Georgina Chapman

Designer of the week is Georgina Chapman. Actress and designer, Chapman was born in London. She attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire. She also modelled for a Head & Shoulders advertisement in her early twenties. She transferred to Chelsea College of Art and Design where she met her future business partner Keren Craig. After attending Chelsea College of Art and Design, Chapman went to Wimbledon School of Art where she graduated in 2001. Chapman began her career as a costume designer. She also appeared in various television shows and films. 

By 2004, Chapman and Craig launched Marchesa which was named after Marchesa Luisa Casati. Chapman also began dating film director Harvey Weinstein. By 2006, the brand was named one of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund's top 10 Finalists. Chapman has received numerous honors. She has won the British Fashion Awards for Red Carpet Designer of the Year in 2007 and took home Britian's Best Business Award in 2008. From 2012 to 2019, Chapman was a judge on Project Runway: All Stars. She has also appeared on Shanghai Knights along with Bride And Prejudice. 

By 2017, Chapman announced she was divorcing Weinstein after more than 90 women made accusations of rape, assault, or sexual harassment against him. Many wondered how Chapman didn't know what was going on but then again, Chapman thought she had a good marriage. Weinstein went the extra mile to cover his tracks but he has confirmed the allegations. This left Chapman in hiding for five months. Over time, she now appears more relaxed. At 42, Chapman seams younger and even more goofy then she has ever been. By 2020, She began dating Adrien Brody. 

With fear of what the divorce brought, Chapman ended up canceled the runway show for Marchesa's fall 2018 collection. This made many think that the brand was in trouble. Chapman assured that the brand wasn't in trouble. This was her way of giving the women who were hurt some dignity and respect.  Chapman felt humiliated and broken. That it wasn't respectful for her to go out. She took on a lot for the women and it affected her but didn't kill her spirit. She owns it and has moved on. Since the situation, her loyal consumers have never left her side.

Over the years, Chapman has never felt comfortable at social events. Anyone that knows her, knows that she tends to try and fade into the background. When at social gatherings, she spends her time making sure other people are comfortable, heard and felt just as important as anyone else. She is surrounded by her team, smiling and engaging the world. Many have said, it's nice to see her smile again. Not a smile for the camera smile but a genuine smile. 

If you pay attention to her pieces, you can see that she has added a lot of strength, structure, and elegance. Her shows have always left me speechless. There is drama, strategic placement to ever stitch and when the pieces walk the runway, they come alive. 

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