Great ideas spring from necessity and what’s more crucial than a perfect-fitting skirt?
That’s the thinking behind Los Angeles designer Kristen O’Connell’s latest venture, No.2, a site where couture shopping becomes easy and affordable. You pick the color, style and details of your dream skirt, then enter your measurements and wait for the skirt to arrive on your doorstep.
The Measure Yourself page shows how to obtain accurate measurements and you’ll have a chance to select a surprise lining, which means O’Connell chooses a special contrast fabric to line the skirt. If you need help, or need a measuring tape, O’Connell will walk you through the process and send you a tape. A skirt runs about $88, depending on what you choose.
I recently caught up with O’Connell to learn more.
Kristen O'Connell wants to end dressing-room disappointment.
Q What is it about providing this service that appeals to you?
A I want to see more skirts in the world! I think every woman looks absolutely stunning in a skirt.
Skirts can be fun, sophisticated, casual, formal and funky all depending on the user. Wearing a skirt that fits your body well and represents your personal style is quite possibly the greatest feeling in the world. I want to spread this feeling and eliminate torturous shopping excursions of searching for skirts and not finding the right style or color.
I want to end dressing-room disappointment by providing women with skirts that fit, skirts that are made specifically for their measurements. I want women to turn to No.2 to provide them with skirts that they love; skirts that make them feel confident and comfortable. I want to offer every woman something that represents her unique style and body.
Q Why do you think clothing manufacturers have been slow to recognize that, as you say on your site, we are much more (and less) than sizes 2-12?
A This can get deep . . . Most companies are doing their best. But, times and bodies have and are changing and this is the one of the biggest challenges facing the fashion industry. It is totally unrealistic to put every possible size combination into production; companies must narrow their size focus down to an average that they feel represents their customer.
They do lots of research on body types and measurements in order to come up with that average that they feel best represents the women they are targeting. With all this averaging it should work for some, but mostly it works for none. It’s something I give a lot of thought to, and I’m trying to help the best I can one skirt at a time.
O'Connell shows some of her work.
Q What is the best part and hardest part about owning your own business and creating something that is unique?
A I very much enjoy drinking coffee in my pajamas while organizing my production schedule for the day.
Creating something unique is the best part for me. I’m a nonstop dreamer and ideas, creation and design are constantly running through my mind.
The hard part for me is to stop creating and concentrate on one creation long enough to nurture it and turn it into a reality or a product – preferably, a profitable one that people like.
Q Any advice for transitioning a pencil skirt from a daytime look to evening?
A The perfect thing about the pencil skirt is it needs no transitioning, it is always appropriate and always in style. In general, exchange the flats for heels, add jewelry, spray perfume, swipe on eyeliner, and add lipstick.
Q Who are your favorite designers and/or style icons?
A I love everything that is fashion! Fashion is my art. Tom Ford is my King, John Galliano paints my dreams and I love the trampy princess feel of Betsey Johnson.
Q What inspires you on a creative level?
A Absolutely everything. The colors of my torn-up mail in the trashcan, my boyfriend playing guitar, train graffiti and the sound of owls outside my bedroom window are a few of my favorites.
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