Michelle Harper
Colombian-American brand consultant and fashion personality
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michelle Violy Harper is a Colombian-born American brand consultant and entrepreneur known for her presence in the fashion world.[1][2][3] The New York Times described her "genuinely original and fantastical style of dressing",[1] and Harper was named on the International Best Dressed List in 2012.[4]
Early life and education
Harper grew up between Barranquilla, Colombia and Manhattan's Upper West Side in a 2,100-square-foot (200 m2) triplex overlooking the American Museum of Natural History.[1][2] Her father, Henry Harper, and stepfather, Frederico Sève, are art dealers.[1] Her mother worked at J.P. Morgan before founding Violy & Company, which advises businesses on Latin American expansion.[1]
Harper attended the Lycée Français de New York and the Spence School before attending boarding school in Switzerland.[1] She also attended a summer program at the Rhode Island School of Design.[1]
Career
Business and finance
Harper spent more than 10 years in corporate finance and business strategy,[3] and worked at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.[1]
She founded and leads the consultancy OWTH, and co-founded the cosmetic company CB LLC.[5]
Fashion and public presence
In her youth, Harper was a fashion-conscious Club Kid known as Cutie Pie.[1] She has since built an extensive wardrobe of shoes, wigs, and garments that occupies an entire living room wall, which she rotates each quarter.[3]
Harper's style developed through her grandmother's influence and inspiration from architecture, nature, literature, and travel.[6] Her makeup draws from Japanese theater, geishas, and maikos.[6] Her approach to fashion has been compared to that of Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness.[1]
Personal life
Harper met model and actor Jenny Shimizu at a party hosted by model Karen Elson,[1] where Shimizu challenged Harper to an arm wrestle.[7] The couple married in 2014.[3]
Harper lives in Manhattan.[1]
