Mexican-American designer Louis Verdad got his start designing quinceañera dresses in Atlanta but, for some reason, decided he’d rather squander that awesomely prestigious gig to design for movie stars. To each his own, we guess:

He started a small workshop at his home, and tried to make a name for himself by starting a small clothing line. He got his first big break when actress Milla Jovovich showed up one day and purchased one of his designs. She had heard about him from a friend.

From there, other stars followed. His rise followed Hollywood’s so-called Latin Boom, and his first clients included Christina Aguilera.

“Latin Boom” sounds like a delicious appetizer that leads to flatulence and tears.

“I became known as a guy that has his own ideology. I had something to say and people cared about it,” said Verdad, whose clothes now sell in Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Verdad’s style has come to be defined as “sensually vintage”, which he defines as “sensual, rather than sexual.”

“I like it when a woman can show some masculinity through her strength, but feminine in her movements,” he said.

Well, we like it when a woman can show some masculinity through her strap-on, but femininity in her movements. Oops. Did we just type that out loud? Anyway, despite our disagreeing with Verdad’s take on strength being a masculine trait (Do men carry around another person for nine months while developing hemorrhoids and getting paid less than their co-workers? No.), we’ve got to say his clothes are beautiful.

Designer Louis Verdad: From Wal-Mart to dressing Madonna, other celebrities [The Canadian Press]