Zac Posen
| Zac Posen | |
|---|---|
 Posen at the Metropolitan Opera opening in 2008. |
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| Born | October 24, 1980 Manhattan, New York City |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Parson's School of Design and Central Saint Martin |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Partner | Christopher Niquet (2008-present) |
| Awards | CFDA: Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear (2004) |
| Labels | Zac Posen |
Zac Posen (
/zæk ˈpoʊzən/; born 24 October 1980) is an American fashion designer.
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[edit] Early life
Posen was raised in the SoHo neighborhood of lower Manhattan, the son of artist Stephen Posen and corporate lawyer Susan Posen. His interest in fashion design started early, and as a child he would steal yarmulkes from his grandparents' synagogue to make ball dresses for dolls. He attended Saint Ann's School, a private school in Brooklyn, and in his sophomore year interned with fashion designer Nicole Miller.[1] At age 16 he enrolled in the pre-college program at Parsons The New School for Design.[2] He graduated from Saint Ann's in 1999. For three years Posen was mentored by curator Richard Martin at The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At 18, he was accepted into the womenswear degree program at London's Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design at the University of the Arts London. During his tenure in London, Posen found that the environment was competitive, while at the same time students were given a wide berth for independent learning.[1] In 2001, Posen constructed a gown entirely made from thin leather strips and dress-maker hooks and eyes[3] that was displayed by the Victoria and Albert Museum and featured in their "Curvaceous" exhibition.
[edit] Career
In 2000, Posen received a big break after a dress he made for Naomi Campbell (who had heard about him from Lola Schnabel, the daughter of American artist Julian Schnabel) changed hands several times among several fashion insiders, including actress Paz de la Huerta.[3] He is famously well-connected and has called Lola's sister, Stella Schnabel, his muse.[4] Through Interview magazine Editor-in-Chief Ingrid Sischy, Posen met his future publicist and event producer Ed Filipowski, of KCD who offered to represent him for free.[4]
Upon returning to New York in 2001, Posen set up an atelier in his parent’s living room, while they gave him a USD$15 allowance.[4] In October of the same year he was chosen to present a capsule collection as part of GenArt's Fresh Faces in Fashion New York 2001. He received a grant for USD$20,000.[2] After his first runway show in 2001, Posen was courted by fashion titans Yves Carcelle (President of LVMH Fashion Group), Sidney Toledano (Chief Executive Officer and Director of Christian Dior S.A.), and Domenico De Sole (President and Chief Executive Officer of Gucci Group NV.)[5] Following the success of this presentation, Posen established his design studio in Tribeca. Zac Posen continues to receive awards and accolades, most notably the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2004 Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear.[6] Posen’s strong, feminine aesthetic has become a favorite of style leaders including Natalie Portman, Rihanna, Kate Winslet, Claire Danes, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Mischa Barton, Beyoncé Knowles, and many more.
In 2004, high-end urban fashion brand Sean John made an investment deal with Posen.[7] Ashley Olsen interned with Posen in 2005 while a student at The Gallatin School of Individualized Study, an undergraduate college within New York University.[8]
In April 2008, Posen's capsule collection created in collaboration with Target, Zac Posen for Target, was released in 75 stores in Australia.[9] A preview of the collection was shown during March's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival as one of the fashion week's headline catwalks.
[edit] Personal life
Posen lives in the neighborhood of soho with his boyfriend Christopher Niquet and their three dogs.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Spiegel, Richard (27 January 2002). "Zac to the future.". Lucire. http://lucire.com/2002/0127fe0.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
- ^ a b Tauber, Michelle; Paley, Rebecca (2003-09-15). "SEW COOL". People. pp. 153–154.
- ^ a b Trebay, Guy (2002-02-12). "FASHION DIARY; At 21, a Grasp Of Women's Clout". The New York Times. p. 151. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/12/nyregion/fashion-diary-at-21-a-grasp-of-women-s-clout.html. "(52027):B8"
- ^ a b c Luscombe, Belinda; Nugent, Benjamin (2002-09-30), "BOY IN VOGUE". Time. 160 (14):78
- ^ Trebay, Guy (2002-09-18), "The Rise And Rise Of a Prodigy". The New York Times. 152 (52245):B9
- ^ CFDA Past Winners
- ^ Agins, Teri (2004-04-20), "Mainstreaming Hip-Hop". The Wall Street Journal. 243 (77):B1-B3
- ^ No byline (2005-03-21), "Working Women". People. 63 (11):83
- ^ Zac Posen for Target Australia Fashionising.com, 13 March 2008
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Zac Posen |
- Zac Posen at FameGame.com
- Zac Posen's official website
- Zac Posen designer profile at Fashion Model Directory
- "For Zac Posen, A Refuge From the Runway", a 2005 article from The New York Times (Requires registration)
- "Zac Posen: for Target and on target", a 2008 interview from Fashionising.com about Posen's range for Target and his opinions of fashion
- Zac Posen bio, at FashionVue.com
- "Zac to the Future", 2002 interview in Lucire magazine
- Ma Vendeuse, a short film produced by Zac Posen and directed by Lola Schnabel
- Showbuzz biography
- Posen having money problems
- [1], Boston Globe
