{{Short description|American fashion designer}} {{Infobox fashion designer | name = Tracy Reese | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|02|12}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan | death_date = | death_place = | education = Parsons School of Design | label_name = {{plainlist| * Tracy Reese * Plenty * Frock! * Tracy Reese Black Label }} }} thumb|Tracy Reese designs, 2008. [[File:Regina King in Tracy Reese.jpg|thumb|Regina King in Tracy Reese (2010)]] '''Tracy Reese''' (born February 12, 1964) is an American fashion designer who specializes in women's ready-to-wear clothing, accessories, and home fashions such as linens. She is a board member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, having been inducted in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bing|first=Bonnie|title=Designer stays true to her distinctive look|url=http://www.kansas.com/2011/11/14/2102562/designer-stays-true-to-her-distinctive.html|access-date=November 22, 2011|newspaper=Wichita Eagle|date=November 14, 2011}}</ref>
==Early life== Reese is originally from Detroit, Michigan, and graduated from Cass Technical High School. She recalls making clothing from scratch while growing up, alongside her mother, while they worked sitting side by side at their own sewing machines.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Eunice W.|title=Behind the Seams|newspaper=Ebony|issn=0012-9011|page=89|date=February 2006 |volume=61 |number=4}}</ref> In 1982, she moved to New York City to pursue her education at Parsons School of Design. After graduating with an accelerated degree in 1984, Reese worked under Martine Sitbon at the firm Arlequin. She worked at several top fashion design houses, and eventually became head of the Women's Portfolio for Perry Ellis<ref>{{cite web|title=Tracy Reese|url=http://www.mbfashionweek.com/designers/tracy_reese|publisher=Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref> before launching her own label.
==Tracy Reese label== The Tracy Reese fashion label was launched in New York City in 1998. The Tracy Reese label produces both ready-to-wear and resort wear. Plenty (2000) and Frock! (2006) were launched as mass market lines at a more affordable price range. Plenty has a focus on home fashions. Tracy Reese Black Label launched in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tracy Reese -- Designer Fashion Label|url=http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/tracyreese/|publisher=New York Magazine, New York Media LLC|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
Tracy Reese designs are noted for their femininity and retro-influenced style; the textiles themselves make use of bright colors, elaborate graphic patterns, and a playful use of bohemian touches.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bing|first=Bonnie|title=Designer stays true to her distinctive look|url=http://www.kansas.com/2011/11/14/2102562/designer-stays-true-to-her-distinctive.html|access-date=November 22, 2011|newspaper=Wichita Eagle|date=November 14, 2011}}</ref> Clothing and home fashions by Tracy Reese's design lines are carried by retailers such as Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, Modcloth, and Nordstrom. The Tracy Reese flagship store in New York City opened in 2006. In a ''New York Times'' interview on the occasion of the store's five-year anniversary, Reese expressed optimism about current trends continuing to support her design vision:{{blockquote|We love pretty, we like beautiful, flattering, color! That’s what people come here for. There was a moment when big stores weren’t into that but our customer always was, and she was coming here".<ref>{{cite news|last=Oliver|first=Simone S.|title=Tracy Reese Celebrates Five Years in the Meatpacking District|url=http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/tracy-reese-celebrates-five-years-in-the-flatiron-district/|access-date=November 22, 2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=June 9, 2011}}</ref>}}
In 2011, a second exclusive Tracy Reese store opened, this one in Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edelson|first=Sharon|title=Tracy Reese Opens in Tokyo|url=https://www.wwd.com/retail-news/designer-luxury/tracy-reese-opens-in-tokyo-3484996|publisher=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=November 22, 2011|date=February 14, 2011}}</ref>
Reese has a number of celebrity clients, including First Lady Michelle Obama, who wore Tracy Reese dresses during a First Family visit to Hawaii in 2011/2012,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mrs-o.com/newdata/2012/1/3/scenes-from-hawaii-part-ii.html|title = Scenes from Hawaii, Part II - Home - MRS.O - Follow the Fashion and Style of First Lady Michelle Obama}}</ref> at a ceremony in 2013 commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2013/08/28/michelle-obama-march-on-washington-dress-pics-tracy-reese/|title=Michelle Obama Stuns For The March On Washington Anniversary|last=Mitzeliotis|first=Katrina|date=2013-08-28|website=Hollywood Life|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> and on other occasions. The First Lady also wore a custom-made Tracy Reese dress for her 2012 DNC Convention speech.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2012-democratic-convention-michelle-obamas-tracy-reese-dress-steals-spotlight-368069|title=2012 Democratic Convention: Michelle Obama's Tracy Reese Dress Steals Spotlight|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=5 September 2012|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref>
==Collaborations== Reese has several collaborations underway as of 2011, which include:<ref>{{cite web|title=Tracy Reese -- Designer Fashion Label|url=http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/tracyreese/|publisher=New York Magazine, New York Media LLC|access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref> * Tracy Reese for HUE hosiery (Fall 2007 to Present); * Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen (Fall 2007 to Present); * Plenty by Tracy Reese for Keds (Spring 2009 to Present). * Tracy Reese by Jamberry (February 2016 through August 2016) * United Airlines worldwide uniform renewal program (2018–Present; deferred in 2020)
==See also== {{portal|Fashion}} * Council of Fashion Designers of America * List of fashion designers
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Tracy Reese}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reese, Tracy}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:African-American designers Category:American fashion designers Category:American women fashion designers Category:Artists from Detroit Category:Parsons School of Design alumni Category:American businesspeople in fashion Category:African-American fashion designers Category:The New School alumni Category:21st-century African-American people Category:21st-century African-American women Category:20th-century African-American people Category:20th-century African-American women