When I tell people I’m an emerging designer they say “Oh wow
that’s cool!” then they give me this very quizzical look. It’s kind of like
when you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up and they say
singer, actress or astronaut. You pat them on their heads and send them on
their way with what you think is an encouraging word of “Don’t get upset if it
doesn’t happen.” Well at times I feel like that little kid with big dreams.
I have to admit it hasn’t been easy but things started to
turn around for me when I stopped worrying about what other people thought. In
the beginning I was afraid to do it on my own and went through two business
partners. Things of course didn’t work out with them because my dream wasn’t
their dream. And that’s ok. I think I rather go it alone. Yeah it would be nice
to share the stress and long days and nights with, but nothing feels better
than to say “I did it on my own!”
I started Legendary Style a few years ago. I was modeling at
the time. I just new that nothing could feel more amazing than when I strutted
down the runway in someone’s designs. The anxiety, excitement and craziness of
it all gave me a RUSH!!
I started working closely with a couple of local designers
in Phoenix. I even became great friends with one in particular whom I can now
say is apart of my family. He taught me every thing he knew. I believed in his
talent, even to this day I still wear his jeans.
Then something happened. I started going to more and more
casting calls where I was told I was Plus Sized and they were looking for
someone “smaller”. I was hurt. All I
wanted to do was model high fashion but I wasn’t going to put my health at risk
for it. Personally, I liked the way I looked. I was 5’10 and 150lbs. I felt
defeated.
I went on a girl’s weekend to Vegas and of course spent the
weeks leading up to it in the mall. I couldn’t find anything I liked. So I came
up with a design and took it along with some fabric to a designer friend of
mine. My dress was done in a day!! I couldn’t believe it.
While in Vegas I had countless people ask me where I got my
dress. They were floored when I told them it was mine! Everyone wanted my
business card. Since I wasn’t a designer at the time I didn’t have one. This led
me to believe that I could take all of my sketches and turn them into
something! And that’s what I did. If I couldn’t find something to wear, I would
just make it!!
I still went on with my regular 9-5 and modeling on the
side. I had no idea that when I submitted my photos for Tucson Fashion Week in
2010 that it would be my last modeling gig and the beginning of Legendary
Style.
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| Designs by Siobhan |
I went to Tucson for the fashion week casting call and
before I could get back home (2 ½ hour drive) I had an email from a designer by
the name of Elizabeth. She wanted me to model for her. I couldn’t be happier! I
would have been happy modeling for anyone but SHE is whom I wanted to model for
the most!! Her designs are like a
diamond in the rough. She lives in Tucson Arizona. Not the first place that
comes to mind when you think high fashion!! Not only is she a designer but she
is also the founder of Tucson Fashion Week. After fashion week ended I stayed
in touch with Elizabeth telling her my hopes for being an amazing designer and
seeing my designs on the runway. She told me I should submit my designs for the
next fashion week. I did!
Instead of modeling for Lizz again, I ended up sending my
own creations down the runway with the best group of models a first time
designer could ever hope to have!!
Everything was coming full circle. All the time I was
modeling other people’s designs and thinking there was nothing better, I was
wrong. Being back stage with all of the confusion of getting models dressed and
down the runway at just the right moment is what I LIVE for! Watching MY
creations being modeled is a feeling I can only compare with being a mom….
PRICELESS!
I say all this to say, life is all about living out your
dreams. Don’t worry about what people are going to say or think about you. If
you don’t try you’ll never know how far you can go.
So in honor of all the Fashion Weeks taking place all around
the world, here’s the launch of my clothing line at Tucson Fashion week 2011. I
think it also makes for a nice Throwback Thursday.
Take Care,
J.
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