LAUREN NEVADA Dress Giveaway on A Few Goody Gumdrops!

Lauren Nevada's Dress Is Tie-Dye-For!

A Few Goody Gumdrops is so excited about this amazing Interview and Giveaway. We'd like to introduce to you an incredible young fashion designer Lauren Nevada and namesake of her company. Lauren studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and worked as a designer in Paris and Rome before opening her own design studio in 2009. Lauren Nevada is an independent designer working out of Brooklyn, New York and will soon divide her time between New York and Paris. Her diverse life is reflected in a unique personal style that has many layers. Her designs are whimsical and very cool. Everyone should own one Lauren Nevada piece in their wardrobe!

We'll be GIVING AWAY the Tie Dye Panel Dress in Black. It's been in stores for three weeks and is a great transitional dress.The dress is made of silk and features a v-neck zip front with shawl lapels and hand painted tie-dye panels at the waist. The dress looks great worn with a tank top underneath. Layer with a cashmere sweater or turtleneck as the weather gets cooler.

To enter to win this fabulous dress SUBSCRIBE to our RSS Feed and leave a comment on this post using the email address you used to subscribe. Tell us what shoes you'd pair with this dress and shoeless model! I'd wear my combat boots for a very funky look!

Contest is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen at random on August 16th by AFGG and Lauren Nevada.

INTERVIEW
1.When did you launch your first line of dresses and what inspired you?
I have always been very inspired by individuality and character in the women who wear my pieces.

2.You have a very unique style and use combinations of interesting fabrics. What are some of the combinations you use?
Fabrics have a very strong energy. I love using silk and wools and organic fabrics when possible. Fabrics give energy to our movements when they're worn so mixing them is to play with this energy. Colors and prints become more interesting when they are combined and can play off each other. This is always part of my creation process.

3. Are you familiar with Heidi Weisel? She also uses some great fabric combinations,too. How would you compare yourself to her designs?
There are so many wonderful designers and so much talent. However, I try not to compare myself to anyone. Doing so limits my design work because if I decide that I am one thing and another designer is another thing then I have set boundaries. I may restrict myself from doing different things without even realizing it.

4.What inspired the Tie Dye Panel Dress?

I worked with a Brooklyn based textile artist on this project. We were inspired by pictures of newly discovered galaxies and star clusters. They are so beautiful and mysterious. Since this was hand-painted each dress is unique.
5.What are your favorite shades? You seem to use basic colors that I love...cream, black, gray and olive rather than an array of colors.
I love grays and neutrals because they reflect nature. They seem to give more opportunity for expression because they are not so aggressive.They allow subtle details to come through as they are not as bright. Clothing should support the person and allow their personality to show through which basic colors do so well.

6. You design your clothes in your studio in Brooklyn. Where are your clothes manufactured? If in the U.S. does that give your more control in the outcome?
I design in Brooklyn and my pieces are produced in New York City. For me, it's very important to work closely with my collection throughout production. Unexpected things happen all the time and often the most interesting and beautiful things happen when I need to find solutions to unexpected problems. For this reason I need to be present and working with my collection through every step of the process.
7. Does your brand have a philosophy?
Lauren Nevada is completely captivated with the woman who has many interests in life, from new discoveries of insect species to ancient African history to the turn of the century furniture. The clothing is designed so that someone who doesn't set boundaries on themselves can be energetic and multi-faceted.
8. How excited do you get when you see someone wearing one of your dresses?
This is the most wonderful feeling because a customer appreciates Lauren Nevada designs and then brings the clothing to life by making it their own. They have their own way of walking, their own way of wearing the piece and their own needs. That is what makes the clothing interesting.
9.What stores or boutiques is your line featured? Are you exclusive to any store?
I am currently exclusive to Barneys New York. They understand the "young new designer" and are so supportive of this creativity.
10. Do you hope to open your own boutique in the future?
No, I do not think that opening up a boutique will be my next step. Designing and running a store are two very, very different jobs, so for the moment I will leave boutiques to the experts - the boutique owners.
11. Do you follow trends in your designs? It seems every designer is following the animal print trend or the military inspired trend. Are you?
I do have one version of this silk dress we are showing in a gorgeous army green. It is to-die-for. Overall I do not focus on the obvious trends. I feel the world is very global and we are all reacting to the same things we see around us... so by default we are all following ideas in our culture therefore we are all reacting to trends.
12. What does your Fall Collection offer?
My next collection will be an early spring collection in January since this last one was a late summer delivery. I have been inspired by a friend and photographer and will be basing some custom prints from his photos.
13. Do you have a favorite blog???????????
Ha, I love this one... I think that blogging is wonderful, it is such an organic and natural exchange of ideas and it allows new creativity and thoughts to grow out of thin air.

A Few Goody Gumdrops wishes to thank Lauren Nevada for this fabulous Giveaway and amazing Interview!