The second show I attended for New York Fashion Week was by a newcomer by the name of Keo. This was the debut collection from the 22 year old designer. It was by no means safe, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! The collection, dubbed “Sexy MF” after the Prince song of the same name, was inspired by the Purple One himself and the excess of the 80s, but with a modern 2011 spin. Keo is fearless and did not shy away from bright colors, lingerie, loud prints, and metallics. These clothes are not for the faint of heart, they’re designed for confident women who command your attention! This was an ambitious effort for a debut, so I can only imagine that future collections by Keo will continue to blow away her audience and critics!

Keo also used the show to raise awareness for the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation of Metro New York. Keo suffers from both Lupus and Epilepsy, but don’t think that she lets these conditions hold her back. Despite numerous hospital visits and extreme fatigue, she was still able to put on an impressive debut show.

British womenswear designer, Kirsty Doyle, began selling her designs at the age of 18 at a Liverpool craft market where she quickly established a loyal following. After studying at LJMU and world-renowned Central St Martins, Kirsty established the Kirsty Doyle womenswear label in 2006 due to demand from national retailers, producing sell-out collections for six seasons before launching her flagship womenswear boutique in February 2010 as part of Liverpool ONE.

Kirsty’s sleek, sharply tailored designs feature contemporary twists, pleats and folds for a new take on classic feminine silhouettes, whilst the Kiki by Kirsty Doyle collection features a number of limited edition luxurious silk and chiffon loungewear pieces, reminiscent of Hollywood’s golden era.

-Bio via kirstydoyle.com

L.A. based designers, Carissa Simons & Lynsey Longo are introducing to the world their collective label, Ellie Lavelle in the Spring 2011 season. Ellie Lavelle is the perfect undertone of rock glam in constant articulation of confidence; feminine but tough, elegant yet edgy. Garnishing inspiration of monumental women of the past, the designers fuse Debbie Harry’s alter ego of 70′s rock n’ roll with the glamour of the 30′s icon, Veronica Lake. The line incorporates elements of raw femininity and unconventional grunge, a combination of ideas that mirror the designer’s experiences and background.

For more information on the emerging brand, visit their official website at: www.ellielavelle.com

S/S 2011 Lookbook Credits
Model: Raina Hein
Photographer: Kesler Tran
Makeup Artist: Paulo Grayson
Accessories: Jennifer Elizabeth

Christina Fan presents C/FAN Spring/Summer 2011 colllection

Christina Fan is an emerging designer who launched her line, C/FAN in the fall of 2008. C/FAN started out as a collection of basic t-shirts and winter coats but has since expanded to include: suits, dresses and separates.

C/FAN’s latest Spring/Summer 2011 collection marks the coming season with a youthful nostalgia. Fan is inspired by a memory of the fleeting period in time when a young girl just enters womanhood and all those that feel her presence are affected. It is a time of both awakening and dreams; a time which is limitless, fragile and boundless, similar to the dawn of a new day.

The spring/summer 2011 collection features the use of silks, ranging from sheer chiffons, washed silks and silk jerseys to embody the C/FAN woman, who is effortlessly and sensually moving. The color palette this season includes greys, charcoals, nudes and creams to accompany a vibrant one-of-a-kind print — inspired by an image of a luminous December dawn over Caddo Lake, an undefined territory in between Texas and Louisiana.

Bourne UK S/S by Elise Berger 2011 collection, ‘Little Seres’ – love!

Allow me to introduce to you all an extremely talented eco-couture connoisseur, Swedish based designer, Camilla Wellton.  She creates dresses, tops and outerwear that are literally out-of-this-world with such precise cuts and futuristic shapes & details that make definitely them stand-out pieces. Each piece is full of femininity, elegance and an avant-garde element that I’m sure you won’t find anywhere else. Camilla is taking her brand to the next level with the launch of her latest A/W 2010 collection entitled, The Rise.

For price-points & to shop items from Camilla Wellton, visit her official website by clicking here.