The Loveliest Designer You Don't Know

Her own best model

Say you've never heard of Rocksanda Ilincic let alone how to pronounce her name? Well, she's my little London Fashion Week find. I'm not the first to the party. Her elegant day and evening looks have been worn by a list of glitterati including Gwyneth Paltrow, Bjork, Margherita Missoni, Kate Hudson, Tilda Swinton, Chloe Sevigny, Thandie Newton, Michelle Obama and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The stuff of dreams for we mere mortals, but Rocksanda has also collaborated with two British "high street" shops, Whistles and Debenhams.

Spring 2013

Finally a clutch big enough to actually hold something

Rocksanda is a Serbian-born designer based in London. She first showed a collection in 2003. Though I have seen her listed as a "former model" serious research (ok Wikipedia) states that she first studied architecture in her native Yugoslavia before graduating with a degree in womenswear design from prestigious Central Saint Martins  in London. Rocksanda's is hardly a household name in America, but there is something fresh yet timeless and very interesting about her designs.

Michelle in Rocksanda with that guy

Kate hitting the mark yet again

She also designs lines of swimwear, handbags and children's clothes. She dressed the American Express concierges at London Fashion Week, whom I saw up close and personal. The frocks were so simple, stunning and colorful— a tuck and a fold here, a drape there and— boom— dressmaker magic.

Nice uniforms

This is someone who has something to say that is worth wearing. I'm intrigued.

One more of Rocksanda