Rosa Loves… An intimate presentation of Elie Tahari’s 40th Anniversary Collection and an...

Rosa Loves… An intimate presentation of Elie Tahari’s 40th Anniversary Collection and an interview.

Last week, I took a break from lab work and attended an intimate presentation of the Elie Tahari Edition 1974 collection at Capella, a beautiful boutique hotel in Georgetown. The event was hosted by stylist April Yvonne, the fabulous founder of MyDCStyle. While enjoying a delicious lunch at Capella’s Grill Room, April took us through the different pieces of the capsule collection, which was specifically created to celebrate Elie Tahari’s 40th anniversary. Edition 1974 includes updated iconic silhouettes that are named after NYC landmarks. It is difficult to narrow down a favorite piece, but I love the versatility of the Pearson jacket. I was also immediately drawn to the geometric panels of the Mulberry dress. April’s favorite piece is the laser cut navy Evangelina dress which is stunning. I truly had an amazing time at the event which is part of Capella’s DC Style Series. I am already planning on attending the next one in May with a coworker. As you can see, we scientists love beautiful clothes too.

While Mr. Tahari was not present at the Capella event, he was incredibly kind and answered a few questions for the blog. I hope you enjoy the interview:

Rosa Loves DC: Mr. Tahari, your career in fashion had an interesting beginning, you went from working as an electrician in the Garment District to designing women’s clothes, how did this come about? What inspired you to make clothes? Is this something you were always interested in pursuing?

Elie Tahari: There was a manufacturing error that produced a pile of fabric tubes, some of these mistakes ended up in a New York boutique. My instinct told me these would be a hit! I bought a pile for $2 apiece and planned to resell them for $4. I snuck into a trade show with my bags of tubes, no credentials and pictures showing how to wear them. By the end of the day, I had thousands of orders. This was the beginning of my career.

RLDC: Elie Tahari clothes have clearly evolved over 40 years. Your first designs included sexy Studio 54 inspired dresses and now your label offers clothes that have been described as tailored and modern. What’s your philosophy when designing your collections? How has your vision changed over the years?

ET: I first moved to the city in my early 20’s and was inspired by the fashions of Studio 54 and the hippy girls of the time, who weren’t afraid to show a little skin. My designs have evolved along with the times. I want my clothes to be modern and emphasize a woman’s true beauty. The customer’s needs are always at the forefront of my design process.

RLDC: The pieces in your capsule collection ‘Elie Tahari Edition 1974’ are named after NYC landmarks, can you tell us more about how you came out with this idea? What’s your favorite silhouette in the collection and why?

ET: Creating the Elie Tahari Edition 1974 collection was such a special experience for me, in naming each piece I wanted to pay tribute to New York, the city that has given me so much. The Hudson jumpsuit is one of my favorite pieces from the 20 piece collection, it stays true to the original 70’s feel with a high waist, but I updated it by adding a silicone insert.

RLDC: A lot of my readers are young professional women living and working in the DC area. What are the pieces you believe women should focus on when building a professional wardrobe?

ET: I believe young professional women should begin building their wardrobe with timeless, well-made staples; a classic black dress that can take you from desk to dinner, a versatile blazer, and a great pair of dark jeans, are all essentials.

RLDC: What is your vision for the future of the label? What can be we expect from Elie Tahari in the next decade?

ET: I want my collections to continue to evolve with the times. In the near future, I am excited to be working on a great collaboration with a retailer that will make luxury fashion more accessible and reach a wider audience.

Thank you so much Mr. Tahari for this interview. I also want to thank April, Capella, and the Elie Tahari team for putting together such a fabulous event.

If you are interested in attending the next DC Style Series at Capella, make sure to check April’s website and twitter for updates.

For another recap of the event, visit Rebekah’s lovely blog. She is one of my favorite models (and chefs) in DC and was part of the presentation as well.

{Photos via Elie Tahari. Graphics by RosaLovesDC}