At The Styled House we love all things Style and are very blessed to have had the amazing opportunity to interview Isabella Longginou. Isabella is one of Australia’s top fashion designers based in Brisbane. Her label is all about femininity and elegance, it is about making women feel amazing in her pieces.
1. Why did you choose fashion designing as a career?
I actually didn’t really choose to become a dressmaker/designer. I think I fell into it whilst trying to search for what I wanted to do. Growing up, I actually never really knew what I wanted to do. I wasn’t interested in having a career in fashion or design. I did love clothes but I never thought about taking it any further. After leaving school I did decide that I wanted to become a stylist (back then it was called in Image Consultant) but there weren’t really any career opportunities for me to be able to do this so I decided to study Fashion Design at TAFE to see if it would open doors for me to be a stylist but it turns out that it opened doors for me to design and start my own label.
2. What do you love about being a fashion designer?
Working with my clients it the best thing about what I do. Getting to know their story, working with their ideas and then making their “dream” dress come to life. That’s the best part. I also do love sourcing new fabrics/prints for my clients and for myself.
3. Which fashion designer do you admire the most?
My most loved designer would have to be Dolce and Gabbana. Their designs are a little sexy whilst still being feminine and classic. What IL is all about.
4. Who and which things are the inspiration while creating any design?
I love to draw inspiration from classic movies like Rear Window or style Icons like Grace Kelly but I do also like to re-invent current styles that I have already created, whether that is adding a new sleeve, changing the neckline or even changing the fabric can transform the dress completely into a new design.
5. How do you want women to feel when wearing your clothes?
I want women to feel beautiful and amazing in their IL pieces. It’s the best feeling in the world when a client doesn’t want to take off her dress throughout our fittings because she loves it so much.
6. What are the skills that are necessary for becoming a successful fashion designer?
There are so many factors to running your own business. It’s not just design but it’s coming up with designs that people want along working hard, being patient and making lots of sacrifices. Putting what you believe in first!!
7. How do you stay updated with the trends in the fashion industry?
I love to see what overseas designers are doing whether that’s looking at dress lengths, necklines, sleeves etc but I also try and adapt my own designs by adding, taking away or changing the fabric to create a completely new design.
8. How would you define your personal style?
I love feminine silhouettes and fullness. Lots of frills, flounces and puffy sleeves!
9. What advice would you give people when they are thinking about style?
Just have fun. Play around with different styles/colours but still match
10. Which direction would you like to see IL head in the next few years?
I would love to keep growing my online presence (I launched online during COVID last year). So, I am working on growing this side of the business whilst also keeping custom made growing and growing.
