Stephanie von Watzdorf is an accomplished creative director, curator and fashion designer with more than 30 years' experience. She is known for the artistic and intuitive style she brings to design, be it clothes, accessories, or soulful spaces. She currently works as a consultant specializing in fashion, accessories and interior design.
Stephanie was born in Paris to a German/French father and a Russian mother. Her grandfather, Leonide Massine, was the renowned Ballets Russes choreographer whose friends and collaborators included Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Leon Bakst and Igor Stravinsky. Stephanie’s immersion into this richly artistic, wayfaring life instilled in her an appreciation for other cultures, fine fabrics, music, dance, language and nature.
A graduate of Parson School of Design and recipient of Calvin Klein’s Golden Thimble award, Stephanie refined her aesthetic working for venerable fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Ann Taylor, and Ralph Lauren. In 2004, she joined Tory Burch as the original vice president of design, where she led design development and ready-to-wear accessories for over seven years.
In this episode, Stephanie speaks with Malia Mills about how her background, work experiences and love of travel culminated in 2011, when she founded Figue, a luxury fashion and lifestyle brand that captures the global gypsy-meets-jet-set spirit that is her native tongue. As creative director and the face of the label, Stephane grew a conscious company from the ground up, with roots in sustainability, heritage, travel and artisanship.
