Stephanie O Transforms Art into Fashion
Stephanie Ohnmacht can’t decide if her life as a designer began at age 7 or as an adult. Her long-held passion for the fashion industry compelled her to enter a local design competition. She won third place and had the guts to continue, despite an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a career as a business management consultant at Telecom. Soon she was crafting unique items for sale in a fancy boutique. The next step was launching a ready-to-wear collection that could be vended wholesale, which would become named “Stephanie O.”
“In school and while working in Telecom, I was always the weekend warrior in my sewing space. I taught roommates to sew and I made lots of fun pieces for myself,” the designer said of her fascination with design.
Ohnmacht finds inspiration in the everyday. Some of her muses are traditional, such as architecture and fabrics, but what really gets her creative juices flowing are the mundane events that she wants a fun and stylish piece to wear to.
“My pieces are precisely tailored with a pop of femininity that is irresistible to the professionally chic woman … I bring fresh professionally chic clothing that is transitional from day to night for the career woman,” she explained.
Her Art of Fashion line, ready for Spring 2013, gave her the opportunity to add another inspiration: contemporary art. Her latest collection is based on the colorful paintings of Jenny Vorwaller. In addition to the professionally chic looks Ohnmacht is known for, the line blends art and fashion with a fun, flirty flair.
“I am a supporter of the arts and bringing custom artwork into my collection helps make what seems unattainable, attainable. And it can fold effortlessly into everyday,” Ohnmacht declared.
via Stephanie O
First she finalizes the original piece of art with the artist, transforming the artwork into a usable digital form. Then the designer “massages” the piece, working it into the prints that appear in her styles. Ohnmacht finds contemporary artwork transitions easily to fabrics and her designs.
Transforming art into fashion – specifically classic styles that include day and evening wear and pieces that can function as both – is her ultimate dream.
“I love how it feels to wear a piece of clothing that brings out the best in yourself. In designing, I get to architect pieces that show off the female form and bring forth inner confidence,” she maintained.
Because of the “love/hate” phase Ohnmacht goes through with each piece during the development process, the designer has a hard time singling out her absolute fav in her line.
“By the time the piece hits the rack, I have been working on it for three to six months,” she explained. “Today I am loving the jacket because it has been a great Winter to Spring transitional piece, and I always get compliments on it.”
The future looks as bright as one of her dresses. The designer hopes her success thus far – which she attributes to building pieces with both an eye for construction, as well as wearability for every woman – will catapult her all the way into major stores. Future collections will continue to target modern career women looking for tailored or flirty femininity, but will concentrate on pumping up the versatility of her pieces.
Ohnmacht proudly produces her whole collection in Denver, Colo. Check it out at www.stephanieodesigns.com.
Tagged in: fashion, dresses, designer, spring 2013, art, stephanie o,