NYLON - May 2008 - (Page 72) PRETTY YOUNG THING “Coley is Kate’s middle name and Claire is mine, and that’s how we got our name ColeyClaire,” says Amy McCormick, who along with her design partner Kate Hayes has created the fun, vintage-inspired line, ColeyClaire, which has become one of New York City’s best-kept secrets. The two girls met on their first day of drawing class at the University of Colorado and became fast friends. “We would sit around sketching together all the time but never really thought about designing,” says Hayes. After graduating, Hayes––who hails from Georgia––moved to New York where she worked at a small design house, and McCormick–– a California native––followed suit a year later. Being in the city gave them incentive to get serious about designing their own line, so they both enrolled in classes at Parsons and then took a trip to Southeast Asia to source factories for production. Now in their second season, the girls have created beautiful frocks that can be worn from day to night. “Our pieces are for that twentysomething girl who wants to go to a gallery opening right after work,” explains Hayes. “And with my East Coast sensibility and Amy’s West Coast flair, our dresses translate from casual to dressy easily.” Highlights from the line include the Harris dress with chiffon pleats, the Jules bodice frock with an all-over flower print, and the Spanish inspired Louisa dress with ruffles along the collar. “Everything we create is a combination of both our personalities and we’re not satisfied with a design until we both approve,” says McCormick. “Sometimes we communicate without even talking. We have an interesting dynamic, and that’s why we work well together.” RAJNI LUCIENNE JACQUES For more information, see coleyclaire.com. no sleep till brooklyn Fashion and art meet again this spring in Manhattan’s Meatpacking district: Design house Theory is curating a special exhibit entitled Flyway at its flagship Gansevoort Street location. Brooklyn-based “motion painting” master David Ellis will reside in-store where he will embark on a week long painting spree, taking breaks only to sleep and eat. Video cameras will capture his sublime, kinetic creations, while an onsite composer will score the video in real time; the final canvas and time-lapse video documentary will be the basis of an audiovisual installation open to the public between April 7 and June 2. The collaboration is the latest venture of the Theory Icon Project, the label’s artistic (and philanthropic) arm (previous pairings include a Richard Avedon photo exhibition and a screening of Stacy Peralta’s surfing documentary Riding Giants). So what’s behind Theory’s desire to take fashion to new creative heights? “It’s just one way the growing company plans to demonstrate its commitment to corporate social responsibility,” says Theory spokeswoman Melissa Weiss. RUPAL PAREKH For more information, see theory.com. Remember when chain wallets were popular and everywhere you looked you saw a guy with metal links connecting his front belt loop to his back pocket? Well, Earnest Sewn and iconic French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels have now created their own (very exclusive) version of that trend. They are teaming up to craft an extremely limited-edition pair of Earnest Sewn’s high-waisted, slim fit “Zazo” jean, adorned with Van Cleef & Arpels’ signature Alhambra “clover” chain, connecting the front and back pockets. The jeans come in an indigo rinse and a light grey wash, with two different precious chains (mother of pearl and yellow gold, and black onyx and white gold, respectively). As an added bonus, the clover chain is removable, so it can be worn as a necklace or bracelet. Naturally, the jeans don’t come cheap, priced between $9,700 and $11,300. And with less than 10 pairs in production, you’ll be set to witness a rare form of socialite Darwinism: The jeans will be available at Christie’s Auction House––yes, just like any other work of art. NATALIE TOREN coleyclaire photographed by joanna totolici. stylist: robyn v. fernandes. hair and makeup: tamah krinsky at see management for laura mercier. model: cisa at ford. dress by coleyclaire, vintage belt. earnest sewn and van cleef & arpels: courtesy of earnest sewn. booty jewelry http://coleyclaire.com http://theory.com
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