Melissa Fleis Profile

Melissa Fleis from "Project Runway" is one of the contestants in Season 10 of the Lifetime reality fashion design competition series. She is a 31-year-old designer who grew up in Rogers City, Michigan, and is currently living in San Francisco, California.

Melissa Fleis ("Project Runway") knew that she wanted to be a designer ever since she was a little girl. The first garment she ever made was a skirt. She received an MFA in Fashion Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California.

Fleis

Melissa Fleis in "Project Runway 10"

Melissa Fleis in "Project Runway 10" - © Lifetime

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considers her design strengths to be that she has a forward, distinct look with couture garment construction and experimental design techniques and that she is hard-working and organized. She, however, professes her weakness to be overthinking it.

Fleis draws inspiration from historical art movements. While designing, she likes listening to Bauhaus, The Smiths, and Swann Danger. She considers a leather jacket to be a fashion must, whereas UGGS are a definite fashion faux pas in her book and drive her crazy! Her favorite designers are Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owens and Yohji Yamamoto, while her favorite style icons are Nancy Cunard, Patti Smith and Daphne Guinness, and her super model muse is Kate Moss.

Read more: http://web.poptower.com/melissa-fleis-project-runway.htm#ixzz22ne9eLSz

Melissa's interview

When did you realize you had designer potential? A Since I was a little girl.

QFirst garment you ever made? A Skirt.

QWhat's your design training/schooling? A MFA in Fashion Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California.

QHave you won any awards? A No actual award. Only featured on websites.

QStrengths as a designer? A A forward, distinct look with couture garment construction and experimental design techniques. Hardworking and organized.

QWeaknesses as a designer? A Overthinking it.

QWhat have been your influences? A Historical art movements.

QWhat's playing on your iPod while you design? A Bauhaus. The Smiths. Swann Danger.

QFavorite material/fabric to work with? A Leather.

QFavorite designer(s)? A Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto.

QSketch or drape? A Both.

QPatterns or solids? A Solids.

QFavorite colors? A Black.

QBiggest fear as a designer? A Failing.

QFashion must? A Leather jacket.

QFashion faux pas that drives you crazy? A UGGs.

QUgliest item of clothing/accessory you've worn? A Birkenstocks.

QFavorite style icon? A Nancy Cunard, Patti Smith, Daphne Guinness.

QHow would you dress Michelle Obama? A Dress - an original, with a leather jacket.

QDream celebrity client? What would you make for him/her? A Anjelina Jolie. A gown.

QFavorite super model muse? A Kate Moss.

QIf you had to name your label, you'd call it... A Ilinka.

QIf you weren't designing, you'd be... A On vacation.

QAny cultures/places you wish you could design for? A Belgium/Antwerp. Japan/Tokyo. Italy/Tuscany. Germany/Berlin.

QDream place to set up your design business? A Tuscany.

QList of websites featuring your work? A melissafleis.squarespace.com, yuliskincare.com, learn.ist

QHow were you described as a kid? A Outgoing, determined, loving, creative, busy.

QHow are you described now? A Independent, passionate, focused, funny, hardworking, creative, busy.

QWhy are you easy or difficult to live with? A Easy: Great at interior design and creating an organized, functional living space.

QFavorite hangout? A Farb's.

QHobbies? A Photography, interior design, antiquing, hiking.

QFavorite films/TV shows? A "A Clockwork Orange," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Breakfast at Tiffany`s," "Pulp Fiction," "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," "Edward Scissorhands," "Fight Club," "Twin Peaks," "Mad Men," "True Blood," "The Tudors," "Arrested Development," "South Park."

QFavorite books/authors? A Edgar Allen Poe, Jack Kerouac, Hemingway, "The Beat Reader."

QFavorite websites? A "The Beat Reader," Style Zeitgeist, Dirty Flaws, Some Lash Things Magazine, Interview, Huffington Post

QiPhone, Android, or Blackberry? A iPhone.

QFast food or gourmet? A Gourmet.

QCooking or takeout? A Depends on the night.

QFavorite food(s)? A Arugula salads, filet mignon, fresh baked bread. Californian, Mexican, Italian, Japanese.

QBeer or wine? A Beer.

QGuiltiest pleasure? A Nutella.

QBiggest pet peeve? A Being late.

QHow'd you end up auditioning for PR? A Received a call at work saying they were looking for designers. I emailed, sent photos, and got a callback.

QFavorite PR designer? A Christian Siriano.

QChallenge you hope they bring back? A Hardware store.

QChallenge you hope they don't bring back? A Petland.

QWhat's your take on team challenges? A On the fence.sometimes it can be a disaster.

QWhat do you look for in a model? A A specific look with attitude and height.

QDo you think you can win PR? A Yes, because I am confident in my vision and believe "Project Runway" will recognize this.