2011 was definitely the year that put designer Maria Lucia Hohan on the international fashion map. And a very glamorous one that is, as Hohan’s ultra-feminine, flowing dresses were worn at seemingly every music, film awards ceremony and premiere around the world (and especially in Hollywood) by celebrities like Kristin Cavallari, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Sharon Osbourne, Stacey Keibler (who radiates in Hohan’s dresses every time she appears by her boyfriend’s, George Clooney, side), actress Nicki Reed (who recently dazzled in a plunging white gown created by Hohan at the Rome Film Festival screening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1). Even Jennifer Hudson wore a youthful yet appropriate black dress when she sang “Happy Birthday!” this summer to president Obama. And Rosario Dawson donned a trendy, red-hot dress designed by Maria Lucia Hohan on the October 2011 cover of Latina magazine. Yet this kind of exposure didn’t come overnight, and designer Maria Lucia Hohan’s success story isn’t a conventional one, but a good example of an artist with a practical sense and an independent spirit who made the best of the circumstances around her.

Born in Romania, she studied at the College of Applied Arts in Paris, and soon after graduation traded Paris for Milan, where she worked as fashion illustrator for the Italian design house Krizia. She soon realized that, despite the advantages of living, studying and working in two of the most important fashion capitals, the fashion market of these cities was dominated by well-known names, which made it difficult for a 23-year-old, fresh-out-of-design school, who didn’t have extraordinary financial resources, to start her own design studio and establish herself as an independent designer recognized for her own brand and style. But unlike many other young designers who dreamt of creating their own house yet chose to keep working for known houses, Maria saw an opportunity to make her dream a reality in her native country, which at the time was open to entrepreneurial initiatives, especially in such locally less-explored fields as fashion design. So she took a chance and opened her own studio in her native Bucharest eight years ago, which proved to be just the move she needed. The low costs of production and living in Romania made it easy for Maria to find an affordable yet pleasant location for her studio, to build a team she can rely on, and to develop her own style and creative vision. And post-Communist Romania’s opening towards the rest of the world allowed her to participate at fashion fairs in Paris, where she promoted her line, and she expertly used the explosion of the internet to sell her designs through her website, http://www.marialuciahohan.com/ and online store, http://mlh-shop.com/, while the proliferation of fashion blogs and social media sites helped increase international awareness of her brand . Maria’s new promotion strategies and intuition paid off, and her line slowly gained recognition outside the borders of Romania, with her designs being featured in important magazines around the world, fashion bloggers and journalists praising her talent, which also led to more and more prominent stylists asking her for outfits that were appropriate for their celebrity clients’ red-carpet appearances. And indeed, it now seems like every day more international celebrities are noticed at important events for wearing the dreamy gowns created by Maria Lucia Hohan, who is happy to keep working from her Bucharest studio. This year marked not only an important career progress for Maria, but also the birth of her first child, a girl, about whom Maria wrote on Facebook, from the maternity hospital, a few hours after she gave birth in October “Last night I became the mother of a baby girl. I love her so much! She is perfect!” Indeed, the future never looked so bright and promising for the tenacious, perseverant, passionate and talented Maria Lucia Hohan. The Vogue City is honored to feature an exclusive interview with this designer the fashion world is and should take notice of!
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The Stylish City: How did you juggle your recent pregnancy with your growing success as a fashion designer, which this year has taken your brand to a new level of international recognition?

Maria Lucia Hohan: Pregnancy is a natural stage for every woman and, even more, an amazing source of happiness and fulfillment, which inspired me even more, and which completes me. I did not feel that the pregnancy was an obstacle that affected my work, and on the other hand, I adore what I do for a living, which means that I am now twice as happy.

TSC: Do you think that the pregnancy and your new role as a mother have affected your perspective on your career, business, and design vision in any way?

MLH: Not necessarily, but it has certainly inspired me to create next year a clothing line for little girls, who will be able to dress like their mothers, but, of course, in clothing items and sizes appropriate for their age.

TSC: Would you like your daughter to follow in your footsteps and pursue a career in fashion design

MLH: Of course I would like her to have a design-related career, especially in clothing design, because this would allow us to work together. But I will give her the freedom to make her own choices, and, even though that choice would make me extremely happy, I will not try to impose on her a particular career track.

TSC: Everyone would like to know how did your creations end up on well-known and up-and-coming singers and actresses who were photographed in them at red carpet events in Hollywood, which is so far away from Bucharest, where you are based, and how come Jennifer Hudson wore a dress designed by you when she sang for president Obama on his birthday?

MLH: I have been attending fashion trade fairs in Paris and showing my designs in showrooms there for years, and those events helped me get noticed by international stylists, who started to dress their celebrity clients in my pieces. Once I got on their lists, and had a few dresses, which were noticed by the media, worn on the red carpet, more and more stylists started to contact me and we now have collaborate closely with them for these types of events, which usually take place in Los Angeles.

TSC: Did stylists contact you through your online store? What do you think helped put you get noticed by them and by international fashion journalists (besides talent, obviously)?

MLH: The recipe to get their attention was a combination of my online shop, the articles about my collections posted on fashion blogs from all over the world, the fact that I promoted my line through Facebook, and the newsletters I send to a database of journalists and stylists. It’s important to try to reach stylists, fashion journalists and bloggers through any medium, and I think the internet is a magic tool in that sense, it makes the distance between them and my collections considerably shorter.

TSC: Which female celebrities who have worn your designs represented your style and fashion sensibility best and you would like to dress them again? What high-profile women who have not worn your creations would you like to dress?

MLH: Probably the most representative in this sense were Rosario Dawson, Selena Gomez and Jennifer Hudson. As to celebrities who haven’t worn my pieces yet, I don’t dare to dream too far. I like to do things one step at a time and to create the right opportunities that will eventually lead me to A-list actresses.

TSC: What are your hopes for the future in terms of dressing people for red carpet events? I think that every young designer ultimately wants to see actresses and other personalities nominated for the Golden Globes and for the Oscars dressed in their own pieces.

MLH: My hopes in this sense are as very high, because we receive requests for outfits from stylists for important U.S. personalities on a daily basis, so my dreams seem to get closer and closer to becoming a reality.

TSC: What advice do you have for young designers? Your story can inspire and give hope that it is possible to gain international recognition to other designers who don’t live in a major fashion capital, like Paris, London, Milan or New York.

MLH: My advice is that they should forget about the traditional promotion methods and to consider innovative promotion outlets, like blogs and social media websites, which have flourished and grown in number during the last years, and which created real opportunities for every designer, from any corner of the world, to be seen and “discovered.”

TSC: You studied textile design in Paris, then you worked in Milan for Krizia, and after that experience you returned to your native city, Bucharest, where you slowly built your own brand, whose international recognition and presence keeps growing. Tell us what made you leave Romania for Paris and Milan in the first place, and why did you return to Bucharest a few years later?

MLH: It’s a very long story, and those decisions had a lot to do with certain moments and events from my personal life. I had the chance to study fashion in Paris and then the courage to leave Paris for Milan one month after my graduation, in order to try my luck in this field there. The doors always opened easily for me, maybe it’s a matter of destiny. And when I returned to Romania, I thought it would be a temporary stay, but I am still here eight years later and I never regretted this decision, not even for a second, because I could not have conceived this business and accomplished what I have accomplished so far anywhere else but here. I was lucky to benefit from an economic context which was ideal for my development and for hiring a team of people, because I started my business during a time when entrepreneurship in this field was easier to achieve here than anywhere else. There are many small details which made it possible for me to grow just through my clients and their orders, without outside financial investments or loans.

TSC: Do you think that after your studies and work experience in Paris and Milan, Romania, where the number of well-established clothing designers and the living and production costs are smaller, offered you more creative freedom and liberty to become an entrepreneur than Paris or Milan, where it was probably much easier to find mentors, but more difficult to establish your own name and brand, when you were a young fashion school graduate?

MLH: Yes, my previous answer was a partial response to this question, but I would like to confirm that it is indeed easier for me as a designer to live and work in Romania, while I can promote my collections and sell them internationally, than to actually live and work in one of the so-called fashion capitals of the world, where the financial and legal aspects for an entrepreneur like me would be much more complicated. And I never wanted to work for somebody else, I didn’t have idols in fashion design and I find it hard to adjust to somebody else’s work style, so I found the perfect solution for myself.

TSC: How important do you think it is for a young designer, and for a young artist in general, to find such a space, which offers sources of inspiration for their work, resources for production and survival, and also a degree of freedom which allows you to create your own style and to build your business at a pace you are comfortable with?

MLH: It is essential to find the right human resources in order to build a work team with which you can communicate very well, in a place that meets your needs as a designer and where you have the freedom to choose, on a daily basis, how, with whom and at what pace you want to work. What I enjoy most about having my own design studio and my own team is that I have so much freedom in order to create and shape my own universe, according to my own desires and needs.

TSC: Still, did your studies and work experience in two of the best-known fashion capitals help you build your own brand you?

MLH: It has helped me very much to experience the French and Italian work methods and ways of thinking, both in the past, and it will certainly help me a lot in the future.

TSC: Do you think that if you didn’t have these experiences from Paris and Milan on your CV, you would have been able to reach the high standards and unique style of your current collections, and to gain the international recognition that you have today?

MLH: What mattered most was the fact that I got to live in those cities; I didn’t learn very much on a creative level from my work at companies in Paris and Milan.

TSC: Could you name a few well-known designers who have inspired and influenced your work?

MLH: I would like to believe that I am not influenced by the style of any other designers, but of course that I have some clear preferences- Valentino, Stella McCartney, Nina Ricci, Sonia Rykiel.

TSC: Do you think that the women you create for, and who wear your pieces, have certain common characteristics, like an age range, sense of style, etc.?

MLH: What my clients have in common is a preference for feminine, simple and delicate clothes.

TSC: Could you describe the over-all sensibility of your line in just a few words?

MLH: Luxury wear for urban divas.

TSC: Would you or do you wear your own designs, do they reflect your personal style when it comes to dressing?

MLH: That is a difficult question to answer, because most of my pieces are evening wear and appropriate for red-carpet or black-tie events, while my own life is not so glamorous, it doesn’t allow me or give me the opportunities to wear my own creations. But they definitely reflect my soul and my dreams, and represent the only outlet which lets me truly express myself.

TSC: You said that your designs are feminine, delicate and that you are not a big fan of androgynous looks. How does your line, which emphasizes glamorous, youthful, playful yet ethereal femininity relate to the style of women who work in politics, business, or on Wall Street, since a significant number of our readers are women who live in New York or in other urban areas, and who have to follow a certain dress code at work, which includes at least one “power suit” or pencil skirt?

MLH: I don’t design for Wall Street and I don’t have an “office” line. But when these women finish work and attend a party or a wedding in the Hamptons, they can surely find appropriate pieces among my creations.

TSC: So your collections do not target these types of professional women? Do you feel that the office dress code is too conservative, rigid and involves too many rules and limitations?

MLH: Any woman experiences different types of occasions, events, and she wears different outfits for different “moments”- at work, at a wedding, at a party, at the gym. Clothing designers try to provide women with options by diversifying their lines and collections, based on different occasions. For now I only have one line, but in the future I will definitely add more lines that will fit a more broad range of styles and occasions.

TSC: Which were the most important moments for your design business, moments when you clearly felt that you were moving forward, and which were the most difficult times?

MLH: I don’t remember the most difficult times or events, those are the ones I forget first and I try to overcome them as fast as possible. The most important moments have certainly all happened in 2011, and one quickly followed another, because when you are discovered as a brand, journalists, clients and buyers all suddenly want a piece of you. But the rewards and satisfactions have been very significant, especially after I worked non-stop from Romania as an almost unknown designer for so many years.

TSC: When you started your own line in Bucharest, what were your expectations? Did you imagine back then that your creations will be liked and worn by personalities all over the world, and especially in Hollywood?

MLH: I don’t want to be a hypocrite and to not admit that I always knew I would reach this point, but I could not predict when. I am glad that my instincts were right and that I didn’t fool myself.

TSC: What are your hopes and plans for the future of your brand?

MLH: I would like to design a shoe line, a lingerie line and another one for teenage girls.

TSC: What are your favorite destinations?

MLH: Paris, New York, the South of France.

TSC: What do you think about New York and about New Yorkers?

MLH: I have only been to New York twice, and each visit lasted for 1 week maximum, so I don’t have a strong, objective opinion of the city yet. However, in the near future I plan to attend fashion trade fairs in New York and to get involved in the New York fashion circuit.

By Doris Sangeorzan

When choosing jewelry, don’t think “less is more,” but outstanding and timeless

The Stylish City talked to stylist Engie Hassan, the founder of EngieStyle, about how she became an independent stylist, how she approaches her projects, her take on jewelry designs, which she believes should be striking and never used in a minimalist or predictable manner to accessorize an outfit, and about designer Andrea  Barna’s line, from which we asked Engie to pick a couple of pieces that match the styles of two A-list actresses, with whom both Andrea and Engie hope to work in the near future.

The Stylish City: Can you tell us how EngieStyle, your own styling company, was born?

Engie: I interned at Vogue US, Vogue Paris, Teen Vogue, Men’s Vogue, Numero, where I got to work with some of the most sought-after stylists and fashion editors in the world, and some of them became my mentors. During my internship at Teen Vogue, the economy was at its worst, and Condé Nast was going through operational changes and that is where and when I learnt more about the business and operational management skills that I later used at EngieStyle.

I spoke with a few editors about my career path and told them about the idea I had to start my own business, which would be about personal shopping and styling. They advised me to assist other stylists and then to go on my own. So after the magazine experience, I worked at Bergdorf Goodman. It was different from editorial styling, because I was consulting clients and putting outfits together for their everyday life. I felt that I was branding their image, and at the same time I learnt about the business side because I had budgets and many rules to follow. During this time I was also working on styling projects for runway shows and look books. Then I decided to go on my own.  EngieStyle was born on January 4th 2010. Two weeks later I got my first official client, princess Ameerh Al-Taweel, who still remains my client today.

The Stylish City: Would you say that in your current business you combine both ends of the spectrum- you work on editorial shoots, advertising campaigns and music videos, as well as advise and dress clients for different occasions?

Engie: Yes, because EngieStyle works on different types of styling jobs: from runway shows, designer look books, magazine shoots, to red carpet and television appearances. People also use stylists for personal occasions. They go through changes in their lives where they need some direction, even when it comes to their image. A wife could use a stylist’s advice for a dinner with her husband, because that dinner might be significant. Styling is used everywhere from a pharmaceutical company to a high-fashion shoe ad. Persistence, high-quality work and honesty are the best ways to maintain a good relationship with clients.

I enjoy styling clients for red carpet events the most, because I feel as if I have someone’s life in my hands and I can make or break my client, and there is no Photoshop editing involved.

The Stylish City: Any projects and collaborations you dream to make happen in the future?

Engie: I want to style more and more company ads (especially diamond and fashion company ads) and designers’ collections. I would love to style fashion spreads for Vogue Paris, American Vogue, Italian Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar. I would love to style celebrities such as Britney Spears, Penelope Cruz and Naomi Watts, as well as collaborate with music artists on their videos.

The Stylish City: Actually Andrea Barna, our featured jewelry designer this month, revealed to us that she has spoken to the PR representatives of Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet, and is thinking what pieces from her collections she should send each actress. I will ask you the same question I asked Andrea, and let you know what her answers were: if you could pick only one piece from the A by Andrea Barna line for Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet, what two pieces would you choose and why?

Engie: The two actresses’ styles and looks are quite different. Kate Winslet rarely wears necklaces, but her earrings always stand out, and she also wears bracelets and rings. She seems to love diamonds, and also wears gold and silver pieces, but doesn’t experiment much with colorful gems, she tends to stick with the same colors (white, silver, gold, black and different shades of blue) when it comes to both her outfits and the jewelry items she wears. Because Kate’s looks tend to focus on earrings, I will pick from Andrea’s line the gold lotus drop earrings in aqua- they are delicate yet majestic, they would work well with the styles of dresses Kate usually wears, while the gold and light blue compliment the color of her hair, skin and eyes. On the other hand, Penelope’s style is very fierce and versatile, and her looks can carry pieces that are more dramatic, structured, avant-garde. I think Andrea Barna’s gold drop earrings with layers of chain in pearl would match Penelope’s fashion style- the pearls and the gold accentuate her femininity and elegance, while the earrings’ layered shape reflects Penelope’s tendency to explore different types of looks, from glamorous to bohemian, and to choose clothing and accessories that are rich in culture.

Andrea: I would send Kate Winslet my gold over brass rhinestone cuff. There is enough glitz in that piece for her, it is playful but also sophisticated and not too colorful. The gold would look good on Kate and, since she likes diamonds, I can see her wearing this piece from my line. Penelope is fashion-forward yet classy and not too over-the-top, so I think the gold over brass lotus pendent in pearl I designed would be perfect for her because it’s pretty and refined but it has a modern twist on the lotus. The pendent also works with Penelope’s versatile style because she can wear it with a variety of looks and colors.

The Stylish City: Are you a fan of the saying “less is more” when it comes to jewelry?Engie: No. I try to find statement, eye-catching, spectacular pieces that make my clients stand out. I try to inspire my clients to wear not just a clear diamond but also color, so they stick out in photographs. For example, I styled an ad for a TV show which I knew was going to be photographed in black in white, so I pulled chunky, strong, textured jewelry pieces in order to emphasize each character’s personality. When I pick jewelry I try to choose pieces that will add something unique to the complete look. I try to stay away from what other people will wear. My ultimate goals are to make my clients look like a million bucks, no matter what their budget is, and to fill their closets with pieces they will keep forever and wear again and again, because trends come back.

The Stylish City: What do you keep in mind when you buy jewelry for a job or a client?

Engie:  It depends on the client and how they want to be seen. Every client is their own brand and they have a look to express. So if they work in a more creative field I just go with what will make them stand out and what will express their personality. If the client is the president of a company and wants to be perceived as chic but approachable, I choose the jewelry differently.

The Stylish City: When you create a look, what do you start with, what inspires you, and how does jewelry contribute to the look?

Engie: First I need to know the vision of the project. Then I make an archive document of colors, textures and pictures. For a photo shoot, after speaking with the creative director and getting details about the theme, I go through my archives and make an inspirational board with what I can actually pull. For me, accessories are a big deal because they complete the style I’m trying to portray with a look. If a woman takes time to choose a piece of jewelry, she is much more stylish. People can wear the same dress many times, but the way they accessorize it can give it a new look every time they wear it. When it comes to a client, I try to get comfortable with them and find out how they would like to be seen. Clients will reference to me certain icons they would like to look like. For example they would like to look like Grace Kelly or Elizabeth Taylor. After that, when I know what they are will wear, attire-wise, I search for specific jewelry that will fit their personality and the look of the personality they would like to portray, while I keep in mind that when they will wear those pieces they will reflect the grace of their icon but also their own personal grace.

The Stylish City: What do you avoid when you choose jewelry?

Engie:  Small and fine pieces. I am always going for bigger and bolder items.

The Stylish City: What do you think are some of the most common mistakes people make when buying and choosing jewelry? What are the most common mistakes celebrities (and their stylists) make when choosing jewelry items for their red carpet appearances?

Engie: I feel that people are too cautious about what others think or care too much about what is “in.”  People buy jewelry that they won’t ever wear. As I said before, I think jewelry should stay in your closet forever and you should be able to wear it many times. I don’t really think celebrities make mistakes on the red carpet because they wear what they or their stylist chose. But I get very disappointed when I don’t see celebrities at the Oscars wearing jewelry that is epic and which will influence what other people will wear every day. It’s ok to wear earrings and a necklace the same time. When you look at celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s clients, they always wear the right jewelry and statement pieces. Rachel understands the importance of not just her clients’ attire, but of the jewelry choices as well. The Oscars are moments in fashion when celebrities must look iconic and inspirational. After all, they’re wearing couture! It’s a letdown when I see celebrities at these events who do not wear interesting, bold or enough jewelry.

The Stylish City: Can you think of some actual examples- both good and bad ones- of a celebrity whose look was totally ruined by her choice of jewelry or, on the contrary, a celebrity who used jewelry to enhance her own beauty and the beauty and colors of the dress/outfit she wore?

Engie: Yes, I can only think of a good example. Jennifer Lopez comes to mind because she is never afraid to wear jewelry. For example, when she wore the mirror Emilio Pucci mini dress at the 2011 Grammy Awards, she was not afraid to pair it with two statement Cartier rings, a crystal Swarovski clutch and glittered Christian Louboutin platform pumps. She loves to stand out and that’s what is so great about her style.

The Stylish City: Do you have any jewelry items that you are really into right now, and jewelry pieces you wear often, or that you often use for your styling projects?
Engie: I am really into the Royal Asscher diamonds from the Safari collection and the cuffs and rings made by J. Rudy Lewis.

The Stylish City: What do you think about Andrea Barna’s jewelry line? How would you characterize it, what are some of the pieces that you like most from her collections, either for yourself or that you think you could use in your styling jobs and which your clients would like?

Engie:  I like her versatility because she has something to offer to all different kinds of people. I like some of her rings, cuffs and chunky bangles. I really like her thin bangles. I would buy a few and layer them or wear them with a watch. I also like her dotted cuff.

By Doris Sangeorzan 

When I chat with jewelry designer Andrea Barna before the photo shoot with her for The Stylish City about the looks we should go for I suggest that, based on her designs, I see two styles which emerge from her line, one is bohemian yet glamorous, I think it’s called “boho glam” in fashion slang, and another that reminds me of the style of Vogue Paris editors- edgy, minimalist, a lot of black, high-heels. And maybe throw in that mix a touch of New York uptown elegance (Andrea does live after all on Park Avenue and her favorite restaurant is Mr. Chow on 57 Street). She tells me that she actually defines her style as “Edgy Bohemian,” so we decide to go with that. I was thinking youthful and colorful before the shoot, and for the first outfit we put together a slightly bohemian, glamorous, feminine yet all black look, with quite a bit of make-up on and Andrea’s hair up so that the earrings, designed by herself, are showing. After a few shots, Andrea suddenly pulls her hair down and tells me “I really feel that I should be myself, and I never wear my hair up.” She was clearly showing that independent streak she kept talking about during our interview. It made sense, given that Andrea is a young woman who started her own jewelry line at 23 and who doesn’t follow trends or other designers in her work. That trait, along with her appreciation of quality and her love of fashion and design, might also explain why her line became immediately successful, carried by the most prestigious stores, and her jewelry designs are worn and owned by celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Alicia Keys. The early success also meant that she was approached by many showrooms and publicists, who eventually tried to control the creative direction of her line. It was a learning experience, and these days Andrea prefers to grow her business at her own pace, sell her designs mainly through her (and a few other) websites, and pick her collaborations carefully, because she cherishes her freedom that allows her to create a versatile, unique and affordable line which attracts a wide range of customers, who can find among Andrea’s designs something for every taste and every occasion.

The Stylish City: How would you describe the aesthetic of your designs, of your line? Is the style of your pieces eclectic, or is there a common thread that runs through all your designs? Do you design for a particular kind of woman and what kind of woman is she- is she within a certain age range, does she have a particular style, personality, lifestyle?

Andrea: My line has many different facets to it, and really is so versatile! I have customers of all ages and personalities.

I have a signature and a trend collection. The signature collection is more elegant and refined. It has been carried in stores like Neiman Marcus, Fred Segal, Henri Bendel, and it was my first collection.

My trend collection, which I started designing about two years ago, is edgier. It has a lot of different elements to it like studs and spikes. It’s really a lot of fun! I designed it on and off and it was 4 months ago that I really started selling it and added it to my website catalogue. And I am always adding pieces to these two collections.

The Stylish City: What is your creative and production process like?

Andrea: When I did my signature line, I was sawing the earrings by myself at first and then my friend Melissa, who was living in my building, saw me and she offered to help me by connecting me to a production company, and that took a lot of work, especially physical work, off my shoulders. But it is expensive to produce in the U.S., so I researched production costs around the world and decided to shift the production to Bali and Indonesia.

Now I come up with concepts and ideas and then transform them into sketches, but I am not very technical, so I explain to my team in Bali exactly what I want and they bring my creations to life, they are genius. I used to be represented by a showroom but now I enjoy having my independence. I have been approached by so many showrooms and PR companies but I am happy doing my own PR for now, but that might change, who knows what will happen in a week? That’s the beauty of running your own business.

The Stylish City: Do you follow trends, or your own inspiration?

Andrea: I don’t really follow trends, I like to create them, but I do care about what’s going on in fashion. I rarely pay attention to what other jewelry designers are doing, and I think my designs are pretty fresh and fashion-forward.

The Stylish City: Do you envision a particular theme for every collection or does every item have its own style? Are there certain colors, shapes, materials that you tend to use again and again?

Andrea: My trend collection is more substantial, thicker, edgier, made of 18k over brass, while my signature collection is sterling silver and 14 and 18k gold pieces. I use a lot of enamel, resin, I love bold colors for bracelets and necklaces, but the colors I use for earrings are more subtle because I think that they shouldn’t overshadow your face which is your best feature. I think that jewelry should accentuate you, not overpower you. I use tons of cabochon set stones, and this season I did a lot of spikes and studs, and I love hoops, to which I constantly add new elements.

The Stylish City: Your pieces have been worn by quite a few celebrities- can you tell us by whom and if you will add to this list any new names in the near future? Which high-profile women who have not worn your pieces would you dream of wearing them?

Andrea: I have some celebrities in mind for whom I’m interested in designing- Kate Winslet and Penelope Cruz to be specific, as I have spoken to their publicist.

To date, Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears (she wore my earrings at her star-signing in Hollywood, probably one of the most important moments in her life), Alicia Keys, Poppy Montgomery and Marcia Gay Harden have all worn and own my jewelry.

The Stylish City: What inspired you to name a gold-over-brass-with-garnet pair of earrings the “Alicia Keys earrings”?

Andrea: The Alicia Keys earrings are actually named after her because she owns them and has worn them on several occasions. From what I hear she loves them!

The Stylish City: Do you have a personal favorite piece among your designs and one that you would consider your “staple”?

Andrea: My current favorite pieces are my lapis and cobalt gold-plated hoops. I design a lot of hoops, so they are kind of staple items for me. These particular ones are definitely eye-catching and are perfect for daily wear.

The Stylish City: When you get dressed in the morning, do you start with the outfit, or with the jewelry?

Andrea: I have to admit that in the morning I’m always reaching for my jewelry first, and the clothes are secondary.

The Stylish City: What are your ultimate goals for your line? Any definite plans that have to do with the production and expansion of your line in the near future?

Andrea: My designs have already been sold all over the world, including at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which has been one of my most prestigious accounts. They carried my more artistic pieces for 5 consecutive seasons. I have some collaborations in the works, and I sell my pieces through ice.com, a leading shopping website for diamond and gemstone jewelry. But honestly, now I prefer to focus on my website, at my own pace, because when I started designing I was 23 and I felt that I had to deal with too many showrooms and publicists, some of whom were trying to tell me what I should design because that was selling.

I plan to take my line to the ultimate destination, whatever that will mean. That’s what I like about fashion, it’s exciting to wake up and not know what could and what will happen today.

By Doris Sangeorzan

Jewelry designer Andrea Barna talked to The Stylish City about the path that led her from her quaint native Westchester town, where she grew up in a family of lawyers, to the decision to join the world of fashion in New York City, first through fashion and accessories editorial positions at some of the most prestigious fashion publications, and eventually to start her own jewelry line, A by Andrea Barna, at age 23, inspired by the energy and culture of the city she loves and calls home.

Although she is often trying to get friends together, and seems full of energy and initiative, you get the sense that Andrea is not the pushy kind of friend who’s all over the place, that she likes the comfort and privacy of her home as much as she loves to explore the city. Somehow the combination of those different sides of her personality made the experience of starting a business that allows her to make her own rules, work in her own space and at her own pace, and at the same time connect with people through her work and expose herself to new opportunities every day, a very fulfilling one. When I visit her apartment, which sometimes doubles as her office, it pretty much matches my expectations- it is elegant and faces Park Avenue, but it also has an artsy touch, as well as playful, girly glam details, like the leopard-print pillows that contrast nicely with the brown leather couch (her long-haired Chihuahua’s, Benny, favorite spot), and the white flowers and candles which decorate her terrace, from where one can admire the lights of Manhattan in all its glory. The large living room table is covered with jewelry pieces Andrea designed, as well as tear sheets and a portfolio filled with images of the still life shoots she styled during her stints at W and WWD. “I love my space, and I am very independent,” Andrea tells me. That pretty much sums up my impressions of her and of the place she inhabits. At the same time Andrea is very accommodating, and when her former high-school classmate Marisa, the make-up artist on the shoot, arrives, Andrea’s spontaneous, funny and informal side comes out, as the two young women start to chat about former high-school mates, Chappaqua, and, inevitably, about New York. Suddenly, I feel like I am among old friends, so I join in.

The Stylish City: We’ve heard a lot about your native town, Chappaqua, because former president Bill Clinton and his wife, Hilary, moved there. What was it like growing up there? Did it inspire you in any way to work in fashion and was anyone else in your family involved in fashion?

Andrea: Growing up in Chappaqua was pretty amazing. I had an extremely tight group of friends and most of us are still close. It doesn’t get much more beautiful than Chappaqua, it’s so picturesque. It’s changed a lot since I lived there, it’s much more populated now and after the arrival of the Clintons the real estate market has gone up.

The Stylish City: Did living there inspire you in any way to work in fashion, and was anyone else in your family involved in fashion?

Andrea: I have always loved fashion. Each day at the Horace Greeley High School was like a fashion show for me and my friends. Slightly like the high-school halls from the show “90210.” It was fun!

My family is FULL of lawyers. I carved my own path in fashion, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I guess you could say that I took the road less traveled. I grew up coming to NYC with my family. I loved all the museums here and loved going to the theatre, and it’s only 45 minutes away from Chappaqua. I knew I wanted to live in the city when I grew up. I moved to NYC when I was 19 with my family, which now resides on the UWS.

The Stylish City: You started to work for fashion publications (W, WWD) at an early age, 19. How did you get the job, was it an internship? And what was it like working with all these well-known editors, journalists, stylists, designers when you were so young?

Andrea: I began as an intern at W and WWD, the summer before my senior year of college at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. I hated going to that college, I was studying business, and I don’t know why I didn’t transfer to Parsons or F.I.T. But my step-sister knew someone who worked at W and WWD, so she is really responsible for getting me the job! After I finished the summer internship I became a fashion assistant for the two publications and it was one of the best times of my life. I have all kinds of memories…I remember that I picked the Jimmy Choos which Jennifer Lopez wore at the VMAs in 2000 and when I watched the awards show and saw her walking around in those Jimmy Choos I was so excited! I did so much there, from assisting Joe Zee on a photo shoot with Hilary Swank, Alex White on a Kate Moss photo shoot, to a lot of menswear shoots for W Men’s Portfolio, and I remember assisting men’s editor Marcus Teo on an issue that included a portfolio dedicated to influential men in media, and we styled Anderson Cooper, Patrick McMullan, Euan Rellie and Darren Aronofsky, among others. I also styled still-life shoots for the WWD Beauty (editor Kerry Diamond was my mentor in the beauty department).

The Stylish City: Do you feel that the book and the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” were an accurate depiction of what it’s like to be a young, fresh-out-of-school woman working in fashion media?

Andrea: Haha, “The Devil Wears Prada” was an amazing movie, but no, my experience was nothing like that. I loved working at W and WWD, I learnt a tremendous amount from some of the most talented, intelligent and world-renowned editors. I can’t think of a better place to have started my career. Some of the very editors I worked with at 19 (beauty editor Kerry Diamond, fashion editor Joe Zee), have been very helpful people who have shaped my career.

The Stylish City: Did you know at that that point that you wanted to design jewelry or was it an unexpected direction and craft that you became familiar with while working with accessories at W and WWD? What prompted you to make the transition from fashion journalism to jewelry design?

Andrea: After W and WWD, I worked at Mode magazine as an assistant accessories editor, which was a step up from being a fashion assistant, and I had a lot more to say in what was going on in the accessories department, I produced photo shoots, called in product, and was able to use my PR contacts from W and WWD to call in products from high-end designers that Mode hadn’t had access to before, because the magazine did not have the prestige that W and WWD had. It was then, after years of calling in product, that I thought to myself I can come up with something great too! My years at fashion magazines were a great experience, but like any industry, it had its limitations- a long path to a position that pays well enough for one to live comfortably in Manhattan, job insecurity (Mode folded since I worked there), and I craved independence so eventually I came up with a business plan and I started my line in 2003, and I love doing this, it’s my passion! I also get to use what I learnt in college when I studied business, in order to implement this business. After I started the line, things took off pretty fast in terms of press coverage, prestigious store wanted to carry my line, I was very lucky.

The Stylish City: Did you take classes in jewelry design or are you a self-taught designer? How useful were the fashion publishing experience and contacts when you started your own jewelry line?

Andrea: I took a beading class in the Union Square area, and that was really it. I design from inspiration through trending fashions, and study old issues of Vogue a lot. There is an amazing store called Gallagher’s in the East Village that has archives of almost every single magazine ever published.

The Stylish City: You seem to be very much a New Yorker, very fond of the city, its people and its culture. What are some of the New York places, characteristics, people that inspire you? If you didn’t live in New York, where else would you like to live?

Andrea: I can’t really imagine living anywhere else in the world besides NYC. I love the seasons, the culture, the nightlife, everything about it really! The only other place I can maybe imagine myself living in besides New York is L.A. My step-sister and her family live there, as well as many of my close friends. It’s a really fun and magical place.

I’m known to be a homebody at times. I love to watch movies, and to spend time with friends. I love the energy of the city but I also love to go home and I am privileged to have a spacious apartment by NY standards and to be able to work from home sometimes.

The Stylish City: What are your favorite restaurants, places to go out, shop, spend your free time at in the city?

Andrea: I love going to dinners at restaurants with friends, and would really rather spend my time there than in nightclubs. I am not the type who goes out and networks all the time. I used to go to Mr. Chow on 57 Street with my stepsister at least twice a week, it was by far my favorite restaurant ever! I also love Elio’s, an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side. My favorite store is definitely Henri Bendel. It’s quintessential NYC!

The Stylish City: In your opinion, what are the best and the worst things about living in New York?

Andrea: The best things about NYC are the seasons and the culture, the worst thing is by far the traffic!

By Doris Sangeorzan