by Chandra Clewley

 

According to Bravo, Launch My Line designer Vanessa Gonzalez has been featured in Angeleno, In Style and L'uomo Vogue, Gonzalez has garnered attention for her groundbreaking events that bring east coast glamour and style to Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times credited her as "the museum's event specialist" known for making a major Los Angeles museum "one of the hottest social tickets in town." She was eliminated last night on Launch My Line along with her expert designer, Tressa.  

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: It seems like you were misunderstood in the show. Who is your target customer?
A. Vanessa: I wasn't trying to be misunderstood. I think the judges just had a hard time

trying to understand me. My target customer is a confident woman who has her own individual style; she isn't

influenced by what the masses consider to be ‘in fashion'. She uses her own personal style to define who she is; she's not concerned with fads and trends. She's a risk taker, an innovator and an unconventional thinker. I often wore a bracelet on the show that had carved into it a famous quote from Edna Woolman Chase. "Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess."

 
Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: How did your art museum background influence your design aesthetics?
A.Vanessa: Fashion is Art and Art is subjective, it's not just about loving or hating a piece, it should evoke emotion, for some people it can be positive for others negative. The point being is that Art should make you feel something.

I was in the bottom each week because I stirred up the emotions of the judges with my designs. I was the only designer who never played it safe. Art is the expression of creative skill; I've never known creativity to be safe. 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Did you learn any functionality of design while on the show, such as how to sew

or how clothes fit?
A. Vanessa: I learned a lot from Tressa, she was a great mentor; she applied techniques to garments that I didn¹t even know existed. It was important for me to take an active role with creating my designs each week. I usually prepared or sewed all of the details on each of my garments, the appliqué, fur trim, etc. 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Why do you feel the judges misunderstood you?
A. Vanessa: It's easy to single out the design that's different from the rest, how do you look at it objectively when you're comparing it to other designs that all look pretty much similar to each other? I think the overall mentality of the judging came down to mainstream thinking. Mainstream doesn't respond well to avant-garde, it's automatically dismissed and criticized because it doesn't conform to the so-called rules of fashion. Art should not be subjected to rules; rules are for people who follow. Compromising my integrity to please others goes against who I am and I don¹t believe fashion should ever settle for mediocrity. However, I do believe criticism is an important part of the learning process but when it's tainted with personal taste then it no longer becomes constructive but destructive to your design aesthetic and vision. I think with criticism you have to apply what makes sense to your design without losing focus of your line and your target consumer.

 
Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: If you could pick anyone, who would you want judging your clothing line?
A. Vanessa: My target consumer. 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Who is your favorite designer?
A. Vanessa: Vivienne Westwood. I live by her words, "When in doubt, overdress." 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: What are your plans now? Are you still designing clothing?

A. Vanessa: I recently started my own company, "fox on the run", specializing in events for the arts. I was an event director for a prominent art museum for many years and made a name for myself in the art world by reinventing how museums throw parties butI also generated a lot of attention for the outfits I would wear to the events I produced. When I was asked to be on the show, I couldn¹t believe the premises for the show involved what I was already doing for years, designing outfits for events, while a fashion designer executed my vision. I have many friends in the fashion industry and this is exactly what I do all the time. What's exciting is that I have now met Tressa through this show and the possibilities are endless. We both are very passionate about designing clothing, just for the sake of our love for Art.

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: If you were to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
A. Vanessa: I'd make the pockets on the gold dress bigger!

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: If you could design clothing for anyone, who would be your muse?

A. Vanessa: I'd design clothing for me of course! I draw inspiration from creative individuals and environments. The art world is a perfect outlet for me to express my creativity; I draw my energy from artists and people who constantly are thinking outside of the box.

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Do you keep in touch with anyone from the show?
A. Vanessa: Tressa of course, we both work in the art world. Kathy and I formed an instant bond

from the first moment we met and remain close to this day. Emil and I are also good friends. Patrick and I also got along very well on the show. We speak every week after each episode to make fun of each other and keep

ourselves in check!

 

 

Catch Launch My Line on Wednesday's at 10pm ET on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)