Daniela Corte

" Good morning and welcome to exceptional women this is magic skin DO Terry in spotlight. Fashion designer Daniel court today. His wife and mother of two small children is living her dream designing a beautiful line of clothing right here in Boston and her Newbury Street studio. And she's making waves in the fashion world because Daniela combines the latest fabrics from all of the world. With her clean simple designs. She says she strives for that perfect custom fit on these -- clothes that flatter clothes that are so well made they don't last forever. And her signature styles are classic they just don't -- lifestyle. Fashion and design just -- run through Danielle is blood. Her dad was a local men's fashion designer in Argentina. And in only six -- yellow was introduced to her first -- it's -- clock. She's been hooked ever since. This exceptional woman was named the best local fashion designer. By Boston magazine and she received the distinguished alumni award from the Boston fashion school. So we sat down to talk about her career and how she's gotten to where she is today as I welcomed her to magic and are exceptional women program. Thank you thank you for having me I think people really wanna hear what you're life was like when you're a little girl did you always want to be."

" Fashion designer -- originally come from Argentina from point a site is my father is in the men's fashion business down there are so I guess I had it in my life since I was very little I killed him from an early age I think the first thing I catalysts of silk tie. In Argentina it's a little different how people dressed there's a lot of craftsmanship and and people by last things that they last longer so there was that whole concept not made to measure and custom choosing beautiful -- or fat breaks and then putting them into production and making your outfit it was custom cell. That's what he did from. And I just loved it I always love textile and you always -- so I could always make something with my brother. And I was always very petite so nothing really ever hit me sell half a if we had a webcam in the studio you -- Danielle -- take is an itsy bitsy little thank -- good morning and welcome this is exceptional women in the spotlight Daniel a court today if you have not seen her fashions you -- see them sued she's got a beautiful studio 91 Newbury Street in Boston and she is a dynamic entrepreneur or doing what she's always wanted to do. -- talked a little bit about -- dad and the fact that he was in this business tell -- your childhood was like was -- a work -- or a model in your home a lot of my inspiration always came from my grandmother she was originally from it -- and wasn't living in Argentina at that time until she is to come and visit us twice a year -- once a year and I always had the special bond with -- there was always something that I learned from -- she was always. Really -- well to rest. And had beautiful taste and smell conine and and was really jammed home how grandparents died last year role model -- unless absolutely. The cows could be burn in on five and that she would not leave the house. -- her make up wasn't completely you know -- fly. She said you never know who you'll -- missed you so you always have to be prepared. And another was completely the opposite much more into sports and outdoors activities cell I had bells in my life. Tell me how you came to the United States well -- nineteen. My parents got divorced and all of my mother's side of the family -- and either it -- in the states though I just wanted to travel and spent some time with them and all nice father's side was still in Argentina so. At that moment analyst dating this fashion photographer and it seemed like great idea it's used to come for like a year -- things and turn outbreak -- went back to Argentina and I still wasn't done and I just wanted to stay here I didn't fall in love with -- and I just think it's a fantastic. Fantastic CD it's small it's manageable. Harris and their European tastes the architecture is beautiful I remember the first then I came here I just fell in love with the city I mean even it being cold it's just cozy there's this whole feeling of community. Couple questions to follow up on your coming to this country. For starters as soon as you'd touched down where did you land and and you walked out of JFK and use up people and what did you think about American fashion. The those a little shocked. People who don't take the time I think and pretty in that whole outfit together and investing up pieces it's kind of rushed in no way in Boston when I came here I was very concerned and I mean. Argentina is what they called the Paris of South America woman really aren't very vain and they take so much time and putting. An outfit together and news focusing on what's in fashion but still be in themselves I wanted to create plays that would be different. When I came to Boston -- felt they were places where you could get a nice outfit that it was for one of the kind of moment like it was for special piety or special wedding or special something that. I always felt that people need it to feel good about themselves and be -- well every day so that's what I wanted to design not spend the money on just one of the kind once a year you shouldn't be feeling good about yourself once a year you should feel great about wearing clothes every day. Daniela forte fashion was founded in 2000. Tell me that moment when you sat down and said to yourself I'm gonna do it whom I'm gonna bring this idea to life. I was going to mutiny -- then I decided to stay and if I stayed I want it to make it different key and -- two. Bring fashion to Boston in a way he had to be accessible from one and I don't want it to be ridiculously expensive and it was going to be of course a little more expensive than may be an on banana Republican and Taylor. Bad -- is going to be a lot of details and what we did a lot of thought in the Fayette for making people feel like when I started I started getting my clothes away to my friends and used them as role models and the only thing I asked is for them to be completely honest with me and tell me what they -- loved and what they hate about the clips in fact you started out by giving five pairs of custom fitted pants to your best golf -- You tell me that story. It was always so called in Boston so I started designing cans because it was like I had. Now I change in a little bit but I had it I really get girlfriends that were willing to do it and come every week for faith means and to kind of have -- Informal discussion of what the -- let's play what they thought about this fabric or something you know a little more structured. I think I design my core pieces around you know that first year and they're still in the line at least some tweaks here and there but I think that's important to really the full kiss on what you wanted to weird. Is that Friday that's going to make it different and that's my next question. What is your niche what is your core. Collection of clothes and -- clothes are meant to be worn every day I always tell my customers -- me take my clothes. The way and the like have them -- their favorite items I will be so happy with myself. Where that close I don't want them dvd just on the hanger. I wanted to actually get threat just from so much -- what sets me aside from. Some other designers may be is. That I really focus a lot on the fate and a lot of designers sometimes design beautiful pieces that they're not really meant to be -- in the practical life woman have currents were busy -- always on the run were always multitasking. Going from one place together so you need fabric that gives you some freedom I try to always use fabrics that have stretched or natural fibers that. Breed -- you could wear them pretty much three seasons out of the four seasons sell their investment -- as he could wear them almost all -- I take a lot of consideration into pocket placement or are you should always be able to -- dry you should always be able to sit down and feel okay that you notch. Exposing yourself and sometimes the design takes up to six months to perfect. Because I'm constantly feeding it to different people in different body types in preparation for our interview. I was able to collect quite a few articles that were written about two in a -- clothing line I bet you look at these articles and you say no no no that's not what it is why is it do you think. -- Piece of clothing section aside you should be able to have. I dress for twenty years and be able to wearing an -- to take a lot of consideration into details scenes pockets buttons something that makes it different. I do want my close to be timeless I don't wanna be just one season. Still when I design I really pay attention to that will -- be wearing this in ten years. Well I look at pictures myself and feel ridiculous and penis I want it to be timeless I want it to be elegant. I wanna be able to see pictures myself from twenty years and say hey I -- really got so when I design I really pay attention to something that would be time it's for those of you just joining us good morning and welcome to the award winning program exceptional women. In the spotlight. Daniel court today she is the founder of Daniel -- court -- fashion right here in Boston check her out on mine and Daniel court today dot com so tell me about the maternity line. Welcome return to -- has one night and right now because we just wanted to stay focus and introduce. It's from one of the most special days of feel like it's for the day you -- and give -- so it's -- out it's called the data and your stress which means to give -- in Spanish the whole idea came from me just wanting to give birth and not wanting to get -- hospital again and I wanted to -- and one of my designs and my pastor and not just make yourself -- and put -- in the hospital bag and that's how it happened both -- pregnancies I -- berth in the summer so it's extremely -- and Alice -- and this little baby -- I thought -- the way of making meant -- the back. Ex post with some time is still it would be hospital friendly. The data distress has four ties along the back so if you're in a long labor you can walk. I was walking around the hospital and that tracks and then to date that I gave birth. That's one of the most special days -- life everybody will be taking pictures of TU you'll have those pictures are ever. You'll show them to your children and grandchildren -- one of neat looking current and feeling good. It's made it's an organic cabaret it's a great I need him if he would just wanna take a twenty Miller after he'd give birth. For lounging around and postpartum. And you historically as a memory Daniel tell me how your life changed when you became a mom. How do you balance having your own business with being their for you can see it's a challenge I think the big thing is not to work more back to work -- To work smarter you juggling you -- a million things at the same time and there's that motherly instinct that you don't wanna mess out you wanna be there and as a working mother -- constantly at least for me feeling guilty that sometimes. And not 100%. There for them I really try to balance things out since it's my own business one of the nice things is that I have flexibility in my schedule so I might take a break for an hour at lunch and see them. And then the day becomes much more joyful for everybody. I can then spend an hour extract work and I know that I -- and throughout the game and we chatted and or at least we bonded. And then they go into their thing and they know that mommy is at the studio. Sometimes you'll have to work when their sleep and you must now -- candy you dated and sleep last night and it's so rewarding and mean having those little faith says smiling -- fit more now. We haven't spoken at all about your children's clothing -- tell me a little bit about that well when I was pregnant I started designing it and they're my role models of course there's the fit models and the baby line keeps. Getting the US they get they -- it's fun it's so nice to actually be able to design and see it on these little people. And actually they have opinions still a cash my daughter she's deals to sell. She now recognizes my -- and this is something that mommy -- and now she's constantly asking me if I made everything from undone Larry till like eight friends. Sell its funny it's really so if you go to a store or department store for any reason as she can you made all the -- yeah she's like mommy that you make money this year she's starting to understand it and have opinions and it's great what do you say to her if she decides to take this career path. She -- palace to be five fighter whatever makes her. Be happy that's what everybody should be doing. What makes them feel -- okay you know let's just fast forward to you know twenty years from now when she's 23 years old what do you think she will have learned from you I think it's important for them to see that -- is -- that you weren't -- and that -- using your brain. And everybody's an individual and you can have kids and you can love them -- still need to be yourself I love what I -- and I could never to stay at home and and I think I am a better mother. Because I work. And then I come home and making give them. 100%. Because I'm really happy. And I think that time that we spend together it's really the quality time -- he tried to get it I would be resentful if I gave up fashion and my work actually love what I -- there are many different kinds of love -- we asked this question -- every woman -- mom who -- where you -- today. What is modern life there's nothing like -- I never truly understood it and I talked to my mother about it until I really had kids everybody said it. Do you like we'll change and I kept hearing and in the background I don't think you can quite experienced it until you didn't quite know what those -- feel like until you -- you -- just give anything for them it's unbelievable it's your life what kind of rolled his passion play -- on the life of an entrepreneur -- cute you have to -- about what she doing you have to believe in yourself. Think that's one of the biggest advice that I would give any entrepreneur and believe -- staple -- and at the end of the day you just have to believe in yourself whatever feels right to -- will be the best answer I think this is just amount the end of the first decade of you're career in terms of having your own company -- founded did Daniel according fashions in 2000 here we -- 2009 how you feeling about things are -- where you -- have -- and we created different collections and we create -- process the -- and beautiful clothes and the product has gotten better and yeah I'm very happy where the product is and where in the middle of trying to wholesale and become bigger. I still love the one on one relationship. A lot of people see mass production -- as a sign of success and use our hands on that designer how are you gonna panel that is that really what you want. I mean I want ambiance and specialty stores and I don't wanna be mass -- I actually had offers about that and I said no it's just not quite wannabe I love to have a nice place for people to come to work to make it good salary. That relate to get along to have discussions. But at the end of the day. We are creating things. And I wanna always be able to have time to design that's the struggle to actually not spend so much time on the phone and spend my time to AP. And being with my people seeing my customers. That's what I love and I would never never never wanna change that I am the lucky recipient of three Daniel accord Tate outfits. I have my beautiful blue suit which I'm very famous for because of my lovely zipper."

" So I need to ask you we did his -- idea come from because my friends he must go online to Daniel record -- dot com to see these fabulous zippers what did you think about that as sexy I. Really sexy and basically it all started with the sky and a lot of times skirts that overseen by designers it's more than filler piece. And I think skirts are powerful piece and I spent a lot time designing and then. So I wanted to create them differently and I wanted to be something to be remembered visit for Skype has its huge oversized -- track as a black center seam and you can't miss in my -- from the front like a very simple -- that the second you Tenet around. Fuel continued to talk about -- And men really like -- now let's talk about the wrap dress because I have one and everywhere. I go and someone will ask me. We need to get -- And I know you did not grow up here in this country but there is a very famous TV show in the fifties and early sixties. And it was called Leave It to Beaver and June Cleaver was the mother on Leave It to Beaver and she wore exactly those kinds of dresses. And she just looked like a million bucks when her husband got home from work even though she had been so living over a hot -- that. What was the inspiration for that beautiful dress and look at a lot."

" old movies and how people dressed specially in the fifties and -- the -- it's fashion it always comes back -- the woman actually used to have more time to spend dress scene and again that craftsmanship and I -- to sell the whole idea behind -- justices it's one piece you'll -- to get -- with one piece it's not difficult year in a -- you'll just grabbed the -- annual look fantastic and put together and -- travel -- to him. When you do a fashion show Danielle it reminds me of when a singer sings her song when an actor. Is in front of an audience. Here is your work. How does it feel it feels great it's a great thing to put it together it's a good thing to look full -- As a designer it's something to designed for and have everything kind of work together. And it's beautiful to actually see it on models and see their reaction from people because sometimes you create a lot of these samples that you can't actually see them all at the same time I try at least is doomed once a month -- evening gown and have it just be -- Wonderful to work with those that -- and trade and it's just wonderfully have you ever been in the your room where you're designing things and maybe even started putting something together and said all that is just wrong have you ever done. Yeah -- I -- there's some designs that take -- million and one stadiums and it's a nightmare as like kind and it's not worth our time. An actress and you have to get that out that. At least you have any idea. And then you can design and better. For the next -- all of your ideas but we tried to there's a limited amount of space that we have to but I have them stored in if not in digital -- so -- you know you weren't gonna do this with human life. What would you do. I don't know I would be lost. I would have to be in some area and designing I'm always loved it I love also. Interior design one of the things that I like from taking some time off at the -- to be at the house and really decorated you know you never have time you always away -- how does is just like to take a -- conference and timing your house I love making excel I think if I wouldn't be designing I would be an eighteen priced -- eighteen. A slight error I love -- to where you born to students used to make all the outfits from my downs and then try to imitate them from myself so we would be like. It imitating the -- so as long as you can remember yes -- an alias to remember having that spending afternoons with my grandmother design and thinks he. If an obstacle is in your past. How do you get around. I just have to stay focus I think you have to be true to yourself again there will be a lot of obstacles you have to have -- vision and no matter what continue its a lot of hard work and sometimes he just -- give up you just have to believe in yourself. If you could take a young entrepreneur -- my hand what would you tell them that you wish you knew when you first got started. You get very little good advice and I think you can a lot of that at night. One of the things that I've learned is if the answer has to be right now the answer is no. If the answer has to be tomorrow the answer might be maybe never feel -- I think people in this industry especially. Always want to rush into things it always feels like if you don't make that decision at that moment you going to miss sound and -- moment it never hurts to wait and if they can't deal with you wading. While the answers and hope. Have you had a mentor along the way somebody who took you by the hand has a lot of people that I admired a lot I. The people in the fashion community and love talking to JA counter and I love talking to Denny fish day I'd like talking to look Jim hand and he's detractors Disco fashion design. I love talking to teachers in general via an older people ten years from now what do you hope for your company. I hope I can always design. No matter what I hope I can have more time to design that's when apply to Vegas targets now to actually free eat more time to design to work. What the people in the cutting room and in the production room and I hope designs and specialty stores around the country. When a woman wears one of your creations. What do you hope she feels like she feels she can never looked better that she's happy with herself. That makes me so happy when somebody wears the clothes and you can see that they wear it with pride. As an entrepreneur or what you greatest strength and listening to people and actually seeing what they want. I really one -- what people have to say public plus if they're good at their bad because that's flipped will make them better. Thank you so much for being on our show and for teaching us so much about how far you've come thank you thank you candy was great and that's exception."

" Women Danielle -- these beautiful designs are available online. -- Daniel forte dot com she's also in many boutiques and by appointment only for private customers at her Newbury Street location now her monster is really simple timeless elegance senior every day life. So we wish her much success -- Daniel Courtney fashion. Expansive to maternity and children's clothing to sponsor for -- is in good company. She joins nearly 400 women who have told us their story on this program. So funeral of someone who is living her dream. Doing great things at her life or a woman who has beaten -- in the toughest of times. We'd love to hear her story just go to magic 1067 dot com and click on exceptional women this is magic -- Terry. Join my radio partner gave -- meet every Sunday morning. For another edition -- exceptional women radio portraits of women who will inspire you."