Dan's Papers - August 10, 2007 - Elie Tahari

Elie Tahari has been described as an architect of fashion and a trendsetter, creating an ideal balance between sexy and sophisticated in the world of women's fashion for over three decades. Of course, Mr. Tahari has no crystal ball, but when it comes to fashion design, his remarkable pulse on what women want before they know they want it has elevated his brand to one of the most powerful positions in American fashion.

Tahari spent much of his childhood in an Israeli orphanage and in 1971 at the age of 19, he arrived in New York City with nothing but his dreams and aspirations. Even his plane ticket was free, as his brother, who was an airline employee, gave it to him. Upon his arrival in The Big Apple, Mr. Tahari worked as an electrician in the Garment District during the day and at a retail boutique at night. "That's how I got my start in fashion. I realized what it took to make it in the business and knew I could do it," he said.

In 1973, Tahari opened his first shop on East 53rd Street, which featured two labels called Midnight Lady and Morning Lady, appealing to the tastes of New York City's disco club-goers. By 1979, with disco's decline in popularity, Tahari opened a shop on Madison Avenue, catering to trends of the 1980s with career wear for the working woman. But this time, with the advice of a colleague, Tahari used his name on the label and it was with this Madison Avenue boutique that his brand was born.

Now, with a presence on five continents, in more than 600 U.S. stores and five freestanding boutiques, Tahari designs to make all people who wear his clothes feel confident and sophisticated, no matter where they live. "I design with a woman's natural beauty in mind. Finding the right fit is the essential first step," he explained, noting that he fits his clothes on "real women," not models. Sophisticated by any measure, his collections are versatile and appealing to a broad range of women "regardless of age, shape, size or where they live," he added.

But they say every great artist needs a muse, something Mr. Tahari was lacking. Almost 25 years after opening his first shop on East 53rd Street, he found his greatest love and inspiration, a reason for doing what he does, when he met Rory Green, an established television producer, on his 46th birthday. The couple fell in love quickly and, two years later, married at the Metropolitan Club in New York.

Now, Mr. Tahari attributes his inspiration to his wife, "the best-dressed woman he knows," who joined the company as Creative Director and Vice Chairman in 1998. Since then, the company's global revenues have increased ten-fold from 50 to 500 million dollars annually, and the brand has catapulted from career-wear to modern luxury. This dynamic husband-wife team work together to create something neither could have created alone, as fashion seems to resonate within their souls.

Mr. Tahari is also finding success with his footwear and accessory lines, which he launched in 2006. "I think these lines are successful because they compliment the clothing and truly complete the Elie Tahari look," he said. But how does Mr. Tahari choose the color palette for his clothing, accessories and shoes? "It typically comes from the inspiration behind my collection," he explained, "I just finished my resort collection, which was based on the Mediterranean style of the 1970s. All of the colors are vibrant and bold -- coastline blue, turquoise, carnelian -- and capture the chic sophistication of the decade."

The Taharis are also active philanthropists, making a difference with charities such as New Yorkers for Children, a non-profit organization that supports children in foster care. "Being an orphan myself, foster care is a cause that really resonates with me and I'm thrilled that we are able to support such a worthy organization." Ms. Tahari is also a board member for the non-profit support group Friends in Deed, a crisis center for those impacted by life threatening disease.

When asked if the Hamptons inspire his designs, Tahari replied, "The elements [of the Hamptons] inspire me and it's a time for me to be around the two things I love the most -- my family and my work." When the Tahari family isn't catching rays at Gibson Beach, eating dinner at Nick and Toni's or buying cookies at Levain Bakery, they are spending time at their Sagaponack home -- a serene retreat decorated in natural tones, offering a simple yet elegant atmosphere -- whether intentional or not, creating a true reflection of the Tahari brand. "We looked at houses for a long time and when we saw this house, our son Jeremy immediately began running around the lawn and playing. From that moment, we knew it was the house for us," he recalled.

But the Tahari name has the most presence further east, as the Hamptons have been anticipating the new store opening on the corner of Newton Lane and Main Street in East Hampton for over a year. "East Hampton has become the cultural, architectural, entertainment and financial playground for the Northeast," he said. "It was my dream to create a boutique befitting this amazing community and the people who make it their summer home." Although the East Hampton store will be the flagship, Mr. Tahari does not rule out eventual expansion here. "Perhaps, in the future, we will branch out into other areas of the Hamptons, but for now, East Hampton will be the focus," he added.

"The East Hampton boutique is truly an iconic building," he continued, explaining that it used to be the East Hampton Post Office. "I wanted to keep the building's history intact and also create a space that complimented the world of Elie Tahari." With vision from renowned architect and interior designer Pierro Lissoni, Mr. Tahari achieved this, but claimed that you have to see the store to appreciate all the renovations and that "describing it doesn't do it justice." The East Hampton boutique opens August 11 and will feature exclusive pieces from the men's, women's and accessories collection that will not be sold anywhere else.

When Tahari came to the U.S. at 19 years old, he had specific goals and dreams -- to find happiness, success and true love. He was lucky enough to find all three. "Growing up as an orphan has made me very driven," Mr. Tahari said. "I knew that I would create a better life for myself and my family. The love and passion I have for them continues to drive me to be successful."