MARLA WYNNE

Casual Elegance For The Modern Woman

By Bailey Beckett

Smart. Brassy. Stylish. There are many adjectives to ascribe Marla Wynne Ginsburg, but the most telling is in her fashions. The New York designer has built an empire on dressing women much like she does herself: elegant, comfortable, easy, and always très chic. It’s that delicate balance that has made her eponymous label the best thing in dressed threads. New York Lifestyles caught up with the fashion mogul to get her story and the secret behind her success.

How would you describe your brand?
Inspired by my 20 years of living in Paris, I appreciate a certain easy elegance and believe that there is no such thing as luxury without comfort. My brand is designed to be comfortable, easy to care for, easy to wear, and has an effortless elegance to it.

What is your aesthetic?
I favor fit on the bottom and flow on the top. We offer thoughtful basics in fabrications that are season-less and focus on dramatic toppers in novelty fabrications and favor sweater knits for every season. I believe in simplicity and design restraint.

What inspired you to start your label?
One of my series, The Highlander, focused on stories that traversed the ages, allowing me to work with some of the best costume designers in the world. I loved learning about textiles and the history of clothing and how costumes defined a character and a time and place in history. When I returned to the U.S., there was a writer’s strike in 2007-08. I knew that finding a post-strike opportunity in an industry that paid me the kind of salary I was used to was about as likely as finding a natural blonde in Beverly Hills. I began contemplating my second act.

I recognized that there was very little out there for women my age that fit our changing bodies and changing lifestyles. So, during the strike, I bought a sewing machine, pattern paper, and began sketching and sewing. By the time the strike was over, I was in Nordstrom, specialty stores across the country and on HSN and never looked back.

Who is the Marla woman?
I design for the modern woman. She is busy and enjoying her best life. She wants ease, comfort, and elegance in season-less fabrications that mix and match and take her everywhere her busy life leads her. The proper fit is her number one criteria, but she wants to stand out from the crowd and make a statement when she walks into a room.

What is one thing every woman must have in their wardrobe?
The perfect-fitting pair of black pants.

What are the essentials for fall/ winter?
Great basics are the foundation of every season, topped off with a third piece to complete her wardrobe. For me, it is always a statement piece—a dramatic topper or coat. Fabulous scarves are a must-have along with statement jewelry that lets you express your individuality. I don’t want to see women walking around the city in the winter looking like they’re related to the Michelin Man. So we work very hard to create fabulous coats and toppers that keep you warm but have a certain carefree elegance.

How did you get the confidence to start your label after the television career ended?
Ignorance is bliss. When I started, I had no idea how difficult this business can be.

Who are your heroes?
My parents, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (no relation) Coco Channel and every woman who dared to ignore convention—and do it anyway!

For more information on Marla Wynne, visit marlawynne.com.