AMBER VALETTA, MODEL DESIGNER

Forget about those celebrity designers.  These days it’s the model designers that are getting all of the public’s attention – not to mention the big bucks (ahem, Kate Moss). The latest model to get her designer feet wet and join the likes of Erin Wasson, Heidi Klum, Elle Macpherson, and Christy Turlington, is supermodel turned actress, Amber Valetta.

35 year old Valetta is teaming up with Los Angeles contemporary sportswear brand Monrow (sold at the likes of Ron Herman, Intermix, Bergdorf Goodman, Curve and Shopbop.com), for a collection of basic closet staples like thin tees, tanks, day dresses, blazers, hoodies, a cape, a smoking jacket, and rompers.  All of these will be available in navy, cream, black, light gray, and pale blush with accents of silver and gold. As for prices, they will range from $65 to $80 wholesale, with some higher-end items wholesaling for about $600 (i.e. these basics will not come cheap).

Interestingly enough, Valletta’s angle when it comes to this collection is affordable fashion – “I’m not interested in making clothes that are not accessible,” Valetta explains, “Sometimes it feels like it hurts when you make a big purchase, so I really believe that the more expensive things should be gems that you keep in your closet, not trends.” If you ask me, spending wattles of cash on the likes of a Givenchy Nightingle handbag does hurt, but spending $100-plus on a tee hurts even more.

For those who are willing to pay more than $10 for a tissue thin tee, however, the collection will hit in November and is called Amber Valletta for Monrow.