The hammered silk skirt was made using a placket behind the measured ruching. Inspired by the trendy cord ruching that I am seeing everywhere but wanting something a little different and more refined, I came up with a new technique that looks especially incredible rendered in hammered silk. The silk is tacked onto a placket at measured intervals, leaving a precisely measured amount of ease between each attachment that causes the fabric to evenly drape. The skirt has the measured ruching along the right side of the skirt, lifting the ankle length skirt asymmetrically to show the leg while adding volume and dimension to the skirt.
Samantha, the writer of style blog 'The New York Blond' wore a Kate Stoltz Blush Silk Skirt while on a staycation in Downtown Manhattan at the Four Seasons Hotel. The pastel blush silk skirt with contrast black fine lace and seam trim was paired with a luxe long sleeved velvet blouse and embellished heels.
Kate Stoltz Skirt: Kate Stoltz Blush Silk Crete Skirt
The New York Blond: New York Blond Website
xoxo,
Kate Stoltz
My first obsession is designing women's dresses, with a close second being painting and sketching. I try to combine my appreciation for art, culture and fashion design in the pieces I create, taking inspiration from modern and historic artists. Working in Manhattan during the summertime is intense and beautiful, making this combination easy to flow. The city is buzzing with people from all over the world, the parks are in full bloom and the vibrant energy is either going to drain you or fill you with the same pulsing energy...
Magenta, Fuchsia, Lipstick Red, Petal Pink, Wine and Black Colorful Painterly Silk Chiffon Skirt
The Colorful Painterly Skirt was designed with an attempt to capture the pulsing energy of the city and the exhilaration that comes from feeling alive and free. The desire was to create a piece of pure joy- a skirt that you would wear on one of your best days. A day when you want to be noticed, a day when you feel like you're on your way to conquer the world, spinning like a ballerina on your way there...
The process of making the skirt started with creating a skirt pattern, then cutting a silk chiffon base and paper skirt map. Using colorful magenta, fuchsia, lipstick red, petal pink, wine and black silk chiffon 1.5 inch bias strips as a reference, I created the design, mapping it out with pencil on the paper map once I finalized the design and color placement.
Once the skirt map was completed, the edges of the silk skirt pieces were sewn onto the map to secure the silk, then the silk was painstakingly basted down to keep the silk from slipping around. Once the silk base was secure, I proceeded to sew the bias strips onto the base following the map. Sewing the bias strips was the most time consuming part of the process, since there were hundreds of strips that went into filling in the skirt. After the bias strips were sewn onto the base, the paper map needed to be gently pulled away from the silk. The resulting skirt base was then completed with a belt, zipper, lining and a hand finished hem.
The skirt took over a hundred hours to make, but it was a rewarding process that I was able to work on late at night once my mind was too numb to think about more demanding projects. Design for me is about expressing emotion and creating something new and original. We all express ourselves differently, some with words, actions, or creativity. Expressing myself through artistic means has always made the most sense, and I will never tire of the freedom to do so. XOXO, Kate Stoltz
Photographed in Emporio, Santorini, Greece
Photographer: Matt Licari
Hair and Makeup: Sissi Petropolou
The
metallic pencil skirt is made of metallic blush and black jacquard. Fully lined with black 100% silk, and hand finished at the hem, the skirt closes in the back with an invisible zipper, and a hook and eye at the waist belt.
Available in sizes 0 to 24, the
metallic pencil skirt is custom made to each client's measurements if they are entered at the time of purchase.
Photographed in Central Park, Manhattan New York in the Spring.
Central Park is very green in May, creating picturesque reflections in the ponds and streams. The naturally highly saturated green foliage is a welcome sight after months of dreary skies and brown trees. A run in the park is one of my favorite things to do on the weekend, so I decided to take my work there. The image below is only one of the many beautiful spots- you really have to go out and experience it first hand to fully appreciate it...
xo,Kate Stoltz
Some people love Valentine's Day and see it as a day to show their loved ones how much they care about them. Others choose to ignore the holiday while some simply hate it. I overheard a classmate bemoaning about the fact that she dreads the day because she is a single girl. I know exactly how that feels.. When all of your friends are receiving beautiful roses and cute presents from the special person in their life, it's just a reminder that you are alone.
This year on Valentine's Day, I bought myself a dozen roses and am spoiling myself for a week. The reason why I am spoiling myself is because in order to appreciate other people, you need to first appreciate yourself and be happy with who you are. I know this is said over and over in inspirational blogs, etc. but it's so true. That's why I think Valentine's Day is fantastic for both singles and those in a relationship. It doesn't have to be a day set aside to show someone else that you love him/her. Valentine's Day can also be spent as a day to spoil yourself and get into touch with yourself. Love yourself and you'll be amazed at how people around you seem to magically turn into better people... it's the power of perception.
Pencil Skirt: Kate Stoltz boucle pencil skirt
Blouse: Cedric Charlier
Shoes and Belt: Jason Wu
