I’m very rarely surprised, and especially not by designers’ interviews which tend towards the same fluffy rhetoric.   Ashley Verrier’s Q & A had a frisson of novelty for me. It reads somewhat like a ‘salon’ discussion with a merveilleuse. She is surprisingly focused, extremely eloquent and a down right pro, and  it shows in her responses to my  questions.

Read the Ashleigh Verrier exclusive Q&A

Perhaps this professionalism explains why she captured the attention and admiration of Tim Gunn during her student days at Parsons  when he ran the fashion program ( he remains a huge fan today too).  This protégée is a gem and I am honored to introduce her to you. If you read through the full text of her interview in our Insider Scoop section  you’ll see why she was able to successfully pursue her dream and  launch her eponymous line at such a young age.

Since her first collection back in Fall 2005, the Verrier look has evolved steadily and maintained its overwhelming feminine quality, while playing with a somewhat signature vintage accent. The Verrier customer is first and foremost a romantic; the clothes act as a portal.  It is an aesthetic that has made her popular among young Hollywood including Courtney Cox  and Rachel Bilson and even carried her into the music scene where her fans include Taylor Swift, Jessica Simpson and Natasha Henstridge.

When it comes to utilizing fur, she draws from her fined-tuned repertoire of finishes and cuts to explore. Yet, she keeps in mind “today” without falling for the last minute trend or social fad. She is surprisingly aware of consumer needs and chooses a more long-lasting luxury approach. As the old story goes, a wise investment gives more returns.

To find out more about what makes Ashleigh Verrier tick and what’s in store for Fall/Winter 2011-12, check out her fulll interview in our Insider Scoop section and don’t forget to visit her at www.Verrier-Fashion.com.