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Q & A with Dotty Dress Designer Heather Shipton

Q: Tell me a bit about Dotty.
A: We’re a relatively new Canadian Dress company that is actually designed and made right here in Toronto. It’s a very personal business for me as I design all lines and source the materials and really put my heart and soul into each dress. Dotty is really about providing women with chic, modern and pretty dresses that they can wear every day. I launched Dotty with my Fall 2010 Dress Collection and it was very well received from retailers and so now I have followed it up with the Spring 2012 and am currently working on Fall 2012.

Q: Why the name Dotty?
A: My own whimsy sense of style really and a love of all things with polka dots; which by the way are very hot this season! Fashion should be fun and Dotty, I think, conveys that!

Q: Have you always designed clothes?
A: In my mind for sure! It seems like forever that I have been looking at pieces and find myself subconsciously reworking the piece to make it perfect for me or adding a special little touch to really make it stand out from the crowd. My Fall 2010 Collection was my first true design project though. Prior to that I had been running my own successful fashion wholesale agency for over 10 years. So many of my retailers were asking me if I knew of a dress line for women that addressed what today’s modern woman was looking for; something practical yet fashionable, easy enough to wear every day but dress up for evening and definitely dresses that flattered a multitude of body types and sizes. Women like to look fashionable and pretty but we still need to be able to stick things in our pockets, cross our legs without exposing ourselves to the world and be warm. That’s why the Fall Collection features dresses with pockets, full panel wraps and fully lined for warmth but not bulk! And for fun I throw in special details like hot pink linings, pretty little buttons and French cuffs!

Q: What inspires you when you are designing a collection?
A: Usually a period of time in the past. I’m a huge vintage fan and so my first collection really had those 50’s elements of cocktail dresses and feminine silhouettes. When I designed my Mad Men Inspired Wrap Dress I could totally see myself at a 50’s cocktail party with one hand in my pocket and one on a martini glass! Though I may not be holding a martini glass in real life, my pockets are perfect for stuffing my car keys, cell phone and the odd kid toy in them.

Q: That’s right, you’re a mom as well so did you design with yourself in mind?
A: Well I have to be able to want to wear every dress I design so for sure I don’t make it if I can’t envision where I would wear it and yes having 2 young kids certainly makes me think about the more practical side of dressing. But I want to look fashionable and modern too so I think I’ve done that with my dresses.

Q: Where can we buy Dotty dresses? Do you have a retail store?
A: You can buy online at www.dottydress.com and you can also purchase the dresses at numerous boutiques throughout Southern Ontario and in British Columbia. You can see a list of our current retailers on our website. For Spring 2012 we’ll be shipping to stores in February 2012 so we’ll be updating that list as well as we are expanding our distribution for this line. All very exciting for us!

Q: You said Fashion should be fun and the Red Tunic Dress you are wearing is just that! Great colour!
A: Thanks! As much as I love the colour black, it’s nice to change it up with a bright colour or interested pattern. This red tunic does just that and you can wear it so many different ways which is great for your budget but also for your ability to own a great “go to” piece.

Click here to See how Kenda of Balance My Life was shown 3 different ways to wear the Dotty Red Tunic for the upcoming holidays!