9 questions with andrea neill

By: EOU Contributor

​Designer Andrea Neill​ Tests the game of luck in pursuing her career in fashion. ​

When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career as a designer?
 I first realized I wanted to pursue a career in fashion when I was in high school. I went to try on prom dresses and couldn’t find any of the ones I had like in my size. Instead, they would’ve made me pay even more to get it custom ordered for myself. So, I ended up playing the game of luck with buying a dress from an online retailer. I realized then and there that I wanted to create couture gowns that were more easily accessible to women of any size and walk of life. You shouldn’t have to have a ton of money and be really tiny to get the dress of your dreams. The dress of your dreams should be made to fit you.
 What was the biggest rookie mistake you made when just starting out?
My biggest rookie mistake was almost letting my failures define me. When I didn’t get into Omaha Fashion Week the first time, it completely ate away at me from the inside; I almost decided to give up right then and there. But thanks to the help and support of my amazing friends, family, and mentors I decided that it was completely irrational to do that. I then went to create my mini-collection “Blossom” for the July 2018 RAW Artist’s Showcase in the matter of two months.
  How is working in fashion different today than from when you started out? 
When I first began to realize my dream, the fashion industry was very streamlined and almost felt like everyone was trying to fit into the “cookie cutter” mold. Everyone was trying so hard to be the next big thing in the industry and lost their voices along the way. Now it has almost done a full 180 to where everyone is back to using their own voices in their work again. They are focusing more on the styles and strengths that make them unique compared to everyone else. It inspires me more and more every day to try and stay true to my voice and produce the designs I feel inspired to put out instead of trying to fit the mold

What’s your philosophy about the “art” of fashion? 
My philosophy about the “art” of fashion is that it’s another way to use your voice in your work. Often we use our designs and creations to voice the opinions of the things we are too afraid to say out loud. We usually, almost literally, put our opinions about certain issues and circumstances in the world into our garments. Fashion itself is just so vast that there is no right or wrong way to do it and it allows the creator a freedom of expression that we often don’t get in society.
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 So, if you had the choice of all designers in the world to work with/for, who would that person be? 
Hands-down I would work with Paolo Sebastian realistically, but if I could dream, I would’ve loved to have been able to work with Alexander McQueen. As a child, I grew up playing fashionista type games and McQueen’s designs were plastered everywhere and I was just in awe of the sheer beauty of each piece he created. I would’ve done anything to have been able to work with him just once and ask him for advice on how to be so unapologetically yourself in your work. Paolo Sebastian I found after he created his Disney Once upon a Dream Collection. I was completely in utter awe of all of the immaculate detail each and every one of his dresses had. If I could I would want to learn how to use just the right details to try and portray the story I am trying to tell to my consumers through just the use of beading, words, and pictures on my garments from him.
 Would you consider them to be your most influential to you? 
They are both most definitely influential to me. Both designers are both so unapologetically true to their work and I strive to be like that. I want to be able to create beautiful pieces that push boundaries and I don’t want to be scared to push that envelope. There are so many reasons to be scared to change the status quo, including failure. However, many of the great designers we know today faced so many failures, including bankruptcies, on their first attempts and now they are some of the biggest Couture Houses in the world! I want to strive to be brave like them both and just go for it instead of letting the unknowns bring me down.
Does your work reflect your personal fashion taste? Can you describe your style? 
My own sense of style does have a slight influence, but more so on the side of how I try and style my designs. My own style has large extremes; I tend to dress more elegantly and out-there for fashion events, while I tend to be more athleisure and laid back when relaxing at home or going to classes. I try to find a nice medium between both of my sides most days though. The elegant side tends to influence my designs more, but that is mainly in the details you will find in my garments since I am a bit of a perfectionist. Otherwise, I tend to watch what my friends and colleagues are looking at for dresses to formal events and weddings and I use that to ultimately decide the silhouettes I want to create. The rest comes from the crazy places I find inspiration (such as video games, nature, spirituality, etc.). 

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 What is your favorite part about being a designer?  
My favorite part about being a designer is being able to interact with so many different people. It allows me to be able to interact with so many different artists at events and photoshoots and learn about their amazing stories and backgrounds. It also helps me to open my eyes and stay humble and true to myself knowing that I am not the only one out there that is starting from the bottom and building my way up.                 
​Being a designer also gives me the chance to meet younger designers and help to inspire them to pursue their dreams. When I was first starting out I reached out to a few local designers and asked them for advice. Since then, they have become such great mentors and friends to me. I strive to give that positive energy back to the younger designers and hope to help guide them and help them to find their voices as others helped me.
 what year did you officially decided to pursue a career in fashion design? 
​ I decided in 2014 during my junior year of high school to fully go for my dream of being a designer. I was sitting in class sketching some dresses one day and I got so many comments from my friends and classmates that they loved the sketches. It inspired me to want to do it knowing there were people that loved my work and supported me. The dream started to become a reality when I applied to the top 3 fashion schools in the Midwest in 2015 (Kent State, Iowa State, and UNL) and got accepted into all of their programs.