Now, with 50 stores open worldwide, OSKA’s unique collections are created by designer Stefanie Schmitz in Munich, and are produced in the Czech Republic. With its new location in Lake Forest’s Market Square, OSKA is set to impress Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. We sat down with the store’s manager, Monique Ramos, to learn more about the “classic clothes with a modern twist” that OSKA is known for.
What is OSKA’s design philosophy?
The collection is designed to empower and inspire. Our shops and our clients have the freedom to create looks in the palettes that appeal to them. We are of the opinion that every woman who shops with us can look completely different in styles and silhouettes that work for their own specific lifestyle. We find that many of our clients travel for business and for pleasure and we keep this in mind from design to styling.
Who is the ideal OSKA customer?
She likes to look chic and feel comfortable whether she’s working, traveling or popping out to run errands. Our client has a sophisticated aesthetic and wants to look put together in an uncomplicated way in all parts of her life. She tends to know what she likes but is willing to experiment with new shapes and styles that OSKA offers.
What sets OSKA apart from other clothing collections?
The main things we hear from our clients is that they love the style, quality, and fabrics that we offer. Stefanie, our designer, really has a strong vision for the whole collection. In some larger companies they may have a team of designers working simultaneously. Our brand is really created by one person with one vision. We also own our own dying houses and create unique palettes every season that you won’t see out in the market anywhere else. This allows us to really offer a strong and unique collection.
Tell us about your Spring/Summer 2013 collection.
This year we are using new fabrics that have not been in the OSKA collection before. We’ve focused on the items that our clients want but we’ve also expanded to offer pieces that can go very casual to very dressy. We are thrilled to offer a cashmere silk knit with washed linen; as well as super soft cotton and silk pieces that just look and feel fantastic. So far our clients are thrilled with what they’ve seen. We’ve already had to place reorders for our early groups and look forward to getting those in before mid February to keep up with demand.
What are three pieces of the Spring/Summer 2013 collection that every woman should have in her wardrobe?
1. There is a silk top that I just adore; it’s called the Brittany and I just think it’s everything. It looks like the perfect piece to go from a casual day to a cocktail party with ease. It’s made of silk but it really acts as a modern t-shirt. The silk drapes so beautifully that I want one in every color.
2. The Blouse Benise is amazing. It’s a called a blouse but it’s also great as a cardigan, tunic or beach cover-up. It’s long enough to be paired over a legging or a crop pant but could easily be worn open with a wider leg or a skirt. I adore this style and think the proportion is great for everyone. I loved it so much that I bought it in a ton of colors for the shop.
3. Coat Brenda is classic. It’s khaki colored denim in a soft wash. It looks like trench coat but there’s more to it than that. I see it as the “must have” jacket to go from the spring/summer into the fall. I love this piece and feel this is the kind of thing you could just throw on with a crisp white shirt and a crop pant and look ready for anything.
Why is Lake Forest a good fit for OSKA?
The owner of the OSKA company, Helmut Bayer and I toured the North Shore in great detail, and when we arrived in Lake Forest we were both taken by how welcoming the community was. The square itself is so beautiful and it just seemed right. I think the people here have a sophistication that will help them understand the collection and the OSKA perspective, and we really look forward to sharing our shop with everyone. We should have a great men’s collection coming in right around the time of the event in March. I think it will be nice to have a little something that the guys can embrace as well.
Tell us about your Grand Opening event.
We are going to offer sips and snacks to our clients on March 7th from 4-8 p.m. We are also thrilled to be working with the Infant Welfare Society to contribute 10 percent of the event’s proceeds to help them to continue to meet their goals of offering medical services to women and children of Chicago’s working poor. It is very important to be able to give back to such an important cause and we are thrilled to be able to do so.
OSKA is located at 264 Market Square in Lake Forest, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 847-482-1652, or visit oska.de/en/.
-Edited by Jenna Scubert
