On November 15, Zac Posen will be honored with the Career Achievement in Fashion award at the Fashion Group International of Dallas’ A Night of Stars gala. Although Posen was born and raised in New York, he can still appreciate all that Dallas has to offer and the women who have supported his journey in becoming one of the most sought-after designers in the fashion world today.
Ahead of the gala, we chatted with Posen about the city he calls one of his “homes away from home,” how he views Dallas women and just what this special night in the spotlight means to him.
CultureMap: Let’s talk about Dallas. Do you come here often?
Zac Posen: I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Dallas many times in my career. I’ve always loved the Texan culture, and I’m very excited to bring the warmth and excitement of my brand to Dallas. I’ve always considered Dallas one of my fashion homes away from home. We have a very wide customer base there, so it’s meant that I’ve been able to spend a lot of time getting to know the people and immersing myself in the culture.
CM: How would you describe the style of Dallas women as a whole?
ZP: Dallas women are truly fabulous, and their sense of style reflects that. They consistently look confident and sophisticated in their day and eveningwear, and they’re never afraid to add an element of glamour to an outfit.
CM: What are some signature traits in your designs, and would you say those align with your personality traits as a designer? Where does your inspiration come from?
ZP: That’s a great question. Definitely a sense of drama applies to both my designs and my personality. It’s been something that has been infused in my collections from the very beginning. I think there are also strong synergies with glamour, precision and sophistication. All of these traits are consistently carried through both the Zac Posen and the ZAC Zac Posen collections.
My inspiration can come from anyone or anything. I am always absorbing what is around me and using it to guide everything from color to fabric to silhouette. I try to always keep my mind open and have a sort of cultural receive dish that I can pull inspiration from.
CM: What is the best piece of career advice you have ever been given?
ZP: I was told by a dear friend to never stop creating. You need to be sewing and making your own clothing to truly understand what works and how your customer is going to react to it. It’s a sound piece of advice that I have carried with me through the years.
Some additional great advice that I received in my early years was to focus and solidify my goals. There are so many different facets to fashion, so it’s important to clearly define what it is that you want and put some timeframes around them. It will help you to keep moving forward with the important milestones in your career.
CM: What does it mean for you to be honored by FGI for a career achievement award?
ZP: I am truly thrilled to be receiving the career achievement award in Dallas. FGI is a wonderful organization that has provided so much support to those in the fashion industry over the years. I’m humbled that FGI is honoring me in this way, and I’m excited to be able celebrate with all the people in Dallas that have been so supportive along the way.
Zac Posen evening gown from his fall 2014 collection.
