Project Runway’s Gordana Gehlhausen
From the small Yugoslavian village where she was born, Gordana Gehlhausen arrived in San Diego via Charleston, S.C., and knew right away that she was just where she belonged. “California in general has such a positive energy,” she says, so she recently opened her own boutique, GOGA, in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter. Having knitted her first sweater at age seven, the designer was a natural pick for Season Six of the hit reality fashion show Project Runway, where she stood out from the pack with her ethereal, feminine dresses.

What inspired your spring collection?
When you are a designer, you don’t have a certain source where you get inspiration. Anything you see, you assimilate it. I’m reading a book from the 15th century called The Lady of the Lake. I’m so drawn to the very old times when people did everything by hand; I wanted to choose colors that were not as bright, because they didn’t have them at the time. I was choosing leather and beading, everything that would take me to that Robin Hood time. Romantic but modern at the same time.

How did you choose to open a shop in San Diego?
I like Los Angeles, but I’m very tuned in with nature, and San Diego seems to have the balance that I needed. I also felt San Diego needed someone like me, an in-store designer. I haven’t seen much of it here.

Where do you find the clothes you carry at GOGA?
Mostly Paris. And I have some Italian shoes. I like to encourage young designers to bring their designs here; that’s really where the crucial moment happens and you see if you are connecting with the audience. To me, fashion is a way to reach out and connect with people. In my store I try to remember the stages of my growing up, so I like to appeal to somebody who is 19 years old but also to somebody who is 70. It’s nice to have a mother and daughter come in and shop in the same place.

What do you look for when you’re buying?
I like natural fibers; I work with a lot of silk. The fabrics need to be very appealing and flattering; they might have a little bit of stretch in them. Every woman wants to feel sexy and look good in what she’s wearing, so that’s what I’m trying to do: sexy and elegant but not revealing.

Where do you shop in San Diego?
I shop for jewelry sometimes, because that is very important for my clothes. Shorelines Gallery is right next to me, but what I like about them is that they feature local designers. I feel that we need to support each other or else they won’t be able to give us their beautiful designs. There is a lady who lives in San Diego whose line is called Micha Design, and it’s unbelievable. The marriage between her designs and my designs is so peaceful and successful. It really works with my clothing.

How do you spend an ideal day off in San Diego?
I like to lounge for a long time before I get up. I literally go from the bed to the couch to relax after a long night’s sleep! That’s why we open the store at 11, because I’m not a morning person. After that, I love walking in the little park behind the Convention Center and to Seaport Village. When we have time, we go to La Jolla and go to the beach. Between the little cafés and restaurants and nice porches where you can sit and enjoy the view, window shopping at the local shops—I think it’s a very cute area.

At three in the afternoon we have tea or coffee time; I am European after all: You cannot take away our coffee or our pastry. I will not eat for two days if I have to, but please don’t take away my pastry! There is a crepe place on Fifth Avenue called Chocolat where I like to have a really nice little crepe or cappuccino.

Any other favorite restaurants?
I really like Thai food, and I like the atmosphere at Rama. I like the waterfall; it really takes you to a different place. There is a new place that opened next to us called Funky Garcia. When you need something to grab fast, we order from them and it’s done in 10 minutes, and it’s delicious and it’s so cheap. They don’t even have refrigerators, we were told, because everything that they use is fresh.

What is your favorite thing about the city?
I love how friendly people are. I really feel like I have found that Southern hospitality on the West Coast.

Details
GOGA by Gordana 401 Market St., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.564.7660 Shorelines Gallery 411 Market St., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.727.4080 Micha Design 619.241.2979, michadesign.com Seaport Village Kettner Blvd. and W. Harbor Drive, Embarcadero, 619.235.4014 La Jolla Chocolat Cremerie 509 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.238.9400 Rama 327 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.501.8424 Funky Garcia 421 Market St., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.233.8659.