Zac Posen

Biography

Zachary E. Posen (born October 24, 1980) is an American fashion designer.

In 2000, Posen received a prominent career opportunity after a dress he made for Naomi Campbell changed hands several times among several fashion insiders, including actress Paz de la Huerta. 

He is famously well-connected and has called Stella Schnabel his muse. Through Interview magazine Editor-in-Chief Ingrid Sischy, Posen met his future publicist and event producer Ed Filipowski of KCD, who offered to represent him for free.

His awards include the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2004 Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear. Posen has become a favorite of Natalie Portman, Rihanna, Amanda Seyfried, Kate Winslet, Claire Danes, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Mischa Barton, Beyoncé Knowles and others.

In 2004, high-end urban fashion brand Sean John made an investment deal with Posen. Ashley Olsen interned with Posen in 2005 while she was a student at New York University.

In April 2008, Posen's capsule collection created in collaboration with Target, Zac Posen for Target, was released in 75 stores in Australia. A preview of the collection was shown during March's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

At the 2012 Academy Awards, Glenn Close wore a Posen gown on the red carpet, as did both Reese Witherspoon and Naomi Watts at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards.[19] Other notables who have worn Posen creations on red carpets include Uma Thurman at the 2013 Met Ball); Sofia Vergara at the 2014 Golden Globes; Anna Chlumsky at the 2014 Emmy Awards; and Rita Ora at the 2014 AMA Awards.

In October 2017, Posen's 288-page cookbook was published by Rodale Books. It is described as having “100 recipes every bit as decadent and inspiring as his designs.” In 2018, Posen designed the blush silk gown Princess Eugenie of York wore for her evening wedding reception.

On November 1, 2019, House of Z and Z Spoke, the fashion brand owner of Posen's company, announced an immediate closure of the label. The closure occurred soon after it was announced on August 6, 2019, that Barneys New York, a major client of Posen's company, had filed for bankruptcy. In 2021, Posen released a collection of genderless wedding rings.

In February 2024, Posen was hired as the creative director of Gap and chief creative officer of Old Navy as part of a strategy to revitalize the brands. Posen is the first executive-level creative lead for Gap Inc. since the 2011 departure of Patrick Robinson.