moments for me was getting that message from Michelle Obama during the girl-on-the-go challenge. But honestly, the entire experience was a memorable moment for me.
What were Kelly Osbourne and Christian Siriano like as judges? What do you think they'd think about Hot Me$$?
Kelly Osbourne and Christian Siriano were so cool to work with. Kelly is a huge fashion icon and I've looked up to Christian ever since he won his season of Project Runway. I can only hope that they'll approve of the Hot Me$$ line! Kelly has been seen wearing a custom-made Hot Me$$ leather jacket I made her, so I think that's a good sign.
Who is the ultimate fashion icon? Which celebrity are you just dying to dress?
Ooh—that's a hard question. There are so many celebrities I'd love to dress from Rihanna to Lady Gaga to even Naomi Smalls. I get a lot of my inspiration from pop culture, so I could literally give you a Bible-length list of names.
Let's talk about some trends. With fall fashion coming up, what are some of the must-have fashion items for men? What should guys be wearing this fall?
I definitely see cool trench coats being on trend for both men and women this fall. This year, I feel like it's all about using unique materials such as suede, velvet, fur, etc. to add excitement to otherwise simple silhouettes.
You made headlines earlier this year after withdrawing your application from Brown. Did Brown ever reach out to you to make amends?
I had no idea my story would go viral like it did. Unfortunately, Brown never reached out to me in any way after making the video. I'm just glad that I was able to share my story and hopefully prevent anyone else from having to endure something like that during a college interview.
You are also now a freshman at UCLA. What is your major and how are you handling balancing all of your projects?
Yes! I'll be attending UCLA in the fall as a freshman! I am in the Design & Media Arts program, and I couldn't be more excited. It's definitely going to be tough to balance my outside career with being a college student, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
We read that you first watched an entire season Project Runway when you were only 7. What's your advice to young 7 and 8 year old boys who have an interest in fashion?
Watching Project Runway with my mom at age 7 is what actually sparked my interest in fashion design. My favorite thing is when people tell me through social media that I've inspired them to pursue fashion. It's definitely a tough business to be in, but if you really love it like I do, it's all 110% worth it. My advice to young kids interested in a fashion career is to just stay true to yourself and your design aesthetic, and don't let anybody stop you. In addition to his fashion and education endeavors, Matt loves giving back working with charities such as Life World, Children's Hospital LA and the Pink Lotus Foundation. The Hot Me$$ line is now available for sale exclusively at mattsarafa.com.