Spotlight On: Sophie Theallet

Filed Under: Fashion Smashion Michelle Obama

You might not know her name yet, but we think you will soon!

Sophie Theallet is an in-the-know name at this point, but the designer's star is rising brightly.

A recent winner of the Council of Fashion Designers of America award, Theallet spent the early part of her career designing under the wing of Jean-Paul Gautier and Azzedine Alaia.

Not too shabby!

She says,

"Gautier taught me to stop at nothing and Alaia gave me a taste for rigor. I came to the United States a dozen years ago because I'd fallen in love and I never left, though at the start I was a consultant and I often returned to Paris where I kept working with Alaia."

She currently runs a pretty modest operation: her work station is her a kitchen table which is "not quite at the right height," situated in her third floor Manhattan apartment, and she only has one full-time worker to help her create her collections. "I make about 40 items per collection, so 80 a year," she says. That's a lot to do with only one helping hand!

Hopefully, that can all change soon. Beside the prestige associated with winning the CFDA award, the prize for the award is a handsome $200,000 which could help her jump start her business. What's more, Michelle Obama has twice been photographed wearing her designs, giving her a buzz factor that could entice investors.

Her collections use colors and fabrics from across the globe: "I am originally from south-west France, but I consider myself a world citizen, multi-cultural, and I am inspired by Africa, but also by Canada, Mexico. It's more the sweetness of life in certain countries that inspires me." In the end, though, she's a simple gal: "There's nothing more chic than a simple cotton dress."

We agree! Can't wait to see more of the designer in the future!

[Image via Getty Images.]

Posted: December 24, 2009 at 11:00 am