>> A few hours has passed and I've gotten over my moment of unabashed stripping down, aided by a few cold showers and now an early evening breeze. So gone are the thoughts of semi-nudity and we're back to layers. That is… layers of pastel fringe. Yes, I'm still on a pastel rant and no, I'm not turning my attention to darker hues because THESE are the days to be getting those gelato, candy, pastel gel-ink pen colours out (whichever you prefer…) – is it weird that I FEEL physically unburdened when I look down and there's lightness bouncing off whatever I'm wearing.
Kitty Keay, who won the Mulberry Accessories Award at Graduate Fashion Week, like runner-up of the prize Jessica Dance has some animal antics going on in her Marie Antoinette-inspired collection but it's this layered pastel fringe jumpsuit that really stood out. Cascading fringe on trousers, I've seen before but it's the weight and selection of colours of the fringe on the trousers of the suit that really seals the deal for me. Not least because it's the type of fringe that looks like it might actually move properly if you do some energetic twirling about but because the colours have been well-judged so that it's not too sickly – I especially like the touches of black in the gradiated fringes. Kitty Keay's well-documented blog sheds a bit of light into the placement of the fringe… in a plethora of gradiated shades that I never knew even existed…
With regards to the rest of the collection, you say 'Marie Antoinette-inspired', do you expect to see this? The Benjamin Disraeli quote that Kitty has pulled for her portfolio is a bit more revelatory… "The hare-brained chatter of irresponsible frivolity." By all accounts, I suppose there was a lot of the f word in Marie Antoinette's case and that is what Kitty has chosen to focus on in her collection as opposed to poor toile de jouy prints and mantua-dress shapes.
The aspect which attracted Mulberry designer Emma Hill to Kitty's work were her little googly-eyed bears which appear to be jumping and grinning for joy. Perhaps they're in ecstasy over the thought of being beaded and sequinned in pastel colours…
More bear references make it into this take on a fox stole where Kitty took apart a bear she got from the British Heart Foundation (charity shop)…
Finally, they come popping out manic-eyed behind what looks to be either a shark or a dolphin making way for a sort of 'elegant' cartooning that Kitty perfected for her collection…
Wow, amazing, I love pastel colours and fringing, a match made in heaven.
These pictures are so much fun to look at. Especially love the first pic.:)SarahD
The bears are so fun! They remind me of the 2 bear puppets used in the show Avenue Q 🙂
Oh wow I love the teddy bear pieces. Truly unique and so cute! <3
skiepies.blogspot.com/
love the illustrations
Digging the pastels. LOVE the bear shrug!!
these bears’ look is kind of cool, but a little scary at times. not sure how fashionable it is, but the whole idea behind it is quite good
http://elenavasilieva.blogspot.com/
this is so wonderful. i am loving the bears! they remind me of a more sophisticated yet still menacing gloomy bear.
Those fashion illustrations are wonderful, so whimsical!
I love all the pastels, and the animals!
I adore your blog and have just set up a fashion blog of my own, it would mean the world to me if you’d check it out, I’m going to fashion college in London in September and you are a huge inspiration of mine!
http://hellyandthedinosaurs.blogspot.com/
xxx
those fringe pants are ridiculously amazing!
Love this, shes sooo talented! And her illustrations are amazing!!! Oooh I just love it!!
Cathy
http://thestylestrutter.blogspot.com
xxx
I love the 1st and last shots. Nice work too. Xxxx
i love all this, the pastels, animal shaped hair, bear stole. its a win/win situation.
such a great dress, just wow
julie
http://juliecours.blogspot.com
AMAZING! So adorable, I love all of this. 🙂
http://heavywords-lightlythrown.blogspot.com/
wonderful! I love how your blog always shows us something new, I consider myself pretty tuned-in in terms of fashion, but I nearly never see repeats on your blog.
greatly appreciated! keep up the excellent blog!
xx
AZD
http://www.xAZDdesign.com
Beautiful Style….I just love it!!!
http://www.vivamagonline.com/CoverStories_Cynthia.php
Wow! The fringe detail is amazing – flapper to the extreme! The bears are so cute and edgy at the same time. Like to pink bear, on Kitty. Fiesty!
xx Vanessa
amazing. and this fringe jumpsuit – so good!
Aw I love the pink bear, so cute! I love your blog, it’s so informative and has great substance.
That pig hair piece is absolutely amazing!
http://www.salonbusiness.co.uk
I saw this collecting at GFW absolutely LOVE it!!!!
I love the teddy bear stole – surely this should be the new trend for those still wearing real fur!
ooo really lovely! so sweet!
http://leblogdemasha.blogspot.com/
I love the colorful fringe idea!
You always know to find an interesting pieces! 🙂
I think I’m going to have to murder a bear (or fatty as we call them in my family). To the nearest charity shop or summer jumble sale quick smart…
simply stunning… so quirky!!
It’s so refreshing to see beautiful fashion with sense of humor!
http://f3style.blogspot.com/
Too cute to be true. Wearing these must bring out the child in anyone. Grazing at the colors is just immensely comforting.
GOLDEN FUNAMBLE
Usually the word dramatic is used for dark collections with huge volume but this is equally dramatic!
ha!
I spotted her stuff at GFW and also blogged about this. great minds eh?!
http://saveourshoes.blogspot.com/2010/06/gfw-kitty-keay.html
xx fiona
love the paster color!very cute!
wow, what a beautifull dress
http://www.crownrentcar.net
such pretty colours that you don’t see very often anymore.. so feminine and girly.. a nice change to black.
I agreed with personal stylist above. There used to be a lot of cute/pretty pieces but these days are all about glamour and sexy ( oh and cheap)I know you may not agree with me! I am not a great fan on black but I hope the pretty things will make their way back.
Love that..It so cute..