Having proven herself one of the greatest interior designers of the past decade, Kelly Wearstler showed today that she’s a top-notch fashion, jewelry & home goods designer all at once. As careers become increasingly specialized, it is refreshing & inspiring to see someone thriving as a Renaissance woman. While there have been many tales of fashion designers who start designing (or licensing) home goods on the side, it’s great to see someone move in the other direction, moving from designing spaces to designing garments.
Wearstler said that she had always wanted to do fashion, but she went the architectural & interior design route. She finally made the move into fashion because it just felt like the right time. The transition seems very smooth because her love for prints, patterns, & saturated colors transitions seamlessly into her jewelry, garments & home goods. At first, her colorful & patterned interiors inspired clothing. “Now,” she says, “the fashion inspires the interiors!”
Very wearable, edgy & full of a laid-back west-coast vibe, this collection — “When Animals Attack” — veers from the usual resort repertoire by eschewing a sunny palette & using a lot of deep & dark colors. Inspired by big cats, the prints brought to mind claw scratches, cages & tiger stripes. Burnout techniques literally evoke claw marks across one of the sweaters; the overall effect is ferocious & tough while being approachable & sexy. Wearstler is especially adept at creating interesting washes for leggings & pants, using multiple tar washes to create rough & interesting black distressed detailing on turquoise stretch pieces. Horn & saber-tooth shaped jewelry were in keeping with the bold theme, as were signature Wearstler home decor items, from giant hands & feet to — our personal favorite — brightly colored heads with gold spiked Mohawks. While relatively new to fashion & jewelry, all the pieces together felt confident, cohesive & mature.
Is there anything Kelly Wearstler can’t do? Let’s hope she takes on shoes & dinnerware for next season.
-Paula Rosine Long
