Dressing the Dream: Kim Hicks Couture

Kim Hicks has made a name for herself in the world of Couture by embracing timeless glamour, meticulous craftsmanship, and a deep reverence for tradition. A graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York, Hicks’ passion for fashion was sparked in childhood, sewing her own prom and homecoming dresses and raiding her mother’s wardrobe for inspiration. “It was really my mother’s style and her beautiful clothes—and wedding photos—that inspired me,” she recalls. “The styles of the late ’60s and ’70s were great.” 

While she once dreamed of becoming a doctor, a high school pamphlet about Parsons set her on a new path. By the time she graduated, her designs had already been featured in renowned magazines, sold at Henri Bendel, and earned her the prestigious Golden Thimble award for a hand-painted organdy evening gown. 

Hicks honed her Couture sensibility under the legendary Arnold Scaasi, designing for style icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Astor, and Nina Griscom. Later, she worked with Badgley Mischka before launching Kim Hicks Couture in 1997. Her very first gown was commissioned by Sara Goodman, granddaughter of the Bergdorf Goodman founders—a relationship that led to more than a decade of selling through the famed retailer. 

Today, Hicks sees clients by private appointment at her Ateliers in New York and Paris. Her designs are known for their classic silhouettes, feminine details, and exceptional tailoring. “My aesthetic is classic, elegant, timeless, feminine, and Couture,” she says. “Something you can wear many times—not just once.” 

Hicks draws inspiration from old films, flea markets, her clients, and above all, Paris. “I just saw the Worth exhibition at the Petit Palais. He was the one I studied at Parsons who made me want to be a Couturier.” 

Kim Hicks designs for women who value beauty, quality, and confidence. “I actually design for myself,” she says. “And that has translated into what other women love, too.”