Charis Michelsen’s journey into the world of fashion began in a quiet town in Oregon, where even as a toddler, she demonstrated a deep sense of personal style. From the age of three, she was already making thoughtful decisions about what she wore, guided by an instinctive understanding of colors, textures, and what felt right to her. Her passion for style wasn’t just about clothing—it was about self-expression. She would often spend time imagining how different pieces could work together, drawing inspiration from music culture and flipping through fashion magazines to explore new ideas. Her high school corridors served as her runway, where she boldly experimented with unique outfits that captured attention and admiration. Her peers recognized her individuality, naming her winter prom queen and “Miss Unique.”
Charis Michelsen | Founder & CEO | Fashion Style Beauty Network
This early confidence in her aesthetic sensibility eventually laid the foundation for her later work, including the creation of the Universal Beauty Standard System™—a science-based system used to create the first AI personal stylist, which helps people look their best via tailored clothing, accessory, beauty product, and styling recommendations. At EliteX, we are proud to have Charis Michelsen as part of the edition 05 Best Fashion Designers to Follow, 2025.
While Charis had always seen herself becoming a fashion designer, her path took a surprising turn after she moved to New York City. She had applied to only one school—Parsons School of Design/The New School, widely regarded as one of the best in the world for fashion. It was her dream and her only plan, so she was immensely grateful to be accepted. But just two weeks into her life in New York, a photographer for Harper’s BAZAAR scouted her to model. That opportunity soon led to an audition for a film, marking the beginning of a professional acting career that spanned more than twenty movies. Though her dream of becoming a fashion designer was momentarily set aside, it never truly left her. After gaining significant experience and insights from the entertainment world, she found herself drawn back to design, this time with a renewed perspective.
“Being authentically passionate about something naturally inspires the interest of others.”
Her return to fashion came with a vision to fill the gaps she observed in the industry—especially among long-established luxury brands. This inspired her to create a luxury brand distinguished by a patented diamond-dot pattern and a unique color technology that makes her pieces more versatile. This innovation allows her designs to blend seamlessly with a wide range of fashion products, offering customers style and flexibility. For Charis, fashion isn’t just about making beautiful pieces—it’s about pushing boundaries, thinking differently, and building a legacy that uplifts and serves people on a deeper level.
Charis describes her design style as elegantly timeless, innovative, and unmistakably signature. Her aim is to offer more than seasonal trends—she wants to create pieces that can become heirlooms, timeless investments that hold their value in style and sentiment. She believes that a well-designed piece should be easily recognizable by its craftsmanship and innovation, not by a conspicuously placed logo. For her, subtlety is sophistication, and true design speaks for itself without needing to shout.
Inspiration for Charis often begins with the things she loves and the people she designs for. She takes a page from pop artist Andy Warhol’s creative philosophy—Warhol began painting what he loved, from soup cans to silver screen icons, and it resonated because it was authentic. Similarly, Charis believes that when she shares what she genuinely finds beautiful and uplifting, her passion naturally connects with others. Her desire to inspire, celebrate, and elevate people through her designs drives her work. Her creative process is not just about aesthetics but about sharing joy, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
Of course, the road has not been without its challenges. One of her greatest obstacles has been maintaining focus solely on fashion design. Her unique talent and presence have led to a wide array of opportunities in the entertainment, beauty, and fashion industries, many of which she embraced wholeheartedly. But rather than seeing these detours as distractions, Charis views them as blessings—each experience contributing to her personal growth and enriching her creative lens. She believes that all the pieces of her journey, even the unexpected ones, have come together to shape her distinctive voice in fashion today.
Charis approaches the business side of fashion with the same creativity and thoughtfulness that she brings to her designs. She compares fashion design to architecture, where understanding the structure and environment is key to creating something remarkable. For her, the “space” in fashion is the desires and needs of the client. Just as architects must work within the constraints of a location, designers must consider what people want to look and feel like. She notes that regardless of fleeting trends, most women want to feel beautiful, maybe even a little sexy, while men often want to look handsome and confident. These desires aren’t limitations—they’re directions that inspire her to be more inventive. Designing within the framework of what people truly want allows her to craft pieces that are both original and commercially successful. In her view, creativity thrives—not suffers—when paired with thoughtful business sense.
“My intent as a designer is to offer clients something new that can better serve their needs and have my brand immediately identifiable without a brand name overtly placed on products.”
As someone who has worn many hats—model, actress, designer, innovator—Charis has plenty of insight for young designers entering the industry. Her biggest piece of advice is to study history. By understanding the patterns of fashion trends and the cultural forces that influence them—be it music, art, or politics—aspiring designers can better anticipate where fashion is headed. She also encourages a deep commitment to the craft itself: learning how to drape, how to work with various fabrics, and how to create designs that truly enhance the physical features of the person wearing them. She warns against the common pitfall of designing solely for personal expression. While staying true to one’s creative vision is important, forgetting the client can be a costly mistake. A successful fashion business, she says, lives at the intersection of vision and service.
Looking ahead, Charis is excited about the future of her brand and the possibilities it holds. She is preparing to launch a line of luxury accessories that feature her signature diamond-dot pattern and proprietary color technology. But that’s only the beginning. Her long-term vision includes expanding into other lifestyle categories, including luggage, furniture, and home decor—each infused with the same commitment to quality, innovation, and elegant design that defines her work in fashion. Her brand isn’t just about clothing; it’s about creating a world where beauty, function, and identity come together in harmony.
Through her journey—from a fashion-forward child in a small town to a model, actress, designer, and entrepreneur—Charis Michelsen has shown that personal style is more than what you wear. It’s a reflection of who you are, what you believe in, and how you choose to show up in the world. Her work continues to evolve, grounded in authenticity and driven by a desire to bring joy and meaning to people’s lives through thoughtful design. With a blend of timeless elegance and fresh innovation, Charis is building a brand that speaks to both the present and the future of fashion.
“What people want to look like is the ‘space’—and designing within that space is where true creativity begins.”
