Project Runway - Designer

Meet the Designer

Jillian

AGE: 26

HOMETOWN: Long Island, NY

EDUCATION: Parsons School of Design

FAVORITE DESIGNERS: Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga and Azzedine Alaia

FASHION MUST: A sweater dress (ideally with pockets hidden in the side seams) worn with opaque-colored tights.

Jillian, 26, was born and raised in the small town Selden in Long Island, NY. In 2003, she graduated from Parsons The New School for Design to pursue her fashion dream. While there, she was honored with the CFDA scholarship award and selected to design the Perrier girl uniform, which was featured as "Parsons Design Star" on the MTV college network.

Jillian is currently working on her own label while consulting for several companies as a designer. As a concept designer and illustrator at Rugby by Ralph Lauren and as a designer at Searle. Although her experiences have made her a very well-rounded designer, Jillian credits her own talent and personal taste level as qualities that set her apart from the rest.

Art stimulates Jillian's creativity, as she's often inspired by the illustrations of Ruben Toledo and Patrick Nagel, the architecture of Antoni Gaudi and Santiago Calatrava, and the art of Egon Schiele. Other sources of inspiration include military uniforms, armor, ballet, and the idea of incorporating technology into clothing.

Jillian's Designer T-Shirt

How Could You Not Love Me? - Jillian believes to know her is to love her.

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Jillian's style profile

In what types of stores do you do the majority of shopping? Department stores, small boutiques, vintage stores, retail chains, and etc?
I like to shop at Barneys Co-Op and Bergdorf Goodman's 5th floor because of their assortment. I even prefer to shop at places like Searle or Intermix for special items. Vintage in New York is hardly affordable and for the most part I really hate to dig or prowl through a lot of junk to find the gold. I’m not one of those shoppers and I don’t have the patience. I don’t buy a lot. I splurge on what I love but I never buy impulsively.

What is your favorite online site and do you have any great tips for shopping online?
I don’t shop online. I like to feel the fabric and try for fit. I am so picky I don’t know how anyone can do it online. Also, because I have a tendency to choose expensive things, I usually visit an item several times before I actually buy it. Sounds crazy but its true.

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