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"Zheng Luo&amp;#039;s Omnialuo has its American debut--and its a smash hit. Zheng Luo, the award-winning creative force behind Omnialuo, is as cute as a fashionably over-sized button. She understands that all women, whether they be business women or styled starlets, have the desire to be fashionable and feminine. In the past, she has used period pieces to add a girly, vintage touch to her seasonal collections. In 2003, Versailles was an obvious source of inspiration. The 2005 collection most definitely had a medieval feel to it. This year, however, her theme seemed to be youth. While watching her designs (from the front row!) saunter up and down the runway, I could not help but ask myself how she maintained the fine line between a young design and a youthful one. Despite the paradox, she undoubtedly succeeded. Proof? Halfway through the show, model Zheng Li sprang onto the runway wearing a white, bedazzled, peacock-inspired mini dress by the designer. Instantaneously, applause erupted from a crowd ravenous for more. After the show concluded, including pieces like the one pictured here, the audience rose in an honorary standing ovation, both rewarding the designer&amp;#039;s introduction into the United States&amp;#039; fashion mainstream, as well as for having created some of the most beautiful designs featured during Fashion Week. Throughout the whole of Fashion Week, this was the only time I saw such an intense reaction from the crowd. After getting the chance to ask the designer a few questions backstage, Zheng Luo became more than a skilled artisan for me--she became my personal fashion rock star. First, we asked her what &amp;quot;Omnialuo,&amp;quot; a play on her own surname, means. With a modest smile, she replied that &amp;quot;Omnialuo&amp;quot; means &amp;quot;perfection&amp;quot; in Chinese. When asking the designer where her inspiration comes from, she automatically admits nature. Though the butterfly appliqu\u00E9s and ruffling hems hint at this, Luo goes on to detail that it is the peach blossoms falling from their tree limbs in spring that inspire her most. She was then asked when she started to design. Listen up, ladies! She was only ten years old when she designed her first dress. She was looking for something to wear to a friend&amp;#039;s birthday party but was unsatisfied with a local store&amp;#039;s selection and everything she owned. So, instead, she remodeled an older design. When she got to the party, everyone was asking the young girl who had made her pretty dress. Despite their muted awe, she was proud to admit that she made the dress herself. She hasn&amp;#039;t stopped designing since. Finally, Ms. Luo has a few words of wisdom for you--the aspiring fashion designers out there. She notes that many designers are innovative and creative, but that the journey is an arduous one. She believes that you must always keep the passion to design to succeed. And most of all: YOU MUST LOVE CLOTHES! So, for any CosmoGirl reader out there who thinks they&amp;#039;re too young to start a legitimate career, think again. Zheng Luo is all grown up, but she&amp;#039;s still completely in touch with her whimsical, childlike side, a touchstone that inspires her work and should inspire yours too! Bisou! Rosie Web Assistant "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/fashion/a8510/fashion-week-2009-omnialuo/>