by Chrissy Iley
There have been very few times in my life when I went into a shop and wanted to buy everything in it. First it happened when I was a teenager and found my first vintage clothes store. Everything had an edge; everything was different. And I loved the feel of the fabrics.
Vintage clothes stores like the one I found in Newcastle all those years ago don’t exist any more. When I discovered Rick Owens I got obsessed. I loved his use of fabrics, the feel of the clothes and how they made you look.
When I discovered Elaine Kim Studios in LA I had a feeling which surpassed both. The clothes are instantly desirable and sexy in an effortless way. But that is not all. Her use of fabrics, silk chiffon, the softest cashmere and silk crepe, is extraordinary. The designs are edgy but at the same time you want to wear them every day.
I define sexy not just as something that makes you look good but something that makes you feel good. And when you feel these fabrics on your skin and how they drape, how they skim you, you can`t help but feel special.
I found so many things in the store that made me look ten pounds thinner in a way more exciting than any diet. Instant gratification of clothes-line surgery. But the other thing that I find so sexy is their versatility.
I bought the statement-making zip leggings made of a fabric with a perfect stretch with a zipper down one side, and the most cleverly cut jacket that I have seen in a long time.
This outfit cannot only take you from day to night, spring to autumn; it can take you from boardroom to bedroom.
Elaine Kim is originally from LA, but she also spent time in NYC so her clothes feel far more NYC than LA. They are also in Paris and Germany, not yet in London but available online at www.elainekim.com.