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Branding & Design / Decor / Fashion / People

Kelly Wearstler: The Ultimate Designer

Interiors, fabrics, bed & table linens, dishes, objets d’art, rugs and now…FASHION

Ms. Wearstler is clearly this day and age’s real Renaissance Woman. She is constantly creating, and in new mediums, again and again. Best part for me is, I get the sense that she’s doing all this primarily for the sake of creating anew, IOW a true artist. And now she’s hit the fashion scene with a collection of clothing and accessories, debuting in Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in August. She says of her new line, “When you see the collection together, it feels like a room in a house I designed. One of the fabrics could have been inspired by a wall covering. I love color and pattern and prints, and I love mixing them all.” When gathering up even a snippet of the multitude of her designed pieces and spaces, I can certainly tell, can you?

Kelly Wearstler Fall 2011 RTW

Kelly Wearstler Fall 2011 RTW

Kelly Wearstler Fall 2011 RTW

Kelly Wearstler Fall 2011 RTW

Kelly Wearstler Fall 2011 RTW

Kelly Wearstler Fall 2011 RTW

Did you happen to catch the bit on her in the May 2011 issue of Vogue (p. 166/168)? They really missed an opportunity, in my opinion. It’s almost as if the writer (Hamish Bowles) doesn’t quite get her: “…kinetic patterns, kooky eighties furnishings, and ‘Touch me! Feel me!’ textures…”  Huh? Myself, if I had to choose two words to sum up her work, “quirky” and “madcap” certainly wouldn’t be my first selections. How about “avant garde” and “completely original”? That seems a more appropriate way to describe this multi-dimensional creative genius. But what do I know, I’m just a two-dimensional designer. ;0)

I leave you with this: “If I’m working on interior products, I’d say that this sculpture or this chair would be so cool if it was a piece of jewelry. Or this upholstery on this vintage chair could be the sleeve of this jacket. So there’s a constant synergy, with the interiors influencing the fashion and vice versa.” Love it. Let’s all think this way today.

...xoxo

Images via Style.com, KellyWearstler.com, MyVibeMyLife.com

Erika Brechtel

Erika's passion for guiding women to "Style Your Biz, Your Home, Your Self, Your Life" led her create 'The E List' (formerly the Small Shop blog) in 2010. Since, she's expanded globally into speaking, mentoring, course offerings, angel investing, and social entrepreneurship through the Élanoura Collective for women founders.

Reader Interactions

The Comments

  1. Lily says

    April 20, 2011 at 8:15 am

    Her style is beyond amazing. I am in love with the black & white room !!

    xxLily
    goldandgray.comxxLily
    goldandgray.comxxLily
    goldandgray.comxxLily
    goldandgray.com

    • Lily says

      April 20, 2011 at 8:15 am

      oops dont know what happened at the end ! Sorry.

    • that girl says

      April 20, 2011 at 2:05 pm

      Her Flair fabric in black/white is one of my favorites! But unfortunately my husband’s not a fan. Darn it!

  2. heidi says

    April 20, 2011 at 8:21 am

    KW is amazing! I too was disappointed in the Vogue piece. Didn’t do her justice!

    • that girl says

      April 20, 2011 at 2:01 pm

      Seriously!!

  3. kat says

    April 20, 2011 at 8:25 am

    I wondered the same about the article, and also if in the fashion world they are naturally wary of any outsider that tries their hand at fashion, like stepping on their toes? Or maybe they don’t know much about interior design so wouldn’t get the impact she’s had? Food for thought anyway.

    • that girl says

      April 20, 2011 at 2:01 pm

      I thought that too! I don’t know, I guess I was surprised by the POV.

  4. Tamara, Bella Boho says

    April 20, 2011 at 9:19 am

    With Lily here, her style AND her are beyond amazing. You nailed it Erika, she is today’s real renaissance woman.

    The bottom right “grapefruit” photo reminds me of you!

    • that girl says

      April 20, 2011 at 2:02 pm

      Ha ha totally! I had another one there but replaced it at the last minute. I would die for one of those brass arc lamps with marble base!

  5. Elizabeth says

    April 20, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    I LOVE those pics you put together! I think she is a total genius and original – although I do not like her current work with all the stone (Malibu house) as much as her previous stuff, she is constantly evolving and staying ahead of the curve. Love this post!
    -e (modern24seven.blogspot.com)

    • that girl says

      April 20, 2011 at 2:04 pm

      Exactly, I know you get her too! Such an innovator. I like reading her blog, and I’ve realized that she is more of an introverted artist, and not some empress trying to extend her brand empire. I think it makes me more interested getting to see her process. It’s definitely NOT for show!

  6. Lonely Wife Project says

    April 20, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Fabulous pairing of the photos! I don’t love everything she does, and was in fact disappointed by her fashion collection, but it’s the artist in her I admire.

    • that girl says

      April 21, 2011 at 9:45 am

      I love to look at her style for direction, and then tone it down. I feel like her clothing line is toned down quite a bit. But I still dig some of the patterns and colors, mixed with neutrals. I would never look good in black converse, however.

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