occupation: fashion designer

A pivotal memory in James’ life was in 7th grade when he dragged his parents from the midwest to New York City to hunt down the best in fashion shops. He researched where to go at the library, as there was no internet, and found himself meeting Anna Sui in her boutique, where she wrote on a postcard to him “follow your dream.” He has followed his passions, and is a now a very successful fashion designer, but finds himself in the more refined pursuit of the understated chic of Jil Sander and the perfect vintage khaki. James is college professor when it comes to his style and understanding the history of his industry. His education began back when he recalls his first Vogue, a July ’96 cover of Amber Valetta in a navy blue asymmetrical Calvin Klein, and you can see the affect of navy blue and all things eternal, like Amber V, in his own wardrobe. James is a tour de force of cool classicism with his cashmere cardigans, Birkenstocks, and gray flannels, accented by the perfectly rumpled straw hat and oversized and worn messenger bag. In addition to wanting to wear birkies again with socks for the fall, I found myself so stimulated by James’ room filled with inspirational tears for his up-and-coming designs. His references had the taste level of a pure bred fashion editor who had spent their life editing the trends and understood the value of avoiding them. In one of the pictures, there was a model in a turtle neck worn under a blazer with skirt to the floor – I am taken with how new and now this feels again.