DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: An Interview with Bat’s Daughter... Find out who her biggest mentor is, which celebrities can't get enough of her clothes and her savvy wardrobe tips...

Factio Magazine: How did you get your start as a fashion designer?  Please comment on your school training and/or experience!
Angela Batinovich: I graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Business Marketing.  I wanted to be a fashion designer since the age of three.  I have always had an obsession with clothes. The only obstacle to making my dream come true, I have no patience and cannot draw to save my life. Business culture comes naturally to me, I knew that if I started a clothing line I would run it with my business experience. I hired a designer, Janett Kim, who graduated from Otis Design School and we collaborate on our collections theme, color, stories and silhouettes. We have a very similar vision of where we want this line to go and we both love the creative side of the industry.

FM: Who were your most influential mentors? What moves you and inspires you each season?
AB: I consider both my father and my mother my mentors.  My father for his business sense and risk-taking attitude, and my mother for her elegance and timeless beauty and style.

FM: How was your first runway show experience?
AB: Amazing! I was so frantic.  I kept running between the front and backstage trying to get just a glimpse of the live show. I actually ended up missing most of the show because of my natural curiosity… my head was not quite clear, it was too exciting!

FM: What is your most memorable moment to date in your career?
AB: There are SO many! Of course my father crying with pride at the show, my mother offering to ship things if I needed her help with the business and my niece using my website for show and tell… the list goes on. The weirdest memory that makes me wonder where I’ll be in fifteen years is when I saw Debbie Gibson wearing my skirt suit with jacket on the Ryan Seacrest Show (On-Air with Ryan Seacrest).  To give you some more background, I was in NYC for a fabric show with Janett and we decided to take an afternoon nap at the hotel.  While I was relaxing I happen to switch on the Ryan Seacrest Show.  I was watching it for at least five to ten minutes before I realized Debbie was wearing our suit! It was so weird! If I had known that Debbie Gibson would be wearing my outfit back when I was ten rocking out to Electric Youth, I would have freaked out!

FM: Where did you get your inspiration for your Spring 2005 collection?
AB : Although Los Angeles is not one of my favorite places to live (I miss the Bay Area), I absolutely love “old Hollywood” with the ideas of glamour, class and sophistication.  Since I live in LA, I have taken my inspiration from the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth and Veronica Lake.

FM: Describe the personality of the woman who wears your designs.
AB: Any woman who takes on responsibility whether it be a career, kids or even a just a husband! This women still wants to feel put together, stylish, age-appropriate and taken seriously…but with amazing sex appeal. This line is for the woman that doesn’t need to “dress sexy” but ends up being sexy due to her feminine tailored clothes and the sex appeal of the sophistication and class.

FM: What is your signature style? And, how does your trademark look translate to your designs?
AB: I dress how I feel in the morning. Sometimes I wake up and I feel like a lot of jewelry, heels and tailored clothing. Other times I want to put on my Tylie Malibu boots and sweats with a shirt that says “Von Slut”. I dress with my mood. I try to create a collection with a little something for everyone. My closet has a little bit of everything. I try to make sure that even when I show the attitude in the clothing, I keep things sexy, conservative and timeless.

FM: Where do you see yourself five years from now?  How about 10 years from now?
AB: Five years from now I hope I have completed a children’s line, men’s line, home line… I’m very ambitious and very impatient… so I don’t waste time. I’m assuming in ten years I will be married and hopefully slowing down with kids. I can’t even think about that now I’m so busy, I can hardly keep my dog happy!

 FM: Do you plan to project your designs globally?
AB: I would love to take the line to Europe and Japan. I think the response would be great! But don’t tempt me; I have more than enough on my plate already. I need to focus on the states first!

FM: Which celebs wear your clothes?
AB: Deborah Gibson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Alicia Silverstone, Thora Birch….

FM: Where do you shop in LA? How about the rest of the globe?
AB: Kitson. Mimi helps me twice a week in there! I love Louis Vuitton and can’t get enough. On account of the many road trips I’ve taken, I have gotten to shop in all the hottest boutiques! The Sandpiper in Atlanta, Circe in Louisville, Leehe Fai in Philly, Big Drop in NYC… The list would take a few pages. I’m an avid shopper and I’m getting quite good at it!

FM: What designers do you look up to? Whose clothes and shoes can you not stop buying? Any wardrobe tips? AB: Marc Jacobs. Hands Down. My closet would be empty without him! Wardrobe tips? Don’t be scared, take chances and have fun with what you wear.

FM: If you could change one thing about how people dress, what would it be?
AB: Remind people that playing dress up used to be our favorite past time. Find the time. 

http://www.batsdaughter.com/