Designing woman: Lynn Chalk of Monroe sold her clothes to the stars in L.A.

Written by Brad Durrell
Friday, 04 November 2011 20:06

 

Lynn Chalk of Monroe has always liked unique clothes — making them as well as wearing them. Growing up in Fairfield, she wore clothes that made her stand out. “I had my own vision,” she said.

Chalk pursued clothing design as an independent study in high school, and eventually attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

 

She started making stage clothes for local rock bands and other entertainers, often working with leather. She moved to Los Angeles and got a job working as an assistant for an executive at William Morris, a talent agency that represents many major entertainers. 

That’s where she got her break.

Chalk would wear the unique outfits she made to the William Morris office. “People would ask me, Where did I get my clothes?” she recalled.

One day in 1990, a woman told her she knew a buyer at Fred Segal, an upscale clothing store favored by many celebrities. When Chalk took her clothing samples to Fred Segal, the buyer purchased everything she had with her.

She then met with a buyer at Maxfield, another trendy, upscale clothing shop in southern California, and it also bought everything she carried into the meeting with her.

Soon such entertainers as Tom Jones, Rod Stewart and Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer were wearing clothes she had made. Her clothes were purchased to be worn on MTV videos and TV award shows.

Some vests she made sold for $1,500 each. Goldie Hawn, Jaclyn Smith and Valerie Bertinelli were among the actresses who purchased her designs. “I just took off,” said Chalk, crediting luck as one of the reasons for her success.

 

“It’s something I had always dreamed about but I didn’t think could happen,” she said. “I was just in the right place at the right time. No one got my style until I moved to California.” 

Chalk became a full-time clothing designer and maker, creating one-of-a-kind dresses, vests, shirts, hats, and scarves. She specialized in tambour clothes, which have beaded and embroidered designs. She did all the sewing and beading by herself.

She was able to make a living selling her clothes at the two upscale retailers for about seven years. “I was in that creative zone for years,” she said. “It was fun and it was creative.”

 

Comes back East

Chalk has lived in Monroe since the late 1990s with her husband, Scott Clarke, a furniture maker and designer. He is originally from western Canada. The couple met in California. They moved back East because she missed her family. They have an 11-year-old daughter.

 

She now operates a business that focuses on custom window treatments, bedding ensembles, pillows, cushions, and children’s rooms. Chalk promotes herself as a “master seamstress and fabric designer.” 

Most of her clients come from affluent towns in lower Fairfield County. She said many people who move into houses in these communities seek out design assistance. “Lots of people don’t know what to do with windows,” she said.

Chalk said she will work with a client for as long as it takes for them to be satisfied. Sometimes that is a quick process, and other times it can take up to six months. “I’m dedicated to my clients,” she said.

Most of her business comes from word of mouth. The Internet has helped bring in new clients, but the weak economy and real estate market have slowed things down.

 

Works with youth

Last year, she volunteered her time at Masuk High School’s new fashion design course, working on beading with students. “I’m learning from them,” she said of the experience.

She has offered private design and sewing lessons for adults and teens, and will assist students working on fashion portfolios.

 

 

 

Chalk, a 1976 graduate of Fairfield’s Roger Ludlowe High School, said she tells students to follow their own vision. “I try to teach the kids to follow their inner voice, even if others don’t understand it,” she said. “If you feel something really strong inside, just do it. Trust your instincts.”

She said she has met many talented young people in Monroe and surrounding communities. “Young kids are interested in sewing,” she said. “They are so creative.”

 

Being a good designer generally comes from within, according to Chalk. “You can learn the basics of how to construct, but the actual creative process is hard to teach,” she said. 

She would like to get back into making clothes, but isn’t sure the market is as strong on the East Coast for her unique designs. “In L.A., people spend big money on clothing,” she said.

“I’m itching to do clothes again,” said Chalk, noting she plans to soon take some of her clothes to juried craft shows in the area.

Learn more at LynnChalk.com.