Chick by Nicky Hilton

The Hilton Heiress Introduces Her New Clothing Line

Nicky Hilton is no second banana. Sure, big sis Paris has a hit reality series, a tell-all book and not one, but two sex tape scandals under her belt, but 21-year-old Nicky is certainly not to be overlooked. She’s at an all-time high from recently introducing to the world Chick by Nicky Hilton–her juniors clothing line complete with eccentric, trendsetting pieces that Nicky says reflect her own design style.

Don’t write off Chick as just another celebrity line just yet. Nicky, who has earned her celebrity from a famous pedigree and socialite status, does a lot more with her pieces than most stars. She (gasp) actually designs the pieces herself!

“What [Benvin Industries] first said to me when I first sat down with them was, ‘We don’t want you to approve...We don’t want to just show you samples to approve...we don’t like the word approve. We want you to create,’” Nicky says.

In addition to the new line of clothing, which will be appearing in stores in early spring 2005, Nicky has already accomplished herself as a worldy designer with her handbag line she created with Samantha Thavasa. The line, which has experienced a soft debut in the states in stores such as Bloomingdale’s, has found wild popularity in Japan where sales have reached impressive numbers in just a couple of years. In Hollywood, the bags have been spotted on many famous femmes’ arms including those of Britney Spears, Pamela Anderson, Tara Reid and of course, Paris Hilton.

Despite the lines’ two different design houses, (Samantha Thavasa is a collaboration with the Bloomingdale’s designer of the same name, while Chick is born out of Benvin Industries), Nicky says many styles of the two will soon coincide with matching handbags and outfits.

MAKING HER OWN MOVES

The newly-brunette Hilton has definitely made a break from her sister’s shadow in the past year, making bold moves of her own and taking on a career that has proven to be very separate from her sis. Rather than ride on the coattails of sister Paris’ magazine covers and modeling shows, Nicky marches to the beat of her own drum, standing proudly behind the stage and behind the work of her own creations.

Nicky has often been labeled the calmer, sweeter girl of the pair, described as the somewhat shy counterpart to Paris’ infamous wild, outgoing rep. Askmen.com even penned Nicky as being one of the most charismatic and gorgeous women of New York’s social elite. The girls once famous for jet-setting around the globe to hit the world’s best parties, were known to make their grand entrance side-by-side, often in matching attire. One box of brown hair dye later, Nicky has found her own path designing and endorsing her new line at shows like the MAGIC tradeshow in Las Vegas, all sans Paris.

FROM SOCIALITE TO MODEL DESIGNER

Famous in the New York party circle for being the most hardcore party-goers around, even before they were of age, what most don’t know about the younger Hilton, is that Nicky has been plotting her move to design since childhood.

“This is something I’ve wanted forever,” she said. “I’m still pinching myself.”

Having discovered Samantha Thavasa when publicist Brian Long invited her to the U.S. launch of the internationally-renowned handbag line, Nicky was soon asked to be a spokesmodel. Nicky wasn’t in that role long before Thavasa herself saw the young aspiring designer’s vision and snatched her up to design part of the New York collection. “I’ve been designing for Samantha Thavasa since I was 17, so that has given me a lot of training in the fashion industry,” says Nicky. Since 2003, Nicky has designed two collections for the line, with more to come. Then in August, the up-and-coming designer revealed her latest endeavor, Chick by Nicky Hilton, a fashion-forward junior’s line consisting of denim and blazers embellished with spray-painted designs, tie-dyed tops and button-up blouses.

“Chick doesn’t mean spending couture prices for clothes,” said Allan Fredman of Benvin Industries, “It is more about a matter of taste!”

Fredman addressed press at the line’s debut at the fall 2004 MAGIC convention in Las Vegas, saying, “We at Benvin agree and were instantly impressed with her hands-on enthusiasm for fashion and design.” read more...