Texas-born fashion designer Hyden Yoo walked away from a sweet consulting gig in Chicago to try his hand at designing clothing in the Big Apple. His D.I.Y. spirit has served him well: Completely self-taught, Yoo has attracted praise from fashion editors and amassed his own army of followers. His military-inspired collections — sold at Urban Outfitters and other major shops — include crisp cotton blazers for men, boxy woven blouses for women, epaulet sweaters, and trim button-down shirts in a muted palette of army greens, grays, and blacks. In addition to founding his flagship line, Hyden Yoo designs the chic menswear label Standard Issue. Fun fact: Yoo was the season three winner of NBC’s Fear Factor and used his prize money to start his clothing business.