By Nicole Ralston

I blame my mother 100%.  I mean, I didn’t ask for a pair of Sergio Valente jeans as a toddler, (you know the 80’s version of True Religions?), but those jeans were my first introduction to the world of fashion.   A world where clothes were beyond function, they defined your style and personality.

As I grew up she took me shopping at stores like Nordstrom, Guess, Esprit, the Gap, and Camp Beverly Hills.  For me, a trip to the mall wasn’t  about shopping… it was my time to watch the sales associates playing dress up for a living!

By the time I was 12, I received my very first Betsey Johnson piece for my birthday.  A ¾ sleeve, off-the-shoulder top, in black and white gingham, with corset lacing and black brick-a-brack trim.  This one top set into motion a whole new world for me, the world of fashion design.  And little did I know that 11 years later I would be interning for Betsey herself in New York City.

After my internship, I moved back to LA. I needed to start making money quick and since design jobs don’t just land in your lap I returned to my roots in retail.  Over the last 15 years I have worked as a sales associate, a visual merchandiser, and a store manager.  Each of these positions allowed me the opportunity to not only be creative, but to communicate with customers, follow the latest trends, and to lead a team of people to be educated and excited about fashion as well.

Fast forward…I finally land my first job as a designer with an amazing company and an awesome woman willing to continue educating and guiding me where my teachers left off.  I worked for her for almost 6 years.  I was able to use my knowledge of retail to thoughtfully design with the customer in mind, communicate with sales reps, and even sell during market to specialty boutiques and major department stores.  But I was missing something the entire time, the satisfaction of helping a customer from start to finish.  I missed un-packing a new shipment and immediately thinking about how I could merchandise the store and dress the mannequins.  I missed dressing my favorite customers in the newest styles and the satisfaction of them walking out with bags in hand.  So I made the decision to go back to retail.

Over the last two years I’ve managed three different clothing stores (and even had the joy of experiencing un-employment for 7 months).  At my last management job I started feeling mentally and emotionally drained.  The quality of clothing was changing…as were my core customers.  I started thinking about what my next step should be.  And then I got the phone call.  A position at a well established family owned company as a pre-production and design assistant.  I think it took me all of five seconds to decide that I was ready to return to the world of apparel manufacturing. Was I ready to be at a desk again and not communicating with the actual customer?  No.  But did I miss getting the chance to sketch, look at beautiful rolls of fabrics and trims, and feel inspired?  Oh yes.

And here I am at XCVI-and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.  Sometimes life has a way of making you appreciate the little things, and for me it’s working with a group of intelligent, inspired, and hard-working people in an industry that isn’t always glamorous, but is full of small rewards.  So when I say I blame my mother 100% for introducing me into the world of fashion, I mean I am 100% grateful.

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