Ashley Nell Tipton: The New Star of Project Runway
If you haven't heard the name Ashley Nell Tipton by now, get ready to have your paradigms shifted. This 24-year old plus sized Latina designer made history last week when she was crowned the victor of Project Runway season 14, and she is poised to continue making history.
If you aren't familiar, Project Runway is a long running reality show where fashion designers compete for a chance to show their collection at New York Fashion Week and a bevy of valuable prizes. Hosted by Heidi Klum with Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia and Zac Posen, each week's challenge pushes the designer's skill sets and allows them to showcase their talents. Gunn in particular was passionate about bringing on a plus size designer, and was incredibly supportive of Tipton through out the season.
Tipton is the first plus size designer to ever join Project Runway--a fact that is both inspiring and moderately depressing. Although Tipton herself is plus size, and there have been other plus sized contestants with an eye for inclusive designs, she was the first contestant specifically from a plus size background and to show an exclusively plus sized collection during New York Fashion Week. On one hand, the talented artist was a breath of fresh air, bringing a point of view and skill set woefully under-represented by the franchise. On the other hand, why did it take Project Runway fourteen seasons to acknowledge the existence, importance and value of plus sized fashion? But now that they have, hopefully they will continue to include designers with a passion for dressing women of all shapes and sizes.
The impact of Tipton's presence and well-deserved victory on the show has been felt since the first episode of her season aired. Tipton was the winner of the first challenge, showcasing her ability to maintain her aesthetic while dressing a standard sized model. Glowing, vibrant, and vulnerable, Tipton's story won viewers hearts while her designs wowed the judges. Hailing from San Diego, CA, Tipton's design career began at a young age with creating fashions for her Barbie dolls. But Tipton's childhood wasn't all fun and games, as viewers learned when she opened up about her experiences at the hands of bullies. Tipton was teased because of her appearance, which stunted her confidence in ways occasionally triggered by the show. However, she continued to pursue her love of fashion and design all through high school, even noting in her senior year book picture that she hoped to be the most well-known plus sized fashion designer ever. Tipton created her first complete collection during her senior year and went on to Fashion Careers College where she graduated from in 2012. Just three years later, the unstoppable Tipton took Project Runway by storm
One of the most remarkable parts about her win was that Tipton demonstrated skill in designing for all women. Her clothing was never exclusively plus sized, as she was required to use the standard sized models as every other contestant. Tipton defiantly smashed the divide between plus and standard with each beautiful, well-tailored garment she turned out--she wasn't making pieces defined by a certain size, but instead defined by her unique point of view. The judges frequently commented on her ability to fit clothing perfectly to a woman's body, a skill developed by her passion for dressing diverse body types. But although Tipton had to stow her love of full-figured fashion during the competition, she came back in full force for the final runway competition.
For the first time ever, a plus sized designer created a plus collection featuring plus models and competed at New York Fashion Week. And Tipton's collection? Every piece would be stunning on women from a size 0 on up. Inspired by Mexico City in the 1950s, Tipton hand dyed lace in rich plums, grey blues, and candy colored pastels. While the collection certainly embraced a romantic, vintage spirit, it still felt modern, relatable and approachable for consumers. She wasn't simply copying tired retro patterns, but inventing new ways to wear classic pieces in gorgeous, unexpected textiles. She showcased her expert tailoring skills in her pieces, ranging from an elegant two piece skirt set, to flirty crop tops, to conservative button-up maxi tops and even a pale pink brocade romper. The styling on her models was exquisite, with silver screen inspired waved hair and floral headpieces made by Tipton. The judges were impressed by her collection, and the feedback was unanimous: Tipton was the clear winner. Not only did she carry off the title, but she was asked by Project Runway judge Nina Garcia to design something specifically for Marie Claire magazine.
Tipton's powerful aesthetic and commitment to inclusive fashion has been long overdue in Project Runway, and her win brings us one step closer to embracing all body types and abolishing the narrow beauty standards of the world. I wish her all the best and am excited to see how her gifts, inspiration and point of view shape the future of plus sized fashion. Go, Ashley!