Sophie Theallet’s Making All the Right Choices

PHOTO BY PIETER HENKET

Last year’s CFDA recipient, French-born Brooklyn-based designer Sophie Theallet, seems to be on the right track. At least Oscar de la Renta thinks so. Now in the beginning stages of her mentorship with the industry icon, an experience she describes as “an absolute honor,” Sophie reports that de la Renta “complimented my work and said to continue exactly what I am doing.”

For fall, that means forging ahead with a fairytale theme Theallet applied to her signature “bohemian chic” aesthetic. “I was thinking about folklore and old children’s stories that little girls grow up with around the world,” said the designer of her fall inspiration. “I want to bring back to women the lost memories and the magic we felt when we fell in love with our first princess dress.” This season also marks the first time the designer will send knits down the runway and assures they’ll literally and figuratively “bring warmth to the collection,” a sentiment that will undoubtedly appeal to snow-covered editors.

When asked how she was handling the stress of premiering her post-win collection, Sophie replied, “I always put pressure on myself to do the best I can every time.” Quite the calm response. But she admits that before every show she puffs on a cigarette in the bathroom to maintain a little peace and tranquility.