Marie Margot Couture

I love working with independent designers, even though it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to survive in the fashion industry without the substantial backing of one of the luxury conglomerates, a private investor, or venture capital funding. Because fashion designers and brands are future looking businesses, they must produce samples (which requires everything from paying patternmakers and embroiderers for their expertise to purchasing fabric, trims, and embellishments), finance ad campaigns, and generate marketing initiatives all with the intention - or hope - of driving sales.

And because independent fashion designers are usually operating with less resources and a smaller audience, the budgets they must invest in all these business segments tend to be slim. As a stylist, I realize that many independent designers stretch their promotion budgets as far as they can, which is why working with them is always creatively and personally satisfying. As part of the creative crew - photographer, stylist, hair, makeup, and model – our job is to bring a designer’s vision to life and provide them with the beautiful visual imagery needed to market their brand. It is an expensive, but necessary, part of the fashion business cycle, and one that will continue to be critical as the drive to sell online intensifies and audience attention decreases.

My latest lookbook project for an independent designer was this shoot for Marie Margot Couture. The brand is led by head designer and master draper Maggie Burns, who works with exquisite laces, silks, and satins to craft exceptional couture wedding and special occasion gowns. Shot by photographer Hardy Klahold. -xo