Fashion Inspiration & Insight

Hi friends,

I am so excited to bring you my Miss Tina November collection. You know, people ask me a lot of questions on my inspiration and design process that I want to share some insight into the world of my designs. Here are the questions I have been asked lately by HSN buyers, friends and customers just like you! Enjoy and I'll see you
November 5.

Much Love,

Tina Knowles

Why did you choose a boot for your Today's Special?
Not only did I do a boot because they're HOT right now, but I also did it because I can NEVER find a boot that is the height that I want, in the color I want and that fits the way I like my boots to fit! On top of that, I had the idea of making it a 'convertible' style, which is something any woman CAN'T go wrong with!! I mean, what is cooler than going to the office with a high boot for work, then zipping the top off to wear as a bootie when you go out to meet friends after work! It's two looks in one!

Today's Special November 5

What details are important when designing your Miss Tina footwear?
There are several considerations that are important to me when developing footwear for my collections. First thing is that women my age aren't (and don't need to be) running around in 4+" heels! I like a nice lift, but nothing too extreme, so a 2-3" heel is perfect. The heels I do are very sturdy which is important, nothing too skinny! I also think its VERY important to build a lot of support on the upper of the shoe. This season I have a t-strap shoe with good coverage on the top of the foot and a very comfortable heel cover. As far as design, its important for me to take different details usually saved for expensive designers and incorporate them on my shoes; piping, piecing and fabric mixing all contribute to an expensive-looking shoe at a great price! One of my biggest pet-peeves is a shoe that 'dangles' on a woman's foot while she's walking! I'm so afraid she's either going to trip over something or sprain her ankle. That's why I always have backs on my shoes, to cover the heel.

What are two or three of the most important pieces for fall?
As always, I think a woman can't go wrong these days with a pair of leggings and one of my tunics. It creates the silhouette that I love. But I think another HOT item for fall is a boot....both Tall and Short boots have been on every trend report I've seen! Not only is it Trendy, but it's also a must-have for fall. I have a Today's Special boot for this November that will definitely be a hot item! It's versatile too! It's a tall boot that unzips at the ankle which gives you a couple options to wear. You can wear it as an ankle bootie OR you can wear it as a tall boot and tuck your jeans into it!! If you buy more than one color of it, you can even intermix them to give you a color blocked boot!! You should tune in on November 5th to see exactly what I'm talking about!!

What was the inspiration behind this November collection?
Ever since I started our clothing lines, I've wanted to do a collection that incorporates the beauty of one of my favorite birds; the peacock. With this delivery we've interpreted the peacock in a few different variations with our prints; there's an abstract painterly print, there's a straight-forward outline of a peacock on a tunic and there are also studs in the shape of a peacock on one of my long sleeve tee shirts. There is an underlying 'Eastern' theme to this collection as well, with mandarin style collars and rich colors that remind me of some of the peacock's colors. As always, I want everything in my collection to be cohesive and WEARABLE, so you'll see that the colors and separates all relate back to each other, from our sportswear to our shoes and handbags.

Why did you choose this particular color palette?
This color palette is a continuation from my color palette in October. I wanted to use RICH and EASY-TO-WEAR colors that anyone could wear, no matter what your skin color. Its also very important to me for the color palette to be SLIMMING and COMPLIMENTARY to the wearers body. I also wanted to incorporate rich jewel tones, which are always so fun to wear around the holiday season! We have clothes and handbags in a beautiful Plum color, as well as a rich emerald green and a bright holiday red. And of course, as always, I love to have almost everything I offer in Black...which you can never go wrong with!

What is your favorite color of the season?
I think my favorite color this holiday season is PURPLE, which is why I've incorporated it into all of my pieces, whether it be a handbag, shoes or sportswear. It's a regal color and I think its an update to the day-to-day black! You can pair Purple back to denim, black and you can even wear purple into spring and summer. The color Purple is always acceptable!

What are your favorite accessories for the fall?
I think my favorite accessories for fall are boots and handbags. This month I've offered 3 different handbags, all serving a different aesthetic in an assortment of colors. And a boot is just a necessity for fall! It's all over the magazines and style shows and a 'must-have' item!

What details are important to you when designing handbags?
A very good handbag (to me) has interior space, is easy to get into and has pockets and compartments for easy and efficient storage. There's nothing worse than digging for a ringing cell phone, and by the time you get it, the person isn't there. That is why I always have 2 to 3 pockets on the inside of my bags. One of them is always a zipper closure and the other two are open top pockets. Also, on almost all of my bags, I have a zipper pocket on the opposite side of the face of the bag. With design, I always want to use expensive-looking man-made materials, which helps keep the price down...and this allows me to use sturdy metals, chains and hardware, which adds to the look of the bag. The one thing I hear from customers all over is that they get compliments all day long about their Miss Tina bags, and that means I did my job right and puts a smile on my face!

What are some key features of your garments that give them a "Miss Tina" silhouette?
As you've probably heard me say on-air; "ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVES"! To me, the most feminine silhouette on a woman is the 'hour-glass silhouette'. That means it's fitted in the waist, with slimming lines throughout. I think that one of my belted tunics and a pair of my Miss Tina leggings creates this look perfectly! As always, if you want, you can add a handbag and a pair of shoes as well! A myth that I would like to bust is that larger women should wear baggy and oversized clothes. A lot of women may think wearing loose clothing hides their figure, when in fact it makes a woman look larger than she may want to.

How often do you wear clothes from your own collections?
I wear MT clothes almost every day! I'm all about comfort and all about leggings and tunics. The best part about my leggings is that they're comfortable AND they come all the way up to the true waist (unlike other brands that I'm constantly pulling up, hoping they'll stay up). I love my shoes too, almost everyday I'm on my feet, whether I'm going from meeting-to-meeting or fabric and trim shopping,...I'm always running around. I wear my own shoes because the heels are low enough that I am not in pain when wearing them, but high enough that it doesn't look like I'm wearing flats.

What is the biggest myth about dressing that women fall victim to?
Well I believe that women believe that if they're heavier, that they should wear bigger, baggier clothes. I find this to be absolutely untrue! I think that bigger clothes make a woman appear larger than she actually is. A solution to this is to buy more form fitting clothes. And if you don't feel comfortable wearing all form fitting clothes, practice balancing volume with fit, meaning try a skinny jean or legging paired with a top that might have slight volume in it. With the top, try a stretch belt that accentuates the smallest part of your waist, while the skinny jean focuses on the curve of your body. I try to keep this myth in my head constantly while I develop my new collections, so women of every size have various options.

If there was one word that you keep in your mind while designing, what is it?
I would have to say that the word "VERSATILE" means a lot to me. I like to know that a top or accessory can be worn a number of ways, or with a number of things before I build it into my collections. As I've mentioned above, this month I have my two-in-one zip-off boot that zips off at the ankle, making it either a full boot to the calf, or an ankle bootie. Versatility is important because you will have more than just one use for something! Another word that is very important to me is "FIT". With everything I make, I try to incorporate a level of detail in the fit that you can't find everywhere. My jeans have darts in them and are cut to curve around the body. My blouses and tunics either have darts or the shape is cut into them (depending on the design) so that you will never lose the 'hour-glass shape' that I'm always preaching. With Versatility and Fit, I think my collection speaks to every woman, no matter what the age or ethnicity.

Why did you choose HSN to offer your collection?
I get asked this all the time, and I proudly answer that I feel like I have a personal relationship with the women that buy my clothes! I love that I get phone calls while I'm on air....those testimonials keep me moving forward. I also love to log onto HSN.com with my team to view the comments. I learn first-hand what women like and dislike about my collections. While I know all comments are relative, and everybody has a different perception as to what the perfect fit or style is, I take it all into consideration for my future collections. I just love the one-on-one contact with my customers...

Is there anything you want to say to your customers?
I just want to say thank you to all of you. It's so fun to hear all your stories and comments because it only helps me become a better designer. There is nothing that makes me feel better than making someone ELSE feel or look better. I can't tell you how nice it is to talk to women on the street or get your phone calls. It really makes me feel like I'm on earth doing exactly what I was put here to do. Thank you all and God Bless! :-)