Bucktown designer Kate Coxworth didn't waste any time after graduating from college before immersing herself in the fashion world.

Just a couple of months after graduating from Indiana University, she landed a technical designer job at Ralph Lauren in New York City, where she worked for two and a half years. And shortly after moving back to her native Chicago, Coxworth launched her own women's clothing line.

Coxworth's one-year-old clothing line, called Kate Boggiano (named after her paternal grandmother's Italian maiden name), offers satiny, sleek dress shirts; stylish, well-tailored blouses; soft, comfy, torso-slimming tank tops; and colorful clutch handbags.

Sitting at the window of a coffee shop on a snow-heavy morning in downtown Chicago, Coxworth, 26, is wearing a long purple-pink sweater dress over a long-sleeved, crisp white dress shirt from her clothing line.

Born in Oak Park, she has lived all over Chicago. Originally a pre-med major, Coxworth says, "I always thought [fashion design] was a hobby, not a career."

After realizing that she wanted to pursue design, she created her own fashion degree at Indiana University. As for her earliest fashion-oriented projects, Coxworth laughs as she remembers making her first pattern for her eighth grade graduation dress. Also, she says that her grandmother on her mom's side was "such a good seamstress" who "definitely helped me get the technical skills."

Coxworth graduated in December 2003 from Indiana University, and in mid-January 2004 she moved to New York, "terrified" and without a plan. A family friend helped her get an interview with Ralph Lauren, and by March she was working there. "It was lucky," she says.

There she was given sketches and made the clothing samples work on fit models. She eventually worked on Ralph Lauren's men's clothes as a merchandiser for a year, placing orders for different men's clothes before the paper patterns were turned into clothing samples.

Coxworth was inspired to leave New York in September 2006 after learning about the Chicago Fashion Council, a group that gives young designers an opportunity to launch their own clothing lines. After developing a business plan, she got a loan and investment capital, launching her web site and collection in November 2006.

Her clothes cost $17 for soft, stretchy tank tops; $100 for the Amelia, a matte jersey with delicate, elegant details and silk-covered buttons; and $150 for the Audrey, a sleeveless velvet V-neck.

As for tips for wannabe fashion designers, Coxworth says that a solid business plan is key. "There are so many things to get lost with. Really think about it, execute and don't stray" from your business plan, she says.

Coxworth says she has had some great mentors, including those she met through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), a federal government agency that helps entrepreneurs, and through partner agency SCORE, an organization of retired executives who also advise small business owners.

Great customer service, quality fabric and a great fit are what Coxworth says she hopes to deliver.

"I want it to be a great fitting piece that you can wear forever" and not something that will fall apart shortly after you buy it, she says.

In fact, Coxworth spent four or five hours testing fabric for durability to ensure that the fabric is long-lasting for the Alexi, a sleek, lightweight shirt made from 30 percent silk and 70 percent cotton. Seams on other clothing items also are tested for durability. Coxworth unbuttons and turns up the cuff at the bottom of the sleeve of her dress shirt, revealing seams that are double-stitched on the inside of the shirt, giving a cleaner look and more durability.

Coxworth, who likes designers Valentino and Oscar de la Renta, also is dedicated to keeping the production work of her clothing line in the United States. Everything is made in Chicago, she says.

Also, Coxworth's line also offers customized shirts. Customers may pick from three fabrics and a style, and she will make a specialized shirt for $189-$239. Customers can use a measurement guide online or they can send a favorite button-down shirt as a guide.

Coxworth also just moved her office from Bucktown to Macy's on State Street, 111 N. State St.

"I'm not a really big shopper, especially in this weather," she says with a laugh as she points to the snow falling outside the coffee shop.

Coxworth's spring collection, featuring all new styles of clothes, launches on Feb. 25.

For more information, visit her web site at www.kateboggiano.com.