Each month, we’re highlighting one of our favorite wedding experts, from designers to photographers, florists to planners, and everyone in between, and finding out what inspires them to be a part of one of the biggest days in a couple’s lives. Today we’re highlighting Ariel Arrow, Duchess of FIt at the bespoke suit style house Duchess Clothier.
As the bespoke suit industry slowly begins to target women as well as men, small style enterprises such as Duchess Clothier are beginning to find themselves in the spotlight. Based out of Portland, Ore., the once one-woman show, founded by Seyta Selter, has expanded to a full grown business, at which Ariel heads up the day-to-day fashion operations.
How do you start off your typical day?
I’m someone who likes to be out of the door within 30 minutes of getting out of bed. My working mornings typically start off with a black tea and soy milk, a mountain of emails and a few jokes with the girls. When I really need to get motivated, I put on Michael Jackson’s Thriller as soon as I get to the office. I’m not a particularly huge MJ fan, but that song has some magical morning power.
What inspires you?
History
If you could describe your signature style in one word, what would it be?
Equestrian
How has the marriage equality movement affected your designs and/or business?
Duchess Clothier has been providing custom made suits for men and women since 2005. It has been such an amazing experience to grow in our capacity to make suits for women for their weddings over the past seven years, and we are so proud to be a part of marriage equality by providing this service. We have always gotten most of our business through word of mouth, so we are doing more and more suits for women every year.
If you weren’t a fashion designer, what would you be?
An interior designer … or maybe an orca trainer.
If you could design a suit for anyone, who would it be and what would it look like?
I would love to design a suit for Barak Obama. Honestly, given the fashion constraints of his current job it probably wouldn’t be that exciting of a suit, but it would amazing to meet him and make something for him.
