By: Laura Prudom

Kenny

         A native Angelino, Lindsay Sternberg draws inspiration for her clothing designs from the generations of women in her family who preceded her; from her great grandmother Bessy, known for her eccentric jewelry and colorful head coverings, down to Sternberg’s own mother, whom the designer credits with “paving the way for my creative taste buds to flourish.”  Named in memory of her father, Kenny Clothes embodies the history and spirit of the Sternberg family and their unique relationship with fashion, thanks to the eclectic keepsakes passed down that helped inform the designer’s diverse style.

         Referring to herself as “a gypsy woman of this century”, Sternberg mixes many elements — “old with new, New York with LA, and dreams with reality” — to create her defining looks; clothing with vintage-style bodies and a modern twist, using a selection of unique fabrics from Guatemala, Mexico, and Israel. Sternberg is also a fan of clothing that exposes a woman’s back, reasoning that it looks “very sexy without being over the top.” Cuts with open backs have fast become the designer’s signature look.

         Sternberg’s evolution as a designer began when she moved to New York City and spent a number of years working at Foley+Corinna. There, Sternberg learned about fabrics, patterns and the ways in which vintage pieces can complement new designs. Kenny is currently in its second season and available at Diavolina, Madison, Planet Blue and Poppy.

kennyclothes.com

Sara Shepherd

         British-born Sara Shepherd received her style education at London’s Central St. Martin’s College and the prestigious Academy of Art University in San Francisco, graduating with a degree in Fashion and Textile Design. Not one to take her hard-earned momentum for granted, Shepherd went on to work with Jeremy Scott, Sandoval and Pamela Dennis, with her graduation collection being shown at Olympus New York Fashion Week in 2005.

         2007 saw the launch of Shepherd’s debut, solo collection; a chic and contemporary twist on traditional men’s tailoring techniques. Using sharp cutting and classic silhouettes, the designer created a line of modern, wearable clothing that fit women like a glove. Her Spring/Summer 2008 collection was selected for the Gen Art 2007 Fresh Faces show, and soon after, Shepherd began selling her line in a number of upscale boutiques in San Francisco. Drawing inspiration from 1900s          San Francisco and the Great Earthquake, by way of three-dimensional imagery and the ideas explored by M.C. Escher, Shepherd’s designs combine functional elements of the American lifestyle, aesthetic and mentality with the design philosophies and creativity of her British heritage. She pays particular attention to unique design details and innovative cutting methods in order to produce garments that create the most flattering fit for the wearer; resulting in a sleek, sultry marriage of form and function.  This fall Shepherd will show during New York Fashion Week on September 12th. Her collection is available at Modern Appealing Clothing, Eco-Citizen and Wear Something Rare in San Francisco.

sarashepherd.com

vpl

         Hailing from London, Victoria Bartlett has become known for two things, her underwear-inspired designs and her acclaimed career as a stylist. Following a move to New York, Bartlett introduced a collection of bodysuits called BC with Jeffrey Costello in 1989 before moving on to fashion illustration. Her career in styling began soon after, with Bartlett working closely with Italian Vogue, Numero, and French Vogue, as well as consulting with Miu Miu and Alessandro Dell’Acqua. Simultaneously, Bartlett also served as fashion editor for Allure and fashion director for Interview Magazine.

         Founded in 2003, VPL (Visible Panty Line) was Bartlett’s effort to fill the niche between lingerie and sportswear, with a focus on comfort, functionality, and style. Bartlett drew inspiration from dance and movement, body geography and anatomical concepts, focusing on her love and fascination of the body in creating her collections, producing underwear and mixers that, true to the brand’s name, Bartlett feels should be visible rather than not. In opposition to brands that objectify and sexualize, Bartlett began to question the assumptions of sexiness in undergarments, boldly asserting that, as far as her designs are concerned, “I don’t do T and A.”

Available at Barneys, Shopbop & Saks Direct

vplnyc.com

 

eva culture

         Aura Dura's line, Eva Culture, was conceived in Bucharest, Romania, in the early 80's under the Communist regime. Only a pre-teen at the time, Aura regardless had an innate flair for style, and after a personal tragedy struck her older sister it was the burgeoning designer’s desire to make her sister feel beautiful again, using    fashion as a transformative influence.

         After attending the Art Academy in Bucharest, Dura moved to Paris after the fall of Communism for a year of fashion design. This led to a modeling career that lasted five years; soon it was clear Dura’s passion lay in designing clothing rather than wearing it. A few years later, the designer started her own line in Romania, selling her high-end designs out of her showroom and in two exclusive stores in Bucharest. Having always been challenged by the American market and impressed by the passion of the industry here, Aura and her designs relocated to Los Angeles.

         Drawing inspiration from everything from flowers to style icons such as Rita Hayworth and Jean Harlow, Dura’s style is rooted in the classic periods of the 20’s era and art deco, using fluid silhouettes of chiffons, silks and taffetas, and refined sensuality to create a modern romanticism. Eva Culture is available at Curve Los Angeles, New York and Miami.  

evaculture.com