Designer Q&A – Ben Smith from Anon. Women

Today we talk to Ben Smith, designer of Anon. Women, a range designed to be the building blocks of every woman’s wardrobe. Anon. Women appreciates grace and versatility and aims to continually create pieces that a woman can rely on and continually seek comfort in

Having previously sold his graduate collection to the prestigious Browns Fashion store in London, and then spending 6 months working in New York, Ben returned to Australia and launched Anon. Women

Designer Q&A – Ben Smith

What inspired you to get into fashion design?
It was something I have always done, my mum was a dressmaker and I don’t remember a time when I didn’t dream of frocks.

Describe your style in a sentence…
Chic, elegant, easy.

What inspires your Anon. designs?
Women with personality, character and style.

What is your favourite piece in the new anon collection?
I love the silk caftan dress, its really versatile, comfy and chic – the perfect traveling companion.  Wear it on the plane as a cardi and snuggle in. Off to a meeting?  Wear it as a dress with a belt for a new take on the shirt dress. Out for cocktails? High heels and a statement piece of jewellery.

What are things you steer clear of when designing clothes?
I steer clear of trends and fads – anything too ‘fashion’, and polyester – I prefer natural fibres, silk, linen, cotton, wool.

What decades of fashion do you love the most?
I love the 20’s and 70’s fashion was more about ease and versatility, about the personality of the woman wearing the clothes.

If you had the choice of all designers in the world to work with/for, would that person be your choice?
I would have loved to work under vionnet, or gres, Balenciaga or Halston or Geoffrey Beene, they all had such refreshing approaches to the design of clothes, really questioning how clothes are made and the relationship they have to the body.

What are the best aspects of working in fashion? Flip side. What are the worst aspects of working in fashion?
The best part is I am creating something I love.  Its great to be able to create things that really can affect people, make them feel better about themselves.  The worst aspect is the logistics of having my own small business, worrying about budgets and money things.

What advice would you give aspiring designers?
Look at and listen to women, what they want, what they need, what they are not being given and  never forget that at the end of the day you are dressing women not creating art.

Loving Anon. Women? Check out more shots from the collection and grab the stockists details at the Anon. Women website