Kara Laricks

Kara Laricks is an American fashion designer. Laricks was the season one winner of Fashion Star.

Personal life

Kara Laricks was a fourth grade elementary school teacher for ten years before she quit to become a fashion designer. She loved design as a child and chose to become a teacher because it was a "safe career." Laricks attended the Academy of Art University and graduated in 2008.

Professional life

Design aesthetic

Laricks' design aesthetic is very contemporary with men's fashion influences. Laricks cites designer Yohji Yamamoto as her "design idol." She finds influence in Yamamoto's "minimalistic color palette and the avant garde cut of his designs."

Fashion Star

As a designer, Laricks has been described as having a "unique perspective," by H&M fashion buyer Nicole Christie. Laricks was awarded a grand prize of $6 million of purchases by Macy's, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Boston Globe fashion critic Rachel Raczka calls Laricks' geometric prints "awkward," while contrasting Laricks' day-to-night workwear as "luxurious."