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What Women Want

What they want, she believes, are "sexy, romantic" dresses. Her fall collection, in bright silk crepe, features short, body-conscious shapes. Prices range from $1,000-$2,000 (U.S.)

Jennifer Bawden in velvet dress appearing on the November cover of Cosmo. The dress, in red, green or black, is available at Bergdorf Goodman in October.

Bawden, who is single, works out of her Manhattan apartment and these days she's putting more energy into her business than her social life. "You've got to work hard -- especially in New York -- to be successful," she says.

But the hard work is paying off. She sells to Bergdorf Goodman, which last year featured her dresses in a Fifth Ave. window. And she has just begun working with exclusive retailer, Martha's.

And Bawden is thrilled that one of her designs -- a short, tight green velvet dress with plunging neckline -- will be on the November cover of Cosmopolitan. It already has been shot by top fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo.

Of her considerable success, she is cautiously optimistic. "It's not enough that I can sit back and relax for a second."

And that seems unlikely with her plans. She says she eventually wants to expand into high-end skiwear and daywear.

Although none of her designs are available in Canada just yet, she says that one day she hopes to sell her designs to Holt Renfrew.