Designer Valentina Kova crafts fashion 'for real women'

Designer Valentina Kova was in town March 14 and 15 to meet, greet and thank her devoted Palm Beach fans for their loyalty. Guests had the opportunity to sip champagne, nibble hors d’oeuvres and preview the first of her spring capsule collections.

Kova presents five collections a year with three or four capsules — condensed versions of limited editions that transcend seasons. A wall of mini-rose nosegays and bouquets of coral flowers decorated the shop, enhancing coral-toned dresses, blouses and a tailored eyelet jacket shown with white slacks.

"My clothes are meant to be worn and enjoyed for years," said Kova. "Comfort is very important to me. I don't have a perfect body, but I am happy with my body. I design clothes for real women with busy lives. I am that woman."

She is known for her impeccably tailored designs of knitwear, blouses, slacks, dresses and fine jewelry.

Kova's background, drive, sense of classical elegance and understanding of craft is apparent in every garment she creates. Her atelier-level luxury brand offers dozens of styles to choose from.

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She is passionate about fabric and is a regular at trade shows, constantly searching for the finest natural, sustainable biodegradable fibers available. Buttons are either metal or pearl and the zippers she uses come from Switzerland.

"I love what I do so much," said Kova. "I love natural fibers and to explore the beauty of material. Comfort is very important to me. Clothes need to be comfortable. They are meant to be worn and can't be too tight. I make clothes for real women."

Sales director Ines Aurich and her staff, Gloria Alonso and Maria Sparks, have created a warm, friendly atmosphere and have established close relationships with their Palm Beach clientele and can fit from size zero to 16.

"Our customers come in often to see what's new. They can pick styles they like, try them on and depending upon the availability of the fabric, select from around 100 color swatches and customize their outfits. The turn-around time is about three weeks and there is no additional charge," said Aurich. ‘They will bring in a favorite pair of printed slacks or a skirt and we will update the look with a colorful solid blouse."

Kova, like her customers, lives a busy life, as the mother of a 4-year-old daughter and head of a growing American atelier-style fashion brand. She says she learned the business the hard way and built her brand step by step by understanding the needs and desires of her customers.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Kova came to the United States to attend Lake Forest College in Illinois, majoring in fine arts and economics. After graduating, she spent three years at Goldman Sachs in Chicago as a financial analyst.

She moved to New York, went to the Parsons Graduate School of Design and did stints for designers in New York and Paris. She taught classes in fashion and design principles at Parsons, using the money she earned to design her own line of fine jewelry.

Kova came to the attention of the New York fashion world in the early 2000s. People started noticing what she had on and began commissioning custom pieces. Her celebrity roster includes Julianne Moore, Glenn Close, Coco Rocha, Mischa Barton, Sharon Stone, Ashley Graham and Jane Fonda.

By 2011, Kova launched her own label with a showroom in New York's SoHo neighborhood and manufactures her entire collection, clothing and jewelry, in New York City.

Valentina Kova, Palm Beach

243 Worth Ave.

561-508-3624

New York City

187 Lafayette St. (by appointment only)

Southampton, N.Y.

38 Jobs Lane