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B orn in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, Tatiana Shabelnik developed an early love for the arts and fashion design in childhood. She sketched outfits sometimes for herself, and other times for her paper dolls, but always with the hope of blossoming into a real designer. And even when she wasn%u2019t able to enroll in a fashion school in Belarus, the dream persisted.Tatiana%u2019s pursuit of a career in fashion design continued even after she received graduate degrees in library science and worked in several careers as a librarian and web manager for colleges and universities. She formally began her study of fashion with the Otis College Continuing Education Program, and, as a result launched a sophisticated, classy, chic and avant-garde line of clothing for women %u201cCONTRAST.%u201dIn October 2013 Nika Soon-Shiong from Los Angeles Times wrote a feature article on Tatiana. %u201cThere is no secret formula for success in the fashion industry. Shabelnik isn%u2019t daunted by embarking on a career in fashion in mid-life. After all, there are other well-known examples, such as Pulitzer (of the juice stand), Diane von Furstenburg (an economics major) and Vivienne Westwood (a one-time teacher), who all found their success in fashion after starting in different fields.%u201d On March 10th the emerging fashion designer put feet to fantasy when she showed her fall/winter collection, %u201cContrast,%u201d on the runway at Style Fashion Week, Los Angeles, one of the biggest venues for fashion, nationally. The day after her show at L.A. Live%u2019s Event Deck, Adam Tschorn of the Los Angeles Times was more than enthusiastic in his write-up: %u201cFor such a recent addition to the local fashion fold%u2026,%u201d Tschorn wrote, %u201cwe found her to have mounted a surprisingly memorable, entertaining and professionally executed runway show.%u201dTen years later Tatiana Shabelnik is continuing to pursue her fashion dream. On February 14th with all the colors colliding in a playful harmony, while the cultures slide in a wishful symphony that echoes our diverse world, Californian fashion designer showcased her latest collection %u201cEastMeets West: from Silk Road to Hollywood%u201d at New York Fashion Weekwith Fashion Art World production company. The collection is inspired by the California Dream and the perception of the state as a place of new beginnings. At NYFW Tatiana collaborated with jewelry designer Alex Soldier and shoe designer John Fluevog. The runway dazzled with a fusion of intricate craftsmanship and innovative fashion showcasing a synergy that captivated the audience and stole the spotlight at New York Fashion Week. The success of the show was not just in the garments, jewelry and shoes, but in the seamless blend of artistic expression, leaving a lasting impression on fashion enthusiasts and industry insiders alikeTatiana Konovalova98 MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 47