LITTLE ROCK — As part of our preview of the Designer's Choice fashion show to be held on March 28, we're giving you a sneak peek at three of the designers in the show. This week's designer is Stephanie Thomas, a 40-year-old Little Rock native and owner of Sweet Charlotte Designs, who has been sewing since she was 9 years old.

By Shannon Sturgis Stephanie Thomas works on clothes she'll have in the Designer's Choice fashion show.

This year will be Stephanie Thomas' second in the fashion show, and she plans to send bright, floral looks down the runway. Her inspiration lies just outside her door. "One of the first things I did was make a little flower garden ... as the flowers have grown, I've watched them and how they changed," she said.

Pins:

Thomas says she doesn't use patterns and keeps ideas for her designs in her head. "I want to be true to my idea," she said. "I don't look in a lot of magazines because I don't want to steal someone's idea. I always want to put my own twist to it."

If she needs to re-create a garment she says, "I usually remember how I made it."

Her mother, Charlotte, and the namesake for her business, taught her to sew on an old-fashioned machine. "I never knew what a serger was until 10 years ago," she said.

By Shannon Sturgis Some of the fabrics local designer Stephanie Thomas will use to make her pieces for the show.

She shops for fabrics both locally and online. "We have a limited availability of stores as compared to places like Dallas. I have to shop online or use less-conventional fabrics," she said, adding that she will often browse in the upholstery aisle.

She plans to debut a purple wedding dress for this show and a matching white bridesmaid dress. She once made a red wedding dress for a client that people still remember. She didn't include the red dress in last year's show because, "Even though it's beautiful, I don't want it to be what I'm known for."

By Shannon Sturgis One of the dresses in the show.

Her style this year is inspired by nature but also by The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.

"He has ruffles everywhere ... and his clothes were very detailed," she said.

She's incorporating ruffles and bright prints with the tailored, fitted looks that are in style this season. All of her designs this year can be summed up as "classic and sassy with a twist of funk."

sewing:

Though most of her looks this year are tailored, Thomas says she's not having trouble making fitted looks for her models.

"Last year I got some really good models so most of them will be back this year," she said. "I already have their measurements. It's easy when you've made clothes for someone before to make clothes for them again."

Next week, look for our feature on local model and new designer Nicole Daniel.