100 Women We Love: Hannah Peyser

The old adage, "It’s better to look good than to feel good," didn’t make much sense fashion designer Hannah Peyser. She understands the importance of both. With her original, self-started clothing brand Restler, she places an emphasis on comfort, organic materials and easy-to-wear staple pieces. Peyser, a Philadelphia native, is part of a new generation of young, queer designers who are redefining women's fashion by designing and launching their own signature clothing lines. After graduating from the Pratt Institute, and having nabbed an internship that included creating one-of-a-kind, rock-and-roll pieces for Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O, Peyser worked with Douglas Reker and other top designers. Now, her focus is on Restler's online shop and ready-to-wear designs, all of which are handmade in Brooklyn. What’s her sartorial philosophy? "I love creating and finding inspiration in everyday oddities that can be recycled into my work," she says. "I want to contribute a mix of beauty and quirk into the world because it would be silly to take it too seriously." Looking good, Hannah! –DN