Contestant #12: Lisa Ramfjord Elstun

At long last Cat has bio for the final contestant competing in the Tamarac Square Fashion Project. There had been some confusion over images and the like, so Cat offers her apologies to all of Lisa's fans who have been looking for her bio. And there are many, as evidenced...

By Amy Haimerl

April 10, 2007

Audio By Carbonatix

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At long last Cat has bio for the final contestant competing in the Tamarac Square Fashion Project. There had been some confusion over images and the like, so Cat offers her apologies to all of Lisa's fans who have been looking for her bio. And there are many, as evidenced by the comments on the Little Black Dress slideshow!

See you all on the runway.

Name: Lisa Ramfjord Elstun

Company name: LRE Couture & Design

Years designing: 30+

Bio: Lisa Ramfjord Elstun's first introduction to design and sewing was from her grandmother. She taught her to make doll clothes from fabric scraps. Mrs. Goryance, Lisa's eighth-grade home economics teacher, helped refine her couture skills, including having Lisa and the class complete French seams on a cotton voile nightgown.

Nicole Popovich

Lisa's version of the Little Black Dress, which she says is a take off on the Chrysler Building in New York.

Starting 25 years ago, Lisa fashioned little girls' dresses and christening gowns for a small boutique in Iowa. A professional career move relocated her family to Denver, where Lisa says it was difficult to find stylish ready-to-wear clothes. As a result, she started creating her own wardrobe.

Three years ago Lisa launched her fashion venture full-time, adding design and construction of home fashions. LRE Couture & Design conveys a fresh modern look to wardrobes and residences. Contemporary or traditional in a colorful mix of understated elegance, each custom designed article is also an original art piece.

Denver celebrity you'd most like to design for? Libby Weaver and First Lady Ritter because they both have different styles and wonderful personalities.

What inspires you? (No fair saying everything; be specific.) Eclectic shoes; terrific fabric; friends who sew; designers- Armani, Lagerfeld, Galliano, Valentino; the event and my client

Favorite Denver eatery? Tamayo

Favorite local boutique? Violet, JJWells, Frolik on 32nd

Favorite fabric? Silk

Favorite way to finish seams? Depends on fabric, design of garment and use

Prints or solids? Solids

Dogs or cats? Dogs

Kate Moss or Linda Evangelista? Linda has an incredible eye for style and loves being a woman. Kate is still floundering to find herself.

Favorite guilty pleasure? Exquisite chocolate and incredible shoes

Last book you read? The Science of Sexy by Bradley Bayou

Red chili or green chile? My own green chile

New York or L.A.? Neither because the top of Imperial Express lift at Breckenridge at 12,940 ft allows for mind clearing with breath-taking vistas

Chloe Dao or Jeffrey Sebelia? Both. My style is best described as "classic with a twist", therefore, Chloe's tact and style (classic) with Jeffrey's attitude about his designs and details (twist)

Loose or tailored? Tailored because it is a challenge to make it fit

Jacqueline Kennedy or Jackie Brown? Jackie Kennedy

Town or country? Country with easy access to town

Silk charmeuse or silk shantung? Both have their place in a wardrobe

Couture or ready-to-wear? COUTURE

Curvy or androgynous? Either as long as it fits well

Paris Hilton or Lindsey Lohan? Neither until they figure out who they want to be when they grow up.

Michael Kors or Zac Posen? Zac

Jeans or slacks? Jeans

Bill Ritter or John Hickenlooper? Bill

Escalade or Prius? Benz

Vogue or W? Vogue

Favorite current couture designer? Nicholas Ghesquierre and Narciso Rodriguez

Favorite past couture designer? Tom Ford, Madeleine Vionnet and Coco Chanel

Sleek or volume? Sleek

Form or function? Function that allows wearability of the couture garment

Favorite place to travel for inspiration? Top of a mountain for the expansive view or the beach to listen to the waves roll in

Favorite place to travel for fabric? Elfriede's or Allyn's

Polkadots or camouflage? Depends on what the occasion is -- Fancy party, hunting party or war party!

Pretty or edgy? Elegant on the Edge

Heidi Klum or Tim Gunn? Tim Gunn's statement of "Make it work" and how he interacts with the designers as an educator and mentor.

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