Stepping into the world of fashion designer Molly Moorkamp is like wandering into a cock tail party; the guests are wearing sherbet-color taffeta dresses, the conversation is stimulating, and your martini glass is never empty. It’s a party to which, via her Instagram feed, all are invited. There, she documents the fabulous lives led by her pieces—worn by herself (a leggy blonde, Moorkamp is her own best model) and a handful of clients, who seek her out for custom-made gowns.
Though Moorkamp is just releasing her full line, she’s not new to the fashion scene. The FIT graduate, who studied bridal and evening wear design, spent her time learning at Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta. At the Ralph Lauren, Moorkamp was privileged to work with Mr. De la Renta himself, whom she remembers as having unending charm, even in the workplace during times of fashion show. Her greatest takeaway from the designer, she says, was not technical or business oriented, but, “to be kind to all.” Moorkamp has memories of Mr. De la Renta belting out the lyrics to “Meet Me in St. Louis” upon learning of her Missourian roots, and of the atelier’s atmosphere the morning of shows, she describes, “the windows were open, letting in cool air, music was softly playing, with the smell of fresh flowers wafting through the hall; magic was about to happen.” This is a grace that Moorkamp has introduced into her own company, however small it may be.
Stylistically, there are strong currents of Oscar that run through her line. There is the well-placed bow, the boat-necked cocktail dress, and the generous use of color. Also, there is her attention to detail. Her time at Ralph Lauren was equally influential; there, she realized a large-scale enterprise was not what she envisioned for her own label. “About midway through my time designing at Ralph Lauren, I knew I could either climb the corporate ladder or be bold and venture out on my own,” she says.
Two years back, Molly and her brother launched their brand, she handles the technical designs and creative directions while her brother handles the business side… It wasn’t long till the siblings found success.
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