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In the fashion world, the word “friend” is a loose term at best. Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs have proved that stigma wrong, one seductive pencil skirt at a time

by Sarah dE Brun

Sharing a glass of wine over a heated discussion. Wandering the city, window shopping for hours. Giving it to her like it is (the truth always hurts, but sometimes it needs to be said). It’s these simple moments with your BFF that hold you together like glue. Now take a minute to imagine joining forces with your bestie to start a business. This is something that could make or break a friendship, even if you are as tight as Kim Kardashian’s bandage dresses circa 2009. For Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, however, their partnered passion has proved to be a match made in heaven.

Both graduated in 2007 from Parsons New School of Design and neither left empty handed. Not only were they presented awards upon graduation (Ochs nabbed The Designer of the Year award and Cushnie was runner up) but after sparking a friendship in their junior year—and as fate had it—they exited the school as a brand in the making. In 2008, Cushnie Et Ochs launched, its first collection sold exclusively to Bergorf Goodman. As any designer knows (or if you’ve seen the documentary Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s), that is no easy feat to manage. Only the best get in. The Spring 2009 pieces BG requested were influenced by the cult-classic film American Psycho. Hemlines graced under kneecaps, shoe colors coordinated with worn attire to create a monochromatic hue, and slashed cut-outs brought attention to the delicate yet sexy points of a woman’s silhouette.

Almost six years later, and the brand’s vibe is still consistent with that premiere assemblage. Looking through the history of Cushnie Et Ochs, you’ll notice a bevy of dresses—no doubt the ladies’ signature form, tonal looks of head-to-toe black, white, nude, or the current season’s brilliantly bursting shade and polished draping that flows along the body like honey. There are notes of late ’90s Gucci, too, a time which remains bold and timeless and influences women’s fashion nowadays more than it’s given credit for.

Cushnie, originally from London, interned for the likes of Donna Karan, Proenza Schouler, and Oscar de la Renta while enrolled at both the Paris and New York City Parsons campuses. Doing so only made her awareness of movement and draping stronger, which shows as proof in the brand’s strong, confident designs. Ochs has credited her interning with Ralph Rucci as a source of knowledge of “intricate couture techniques” for Rucci’s Chado line. Both powers combined have constructed a vision of clothing for the woman who strives to be sensual but not overtly indecent. A better understanding of who this might be is to present their client list: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lupita Nyong’O, Jessica Alba, the newly ultra-streamlined Kim Kardashian, and most importantly Michelle Obama, who donned a custom-made, forest green, mid-calf dress at 2011’s “Christmas in Washington” gala. Once you’ve dressed the First Lady, you’ve pretty much checked off your bucket list, but Cushnie and Ochs power on.

Most recently, the designing women created exclusive Cushnie et Ochs LBDs (little black dresses) for the posh waitstaff at Gramercy Park Hotel’s Rose Bar that were reflective of looks from their pre-fall 2014 collection. That’s reason enough for any young stylista to send in her application, stat.

For Spring 2015, the brand takes us on a Mediterranean holiday with flowing fabrics that fit sexy in all the right places, gold arm bands that shine against a sun-kissed tan, dramatic eye makeup, and hair slicked back in a half-tucked pony. There’s a small sighting of black and white stripes, but the main attraction remains solids, and as always, the draping does most of the talking.

Northwell B22 SPREAD

Whether it’s collecting honorable awards, dressing fashion’s most coveted icons, or continuing to roll out sophisticated styles for women who are beyond sure of themselves, the duo behind Cushnie Et Ochs officially own the runway, and who better to share that spotlight with than your best friend?

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