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Community Corner

Daughter of Local Clothing Designer Follows in Mom's Fashionable Footsteps

Paloma Carreon attends Academy of Art University in San Francisco and is helping her fashion designer mother with her own clothing line.

Paloma Carreon is carrying the torch when it comes to her family's sense of fashion. Her mother, Gilroy native , spoke to Patch in June. Now it's Paloma's turn.

Gilroy Patch: Your mother said you are going to school for fashion.

Paloma Carreon: I attend Academy of Art in San Francisco; I was a fashion design major my first semester and I’m going back in the fall. 

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Patch: So do you help your mom out with her clothing line?

Carreon: I help her with sketching and her ideas. Sometimes she comes up with something, and it’s so off, and I’m like, “No, mom, no.” We have different tastes, that’s for sure.

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Patch: What are you wearing today?

Carreon: I’m wearing old comfy boots. I literally just woke up. They asked me if I wanted to go to the bowling alley. I said, “No, I don’t want to go.” But I ended up going, so I just threw on leggings.

Patch: Where did you buy what you are wearing?

Carreon: I got these cheapo leggings from Charlotte Russe, this jacket from H&M for $35. It’s a timeless jacket and it looks cute with everything. I pair it with jeans, skirts, leggings and dresses, anything really. And as for the cheap leggings, I see no sense in spending money on something that is just going to rip. These shoes are from The Saks Fifth outlet store in Gilroy.

Patch: How does going to school for fashion in San Francisco compare with living in Gilroy?

Carreon: It was fun. It was stressful, though. Everybody is always out. It’s slower-paced in Gilroy. The classes, I liked; it was more than I expected. It was really intensive and I was definitely expecting the classes to be easier and less rigorous. There’s nobody out past 9 p.m. in Gilroy, and I lived in Union Square near the school in San Francisco, which was really different.

Patch: How were your classmates? Watching shows such as Project Runway, I get the feeling that the best designers don't really have too much taste when it comes to their own attire; is this true?

Carreon: Some of them are irritating, but there’s like a couple girls that would stand out, and it’s like, “Wow I don’t know how they can wear these cute heels for our four-hour classes and do it every day.” And there are a few that stuck out and a few that were like, “Wow, you are from the middle of Ohio; what are you doing here?”

Patch: What irks you about your classmates?

Carreon: I also don’t like the girls who are like, “I like shopping so I’m going to give fashion design a try.” It doesn’t really work.

Patch: And what kind of grades were they getting?

Carreon: Let's just say, I would look at some of their stuff and I couldn’t think of anything nice to say during in-class critiques.

Patch: Who inspires your fashion statements?

Carreon: Lately I’ve been super into Carolina Herrera and I’ve always liked Valentino. But I’m so over Chanel—maybe her older stuff, but now she is overrated. I’m over Karl Lagerfeld, also; he is kind of a snob.

Patch: Have you seen any fashion in other parts of the world?

Carreon: I went to Paris, and it’s so different from Gilroy, because people actually care what they look like. I remember walking down the street, and everybody would look so good, even going out to buy groceries.

Patch: How much work does it look like they put into their grocery outfits?

Carreon: It looks effortless, too. London was touristy but people definitely had their style over there. In Gilroy, it’s like Abercrombie and Hollister sweaters, and that’s it.

Patch: What did you like most about the fashion overseas?

Carreon: People genuinely care what they look like and how other people perceive them. I thought that was so admirable, and so cute.

Patch: Do you have any advice for your fellow Gilroy fashionistas?

Carreon: When you’re shopping, don’t necessarily look for brands; look for pieces that you know you will use over time. Also don’t think about buying what looks cute now; think about what will look cute a few months down the road, or a few years; look for something timeless. It’s worth the investment.

Patch: What about items like your mom's Michael Kors purse?

Carreon: Every once and a while, once a season, max, go ahead and blow $500 on a purse.

Patch: Is your braid part of your ensemble?

Carreon: I do it only, because my hair is so long. I guess it adds to my outfit! I haven’t washed it in three days!

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