Last year, Ollie McNamara, now 82, quietly wrote and published the book “Fashion Diva: My Life, Lessons and Loves,” which chronicled her life as a buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue. In it, McNamara, a Cornell graduate, revealed the ins-and-outs of the fashion world, a world that was dominated during that time by men, and tells how she eventually worked her way from the bottom up — a feat that wasn’t easy. “I remember asking my boss at the time if I could apply for the merchandizing manager position and he said, ‘Ollie, face it — That’ll never happen. This is a man’s world,’” McNamara said. “Well, was he wrong. Times have changed. Now there are lots of women in positions like that.” Despite the sexist climate of the time, McNamara never lost her edge, and soon become a valued member of the fashion scene in New York City. But as time marched on, she decided to leave the hullabaloo of the Big Apple after the birth of her daughter and open her own store. After successfully launching a 10,000-square-foot pilot store in Phoenix, McNamara opened Capriccio in La Jolla. Although it’s presence no longer graces La Jolla Boulevard, the store was the first of its kind here and sold upscale, designer clothing for over 20 years. One could say McNamara led the way in terms of creating what’s now the determining feature of La Jolla’s downtown retail: a one-stop-shop for one-of-a-kind, high-end boutiques. Although she has since retired from the world of retail, McNamara is still deeply involved in her community. “I love to take the time to talk to young girls in the area who are starting to go into the fashion industry. I’ll be speaking with a class at the Fashion Institute soon and I’m really looking forward to it,” McNamara said. And if you’re not a Fashion Institute student, but would like to hear her stories sooner, visit The Riford Center at 6811 La Jolla Boulevard on Oct. 21 at 5 p.m., where McNamara will be speaking exclusively. The engagement will cost $5 for non-members, and will be free for members. For more information, visit www.therifordcenter.org.
