I was not one of the 8.6 million people that watched the finale of NBC’s Fashion Star, so when I sat down to interview Kara Laricks, the first-ever winner of the show, I wasn’t prepared for the disarmingly open woman with the killer pompadour and the amazing blue eyes. In town during Pittsburgh’s Fashion Week to host a runway show, the former fourth grade teacher-turned-fashion designer sat down with EQUAL magazine to discuss her decision to be out on the show,
what inspired her collection, and how the love of her girlfriend, Melissa, gave her the freedom to pursue her dreams.
EQUAL: Your coming out on TV was really pivotal, even for people in our community. Were you politically motivated, given the climate in our country right now?
Kara Laricks: No, you know what’s so funny is that I spent 10 years as a teacher and felt relatively closeted. I wasn’t in my personal life, and I wasn’t with the staff, but there was always that unspoken boundary, like is it appropriate to discuss in the classroom with kids? Is it appropriate with parents? But, it just wasn’t one of those things that I felt comfortable broadcasting.
Once I went back to school for fashion, where, you know, I think straight people are the minority, that was a blast and felt very freeing. Then, I made the move to New York, where I lived in the Castro in a rainbow bubble, which was amazing…
EQ: So, was coming out part of the impetus to change careers?
KL: Um, maybe so. I mean, looking back, it was probably a stronger need to feel whole and be exactly who I am, personally and professionally. Then the opportunity for Fashion Star came up. And, I have to say, shame on me for ever being worried. It has been nothing but, 100 percent “YOU GO , GIRL! CONGRATULTIONS!” And, the best part of it is that people are focusing on my
passion for design and clothing — and, yes, I get these great emails and tweets from gay people and gay youth, but for the most part, it has just been about the design, and that’s how it should be.
Nothing that I make, to me, is risky. It’s just all a different option for how I’m feeling. Risky is if I’m having an insecure day, and I try to put myself into something sleeveless, then that’s risky.
EQ: Your stuff is so edgy! What kinds of confidence do you have in regular women to wear this stuff?
KL: I feel like sometimes fashion is taken a little too seriously. I believe in that freedom, if I’m feeling a bit more masculine, I’m entitled to wear a more masculine piece. Or, if I’m feeling like wearing something that looks more like a piece of art as opposed to a piece of clothing, why not? Why not take a little risk? I think people would be surprised at the response to something a little bit different and fresh and new.
EQ: What do you think is the riskiest piece in your collection?
KL: Nothing that I make, to me, is risky. It’s just all a different option for how I’m feeling. Risky is if I’m having an insecure day, and I try to put myself into something sleeveless, then that’s risky. But, in terms of just a garment, nothing seems risky.
EQ: Can you talk about your creative process? What is this collection about for you? What inspired you?
KL: I love a Japanese aesthetic, Yohji Yamamoto , Comme des Garçons. It’s without regard for trend. I happened to be wandering by the Japan Society in New York, and there was an art deco exhibit. There were these incredible matchbox covers from the late 1920s — they’re very graphic and have very cool shapes and cool color palettes. So the collection is a little bit ‘20s, an amazing time of androgynous change, an amazing revolution in women’s dressing, You see a lot of menswear detailing from the ‘20s — cumberbunds, and long tails on different pieces — and the color palette of the matchbox covers.
EQ: What three pieces do you think are must-haves from this collection?
KL: Without a doubt, the tails short. I mean, throw it on with a tee shirt and cute little Converse to run around , and it would be so style-y, or throw it on with tights and a buttoned up tux shirt and heels: It’s hot. You can wear it in so many ways. Secondly, I love the cocktail dress. I mean, such a
statement. It’s also available in black. And then, I love this tux blouse that looks like half of a bow tie around the neck, and it’s something easy that you can throw on under a suit or alone with the tail short.
EQUAL: We watched all of that feedback on the show, but who gives you the most feedback now?
KL: Melissa. She knows me well enough to affirm what I feel confident with and then encourages me in a different direction if she can see that I don’t feel confident. She’s the best. She’s absolutely the best. I feel so lucky. She’s never been anything but, ”Go for it, do it! If we can’t afford rent next month, it doesn’t matter. Keep going. One foot in front of the other. We’ll figure out health insurance somehow!” [laughs]
