Cover Story

Brains and style: Alexis Peabody, up-and-coming fashion designer

By None

ROCKFORD WOMAN

Aug 26, 2008 @ 06:15 PM

People tell me I’m both right-brained and left-brained. I have a creative side as well as a business side, and I need both in my line of work.

And at this point in my career, I’m working very, very hard.

My fascination with designing clothes began when I was a child. I remember experimenting with new fashion styles by taking apart my grandmother’s vintage purses. (Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have those Gucci purses back!).

As a teenager, I was always creating new designs and dreamed of someday sharing them with others.

Initially, my dream of getting my pieces into stores and boutiques fared harder than I had

anticipated. The trend of my re-created garments and accessories was too new in the late 1990s to catch on.

So I spent the next several years working in sales and designing for myself and a few friends. It was during this time I created my first signature cross pattern, which can be seen on many of my designs.

Boutiques were finally interested. In July of 2006, Lexy Charms Couture was born.

What I had created was comfortable, chic lounge wear that can be dressed up or down. After experimenting with several fabrics, I finally found the perfect materials that can be washed and worn several times, and more importantly, mass produced.

With the help of two part-time employees, we design, sew and embellish every item on our own sewing machines at my home studio.

The designs are sold in 15 boutiques and stores across the nation: Chicago, Las Vegas, Arizona and more. My favorite customers are in California. They tell me my tank tops fly off the racks there. Being born and raised in Rockford, it’s sometimes hard to believe that people across the nation wear my designs.

My T-shirt line is doing really well. Most sell for about $58 each. But that’s not all we do. In recent months, we’ve expanded into designing scarves, pants, hats, menswear and baby clothing, among other things.

It’s so rewarding to see other people wearing them. One of my biggest accomplishments was when Lexy Charms contributed 65 pieces to be gifted in bags for celebrities at a concert hosted by the local Los Angeles program “The Ryan Seacrest Show” last October. Gwen Stefani, Timbaland and the cast from MTV’s “The Hills” were among the celebrities who received the bags and now own my designs.

Most recently, Lexy Charms was featured on “The Today Show” in April by style contributing editor Bobbie Thomas. She chose Lexy Charms as one of 15 of the most coveted T-shirt collections.

Also this year, I became a part of Chicago’s Spotlight Designer’s Program featured in Gray Boutique. This is a big deal because it gives me so many more fashion connections in Chicago.

I’m 27, and Lexy Charms is 2 years old. It’s time to take the next step.

Within the next two years, I’ll move to Chicago, where I can have a real design studio with a larger staff.

But for now, I’m putting in the hard work. I work all the time, and I’m a perfectionist.
If I’m not using my creative side by designing, I’m on the phone with vendors or driving to Chicago to meet with vendors.

Like I said, it takes both sides of my brain to get this job done.