SocialMiami looks at Gala Fashion

with Ozcar Garcia Lopez - Ozcar G.

Gala Season is once again upon us and the question is, as always, “What to wear?” For those who can’t find their ideal ready-to-wear gown, there is a viable option – custom gowns designed specifically for you. The interactive process allows gala gals to select the fabric, counsel with design and create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. To get in the spirit, we asked five Miami couturiers questions about their craft, the latest trends, past and current clients and more. Check it out!

How long have you been doing business in South Florida?
I’ve been doing business in South Florida for the past 6 years.

What kind of clothes are you best known for and who is your ideal client?
I’m best known for one-of-a-kind couture gowns. Many of my designs are custom made pieces that truly evoke the “Wow” effect. My ideal client is a woman who is not afraid to be the center of attention when she walks into a room and who wants to make sure no one else is wearing her dress. A complete diva! We have several well-known clients throughout South Florida and the Palm Beaches, such as Hayden Hosford, Vicki Kellogg, Sonja Zuckerman, Bernice Steinbaum, Herme de Wyman Miro, Anka Palitz, Baroness Beatrice Clancy, Fanny Hanono and other local celebrities that due to confidentiality, we cannot disclose.

The Gala Season is just around the corner – what do you see as being “the look” for Miami’s 2011-2012 season and what is the most requested kind of fabric for gowns.
The trends for this season are spectacular. You’ll see a variety of metallics, textured fabrics, ruffles and lots of see through lace with nude lining and rich colors like plums, eggplant and shades of navy to midnight blue. Although the fabric is key, the request I get the most is more about the design and the style. In the end, it’s all about how well the dress fits and how spectacular the woman looks.

A custom-made gown is a collaboration between the client and the designer – or is it? How do most of your clients articulate what they want?
A custom-made gown is definitely a collaboration between the client and the designer. When my clients come in, they usually have an idea of what they want. Then we get to work on picking out the fabric, the color, and final design. Others like to see the new collection and pick from there.

Share a humorous or poignant anecdote about the business of designing beautiful gowns.
There are so many stories, but one that always brings a smile is the time when a client came in for a fitting and we were trying on the dress in the muslin fabric: a fine cotton cloth used for the first fitting. This was the first time this client was getting a custom made dress and when she saw the fabric, I noticed that she had started turning pale. I asked her if she was ok or whether there was something wrong. Suddenly, she burst into tears and in between sobs she said that wasn’t the fabric or the color she wanted the dress in. I couldn’t help but smile and I explained the process of having a dress custom made . We both ended up laughing and she loved the dress in the end. As a token, I gave her the muslin to keep.