MELISSA ODABASH INVITES OK! INTO HER CHIC LONDON HOME AS SHE TALKS ABOUT HER 20-YEAR CAREER
SWIMWEAR DESIGNER MELISSA ODABASH TELLS ok!’s KATIE LANGFORD-FOSTER ABOUT MAKING MISTAKES, BRINGING UP HER DAUGHTERS AND MEETING BARACK OBAMA
Stepping inside Melissa Odabash’s four-storey, five bedroom west London home is like walking into a rather glamorous Narnia. As the swimwear designer greets us at the door with a warm hug, we’re quickly shown into her white marble kitchen, where we sit down for a cup of coffee.
London, she tells us, is her ‘favourite city in the world’, and along with her husband of 20 years, Nicolas De Santis, and their daughters Alaia, 21, and Avalon, 16, it’s where the American designer calls home.
But Melissa’s sun-kissed glow is a subtle clue to her jet-setting lifestyle. She explains of her dayto-day
life: ‘I’m usually on a plane travelling somewhere.’ Melissa also has a home in Florida’s sun-soaked glitzy resort of Palm Beach, rather fitting for the undisputed queen of celebrity beachwear!
From movie stars to royalty, you’d be pushed to find an A-lister who hasn’t fallen head over heels in love with Melissa’s luxurious creations. She counts Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria among her loyal fans, and 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of her successful business.
Raised in New Jersey, Melissa began modelling at 18 after being scouted in her
neighbour’s back garden. After taking the runway by storm, she later began creating her own swimwear while living in Italy. On top of her fashion empire, the entrepreneur’s philanthropic ventures include supporting charities such as Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, The Prince’s Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. And, most recently, Melissa has collaborated with Future Dreams on mastectomy swimwear for breast cancer survivors.
As we sit down to chat during our exclusive shoot, Melissa talks celebrity style, defying the odds and tells us why she wouldn’t do a thing differently...
How does it feel to be celebrating 20 years of your business?
I can’t believe it. To survive this long is a major achievement because fashion and retail is difficult. It has its ups and downs and times are changing so quickly that even the top people can’t keep up. We didn’t have the internet or social media when I started. I had no budget to advertise so it was all word of mouth. I went door to door to try and get the product made and I was living in Rome, so I had to learn Italian. When you’re learning a foreign language, you don’t learn sewing words. We learn: ‘That guy’s hot,’ or: ‘Can I have that pasta?’ [Laughs] It’s been a long road.
Of all your celebrity clients, who stands out as a favourite? Well, Eva Longoria is probably one of the nicest human beings. I totally respect her because half her day is spent being a philanthropist. She’s got a wicked sense of humour, I love Eva. I’m very fortunate, I’ve worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Rihanna to Lady Gaga. But if it’s for my overall beach look, it would be Elle Macpherson – she’s the body. But I don’t have a favourite, anyone that wears my stuff looks good.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, Sarah, Duchess of York and the Countess of Wessex have all worn your designs. What would you create for the Duchess of Sussex?
I think Meghan has some of my pieces already! They all have their individual style. We need more women like them for the younger generation to look up to.
As a mum of daughters, do you worry about social media?
I do. But they come on shoots with me so they see what people look like before and after. I make sure that they know not to believe everything you see on social media, that things can be adjusted and changed. My kids are very grounded. They’re not into fashion, but I can see why younger kids think, I want to look like a Kardashian.
You’ve worked a lot with plus size supermodel Ashley Graham. Is representation of curvier women important to you? Ashley is beautiful! I wish I had more curves as I find them sexy. I feel that the fashion world is changing now and it’s all about celebrating curvier women, which I think is fantastic. But also, it’s about celebrating everyone’s shape. I hope young girls are realising they should embrace what they have.
Five collections in, your mastectomy swimwear line has been a huge success. How does that feel?
The doctors that I met told me that the first thing a woman asks after having breast cancer is: ‘Will anyone on the beach notice that I don’t have a breast or that I’ve had a mastectomy?’ I just had a woman contact me last week saying she’s eight months pregnant, and had a double mastectomy six weeks ago. She was looking for a tankini that was sold out so I called the distribution company and we found one sample top for her and I’m like: ‘Send it, send it! I’m not letting this woman go on holiday without it.’ And then Rita Ora’s mum, Vera [who has overcome breast cancer], contacted me and asked if she could be my model and now she is! Breast cancer can affect anyone, but it’s nice to know I’m helping. Swimwear in general is about giving women confidence.
‘Breast cancer can affect anyone, But it’s nice to know i’m helping’
What is your proudest achievement? Every year it changes. I got invited to a CEO summit in Marbella about a month ago and our guest of honour was Barack Obama. I was told only four women were invited. Barack is the most fascinating human being I have ever met. Just to be included with all these major people was surreal. All I want to do is go back to my high school and show the picture [right] to my teacher who didn’t believe in me and said I was going to fail at everything.
Why did your teacher say that?
I was so distracted, always looking out of the window. I believe education has to change and some people are not made for certain books. I was so artistic and creative, I remember raising my hand in class like: ‘I really don’t think, later on in life, I’m going to need to know what year this war happened.’
Were you surprised that so few women were invited to the summit?
Well, I have to say that during these talks, every businessman, from these huge companies, that got up to speak were saying that they are hiring more women, so that it is equal 50/50. The first woman CEO in Egypt, who owns a telecoms company, was also there, so it is changing.
You were scouted as a model at 18 – looking back, would you give 18-yearold Melissa any advice?
I was pretty level headed at 18. I’d sit in rooms watching these models and I knew I was never going to be like them; going after older men. I don’t like alcohol and I never did drugs. I just loved music and dancing, still do. I’d do it all the same. Of course I’ve made mistakes but you learn from your mistakes.
If your daughters wanted to pursue a career in modelling or fashion, would you encourage that?
Oh, it’s so stressful that I don’t think they should. I wouldn’t want them to go through what I went through. I’ve never dressed them, they have worn whatever they want since they were young. ‘Do your own style and follow your passion,’ that’s what I tell them. You have to wake up every day and love what you do. Well, not every day but most [laughs]! There were a few days when I felt like quitting this business.
Do you feel more confident now than you did in your twenties and thirties?
I’m definitely more confident. When you’ve fought so hard to get where you are, you’re much more relaxed. You realise, the older you get, those small things that you thought were so important aren’t.
How did you meet your husband? By accident! I came to London to party with two friends and he was with my friend whose house I was going to stay at. We met that night, and I was pregnant three months later!
What life lessons do you hope to instil in your own daughters? Common sense; know what’s right, know what’s wrong. Know not to do drugs, and be kind. The most important thing is to be kind, because you never know who someone is. You never know what path they’ve had to walk.