And The Winner Was…
Checking in with last year’s Red Dress winner, Karly Orr, and her studio-mate and co-designer Liise Wyatt.
Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 24, 2009 at 02:00PM
5 Comments
If you’ve been following the various fashion design competitions around town, you’ve noticed that students from New York Fashion Academy keep coming out on top. I remember as far back as three years ago, when Gwen Stubbs took the prize at an innovative design contest based on the Museum of History and Industry’s Theatre de la Mode exhibit, and of course you know that this year’s Red Dress winner, Rosie Kohlmeier studies at the same Ballard Ave fashion center. On Saturday night I invited myself over to the studio of two winning NYFA’ers, Karly Orr and Liise Wyatt.
Karly’s been on my mind a lot lately; her pitch-perfect Corvette-red jersey gown won last year’s Project Red Dress, and as we wrapped up our coverage of this year’s event, it seemed the perfect time to find out what she’s been up to. Catching up via email, I learned that she and Liise have been collaborating on a men’s line, Wyatt Orr, while working on their individual collections.
The ever-so-slightly askew and sometimes asymmetrical peacoats, jackets, and Michael Jackson-Thriller-era motorcycle coats in the Wyatt Orr line are just being constructed now, so I was only able to see the flats, or computer ‘sketches’ that were made, and the earth-toned plaids and dark, somber wools that Karly and Liise have selected. But even with just a sneak peak at the line, I can see it fitting with the timeless-meets-tomorrow cool of shops like Polite Society, Blackbird, and Kuhlman.
I did get to see a few pieces from each designer’s women’s collections; Karly had a super relevant peach-toned a-line silk jersey dress that could be worn just about anywhere, with just about anything, and a dramatic black-teal column gown that was covered with ten yards of stretch silk petals. Red carpet anyone?
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The peachy-beige dress in particular is a great representation of what I think of as Karly’s style; non-obtrusive geometric, graphic panels and low-key but really intelligent inner construction and materials give easy-to-admire, easy-to-wear shift-shapes backbone, structure, and staying power. Karly herself is but a brief slip of a woman, but she understands that most of us need a little support in order to look like we have gym-perfect bodies underneath throw-it-on-and-go curve-hugging knit frocks.
Glimpsing the vaguely tie-dyed-looking, slightly psychedelic knit wools that Karly is playing with for her fall collection, I really felt, well, psyched, to see what’s next.
Speaking of structure, Liise showed me a rain jacket she made with coated linen and coated cotton that felt, and looked, like an essential Northwest piece.
When I suggested that Karly was the draper and Liise the construction engineer, they laughed a little and did that thing that good friends and studio-mates and study partners and boot camp soldiers do and it was clear that it’s not that simple.
Still, they both say they’re curious to see how their men’s line will influence their feminine forms, and they’re not alone there. These are two designers to watch out for — bottom-lined, underscored, bolded, bookmarked, and Twittered.
Great work Karly and Liise, I’m so glad you are working together. The new designs look fantastic and I can’t wait to see the whole collection! Keep up the great work and I look forward to more beautiful designs from both of you!!!
I need to have that rain coat!
you should get in touch with Liise about that raincoat; she mentioned that she’s doing a lot of custom work. If you click on the first mention of her name, you will be transported, via the wings of technology, to her website!
I’m waiting on my own piece of Wyatt Orr. But, which one? I’ve seen the designs —-ain’t L.L Eddiebauerbean. The fabrics and their combinations are unique and unexpected (T.A. Horlamus, NYFA-Director; personal communication). Perfect fit and flawless construction are a given.
Take it from a guy who knew them when.
It is a real pleasure to see your designs and finished projects. They are great! I also enjoyed being able to easily meander around your website, read the articles, etc. Much success to both of you
It is such a pleasure to see your designs and finished projects. Loved the work-in-progress picture, Karly! Your website is easy to use, and it is fun to read the articles. Much success to you both!
Gail
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