A former designer for Katayone Adeli and Development, last year Phillip Lim, 31, started his own line 3.1 Phillip Lim. Sold at CUSP, Lim’s classic, chic and simple clothing has been a favorite of glamour girls in the know for ages.

Name: Phillip Lim
Hometown: Orange County, California
My Sign: Virgo

Last Book I Read: Marley and Me by John Grogan

Current Celebrity Crush: Kate Bosworth. There’s something so beautiful and angelic about her. Perhaps it’s the dimples?

The Movie I’ll Watch Whenever It’s On Television: Memoirs of a Geisha

If I Could Be Anywhere, I’d be: In Koh Samui, Thailand

When did you know that you wanted to be a designer?Actually, it discovered me when I was about 23.

How do you think the internet affects fashion?
It opens up fashion to the far reaches. It allows people from Toronto to Thailand the chance to see, experience and exchange the ideas, from moment to moment. It lets them them decide immediately what is right and what is wrong for them. In turn we as designers become sensitive to this and it influences how we evolve.

Name: Nanette Lepore
Hometown: Youngstown, OH
Sign: Pisces

How often do you read your horoscope? Daily on tarot.com and monthly on Susan Miller’s Astrology Zone. She is a fellow Pisces.

Current favorite song: “Return to Me” by Bob Dylan

Childhood celebrity crush: Marcello Mastroianni

The movie you would watch whenever it is on TV? Any of The Thin Man series.

If I could be anywhere, I’d be: Swimming through the emerald grotto

Is there a book that has profoundly changed your life? A Fine Balance by Rohnton Mistry

What book are you reading now? The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano. Itis about these wild and crazy poets in Mexico City in the 70s!

What’s on your iPod? Amy Winehouse

How many air miles do you log a year? Hundreds of thousands

What is your favorite piece from your current collection? High waisted ruched pencil skirt

How would you best describe your client? Glamorous, fun and sexy

Who are your personal style icons? My mother, 1960. She was glamorous and gorgeous and so much fun!

What style secrets do you have right now? Master the art of walking in high heels. Wear high heels whenever
possible.

Right now, every girl needs a _____? Fabulous trench

What do you buy at the newsstand? V and British Vogue

Your ideal day/night?

Night: Beautiful dress, smashing pumps, a cocktail, our favorite Spanish bar with Gypsy music, late supper looking up at the sky, trying to find the shooting stars

Day: In the summer, I start the day with an ocean swim, stop at the farmer’s market, cook at home with friends, fresh cut flowers, eat outdoors overlooking the bay with a good bottle of white wine and then head back to the sea for a late afternoon dip.

Name: Rachel Koo
Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Sign: Virgo

How often do you read your horoscope? Once a month

Current favorite song: 1, 2, 3, 4 tell me that you love me more… by
Feist

Childhood celebrity crush: Corey Haim

The movie you would watch whenever it is on TV? The Warriors…
“can you dig it”

If I could be anywhere, I’d be: Samara, Costa Rica

Is there a book that has profoundly changed your life? None

What book are you reading now? Snow

What’s on your iPod?From Mos Def to Pink Martini,
Rage Against the Machine to NKOTB.

How many air miles do you log a year? I really should start logging
it

What is your favorite piece from your current collection? Washed
down silk ruffle front cami

How would you best describe your client? World traveler, young
mothers, professionals.. “I’m every woman” kind of woman…..

Who are your personal style icons? Grace Kelly

What style secrets do you have right now? Don’t be afraid to wash
down your silk for a more casual look

Right now, every girl needs a _____? A group of great friends

What do you buy at the newsstand? I love cooking magazines

Your ideal day/night? Wake up really late have a mimosa
or 2… lay on the beach ’til the sun goes down. Then have a barbecue
with my friends with plenty of beer and wine….

Tea and Honey is now available at CUSP boutiques

Name: Jennifer Lin Wojinski
Hometown: Fortuna, CA… That’s ‘fortune’ not ‘for tuna’
Sign: Aquarius

How often do you read your horoscope? Monthly

Current favorite song: “Death Letter” by Son House or the White Stripes version of it… I can’t choose because they are both so original

Childhood celebrity crush: Wow… I didn’t watch TV as a child, so it would have to be Scooby Doo, since the first thing I remember watching was cartoons. Yes, I had a crush on a dog.

The movie you would watch whenever it is on TV? Lord of the Rings

If I could be anywhere, I’d be: In New Orleans, enjoying the people, the smells, the music and the food!

Is there a book that has profoundly changed your life? Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts… can’t explain it, but there is beauty everywhere, in everything.

What book are you reading now? Liber Null & Psychonaut by Peter J Carroll

What’s on your iPod? Black Keys, Blind Willie Johnson, the Black Crowes, Stone Temple Pilots, Son House, …etc

How many air miles do you log a year? Really???? I don’t count or keep tracks and it all depends on the year.

What is your favorite piece from your current collection? The ‘jerri’ ultraskinny jean in the ‘minion’ wash

How would you best describe your client? She’s a sexy sassy all american girl with style and a bit of an edge… Denim is the core of her wardrobe, but she wants William Rast because it’s unique in its fits, washes and styles.

Who are your personal style icons? Honestly I don’t have one…i wear what I feel like wearing and style it to suit my look and my figure.

What style secrets do you have right now? Engineer boots, black overdye William Rast jeans and vintage tops, scarves and head wraps… but I don’t think they are secrets, I just do whatever I feel like
doing at that moment.

Right now, every girl needs a_____? magic pony

What do you buy at the newsstand? Colors magazine, Juxtapoz, fashion mags…

Your ideal day/night? coffee, bikram yoga, lunch with a friend, watching the sunset and smelling the jasmine, making dinner with my boyfriend, all in that order.

William Rast in CUSP boutiques this week.

Name: Gina Nigrelli
Hometown: St Thomas, USVI
Sign: Pisces

How often do you read your horoscope? Every week

Current favorite song: “I Can’t Go For That” – Hall and Oates. It makes we want to dance and laugh…the 2 things I enjoy most.

Childhood celebrity crush: Dennis Quaid. I still crush on him whenever I see him on TV or in a magazine.

The movie you would watch whenever it is on TV? Dirty Dancing.

If I could be anywhere, I’d be: In Mustique, sipping a glass of champagne.

Is there a book that has profoundly changed your life? no

What book are you reading now? The 4 Hour Work Week.

What’s on your iPod? Lots of 80’s music, hip hop, pop, reggae, lounge, house. I usually listen to my iPod when I exercise, so mostly high-energy music.

How many air miles do you log a year? Last year I just missed 50,000.

What is your favorite piece from your current collection? Skin City Zebra cuff.I wear it every day.

How would you best describe your client? My girls love adventure, they love to travel, they love deciding who they are going to be that day and dressing and accessorizing accordingly. Oh yeah, they love to layer.

What are your favorite hometown stores? Unfortunately, there aren’t many stores on St. Thomas, you have to leave island to shop.

Who are your personal style icons? Mary Kate Olsen is number one on my list.

What style secrets do you have right now? They wouldn’t be secrets if I told you.

Right now, every girl needs a _____? Massage.

What do you buy at the newsstand? Vanity Fair. I look forward to reading Dominic Dunne’s column and I usually read it more than once.

Your ideal day/night? Waking up in a country or city I’ve never been before.

Shop Jules Smith at all CUSP boutiques.

We recently were fortunate enough to catch up with Torn’s Ronny Kobo, one of our favorites here at CUSP. Learn a bit about her below, and see her African-inspired Spring/Summer collection at any of our boutiques.

Name: Ronny Kobo
Hometown: NYC and Hong Kong
Sign: Aries! Fire sign completely!

How often do you read your horoscope? Once a month

Current favorite song? “No One” by Alicia Keys (the reggae remix version)

Childhood celebrity crush: Michael Jackson in thriller!!!!!

The movie you would watch whenever it was on tv? Just about any 80’s hit. I think I must have watched Coming to America about three times in March!

If I could be anywhere I’d be: Definitely in Africa. Last season I would have said on safari, but right now we are working on our summer collection which is inspired by the Massai and southern African tribes. So I would definitely be in a tourist market place somewhere outside Kenya picking up clothing, jewelry and trinkets to bring back home to our studio!

Is there a book that had profoundly changed your life? Yes, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

What book are you reading now? The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

What’s on your iPod? Just returning from a beach holiday, so reggae and stevie wonder!!

How many air miles do you log a year? 150,000

What is your favorite piece in your current collection? I have to say the lion face tank. I can dress it up with a highwaisted pencil skirt tucked in. You’re relaxed with a pair of jeans or under a blazer. I love accessories and always seem to wear bangles and wooden hoops with this print to accentuate the look.

Who would you best describe as your client? A woman who understands fashion and culture. Someone who is bored of basics and needing an alternative more chic way to dressing casual.

What do you buy at the newstand? National Geographic, British Vogue, British Elle, Bazaar, and Oprah! (and shamefully US Weekly!!!!!)

Who are your personal style icons? Jane Birkin, Viviene Westwood, Cleopatra and my mother

What style secrets do you have now? How to transform your casual day look into a cool chic relaxed evening.

Spring look? Torn animal safari tanks with classic boyfriend jean or harem pants for day.. And night the same thing with shrunken jacket or blazer and a pair of heels and some vintage Indian jewelry of African inspired wood jewelry by Kenneth Jay Lane.

Right now every girl needs a….. Zebra tank or t-shirt in her wardrobe for the ultimate tank/t-shirt and then a gay best friend!

What is your ideal day/night? Inspirational shopping in a foreign market or bazaar and an evening on a beach at night sitting on a chaise covered in blankets after an amazing BBQ!

Torn is available at CUSP boutiques

It’s hard to fade into the background with a name like Pierre Colorado. And that goes for his talents in fashion design too. Colorado, who studied at F.I.T. in New York, has been working in the industry for 12 years at some of the top fashion brands. In 2006 he launched Blake Standard, an effortlessly chic collection of contemporary sportswear for women. Let’s all say hello to Pierre Colorado.

Blake Standard is available at all CUSP Boutiques.

Name: Pierre Colorado

Hometown: New York City

Sign: Libra

How often do you read your horoscope? Only when I find it in French Vogue.

Current favorite song: Rihanna’s Shut up and Drive. I love to listen to it when I’m driving.

Childhood celebrity crush: Cheryl Tiegs. I even had a poster of her on my wall.

The movie you watch whenever it is on TV? Pride and Prejudice- It’s visually stunning.

If I could be anywhere, I’d be: In Paris…anytime.

Is there a book that has profoundly changed your life? Love In the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

What are you reading now? The Dead Sea Scrolls. I love history.

What’s on your iPOD? Too much! I love anything from Bossa Nova to R & B to dance.

How many air miles do you log a year? This past year I only had about 80,000. That’s a 7 year low.

What is your favorite piece from your current collection? I love this very simple and chic scoop neck with small ruffles all around the opening and on the collar stand. It make you instantly elegant, and you’ll feel it.

How would you describe your client? She is naturally chic, loves fashion but needs it to work with her lifestyle needs.

name: Marcus Wainwright
hometown: Brooklyn, NY
sign: Capricorn

how often do you read your horoscope? Never

current favorite song: Bodysnatchers by Radiohead

childhood celebrity crush: Glynis Barber

the movie you would watch whenever it is on TV? Dumb and Dumber, any Bond Film

if I could be anywhere, I’d be: Where I am now

is there a book that has profoundly changed your life? No

what book are you reading now? Kite Runner

what’s on your iPod? (or CD player)? All sorts of things, current favorites are Joy division and always Radiohead

how many air miles do you log a year? Not many

what is your favorite piece from your current collection? Swarovski Encrusted Tube Dress

how would you best describe your client? Someone who appreciates well made clothes without needing to have a huge logo on them.

who are your personal style icons? Duke of Windsor, Paul Newman

right now, every girl needs a _____? Smile on her face

your ideal day/night? Wake up by the sea, go for a swim, have breakfast with my wife, go snorkeling, have a beer, make lunch, another beer, read a book, another swim, sandcastle with my son Noah, shower, photograph the sunset, dinner and bed.

Amrita Singh launched her jewelry company in 2003, after graduating from FIT and working with such prestigious designers as Oscar de la Renta and Christian Lacroix. Her eponymous line is inspired by her passion for Indian art, and her collection is based on the designs of the Mughal Era in India, from the early 16th Century to the early 18th Century. (That’s when the Taj Mahal was built.) Take a moment to meet Amrita Singh.

Name: Amrita Singh
Hometown: NYC
Sign: Scorpio
How often do you read your horoscope? Once a week.

Current favorite song: Gimme More by Britney Spears

Childhood celebrity crush: Johnny Depp

The movie you would watch whenever it is on TV? Scarface

If I could be anywhere, I’d be: In Positano

Is there a book that has profoundly changed your life? Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

What book are you reading now? My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler

What’s on your IPOD? Rihanna

How many air miles do you log a year? 400,000

What is your favorite piece from your current collection? Sunflower pendant

How would you best describe your client? A global citizen with an eclectic sense of style

What is your favorite hometown store? Lounge NYC

Who are your personal style icons? Diane Vreeland, Kate Moss and Lauren Hutton

What style secrets do you have right now? Mix vintage with ultra modern.

What do you buy at the newsstand? Life & Style, Us Weekly, In Touch