Celebrating the Women of Fashion

Last week, we celebrated International Women’s Day, and in honor of the day, we’ve asked Elon students to share their favorite female designers behind the women’s clothing brands they admire most.

Historically, there are few industries that are dominated by females, however, women have certainly taken the fashion industry by storm. Among them are those who have made great advances for women through the lens of fashion, truly representing the power clothing can have on confidence and voice.

Here, just a few of the wonderful women in fashion to take note of on International Women’s Day according to Elon students.

Maddie Distenfeld @maddiedistenfeld_

With so many amazing and influential fashion designers out there, it was hard to pick my favorite. After much thought, I settled on Dominican Designer Oscar De La Renta, and here’s why. His couture fashion designs have been at the forefront of fashion for over 50 years. Iconic figures such as Jackie Kennedy (one of the favorite style icons) donned his designs. His collections always had elements of elegance and simplicity but always stood out from the rest—one of the reasons why I love his designs so much. Although Oscar De La Renta has passed, his brand and designs still live on and [are] as stunning as ever. As for now, I dream of the day when I can wear one of his dresses.

Kajal Metah @kajal_mehta

Alana Johnson is a 24-year-old designer for the Instagram staple brand Orseund Iris. This luxury brand has been seen in New York “it girls,” including Rainey Qualley, Emily Ratajkowski,and Sami Miro. This line has the perfect mix-and-match vintage skirts, mini-skirts and sparkly accessories. Orseund Iris is filled with rare pieces, and its idea is to promote “non-seasonal” styles. You will be able to see a mix of 90s minimalism, 70s rock ‘n’ roll and a sprinkle of some sex appeal. Alana Johnson is embodying the confidence in girls to wear what they feel most comfortable in and not conforming to society normalities. Alana Johnson was inspired by her twin sister to start this brand. She was influenced by social media platforms and the way she wanted the aesthetic of fashion to be. By living in New York City, she is filled with new inspiration and is always coming up with new pieces for the line. Not only has Alana Johnson’s inspiration reached so many women, but it has also empowered me to be who I am and not what others want me to be. Through her personal background and her love for fashion, she has dedicated her time into pleasing her customers and herself and not thinking about the other multiple areas of fashion. Her main goal is “to surround myself with down to earth, hardworking individuals. You’re only as good as your team.” By reading this quote, I truly understand why she is so eager to make her line a success. Her line empowers confidence, and that is what every girl should have.

Ainsley Marshall @ainsleyy_marshall

When shopping for myself or other people, I am not afraid of a unique style or twist. A rare color, shape or pattern always grabs my attention. Recently, I came to admire Caroline Herrera because her designs exhibit the qualities I look for in clothes. I highly recommend gazing at the fall 2020 runway show for Caroline Herrera. Caroline’s ability to produce a vast amount of different styles is one aspect I think is showcased on the runway and that I hold in high regard. Caroline is originally from Venezuela and [is] best known for her dressing of high-profile women such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Michelle Obama. She has also been featured on several “best-dressed” lists because of her own classy style. Caroline’s iconic look is a button-down with a taffeta skirt, which has changed the way women “dress up.” And I think she will continue to have a large influence on the fashion world.

Jacqueline James @jacquelinejamess

One of my all-time favorite female designers is Stella McCartney. Her contributions to ethical and sustainable fashion has paved the way for other designers in the field to take a stance on fast fashion’s environmental impact. I respect her honesty, leadership and talent in making clothes not for the runway but for real people. Responsible luxury is McCartney’s expertis, and I think the future of fashion is shifting in the midst of today’s climate crisis.

Mary Buzby  @marybuzby

Paula Scher is widely recognized as one of the most influential designers in the world. She broke free from industry standards, utilizing original illustrations and typeface to make up the majority, if not the entirety, of her designs. Scher served as the first female principal at Pentagram, a design consultancy in New York. She is famously known for developing identity and branding for Windows 8, the Metropolitan Opera, Citibank, The Public Theater and Tiffany & Co, as well as many other big-name companies and organizations. I admire her most for her bold use of type to shape the content and deliver the tone of her work.