My first fashion rendezvous with Lizz Russell was through a mutual friend in Atlanta, Georgia well over twenty years ago. Lizz was in town visiting from San Diego, California presenting her new fall fashion collections at the time. We hit it off nicely. I even did a photo shoot wearing a few of her amazing pieces that somehow melted on my body and seemed to flow effortlessly with each pose in front of the camera.

Lizz is soft spoken, and she smiles with her eyes the way Tyra Banks teaches. She is fierce and intentional about her designs though, and her intuitive side is keen as well—one of many things I really love about Lizz and her work.