That can be magical

Jenna Lyons, former Creative Director and President of J. Crew until 2017, as well as all-around style icon, was known as "the woman who dresses America" (NYTimes).  She has spoken openly about her awkwardness growing up, exacerbated by her genetic condition, which affected the normal growth of her hair and teeth, and still wears dentures.  

I think there's a common misconception about designers, and clothing designers in particular -- that they became designers because they love beautiful things.  I've worked as a clothing designer for almost 10 years, and in my experience, people become designers because -- like Jenna Lyons -- they have had significant, formative events that taught them the real power of clothes.  And they want to take the power and share it.  Design studios are filled not with obsessive fashionistas or shopaholics, but artsy, introspective creatives who value self-expression over commodity.  Individualism and experimentation reign, and the biggest style faux-pas is imitating someone else.

Not A Multiple Choice

This poster comes from the Design Museum, from their exhibition dedicated to taking "an unprecedented look at how princesses, models, CEOs, Dames and designers have used fashion to define and enhance their position in the world."  As a clothing designer this is something I think about a lot -- and was part of the genesis of Opening Line.  Human beings -- and women especially -- use fashion to enhance their power, not undermine it.  Put those clothes to work.

Read more awesomeness at: https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/women-fashion-power