A Designer to Know

Giselle Ghofrani (center)

As a child, everyone has their dreams of being something amazing when they grow up. For some, their wishes never come true, for others, they live out a dream they never knew they could.

Giselle Ghofrani is a 22 year old fashion designer, something she never imagined to be true. Throughout high school, Ghofrani had a passion for art. Being so spirited on the idea of art, she attended Columbia College in Chicago, majoring in art history.

Throughout college, Ghofrani's mother worked in the alterations department for Vera Weng in Chicago. She was two years into college when her father became very ill. Ghofrani's mother felt obligated to take care of her husband, causing Giselle to take her mother's position at Vera Weng. After about six months of working with alterations, Giselle's adoration for fashion caused her to switch her major at Columbia.

Soon after becoming a fashion major, the owner of the Vera Weng Boutique took notice of Ghofrani. She was asked to create a show piece gown for a show in Indianapolis. Her design was a sensation and people wanted more.

Ghofrani began listening to the needs of her clients. Women would request dresses with sleeves and a sweetheart neckline, or a detachable bottom. She soaked all of these great ideas in, leading her to create her own line of gowns.

Ghofrani's inspiration did not only come from people, she used her art history background to incorporate designs and textures in gowns that people had not seen before.

"I was inspired by a painter in my art history class in high school, Poulouse Lautrec," Ghofrani said.

"After using some of his work, I went to Turkey for a while to absorb the architecture and scenery," Giselle said.

She drew ideas from the beauty she embraced around her, dreaming of making women feel their absolute best.

Now, Ghofrani is a person everyone should know. She has completed her very own collection, Giselle, sold at Belle Vie Boutique in Chicago. She is currently interning at W Magazine and Vera Weng in New York City. She works with accessories, where she draws more inspiration from the stitching and folding of new fabrics and handbags. The techniques she is learning at W Magazine have caused her to design accessories as well.

Ghofrani is an entrepreneur at the very least. She is a focused young women with enough drive to get her anywhere she desires. To contact Giselle or view her designs, go to http://giselle-couture.com/home.html and send her an email, or go to Belle Vie Boutique on 34 Oak Street in Chicago.