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Photography courtesy of Derek Lam
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Photography courtesy of Derek Lam
Elizabeth Giardina knows a thing or two about fashion.
The St. Louis native and Washington University grad spent the past six years as vice president of design at Derek Lam 10 Crosby, where she helped design the diffusion line from the ground up. In January, she began the next chapter of her career, becoming vice president of design at Proenza Schouler, a label she calls “one of the most creative brands in fashion right now.”
“Fashion is constantly teaching me that to make commercially successful clothing, I must find the space to be inspired, the skills to present my vision, and then respect the intense level of collaboration and dialogue that it takes to come to market with a complete collection,” she says.
To do this, she’s constantly developing new skills—this year, it was learning how to draw on the iPad Pro—and taking in art and dance. “For me it is [not only] about an artist’s work but also about imagining her lifestyle, her workspace, her home,” she says. “The energy, focus, and particularities of a creative life are endlessly inspiring.”
Despite her busy schedule, Giardina still finds time to return to St. Louis several times each year. “I do the same things in St. Louis that I do in New York: see as much art as possible, visit artists in their studio, shop for vintage clothing, and enjoy good meals with friends and family,” she says. (Giardina notes that St. Louis is a great place to hunt for vintage clothing and jewelry because it’s “less expensive and less picked-through than New York or L.A.”)
Above all, Giardina lives by one simple rule of fashion: Do you. “I have strong opinions on dressing for body type and optimal style,” she says. “However, I am also a big believer in no rules… The joy of fashion comes from celebrating self-expression.”
