Designer Spotlight: Rachel Roy

by Pooja Kansal – Indiana University

Bright is the new black.  For the past few years, American fashion designer Rachel Roy has been tossing aside the fashion industry’s signature color in favor of vibrant hues ranging from cerulean to chartreuse.

According to her official website, Roy aims to create pieces with a “feminine and modern point of view.”  Her self-titled collection debuted in Spring 2005 and has made significant headway since. Rachel Roy New York can be purchased at a variety of high-end department stores, including Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. In Fall 2008, Roy introduced a moderately priced collection entitled Rachel Rachel Roy which are currently sold exclusively at Macys, Inc.

It’s likely that Roy’s bold creations are partly inspired by her half-Indian roots.  In addition to the same jewel tones that populate Indian bazaars, gold-embellished sandals and multicolored stone jewelry also have a place in Roy’s collections.

But the thing that makes Roy one of the most unique designers of our time is her knack for juxtaposing the unexpected. Mixing prints and fabrics, color-blocking bright colors with subdued tones, adding innovative cut-outs to what would otherwise be a typical LBD (little black dress)…the list could go on.  Both of Roy’s collections make for an eclectic wardrobe that proves you can still be a girly-girl without dressing like Barbie. Or, to put it simply: Mission accomplished.