DESIGNER'S DOORWAY

Rachel Roy

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Rachel Fashion Focus Details

MyCloset.com.com: What are the inspirations for your own line?

RR: I THINK AS A WOMAN, IF YOU ARE DESIGNING YOUR OWN COLLECTION AND ARE NOT WORKING FOR ANOTHER HOUSE, IT’S REALLY HARD NOT TO INJECT YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU ASPIRE TO BE. ON MY OWN COLLECTION, I ASK WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S FRESH, WHAT’S THE NEXT STAGE GOING ON IN MY LIFE? DO I WANT THE CLOTHES TO REFLECT IT?

How do you describe your own personal style?

RR: IT’S A REFLECTION OF THE MOOD THAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH. I LIKE TO HAVE LADY LIKE LOOKS. I LIKE COMFORT, CHIC-NESS. I LIKE TO MIX ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS INTO THE COLLECTION.

Other than yourself, who are your favorite designers?

RR: I LOVE LANVIN. I THINK THAT HE’S A GENIUS. HE’S ABLE TO MAKE A WOMAN FEEL VERY CHIC BUT VERY EFFORTLESS AT THE SAME TIME. I CAN NAME A WHOLE LIST. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE I ADMIRE.

Do you have any style icons?

RR: I ADMIRE THE WOMEN IN THE 1940’S WHO WERE ALLOWED TO BE REALLY FEMININE BUT STILL CONSIDERED VERY STRONG AT THE SAME TIME. THEY TOOK A BIT OF TIME GETTING READY. THEY WEREN’T BERATED FOR IT OR BELITTLED FOR IT. I THINK THAT A REALLY STRONG WOMAN IS COMING BACK, IN TERMS THAT YOU CAN BE REALLY FEMININE LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE BUT YOU CAN BE STRONG OR STRONGER THAN ANY WOMAN OR MAN ON THE INSIDE. I THINK THAT’S A VERY RELEVANT TIME FOR NOW. HOPEFULLY, IT DOESN’T LEAVE. I THINK WOMEN SHOULD BE VERY STRONG EITHER WAY, IF THEY WANT TO DRESS FEMININE OR MASCULINE.

Let’s bring it closer to home. When you think about the dresses in your closet, what do you pull out?

RR: I HAVE A LOT OF MY OWN STUFF. I REALLY LIKE YSL. I THINK HE TAKES GREAT CARE TO MAKE A WOMEN’S BODY LOOK VERY FLATTERING. I THINK ALL THE OF THE DESIGNERS THAT I’VE MENTIONED IT’S MORE ABOUT THE WOMAN WEARING THE CLOTHES THAN VICE VERSA, WHICH I THINK IT REALLY IMPORTANT. UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO A COSTUME PARTY, IT SHOULD WORK INTO YOUR LIFESTYLE.

How do you arrange your closet?

RR: IT’S BY STYLE. DRESSES, SHIRTS, PANTS. I LIKE TO SEE EVERYTHING ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I DON’T DO IT BY SEASON.