Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Magazine | Clothing Designer

I hate to say it, but you've got to check out Mara Gottler's line. This Vancouver designer juggles various acts, literally, between costume-designing for Bard on the Beach and her fashion collections. Using inspiration from plays, she designs clothes that use details to catch your eye. Gottler wants each collection to meld with your personality naturally and perfectly just so that you forget you're wearing them. "I use theatre for fashion. There are lots of details and hand-made work," she says.

That's how she's putting the term "drama queen" into a new light. Well, at least that's been the experience of women who wear her formal dresses to extravagant events. Gottler remembers one who wore a dress that fit so perfectly, everyone complimented her throughout the evening. Although the modest lady became embarrassed from the attention, this little anecdote pays tribute to the fact that you should never buy something without giving it a good look for important little details. That's where Gottler comes in. It wouldn't be fair to restrict her target market to a certain age category either, since her mandate of "making statements" attracts everyone from motorcyclists to fashionistas. Gottler has noticed this eccentrically versatile group of women sporting her pieces in Canada and even the United States. She steps out of her comfort zone, just as anyone would in a Shakespeare performance, utilizing vibrant colors like red and green in her spring and summer 2009 collection, although she personally prefers to wear black. She also makes it easy for those skeptical of buying something that won't look fit in with her last season designs. "I create pieces that will fit into your past collection," says Gottler. "I use colors as my seg-way, so you can utilize continuity."

Her inspiration? Everything from European magazines to designers like Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier and Alexander McQueen, who are all notorious for their detail-driven designs. Pieces in Gottler's current collection reminisce of such. For example, her current swooped white pants (many women know them as "Aladdin pants") are wonderfully classy and unique but can be worn with everything from a tall heel to a gladiator sandal. "I love them," says Gottler. "They sit there so nicely and drop at the ankle." Her formal clothing takes on the unique role as well, most notably her dress with a beautiful colorful and accented waist, accompanied with a back drape that resembles a hoodie. Gottler is beginning to become known for casual details like this as she enjoys "bringing casual into formal, using a male-feminine contrast," yet she pulls it off beautifully and the details always look completely natural.

Another dress that will catch your eye is the one that graces her homepage. It's an eccentric green dress that many have come to call "the Marilyn Monroe." "You can wrap the bands around five different ways" to play up this one, so it's ready to wear to a variety of different events. What looks can you expect for the winter? You'll have to hold your breath because this lady is as much a surprise as her busy career and dreams. "I'm designing all four shows for Bard on the Beach and I'm not done until the middle of July, so I don't know yet," she laughs. On her spare time she'll be contemplating her retiring days where one might find her far off on France's countryside. Until then, the show must go on in Vancouver. "I have one of the most exciting careers. Life's good," says Gottler.

To check it out yourself, feast your eyes on her website at www.maragottler.com. Purchases can be made online.