Talking Shop with Fashion Designer Adam Lippes

One of our favorite designers, Adam Lippes for ADAM is in Chicago for a personal appearance at Neiman Marcus. We had the chance to talk shop - Chicago style, hottest trends for fall and his time at Universitá de la Renta.

How do you feel Chicago fashion differs from larger cities such as L.A. and New York?
I feel Chicago fashion is much more in tune with the New York style, while the L.A. style is certainly more relaxed and casual. There certainly is a cosmopolitan chicness to the fashion I always find in Chicago.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
It’s been so incredible to watch our business grow, through amazing wholesale partners both here and abroad, as well as opening our own free standing stores.

What do you believe is the hottest trend this fall?
Certainly the oversized blazer is very on trend this season and I think it looks great with both skinny and super wide legged pants. Styling-wise for the fall, though, I think mixing a draping top with a more structured piece is very on trend. 

What would you say is your design aesthetic?
Our design aesthetic is chic and easy American sportswear. I love creating clothes that are on trend but not “trendy.” It’s very important to me that a woman is able to wear the clothes we design and not the other way around.

How has your previous work experience shaped the ADAM line?
I never went to fashion school so my previous work at Ralph Lauren and being Creative Director at Oscar de la Renta formed my fashion foundation and those experiences continue to affect my work every day in every way.

Do you have a favorite of all the collections you have worked on in the past? What inspired your fall '09 line? How about your line for spring ’10?
Every new collection becomes my favorite collection! For fall 2009, I was inspired by an exhibit of Japanese photography at Boston’s Peabody Museum and mixing structured and colorful separates that incorporated the pieces I loved from the exhibit. Then, for spring 2010, I focused on the inspiration I gained from a trip I took to Lamu (in Kenya) by blending my ideal muse of a gypsetting girl into the memories I took away from that trip.

What do you believe separates your line from many other ready-to-wear lines out there?
I’m truly trying to create a lifestyle brand focused on American sportswear, and what this means to me is creating those easy and unique wearable separates. I am not trying to jump on every trend of the moment, rather, I’m trying to create a collection a woman can come back to season after season and year after year.

Who has been your favorite celebrity to dress?
I’ve loved dressing Oprah Winfrey and I’ve loved dressing Blake Lively. They’re both amazing women.

Who is your biggest mentor and why? Oscar de la Renta.  Even though I feel like my innate sense of style stems from my mother, what I do now I credit to Oscar: color, fit, fabric, embroidery…you name it.  (I’ve always joked that I went to school at Universitá de la Renta).

While in Chicago, where do you stay, dine, shop, lounge?
I love staying at the Four Seasons in downtown Chicago…it’s so warm and luxurious there. I also love to check out all the 20^th century antique dealers (I think Chicago has the best). As far as dining goes, I like to go to Table Fifty Two and Naha and my favorite Chicago neighborhood is Ravenswood.