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Woman of Style: Liz Lange, President and Founder Liz Lange Maternity
Liz Lange, designer of Liz Lange Maternity, single-handedly changed the face of maternity wear forever. She scoffed at the idea of women hiding their budding bellies underneath the camouflage of big tents. She created a collection of signature designs embodying American sensibility and beauty, mixed with a contemporary, stylish edge, a pioneer of the idea maternity chic. Her designs are of the highest quality fabrics from Europe, and are stunning with their awesomely flattering, body-hugging silhouettes.
Today the Liz Lange Collection has captured the attention of everyone in the fashion industry and entertainment. Celebrities like Kate Winslet, Debra Messing and Gwyneth Paltrow all have been seen flaunting the fashions throughout their pregnancies.
In 2001, a ground breaking merger was launched when Liz Lange, also an amazingly savvy businesswoman, became the first designer to partner with Nike to create an entirely new category in fashion, maternity workout wear. In 2002 a collection of affordable maternity fashions were exclusively created for Target stores. Her success then continued to sky-rocket as she was named by Fortune magazine as one of the "Top Ten Entrepreneurs to Watch."
She is an author and active participant in her community. Lange currently resides in Manhattan with her husband and two children. Her boutiques are located in New York, Long Island and Beverly Hills.
FACTIO MAGAZINE: Describe your signature style.
LIZ LANGE: Classic with a twist. I love very clean simple looks (dipping myself in one color such as chocolate brown, navy or black) and then punched up with a chunky statement gold cuff or necklace. I love slim pencil skirts paired with fitted sweaters and sexy heels by Manolo or Louboutin.
FM: What are your favorite shops worldwide?
LL: I have been lucky to have lived in NYC my whole life (except for 4 years at Brown University in Providence) and I think we have the best shopping in the world. I love: Bergdorf Goodman, the Anna Sui store, Calypso, Christian Louboutin for shoes and Colette in Paris. I love walking the left bank of Paris and just happening on small no name boutiques where one can always find the chicest things. I feel the same way in downtown NYC.
FM: What are you always on the hunt for?
LL: I am always on the hunt for drop dead evening wear. It's always impossible to find when you actually have an event to go to so whenever I see a fabulous dress that could be black tie; I always buy it even if I don't have a special occasion coming up.
FM: What are some of the wardrobe staples we’d find in your closet?
LL: Wardrobe staples in my closet are black skinny pants, simple fitted cashmere tees, cashmere turtlenecks and cashmere v necks in a rainbow of colors.
Tons of pencil skirts, I love them! Shoes galore, but mostly only by Christian Louboutin or Manolo Blahnik my two favorites! Pocketbooks by Hermes and Goyard.
FM: What women and men (from which city worldwide) have great style and why?
LL: Anna Wintour here in NYC. She is the ultimate arbiter of style and perennially chic. Diane Von Furstenberg, she is still a beauty and she always looks great.
FM: Do you think money and style go hand in hand or can style never be bought? Is it something you just have?
LL: Money and style absolutely do NOT go hand in hand. Style is something you either have or don't. It can't be bought and it can't be taught or learned.
FM: What would people be most surprised to know about you?
LL: People would be surprised to know that I am addicted to my TIVO and I love nothing more than dinner at home with my family followed by tons of my favorite shows on TIVO. And I can be very shy.
FM: Did you know when you started your company that you would rise to the success that you have?
LL: I had no idea when I started my business that it would be such a success. I started in a tiny office (without a computer or a fax) waiting on customers by appointment. I honestly thought that if chic, fitted well made maternity clothing was a good idea it would have been done by someone else way before me!
FM: What tips would you give women in general to be well rounded, balancing out life and business?
LL: Don't be too hard on yourself. So many women feel guilty when they are at work because they are not with their family and then feel guilty at home, thinking they should be at work. Women sell themselves short. We have an amazing ability to multi task and get an enormous amount done and we should celebrate that about ourselves.
FM: What do you see yourself doing in five years?
LL: Presiding over my 50 Liz Lange store empire and spending more time with my husband and 2 children.
For more information on Liz Lange, visit www.lizlange.com.
Credit: Liz Lange Intro by Dana Turner, Interview by Melissa Maynard, both for
Factio-magazine.com.
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