"Take What You Want From Fashion"

Well, here I am, off to see my last show of the season. This is a Gen Art show, featuring Camilla Staerk. Gen Art is an arts and entertainment organization dedicated to promoting emerging talent in fashion. Until this season, they've featured several designers at once. This year, they're switching things up by exclusively showing Staerk's work in continuous twenty minute shows for an hour and a half.

What makes Staerk worth featuring? For one thing, she has a cool attitude. Her approach seems to me more like a painter or performance artist: She makes what she makes, regardless of trends. Below, a short interview with Ms. Staerk.

About.com: "Bride of the Black Moon" has a darker aesthetic than a lot of other collections being shown this week. What influenced your direction?

Staerk: "Bride of the Black Moon" is a character within a sculpture by Louise Nevelson. She and her work have inspired me for this collection.

About.com: One constant in fashion is change. Another is that, in any given season everyone can find some trend or cut that absolutely doesn't work for them. At what point should people just say, "this isn't for me" and leave a trend alone?

Staerk: You should take what you want from fashion, trend or no trend. You should only use trends in your own context to promote your individual style.

About.com: What's always in style? What holds up from season to season?

Staerk: Individual style.

About.com: What is your least favorite fashion trend/direction?

Staerk: Everything is relative. I try not to think about or look at trends ever, but try to focus on whatever direction/inspiration I feel strongly about at the given time.

About.com: What advice would you give to emerging designers?

Staerk: Stay focused on doing what YOU are about. Fashion is a business, but you must always stay true to yourself.