Tal Sheyn likes to say she built her fashion career “from Z to A.”
“I didn’t start out with a business plan or any kind of marketing strategy,” Sheyn said. “Instead, I got all these clients, and I had to very quickly figure the rest out.”
Clearly, she succeeded — the Israeli-born designer has forged a high-profile reputation creating sumptuous apparel for an impressive celebrity clientele. A three-time exhibitor at L.A. Fashion Week, Sheyn has presented styles ranging from high-end casual to red carpet couture. Her signature lies in each garment’s luxurious details.
Fabric is her inspiration, the raven-haired designer admits — especially lace. She has a penchant for festooning her couture mesh gowns with delicate, meticulously placed lace appliqués.
Sheyn walked away from a 12-year career as a makeup artist in Israel and Europe and relocated to Los Angeles in 2002 with a blank fashion résumé.
“My heart told me to come here and try something new and make my dream come true,” she said. “I love fashion and beauty. It’s who I am. I love to make people feel good about themselves.”
After a several-year stint designing costumes for dancers, Sheyn’s big break came when she was asked to produce the 2008 Israel Independence Day Festival at Woodley Park for Israel’s 60th birthday. She hand-sewed more than 40 extravagant outfits for the entertainers, and, within days, custom orders began pouring in.
Sheyn outgrew her living room headquarters and moved into her Hollywood studio in 2009. Since then, her clothes have appeared on “The Young and the Restless,” “90210” and “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” In fact, Sheyn launched an upscale consumer line last year with “Real Housewives” star Alexis Bellino featuring the trendy tunics and dresses Bellino favors on the show.
“I’m so full of creativity, full of passion, full of love,” said Sheyn, whose work is available by custom order, and in boutiques in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Las Vegas and Israel. “In clothes, there’s no limit to what you can create.”
