Earhart Scarf Coat in "Summer and Smoke"

Suzanne Vinnik has captivated audiences across the globe and is one of the most influential women in classical music. She is an opera singer, community engagement leader, photographer, and the successful Creative Director and Fashion Designer behind byVINNIK, a brand she launched in May 2019.

Suzanne's love of fashion and desire to create her dream job on her terms inspired the launch of byVINNIK, an ethically manufactured womenswear line made in Los Angeles. The brand boasts a diverse clientele worldwide, including some of the biggest names in Classical Music, Broadway, and Television. As one of the few brands catering to both straight and plus sizes, her work is highly sought after by stylists and costume designers. byVINNIK designs have appeared on HBOMax's hit TV show The White Lotus, worn by Jennifer Coolidge in an episode nominated for an Emmy in the “Outstanding Contemporary Costumes” category, and on Natasha Rothwell in the season premiere of its third season. The brand also dressed Rothwell for The Wrap during the How to Die Alone press tour. Recently, Paula Pell wore multiple byVINNIK designs for the SNL 50th Anniversary Celebrations, on the red carpet and during an interview and entertainment segment on the Today Show, where Suzanne has appeared as a textile expert for Shop Today.

No stranger to red carpets, byVINNIK has been featured at nearly every major award show, spotlighted by Vogue on Grammy Award-winning artist Karen Slack, a collector of the brand who has worn it on the stages of Carnegie Hall, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Dallas Symphony, and other notable venues. Dulcé Sloan has been featured in the brand at the GLAAD Awards in viral videos and on RuPaul’s Drag Race as a guest judge. The Hollywood Reporter highlighted an upcycled piece from the brand’s archives, featuring vintage Swarovski crystal trim, as one of “The Best Sustainable Looks of This Red Carpet Season” in 2023. Early in her design career, Alex Newell performed on Disney+ in a custom opera coat by byVINNIK. The brand has also been featured in multiple segments on Access Hollywood and an experience room pop-up experience for CitizenM Hotels in Washington DC.  

As an opera singer, Suzanne’s favorite roles as a leading soprano have included the title role in Manon Lescaut, Nedda in Pagliacci, Mimi and Musetta in La Bohème, and Violetta in La Traviata, among others. She has performed at notable venues such as Pittsburgh Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center, and as a soloist in concert stages across Italy, Norway (with Her Majesty Queen Sonja in the audience), Russia, and before members of the U.S. Congress, sharing the stage with then-Vice President Joe Biden. Her parallel pursuit of entrepreneurial endeavors led her to start Shoperatic, the largest specialized social media network and marketplace for women in classical music. In addition, Suzanne is a published photographer, guest columnist, and stylist, and she hosted Diva Who Hustles, an online web series for The Dallas Opera Network during the early days of the pandemic in 2020.

Suzanne holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Texas Christian University, with additional studies at Mannes College of Music and Otis College of Design. She is also an alumnus of the Opera Studio at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy, where she studied and performed under the tutelage of Renata Scotto, as well as The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors, where she was an Administration Fellow in 2019.

She enjoys sharing her knowledge of entrepreneurship, fashion, female empowerment, and classical music as a guest panelist and keynote speaker at conferences and universities, especially when working with women to share the entrepreneurship journey. The best part of transitioning from singing opera to fashion is seeing how divas of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds have blossomed in their confidence, wearing her designs.

Recent awards include “Outstanding Designer of the Year” from The Full Figured Industry Awards, where Suzanne was also selected as “Best Dressed” by ceremony attendees. Under Suzanne's leadership, byVINNIK was one of two finalists for The Glossy Awards' “Inclusive Brand of the Year,” recognizing her label's commitment to making people feel seen regardless of age, size, gender, ethnicity, and ability. byVINNIK recently closed FWCurve, the largest fashion show in the USA featuring plus-size models, as part of Fashion Week Columbus.