Designer Profile: Tracy Reese

There are a few great things about being a woman, period cramps and child birth aside, we get to play dress up, have first dibs on a life-vest just in case the Titanic sinks again and we also have the privilege to wear Tracy Reese's designs.

Unafraid to pair an animal print and paisley wool in a single look, Reese's 2008 Fall/Winter collection was a bit overdone, but still extremely feminine, making us happy to be women. Her love affair with a woman's waist was still apparent as well in her newest collection. She played up the femininity with high-waisted, wide-leg trousers and then down in 1920's inspired drop-waist skirts. And like many other designers did this season, Reese took inspiration from earth's very own elements, which were exemplified in bold prints, sequined florals and blown-up photo prints of grass and roses.

But her designs weren't always coming up roses, no, Reese, after moving from her native Detroit to New York to attend Parson's School of Design, worked for a small contemporary firm. Who was one of her colleagues? Perry Ellis of all people! Still hungry for her very own clothing line, Reese launched her namesake label Tracy Reese as well as a second line called plenty by Tracy Reese.