I stumbled across this incredible wedding a few months ago on insta and was in awe with the bride’s phenomenal style. Turns out, the bride, Christen Ashley Mitchell, designed most of her wedding jewelry and has since launched a capsule collection!
The collection has a minimal, eclectic desert-y vibe and features hand stamped and hammered metals… per the site, current styles are limited edition and new styles will be launched each season, so be sure to stock up…
Steven Alan is one of those websites that is consistently up on my laptop – but for some reason I keep forgetting to share my favorite American made picks! Today most of them went on sale, so I decided it was time.
I was perusing Barneys yesterday (as one does – and as you should – there are some incredible things on sale right now!) and came across these amazing jeans… I’ve been searching for the right pair of skinny + slouchy + distressed white jeans and now I’m dreaming about being able to pull these off (which, unfortunately, is unlikely).
The jeans are NSF – which also happens to be the brand behind this tee that I picked up during a sale a few months ago and have been wearing constantly. Definitely a brand to watch!
About NSF:
“Our approach to denim has been to design what we love without worrying about whether or not it was going to be accepted. Our denim is classic, straightforward, with a little bit of dirt and a sexy tomboy slouchy straight fit. Every pair of jeans is made in Los Angeles, with hand executed washes, some with 15-20 steps each. Our approach to quality craftsmanship and authentic denim washes stands out.”
– Jamie Haller, NSF Creative Director and designer
I came across Kieley Kimmel’s incredible knits last fall (and still regret not buying a sweater!) – and her spring collection is even more incredible. The pieces are deceivingly simple – but the collection is built on incredible fabrics, prints and structural (yet still soft) details that make all the difference.
Read on to learn more about the inspirations behind the collection and what we can look forward to… this is a line I’m so excited to watch. (ps – my favorite online shop Mille has some Spring 14 pieces on sale! I’ll be forever envious if you buy that sweater!)
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
My background is in Painting and Textile Design with a concentration on History, Philosophy + Social Sciences. I studied at Rhode Island School of Design.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR COLLECTION?
I gather inspiration from my immediate surroundings and various theoretical texts. I’m mostly drawn to complex textures, materials and surfaces.
WHERE DO YOU DESIGN?
I design all of my collections at Kieley Kimmel Studio, Downtown Los Angeles. But the design/inspiration process is constant, no matter where I am.
WHERE DO YOU ESCAPE?
I love to take day-hikes + adventures on the outskirts of Los Angeles. There a ton of hidden rivers, pools and waterfalls in the Angeles National Forest. Also, Marfa TX is my dream space escape, but I haven’t been back to visit for over a year!
WHY DO YOU MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA?
I’ve sourced some great LA manufacturers who are able to maintain a hand-made quality to their work, especially with garments that are focused on the fabric + textile. It’s a matter of quality control. I also prefer a more personal relationship to my production team.
WHY IS YOUR COLLECTION DIFFERENT?
I think the line appeals to a broad audience, and I always try to include a mixture of different styles/personalities in each collection. A little something for everyone. The textiles are custom designs, using very fine materials. I’ve noticed that the quality of fabrics are what people are initially drawn to.
WHAT’S NEXT?
I’d love to focus on my knitwear + possibly a Kieley Kimmel Unisex/Menswear line. Art direction for small-scale film projects has also interested me lately.
