About Olivia Mars

Growing up in the Midwest, the local mall was the closest I could get to any

semblance of fashion. I remember asking my parents to take me to the mall so I

could look at clothes and accessories. I soaked up as much of it as I could on every

visit. As I got older, and had access to the internet and fashion magazines, I was

able to delve deeper into the world of design. My eyes were immediately drawn

to garments of designers of years past. Even at a young age, I knew I had to

understand the past to be able to create the future.

My first fashion idol came to me in the form of Elsa Schiaparelli. Introduced to me

by my high school fashion illustration teacher, I immediately felt a connection to

her through design. The way she created surrealism and art had a deeper effect

on me than the silly garments in a Midwestern mall. The other fashion legends

who inspired me include: the American mother of the modern silhouette, Claire

McCardell; Oscar de la Renta, a master of elegance and passion; Elie Saab opened

my eyes to the beauty of embellishments; and Miuccia Prada, a powerhouse of

Italian style. I see myself in the works of each of these designers. They inspire me

with the symbolism and meaning behind their artistry. 

Inspiration

In my third year of college, I was lucky to study abroad in both London, England

and Florence, Italy. In London, I was exposed to a city full of history and

modernity. I walked the cobblestone paths and explored centuries-old buildings

and then hop off the Tube into the middle of one of the world’s economic

centers. In the beautiful, historic city of Florence I was constantly surrounded by

the relics and richness of the past. I walked down ancient roads, surrounded by

medieval buildings and churches and yet I saw people wearing the season’s

hottest fashions and bright colors. Both London and Florence have echoes of the

past but are still influencers of modern fashion design; they recognize their past

so they can lead the way into the future. 

Design Philosophy

1. “Remember you must die”

In Latin, the phrase “Memento Mori” translates to “Remember you must die”

encouraging one to live life to the fullest because time is limited and

precious. The green leaves on the trees can be somewhat boring until they

change in the fall; this beautiful finale of color signals that their lifespan is coming

to an end. You have one life and allowing other peoples opinions to control

your life just leads to pain and regret.

2. Balance with contrast

Balance is one of the core features of design. You need the ugly to understand the

beautiful, pain to appreciate pleasure, and strength to create the delicate. You

cannot have one without the other. Living in a world of comfort can make you

forget the importance of discipline, and constant discipline without comfort can

make you wonder why you started working in the first place. 

3. Funny, Beautiful, and Real

I enjoy combining a sharp feeling of emotion with the comfort and reliability of

structure. Relieving the seriousness of elegance with humor and surprise is what

drives me as a designer. I find that using the contrast of humor and beauty to

balance the need to be perfect with the need to be real. Nostalgia equals comfort.

I enjoy shaking up the monotony of tradition with bright colors, luxurious

embellishments, and romantic and whimsical symbolism.