About Lisa Vian Hunter
1960s
What I remember about growing up in Palo Alto, California in the 60s was mostly sun and swimming. Also going to the fabric store with my mom, Darlene. I’m sure I picked out this fabric at Steven’s in Menlo Park. My love of fabric started early. My mom made a lot of my clothes from the 60s to the 80s. When she took me to the local movie theatre to watch Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies on the big screen, I became hooked on glamorous fashion.
1970s
The 1970s was all about camping, more swimming and trying to look cool in a bandana. Here I am in 1974 at the Grand Canyon.
1980s
God love the 1980s. I avoided for the most part some horrific fashion. I toured the fashion design school in San Francisco in 1982 but decided instead to work in the fashion industry. I got my first job at Nordstrom in Palo Alto. Here in Kauai, the headband was pure 80s.
1990s
Grunge at last. I shifted from Fashion to publishing a rock music magazine with Scott. Here, at the Zen Cowboys concert in Palo Alto with Chloe. Ethan arrived the 2nd to last day in 1999.
2000s
This decade brought a return to fashion for me. I went back to the same fashion design school I toured in 1982 exactly 20 years later. With two small kids, I completed a fashion design degree, then launched my first dress collection, Vian Hunter. In 2007 we moved the business and family to Seattle from Palo Alto. Here I am with Ethan at our retail store in Madison Park.
2010s
Staying busy! I tried out for Project Runway but instead found a place on NBC’s Fashion Star. This happened immediately after losing my Mom and it was a lot at once. Somehow I made it. The end of the 2010s brought me back to Nordstrom, this time in Seattle to join the personal styling team where I learned about in-person and virtual closet assessments and styling.
2020s
In the Summer 2021 the entrepreneur in me decided it was time to get back to my own business. I launched Vian Studios, LLC originally with my daughter Chloe as a mask business during the COVID quarantine. It has now evolved into wardrobe consulting services and home organizing. I’m also releasing a limited-edition denim jacket in 2025. Please visit and let me know what you think!