This journalist had the pleasure and privilege of experiencing the “Inside of being Single,” first hand with Single designer Galina Sobelov. My initial meeting of Galina and the Single line was at an Academy Awards gifting suite. I was instantly attracted to the unprocessed modern and distinctive sophistication of Single and impressed with the designer herself, perking my interest in finding out about the woman behind the name. My Single fashion education included Mercedes Benz Fall 2005 and spring 2006 L.A. Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. With on the spot observation of Galina in action at her exertive downtown L.A. warehouse. From space to space, pattern placement to stitching, Galina’s eyes, fingers and voice were enmeshed in every distinctive detail. Enticed by the lure of Single’s exquisite fabrics I draped myself in the supple lush silken textures that adorned one of several rooms. The pleasant experience of sampling different Single styles at Galina & Michael’s Single boutique on the stylish Melrose in Los Angeles added decadent treat.

Single is a breath of fresh romantic charm in the world of fashion and runway shows, so take note! Galina’s 2006 spring collection invited the audience at Mercedes Benz L.A. Fashion week to escape into a season of dreaming, “a Single special summer," debuted upon the runway to an awing crowd and buzzing celebrities. A remark echoed by each starlet was, “Single is so wearable.” Rocker Constantine Maroulis, an adored American Idol contestant was very pleased to be experience SINGLE Spring 2006 at Smash box Studios. “It’s wearable, not over the top. Her designs leave more to your imagination, I love that!”

Stunning designs and vibrant fabrics of exceptional detail appear reminiscent of renaissance romance gliding across the stage. The stunning collection showed that it can be worn confidently by women not of the runway. A provocative innocence lit up the programs first selection appropriately named, “Pure Perfection.” A white crocheted flowered top with silky flowing pants was succeeded by a modern bright white baby doll eyelet dress… The luscious fabrics and rich yet subtle colors, textures featuring original artwork kept the audience in consistent applause. A sequence of sheer fabrics swirled the runway where sensuality and strength kissed. Galina and Michael’s young daughter Sarah took to the platform as if she was born to walk it. Sarah showed that Single entices a fashionably fun attitude with girls. Could a Single line for girls be in the works after such a winning walk by her daughter? We’ll keep you posted.

Single’s 2006 collection honors fashions inner strength elite with elegance of such women as Jackie O. Her creations expressed a synergy between refined classic glamour with today’s spirited edge. One has only to put on Single to understand the lines sensation next to skin.

Actress Eva LaRue was very pleased to experience Single’s fashion show. “At first I wasn’t sure if the clothes were built for women like me. I have curves,” the CSI Miami stunner explained. “But after the first two models, I knew that SINGLE was for every woman, including me. I like that.”

Actress Lisa Edelstein who was wearing Single, enthusiastically shared her review: “Her pants fit great, she knows women’s bodies.”

Single designer and co-owner Galina Sobelov and partner and husband Michael knows first hand that it is fabulous being Single in 2005. Single invites women to activate their feminine charm and original style with engaging designs, decadent fabrics and stand out flair. Experience for yourself what its like “Inside being Single”.

Saper:  Galina, Single clearly embraces the feminine desire and passion women inherently have within.

Single: Absolutely. Single is about being unique, about being confident. It’s not about a certain age group. We target a woman who is confident, who is happy, and who feels great in her own skin. And this is my approach to design. I want to give women a beautiful product, a garment that they could put on and feel fabulous in. We do a lot of silks; we do a lot of lace trim and beautiful feminine details. We want to give them something that they put on and just feel amazing in and feel that they could conquer the world, nothing will stop them. Whether they’re single or they’re married, or they’re grandmothers they should feel confident and fabulous in what it is they’re wearing.

Saper: Well you respect the woman and the choices, if it’s really lacy or just a little touch of lace. When you talk about fabrics how do you decide which material will go with a specific design? They’re so lovely. How do you decide what you’re going to create for your pants or your dresses?

Single: Most of the time, it’s the fabric that directs the collection. A lot of times it’s the art studios where we do a lot of exclusive prints, but the fabrications that we usually use are always natural. I love to use natural beautiful, silk royal mixes, a 100% silk charmeuse, silk chiffons. Things that when you put them on your body, you feel yummy, you feel luscious, you feel wonderful, and you feel like you just want to go out and party and be fabulous.

Saper:  Just from seeing the dresses, that’s how I feel. 

Single: The funny thing is that when you wear our clothing, men want to touch you. They want to come near you, they’re like, they want to kind of… “Oh my god, you look luscious, you look fabulous, and can I feel?  This is amazing.” And that’s kind of the effect that the fabrications have when you’re wearing them.

Saper: When you say that the material is what creates the collection direction? Do you see a certain fabric and then a design idea comes to you? What is your process of putting designs and textiles together?

Single: A lot of it comes from my childhood. I played with fabrics all my life. I’m from Russia. Since I was five, my grandmother used to sew. She made beautiful gowns for the wives of diplomats and a lot of it comes from that, just playing with fabrics, playing with beads. I’m very picky and very particular about the fabrications when I choose them. It has to feel and look luxurious. That’s my number one prerequisite. It has to feel good and it has to look beautiful. It has to be sophisticated. We’re sexy sophisticated. We want to appeal to a wide audience of women so therefore we need to be beautiful. We can be sexy and be beautiful without being overtly sexy, without being too much.  

Saper: Right. Less being more! I think that you really get it because you are a woman. The fact that you’re concerned about how your pants fit during dinner... if a woman is more focused on appearing like she’s comfortable... she most likely is more focused on that and not really allowing herself to be present. You also made another good point...  Speaking to someone the other day uncomfortable with their weight, I mentioned the importance of going to buy something they feel good in and you talk all about feeling good in the clothes one wears.

Single: Absolutely. Again, key is looking beautiful, feeling glamorous but yet still being comfortable in what it is you’re wearing and what to you is being beautiful in. There’s a fine line between glamour and restriction. I want to give my customers glamour without restrictions.

Sitting with Galina inside SINGLE on Melrose, we talked about the inspiration of her newest line SIN.

Single: SIN is like Singles little sister. SIN was created for those who for example relate to more to a Claire Danes style. It’s using lace that you might find say in your grandmother’s closet… SIN combines vintage with current fashion design.

I asked Galina how it was to work with her husband.

Single: The fashion business is one of the best businesses for couples. I can trust him (my partner). We make time each day to have lunch together; otherwise we don’t see each other. It’s the time we can take twenty minutes to spend together.

 
All in all, it is marvelous being a woman and delicious wearing Single. Here’s a personal Single experience: On my birthday I wore a silky smooth Single dress. After the, “Wow,” that my boyfriend at the time expressed, he asked to touch the fabric and uttered, “No wonder you love wearing this, it feels like wearing nothing!” 

Shop Single at 7959 Melrose Ave, L.A. CA (323) 951-0411 or Toll-free (866-203-2250). On the web at www.buysingle.com or www.singledress.com