The New York designer who knows the secret to personal style is maths
Tibi founder Amy Smilovic has no investors and just one store. But she’s a force within the fashion industry for her plain-speaking advice.
“Chill, modern, classic.” Tibi founder Amy Smilovic says the key to developing personal style is to think of three characteristics that describe your clothing and use them to balance your outfits. Arsineh Houspian
Amy Smilovic will never sell you something to make you look taller or thinner or younger. “Who cares if you look taller, but you hate what you’re wearing?” she asks. “That’s not the point of getting dressed.”
New York-based Smilovic is a big deal in the world of fashion. Her brand, Tibi, is relatively small – she is the only investor and after 27 years in business, she has just one retail store (in New York City); the rest of the business relies on wholesale accounts.
Lauren SamsFashion editorLauren Sams is the fashion editor, based in Sydney. She writes about lifestyle including the arts, entertainment, fashion and travel. Lauren has worked as a features editor and fashion journalist for ELLE, marie claire and more. Email Lauren at lauren.sams@afr.com
![“We’re having a birthday party for [daughter] Rada in a few weeks and we’re going to get the truck to come, which is a real flex,” O’Neill says.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.7012%2C$multiply_2%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_732%2C$y_641/t_crop_custom/c_scale%2Cw_600%2Cq_52%2Cf_auto/b5e4395344f07ccd1e3a348af02af77c8eeb8d1b)
