Dani Biscevic has always had a flair for fashion ever since she was young, spending her time with clothes, fashion, and dressing up. But it wasn’t until a fashion design camp the summer before 6th grade that she discovered her passion for couture and design.
Most of the inspiration for her designs come from the big-name designers in the world, such as Elsa Schiarapelli, Hubert de Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent. Biscevic admires creativity in work: “I love [Schiarapelli’s] extremely creative and super cool pieces that are inspired by Salvador Dali.” Elsa Schiarapelli was an Italian fashion designer in the 1900s, who was regarded as one of the most prominent figures in fashion during that time period alongside Coco Chanel.
“Hubert de Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent,” Biscevic says, “are simply iconic.” She absolutely loves de Givenchy’s gowns and the fact that he had worked closely with Audrey Hepburn, her idol: “I’m absolutely obsessed with Audrey Hepburn.” Biscevic laughs. De Givenchy was a French fashion designer, known for the “little black dress.” Biscevic looks up to Yves Saint Laurent because of his independence; he was only a teenager when he was noticed by Christian Dior and started working under him. Biscevic also holds a similar ambitious streak: “I want to be a creative director for a major fashion line,” she states.
For those thinking about entering the fashion industry, it’s understandable to be intimidated. There are a lot of things to consider: from how you’ll get started to where you want to be in the future. Biscevic has a few words of advice for those seeking to dive into the world of fashion: “Learn as much as you can, immerse yourself in the industry.” Being knowledgeable about trends is crucial, but Biscevic also emphasizes looking back in history for references. This may come as a surprise to some, but considering many of the fashion trends prevalent today are vintage styles that have come back to life, it is a solid piece of advice.
What is Biscevic doing to stay creative during the shelter-in-place? “Well, I’ve been drawing a lot, and creating a lot of pieces at home,” she remarks. Similar to many other artists at Menlo, Biscevic is doing her best to keep making art and pursuing her passion, despite the situation at hand.
The Bard 