Sophisticated with a dash of swagger—this local trendsetter proves that style is indeed a state of mind.
“Growing up with an entrepreneurial mother with an incredibly artistic and creative side, I’ve always felt passionate about being a creative entrepreneur,” says New York-based fashion designer Tanya Taylor, CEO and creative director of Tanya Taylor, who pursued her passion at Parsons after realizing her finance degree was not a perfect fit. “Being in NYC, surrounded by creativity and fearless women, gave me the courage to build a brand that would bring happiness, optimism and energy into people’s lives. Now, I have a career that allows me to paint and also manage our P&L!” Taylor built her brand embedded with craftsmanship, painting and storytelling. “At that time, there was fast fashion and luxury fashion, and not much in between, so I knew there was a need for a fashion brand that would inspire women to express their most creative selves,” she says. “We’re celebrating 10 years in business in September, and we’re marking the milestone by making plans to open our first retail space, which I will be curating with all the things that inspire and make me happy—fashion, art, travel and music.” As she celebrates this major milestone, we asked Taylor for a behind-the-seams look.
WAKE-UP TIME: 7AM
DOPPELGANGER: I’VE GOTTEN SHAKIRA WHEN I WAS BLONDE, CHRISTINA RICCI AS A BRUNETTE AND LILY COLE WHEN I WAS RED.
NEMESIS: CLOSED-MINDED PEOPLE
ESCAPE: MUSIC, DANCING, BAKING, BEACHES
WEAKNESS: I’M SENSITIVE AND PASSIONATE, AND WEAR MY HEART ON MY SLEEVE—IT IS BOTH A BLESSING AND A CURSE. IT IS MY WEAKNESS WHEN I CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK, AND IT IS A BLESSING WHEN I FEEL STRENGTHENED BY MY OWN IDEAS.
MY AESTHETIC: FEMININE, PERSONAL AND LAYERED
UNIFORM: NONE. WHAT I WEAR CHANGES DAILY BASED ON MY MOOD AND THE STORY THAT I WANT TO TELL.
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: OLD MINE-CUT ENGAGEMENT RING FROM THE 1920S
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: HUMOR IN LIFE
WORKOUT: TENNIS WEEKLY, DANCING WITH MY KIDS, AND I SECRETLY LOVE GOLF.
LAST MEAL: BEEF KEBABS ON THE BARBECUE, CHARRED CORN AND A GLASS OF PINOT NOIR
MOVIE: WORKING GIRL, INTO THE WILD, GARDEN STATE
MENTOR: MY MOM
STYLE ICON: GIOVANNA BATTAGLIA ENGELBERT
SHOES: ADDICTED TO ALL
LIPSTICK: WESTMAN ATELIER LIP SUEDE LIP PALETTE
BEST ADVICE: SUSAN SARANDON SAID: ‘YOU CAN ALWAYS FORGIVE YOURSELF OR APOLOGIZE FOR THINGS YOU DO, BUT YOU CAN’T EVER WORK THROUGH THINGS YOU WISH YOU’D DONE AND YOU DIDN’T.’
PHILANTHROPY: I BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO CREATE A BRIGHTER AND SAFER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE ACTIVELY VOLUNTEER WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE PUBLICOLOR, THAT SHARE OUR BELIEF IN USING ART TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN THEIR EDUCATION. I HAVE TAUGHT PAINTING CLASSES AS A MENTOR TO YOUTH AND AM ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN NYC AND CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE WELLNESS THROUGH THE ARTS.
MANTRA: ‘IF IT CAN BE SOLVED, THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY. IF IT CAN’T BE SOLVED, THEN WORRY IS OF NO USE.’ – DALAI LAMA. I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO STRENGTH OF SELF AND FOCUS.
CURRENT OBSESSION: QUORDLE
APP: CALM
COCKTAIL: GIN BUCK
SOULMATE: MY HUSBAND. I’VE KNOWN HIM SINCE I WAS 17. WE’VE HAD UPS AND DOWNS AND SOME LIFE CHALLENGES, BUT HE IS WHO I FEEL THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF AND HAPPIEST WITH.
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: TATCHA CAMELLIA CLEANSING OIL AND THE WATER CREAM
ZODIAC: SAGITTARIUS
BEDTIME: 11:30PM
BEDSIDE READING: BUSINESS OF FASHION
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: ‘BETTE DAVIS EYES’
BAG: ANOTHER ADDICTION. I HAVE A COLLECTION OF NOVELTY VINTAGE CHANEL BAGS AND THEN I LIKE TO BUY NEW, FRESH DESIGNERS LIKE HEREU, WANDLER, JACQUEMUS.
SIGNATURE SCENT: ANINE BING SAVAGE ROSE PERFUME OIL
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBJECT
