When I was four years old, I was already talking about becoming a designer. I'm not exactly sure where I got that notion. It was probably something I saw on television. I always had it in mind that a designer had beautiful fabrics around her, and a big sketchbook, and would drape cloth around a mannequin, and go out to lunch. It seemed like a very glamorous life.
I always went fabric shopping with my mom. I watched her sew and I would take the scraps and make doll clothes. Once I understood how patterns worked, I started making my own clothes.
I remember reading an article in Life Magazine about two girls who graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York and then moved to Paris, where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton opened a boutique for them. As a kid, you think “wow”, you’ve found the magic ticket...all you have to do was move to New York and go to Parsons. Years later when I went back and re-read that article; I realized that one of the girl’s fathers was the legendary photographer, Irving Penn (which might have given them certain advantages!)
I did go to Parsons. In my second year, I overheard two seniors talking about a job opportunity at “Charlie’s Girls” with Erica Elias. I ran up there with my student portfolio, and I got the job. I was in heaven. That was probably the best job I could have ever landed because Erica gave me my very own design room to work in. I had sewing ladies. I had a draper. They had five different divisions where I could do swimwear, sportswear and sweaters. I learned how to do everything. She was a very tough boss but without that experience, I don't think I could ever have had the same opportunities that I later enjoyed. When Charlie’s Girls closed, Erica’s name still opened doors for me at many of the other big sportswear houses.
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