By Tyler Martin
Playful layering, timeless pieces and a tomboy edge define the personal style of Lily Sisto, a New York City-based social media influencer with over 103k followers on Instagram and 67.7k followers on TikTok. Sisto started her career in fashion PR, and now she’s adding another job title to her already impressive resume: fashion designer. Sisto has partnered with Dillard’s to bring her dream capsule wardrobe to life through a collaboration with the retailer’s in-house brand, Gianni Bini. The collection launched yesterday and is available at Dillard’s NorthPark and online here.
Sisto came to Dallas for the launch celebration, but it was more than just a formality, it was also a homecoming of sorts – Sisto attended SMU (she’s a 2017 graduate), majoring in Communications and Fashion Media. But she’s not the only SMU grad involved in this collab – Dillard’s Vice President Alexandra Dillard Lucie, a 2005 SMU grad, helped make it happen. “The SMU connection is incredibly strong and powerful,” Lucie says. “I am constantly in awe of the accomplishments of SMU‘s young alumni, and Lilly’s exceptional career is a great testimony to the caliber of students and graduates that attend our great university.”
In addition to the launch, Sisto also came to campus, participating in the SMU Look Media Female Founders in Fashion panel event (see @smulook for exclusive content) on November 13. I was fortunate to have the chance to sit down with her while she was in town, and we spoke about her creative process, the unique features of the collection, and her recent experience as a first-time designer.
TM: Tell me about the design process for your collaboration.
LS: The Dillard’s design offices are in New York, and I remember the very first meeting. I showed up at their offices with bags and bags of all my favorite vintage clothes. I walked them through every piece, saying ‘this is my favorite vintage Burberry skirt, this is my favorite handmade lace piece I love … ’ We went through absolutely every category and every piece from shoes to clothing. I think we knew that the first collection for this felt more fall-winter because I love coats, boots, miniskirts and dressing up for colder weather.
TM: The items in the collection all have unique, personalized names. How did you come up with these? In what other ways did you personalize this collection?
LS: It was important for me to add my own personal touches to the line. All of the items are named after people who are really special in my life. As for the little touches, there’s a piece of grosgrain ribbon on everything. The label is grosgrain, all the little pull tabs on the back of the socks are grosgrain, there’s grosgrain ribbon on the hang tags, there’s even grosgrain on the back of the riding boot. That’s my signature, so I wanted to make sure that detail was on every item. I loved being so overly involved and approving every single thing.
TM: Did you face any challenges while designing this collection?
LS: I think the hardest part was narrowing it down. When we originally came up with all the samples, we would have to narrow down the items and think ‘this will sell really well,’ or ‘this particular piece will work for that age group, etc.’ I would have loved to have 50 pieces in this line, but instead, we went for everything working together cohesively. Deciding on the color palette really appealed to me. The silvers, grays, reds and browns all tie in together. I sat in a room with Alexandra for seven hours and I tried every last piece.
TM: Do you have a favorite item from the collection? Is there an item you can’t live without?
LS: I mean, I truly love everything. I think the Lilly skirt is fun because the school-girl aesthetic is kind of my signature. I think there should always be a pop of red in your wardrobe, so the Sophie coat is really special. The Blakely dress is available in red and brown, which were the signature tones of the collection. And the final touches are the shoes – they’re so amazing and comfortable.
TM: I know you’ve done shoe and jewelry collections before. How is this different?
LS: This was the first big collection – it’s ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories. The process has been similar, but it’s on a much larger scale.
TM: When you designed this collection, did you have a specific “girl” or customer in mind?
LS: When I was designing it, I was thinking of a younger version of myself in New York, running around having fun. Also, for my mom, who is my design inspiration, I was designing dresses that she could wear to a party or event. Every single piece in this collection can be worn anywhere and everywhere. It was also important to me that there was a piece in this collection for everyone, from inclusive sizing to price points.
TM: As an SMU grad, how did your time in Dallas influence your sense of style?
LS: I feel like Dallas is such a fashion hub – everyone here just dresses really chic! And I don’t think there are many colleges out there where people get as dressed up for class as they do at SMU.
TM: Your collection is inspired by the capsule wardrobe concept. What is your advice to readers who want to build their own capsule wardrobe?
LS: It’s important to have pieces you can wear every day and that you are able to mix and match. The basics are a necessity, and a great coat always elevates your look.
This interview has been condensed for length and clarity.
To shop the Lilly Sisto x Gianni Bini collaboration on SMU Look Media’s Shop Rodeo account, go to shoprodeo.com. SMU Look media may receive compensation for any purchases made through its link.
Cover artwork by Staff Member Athena Mamatas
