EMERGING DESIGNER

Diamond Totans

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Diamond Fashion Focus

exy and glamorous define this designer's gorgeous dresses. Diamond designs beautiful dresses that are feminine and flattering to the woman's body.

Diamond Totans was born in Monterey, California and grew up in Santa Cruz, California. She also traveled the world living in such diverse and interesting places as Bangkok, Thailand, Honolulu Hawaii, San Francisco and Reno, Nevada. No doubt her international background has influenced her design approach. Early on signs of her creativeness and talent were apparent. As a kid she loved the color pink and she would draw princess silhouettes. Her mother would always dress her up in dresses. A young diva, Diamond would often change outfits more than once on some days. By the time she was 9, she had her own take on personal style that would later eventually blossom into a career in fashion.

"The very first thing I could remember making is a dress from sewing class in Junior High School. When we went to the fabric store to pick out our fabrics I remember I saw this honey green cherry blossom print on satin fabric. I wanted it but my teacher said it was too expensive. So my next choice was black satin fabric. I modeled it in our school fashion show and wore it to the school dance. It was my first little black dress." As a teen her style was "glam-goth" and she would make dresses to wear to events. Diamond continued to sew in junior high all the way through to college where she sewed all the time. She received Associates Degree in Fashion Design from Brooks College in Sunnyvale, California.

Diamond has over 10 years experience in various aspects of retail from clothing, shoes, makeup, lingerie, and accessories. Her current retail level is management. She has worked in shops such as Origins, Wet Seal, Victoria's Secret, and Converse. She continues to design and is sure to sell more and more of her designs as she focuses on the sexy and glamorous garments that she creates.