A clutch by Nazly Villamizar. Photo: Jessica Acosta-Rubio
Fierce competition: Fresh Faces designer Q&As
By Melissa Cantor
Jean Paul Gaultier made Madonna trade her shirt for a corset. Marc Jacobs keeps Anna Wintour waiting. But you don't have to be a big-name couturier in order to walk on water. Gen Art will give nine up-and-coming designers the opportunity to showcase their work during April 12's Fresh Faces in Fashion Miami show, on a catwalk built over the hotel's rooftop pool. We helped the designers prepare for imminent stardom with a Hollywood-style Q&A session.
How would you describe the look of your designs?
Nazly Villamizar, accessories: Refreshingly unadorned, uncluttered, sophisticated and displaying sculptural simplicity.
Malcolm Fontier, accessories: Modern, refined and global. My designs capture a lot of different influences from our travels and adventures.
Septimo Jewelry, accessories: Fashionable. Strong looks any woman can wear on any occasion.
Grace Sun, womenswear: My design aesthetic is modern classic with a twist. Also, it's the balance of function and beauty.
Fabiana Ferreira, swimwear: My own personal style is what I translate into my line. It's a modern, cool style for the woman who likes taking care of herself and dressing sexy, but comfortably.
First favorite outfit?
Villamizar: A very special pair of jeans from childhood with high boots that I wore for three years straight.
Fontier: I like to keep it simple, with attention to details. I appreciate a simple, solid t-shirt paired with pants and shoes that subtly and perfectly play off each other -- especially with color.
Septimo: A long dress in blue and white with little squares and an open back that mom gave to me when I was four years old.
Sun: I was a tomboy, so I dressed like a boy until I was ten years old. I had a kick-ass bowl cut with mustard corduroy pants and vinyl yellow bubble jacket. I wore it every day until the pants caught on fire while I was drying my feet over the fireplace. I was devastated, but my whole family was relieved.
Ferreira: A Brazilian bikini.
What's your favorite among the pieces you've designed?
Villamizar: My first bag that incorporated cow horn.
Fontier: In my current line, the Entertainer bag and the Mojito wallet. These pieces capture the simple, clever simplicity I love, combined with the bold punch of attitude that embodies the line.
Sun: I designed a green tank dress when I was in high school. I sewed it with my mom's sewing machine and it was missing a zipper, so I had to pretty much pop my arms to get in and out. But I thought it was brilliant. But now I think my son Odin is my best design yet.
Ferreira: In my first collection in Italy, I made a dress and bikini with gorgeous vintage fabric. I got the idea of the print from an art book I found in a Paris library. This is my whole vision for the brand: something beautifully simple that can be worn on the beach but could be dressed up into a great sexy piece for a fun night around town.
Who is your style icon?
Villamizar: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis.
Fontier: I don't really follow fashion or celebs, but I appreciate Common's funky, confident style.
Septimo: Maria Felix.
Sun: My grandmother. She dressed in orange minis, color-block dresses and drove a car in Korea when there were like three women who had a license in the entire country. She was a rebel.
Ferreira: Kate Moss.
Which fashion designer do you most admire and why?
Villamizar: Oleg Cassini, because his passion for modern simplicity fueled his work with imagination and a different way of seeing things back then.
Septimo: Balenciaga, for his use of metal work as part of his designs.
Sun: Phillip Lim. I had the pleasure of working for him, and he's taught me so much. I admire him because he comes from a business background, so he thinks about the business as much as creating garments, and he knows his craft. But mostly he was just a nice guy.
Ferreira: Anna Sui and Kenzo.
Spill it: what's Miami's hidden shopping gem?
Villamizar: The thrift stores.
Septimo: The antique district on 40th Street.
Sun: Fly boutique. It's my weakness. I have spent lots of dollars there. I get the best winter clothes that Miami people don't want. I get the best vintages in Miami, and I believe that people will experience a whole other world if they walk away from Collins Avenue.
Ferreira: I love Passion Swimwear at the Ritz Carlton. They carry some great accessories. I bought one of my favorite necklaces there, made out of pearls and stone. It's just beautiful.
If you could have someone famous wear one of your pieces, who would it be and what would you have them wear?
Villamizar: Lenny Kravitz. I would give him my Zebra horn bag, it would look amazing on him.
Fontier: Someone who appreciates the attention to detail and the unique approach, like the fact that our line is 100 percent animal friendly.
Septimo: Sofia Loren - I would love to see our reef collection on her.
Sun: I would say Kate Moss is the ultimate fashion dream. She'd wear it the way Kate always wears it, mixing with all the other great clothes she has to make it unique.
Ferreira: Penelope Cruz. I would have her wear this gorgeous dress from our 2007 collection. It is very feminine. It falls perfectly on the body and it has a deep V cut in the front.
Are high heels worth the pain?
Villamizar: Yes, but of course. No pain, no gain.
Septimo: Of course. We adore looking wonderful always.
Sun: Yes! I have time limit on all my shoes. I definitively have my share of "limo" shoes.
Ferreira: Absolutely yes.
Would you ever be a contestant on Project Runway?
Villamizar: Never... but they say never say never.
Fontier: I have never seen the show.
Septimo: I would love to be on it.
Sun: No. I can't leave my son and husband for that long to film.
Ferreira: Yes!
- Current 80.6 °F
- It's an alfresco night
- Try a Grove sidewalk cafe
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