When we set our eyes on the
glamorous gowns and fabulous fashions that hit the red carpet, we can’t help
but wonder which designer created the look. We recently spotted talented up and
coming designers during the Phoenix Fashion Week emerging designer
announcement, where designers showed one look from their upcoming collection,
which will be presented during Phoenix FashionWeek’s October fashion show. We were excited to see all the looks,
but three caught our attention as red carpet ready designers: Hues of Ego,
Rayan, and Lillienne Lang Attire. We recently interviewed
the promising designers behind the brands to get more intel on their lines.
SV: WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD GROWING YOUR BRAND?
NL: Some of the major challenges I have personally
encountered while creating and growing my brand is “me.” I am my worst critic.
I have gotten in my own way at times, during the past few years; and what I
mean by that is, I feel that at times I have stopped or halted my own growth
due to my own insecurities.
SV: WHY DESIGN IN A CITY NOT KNOWN FOR FASHION?
NL: Well, in all honesty the first reason why I chose to
design in Phoenix was because I reside here and I’m raising my child here. But
beyond that, I feel that Phoenix is on the rise to becoming known for fashion.
If you look at what Phoenix has to offer, it has a ton of things and has great
potential to build a solid foundation behind a known fashion city. The reason
why I chose Phoenix Fashion Week is because I have seen them grow and the
opportunity that they provide to emerging designers such as myself is
priceless.
SV: WHAT WAS THE FIRST FASHION GARMENT YOU DESIGNED?
NL: My first piece of clothing that I designed is from one
of my first sewing projects in fashion school and it was a wearable art piece.
We were encouraged, but not limited to use unconventional materials. The only
parameter for this school project was that it could be sewn or glued as long as
it was wearable. So, I had the idea to make an entire dress out of beer bottle
caps … I liked the sound when they hit each other. Somehow, I figured out how
to sew a strapless, pleated muslin dress together without having a dress form,
pattern or anything like that – I truly believe it was pure luck.
SV: WHO IS YOUR FASHION ICON AND WHY?
NL: Stephane Rolland, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Coco
Chanel, Elie Saab, Zac Posen – just to name a few. Some of my
architectural influences are Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier.
SV: IF YOU COULD DRESS ANYONE PAST OR PRESENT, WHO WOULD IT
BE?
NL: Marilyn Monroe would be an amazing woman to dress. She
seemed to be a classy woman who liked to push the envelope with fashion.
Marilyn Monroe embraced her curvy body, which I appreciate. One of Hues of Egos
goals is to design clothing that will enable women to be able to embrace, love
and unveil who they really are, inside and out.
SV: IF YOU WERE A CHIC SPY AGENT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CODE
NAME?
NL: The Silent Observer Assassin, because I am one to stand
back and observe the situation and surroundings and take note of what I need to
do to step up, then I attack.
Photo source: Courtesy of Hues of
Ego/Photographed by Jacqueline Hanna/Modeled by Ubani Ukuku
Rayan by Nadia Rayan and Nora Rayan Ghaneian
SV: WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD GROWING YOUR BRAND?
NR: Balancing everything by ourselves is definitely the most
challenging part. However, we love that we are able to oversee every aspect of
the business – creative, business, sales, etc. Every challenging
experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. We learn something new every
single day.
SV: WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER DESIGNERS?
NR: We are the premier brand of long sleeve and full-length
eveningwear. We recognized a significant void in the market for elegant
silhouettes that were both contemporary and at an affordable price point. Our
brand gets a lot of attention not only because our designs are bold and
elegant, but also because we have a really unique concept that is new and fresh
and unlike that of any other brand.
SV: WHO IS YOUR FASHION ICON AND WHY?
NR: Princess Diana. Her style was nothing short of elegant
and graceful. She had her own unique flair of style and exuded complete
confidence. Not only was she a fashion legacy, but she inspires us with her
dedication and contributions to humanitarian causes.
SV: IF YOU COULD DRESS ANYONE PAST OR PRESENT, WHO WOULD IT
BE?
NR: Princess Diana, Michelle Obama, and Angelina Jolie.
These women define what it means to be elegant, bold, strong, and confident.
SV: IF YOU WERE A CHIC SPY AGENT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CODE
NAME?
NR: Charmante Femme meaning charming woman in French.
Photo source: Courtesy of Rayan
SV: WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD GROWING YOUR BRAND?
LL: My main challenge as a emerging designer is being a
single parent of four and jumping into this intense program, trying to balance
that and make it happen while being there for my kiddos at the same time. Plus
learning the business side of fashion and trying to launch a business in a
matter of weeks is quite the challenge indeed.
SV: WHO IS THE IDEAL LILLLIENNE LANG WOMAN?
LL: Traditional elegance and grace with a free spirit, with
a timeless edge to her. Vibrant energy. A woman who understood the difference
between style and fads; and fashion that complimented her, not fashion that
overwhelmed and robbed her, so to speak. A sense of understated sophistication
combined with humanity and eco-consciousness.
SV: WHO IS YOUR FASHION ICON AND WHY?
LL: Coco Chanel, hands down. She not only revolutionized
women’s fashion in her time – to be comfortable and mysterious. She
designed timeless, practical and efficient apparel that was healthy for a
woman’s body. Through fashion she changed the ideology of women and put them on
a level of self-respect with men, in terms of equality. Coming from a poor
background and sad life, she is a prime example of rising above it all and
confirming that if you want something, you can achieve it regardless the
circumstance. She liberated women in many ways.
SV: IF YOU COULD DRESS ANYONE PAST OR PRESENT, WHO WOULD IT
BE?
LL: These are the women I would dress in no particular
order: King Henry’s daughter Elizabeth when she became Queen because she was a
legend of resilience and discipline, fiercely loyal to her country. Audrey
Hepburn, she was timeless and a humanitarian. Grace Kelly, beautiful and pure
class. Julia Roberts, real and all-American. Audrey Tatou, French. The young up and coming actress
Shailene Woodley, real, lovely, and eco conscious; and of course the lovely
Angelina Jolie, fearless mom, humanitarian, and gorgeous.
SV: IF YOU WERE A CHIC SPY AGENT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CODE
NAME?
LL: French B.
Photo source: LillienneLang.com
If
you’re in the Valley of the Sun, check out these and more designers during the
upcoming Phoenix Fashion Week at Talking Stick Resort on October 1-4, 2014.
Get your FASH on, keep styling and make a fashion scene. Visit and LIKE “Chasing Sheila” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and stay attuned to chic stories and happenings.
XOXO,
Sheila
