Jill Stuart

Summary

Jill Stuart (born 1965) is an American businesswoman and fashion designer based in New York City, where she has been operating since 1988. She established her eponymous label in 1993.[1] She also has a significant international client base, particularly in Japan.[citation needed]

Jill Stuart
Born1965 (age 58–59)
New York City, US
EducationDalton School
Rhode Island School of Design
Occupation(s)Businesswoman, fashion designer
Labels
  • Jill Stuart,
  • Jill by Jill Stuart (Japan and Korea),
  • Jill Jill Stuart (US)
Jill Stuart Fall-Winter 2010 show at New York Fashion Week

Early life edit

Stuart was born in New York City in 1965.[2] Her parents George and Lynn Stuart worked in Manhattan's Garment District and created the label Mister Pants, which was an early creator of women's tailored trousers and trouser suits in men's fabrics.[3] Lynn Stuart also had her own higher end label, and became known for creating outfits for actresses including Lucille Ball, Natalie Wood, and Sheila MacRae.[4][5]

Stuart attended Manhattan's Dalton School and later Rhode Island School of Design.[4]

Career edit

Stuart's career began early, having sold her first collection of fashion sets to Bloomingdale's by the age of 15 – suede hobo bags and silver and leather chokers.[4][5] In 1988, her fashion entrepreneurship career took off as she established her first store, a fashion boutique located in the Upper East Side focusing on accessories such as belts and handbags. By 1990, her stoles, bags and fur accessories could be found in stores such as Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.[4] Her eponymous label was launched in 1993 and included Skinclothes – a range of leather garments, such as slip dresses, kilts, jeans and jackets.[5][6]

Items from her collection appeared in the 1995 movie Clueless.[7] The following year, Stuart's designs were stocked by Bloomingdale's stores in the US.[4]

From the mid 1990s, Stuart began opening stores in Japan, including branches in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe, and concessions in some 70 outlets across the country.[4] Later the brand was sold in South Korea. In 2007, Lindsay Lohan was photographed by Mario Sorrenti as the face of the brand in Japan, becoming the subject of some controversy.[8][9]

The brand is reported to have annual sales of around $30 million in the US, plus Asian sales of nearly $100 million.[7] Customers include Hilary Swank, Kate Bosworth and Leighton Meester.[10]

Family edit

Stuart lives in SoHo, New York.[10] Her daughter, Morgan Curtis, established the Morgan Lane brand of sleepwear and lingerie in 2012 after working for Stuart.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "CFDA". cfda.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  2. ^ "Focus on Fashion: Designer Insider Profile - Jill Stuart - Her.ie". 5 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Pants are here to stay: styled to go everywhere". Schenectady Gazette. 25 September 1968. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "Stuart, Jill". Fashion Encyclopedia. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Runway designers: Jill Stuart". Elle. 2014. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Jill Stuart opens Skinclothes line". WWD: Women's Wear Daily. Vol. 166, no. 102. 24 November 1993. p. 8.
  7. ^ a b "Label overview: Jill Stuart". NY MAG. 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Memo Pad: B-Day... New Face... Break Room..." Women's Wear Daily. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  9. ^ Widdicombe, Ben (12 June 2007). "Losing yen for Lohan?". New York Daily News. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  10. ^ a b Shi, Jim (2014). "At Home with Jill Stuart". Elle Decor. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  11. ^ Friedlander, Ruthie (22 April 2014). "Like mother like daughter: Jill Stuart and Morgan Curtis". Elle. Retrieved 5 October 2014.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Jill Stuart at FMD