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T his is not the first time, however, that Posen's eye for detail and expert craftsmanship have been called upon. Just two years ago, Posen was brought on as the Creative Director for Brooks Brothers womenswear. The oldest clothing retailer in America, Brooks Brothers is predominantly known for their tailoring and posh presentation, attributes not unlike Posen's personal aesthetic. Working closely with the design team, Posen's position is to shape the look, feel and tone of each collection while maintaining the brand's signature style. "I don't think it's about redefining the brand but injecting it with new flavor and flare," Posen explained. "It's important to honor the heritage while tweaking things here and there to really appeal to a younger customer without alienating the preexisting ones." Bringing his own unique perspective to an already established brand, Posen's partnership with Brooks Brothers allows not only the company, but Posen himself, a chance at growth. As one of the busiest and most influential designers of today, an important element of Posen's success is figuring out which projects are worth pursuing and that in the end, will build business. "As a designer," Posen explained, "it's incredibly important to pick brand partnerships that will challenge you, but still align with what you inherently love to do. I try to pick partnerships that I am inspired by and that push me to explore the other creative facets of my mind." Taking on roles that go beyond actual design, Posen has welcomed career expanding opportunities such as joining the "Project Runway" judging panel and creating his own cookbook. Forming these partnerships, Posen explained, not only helps to diversify one's talent, but also allows access to a new group of customers. Although the world of fashion and business can seem inherently different, having an understanding of both the creative and commercial aspects of the industry ultimately determines who is in and who is out. Posen has been able to walk this fine line, combining his innovative visions for the future with industry leading brands. "I don't consider myself just a designer," said Posen. "I never have. You have to bring more to the table than that if you want to be successful." VUE ON FASHION

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