Details
Maddie McPhee ‘10: A Martlet Busy by Design
McPhee shows off a painting she made for her Grandparents
Maddie McPhee ’10 is busy. In hurried emails written on airplanes to and from LA and New York City, she explains that she’s designing dresses for Jessica Simpson and looking for a new apartment in the Big Apple. Somehow, Maddie also finds time to give back to Westminster as a 2010 Class Agent – a Martlet alumna who reaches out to members of her graduating class to help spread the word about upcoming get-togethers and fundraising efforts. She took a moment out of her schedule to tell us about her experiences at, and life after, Westminster.
What did you do after graduating from Westminster?
After Westminster I went to the University of Delaware to study apparel design. At Delaware I joined Chi Omega Fraternity where I volunteered for the Make-A-Wish Foundation; I was able to help grant three wishes in my time there. I was also accepted into an accelerated visitors program at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) for fashion design, which took me to NYC for my entire junior year of college.
At FIT I was featured in an Andy Warhol themed exhibition and graduated summa cum laude with an associate degree in fashion design. That summer I had the opportunity to intern for Diane Von Furstenburg in her design offices, where two dresses I sketched were presented in her spring 2014 show (one worn by Naomi Campbell). After interning for the summer, I returned to Delaware where, in my final semester, I won third place in the school’s annual fashion show and ended up graduating early (in February) with my bachelor degree in apparel design.
What are you doing now?
After college I came back to NYC and started interning for Jessica Simpson in her dress design department. This internship turned into a full-time job, and I am now the assistant designer for Jessica Simpson Dresses under the G-III apparel group. You can now buy my designs in department stores nationwide!
Have you kept in touch with any classmates and/or teachers from Westy?
I have! I still talk to many of my Westminster friends. My close friends and I have a group message and try to get together around the holidays and in the summer. We haven’t missed a summer yet! New York has also brought some old friends from Westy back into my life, and, as a class agent, I keep in touch with 2010 alumni by writing letters every year for the annual fund.
McPhee in her Junior year at Lawn Ceremony with Whitney FitzPatrick '09
Is there anything from your experience here that has helped you in your post-Westminster life, personally or professionally?
I learned a lot from Westminster that I’ve applied to my life. Mostly, Westminster encouraged me to get involved and keep busy. My work ethic is very much a result of being involved with clubs, sports and the student council at Westminster. It also allowed me to become very independent at a young age, which helped me transition to college and eventually move to New York to live on my own. However, I would say I am a little more outgoing now than I was in my quiet Westminster years!
What is your favorite memory of Westminster?
I have too many good memories to just pick one, but I would say I miss Westminster’s small, tight community the most. You realize when you move to a large college or a big city that being around people who know you and care about you is an amazing thing. I don’t think any of my college professors would let me in their homes, cook me meals when I was having a bad day, or ask how my family was doing and know all of my brothers’ names. In NYC, you don’t see familiar faces on your way into work like you do walking to school at Westminster. The sense of community at Westminster is really something to treasure.
If you could tell current students one thing, either about life at Westy or life after high school, what would it be?
I think what I would tell current student is “relax.” Looking back at my time at Westminster, I realize I spent too much energy stressing about my schedule, grades and athletics. All you can do is apply your best effort to each responsibility and be proud of the result. Do not get wrapped up in being on varsity or junior varsity. Do not worry if you are on summus or if you miss it by two percent. Take a study break and go to the STUD. As long as you are proud of what you put in, take a breath and enjoy yourself. Chances are, when you graduate you won’t be thinking of the time you aced the test, you will be thinking of your experience instead.
Contact Us
995 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, Connecticut 06070
P. (860) 408-3000
F. (860) 408 3001
Simsbury, Connecticut 06070
P. (860) 408-3000
F. (860) 408 3001
Explore Our Website
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students
In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.
In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.
© Copyright 2024 Westminster School | Privacy Policy
AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.
AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.