Fashion & Beauty Insiders on American Inspirations

"Navy was a key color in my Resort 2010 collection- -a color that to me is quintessentially American. The chiffon float-back dress, for example, combines the classic color with a modern silhouette."

- Designer Jason Wu

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"Barack Obama's inauguration - it had such cultural and historical significance and was truly inspiring for our country."

- Designer Tommy Hilfiger

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"I am continually inspired by America's history when designing. We found some military pins from World War II at a flea market in Massachusetts that served as an inspiration for our Fall 2009 collection. The pins are made of colorful striped grosgrain ribbon and look modern, but still have a feeling of old Americana. We used military detailing on coats, dresses, tops and handbags that was inspired by the style of the pins. I love when we can incorporate different influences from America's history into our collections."

-- Designer Tory Burch

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"Definitely our work with Bruce Springsteen; he has always stood for the soul of America. We have been making things for him and his wife Patti for years. Of particular significance was the the post-9/11 tours for "The Rising" and "Devils& Dust." It was the perfect time to see how he brought a positive meaning to the word America for the people who lived here!"

-Designers Robert Tagliapietra and Jeffrey Costello for Costello Tagliapietra

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"The beach is one of my favorite sources of inspiration and places to be. Nothing says Americana more to me than spending time with my family at the beach and enjoying the sand, surf and salty air."

- Makeup guru Bobbi Brown

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"When I moved to the U.S. [from the Philippines] in 1989, I wanted to visually understand the feeling of fall. I had seen photos in American magazines, but coming from a tropical country, I didn't quite get it. So one day, a friend drove me to upstate New York near Westpoint and we stopped at a cliff. The landscape was so beautiful and so foreign to me. It was an explosion of burnt oranges, golden yellows, deep reds and rich browns. The leaves were turning! It was a eureka moment."

- Accessory designer Rafe Totengco

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"I love the nostalgia of visiting my grandparents in Palm Springs as a kid, and that sense of midcentury Americana that lingers in the air there. That was the inspiration behind my 2010 Resort Collection."

- Desginer Chris Benz

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" My father is a first generation immigrant from India - the eldest of 14 kids! My grandmother on my mom's side is Dutch and immigrated to Ellis Island and then grew up on a farm in Iowa. So the flag is quite important to me and I also love the country. They helped me to understand that without hard work you will have nothing and nothing is worth having without hard work."

- Designer Rachel Roy

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"The new Yankee Stadium. I went recently to watch the Yankees versus Mets game and I loved the patriotic feeling."

- Estée Lauder's Aerin Lauder

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"The night that Barack Obama was elected president. It encompassed all of the ideals that America stands for."

- Designer Doo-Ri Chung

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