With design creds including Elizabeth and James, Alice & Olivia, and Barneys, Ann Yee was no stranger to successful clothing lines before launching her own in 2009. Drawing inspiration from "everything and anything," the New York transplant from Michigan credits downtown street style, art exhibits, and movies to have sparked her creativity, and describes her aesthetic as geometric and architectural.
While we love Yee's beautifully structured clothes, she assures us they haven't come without hard work, especially for an independent designer in such a competitive field. She credits three traits to make it as an independent designer: patience, taking criticism gracefully, and standing up for yourself. And of course a fourth--endurance (she's no stranger to sleepless nights and a non-stop work day).
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Whether you've heard some buzz about Yee or spotted one of her tops on Good Morning America (her current claim to fame, until the day she spots a "stranger in the street" wearing her clothes, the designer says), FashionStake and Refinery29 are helping you add some Ann Yee originals to your wardrobe. If you haven't heard, FashionStake is a crowd-curated marketplace for independent fashion that currently carries over 200 designers.
Simply enter below for your chance to win the Ann Yee Tova Draped Jumpsuit, a beautiful, super-flattering, silk, navy one-piece perfect for transitioning from day to evening.