It is evident that Wendy Ohlendorf finds her inspiration through travel and art in her one of a kind pieces. Her love for design and history also appear in the workmanship of her apparel designs. Wendy will bring unique, one-of-a-kind, crafted designs to Fashion Week Tampa Bay this year!

Here are some interesting facts from Wendy!

–Favorite piece of clothing or accessory right now? I am loving my leather wrap around ankle strap pointed booties.  This summer’s delicate florals and romantic dresses paired with these urban yet feminine booties give just the right edge and show off my personal style.

–What is the inspiration for your upcoming collection? The collection began with roots in a marriage of matadors and concubines.  This idea began to manifest itself into the story of the Silk Road and the colors of the spice trade.  An intersection of southern Europe and Asia.

–Three words to describe your new collection? Cultural, Vivid, East Meets West

–Guilty pleasure TV show? I don’t have cable TV, I rely on Apple TV which offers the new HBO Now.  All seasons of Sex and the City are available to watch on demand…I started at the beginning!!! I love these icons of Fashion, Life and Friendship.

–What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and from who? It was advice from my higher self.  In 2012 I went to Paris.  During my trip I went by the House of Balmain where I saw a dress that I had admired in a magazine on the plane.  The  couture gown that I had seen was right there in the window.  It was at that moment, clear as a bell, that I heard in my own voice that I needed to pursue my passion and fulfill my dreams.  I came home and I have done just that.  Never looking back.  And incredibly grateful for that moment of magical advice from my soul.

–Favorite place to get coffee or tea? I live in Portland Oregon, we have coffee shops everywhere!!!! Just down the street from my showroom is a place called Lauretta Jean’s.  They are famous for their homemade pies and biscuits, but also serve Water Avenue Roasters Coffee, my favorite!

–One item you will never leave home without? My passport

–Favorite place to travel/vacation? Paris France…see the story above and you will know why!!!

–Do you have a secret talent? I am a fine artist for many years….I suppose my secret talent lies in my paintings.  I paint large murals that are often backdrops for window displays in my showroom.

Learn more about Magenta by Wendy Ohlendorf at: www.magentapdx.com, and visit her Flagship Boutique on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

~FWTB Stylista Rechael

Priscilla Kidder hopes to make women feel more comfortable in swimwear. She is bringing her custom swimwear to this year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay.

Here are some interesting facts from Priscilla!

–Why did you pursue a career in fashion? I never pursued a career in high fashion, yet, as a lifelong seamstress, this is where I have found myself!  I have never been satisfied with off the rack garments. In pursuit of quality fabrics, combined with designs that flatter my own body, I began designing swimwear. I resist purchasing any clothing made in a factory if possible, and am usually wearing clothing that I have made, including undergarments! I did as a child, draw and design pictures of clothes for my paper dolls, and I always made clothes for my Barbies, but I suspect most little girls do this.

-What is the inspiration for your upcoming collection? My upcoming collection will be classic, body flattering basics combined with a few retro prints. Think Beach Party Bingo!

–What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and from who? The best piece of advice was from Joey Goodrich, a designer and mentor for me. She told me once, “You know more than you think you know.” which gave me the courage to free cut designs when inspired to do so.

– One item you will never leave home without? An item I almost always have is my small round tip Famore scissors which are clipped to my waistband. I constantly use them while sewing and they are the perfect size.

–Favorite place to travel/vacation? My favorite place to travel is to a small island in Maine. I have been visiting there since I married my husband 29 years ago!  My second favorite place is diving in the Florida Keys!

–Do you have a secret talent? My secret talent is the ability to do strict pull ups, lots of them!

To learn more about Be-Bops Custom Swimwear, visit: http://be-bops.com/ or visit Be-Bops on Facebook and Instagram.

~FWTB Stylista Rechael

Jessica Martinez is a recent graduate from Sanford Brown and is very excited to see what the future holds for her. This is the first time showing her designs at Tampa Bay Fashion Week!

Here are some interesting facts from Jessica!

–Favorite piece of clothing or accessory right now clothing? High-waisted jeans!  They accentuate and flatter all body types.  What a great concept! Accessories – IN LOVE with the leather and chained harnesses I have been recently seeing. They are definitely statement pieces that add edge to any look.

–Why did you pursue a career in fashion? If you weren’t a designer, what else would you be doing?

1.) I pursued a career in fashion because I realized it was the only thing I was interested in.  A hint for me was… I can’t memorize most things to save my life but I can tell you where any apparel brand is sold and its price points.

2.) I couldn’t image pursuing any other career.  I think I would be very unhappy if I had to but if I had to choose, another profession, I would be a writer.

–Three words to describe your new collection? Trendy, Edgy and Unique

–Guilty pleasure TV show? Project Runway OF COURSE!  I NEVER miss an episode.

–What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and from who?  “Do What You Love and Love What You Do” I have heard this quote so many times and I am not certain who said it first but I remember how it made me feel the first time I heard it.  I knew that was going to be me and my driving force. I see so many people who work at a job their whole lives and they are miserable and I just felt there has to be a better way.  I remember someone telling me that ‘fashion wasn’t a job most people pursue. It isn’t a safe or secure field to invest’ but I told myself I was going to make it work.

– One item you will never leave home without? My Flatiron!

–Favorite place to travel/vacation? I’ve never really been able to travel up to this point in my life but when I go on vacations, it’s usually to go visit family.

–Do you have a secret talent?  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to write.  I write my own version of poetry.  At any time, my mind can begin to recite my feelings about anything, a certain event or time and I have to write it down right away so I don’t lose the thought. I started carrying around a notebook in my purse just in case this occurs.  However, the time I write the best is at like 2am when the rest of the world is sleeping.

Learn more about Jessica by clicking here.

~FWTB Stylista Rechael

Karyn Seo has been in the fashion industry for over 30 years and believes that her designs can be worn from season to season. She has continued to study and grow throughout the years. Karyn is bringing timeless pieces from her brand Caite to this year’s Tampa Bay Fashion Week.

Here are some interesting facts from Karyn!

–Favorite piece of clothing or accessory right now?  Vintage necklace

– If you weren’t a designer, what else would you be doing? Interior designer

–What is the inspiration for your upcoming collection? Bohemian designs with urban confidence.

–Three words to describe your new collection. Colorful, Creative, Comfortable

–Guilty pleasure TV show? House of Cards

–What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and from who? Keep your integrity in tact, it follows you everywhere you go.  Harvey Yaloff….the very first salesman I worked with 30 years ago in NY

–Favorite place to get coffee or tea? My home

–One item you will never leave home without? Cell phone

–Favorite place to travel/vacation? Italy

–Do you have a secret talent? Not really…..I wake up happy everyday!

Learn more about Karyn and her business at: caiteonline.com or visit here on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

~FWTB Stylista Rechael

Allison Bailey finds her inspiration through vintage pin-up girls of the retro decades. She is bringing a swim & resort wear collection to this year’s Fashion Week Tampa Bay. You can bet that these design pieces will have a vintage flare!

Here are some interesting facts from Allison!

–Why did you pursue a career in fashion? If you weren’t a designer, what else would you be doing? My career in fashion actually took a bit of time to take off. As a kid, I enjoyed fashion design related things. I remember stuffing, sewing, and hand embroidering a pillow for my mom when I was little but it wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school where I took my first fashion class. It was a fashion and interior design class that was only one semester long. The goal of the class was to create your own brand and design your own line. It was such a great class and at that point, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. It was put on hold for a bit because I played volleyball and got offered a position to play at a school that didn’t offer any kind of Fashion Design degree. I ended up going for Business Marketing but still had the end result of fashion design in the back of my head. When I was 21, I finally made the transition, enrolled myself in the Illinois Institute of Art and learned how to thread a machine for the FIRST TIME. People thought I was crazy that I wanted to be a Fashion Designer and didn’t know how to thread a machine but I was determined to prove them wrong. I picked it up quickly and 5 years later I am on the path I want to be!

–What is the inspiration for your upcoming collection? My inspiration comes from vintage lingerie. There will be a lot of use of vintage style lines and lingerie fabrics such as lace, mesh, corsets, ECT.

–Three words to describe your new collection. Bold, Sexy, Fierce

–Guilty pleasure TV show? SpongeBob SquarePants. I wish I had further explanation as to why but I have several DVD’s of episodes and it is routinely what I watch in bed before falling asleep. I even have my DVR set to record any SpongeBob show that airs, new or old so I can watch it whenever I want. I enjoy it much more now as an adult.

–What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and from who? My parents as a team have always given me the best advice/direction in life and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it but there is one thing that my dad always says that has made me into a much more outgoing person. His line is “what is the worst they can say?” The answer to this question is always “no.” I used to be a shy/reserved person and would get nervous about things and when I would talk to him about it, he would always ask “what is the worst they will say?” A simple answer such as “no” makes things less intimating.

–Favorite place to get coffee or tea? My house. I am an avid coffee drinker and almost always have some in hand from whatever coffee shop is near me but the most comforting place to have a cup is in my own house. I am comforted by the smell of Folgers coffee brewing when I wake up and being able to drink it on my own couch. Reminds me of home.

–One item you will never leave home without? Sounds super cliché but I have to admit that it is my phone. My whole life, personal and work is in there.

–Favorite place to travel/vacation? Myrtle Beach, SC. I have been pretty blessed and have had the ability to travel a lot in my life time to exotic and different places but my favorite vacation spot is right here in the U.S. My family has been going to Myrtle Beach ever since I was a kid. My parents vacationed there with their families growing up and it has been a summer tradition for 30+ years. What makes it the best is the people that I vacation with. It is great to get family, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents all together for a vacation.

Learn more about Allison Elizabeth Designs here: http://www.allisonelizabethdesigns.com or visit her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. ~FWTB Stylista Rechael

Rachana Suri is a designer with a message. She believes that women can wear high fashion while being more socially responsible regarding the world around them. With a mission to bring awareness to human trafficking and labor slavery, Rachana is bringing a high fashion dress line to this year’s Tampa Bay Fashion Week!

Here are some interesting facts from Rachana!

–Favorite piece of clothing or accessory right now?  A necklace that brings out the rest of my outfit.

–Why did you pursue a career in fashion? If you weren’t a designer, what else would you be doing?  I love to make clothes that will inspire people to feel beautiful about themselves.

–What is the inspiration for your upcoming collection? My inspiration comes from continually creating clothing that is organic and fair labor but also infused with high street fashion.  I am sick of socially responsible clothes looking like leftovers from a grateful dead show, I want clothes that are highly fashionable that are staples in your closet permanently.

–Three words to describe your new collection?  Sexy, Organic, and HOT

–Favorite place to get coffee or tea?  Kahwa of course, 5th avenue and 2nd street in St Petersburg, you can usually find me there.

-One item you will never leave home without?  My huge handbag.

–Favorite place to travel/vacation?  You can always catch me in Italy or Spain, my two favorite places for food, conversation, sites, and fashion.

-Do you have a secret talent?  Writing.

To learn more, visit: Accessuri.com or Accessuri on Facebook.

~FWTB Stylista Rechael