Designer DETAIL - Lisa Ho

Summer is looking good for the Queen of Style, Lisa Ho.

Lisa Ho has been at the forefront of the Australian Fashion Industry for the past 24 years, and with her tailored styling, elegant designs and distinctive fabrics and cuts, it’s no wonder why.

Success at Paddo

The second-eldest of five daughters, Lisa became something of a designer for the family. "I was a very industrious kid," she recalls. "My grandmother was a tailor, and once she got me sewing, I was always fiddling around making things for myself or my sisters. I was sewing better than my mum by the time I was 10. I had a Bernina sitting permanently at the end of the dining table," she says.

Like many of Australia’s successful fashion designers, Lisa started her career fresh out of college at a Sydney market. Her designs and innate sense of style quickly brought her to the attention of the media and various high-end stockists, which prompted her to establish the Lisa Ho label.

Loyal Lovers.

Over the years, Lisa worked at building her label into one of the most recognised brands in Australia, with celebrity fans and loyal lovers such as Elle Macpherson, Sophie Monk, Olivia Newton John and Jennifer Lopez.

Delta Goodrem is recently credited for breathing new life into the label and renewing Lisa’s status, as now one of the "hot designer to the stars", a label that Lisa regards with some bemusement. “I've been labelled that, but that's not how I'd describe myself," Lisa says.

Delta feels she has a special relationship with the designer, saying "Lisa's clothes are great. They're pretty, easy to wear and reflect how I'm feeling. For example, her design for the dress I wore to this year's ARIAs was perfect. I wanted a dress that reflected exactly how I wanted to look and feel at that time, and Lisa was able to capture that.”

Summer Lovin'

Fresh colours, hourglass shapes and the classic evening dress is all found in Lisa’s SS 07/08 collection. We can’t get enough of this cotton shimmer evening gown (left), which has us planning our next elegant night out. The figure hugging belts and colourful resin bangles will be our accessory staples for the summer season.

Where can I find these must-haves?

Today, we can shop for Lisa’s stunning designs at 10 of her signature stores, at David Jones and at over 250 boutique locally and overseas.  Check out her website for boutique locations www.lisaho.com.au.