Right after I had arrived in NYC on Saturday, I went to Pier 59 to go backstage before the Tibi S/S 2014 show and to interview Amy Smilovic. The charming designer has brought her label in a very short amount of time to success and told me a little about her inspiration and how she manages daily life as a working mum of two sons.
What was your inspiration for S/S 2014?
It is travel-inspired, from Asia to Arizona. It is really about the grit and the work that goes into getting there and the beauty once you arrive. That was grounding the collection for me because I love beautiful things but you need to be able to wear them in daily life on the street. It is important for me that the collection is cool and clean but still feminine.
After your amazing very successful last collection, do you feel pressure to reinvent and top yourself?
Always. It is a good challenge. I would rather feel the pressure to reinvent myself than staying the same.
How do you manage in daily life being a business woman and mother of two?
Just do it! My sons are were important to me. Being a mum keeps me balanced, I don’t freak out about tiny details. The kids help me keep perspective.
Your secret to success?
I surround myself with really good people.
Do you have an icon? Which women would you like to wear your designs?
No, I don’t have an icon. It is a mix of strong women, such as Charlotte Rampling, Patti Smith and Kate Bosworth. I want really confident woman to wear my clothes.
Speaking of which, as I am a huge fan of the brand, I was of course wearing a Tibi dress combined with my leather biker jacket, pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps, both by Saint Laurent and the Bamboo shopper leather tote by Gucci.
I have truly loved the nail design created by Jin Soon Choi. Inspired by the collection’s travel theme, Jin came up with a manicure that expresses a virtual language developed by American travelers who lived a nomadic life in the 1920s.
These signs were used to help fellow travelers navigate; the vertical/ horizontal lines on the nails are an extraction from the traveler symbol “all right”.
Jin Soon Choi with me backstage
Front row next to Stylebop Fashion Director Leila Yavari
What I have loved most about this beautiful collection were the details, like cutouts, unusual hemlines or fringes in the back. The jumpsuits, along with the palm print were amazing. My preferred look was the all orange combination pretty much at the end.
Enjoy all my favourites below and stay tuned for more!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
