DESIGNER
Since the tender age of 7, Melissa had found her calling for fashion. She would cut her own clothes into doll clothes. She designed her 7th & 8th birthday dress. She also designed her prom dress.
She graduated from Long Island University with a MA in School Counseling. Then she spent four years working alongside youth as a counselor for Freeport Pride, a Non-Profit Organization. She also prepared students for job interviews during their career search and conducted style tips on dressing for success. After spending some time preparing numerous students for their big moments, she realized it was time to concentrate more on empowering people through fashion.
She started by styling friends and family. Then she created a styling company Called RetroBohoChic. After styling for two years, she realized there was a lack of representation in dresses for women of all sizes. After having to make her own dress to attend the Latin Grammys in 2016, she realized something had to be done. That's when Melissa Mercedes was born.
Melissa has had the honor of being mentored by top designers in the industry who style some of Hollywood's top stars. With their help and some hard work, Melissa created a line of dresses for curvy women to promote SELF LOVE, CONFIDENCE, and EMPOWERMENT.
"I want everyone to live their dream and to look and feel their best. This is why I continue along this journey of helping women heal with fashion. I encourage you all to not feel held back because of your weight. You, too, can feel sexy and look good!"
