(COLBY KRUGER/The Daily Campus)
Amber VenzSMU alumna Amber Venz is now going full-force with her self-entitled line of vintage-inspired jewelry and headbands. Venz creates chic statement pieces in her three couture collections: Personal Quarry, Almost Famous and The Collection.
Venz scours estate sales and private warehouses for antique beads and baubles, scoring treasures like vintage Chanel copper balls, to reconstruct and revive into contemporary masterpieces. The hunt results in approximately one-third of her creations being completely one-of-a-kind, and the rest consisting of designs with no more than five duplicates.
“I want to always keep my things very special and noticeable,” Venz said of her eye-catching jewelry concepts.
Not only do the unique materials used in her designs set her assortment apart, but so does the design approach. Contrary to most designers, she gains design inspiration from her acquired materials versus a prerequisite plan.
“Once I find a great chain or great trim, then I build from that,” Venz said.
The designer describes her customer as someone who enjoys a mix of high and low-end fashion, but acknowledges quality.
“They are people who understand and can appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into it,” Venz said.
Venz’ pieces don’t add, they make your ensemble. She advises buying a piece and then finding an outfit that complements the look.
“They are really dress-around pieces,” Venz said of her statement staples.
Venz has been designing jewelry since high school, but jokes that she has always had an interest in entrepreneurship opportunities.
“As a little kid, I always knew how to approach things,” Venz said. “Even in the fifth grade I was knitting scarves and selling them at recess.”
The Texan, with a flair for fashion and inventive sense of style, gained her expertise through a variety of internships and industry-related jobs. The 2008 graduate worked at Sebastion’s Studio in Snider Plaza throughout college and later as a buyer for the women’s ready-to-wear store. Venz also held internships in Los Angeles, where she styled for various fashion and celebrity photographers such as Giuliano Bekor, and in New York City, where she worked as a fit model for designer Thakoon.
Shop Amber Venz at AmberVenz.com, and in the Dallas area at Tootsies and Cabana.
Cooper by CourtneyLocal designer Courtney Warren brings Dallas festive frocks perfect for parties this holiday season.
After graduating from Texas Tech University in 2006, the dress designer had a brief stint in retail, but said she quickly realized that she didn’t want to sell clothes, but that she wanted to fulfill her life-long dream of designing them.
Six months after graduation, the 26-year-old entrepreneur launched her line, Cooper by Courtney Warren, and hasn’t looked back since. “Cooper” features fun and flirty cocktail dresses priced from $110 to $210.
“I have always been fascinated with dresses, especially puffy ones,” Warren said of her reasoning behind her all-dress line.
When Warren designs each collection, she takes into consideration two things: color and cut.
“I use bright fun colors that are attractive on nearly anyone,” Warren said of her figure-flattering dresses that always incorporate empire and cinched waistlines.
The collection has doubled in size over the years. This spring, Warren is introducing skirts, shirts and casual day wear pieces, like linen and cotton dresses.
“For spring you can expect fun, bright colors such as yellow, lime green, pink and purple, along with our usual neutrals,” Warren said.
Warren said getting to where she is with Cooper today took research and a strong business plan. But she admits dedication and desire are the keys to success.
“The most important thing is to have confidence in what you are doing and to love it 100 percent, otherwise you won’t put everything you have into it,” Warren said.
Cooper by Courtney Warren is available in Dallas at Krimson & Klover, Elle by Elements, Hemline and Via Pelle.
