Following Jenni’s fall runway show (attended by A-list celebrities such as Lara Flynn Boyle, Owen Wilson, Jared Letto, and Dustin Hoffman) that sent ripples through the moda circuit, Fashionlines caught up with Tinsel Town’s rising star to ask her a few questions about life, art, style and more. Here is what Jenni Kayne had to say…

F. How did you come to be interested in the world of fashion?

J. I have been interested in fashion since I was a little girl. I always wanted to be a designer and learned how to sew when I was around 10. I made my prom dress and my sister’s Bat Mitzvah dress out of deer skin leather. That is when it all really started to become a reality for me.

F. What do you think about LA style? Does being based in Los Angeles impact your creative process?

J. I think LA is relaxed and comfortable when it comes to fashion. Living in LA definitely influences my collection and designs because this is my reality. I am surrounded by so many creative people that influence me on a daily basis…musicians, models, artists, photographer, actors, other designers and directors. My collections are based on contradictions. I mix glamorous and casual, sexy and sophisticated.

F. What inspires you?

J. I normally draw my inspiration from my surroundings; from nature, films, music and photography. The Fall/Winter 05 collection I recently showed in Los Angeles was inspired by Diana Riggs in the first scene of the James Bond 007 movie, “Her majesty’s Secret Service.” She is in a beautiful glamorous beaded gown, trying to commit suicide by throwing herself in the ocean. I sketched the collection while I was on a boat in the South of France for my birthday. I was moved by the ocean and the warm, rich colors around me.

F. Who is your dream client?

J. Jennifer Connelly, Courtney Love, Maggie Gyllenhall, Selma Blair, Gwyneth Paltrow, Monet Mazur and Amber Valetta. A beautiful woman who has an eclectic, sophisticated, sexy, and interesting sense of style.

F. Do you believe that there is a clear distinction between day and evening wear?

J. My collection is based on contradictions. Mixing day and night. I think there can be a distinction between day and night but I prefer mixing the two together. I believe there are no rules in fashion. If you want to wear a beautiful dress during the day, that would be considered an “evening piece,” why not put it on with flip-flops and look beautiful at lunch?

F. If you could change one thing about the fashion industry what would that be?

J. Have more time and less stress with seasonal deadlines, which would allow more creative freedom.

F. What is your opinion on trends that spread like wildfire?

J. Trends that everyone abides by are tricky. For me fashion should be timeless and classic, not trendy. I don’t want to wear what everyone else is wearing. That is so very boring and unoriginal! However from a commercial/business standpoint, the trend can be beneficial for the designer or designers who launch it.

F. If you were to sport one of your own creations which one would it be and what does this say about your persona?

J. I would wear my baggy silver sequin skirt because it is luxe, but simple and easy at the same time. It is also very versatile because it can be worn as a skirt, a dress or a top in a number of different ways. I would wear it over a pair of vintage Levi’s with one of my jackets and a pair of flip-flops.

F. Is there an icon you look up to?

J. My modern day fashion icon is photographer Lisa Eisner. She has impeccable style, yet she is not afraid to go out on a whim and always, always look amazing.

F. What is your opinion on the red carpet and entrance making clothes?

J. The red carpet is fantastic for exposure. If a look is on the right actress it can create a huge buzz for a designer. However, I feel that it is important to remain true to the vision and feeling of the collection. That is why I intend to dress only the women, who embody the feeling of Jenni Kayne.

F. What are some of your future goals?