David Peck - Up Close and Personal

(Photo Courtesy of www.davidpeckcollection.com)

I had the incredible experience of actually getting to meet and talk with David Peck in person during his champagne reception held at the Elaine Turner store in Houston's Rice Village.  The event took place on Wednesday afternoon during the Audi Fashion Houston event in October.  Even though my cousin, Shanna (and photographer) were running around covering the event for San Jose Fashion Week magazine, we had to make a stop by this talented desginer's reception!
David was immensly humble and talked with Shanna and I about the CrOp project that he recently started. He enlightened us that CrOp stood for Creative Opportunites and that he would be working with various artist and organizations in order to develop inspirations for his upcoming lines as well as bring attention to the needful situations at hand.
I was so intrigued! Honestly, I just took such a quick liking to him as a designer and the work he had in mind for the future.  I cheerfully stood next to him while demanding my cousin hurry and take our picture.
I then later approached David about doing an interview for me on the blog and answering some questions that I thought were relevant to his work and the fashion industry we all love so much!  He agreed and this is what he had to say!

Have you always wanted to pursue a career in fashion?

I think that I did even though I might not have known it. My childhood was full of creativity—maybe too much at times if you ask my parents, so I should have known that I was bound to do something along those lines. Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who was a fashion designer or had pursued a similar career. It didn’t seem like a real career possibility until much later.

Did your love for music (cello) effect how you felt about the artistic career path of design?

It was my frustration with how I saw my music career going that ultimately made me seek a design career. As much as I loved music, I knew that I would never be at the level I would need to be to be fulfilled by it as a career. That realization made me be honest about what I wanted to do and put all of my energy into achieving it.

What made you decide to move to Paris to attend Parsons school abroad?

Paris was one of those places that I always knew would be a part of my journey. Even as a young child I knew I would someday live there. I think it was all of the books that I read and too many movies! My first degree didn’t allow me the opportunity to study abroad. When I decided to go into design, a study abroad component was essential. Parsons Paris fit the bill perfectly.

What was it like attending Parsons in Paris as opposed to maybe an American fashion design school?

I had only intended on spending a year in Paris and then moving to New York to finish my degree. There was something about Paris that made me feel like I belonged—like it was home. Europe in general is much smaller in scale than America, and that suited me really well. Parsons Paris also has a hands-on, studio approach in regards to textile development and garment construction that definitely helped me develop in a way that most traditional American programs wouldn’t.

How did you feel about Houston Fashion Week this year?

Audi Fashion Houston was a great experience and I was proud to be a part of the inaugural year. It can only get bigger and better. There is so much room for Houston to develop as a leader in the fashion industry. We have so many resources and advantages that can be exploited because of our strong economy and geographic location. Fashion Houston was a good step in the right direction.

How did Jamie Collier’s photography affect your design ideas?

The great thing about having artists as friends is that you are constantly inspired by their work. Jaime’s photos really helped to direct the color story and textures of the collection as well as inspiring the cause for the season.

How are the costume designs you were involved with different from the runway pieces you have recently been producing?

Costume design is such a different animal than a full-fledged collection. Costumes require character studies and psychological analysis—things that don’t necessarily happen when I’m designing for my own line. Good costume design tells you about the inner life of a character, while what you see when I design for my own line is a projection of what I think a person can look like. Hopefully, my line inspires how people dress, while a costume design is inspired by the character.

How and when did you come up with the idea of CrOp?

CrOp grew out of a need for collaboration and creating new opportunities. I had moved to Houston without a real idea of how I was going to work creatively. It was through seeing work like Jaime Collier’s that I began to be inspired again to create something new.

I had also attended an event sponsored by the MBA council chaired by Lynn Wyatt. That event connected me to people in Houston that I didn’t even know were here working, which was totally inspiring.  It was because of that event that I got to know Elaine Turner’s work and was able to work with her on this last collection and the one to come.

What other endeavors would you like to pursue as far as the CrOp project goes?

My plans for CrOp are huge, but the short term answer is that the next season is going to be inspired by the Gulf region and the resilience of the people in the face of natural disasters and oil spills. I’m going to be working with Safe Planet to help create a new garment manufacturing economy here in Houston to assist those who have been displaced. It’s a long term project, but one for which I think Houston is ready.

How does living in Houston differ from say, NYC or Paris?

I will be the first to say that I was skeptical about moving to Houston after having lived in NYC and Paris.  I wasn’t sure what it would have to offer me creatively. The truth is that I have found Houston to be a warm and responsive place for my work. Houstonians really know how to support the entrepreneurial spirit, and that has been incredible for me to witness. NYC and especially Paris will always hold a special place for me, but in terms of being able to do what I love to do, Houston has been the right place at the right time for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better city to welcome me.

If you want to see more of David Peck's CrOp collection click HERE!

Follow David Peck on Twitter and Facebook!

His designs can also be found at the Elaine Turner store and 310 Rosemont boutique.

Here I am excited to take a little photo op!

(All Photos below Photography by Shan Renee)

Here are my favorites from Audi Fashion Houston that our press team captured.

Elaine Turner/David Peck Champagne Reception

A champagne reception was held on Wednesday at the Elaine Turner Flagship store in the Rice Village area.  I was so excited to get to attend the event before we headed off to claim our spot amongst the press at the fashion show.  I was so delighted to see David Peck at the event.  We actually got the chance to talk with him for a few minutes about his designs as well as how he was adjusting to the hot temperatures of Houston.  Peck moved to Houston from New York City this past January and while he made it clear he was adjusting to the heat, he could not be happier about all of the opportunities that have become so abundantly available.  He was happy to tell us about CrOp (standing for Creative Opportunities) and how the prints on his pieces were actually photographs by Jamie Collier whom he has currently been collaborating with on his Spring collection.  The photographs were actually taken of aid work being done in Uganda and the photos used in the clothing were carefully picked by both David and Jamie.  I think they made for some marvelous fabrics for these incredible dresses.

(All Photography by Shan Renee)

BCBG Dress, H&M belt, Steve Madden shoes, Target scarf, vintage clutch

Me and David Peck

After grabbing a quick cup (they ran out of glasses, but I just loved this cup!) of champagne, Shan and I milled around the store oohhhing and awwwwing over pretty much every single thing there.  I wanted to get my actual hands on the David Peck dresses that I drooled over the night before and they were even better up close!

These are the scarves that are also part of the CrOp collection using the prints from Jamie Collier.

The handbags were to die for and I found at least 3 pairs of ballet flats that were screaming my name.  I am planning on taking my mom down to the store later this week to see what we can find for her!

I really want this bracelet!!

 My cousin and I were both in love with this sequin, leopard print clutch!

Houston Fashion Week Day Three

We got to Houston Fashion Week crazy early yesterday because we were told the press was going to be insane! So, we pretty much showed up two hours early to claim out favorite spot right smack in the front of the runway.  We sat there for so long our tooshies actually fell asleep, I swear!

First up was our very own, Chloe Dao, whom I completely adore! Her designs were whimsical and fun while the models happily strutted down the catwalk with colored balloons and huge smiles.  The whole feel of the collection was merry and pleasant as opposed to the usual serious model faces we are all used to seeing on the runway.  Chloe walked out with all of her models for the final walk through and accepted a beautiful bouquet of stunning flowers.

(All Photography by Shan Renee)

I absolute love this jumpsuit! I really want to get it!!

Second up was Toni Whitaker who combined elegant gowns with less formal dresses and ensembles that radiated with bright sunny yellows and crisp whites.  There were quite a few Mad Men-esque looks including wiggle dresses and blazer/pencil skirt pairings.

Irina Shabayeva, the winner of the sixth season of Project Runway had quite a collection to show us.  There were quite a few pieces in her collection and it was hard to narrow down the pictures to share with you, but somehow I did.  Her pieces were definitely more on the elegant side and incredibly feminine.

The show was a huge success and we had a ball! Tonight we will be attending the other Houston Fashion Week going on. I know, it is pretty crazy to have two going on at the same time, but oh well!  Check back tomorrow for more fabulous pics!

Houston Fashion Week Day Deux

As if Day One wasn't enough excitement, we had such a fabulous time going back for round two at Audi Houston Fashion Week!  The line up for this evening included David Peck and Texas's own Elaine Turner who has a flagship store in Houston, Lauren Bush, and Lela Rose.  I have to say hands down, Lela Rose was my absolute favorite.  I loved her edgier, funky designs and the way she mixed black and white stripes with other prints. It was so incredibly and completely divine.

I decided to get all sparkly and dressed up with my new sequins mini, but I kept it all in check with my classic white button down and red patent leather pumps.  I wanted to try a side swept look with my hair to show off my earrings. These are the earrings that I actually wore to my wedding.  What can I say, I have been re-wearing my wedding attire this week!

(All photography by Shan Renee)

BeBe button down shirt, Express sequins mini, Jessica Simpson red patent leather pumps, VS clutch, Tiffany ring, wedding ring and earrings

These are the earrings I wore to my wedding, I heart them still!

I also spotted Holly Montag from The Hills. We kept missing her so I didn't get to get a picture which I really wanted because I really did love that show!

After spotting Holly while waiting in the press crowd, we noticed a huge commotion going on in the front row of the seating for the show.  After much investigating, we realized it was George Bush Sr. and his lovely wife, Barbara. I was so excited to see the couple out supporting Houston Fashion Week!  They seemed to look like they were having a splendid time.

First up when the show started was David Peck and Elaine Turner.  They got much of their inspiration for their prints from traveling the world and seeing the different colors especially in the coffee beans.  It was really incredible to see their vision come out in their designs.  The pieces were absolutely gorgeous and the colors were bright and fresh.

Next up was Lauren Bush.  I felt like her styles were pretty simple and a bit repetitive at times, but still beautiful and chic.  I adored the head wraps!

Last but not least was Lela Rose.  I was so intrigued and inspired by her beautiful designs.  I have been looking back through the photos of these magnificent pieces all evening!

We will be covering tomorrow's nights events as well which will include Houston's own Chloe Dao so don't forget to check back!

XX