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JUNE | PAGE 24 | 2 014 C hantilly lace, guipure, chiffon, silk organza, taffeta and lavish sample cards heavily embellished with beads, sequins and embroidery elegantly clutter the studio. The familiar humming of sewing machines creates its own white sound, and the snapping of shears rhythmically echoes throughout the sample room. Khanh Nguyen's sketches decorate the walls, titled with client names and listed with customized details: a wedding gown, a debutante ball gown and a cocktail dress. A graduate from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in fine arts in fashion design, Nguyen represents a local success story in just four years. Since launching Nha Khanh in 2010, she has firmly established her ready-to-wear and custom designs among Dallas' social ladies — as well as red-carpet celebrities — and was honored by Fashion Group International of Dallas as a Rising Star in fashion design in 2012. In January, Stanley Korshak revealed that Nha Khanh would become its custom in-house designer for bridal and evening gowns, and with more than 30 custom orders in place since the beginning of the year, this bespoke partnership is certainly a success. PROUDEST MOMENT SO FAR. They say you never forget your first. I wouldn't have gotten this far today if it weren't for my Design Laureate Award presented by FGI of Dallas and the Paris American Academy during the Career Day 2008 Fashion Design Competition. The incredible experience of my summer study in Paris opened my vision to the many possibilities in fashion. I came back to the States with dreams bigger than I had before. Today, our ready-to-wear collection is carried by Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, renttherunway.com and high-end boutiques across the nation. IF YOU COULD HAVE A MENTOR, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Diane von Furstenberg. She's a woman of life and design wisdom; she defines classic and femininity through her designs in fashion. I truly admire the woman she's always been. INSPIRATIONS. Nature and architecture inspire me mostly. But my mother inspired me at a tender age. She was always well-dressed — her style is not loud, but rather elegant and clean. She had a small and successful bridal salon in Vietnam, where bridal gowns were custom-made for clients. Growing up, I was always surrounded by beautiful dresses, and I developed a strong passion for fashion at an early age. AS THE IN-HOUSE CUSTOM DESIGNER AT STANLEY KORSHAK, TELL US ABOUT YOUR CUSTOM EVENING AND BRIDAL SERVICE. Along with our seasonal ready-to-wear line, we design custom bridal and evening gowns exclusively for Stanley Korshak. I meet with clients one-on-one throughout the process of creating the gown, from a design sketch to the finished garment. We have an incredible team of skilled pattern makers and seamstresses that can deliver outstanding craftsmanship. We have great selections of fabrics and lace from all over the world — France, Italy, Japan and so on. We can also customize any embellishments to meet the vision of a client's dream dress. This is truly fashion at its finest. YOUR MOST SUCCESSFUL DRESS IS THE MILACE. WHO HAS WORN THIS? WHERE? Brooklyn Decker was the first to wear it while presenting at the Spike TV Awards. Actress Troian Bellisario wore it at the 2013 Golden Globe after-party, actress Crystal Reed at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards and world champion gymnast Nastia Liukin at the premiere of Star Trek Into Darkness. WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS — LOCAL AND CELEB? I've had the privilege of working with so many stylish and amazing women in Dallas, such as Nancy Rogers, Mina Chang, Ana Pettus, Candice Romo and Liz Kimple, to name a few. I would love to dress Cate Blanchett. YOU'RE WORKING ON FALL 2014 PRODUCTION NOW. WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THIS COLLECTION? AND WHAT IS THE KEY PIECE FOR THIS SEASON? I gathered inspiration from earthy minerals to stars in the galaxy. The key piece would be our Vivian A-line printed skirt, which has a high side slit that can be controlled with an invisible zipper. It can be paired with an ultra- thin T-shirt or a fancy top or blouse. BY MAX TROWBRIDGE. PRODUCED BY MICHELLE AVIÑA. PHOTOGRAPHY SCOGIN MAYO. HAIR AND MAKEUP KATE YANCEY. STYLIST CARLOS ALONSO-PARADA FOR ON SET MANAGEMENT. KHANH / KORSHAK & COUTURE [STYLE DNA]