Ten Minutes with Caycee Black

Already a Lucky magazine favorite, Caycee Black has turned her passion for painting, ballet, and old movies into a luxe line that works as well in the boardroom as it does center stage. The collection—a tour-de-force of sophisticated whimsy —features dramatic but elegant prints and striking but never heavy-handed details such as flounced hemlines and draped necklines. Keep reading to learn more about Caycee’s conversion from canvas to couture.

Oligoville: In five words or less, Caycee Black  is. . .

Caycee: The mix of the three loves of my life: art, film, and ballet.

Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?

Caycee: My ideal customer is an individual who sees my pieces and knows just how she wants to add them to her wardrobe.  I love that so many different types of women have been attracted to the same pieces.  They see it in their own way and know just how they want it to look on them.  My pieces are worn on stage by rock musicians and by women that work in offices.

Oligoville: How’d you end up as a designer?

Caycee: I grew up always painting and in and out of art classes during my summers and anytime I could fit them in.  I also had a weird obsession for old films when I was very young, mainly for how the women transformed themselves in each scene by what they had on.  I also remember my mom letting me dress myself as a child, which turned out quite interesting. I still remember the details of those outfits.  My favorite outfit was pink pegged-leg suspender pants with a purple puff sleeve leotard and a teal beaded necklace with purse to match!  In high school I was working on my art portfolio. When Parsons [the New School for Design] came to talk to my art class, I had this moment where I realized it was what I had always wanted to do.  Now my paintings become prints that come to life when worn.

Oligoville: What fashion trend do you hope we’ve seen the last of in 2010?

Caycee: I hope we have seen the last of the harem pant. I feel like a few designers started showing them, and then every designer, no matter who their customer was. started adding them to their repertoire.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Caycee: I can be inspired by so many different aspects.  For prints it can be a shadow in the park or something that has spilled on a window.  For mood I am always watching old films so I usually become engrossed by a character or film’s story line.  For Fall 09 it was the Thin Man series in which I fell in love with Myrna Loy.  Her character was so witty and equal to her husband for the time period of the late 30′s.  For Spring 2010 it was Agnes Varda’s film the dark fairy tale Le Bonheur.  The juxtaposition between the happy palette and the dark storyline intrigued me. It led me to my palette for spring 2010 and to playing with unexpected detailing such as cut-outs and asymmetry.  For Fall 2010 it is a mix of Murder on the Orient Express and the idea of a garden at night …. dreamlike.

Oligoville: Sadly, we just lost Alexander McQueen who was just so marvelously inventive. What do you think his lasting impact on fashion will be?

Caycee: Wow,  this is a question. I just hope that the hype around his death will die down, and people will remember what he did and who he was more than how and when he died.

Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Caycee: Usually waking up much earlier than I would like as I am a night person.  Running to my factory, which is in midtown and going over things.  Then I am usually running around midtown grabbing buttons and fabric or meeting with a vendor.  I then come home and answer a lot of emails. After I take care of my day-to-day tasks I allow myself to start working on the design aspect of  the next collection, shoot, or film ideas.  Creating is why I do this.

Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?

Caycee: My closet is a mix of pieces I have designed and vintage.  Right now I am wearing my denim knit bodysuit from the spring 10 line with a vintage 80′s high-waisted pale denim skirt and black perforated, patent, strappy shoes. Oh, and hot pink lip gloss!

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Caycee: A Bazaar magazine, colored pencils, a sketch book, tons of pencils and markers, a camera, and my I-phone.  I can’t leave home without a sketchbook or camera. You never know when you feel the need.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Caycee:  Well, I decided to launch my collection right when the economy was going through its toughest time.  Stores in general were very wary of working with a new designer.  I think this has been to my benefit since I focus on pursuing the right stores for my collection and not a general grouping.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Caycee: When I am wearing a piece of my collection and someone comes up to me asking where it is from.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Caycee: I would love to have my collection in stores that support me and really understand the message of my line.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Caycee: Be very careful with doing anything with friends. If you do, make sure you meet with a lawyer and draw up paperwork before you start anything.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Caycee: Cocteau Twins, Petshop Boys, Pale Saints, Chris and Cosey, Chairlift, ZAZA, The Depreciation Guild (my boyfriend’s band), and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (also my boyfriend’s band he plays drums in)

Oligoville: Any last words?

Caycee: I am going to see some Koala Bears right now!  Maybe I will get to hold one!