Joseph Altuzarra is a testament to achieving your dreams by setting your goals and working towards it. He has an amazing story. Without a design education he landed jobs with Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler and Givenchy before creating his own line. He attended a normal liberal arts college that didn’t include design school. He just started working and, at the time, didn’t have prior fashion training.
Joseph went on to say that he always desired to have his own label and when he final did create one, it came at an inopportune time – right in the thick of the recession. However, it was “meant to be” because Altuzarra is thriving as a world renowned luxury brand. “In a way, it was kind of a good time to start a business because there was a lot of hope in the industry and people wanted to believe that their would be a new wave of designer energy, especially in New York,” said Joseph on the subject.
On the topic of design inspirations for his label, he was all about real woman – not the 25 year old, size non-existent model. Perhaps this is why his brand does so well? It’s nice to hear a top tier designer recognize (out loud) that not all women are built the same – a.k.a., stick thin and six feet tall. There are, indeed, curves and such involved.
“I was really interested in focusing on someone a little bit older who has a professional life and needed to do things through travel. But I also thought it was important for a women to feel sexy and seductive. It really came from a lot of different angles that most of these things do. I was thinking a lot about an engaging population.” - Joseph Altuzarra
Just looking through his most recent Spring Summer collection on the 4th floor of Barneys New York more than proved that. And that’s what Joseph Altuzarra does and he keeps it in the family too. Which is the cutest part. His mother is the CEO of his company.
If you can’t make it to Barneys 4th floor anytime soon, you can always take a look at the Altuzarra Facebook fan page or Style.com for the entire RTW collection!
Cheers to Barneys and Joseph Altuzarra for a wonderful morning of fashion. ~ Jessica
Event images by Nando Alvarez
Runway images via Style.com
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Most interesting, Jeninne: thank you so much for sharing!!!
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SACRAMENTO´s last blog ..My Brother´s Fan & Blog Overbranding
I love stories like this!! He pursued what he loved and the area he was gifted in and he has achieved success!! That is great and I love his shop and what I see here! Thanks for sharing his story!
Pam @over50feeling40´s last blog ..Pondering Much More Than An OOTD
ooh that snake skirt is flippin’ gorgeous!
zz
What a cool story…I think we all assume we have to take the typical path to get into design…but truth be told…you need to carve your own path. Glad to hear about the success…heard of the collection but hadn’t actually SEEN it…beautiful pieces. Much success to him:)
C
Carly´s last blog ..Casual Cocktail
Love hearing such inspirational stories!
Megan´s last blog ..A Collection of Vintage Superstars