Donna Mizani: Risk and the Little Black Dress
The little black dress is a staple of every fashionable woman’s closet, but new fashion designer Donna Mizani thought she’d take a few risks with it.
Mizani’s version of the classic is D1013. It starts with a classic cocktail-dress silhouette, which was made more alluring with the dress’s one-shouldered strap. Then D1013 takes a dangerous turn where the designer cut some fabric out of the midriff area. The bare midriff gave the classic garment some of the rock ’n’ roll daring of the bandage dress.
Mizani created a splash with this dress when she debuted her Los Angeles–based headquarters in December 2009. Actress AnnaLynne McCord and party-girl celebrity Kristin Cavallari were both photographed wearing the D1013. Mizani has sold her collection at boutiques such as Kitson and e-commerce stores such as Singer22 and Revolve.
For her Spring 2011 collection, Mizani plays to her strength with dresses—primarily black—to be worn for special occasions and at cocktail parties. But the designer says some of these dresses have enough versatility to be worn at more casual affairs or even the beach. Using fabrics such as lace, chiffon, silk, velvet and Lycra, and details such as ostrich feathers and crystals, the line is entirely manufactured in Los Angeles. Wholesale price points range from $80 to $215.
Risk remains an intrinsic part of Mizani’s style. Before she designed her contemporary dress collection, she had a safe job as an assistant designer for a company that made private labels for juniors. She quit in 2007. “Everyone thought I was crazy for leaving the job,” she said. “It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
For more information, e-mail jane@aaronmatthewla.com or call (213) 623-1653.—Andrew Asch
