fashion.
©2010 MiTyMediagroup,all rights reserved
Taking the Pants from the Man:
3 Women Who Inspire... And Keep the Fashion World Blazing.
3 Women Who Inspire... And Keep the Fashion World Blazing.
By: Tye Renwrick
Kimora Lee Simmons was born and raised in St. Louis Missouri to an Asian mother and African American father. She was discovered around 12 by a representative for the Paris Agency Glamour, later winning an exclusive modeling contract with Chanel. By the time Kimora was fourteen she had walked the worlds most prestige runways.
In 1998 Kimora married rap mogul and fashion icon Russell Simmons. The pair had two children, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee and Kimora stepped back from the modeling world. Still with a love for fashion and Russell's Phat Farm line at an all time high, Kimora decided to create a female driven urban line Baby Phat, in 1999. Baby Phat is a premiere line in urban clothing the company is also known for its jewelry, shoes, phone accessories and hospital scrubs. In 2007 Russel stepped down as CEO of Phat Fashions and Kimora was appointed as President and Creative Director of the entire Phat Fashions company.
In 1998 Kimora married rap mogul and fashion icon Russell Simmons. The pair had two children, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee and Kimora stepped back from the modeling world. Still with a love for fashion and Russell's Phat Farm line at an all time high, Kimora decided to create a female driven urban line Baby Phat, in 1999. Baby Phat is a premiere line in urban clothing the company is also known for its jewelry, shoes, phone accessories and hospital scrubs. In 2007 Russel stepped down as CEO of Phat Fashions and Kimora was appointed as President and Creative Director of the entire Phat Fashions company.
In 2006 Kimora released a self help book, Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It, focusing on everything from finances to fashion and beauty. Kimora continued to blaze the trail of a mogul with her input in designing her Barbie doll. The self labeled "queen of "fabulosity" also developed and released four fragrances including Seductive Goddess. Over the years Kimora continued to evolve the Baby Phat brand and launched the high-end line KLS in Fall 2007. Kouture by Kimora is the designers most recent endeavor premiering at Macy's this March 2010.
Mrs. Simmons has also dabbled in acting. She was one of the premier judges on the first season of America's Next Top Model and has also acted in small roles in motion pictures like Beauty Shop and Waist Deep. In August 2007 her reality show Life in the Fab Lane premiered on the Style network, it chronicles her daily routine as a business women and mother. Following a peaceful and not-so public breakup and divorce from Russell Simmons, Kimora met and fell in love with actor Djimon Hounsou. The couple welcomed a baby boy, Kenzo Hounsou into the world in May 2009.
Through all of her success Kimora has also taken time to give back. She established the Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund at her high school in St. Louis to help provide college tuition for girls in financial need. Additionally she is a member of several non-profits including Keep a Child Alive and Rush Philanthropic.
Mrs. Simmons has also dabbled in acting. She was one of the premier judges on the first season of America's Next Top Model and has also acted in small roles in motion pictures like Beauty Shop and Waist Deep. In August 2007 her reality show Life in the Fab Lane premiered on the Style network, it chronicles her daily routine as a business women and mother. Following a peaceful and not-so public breakup and divorce from Russell Simmons, Kimora met and fell in love with actor Djimon Hounsou. The couple welcomed a baby boy, Kenzo Hounsou into the world in May 2009.
Through all of her success Kimora has also taken time to give back. She established the Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund at her high school in St. Louis to help provide college tuition for girls in financial need. Additionally she is a member of several non-profits including Keep a Child Alive and Rush Philanthropic.
urrounded by highly influential men, these women decided to take the front seat and create a legacy of their own. I give you the queen of bling Kimora Lee Simmons, the lady responsible for the sexy silhouette Diane von Furstenberg and the women who makes fashion colorful Tracy Reese. As you read each woman's story you'll find a common theme...strength, endurance and most importantly persistence.
S
Kimora, Ming and Aoki Lee Simmons walk the Baby Phat runway.
Diane von Furstenberg was born Diane Simone Michelle Halfin in Brussels, Belgium. Her mother was a Holocaust survivor. At 18 Diane went to study economics at the University of Geneva in Switzerland and met Prince Egon of Furstenberg, the eldest of a German prince. She married Egon in 1969 in Paris in a gown by the House of Dior, she helped design.
The couple soon moved to New York City and had two children. von Furstenberg began designing out of their Park Avenue apartment and soon her designs caught the eye of Bill Blass and then editor of Vogue magazine, Diana Vreeland. The pair convinced von Furstenberg to put together a collection which she eventually revealed in April 1970 at the Gotham Hotel in NYC. Soon after her marriage began to fail but her career took off.
The couple soon moved to New York City and had two children. von Furstenberg began designing out of their Park Avenue apartment and soon her designs caught the eye of Bill Blass and then editor of Vogue magazine, Diana Vreeland. The pair convinced von Furstenberg to put together a collection which she eventually revealed in April 1970 at the Gotham Hotel in NYC. Soon after her marriage began to fail but her career took off.
Diane von Furstenberg
Kimora Lee Simmons
A few years later von Furstenberg recieved a 30,000 investment and began manufacturing her line. In 1975 she introduced the modern "wrap dress" to the world. Made of jersey with a sleeker design the wrap dress offered something different for women. Instead of ball gowns or pant suits, sleek and felt comfy as they performed day-to-day duties. In 1997 Von Furstenberg's design was introdced into the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Inspired by the political movement of the time Von Furstenberg created the sweater dress and called it "Angela" after the activist Angela Davis.
Soon after von Furstenberg divorced her husband and expanded her business adding jewelry, shoes, sunglasses houseware and even fragrances. Von Furstenberg has been marked as saying her line is for the working woman because the designs are practical.
In the early 1990's von Furstenberg refreshed her line and career by inventing an updated wrap dress and authoring several books. Diane von Furstenberg recently broke a record when she was elected to a third term as the President of the Council of Fashion Designers, CFDA. The flagship Diane von Furstenberg store is located in the meatpacking district.
Soon after von Furstenberg divorced her husband and expanded her business adding jewelry, shoes, sunglasses houseware and even fragrances. Von Furstenberg has been marked as saying her line is for the working woman because the designs are practical.
In the early 1990's von Furstenberg refreshed her line and career by inventing an updated wrap dress and authoring several books. Diane von Furstenberg recently broke a record when she was elected to a third term as the President of the Council of Fashion Designers, CFDA. The flagship Diane von Furstenberg store is located in the meatpacking district.
Diane von Furstenberg walks the DvF runway. Image Credit: twirlit.com
American fashion designer Tracy Reese was born in Detroit Michigan in 1964. She grew up competing in sewing competitions with the women in her family to see who could finish a garment first, which she almost always won. Reese won a scholarship to attend a summer program at Parson School of Design in New York City. She later enrolled at Parson's for design training after graduating from high school. There she befriended now esteemed fashion designer Marc Jacobs.
Upon graduating from Parsons Reese took a job as an apprentice to French designer Martine Sitbon. Two years into her position Reese quit and set out to launch her personal line. After producing two collections and being carried in Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman, she had to close her company due to high production cost. Reese linked back up with college friend Marc Jacobs, then vice president of design at Perry Ellis and began working with the company. She later landed a head designer position with a new label, Magaschoni, designing their bridge collection. The company eventually gave Reese the funds to launch her own label, "Tracy Reese for Magaschoni" with a showroom in the garment district.
Upon graduating from Parsons Reese took a job as an apprentice to French designer Martine Sitbon. Two years into her position Reese quit and set out to launch her personal line. After producing two collections and being carried in Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman, she had to close her company due to high production cost. Reese linked back up with college friend Marc Jacobs, then vice president of design at Perry Ellis and began working with the company. She later landed a head designer position with a new label, Magaschoni, designing their bridge collection. The company eventually gave Reese the funds to launch her own label, "Tracy Reese for Magaschoni" with a showroom in the garment district.
Tracy Reese
Reese still longed for her own line and when a deal with The Limited in 1995, helped fund her brand. In 1996 "Tracy Reese Meridian" a sportswear line was born, still the designer struggled with production cost. "Tracy Reese" was officially born when Om Batheja invested in the brand after the two met through Reese's lawyer. Today Reese's collection includes two labels, TR and Plenty and she also produces resort and swimwear lines. Additionally in 2004 Reese launched Plenty Home, creating bedding and curtains. Tracy Reese also has a shoes and accessory line, still the designer is best known for her playful and feminine dresses.
Tracy Reese accepts flowers after a runway show. Image Credit: life.com
Kimora, Tracy and Diane's stories prove any dream is possible, not just in fashion. I hope you not only inspire to look your best, but always be your best. ~TR
fashion.
advertisement
Connect with US