Courtney Meyer is the essence of her label Miss Unkon. Born and raised in NSW, she is bringing classic feminine beauty back with her latest collection ‘The Life of a Colourful Lady’.  A lover of spring breeze, pretty dresses and afternoon sun, Courtney is inspiring fashionistas everywhere with her fresh approach to whimsical beauty.

Tahnee Brahim sat down with Courtney to chat about her inspirations, creative visions, and her debut showing at Rosemount Sydney Fashion Week.

What was your defining fashion moment? (What made you want to become a designer
I always just had a love of creativity and fashion but the defining point was when was 12 and read  my sisters Barbie book. I remember reading it one day where it told the story of Barbie as a designer. She was all prepared for her big show, when at the last moment a catastrophe happened backstage. Barbie then saved the show by putting all this glitter into the girls hair and sparkles all over the beautiful big dresses so that they shined and shimmered down the runway . In my mind this was so magical. I knew that this is what I wanted to  do….create magic with fashion. Bring all those beautiful stories and people’s passion to life through fashion.

Did you study design?
I didn’t study design after high school. I have amazing parents that encouraged and supported my sisters and I to follow our dreams. I also believed that life experience and learning from being in the business of fashion was more important to me.

Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. I am very influenced by visual storytelling, movies, fairytales, things that capture emotion and create that eeee feeling. I am very in love with the beauty of the past and intriguing, innocent girls with amazing souls and stories to tell. I love contrasts.

What is your preferred personal style?
I love playing a character, sparkles, boldness being a little different each time. Being a Miss Unkon girl.

Do you follow trends? (both personally and for Miss Unkon)
I don’t really follow fashion trends as I believe that fashion is more than a piece of clothing, it is an expression of the soul, dreams, life and loves.

What are your favourite pieces from your collection?
The Miss Edna collar as this is a design my grandmother created. The Days are for Dancing Skirt and Dear Moi top for their pretty frills and I also love the Happiness is Skirt and Feel Like I Can Fly dress- it makes me feel like a princess.

Your recent collection is a dedication to your grandmother’s memory; did she play a special role in your life?
My grandmother was such a lover of fashion. She would always tell my sisters and I about her life and each of the outfits that she would wear for the different dates she would go on. I loved listening to her stories. Her wardrobe was packed with sparkling fashion from around the world and she always looked amazing.  Her essence was always filled with adventure and a love of life. I was 12 when I designed my first outfit, she was so proud. I decided at that moment that my first RAFW collection would be for her.

What is your favourite childhood outfit?
Pink striped jumpsuit pyjamas with a bear motif! I loved this because it was different. I also loved my patent black court shoes – I didn’t want my feet to grow out of them.

Where do you shop?
Princess Polly has always been a favourite.

Do you have a favourite label aside from your own?
yes...I love so many designers. Galliano, Ashish, House of Holland. I also love the talented Sass and Bide girls and Romance was Born.

What is your signature look?
Telling beautiful stories, feminine and girly yet edgy.

What designers inspire you and why?
Galliano for his immense passion and amazing boundless creativity. Stella McCartney for her strong ethics for animal rights. The Sass and Bide girls for their amazing achievements.

Where do you work from? (Can you describe your creative space?)
A very over creative space filled with lots and lots of pictures. Ideas boards, planning boards and all the other necessary things.

Is this your full time job?
I also do freelance styling.

Your label has achieved great success in quite a small time frame. What was the progression timeline of Miss Unkon? (e.g. Marketing, finding stockists, showing at fashion week etc)
Yes the timing for Miss Unkon’s growth has been amazing.  I have been very blessed to have amazing people who have supported the growth of the label. The progression has been about building a strong Miss Unkon world through our designs and collection stories. We launched the label instores with AW 09  then showed at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week for SS09/10. Everyday includes finding more stockist and marketing the label.

How did you land a role showing at Sydney Fashion Week? Where did you find the inspiration for this show?

To show at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week you have to be invited which Miss Unkon was. The inspiration was created from the essence of my Grandmothers way of life and her passion and adventure for life. It is this essence that a young girl can also live by.

What is your plan for Miss Unkon?
There are so many plans for Miss Unkon with the heart of the brand of Miss Unkon to be a world of sparkling inspiration and creativity. Miss Unkon has always been about making a difference to the word.

Who is your muse?
The creative team I work with, my family, the models and customers who embody the Miss Unkon girl and give so much, friends and people with beautiful and inspiring souls.

What is your life motto?
Everything that happens in life is meant to happen. Live with passion!

What is the best piece of advice given to you?
Always keep growing and learning. Every dream is possible no matter where you have come from.

Miss Unkon I feel like I can fly dress: $495.00
Visit the Miss Unkon Blog http://missunkon.blogspot.com