A former creative director at Oscar de la Renta, rising fashion star Lippes founded his preppy contemporary sportswear company adam + eve, now known as ADAM, in 2004.

Born in Buffalo in 1972, Lippes attended Cornell, and after studying briefly at the American University in Paris, he moved to New York and began his design career first at Polo Ralph Lauren, and then at Oscar de la Renta. He moved up quickly at de la Renta, and became one of the youngest people in the fashion world to hold the title of "Global Creative Director," and worked very closely with the man Oscar himself during his tenure.

In 2004 Lippes left Oscar de la Renta and was determined to start his own brand based on his quest to make "the perfect white t-shirt." His first line, called The Collection of Basics, launched at Saks in spring 2004 and soon after became one of Oprah's Favorite Things, basically ensuring its success among 30-something women for a solid year or so. A few years later, his company then launched a full line of sportswear and adopted the name ADAM. In September 2007, he had his first runway show at New York fashion week, securing his place as a person to watch in the fashion world.

Lippes has homes in both the City and the Berkshires.

[Image via Getty]