Insights about the Jackie O Dress, the “Beauty of Contradiction” and Building a Fashion House – A Conversation with Laurel Berman, Founder of Black Halo

I stumbled upon the Black Halo fashion label a couple of years ago while strolling through Nordstrom on a mission to find the perfect “Power Dress” for a presentation at a sales conference.  Speaking in front of a large audience is not at the top of my list of favorite things, but I recalled that when I started my first job and had to present to our marketing department, my good friend (and then mentor) told me, “Always wear a “Power Outfit” for a big presentation to make you feel confident.”  Advice I’ve followed ever since…so on that fateful day at Nordstrom I found the so-called Jackie O dress (by Black Halo) calling out to me from a hanger like a sleek, chic beacon: it was modern, sophisticated, tailored, and in a beautiful cobalt blue that made my eyes pop.  Perfect.

The Jackie O dress is now (rightly) deemed the new “power suit for women” by its designer and the founder of Black Halo, Laurel Berman, since it – rather mysteriously — looks great on women of all ages and sizes, and is offered in multiple colors and variations (off-the-shoulder/mini etc.), giving it an amazing versatility. The garment’s slightly draped chest with an asymmetrical neckline and belted midsection lend it a slightly edgy, geometrical look, while its lower part is a classic, almost pencil-skirt shape. For me, at 5’2”, with a backside true to my south Florida roots and a chest more appropriate for someone six inches taller, I was delighted to find that, aside from having to alter the length, the dress fit perfectly, and truly was the “Power Outfit” I needed for an extra boost of confidence.  I’ve been a Black Halo fan ever since…

Although Berman creates many dress designs under the brand, from ball gowns to cocktail party frocks, her best-selling and most iconic item is the Jackie O.  Her designs in general are modern, sexy, and tailored to accentuate the most flattering features of the female silhouette in order to exude power and confidence, while staying true to the idea that real beauty is never perfect.  As she explained eloquently, “The name Black Halo symbolizes the beauty of contradiction – the idea of an angel, tarnished just a little.”

Following is my interview with Berman, who grew up in Washington State,  studied at the San Francisco Academy of Fashion after deciding that fashion was her passion, and started Black Halo in Los Angeles with her husband, then business partner, in 2002.

When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?
After I graduated college with my Political Science degree, I was being pressured by my parents to go to law school. I knew in my heart that was not where I wanted to spend the rest of my career, so I began to do some soul-searching and reflect on the moments in my life that I felt most passionate about — and realized then that every moment or memory that fit that happened to center around what I was wearing. That moment I realized that my true passion was in fashion, and I decided to go to design school to pursue my dream.

What does Black Halo mean to you?
It’s my identity, my family.  The name Black Halo symbolizes the beauty of contradiction, an angel, but tarnished just a little….

Who is the woman you’re designing for?
The confident, sexy, working girl.

How do you find inspiration for your designs?
I find inspiration everywhere and from everyday things – films, TV, museums, social outings, and my travels. I adore people-watching.

Any favorite customers or customer stories you can share?
I love going out and meeting my customers during in-store events. Most recently I met a woman who purchased one of our Eve gowns [Berman’s evening collection] for a gala at the White House and I thought to myself, “How cool, I wanna go to the White House in one of my gowns!” Hearing our customers’ stories and how our dresses make them feel is truly one of the greatest rewards.

Who inspires you the most for your business?
Pheobe Philo [the ethereal-looking creative director of Céline, who won the CFDA’s 2011 International Designer of the Year Award].  I love how she has reinvented both the Céline and Chloé brands.

How do you see your brand developing?
We just launching our evening collection Eve last Fall and had a great response from our customers! We hope to expand our product offerings to include accessories – shoes, sunglasses, and handbags.

Advice for other women in business?
Never take it personally – that goes for both the accolades and the criticism — and stay true to who you are.

What’s next for you?
Once I finish my Fall 2014 collection, I’ve got Costa Rica, Morocco, and Bodrum, Turkey on my radar.

Lastly, look no further for the appeal of the superb Jackie O dress than the fact that, arguably, there is  no other attire that has been seen on more celebrities, magazine covers, and television screens.  Worn by Scarlett Johansson, Jenny McCarthy, Miranda Kerr, and Kelly Ripa (a true mix of age ranges) and also by Allison Williams in Girls, Gabrielle Union in Being Mary Jane, Kristen Bell in You Again, and many others, it’s proof that a deftly-designed, classic dress never gets old — and there’s no fear of “who wore it better” because, undeniably, everyone can look terrific in it.