Francesca
Simon Talks to
Fashion Designer Esther Nash
Opposite Photo:
Esther Nash
Photo Credit Eliette Pascal
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Sex and The City (SATC) were the
buzz words for the premiere weekend for the movie,
as girls ganged up to cue up for a cinematic reunion
with four flirty females, who flipped the script on
sex and the single girl in the Age of Aquarius. The
unofficial nationwide “girls night out”
was truly a social phenomena. But there was one real
life, sexy New York City female, who wasn’t
part of the cinema stampede. Her name? Esther Nash.
During Fashion Week 2008 Esther saw Kristin Davis
(known as “Charlotte in the SATC series)
at one of the shows in Bryant Park. Unable to suppress
her natural enthusiasm she ran up to say “hello”
and comment on the shawl she’d designed that
Kristin was wearing. Esther says Kristin was not very
nice. “It felt pretty bad. She didn’t
know I was the designer,” she says softly. ”But,
it’s not a matter of who you are,” she
adds, “you should just be nice.” Kristin
didn’t know that she had snubbed a designer
that Patricia Fields, costumer for SATC,
had used to dress the vixens for at least two seasons.
The movie version of the award-winning
HBO series, which made Sarah Jessica Parker a New
York City icon with fashion as the icing on the
Big Apple, grossed $55.7 million over the weekend.
“We are thrilled and humbled,” Sarah
Jessica said, “that the audience came out.
Too bad she was not thrilled and humbled when Esther
wanted to say hello when she spotted Sarah Jessica
at another show during Fashion Week. “She
seemed like she was in a bad mood,” says Esther,
who almost doesn’t seem capable of being in
a bad mood. Kim Cattrall (the loveable wild cat
character Samantha) was the only one nice enough
to say “hello” on two occasions over
the plast few years when Esther ran into her in
London.
It just seems ironic to Esther
that women wearing her clothes and accessories wouldn’t
know who she was. But she took it in stride; she
was never a fan of the series anyway. Esther is
one of the girls who waited and was in no hurry
to find sex in the city. Relationships – not
sexcapades – are serious business to this
beauty. Her friends, who did flock to see SATC called
to report they had seen her fashions in the film.
So that was satisfying enough for Esther. She hasn’t
seen the movie, not out of spite, but because she’s
busy in her own real life daily series one could
call “Esther in the City.”
“Onwards and upward is what
I tell myself everyday,” says Esther, a born
and bred New Yorker. “I’m not [where
I am] because of anyone’s connections –
it’s purely by own talent. I know I’m
worthwhile.” Patricia Fields, fashion visionary,
and Hollywood stylist agrees. When Esther found
her way to Patricia Fields to show her designs her
destiny accelerated almost immediately. ”
She liked my designs and they started selling,”
Esther exclaims. “It was so exciting –
socialites were wearing my clothes,” says
Esther, who describes her fashion style as “Rock
Star Glam” and calls her fashion line Babydoll,
“They make the impression of a lifetime! “
Esther’s tube tops, short flirty skirts, rock
star jeans, jackets and other clubwear and swimwear
can also be found at Allan & Suzi on the Upper
West Side, and in the West Village at Planet Jungle.
And if you happen to end up in Japan you can find
Esther’s fashions in a boutique called Booty.
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Esther Nash Fashions
Photo Credit Michael Creagh
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Esther Nash Fashion
Photo Credit Michael Creagh |
The Washington Post characterized
SATC fashion philosophy as “mixing
designer clothes with throwaway fashion“ but
those downtown design touches helped give SATC
the fashion edge that authenticated the show’s
New York City setting. “My designs are all
one of a kind original. It’s not like you’d
ever go a party and see someone else there in your
outfit.” says Esther “I’m very
happy to be different,” says the determined
designer, who doesn’t smoke or drink and always
looks for the positive aspect of everything.
Ikon Modeling, one of the top
ten agencies in the country, recognizes an iconic
element in Esther. What makes an icon? Personality?
Talent? Good looks? Great clothes? Ikon Modeling
figures it takes all four and has signed Esther
to their celebrity artists division, she possesses
all those qualities. Combine the dark sultry looks
of Cher, the long lanky legs of Sarah Jessica, an
edgy downtown fashion sense, top drawer design skills,
then add energy, innocence, enthusiasm plus dimples
and you’ve got the essence of Esther. Ikon
will be helping Esther fulfill her goal to be in
demand for television appearances as a fashion expert
and commentator. Who knows – she may even
be under consideration of be the face of a new fragrance.
Ikon Modeling sees Esther as “the
epitome of a chick on the quest.” Their vision
for this young designer is to firmly establish her
position as a fashion expert and commentator and
to further her acting career. “Esther exudes
personality and creativity,” says Ikon’s
Managing Director Melody W. Esther also exemplifies
the agony and ecstasy of the creative artists, who
flock to our fair city to seek their fortune armed
with determination, dreams and strong souls. Esther,
a 5’ 7” dark haired beauty quickly admits
she is on a mission. “I just have to make
it.”
Esther’s quest began in
earnest while attending the New York High School
or Art and Design. She went on to the “Who’s
Who” of the NYC’s top arts and fashion
schools on scholarship. The Metropolitan Museum
of Art, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The National
Academy of Art, and the Art Student’s League
and Cooper Union all showered their support upon
Esther through scholarships to study art and build
her portfolio.
Esther Nash is Interviewed
by Cognac Wellerlane
Fashion Photo Installation Show at Eli Klein Fine
Art
January 31, 2008
Photo Credit Eliette Pascal
Esther was a child prodigy in
the fashion world, who at the age of 18 owned her
first retail store, by age 19 a second, and by age
21 was regularly having her own runway shows, reaching
the rank the rank of a young professional designer.
During Fashion Week 2008, Esther, who as had about
25 runaway shows in the past, decided to do something
different that would fit her limited budget. On
January 31, she debuted her Fall 2008 collection
with a Fashion Photo Installation show at Eli Klein
Fine Art in Soho.
Esther Nash Fashion Photo
Installation Show at Eli Klein Fine Art
January 31, 2008
Photo Credit Eliette Pascal
During our late night conversation
on a recent Tuesday night, confirming that both
of us are still able to still breathe, although
we’ve still not seen Sex and the City,
the talk turned to the real life “Esther in
the City”. “I’ve got an early
morning second round call-back for a new VH1 show
that would take me to LA,” she says excitedly.
“And Thursday I’ve got a taping of Law
and Order." If you’re a fan of the
show you’ve probably seen Esther in her reoccurring
role as a reporter.
Keep your ears and eyes open --
you will be seeing a lot more of Esther Nash! VH1
will soon premiere a competitive reality show featuring
sew-off fashion and style competitions. You’ll
see first hand Esther’s multi-skilled talent
as she draws, designs, cuts, drapes and sews her
way through the show (which may be named “Sew
Good” or according to Esther “Style
Warriors”). Whatever the name, Esther is the
one to watch! Determination may take its toll with
early morning auditions and late night events but
Esther is in it for the long haul. “I can’t
complain,” she says,"I’m working
toward greatness.”
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