Structured knits from the Fall 2014 Collection
Q & A
What prompted you to create Wilt Clothing in 2009?
Roxanne Heptner: I saw that there was a big void in the market for better T-shirts — not disposable T-shirts. A T-shirt that was made better, that was in a better fabric; that was very lean, contemporary, and could fit a lot of people. I couldn’t find anything for myself to wear outside of the very high-end, designer T-shirts. At the time, everybody was doing really short, tight, skimpy little T-shirts for the younger customer, lacking the insight to look forward to when those young customers grow up. As you get older, you don’t dress like that. And, we are not our mothers. I wouldn’t go into the Misses section just because I got older. So, I gave [the T-shirts] volume, but in a very flattering way. I did the first high-low hemline in the contemporary market, and it exploded. And, that was it for me. That was my look.
Do you design for specific situations or places?
wooed BY wilt
Many whose fingers have touched the soft fabric of a Wilt Clothing T-shirt become instant groupies of the L.A.-based brand. It’s easy to see why. The trend-setting line offers universally flattering garments — from Ts to dresses and trousers — that are so comfortable and understatedly chic, women of all ages want to wear them every day. Local retailer e.b. Pepper can barely keep her store stocked with enough wares. She says, “The Wilt T-shirts are everyone’s favorite and people, myself included, like them so much that they refer to themselves as ‘Wilt addicts.’” In 20 years of owning a company with her husband and several brands launched, seasoned designer Roxanne Heptner says she has never witnessed such an overwhelming response. We interviewed the Johnstown, Pa., native to get the scoop on what makes Wilt so wildly popular.
best dressed:
RH: I do all of that, and none of that. But, I have been told that I’m really good at casual clothing for the daytime and on weekends during downtime. Going forward, Wilt will address the consumer and what she wears when she goes out at night and wants to feel a little bit more dressed up. So, that’s a new direction that we’ll be breaking for Resort and Spring with silks.
What can you tell us about the fabrics you use? RH: Well, they are mostly made in the U.S. by companies that we’ve helped develop to create fabric exclusively for us, so you won’t see it anywhere else. The secret is that we garment-dye, which can break down the fabric and give you that lived-in, soft look and feel. And, besides that, it takes all the shrinkage out, so when you throw it in the washer and the dryer, it’s the same size as when you first put it on.
What are your favorite pieces from the Fall 2014 Collection? RH: The new structured knits are my favorite. We are making trousers, jackets, jumpsuits, and dresses in the classification. Wilt is available at e.b. Pepper, 5411 Walnut St., Shadyside. 412.683.3815. Wilt Clothing, wiltclothing.com.
Cool Tones
These ladies kept it cool in serene shades of blue and crisp, optic white at summer’s scorching soirées. Follow their lead and add touches of shine from head to toe — we love the Valentino “Rockstud” pump one sported! — to complete this sleek look.
Brooke Slemons at the Mattress Factory’s Urban Garden Part y
Shruti Gupta at Diamonds & Denim on Market Square
Photographs from Parc and Pearl, Inc. BY BRIDGETT KAY PHOTOGRAPHY LLC., LINDSAY DILL
Mandy Ranalli at Diamonds & Denim on Market Square
Athena Sarris at Diamonds & Denim on Market Square
wh i r lm ag a z i n e . c o m / W h irl
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