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Michelle Ochs

Cofounder; Designer, Cushnie et Ochs. New York

To compliment yesterday’s badass, we bring you Carly Cushnie’s business partner and stellar all-around chick Michelle Ochs, co-founder of NYC-based cult-loved label CUSHNIE ET OCHS. Since graduating in 2007 from Parsons and winning the Designer of the Year award from their final class, they launched their company in 2008 and put on their first runway show for Spring 2009, where they gave Bergdorf Goodman the exclusive to their debut collection. With experience behind her at fashion houses like Chado Ralph Rucci, Isaac Mizrahi Couture, and Marc Jacobs, Ochs, who loves a good fur and hairbands with spikes (that she made herself FYI), Michelle infuses her precise discipline and order that she learned from and education in military school into the line. Hmmm. We’re starting to think we may have a badass duo on our hands. When they aren’t finishing each others sentences (we’ve always wanted a twin for exactly this reason), they draw upon their mutual love of art, architecture, and the female form to help the evolution of their label. A lover of Jil Sander kicks (she has multiple pairs of the same styles), and little figurines (especially Lenny and Carl from The Simpsons), her style can only be summed up by two words. “My style can be described as Minimal Gangster,” she states. “It’s clean, sharp, edgy and architectural”. But, while she may have suffered some fashion emergencies (we’re talking about the ER here…not perms gone wrong), she’s never one to hold a grudge – especially to the one and only Jil Sander. Case in point: photo #15. “The first time I wore these shoes I fell and split my head open, I had to get two staples in my head just days before fashion week.” Talk about dedication to one’s craft!

Digital Inspiration

Behind the scenes Comments
My style can be described as Minimal Gangster. Its clean, sharp, edgy and architectural. Dress and Top, Cushnie et Ochs
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>My style can be described as Minimal Gangster. Its clean, sharp, edgy and architectural.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Dress and Top, Cushnie et Ochs</span>#inline_01
You can never go wrong with black. Every girl needs the perfect black everything - clutch, sunglasses, boots, etc… Metal accessories never hurt either! All, Various Designers
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>You can never go wrong with black. Every girl needs the perfect black everything - clutch, sunglasses, boots, etc… Metal accessories never hurt either!

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>All, Various Designers </span>#inline_02
Leather, metal and plexiglass make up most of my accessories. I like to think of my accessories as a collection and I love discovering new shapes and styles. I cannot wait until we ar... All, Various Designers
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>Leather, metal and plexiglass make up most of my accessories. I like to think of my accessories as a collection and I love discovering new shapes and styles. 
I cannot wait until we are designing our own accessories, the white flake leather bag is the first accessory we made for ourselves from scrap leather from the Fall 2011 collection.
 
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>All, Various Designers</span>#inline_03
I made this custom headband from spikes we sourced for our Spring 2011 collection for the spiked heels but we never used them so I spiked a rubber headband. It’s my favorite hair acce... Headband, Custom Made by Michelle Ochs
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>I made this custom headband from spikes we sourced for our Spring 2011 collection for the spiked heels but we never used them so I spiked a rubber headband. It’s my favorite hair accessory and I never wear hair accessories.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Headband, Custom Made by Michelle Ochs 
</span>
If you are true and consistent to your style, dressing becomes so much easier. Because we design clothes, I like for my accessories to be both quirky and unique to compliment our design... All, Various Designers
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>If you are true and consistent to your style, dressing becomes so much easier. Because we design clothes, I like for my accessories to be both quirky and unique to compliment our designs.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>All, Various Designers </span>#inline_04
Love this dress from our Fall 2011 collection - the combination of a short leather dress and long leather fringe is a recipe for a good time. It's so playful. The ALDO collaboration for... Dress, Cushnie et Ochs; Shoes, Aldo x Cushnie et Ochs
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>Love this dress from our Fall 2011 collection - the combination of a short leather dress and long leather fringe is a recipe for a good time. It's so playful. The ALDO collaboration for Fall 2011 combined our love for leather and metal.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Dress, Cushnie et Ochs; Shoes, Aldo x Cushnie et Ochs </span>#inline_05
I died when I saw these YSL's on the runway, I knew I had to have them. I was sitting at my desk in the office and saw some shots on Tommy Ton’s site and that was it - I called YSL an... Shoes, Yves Saint Laurent
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>I died when I saw these YSL's on the runway, I knew I had to have them. I was sitting at my desk in the office and saw some shots on Tommy Ton’s site and that was it - I called YSL and had them delivered them to the office. I haven’t regretted it.
This horsewhip does come in handy, it was part of a Halloween costume but I didn’t want any old whip, I wanted a real hand braided one, it was way to beautiful to get rid of after that. 
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Yves Saint Laurent 
</span>#inline_06
A great jacket goes a long way - there is nothing like a great jacket. The leather trim compliments the heavy jersey perfectly, and keeps the jackets beautiful shape. It’s impeccable ... Jacket, Cushnie et Ochs; Shoes, Jil Sander
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>A great jacket goes a long way - there is nothing like a great jacket. The leather trim compliments the heavy jersey perfectly, and keeps the jackets beautiful shape. It’s impeccable tailoring that stands the test of time.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Jacket, Cushnie et Ochs; Shoes, Jil Sander</span>#inline_07
Meet Tony. I found him in a shop in Hong Kong and he was so big I couldn’t fit him in my suitcase so I had to hand carry him on the plane like a baby. Guess you can say I am a sucke... Headband, Custom Made by Michelle Ochs
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>Meet Tony. I found him in a shop in Hong Kong and he was so big I couldn’t fit him in my suitcase so I had to hand carry him on the plane like a baby. 
Guess you can say I am a sucker for duos and underdogs - what better a reminder than Lenny and Carl from The Simpsons? These figures are from Kid Robot.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Headband, Custom Made by Michelle Ochs </span>
L'Oreal will be happy to know their challenge box was put to good use! Our design challenge for the 2011 CFDA/Vogue fashion fund was presented in this box, it was too beautiful to get r... Shoes, Jil Sander
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>L'Oreal will be happy to know their challenge box was put to good use! Our design challenge for the 2011 CFDA/Vogue fashion fund was presented in this box, it was too beautiful to get rid of. 
The shoes inside are Jil Sander, I own three pairs.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Jil Sander 
</span>#inline_08
I love the idea of hard and soft, something that is both feminine and edgy. The dress on the left is from our Spring 2011 collection, again it’s that soft fabric with pleated leather.... Dresses, Cushnie et Ochs; Boots, Doc Martens
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>I love the idea of hard and soft, something that is both feminine and edgy. The dress on the left is from our Spring 2011 collection, again it’s that soft fabric with pleated leather. The dress to the right was from our first collection - it is silk gauze with vinyl embroidery. I love pairing Doc Martens with our dresses.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Dresses, Cushnie et Ochs; Boots, Doc Martens </span>#inline_09
This dress is a custom print we designed. It is meant to look very sweet but up close contains a headless torso and sharp jagged edges. The shoes are Jil Sander. Shoes, Cushnie et Ochs; Shoes, Jil Sander
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>This dress is a custom print we designed. It is meant to look very sweet but up close contains a headless torso and sharp jagged edges. The shoes are Jil Sander.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Cushnie et Ochs; Shoes, Jil Sander </span>#inline_10
This is my new favorite fur coat, we do one every Fall and every Fall I have a new favorite fur coat. The necklace was given to me by Carly, she bought it when she was 16 in London, I l... Coat, Cushnie et Ochs
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>This is my new favorite fur coat, we do one every Fall and every Fall I have a new favorite fur coat. The necklace was given to me by Carly, she bought it when she was 16 in London, I love the odd figures.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Coat, Cushnie et Ochs</span>#inline_11
The metal necklace is from random jewelry store in New York. The Calvin Klein metal clutch was a birthday present from Carly and the gold metal banana vase is Jonathan Adler. Clutch, Calvin Klein; Belt, Maison Martin Margiela; Silver Cuff, ASOS
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>The metal necklace is from random jewelry store in New York. The Calvin Klein metal clutch was a birthday present from Carly and the gold metal banana vase is Jonathan Adler. 

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Clutch, Calvin Klein; Belt, Maison Martin Margiela; Silver Cuff, ASOS </span>#inline_12
I love texture. The pillows are grey Mongolian lamb hair from West Elm, and the shoes are a heavy beaded black embroidery from Jil Sander. The first time I wore these shoes I fell and s... Shoe, Jil Sander
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>I love texture. The pillows are grey Mongolian lamb hair from West Elm, and the shoes are a heavy beaded black embroidery from Jil Sander. The first time I wore these shoes I fell and split my head open, I had to get two staples in my head just days before fashion week. Still love these shoes.

</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoe, Jil Sander </span>#inline_13
These pillows were from Kiki de Montparnasse. They are my mom’s favorite thing in my apartment. Necklace, Unknown Designer
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>These pillows were from Kiki de Montparnasse. They are my mom’s favorite thing in my apartment.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Necklace, Unknown Designer</span>
This is my usual travel set, Doc Martins and this suitcase. I worked all summer in high school to get this bag and it has seen me through all my travels. Shoes, Doc Martens; Suitcase, Louis Vuitton
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>This is my usual travel set, Doc Martins and this suitcase. I worked all summer in high school to get this bag and it has seen me through all my travels.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Doc Martens; Suitcase, Louis Vuitton
</span>
I originally bought the conservative version of these shoes in navy and loved them so much. They were so comfortable that I went back and bought all three versions. Shoes, Jil Sander
<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>I originally bought the conservative version of these shoes in navy and loved them so much. They were so comfortable that I went back and bought all three versions.
</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Shoes, Jil Sander 
</span>
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