AMY
ZOLLER
by Holiday Dmitri
Fashion-Chicago.com
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AMY
ZOLLER |
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Fall
1999 Preview: Sleek Sophistication Amy
Zoller Designs Inc.
Like her own personality, Chicago designer Amy Zoller's Fall/Winter collection reflects an interesting combination of sleek sophistication with hippie-inspired flair. "For the most part, I'm a real minimalist," says Zoller. "I don't like a lot of adornment when it comes to jewelry and frill. I've always been into neutral colors and rarely use bright colors in my collection. But what is really fun about this collection is that there is this other side of me, which is sort of a hippie at heart. This collection is a perfect reflection because it displays both sides. Looking at old photographs of my mom, who was sort of the perfect 70's fashion hippie, has been one of the biggest sources of inspiration for me right now," adds Zoller, who started her own clothing line in 1995. Since then, Amy Zoller Designs Inc. has grown so successful that her collection is now showing in New York, Los Angeles and Houston. In addition, she sells directly to Phoebe 45 (in Bucktown) and Celeste Turner (on Armitage Street) here in Chicago. Zoller's latest collection features an underlying western theme and "real cowboy colors" like Spice (an Indian-western brown saturated with orange) and Bone (a pale palomino beige), Fatigue Army Green, and naturally, black. For the first season accessories, like the turquoise and coral jewelry created by her assistant and an ultra-suede body bag in silhouette, are being offered because they complement the collection so well. Clothes range in cost from the matte jersey tube top that sells at a retail price of $140, to her long cowboy-tailored, ultra-suede fringe jacket that goes for $650. The matte jersey collection -- a staple in her collection -- is sized XS - L, while the more tailored and ultra-suede pieces go from sizes 2 - 12. Two of Zoller's favorite items from this "cowboy meets hippie" collection are the suede lace-up pants and the ultra-suede fringed poncho. According to the young designer, fashion is shaped by the real spirit of the woman -- and not her age. Zoller's clients range in age from 20 - 60. "It's not an age thing," states Zoller. "It's a mindset. A mentality. I think my clothing is made for the girl who is sleek and minimal when she wants to be, and a little rock 'n' roll when she wants to be also." Zoller also features a maternity line -- a spin-off of her regular collection. "I realized there was a real void in the market for modern, sophisticated maternity clothes," says Zoller, who had a baby this March. "Unfortunately a lot of what's out there in terms of maternity is really poor quality, cheap fabric, oversized things. I think there is a real art to dressing when you are pregnant, and you are not going to feel great about yourself if you're someone who has a lot of style normally, but still have to walk around in a large, baggy dress in a bad fabrication." "We use the same colors as our normal collection, so people can shop and not feel different than anyone else shopping the normal collection. These girls get to look as stylish as they normally would do if they weren't pregnant," Zoller says. "That's the whole idea behind the maternity collection." Zoller is currently getting ready to present her Fall/Winter collection and preparing for her Spring/Summer 2000 line. She will also be presenting her Holiday/Resort collection next month at a trunk show at Phoebe 45.
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