Fashion Designer - Boston Proper

Designer Job Overview:

Do you love creating unforgettable new designs? Is your passion developing trend strategies that support dresses & collections? If you answered yes, this role may be for you! The Designer at Boston Proper will be responsible for the design, development, selection and approval of materials, trims, silhouettes, colors and patterns for the dresses and collections category. In addition, this person will support the VP Design, Trend & Technical Design in developing and executing a strategic vision, with a progressive, customer centric-approach all while delivering on sales and profit objectives. You also have the ability to leverage technical expertise to identify opportunities and develop an assortment.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

The Designer will be known as a trusted, collaborative and results-oriented leader, business partner and change agent who can lead through influence and who possesses professional maturity and industry credibility. The ideal candidate needs to be comfortable and effective leading through significant complexity. The ideal candidate will be known for both vision and an equally strong orientation for speed.

Assortment Vision, Strategy & Selection

• Interpret seasonal fashion direction, assortment opportunities and merchandise trends for area of responsibility.
• Participate in research and development of seasonal trends.
• Produce cohesive product presentations, including boards, tear sheets and samples to help sell concepts to merchants.
• Prepare line and presentation material for line development meetings including color boards/concept boards.
• Ensure designs meet merchant line plans, assortment strategies and overall creative direction.
• Shop the retail trend market seeking design inspiration (materials, fashion, color, trade shows) as needed.
• Interpret specific color palettes, patterns and prints for the season.
• Select and approves style, materials, trims and colors that fit into the program and style plans.
• Work with Product Development & Sourcing to create and distribute fabric development packages.
• Develop flat mechanical sketches for design development packages as needed.
• Responsible for tracking and approving labs dips, fabric samples, strike-offs and other development materials.
• Compile design development packages and distribute to technical design and vendors for sampling.
• Review development samples with cross functional partners to continue to improve sample development and vendor execution.

Cross-Functional Relationship Building

• Maintain relationships with technical designers, merchants, product development and planning to exchange ideas, leverage expertise and streamline the process.
• Attend fit sessions to review and approve counter samples for design silhouette.
• Communicate directly with vendors on style creation, fabrics, trims and layouts.

Qualifications:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Design or Fine Arts.
• Ideally, 5-plus years of industry experience.
• Proven design expertise in dresses & collections category.
• Able to develop, plan, present given category of business.
• Understands competitive marketplace and pursues white space opportunities.
• Competitive shop.

Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence.

Reasoning Ability:

• Self-starter, can work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload with multiple deadlines.
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Other Skills:

• Sophisticated design vision
• Strong color / print sensibility.
• Ability to view and differentiate the color spectrum.
• Working knowledge of Illustrator, Photoshop, and PLM.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

• Developing and coaching Design Assistant/Associate Designer.
• Inspires, motivates, and influences the behavior of others to drive high performance.
• Engages team to examine current practices and encourages creative thinking about how things could be more effective and efficient.
• Asserts own ideas and persuades others in a clear, confident, and composed manner. Tailors message for the audience and is able to gain support and commitment from others.
• Comfortable with taking risks and celebrating risk taking regardless of outcome.
• Collaborative, consultative style with a strong ability to establish trust and build relationships across all levels and functions of the organization.
• Resilient, tenacious, high energy. Able to rapidly bounce back from adversity.

Work Hours:

• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on department and company needs.
• Ability to travel domestically/internationally for market research/shopping for concept ideas.

Beyond Proper by Boston Proper, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, is an online and catalog women's apparel and accessories retailer committed to and inspired by the women we dress women who are fearlessly feminine, distinctively chic and possess the poise and confidence to wear it like no one else.