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The dish with … Carol Mier, fashion designer

Fashion designer Carol Mier

Carol Mier’s fashion designs are ”wearable art” — the Denver Art Museum carries her jackets and her boutique, Carol Mier Fashion, 754 Santa Fe Drive, offers unique one-of-a-kind creations. “I want to help fulfill a women’s need to look her best,” she says. Here’s what Mier has to say about getting started, getting inspired and working with the museum.

On getting started in fashion: My mom made me wear my older sister’s hand-me-downs and the kids in school always made fun of me, so I overcompensated by learning how to sew and making the most extremely bazaar outfits I could think of. Then the kids didn’t know what to think — and my mom really liked what I would come up with and she encouraged me). The styles I design are about the main impression: the angle of a cut, the colors and, at the same time, how the fashions truly compliment the individual’s style and shape.
 
On what she’s working on now: The Denver Art Museum asked me to make a collection of tunics for them, so I took my inspiration from the design of the new Hamilton Building and made the tunics with these strong, bold, architectural, angular, sculptural lines with color blocking.

A design by Carol Mier.

On the concept of wearable art:

And beyond tunics being a fashion statement now, my tunics are very comfortable, but also very stylish, figure flattering, complimentary to the individual’s style.  They’re great to throw over nice leggings and a basic fitted knit top — worn casual to dressy, they are more about just being creative with your look.
 
On working with the Denver Art Museum: A lot of my customers go to or volunteer at the Denver Art Museum and they kept encouraging me to contact them, since a lot of them saw my work as wearable art. I finally contacted the museum and they loved the uniqueness of what I put together, so they started to carry my line.
 
On finding inspiration: I have always been so appreciative of the designs of the ’30s and ’40s. There were more smaller design shops then. It was definitely more about the woman. The fashions were about how the designs draped on the woman’s body, how the cuts flattered the woman’s shape, how the woman moved in the clothing,  how the    woman projected mystery through the clothing. Styles flattered the woman’s shape, etc. and it wasn’t necessarily about showing as much skin as possible or trying to make clothes as tight as possible or being as skinny as you can get.

20 QUESTIONS WITH CAROL MIER

1. My go-to outfit: my signature flairs that come in different lengths, colors and textures for whatever occasion it may be.
 
2. Guilty pleasure: a good glass of wine
 
3. My theme song would be: Everything’s Gonna be Alright, Muddy Waters
 
4. Beauty products I can’t live without: Lavender oil, peppermint oil and lemon oil
 
5. I get my hair cut by: Pegg Knapp and Bill Walch. I like to work with different hairstylists
 
6. Hidden talent: dancing
 
7. Must-see TV: The History Channel
 
8. Best advice my mother ever gave me: Create your own style, be an individual, don’t follow the crowd.
 
9. I’m reading: How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi
 
10. My perfect meal: Chinese food
 
11. My best vacation: Mexico
 
12. I wish had more time to: draw and read
 
13. I can’t start my day without: yoga stretches
 
14. Favorite jeans: My line — I created it specifically for my body shape.
 
15. Favorite designer: Issey Miyake
 
16. Best bargain I’ve ever scored: A Mary McFadden black and white pleated asymmetrical gown that I found at the Goodwill for $8.
 
17. Favorite movie: Anything with Mickey Rourke
 
18. Favorite color: chartreuse and chocolate brown
 
19. Signature scent: Gaultier2 Unisex Eau De Parfum

20. Must-have accessory: A fun, basic, unique tapestry faux fur or velvet cap.  Can be worn just running aroung town, business or an evening event. Just gives you that extra flair to show your uniqueness.

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