New York Fashion Week Exclusive: Julie Haus Dishes On Her Spring 2009 "Anti-Wallflower" Collection - Stylehive

Titled "Not a Wallflower," the Julie Haus Spring 2009 collection was inspired by the rebellious spirit of women who go against the grain and scoff at conformity. Using the idea of the anti-wallflower as her main reference, Julie also found inspiration in a group of Japanese fairy tales, titled the "Wall Flower," resulting in a collection that tells the story of a well-traveled gal whose eclectic style is influenced by walking the streets of Japan, China, Paris, and New York. With vibrant colors, bold patterns, mixed silhouettes, and all sorts of statement makers from bold jewelry pieces (designed by Jules Smith) and edgy-chic shoes by Matt Bernson, this collection is for the fashion risk-taker who knows how to mix and match for a style that is undeniably her own.

I got the chance for chat with the pint-sized effervescent designer moments before her show.

Stylehive: What was the inspiration for this collection?
Julie: Well it€™s titled "Not a Wallflower" and the idea is that our girl is a little bit more rebellious this season, she's kind of roughed up a little bit, very quirky. It's also about not being too fussy and overdone in the wrong way, like she can throw on a little sock with a shoe and be kind of punk-girl, but also isn€™t afraid to make a statement about her style and how she feels and just feeling confident within herself - to be willing to play with that and go there all the way.

Stylehive: What trends can we look forward to for Spring 2009?
Julie:We€™re still seeing a lot of color a lot of great hues of royal blue and tangerine orange and yellow, everybody€™s still having a yellow moment I think, and it looks good on everybody, and it makes you happy, it€™s a fun color! This season we have a bit of a pain brushy print, but not so much as a tie-dye or watercolor, it€™s a bit tougher and a little stiffer. And we always do a lot of animal prints, we have a very graphic zebra that€™s oversized and almost looks like a skeleton not so much of really a zebra. So for us it€™s really about mixing textures and stripes and color and just having fun and playing with it.

Stylehive: So what€™s it like for you in the hours leading up to your show?
Julie:So nervous, yeah! Because there€™s a lot that has to click in 30 minutes and go right and you start coming in and the stage is still being built and you know it€™ll come together and work. But it always comes down to that ninth hour and then it lasts ten minutes and then it€™s all over! It€™s like getting married!

Stylehive: Your collections have gained a pretty impressive celebrity fan base, what€™s it like seeing so many big named stars in your clothes?
Julie: Yeah, I mean it€™s great to see! But I see someone walking down the street wearing it and I get so excited just because it€™s a compliment that someone wants to wear something and step out in something you designed. So I take it as a compliment and I love that they€™re not afraid to wear color, so it€™s awesome.