Interview with Designer Ashley Nell Tipton

Hello!  Today I want to introduce you to a very special guest, Ashley Nell Tipton.  I met her at the “Curves Work” fashion show at Working Wardrobes recently where she was featured as a guest speaker and showed her newest plus-size summer collection.  One of the most memorable moments from that night was when she said, 

“It’s important to take chances and not care so much about what other people think.”  -Ashley Nell Tipton

That was my favorite part of the evening, besides seeing her new collection of course!

Ashley learned how to sew on her grandmother’s sewing machine when she was seven and continued on to get her AA Degree in Fashion Design and Technology.  She has been featured in: USA Today, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Brit + Co, The Curvy Fashionista, Fashionista, Crain’s, FabUPlus, In Style, Racked, People, and the LA Times.

Ashley is also the winner of Project Runway Season14 and had a contract with JC Penny as the face and designer of their “Plus-Size Boutique”.  She also has her own collection of sewing patterns for Simplicity, has her own jewelry line through K&M accessories, and has just released her new line of eyewear.   She recently launched her own collection as well. 

So here we go…

Hi Ashley!  Thank you for being a guest on the blog today.  First off, let’s talk about your pink hair.  How long have you had your lovely pink hair and how did you decide that pink was the color for you? 

I started the new year with pink hair. I wanted something different, something to “refresh” my look.

I read a few of your blog posts and was so touched my eyes started to water.  I especially enjoyed reading the one that covered “Body Positivity”.  Body image is a touchy subject to cover these days without offending someone in some way or another. How would you describe yourself, your approach to talking about body image publicly, and how do you handle opposition? 

I am now comfortable in my skin. I wasn’t always this way. It has taken me a lot of personal work to get to a point where I don’t care what others think about me. Everyone has the freedom to think what they want and I have no control over their thoughts. I only have control over what I think. I think I like myself. In fact I love myself!!

What got you interested in starting your own clothing line and what kinds of considerations did you make when planning out the details of your line? 

I wanted to start my own line because there is a big void in the market when it comes to plus size clothing. I am here to fill that void!!

What inspired you to design this collection and what sizes do they come in?

From 1x-5x. I wanted to design items that I would wear that do not exist. Body Suits and Pants!!!

How would you describe your new summer line and what is the price range? 

Sexy, Comfortable and Colorful. From 39-129.

I love the fact that you use your platform to reach other plus-size women who have gone through similar experiences relating to self-esteem, body positivity, and the struggle to find clothes that fit plus-size women and that you speak openly about that.  Can you tell me about a time when someone really connected with your story? 

I am constantly getting response on my social media regarding the joy my line has brought to people. This is why I am in business. This is the joy I get in my life—knowing that my creations are making a difference out there.

Where can we buy your clothes, accessories, and eyewear?

ashleynelltipton.com

Where can we find you? 

        Instagram: Ashley Nell Tipton Designs

Blog: Ashley Nell Tipton

Facebook: Ashley Nell Tipton Designs

  

Twitter: Ashley Nell Tipton

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and collection with us Ashley!  You have definitely inspired me to take more chances and to keep working on loving myself more, I think we could all be better at loving ourselves more for who we are.  Thank you for making a difference in the fashion community and shining the light not only on the need for plus-size fashion but also on body positivity.