DUBAI: Amy Smilovic is the founder of cult contemporary womenswear brand Tibi. Shortly after leaving her advertising job at American Express, the Georgia native created an impressive and successful business, loved by women around the world, including Queen Rania of Jordan, Priyanka Chopra and Kourtney Kardashian, all of whom have been spotted in the New York brand’s tailored silhouettes and sophisticated designs.

With its clean lines, expert fit and modern, elevated silhouettes, it’s no surprise that Tibi is coveted by fashion.

The designer even coined a term to describe the woman who revolves around her clothes: Creative Pragmatist – a woman whose personal style is elevated without sacrificing comfort, finding the perfect balance between modern, chic and classic without much effort. .

Since launching Tibi in Hong Kong in 1997, Smilovic has seen the company grow from three employees to over 60, while her brand has been picked up by a number of retailers around the world including Bloomingdales, Mytheresa, Farfetch and That Concept Store in Dubai.

Most recently, Smilovic debuted his latest Fall 2022 ready-to-wear offering during New York Fashion Week, a collection of comfy pieces and dresses that make it easy to stay at home.

Arab News caught up with the designer for advice on dressing modest, maintaining a warm weather wardrobe and determining the pieces every woman needs in her wardrobe.

What are your tips for finding your style?

I tell people to write down a few of their favorite quotes, no more than three. And to really dissect them, see what these quotes say about you. I love quotes because they reveal a lot, and we often have a gut reaction to a quote. It’s not something we choose because of a partner or a friend. They speak very closely to who we are. You can tell a lot about a person by their favorite quotes. When you do this, you find out a lot about who you are. Not through the lens of others, but from within you. And when you’re able to distill a three-word description of yourself, adjectives, then that’s a great base to build on and refine your style.

How would you describe yours?

Chill, modern and classic. All three at once. If my style becomes one-dimensional – all cold or all classic – I feel off and not centered. I am a mix of all three. I don’t have a uniform, but I have a clear style.

Do you have any tips for dressing modestly without sacrificing style?

I think it’s very modern to dress with interesting, high necklines. I love playing with the drape of the sleeves and I live for the strength of a great blazer. I tend to think that dressing super lewd is not stylish, so it would be a tougher question if you asked me how to dress in style while showing lots of skin!

What are the basic pieces that every woman should have in her wardrobe?

A point of view blazer, oversized trousers and fitted trousers, to play on proportions and shapes. A range of shirts or bodysuits, in a range of colours. I love playing with tonal outfits, so I have the perfect bodysuit in brown, beige, ochre, navy and black. And then a black leather pencil skirt, always. Ideally mid-calf.

Do you have any tips for organizing the perfect summer wardrobe as the heat continues to creep in?

Keep it clean and neat. I love summer, but I find it the hardest time for me to dress entirely in my style. I keep trying to develop our designs in this category to offer something light and easy but still modern, effortless and a bit classic. At this time of year, clothes tend to be too bohemian or too classic. I like the balance, lots of cotton wrap skirts, men’s dress shirts and easy nylon sweatpants.

Comfort is at the heart of your brand. How can we ensure that they can provide wearing comfort in elevated environments?

It’s in the making and crafting. I might like something easy and oversized, but it’s still in fine craftsmanship and has a bespoke element. Nobody confuses the oversized Stella pants with pajamas. That’s why they can go to work, black tie events, and then nylon, I even wear them on the beach rolled up with a bathing suit and a giant oversized shirt.

You previously signed an open letter to the fashion industry to make fashion more environmentally friendly. Why is this important to you?

I hate waste, on many levels. Overconsumption and overproduction are the main culprits. I know what I do is really help people understand their style and as a result they buy less, and they buy smarter. As for the company, I am very pragmatic about its size and I remain very creative. So we prefer to stay relatively small and focus on producing no more than we can sell. We work with the best factories around the world who are incredibly innovative in their approach to working with recycled and sustainable fabrics.

What steps can consumers take to adopt a more eco-responsible approach to fashion?

Buy from people and brands you know. Wear what you buy — a lot.