Whitney Pozgay of Whit Talks Style Inspiration and Premieres Her Exclusive Fall 2012 Video
We're thrilled to debut Whit's fall video, which was inspired by a love of all things sci-fi. "When I was a little girl, space was this mysterious realm where anything was possible. I loved the book . My husband also loves space and sci-fi. We were reminiscing about how much we liked making the paper mache planets in science class when we were younger," Whitney explains. "We loved the idea of a girl building her own universe and then being able to walk on the planets in her imagination where she could dance with the meteors and stars."
A look from the fall runway show. Photo courtesy of Whit.1/6What kind of girl do you have in mind when you're designing your collection?
I studied costume design in college and went into fashion because I love the idea of clothing having it's own journey in the real world. For that reason, I am always thinking of real women that I know or see on the street. My goal is to create clothing that is open to personalization by the girl wearing it. I want to celebrate individual style. I think our girl is fashion savvy, but playful and not a slave to trends.
A snapshot of Whitney Pozgay. Courtesy of Whit.2/6What inspired your fall collection?
Brooklyn girls really embrace vintage, but personalize and mix with a completely modern spirit. This approach is always a big part of each collection. I have a bit of an obsession with retro themes and vintage styling myself, but never want anything to feel too literal or cutesy. This fall, the inspiration is science fiction in pre-moon landing pop culture, but the goal was to recycle that idea in a fresh and youthful light.
A look from the fall runway show. Photo courtesy of Whit.3/6What's your advice for aspiring designers?
Be prepared to work. Fashion can be a lot of fun, but it takes a ton of work to get a line of clothing sampled, sold and produced. Designing is just part of the process. You have to willing to wear a lot of hats and get your hands dirty.
I highly suggest working under someone else for a while to learn the business before venturing out on your own. Also, be a sponge. Look at as much art, fashion, theater, movies, and architecture (and not just on the internet) as you can. The strongest designers have a very deep pool of visual reference to draw inspiration from.
A look from the fall runway show. Photo courtesy of Whit.4/6What's the most valuable lesson you've learned over the past few years?
Trust your gut and don't be afraid of making a few mistakes along the way.
**How did your previous experience in the industry help you launch your line? **
I was lucky enough to work at two incredible companies before launching Whit. I was able to nurture my love of vintage and bright prints at Kate Spade and my tomboy side at Steven Alan. Both experiences gave me a lot of insight into the way companies should run and how to edit a line.
A look from the fall runway show. Photo courtesy of Whit.5/6What can we expect from Whit in the future?
I love textiles and prints. We try to keep the shapes clean to really feature the fabrics and not over embellish so that the customer can personalize with accessories. We plan on adding more accessories like bags and jewelry in the next few seasons to mix and match with the clothing.
A look from the fall runway show. Photo courtesy of Whit.6/6**What's your own go-to outfit? **
I have an entire drawer at home filled with just striped tees and am convinced that they go with almost anything. My go to outfit is some sort of structured skirt with a stripped tee. It is an easy look to dress up or down. I also love vintage Mexican peasant dresses and wear them all summer. My mother dressed me in those when I was little and I still like them.
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