The ideeli Scoop with Von Vonni

If you shop ideeli often, then you know that one of our (and our members') most-loved brands is Ravon, makers of the essential convertible dress. What you may not know is that Ravon's designer, Von Vonni, is himself multifaceted; besides designing Ravon, he's also the creative force behind the Von Vonni line (his eponymous collection) and, most recently, a judge on Russia's Next Top Model. We recently corresponded with Von to get the ideeli scoop on his Von Vonni line (on sale today on ideeli), what inspired him to become a designer, and a sneak peak into his days with the top models.

What was it that sparked your love of fashion, and how did you decide to become a designer?
My love of fashion came from a very early age. My parents tell me that even at a year old, I cried nonstop until they would dress me in an outfit that I liked! My favorites at that age were stripes and anything with a fish print on it; I would wear winter boots on hot summer days when I was 3 years old just because they were new and I thought that they looked good with my ensembles. I also began drawing dresses when I was about 4 years old. The love of fashion was just always there, and the decision to become a designer was a natural next step.

Who and/or what are some of your biggest fashion inspirations?
Life itself is probably my biggest inspiration of all. New York City is a constant source of inspiration, too, for me and my designs, as are femininity and beauty. All of the above are always in my head and form the foundation of any collection that I design.

Your Ravon line gets so much love from ideeli members, so it's exciting for us to now feature your other line, Von Vonni. Tell us about the concept behind the Von Vonni line, and how it came to be?
I am extremely flattered by the amount of positive and excited emails we get every time Ravon sells on ideeli. Let me take this opportunity to once more thank the members for all of the love and attention!

I launched Von Vonni almost two years ago; I'd always wanted to work for myself and own my own business so as to have more freedom creatively and design-wise.

What makes the Von Vonni line different from Ravon?
Von Vonni is my signature line and expresses more of my perspective as an artist and designer. It's very feminine, romantic, and somewhat classic. We use a mix of novelty silks and laces, chiffons, and anything flowy and girly. I'm excited to see the ideeli members' reaction to it!

Among the many hats you wear, one of them was being a judge on Russia's Next Top Model. What was that experience like?
It was so much fun, and a refreshing break from my daily tasks! They filmed the second-to-last episode in our New York City showroom, and it was great to see how the girls were so eager to win, and put their hearts and souls into this competition. As of now I can't share more until the show airs, though!

Fair enough! Tell us something that your fans would be surprised to find out about you.
I love throwing chiffon fabrics up in the air when I work in my studio!

The ideeli Scoop with Marc Bouwer

This weekend's Red Carpet Style sale celebrates the gorgeous evening looks that we love to covet during awards season, which culminates with this Sunday's Oscars. You'll find everything you need to outfit you for your own personal glam moment, from clutches to jewels to gowns, some of which are designed by red carpet perennial Marc Bouwer.

Bouwer, of course, is no stranger to glam moments, having essentially ushered in the modern era of dressing celebs for awards shows via his dedicated celebrity following. Innovative and with an unerring instinct for what women want, his designs have graced countless A-listers, including Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, and Oprah Winfrey. We recently chatted with the iconic designer to get the ideeli scoop on topics ranging from his love of leading ladies to which celebs he enjoys outfitting. Read on for the 411! Growing up, you were fascinated by the movies and, in particular, the beautiful women who graced the big screen. How did you make the leap from admiring stars to wanting to dress and design for them?
As a child, I loved the woman I saw in the movies. After I won the South African Vogue Young Designers Award, I left South Africa and moved to New York, where I knew I had a chance to dress these women I saw in the movies.

You've dressed countless celebrities—everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Halle Berry to Heidi Klum—and really ushered in the modern era of red carpet dressing. Who have been some of your favorite celebrities to dress and why?
Angelina Jolie—she's an icon, a beauty, a movie star and she looks great in designer clothing. I'll never forget the time I spent with her in LA, getting her ready for the Oscars. Heidi Klum—I love, I've known her since before she was famous. I love her fearless fashion style. Beyoncé—because she's curvy, sexy, always looks like a goddess and pushes the fashion envelope.

One of the techniques you're most known for is your draping. Why does it speak to you as a designer?
I love malleable fabrics, the fluidness of draping on a woman's body. Draping on a woman's body—the possibilities for me are endless.

How do you stay inspired? Can you share some of your design inspirations?
By looking to the future, to new technology, and to what's going on in the world and embracing it.

What's are some facts about Marc Bouwer that your fans may not know?
I'm an open book...That's a hard question, maybe I'll write a book.

The ideeli Scoop with Audrey Schilt

Ever wanted to take a peek behind the scenes at the workings of the fashion industry? (And we don’t mean following Anna Wintour around with a camera!) Artist and designer Audrey Schilt has worked alongside such legends as Halston and Ralph Lauren, collaborating on and helping to create timeless pieces over the course of an impressive career. Her one-of-a-kind sketches (shop our sale here), drawn during her time at RL, are themselves works of art. We asked her what it’s like to work with fashion legends, dress the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts, and how she got her amazing start.

Your first big break was working with Halston. How did that come about?
I walked around with my portfolio for 8 months before FIT [The Fashion Institute of Technology] sent me out on a freelance assignment for Halston! I was asked to sketch 85 hats at $1 each within one week. I finished everything on time, but Halston kept adding his ideas to the pile. He made change after change and, in the end, he didn’t want me to finish. So he decided to make a job for me. I started at $85 per week, and that changed the course of my career. Halston opened every door for me. He took me to Europe, took me to parties, introduced me to the famous people of that time—Jackie O, Diana Vreeland, Salvador Dali, Bette Davis—I was young and naive and thought this happened to everyone! All I wanted to do was have fun. It was only later in life that I realized the opportunities he gave me. He was truly my first and most important mentor.

How does the fact that you're also a designer influence your sketches?
When I started my career as an illustrator, I had to learn that there was little room for artistic license when the designer you are working for wants his vision translated. You sketch what is already designed and made. Illustrators interpret the design, but they do not create it. I create the design and then illustrate it. But most importantly, by knowing how to make clothes as well as illustrate them, I know that whatever I put down on paper can be made. I think about whether the design will sell and where someone would wear it. I know how to direct the pattern maker on how to expedite my sketch ideas and make the garment.

Was this what you eventually wanted to do when you attended FIT?
The first time I went to FIT I was training to be a fashion illustrator, not a designer. I started off doing ads for Bergdorf Goodman, but after 8 years the work became scarce. Even though things were tough for illustrators, it wasn’t until I started working with Halston on his very first women’s collection that I started to think more about design than illustration. I started to feel limited as my emphasis on the art did not balance with the mechanics of knowing how to make the garment. So I went back to FIT and took courses in pattern making and draping. That led me to change my focus to design.

Each designer's sketch has a unique flavor—the body positioning, the attitude, the way it's shaded. What's your particular style?
I think of myself as a purist. I can’t accept anything less than an accurate drawing in my sketch. I stress movement in my figure even if it’s standing still … it has to look relaxed in the pose; nothing is forced or over-exaggerated. The pose has to be modern, young and sexy but not overt. Often I will add my signature shadow to add to the drama. It all has to look easy, interesting and visually exciting. Just as you would want the design outcome to be.

What was the collaborative process like working with Ralph Lauren?
The collaborative process with Ralph was excellent. We connected on all the necessary levels, including aesthetics, taste, silhouette, sensuality and color sense. I knew how to design clothes before joining Ralph Lauren, but learning to design clothing in the lifestyle Ralph created pushed me to new limits. Ralph was my lifestyle mentor. I credit him for teaching me to become a complete designer.

The iconic pink dress Gwyneth Paltrow wore at the 1999 Oscars was a collaboration between you and Lauren. What's it like to see one of your creations in such a high-profile setting?
It was like winning the Academy Award! It was so exciting to be a part of that process. It’s nice that the dress is still being discussed today. I have the original sketch and fabric samples framed in my studio.

Learn more about Audrey on her site, AudreySchilt.com.

Giveaway Winners: Ultimate Shoe Closet

From November 15 - November 22, our Ultimate Shoe Closet Giveaway on Facebook took our fan page by storm, as mavens vied for a chance to win five must-have shoe styles (the Tall Boot, the Pump, the Bootie, the Wedge, and the Flat) for their own closets.
We'd like to thank to everyone who entered, and welcome all of the new mavens who Liked our page! Now, without further ado, meet the lucky mavens who scored the ultimate shoe candy:
Sarah Fournie
We asked Sarah to tell us what her favorite sales on ideeli are: "I tend to watch the deals on shoes, handbags, and jewelry."

Kelly Skender
What's been Kelly's best ideeli find to date? "I'd have to say that the best deal I found was a BCBGMAXAZRIA dress that I ran across while shopping for a dress to wear to a wedding, and the BCBGMAXAZRIA dress was the same price as a dress of lesser quality from another retailer I already had in mind!"

Sharyn Vross
And what's Sharon's most memorable ideeli steal? "My best ideeli find has been FINDING IDEELI!! Now I can look great wearing the latest trends and not break the budget!"

Congrats Sarah, Kelly, and Sharyn!

ideelCAUSE: Robin Hood Foundation

Robin Hood is well-known for his merry “redistribution” of wealth and, while his methods might have been unorthodox, his heart was in the right place. The holidays are a perfect time to put your heart in the right place, and we're making it possible for you to pitch in and help right here on ideeli this Thanksgiving.

Purchase an Artisanal 3-month CheeseClock Cheese of the Month Club, and ideeli and Artisanal will donate $25 to the Robin Hood foundation, which fights hunger in New York. Each month, you or a lucky person on your list will receive four handcrafted, cave-aged cheeses, one from each quarter of the CheeseClock—mild, medium, bold, and strong—along with descriptive notes and wine/beer pairing suggestions. Renowned throughout the food world and raved about everywhere from Food & Wine to InStyle, Artisanal always provides the perfect cheese for the perfect moment.

Since 1988, the Robin Hood foundation has targeted poverty by applying sound investment principles to philanthropy, helping the best programs save lives and change fates. $25 is all it takes to provide 3 meals a day for an entire week. You can make a difference this holiday season with this Artisanal gift (for yourself or others) that gives twice: do your part here!