Having graduated from art school and in need of a job Chesley created her first clothing collection which led her to Seventh Avenue as a designer. Ten years later she debuted her first couture collection "At The Circus" at the Carlyle Hotel complete with a portfolio of illustrations. Finding the world not clamoring for her flirty French sailors she was encouraged to show her illustrations.

Commissions soon followed: An Absolut Ad "The Cartoon Dress", the "Vive La France" campaign for Bloomingdale's and a new look for Henri Bendel gave her recognition as "The French Illustrator in New York."

Her francophile style has been seen everywhere: on scarves for DKNY and The Metropolitan Museum of Art; in her redesign of Saks Fifth Avenue children's department and in packaging— a fresh look for Estée Lauder. In 2001, Chesley received "First Place & Best of Show" international award from VM+SD (Visual Merchandising and Store Design) for Marshall Field's windows and shoe salon mural "Les Shoes."

Publications include Town&Country, The New York Times, Tatler, Vogue, Vogue Espana, Harper's & Queen, InStyle, Elle, Elle Decor, House&Garden and The New York Observer.

Most recently, Chesley has indulged in her love of books . She is the author/illustrator of the children's book Zat Cat! A Haute Couture Tail (Scholastic Press 2002), and illustrator of Princess Lessons (HarperCollins 2003), Town & Country's Social Graces (Hearst Books, 2002), Obsessed by Dress (Beacon Press, 2000), You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer (Scholastic Press 2000) and Dodie goes Shopping (St. Martin's Press, 1999).

Stylish to her toes Chesley has never left the world of fashion. Her most recent collection "Les Demoiselles de Mode!" was previewed at Saks Fifth Avenue. With a little luck frock coats, ruffles and knickers will soon find their way up and down the avenue!