Penn State alumna Jamie Phyl Lewin, fashion designer and creator of the high-end clothing line Phyl Couture, has been doing things according to her own rules for a while now.

Lewin, Class of 2000, realized she wanted to pursue her long-time love of fashion designing after taking a graphic design course as a freshman at University Park, but said the lack of a fashion design major on campus led her to create her own.

"Whatever my professors' specialties were, whether it was graphic design or whatever, they were pushing us towards that, so I really had to figure out what I was doing on my own," Lewin said.

The budding designer studied costume design, graphic design and fashion history to build an understanding of design.

"I really enjoyed the classes that I took, but there wasn't really a fashion major. Everyone kind of went towards the costume designing direction," Lewin said, adding she used an integrative art major to design her own program.

After doing graduate work at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and racking up experience working for fashion powerhouses such as Armani Collezioni and Ralph Lauren, Lewin decided to launch her own line.

Three years later, Phyl Couture has been featured in publications such as The Philadelphia Inquirer and Lucky Magazine. Her collection of women's wear has been in showrooms in cities such as Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta and was part of New York City's Fashion Week in February.

"Being in a New York showroom was neat. We definitely got a lot of press," Lewin said. "I was on a news show in New York that showed the collection so that was definitely cool."

Phyl Couture's success is being noticed not only by boutiques, but larger, upscale department stores, as well. Lewin said she is "in talks" with high-fashion giant Nordstrom.

Meanwhile, Pamela Dollack, owner of the boutique Tony, located in Old City Philadelphia, said her store will feature Lewin's Spring 2008 collection from noon to 6 p.m. April 26 at a "trunk show." The store will clear its racks for the day and replace them with a display showing all of her work.

"We literally relinquish the store to the line we are carrying. Everyone who comes in that day will get treated to a beautiful show," Dollack said, adding some Phyl Couture tote bags will be given away as prizes during the show.

The Phyl Couture Spring 2008 collection features classic styles such as baby-doll dresses, scoop neck tees, and open-backed tunics. Lewin added subtle details such as embroidery, floral cutouts and ruffles to give the simple shapes a tailored look.

Dollack said some of Lewin's success may come from her willingness to work closely with her clients.

"She is just the best, most easygoing person to work with, and it's not just because she is a local girl," Dollack said. "I really hope to see her company grow."

Julia Osborne, Lewin's roommate during her last year at Penn State, remains a close friend of the designer.

"We knew each other through a couple of classes we took together. She was always a hard worker," Osborne said, who has performed in theatrical productions in New York City. "I was a musical theatre major. We are both working in the fields we majored in, so we are pretty lucky."

Osborne occasionally works for Jamie at Phyl Couture in New York.

"If we are working together she will never say, 'No, you can't go to that audition.' I think we have a mutual respect for each other and support each other's artistic endeavors," Osborne said. "I'm really proud of her and I really believe in her."

Lewin said the hardest part of breaking into the fashion business is finding the resources necessary to start a line.

"It takes a lot of money ... I guess most people are working at other jobs while designing on their own time. You are working 24/7 all year long so you can leave that job and go off and do your own thing and be successful," Lewin said.

She added that young designers also have to find a personal style that will get them noticed.

"There is just so much competition. It's, 'How are you unique, why should stores buy your clothes?' " Lewin said.

Phyl Couture is available in boutiques across the nation and is also carried by online stores such as unsungdesigners.com and starsandinfinitedarkness.com.

Lewin attributes the success of her clothing line to her passion for designing. She said the best part of designing is the freedom to be creative and getting to have a career she loves.

"If you love what you do, then everything you do is great," Lewin said. "Even on the worst days I have, I wouldn't want to do anything else. I think that's really hard to find."