NYLON - February 2008 - (Page 66) Launching a career in fashion is no easy feat, especially when you move to a new city every year. Chelsea Rebelle designer Sarah Brannon got her start selling her creations from a market stall in Auckland, before relocating to San Francisco, then Los Angeles, where her label was officially born, and this past summer, to the U.K. “London was calling,” says the migrant designer who, somehow, has managed to keep working while shifting her home base. The name Chelsea Rebelle refers to the main character from a song, “New Wave Girl,” by These Animal Men, and Brannon opted for the French spelling of the word “rebel” because she thought the English variation sounded “too harsh, and not girly enough.” The collection offers plenty of quirky, rock ’n’ rollinfluenced ideas—PVC and sequins both make an appearance—as well as a nod toward trailblazers like Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano. This season, Brannon borrowed elements from WWI and WWII military uniforms. “Hence the use of a lot of buttons,” she explains. Settling into her new adopted city has also made her nostalgic for her former home, an unexpected side effect of moving. “Suddenly, upon leaving L.A., I became very inspired by it,” she admits. “My spring line is loosely based on the scene around Laurel Canyon in the ’60s.” JENNY FELDMAN For more information, see chelsearebelle.com. HEEL, BOY Celebrity endorsements can be dubious, but when it comes to Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss, and Amy Winehouse, it’s pretty safe to assume that they only put what they truly love on their precious feet. Right now their shoe of choice is by London designer Jonathan Kelsey. Having worked for Jimmy Choo, Cacharel, Giles Deacon, and Strenesse, Kelsey started his own collection late last year and was quickly labeled the “British Louboutin” by the fashion world. His designs range from the absurdly popular wet-look leather shoes with cone heels to slightly more sedate pink-and-fuchsia stilettos. “I’d like my customer to be really smart and sexy,” says Kelsey, “but I also want her to go out, get drunk in my shoes, stumble home, and throw them across the living room.” ANDREA CUSICK For more information, see jonathankelsey.com. MUM’S THE WORD I love babies, and I would certainly never steal candy from one. But I would steal the Stella McCartney for Le Sportsac bunny rucksack (see Bag Check, page 144). The British designer and mother of two has devised a collection specifically for busy, modern women, including a “mum tote” complete with a laptop sleeve and a diaper changing pad (right), a large camera bag with room for the stuff you schlep to work everyday, and the aforementioned bunny backpack on which the head and tummy unzip to hold things like crayons and puzzles. Like McCartney’s irresistible oversize rompers and sack dresses, her Le Sportsac collection is bound to bring out the kid in all of us. JF For more information, see lesportsac.com. chelsea rebelle photographed by jay harrison. stylist: naima difranco at igroup, nyc. hair and makeup: hong hyun jeong. model: izabelle at ny models. pants by chelsea rebelle, top by rojas, bangles by dinosaur designs, shoes by maison margiela. jonathan kelsey still life: chika kobari. stella mccartney for lesportsac courtesy of lesportsac. chelsea girl http://chelsearebelle.com http://jonathankelsey.com http://lesportsac.com
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