Camille has officially taken over Dream Life Designs, a brand I started over 25 years ago. Her fun and unique sense of style showed itself at a very young age, when each day she dressed herself to the music of Miley Cirus, Destiny’s Child, and Florence and the Machine. She emerged from her room, always completely put together and ready for whatever was on the agenda. Along with her sister Willow, she willingly modeled my jewelry pieces, hats, and scarves, and also worked with me in booths at the annual Tucson Gem Show, where we both learned a lot from the extraordinary designer Niki Passenier.
After earning a degree with a focus on art, media, and entertainment, followed by a license in aesthetics, ultimately it was her personal style that got Camille noticed as she worked the front of house at a hip Denver restaurant. A co-worker who also worked in the fashion industry knew she was looking at a designer when each night, Camille showed up in something stylish and unique. Autumn Schieferstein, whose credentials include the title Miss Wyoming Teen USA 2017, encouraged Camille to submit an application for the Emerging Designer Challenge sponsored by Denver Fashion Week.
After a full year of prodding by Autumn and creating by Camille, she finally submitted an application that included interview questions about her brand and five looks. The competition took place in August and she won the people’s choice award, earning the opportunity to show a full collection in Denver Fashion Week’s Fall display.
“I just won Project Runway!” she gushed as we left the building with a full day of hair, make-up, styling, rehearsals, loud music and high energy coursing through our veins. I never dreamed that all those hours we had spent binge-watching Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn and stringing beads and sewing fabrics were all the basis for my daughter’s future dream life. We got to witness thirteen looks worn by Denver’s top models dance down the runway on opening night in Denver’s Fall Fashion Week in the Sustainable Fashion show.
Motherhood Revelation: Whether we know it or not, our actions and our visible talents influence our children to a great degree. She has honored me by taking over the brand and I’m grateful to my daughter for letting me be a part of it.
Here is an interview with Camille conducted by Nikki Strickler and the Denver Fashion Week production team:
How did your brand begin?
Dream Life Designs traces its roots back to 1999, when my mom, Michele, launched a jewelry line inspired by living her dream life. At the time, she and my dad were running Sandy Point Resort & Disc Golf Ranch, and I grew up surrounded by both their entrepreneurial spirit and my mom’s creativity. I remember watching her string beads into beautiful pieces, and from a young age I was fascinated by the sparkle and the idea of making something special with my own hands.
As I got older, I started experimenting with turning those same inspirations—beads, gems, and pieces collected from my travels—into fashions. I’ve always been heavily influenced by music, nature, and the confidence that comes from putting on something that feels like armor. My favorite pieces are clothes I’d want to wear to concerts or festivals, often inspired by the landscapes I’ve lived in: the Northwoods, the Sonoran desert, and the Rocky Mountains.
The first real turning point was during a dark winter, when I made an original “dream jacket” just for fun. Covered in patches, pins, and beads, it reflected the places I’ve traveled, the music I love, and the culture that’s shaped me. When I wore it to work, I received more compliments than ever before—so many people asked if I could make one for them. Later, while wearing it into a bead store in Denver, the Deadhead owner called it a “battle vest.” That phrase stuck with me, because it perfectly captured how I feel about clothes: they can be armor. They can reflect who you are, what you stand for, and what inspires you.
From there, Dream Life Designs grew into more than just jewelry or jackets—it became a gallery of original, vintage, and up-cycled creations. Every piece is meant to carry that same spark of inspiration, shaped by music, nature, and the dream of living life fully.
Who do you design for? (Describe your ideal customer/audience.)
I design for folks who want to have fun with fashion and express themselves through what they wear. My pieces are especially made with concerts and festivals in mind—outfits that feel bold, unique, and customized to reflect someone’s personal story. Dream Life Designs is for the cool girls, the creatives, and anyone drawn to our eclectic tastes and the melting pot of environments that inspire us.
Why did you decide to participate in Denver Fashion Week this season?
I entered the Emerging Designer Challenge in 2025 and was honored to win the audience vote, which secured me a spot in Denver Fashion Week. It felt like the perfect opportunity to showcase my vision on a larger stage and connect with people who share a love for creativity, self-expression, and original design.
Please describe the collection you are putting on the runway :
(Title, theme, inspiration, material used, how many looks, etc.)
My collection is all about sustainable fashion and transforming denim into something bold and personal. I started with Levi’s pieces I already had and embellished them with embroidered patches, enamel pins, beads, gemstones, sterling silver, and pearls. The collection is heavily inspired by music and nature—two things that have always shaped my creativity and sense of style.
On the runway, I’ll be showing 13 looks, each one telling its own story while also tying together as a celebration of individuality, sustainability, and self-expression.