Sarah Phillips (fashion designer)

Phillips was born in New York City, and is an alumna of the Parsons School of Design in NYC. == Career ==

During the early years of her career, she worked for Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, and Christian Dior. Phillips began professionally designing her own pieces in 1989, while still working for Dior. She sold several of her first pieces to Henri Bendel, where they were featured in the front store windows along Fifth Avenue. The line, a 15-piece collection of suits and evening clothes, was bought by Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus amongst other specialty stores throughout the US, Canada, and Hong Kong. Phillips, took a hiatus, from designing, in order to spend more time with her family and continued with her illustration. Her new collection consisted of "40 special-occasion pieces made of silk and cashmere" and a scaled-back business model; the line was sold only through trunk shows to her private clients and her website. ==1993 Inaugural Ball gown==

Hillary Clinton, then the First Lady of Arkansas, wore a pale yellow silk suit designed by Phillips, to the 1992 Democratic National Convention, at Madison Square Garden, where her husband William Jefferson Clinton, then Governor of Arkansas, accepted the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Nicole Fischelis, then-fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue, said of the gown, "I think Sarah Phillips is part of a new generation of young designers who are very contemporary and have a definite feel for quality clothes … I think it's terrific that Mrs. Clinton would pick someone young and newly introduced to the public." The gown appeared on several national television shows and in magazines, such as Today, People Magazine, and in parody form with Madonna playing Hillary Clinton, on Saturday Night Live. She also became a member of the CFDA. ==References==