Melissa Atillo has loved fashion since she was a child, and perhaps it was in her DNA. “I grew up with design,” she says. Her grandfather pioneered crafting rattan in the Philippines. Her father continued the legacy in design and production of rattan, including that of the peacock chair made popular in the '70s. Melissa continued to work with her father as the company’s creative director.
A graduate of the product development and design program at the Fashion Institute of Design, Los Angeles, she has worked in all aspects of the fashion industry, from production on the fabric-cutting floor to the design of her own line. She has an eye for trends and a love for the way clothing is an expression of personality. Having explored much of the United States, she says, “The style I found here in Central Oregon is a mild Western look, which I find very fashionable.”
With an inheritance of an entrepreneurial spirit, Melissa and her husband moved to Bend in 2013 and founded Lost Season Supply, a clothing and gift store that celebrates its 7th year this month. The boutique, located on a section of tree-lined NW Colorado Avenue, carries small labels, sustainable brands and local artisan jewelry—plus features sterling silver from Navajo makers, of which she enjoys honoring their craftsmanship and tradition. With its neighborhood feel, Lost Season Supply is a place she hopes visitors can, “Shop in calm,” she says.
For Fall, Melissa likes to mix high-fashion pieces with casual items, to achieve a quirky expression of personal style. She sees trends this season of faux leather, oversized pieces, matching sets, and monochromatic looks. She encourages people to make bold choices and take chances with what they wear. Ever the creative, Melissa is also a stylist and a member of a band, The Color Study in Bend. She enjoys all things fashion. “It’s supposed to be fun,” she says. “I believe fashion is for everybody."
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