About me: BIO
Terri is as a freelance stylist and designer from Chicago. She has worked as an assistant designer to Barbara Bates, a stylist and merchandiser for Nordstrom, and a regional visual manager for Levi's. This Midwestern girl has determination -- while attending Columbia College, she started her own fashion organization where any student could display and debut their designs in competitions, exhibitions, and an annual fashion show. She is currently working as a Victoria's Secret visual manager and would like to break out with her own designs. She has eclectic and funky styles that compliment her own unique personality. Karl Lagerfeld is Terri's biggest fashion inspiration.
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FROM CHICAGO SUNTIMES...
"Hot tranny mess" may have been the catchphrase on Bravo's "Project Runway" last season thanks to winner Christian Siriano, but if Chicago native Terri Stevens has anything to say about it, "funkin' beautiful" will enter the pop-culture lexicon in a big way.
"I don't swear, but I'll always say 'funkin'," she says. "That's why I called my own clothing label 'Funkin' Beautiful.' "
Stevens is competing on the fifth season of the hit reality show in which designers vie weekly for fashion glory. Taping is under way now, and the first episode airs 8 p.m. Wednesday.
"I only have cable for that show," she says, laughing. "I pay $65.34 a month for 'Project Runway.' "
Stevens grew up in south suburban Robbins, earned a degree in fashion design and merchandising from Columbia College and credits the area's diversity for influencing her designs.
"Growing up in Chicago, I hung out with all walks of life and loved how everyone had their own unique style," she says. "I have incorporated all of that into my designs."
She says her label also reflects her love of house music. "I'm a total house head," she said.
For the past year, she has been a visual manager for Victoria's Secret and based out of Columbus, Ohio. "I hope the show makes me popular enough that the city wants me back," she says.
At Columbia, when she felt the officially sanctioned fashion shows weren't diverse enough, she put together a series of runway shows.
"It was called 'EXES' --'sexy' backward and spelled with an 'e' -- and the three shows we put on were open to any designer who wanted to come and show."
While she realizes the TV show she now finds herself on is a competition, she says she isn't about to entirely change her ways.
"I'm nice and friendly with everyone; that's just who I am," she says. "If someone needs help, I'm going to help them. I know it's going to be a challenge to not be as free with my assistance as things get tighter and tighter for time."
She describes her designs as "funky street chic" and "sort of a hip-hop meets rock 'n' roll meets punk."
She is currently represented in several local boutiques, including Wicker Park's Silver Room, 1442 N. Milwaukee, where her pieces go for $100-$400.
"Last season's collection sold great," says Silver Room owner Eric Williams. "Her designs are unique and modern. Everything had good structure and was done well."
Williams says he just got in Stevens' fall collection and hopes to have it on racks by the end of the week.
In addition to her hip, street-wise design sense, Stevens says she has two advantages over the other contestants.
"I'm a very fast sewer and, in competitions where every second counts, that's going to help," she says. "I also have insomnia. I knew this was going to be the most sleep-deprived place I would ever be in, and my insomnia should give me an edge."
thanks for the add. i loooooove your designs on PR. I loved that blue dress you did the 2nd week. i want one! see you at fashion week ! -your chitown homey
