Isoude Fall 2009 by
Katie Brierley
by Ian Larraga
Katie Brierley
by Ian Larraga
Katie Brierley is an amazing talent. Unlike younger designers that are still developing their skills and discovering who they are, Katie knows herself and she is confident in her well developed abilities as a designer.
Her love of design started slowly at a young age with practice of needle work and braiding. Of course back then horseback riding was more the priority.
By her teen years, Katie began to style people, she had a knack for it. She knew clearly what she felt women needed.
Her love of design started slowly at a young age with practice of needle work and braiding. Of course back then horseback riding was more the priority.
By her teen years, Katie began to style people, she had a knack for it. She knew clearly what she felt women needed.
Designer Katie Brierley (black dress center) poses with models at a special fundraiser for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.
Then came Trinity College in New York where she majored in English Literature while still styling people on the side. After that, Katie found herself in Europe, living in Switzerland and traveling to Italy and France. It was there that she finally discovered her true love of fashion.
Upon returning to New York, Katie enrolled in FIT and was accepted to an accelerated fashion design program. During the summer, she took painting classes at RISD. The painting classes of course would play a major role in enhancing her design skills. Also at FIT, she became an intern at Chado Ralph Rucci. Katie tells me that her greatest education came from her experience at Chado Ralph Rucci. She learned what couture truly meant. In her own words Katie says, "Not only is it (couture) a high level of craftsmanship, it is the highest level of integrity and care for the client."
After graduation, Katie went on to develop what would eventually become Isoude. Isoude is a luxury womenswear collection designed for women who are of "great composure and elegance" and are "collectors of great life experiences". The recent Fall 2009 collection was inspired by women such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis and the Duchess of Windsor. Katie describes them as "women who have lived through incredible personal storms whilst creating an image of composure and elegance". Katie feels that her collection has pieces that women will depend upon to give them composure and elegance in what we are all aware of as these "times of great unrest".
The coloring for this recent collection is an homage to famed wine maker Didier D'Agnaneau who has just recently passed. Gowns, coats and dresses were hand painted and dyed by Katie in rich sumptuous shades of berries and wines reminiscent of the Loire Valley.
Upon returning to New York, Katie enrolled in FIT and was accepted to an accelerated fashion design program. During the summer, she took painting classes at RISD. The painting classes of course would play a major role in enhancing her design skills. Also at FIT, she became an intern at Chado Ralph Rucci. Katie tells me that her greatest education came from her experience at Chado Ralph Rucci. She learned what couture truly meant. In her own words Katie says, "Not only is it (couture) a high level of craftsmanship, it is the highest level of integrity and care for the client."
After graduation, Katie went on to develop what would eventually become Isoude. Isoude is a luxury womenswear collection designed for women who are of "great composure and elegance" and are "collectors of great life experiences". The recent Fall 2009 collection was inspired by women such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis and the Duchess of Windsor. Katie describes them as "women who have lived through incredible personal storms whilst creating an image of composure and elegance". Katie feels that her collection has pieces that women will depend upon to give them composure and elegance in what we are all aware of as these "times of great unrest".
The coloring for this recent collection is an homage to famed wine maker Didier D'Agnaneau who has just recently passed. Gowns, coats and dresses were hand painted and dyed by Katie in rich sumptuous shades of berries and wines reminiscent of the Loire Valley.
The all white version of this lovely hand painted silk gown will be worn by Kim Van Dang, a former editor at WWD and Instyle magazine for her upcoming wedding.
Today, we find Katie showing her collection at a fundraiser for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra at the historic Aldrich House in Providence. Katie has a love of music and the arts and she plans on continuing on partnering with non-profit groups to help support them.
For the near term, Katie has lots of plans, the most important being the summer grand opening of her new store in Newport, Rhode Island on the famed Bellevue Avenue, not too far a distance from her home in Jamestown. Plans are also in the works for a new collection of wedding gowns.
As stated earlier, Katie Brierley truly is an amazing talent. With her, you can be confident that you will purchase clothes that are made of the finest materials, rich with details and dyed by hand. Also, you can expect that as a client, you'll receive the highest level of service. She has seamstresses at her employ with about 30 years of experience each. All of her clothing is proudly made here in the United States.
To me, Katie Brierley is more than just a designer, at her heart she is a craftsman, an artisan that seeks to enrich her work with life experiences and I for one can't wait to see what wonderful collections those life experiences will yield. We will no doubt be hearing more of Katie Brierley.
To learn more about Katie Brierley and Isoude, visit:
www.isoude.com
For the near term, Katie has lots of plans, the most important being the summer grand opening of her new store in Newport, Rhode Island on the famed Bellevue Avenue, not too far a distance from her home in Jamestown. Plans are also in the works for a new collection of wedding gowns.
As stated earlier, Katie Brierley truly is an amazing talent. With her, you can be confident that you will purchase clothes that are made of the finest materials, rich with details and dyed by hand. Also, you can expect that as a client, you'll receive the highest level of service. She has seamstresses at her employ with about 30 years of experience each. All of her clothing is proudly made here in the United States.
To me, Katie Brierley is more than just a designer, at her heart she is a craftsman, an artisan that seeks to enrich her work with life experiences and I for one can't wait to see what wonderful collections those life experiences will yield. We will no doubt be hearing more of Katie Brierley.
To learn more about Katie Brierley and Isoude, visit:
www.isoude.com
