanted to start my own design business; it would be a perilous path but oh-so-much fun. I spent my final year at Yale Law writing a thesis on my entrepreneurial model. As many of you know firsthand, fashion design isn't about drawing pretty pictures but production schedules, import/export fees, contract negotiation... Thankfully, I had help from my relatives, who are veterans of the Hong Kong garment industry and work with well-known US streetwear brands.
There's still a lot to do, but I'm working on getting my coats to you as soon as I can. For now, you can view the collection and find out more info on my La Carmina fashion website.
Again, I really appreciate your encouragement. Don't forget to add me on MySpace and Facebook to receive updates. Check back in tomorrow - I'm going to unveil my sexy new business cards!
