The original owner and designer of the famed ZOO 14 boutiques in New York and South Beach is now in Ft. Lauderdale. Maria Contessa has had a long career of dressing colorful characters, socialites, celebrities and just good old fashioned party boys. 

A Brazilian by birth, Maria moved to New York to study fashion at F.I.T. and after, opened a design studio, aptly called Contessa Studios, where she created costumes for dance companies from Alvin Ailey to rock groups and Opera divas. Some of her clients included KISS, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Cher and many more. She later moved to South Beach, and became part of the incredible surge of creative energy, night life, and media attention that "The Beach" became known for, and in fact she outlasted all of her fellow design shops that existed along Washington Avenue, Lincoln Road, and the famous Ocean Drive.  Recently, the Contessa moved her boutique and design studio to Ft. Lauderdale, sensing the trendy gay market had moved to the North. 

Now you can view and purchase her designs and several other designer labels she carries, both nationally and local to South Florida, at her boutique and website.