Taissa Lada

Who: Thirtysomething Taissa Lada creates glamorous, whimsical, feathered hair clips and headbands—not to mention intricate gowns, bustiers, and handbags. Her prices start at just $9 for hair clips and range up to $2,000 for a custom-made, hand-stitched gown.

The Story: Lada started designing under her namesake label about seven years ago. “I was having a bad hair day,” she says. “I picked up a boa off the floor and made a little barrette and wore it to a gallery—and came home with orders.” After spending thirteen years in Chicago, including four years studying fine art and fashion at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she recently replanted her roots in Minneapolis. At the 2005 Twin Cities Fashion Weekend, Lada sold all the pieces she brought, but one.

Inspiration: “My first inspiration was Jim Henson,” she says. “I saw The Dark Crystal when I was seven and knew what I was doing for the rest of my life.” Her designs are reminiscent of flapper and burlesque fashions of the 1920s and ’30s. Her color palette is pulled from tropical fish hues.

Textile File/Material Girl: Lada pulls some materials from Paris; others are vintage. Ostrich whips, peacock, red hackle, burnt coque and faux egret feathers, New Guinea schlappen, and chinchilla fur come together to form pieces suitable for fairy tales.