What I love most about Los Angeles is all the creativity that surrounds me. Everywhere I go, I am inspired by individuals who are really pursuing their dreams. One of those people is the adorable Bianca Benitez, an up and coming designer with a brand new line called Dear Creatures. I met her just recently, when she welcomed me to her fabulous Downtown studio. We shared cocktails and conversation and I discovered that she is more than a young designer in a pretty package. She is a creative soul with business savvy to match. Previously a Visual Communications student at FIDM, she has gone from a stint at US Rags to now launching her own line, which will hit stores in September 2008. I was lucky enough to get a preview of the pieces and they were nothing short of charming.

For the Fall 2008 Collection, Bianca dreamed up prim but flirty dresses, blouses, and rompers. The designs bring to mind something of a nautical Lolita. With her nostalgic aesthetic, she channels legendary icons (some pieces are named after the likes of Françoise Hardy, Carly Simon, and Yoko Ono). “I wanted to play with silhouettes of the past and make them wearable today,” she muses. The garments even feature a special surprise—a graphic lining inspired by the artist Mary Blair.

Also featured are other magical graphics on totes and T-shirts for men and women, which have been referenced by WGSN, a major trend forecasting website. These were inspired by mid-century artists and designers like Alexander Girard, as well as Scandinavian folk art. She cites her boyfriend, a designer for the men’s line Brown Sound, as a strong influence. She also draws inspiration from some of her favorite designers such as Phillip Lim and Stella McCartney.

Her partner, Fernanda Lai assists with production. Together, they have shown Dear Creatures at the recent LA Market Week and at the Las Vegas Pool Trade Show in February. They are slated for another appearance at the Pool Trade Show in August, just before the long-awaited release of the Fall Collection. Come September, Bianca's lovely designs will be available at Neighborhoods in Venice Beach, 80spurple.com, and other boutiques around the Midwest and Japan. No doubt by then other stores will be lining up to place orders. I personally will be coveting the “Vashti Blouse” and the “Angeline Top”. You’ll have to stay on the lookout to see what I’m talking about. Visit Dear Creatures at www.dearcreatures.com.

By Dana Poblete