The lovely Erin Kleinberg was kind enough to give us at SHE an exclusive interview about her personal style, as well as her plans for next season's collection!
A couple questions... just because we want to know!
SHE: What is your favorite dish?
EK: SUSHI!
SHE: What is playing on your iPOD/favorite application?
EK: Love the Aloe Blacc song from How to Make it in America, 'I need a dolla', also loving Kid Cudi.
SHE: It's FRIDAY NIGHT! What are you wearing... and where are you going? What shoes are you wearing everyday?
EK: My vintage Balenciaga blouse, with black skinnies and a camel leather belt twisted and wrapped a bunch. Tom Binns fluorescent necklace, Hermes cuff, McQueen skull ring and grandmothers vintage gold coin ring! very into the jewels:) YSL wooden heel pumps from couple falls ago. I have to admit I wear Toms or Nike frees every day. I hope that is not too embarrassing! I looooove being comfortable since I'm always running around and quality controlling at the factory.
Now down to the nitty gritty...
SHE: How long have you been designing, and where did you start?
EK: I always loved my great grandmother's vintage scarf collection and I started making kimono tops out of them 5 years ago. Around that same time, I ran into Mischa Barton at an H&M in Toronto and spoke to her about sending her a few tops and a couple weeks later she was photographed in one! Soon after, the capsule collection was picked up by Holt Renfrew and TNT in Canada. Ever since then I have toyed with the idea of developing a line, but it didn't really happen until I came back from living in NYC in April 2008 and had a hard time getting a gig because of the recession.[While in NY, I worked at W directly with Fashion Director Alex White ---to this day, the best experience of my life. Alex taught me what it means to work and I became so efficient there.]
I was lucky enough to be picked up for my first season in the US by Barneys New York and Intermix, which is a dream scenario for any brand!
SHE: Who are your design inspirations?
EK: I love personal style, I spend hours on jakandjil.com looking at what people mix and match. As for celebrity inspirations, Vanessa Traina has a huge impact on me and the Olsens are always on the mood boards as well; they truly are fashion icons. Not only do I love their personal style, but I'm also inspired by their savvy business sense. I can get inspiration from anything that catches my eye. For Fall, I was really into the fabrication and the unique color of my grandmother's old jewelry box. This season I was inspired by music, and festivals of summer. It translated into this sort of chic hippie vibe you will see on Irina in my new look book! Lots of tie dye, floral, netting and mesh.
SHE: What is it about your current collection that you feel resonated with customers?- we can't seem to keep it in stock!!
EK: I think that customers are loving this season because it looks great on the body but is also practical. My collection is realistic for the fashion conscious woman who works, has things to do and places to go. So we made a collection that is livable but not compromised aesthetically. Everything is super relaxed and comfy.
SHE: At SHE we are always asking "where is she wearing this?". Where do you see the Erin Kleinberg girl going? Who is the EKleinberg customer?
EK: What I hear a lot is that the pieces are super easy to wear, and can really take you from day to night. I love when a girl will wear a sequin piece during the day with some vintage jean shorts, or a plainer more casual tee out at night, all about the irony:).
SHE: If there was one person that embodied your collection- living or passed- who would it be?
EK: I just shot my lookbook with Irina lazareanu, and I think it was the most excited I have been about a collection yet. She was so chic in the pieces, and she wore the clothes, they didn't wear her. But at the same time, I've been so lucky with the unique girls that have shot my lookbooks. Each very different, but each very erinkleinberg. And that's what the brand is- not just for one girl or one type of individual- it translates to so many women in so many different ways depending on how you wear the pieces. One person may see it as a staple for their everyday getup, but someone else may see it as an awesome piece for a party or for going out.
SHE: We ALL mix our high-end pieces with our low-end pieces- What designers and styles do YOU pair your pieces with?
EK: For a regular day at work always pair them with my J-brand cargos or my Wang chino/sweats--such a great look with no effort at all. I'm always wearing my tanks under Smythe blazers. Another personal favorite is this one piece from my Fall 09 collection that (Theo Richards modeled in) a heather grey cardi with a gorgeous silk velvet navy shawl collar…. I actually don't take it off much :)
SHE: What directions and ideas do you see as some of the season's key trends?
EK: I love the printed harems--so cute, so easy. I just got an amazing camel wrap coat from Smythe which I am super excited about. I think Phoebe Philo and Hannah Mcgibbon have re-evaluated everyone's vision for Fall; it feels super grown up, very much about the silk blouses, perfectly tailored trousers, camel galore, and definitely the structured bags. Super lady like. I like it, feels very fresh.
What can we expect from Erin Kleinberg for Spring?
EK: COLOR AND PRINTS!!!. and lots of it! I feel like I just woke up one day and felt like wearing color and sourcing fresh prints! It all started with a gorgeous vintage pompom print from the 40's that we recreated, and it just spawned from there. I have subtle tie dyes, plaids, muted florals…. I'm really excited about this collection!!
What a sweetheart! Thank you Erin ... can't wait to see what Spring brings us!
xoxo,
Team SHE
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