Blanche Macdonald

List 3 designers that you admire most and why.

Tom Ford

Tom Ford to me is a perfect example of how hard work and perseverance pays off. He started out working for Cathy Hardwick in California but he felt he wasn't fulfilling his potential by staying in the United States he felt constricted just like how i feel by staying in Toronto and also needing a drastic change. He moved to Italy and rapidly worked his way to becoming the creative director for Gucci which at the time was no longer a top selling brand. Within 4 years of hard work Tom Ford transformed the Gucci image to what it is today and increased sales by 90%. Tom Ford pushed the envelope not just in fashion but also in Marketing through racy advertising campaigns for both Gucci and Yves Saint- Laurent. He transformed the Gucci brand into a mainstream publicly attainable and wearable clothing line while still remaining true to the original Gucci house roots. I think to be able to do everything that tom ford has is such a great feat in the fashion industry and that he has set many examples for future generations of how to help a brand grow to its fullest potential.
Ann Demeulemeester
I’ve chosen Ann Demeulemeester as Inspiration not just for myself she is also an inspiration for many other designers as well. First off there is absolutely nothing from any of her collections I wouldn’t wear myself. Her line is bold and feminine and stands out from the rest she isn’t scared to go the complete other direction then the rest of the fashion world. I first fell in love with her line just through her clothing I always love to learn more about a designer. I have read quite a few of her interviews and to my she comes across as a strong willed down to earth powerful woman who is constantly thinking about the next best thing. I guess in a way she reminds me a lot of my mother. I stumbled upon a quote of hers and it constantly reminds me to stick to what i believe in and never give up.
"When I believe in something I will never drop it. I will be mad about it, I will be sick about it, everyone will throw the patterns at my head! But I will not stop. I think there's always a solution. When I was at school I had a teacher who said "'not possible' is not possible." You only have to want something hard enough, then it becomes possible." (http://www.lumiere.com/fashion/97/01/ann/05.html)
She works hard and never half heartily designs a piece there is always so much care even in the tiniest of details her piece are not just to wear they are conversation pieces everyone experiences something different. To me it’s no different than standing in an art gallery with 20 different people and everyone walks away with a different emotion to what they just viewed.
Coco Chanel
The designer I admire most, for not only her strength and independence, but also her revolution for women’s clothing. Coco Chanel, a woman that changed the look of her time, is not only innovative, but creative as well. From her start with the not-so-contemporary little black dress, to her perfume No. 9, she inspired me, among other designers, to become interested in fashion myself.

With her debut, the little black dress, many thought of her design as revealing and inappropriate. However in reality, she did what every designer tries to do, change the fashion industry to satisfy the fashion of tomorrow. Coco Chanel was indeed innovative and did not let anyone tell her otherwise. She indeed revolutionized women's fashion whether the men of that time liked it or not.

She was also strong and independent, something I am still trying so hard to be, so naturally, as a person also going into such a competitive industry, I look up to her. So when I see what she could do, I want to believe that I can too. Something I suppose most female designers want in their lives.