Going vintage with Skaist-Taylor.
What is it about boho inspired pieces that we love so much? Rachel Zoe, Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen (on a good day) are the most visible brand ambassadors of the gypsy movement. But so are Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, the creative women behind Skaist-Taylor, a hot new boho-chic women’s apparel line.
Rich in feminine blousons and dresses, the two share a love for all-things eclectic and vintage.
Skaist-Taylor, appropriately named, is a celebration of the boho movement. Opulent and wearable, the collection includes glam pieces in rich colours, prints and textures. Comprising feminine tops, maxi and mini dresses, fur-trimmed coats, rich knits (in burnt orange), tailored jackets and silhouette defining dresses, and the all-important accessories (clutches and wide-brim hats galore), Skaist-Taylor is a feminine collection that will appeal to young and mature consumers with a passion for vintage clothes. There’s even a gold lamé dress for that glam night out.
But the designers are not new to the fashion scene at all. Rewind to early 2000 when a hip, urban line, named Juicy Couture, dominated women's wardrobes the world over. But it wasn’t about the leggings or jackets or even accessories that formed part of the Juicy Couture label that resonated with women, it was a velour tracksuit with its elaborate handwriting logo on the butt (and occasionally it featured rhinestones too) that hit that fashion spot. Whether in white, pink or black, the tracksuit became an instant global fashion phenomenon, but the self-professed drama queens, best friends and fashionistas didn’t quite get why it happened that way. The duo designed skirts and dresses but the tracksuit was the star of the show. Priced at $200, the tracksuit transformed the way in which women looked at athletic-inspired pieces and bought into it.
In 2003, Juicy Couture was sold to Liz Claiborne Inc., but over the years the fashionistas lost their creative voices and moved on. After a much-needed break, and visits to vintage shops and flea markets, they reconnected and came up with something completely different.
Skaist-Taylor debuted in February 2012, and was well received. It shows a complete transformation and maturity that was missing from Juicy Couture collections of years past. All grown up, the long-time friends are ready to invade wardrobes yet again, only this time with an uber-chic collection for day and night. Set to debut in stores from August, Skaist-Taylor is a new label that is set to change the way in which we dress.
Pictured above: Skaist-Taylor founders, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor
