NY Highlight: Catherine Holstein

by jeen on Mon, 22/09/08 10:43 UTC.

By: Yu Shan

It’s true, fashion week is overwhelming as you file away one after another must-have item into your brain. But have you ever felt like possessing every single piece in a designer’s collection? Maybe now you will.

Meet Catherine Holstein, Parsons graduate who burst into the scene when Barneys bought her collection of nautical inspired dresses that was her final project at design school.

The aforementioned designs were sailor dresses which were immediately snapped up by Mischa Barton and copied by Forever 21.
Left: Catherine Holstein. Right: Forever 21’s copy cat version

Since then, her dresses have even seen action on popular TV series Gossip Girl. Need we say more? When you’re on GG and the 21 has copied your design, you’re going to be huge.

This year sees Catherine’s debut at New York Fashion Week, and the expectant crowd that gathered in Bumble & Bumble were wowed away by the new talent’s refined collection that seemed like the work of a veteran rather than a humble freshman. And if you add in the fact that only two people work under the Catherine Holstein label, being 24-year-old Catherine and her production manager, it’s a work of genius.

The
The fresh new talent, who describes her own design aesthetic as ‘nonchalant chic’, presented a collection that sent out a strong sailor-meets-safari chic vibe. Think ordinary, modern day pieces with a twist in the details, and you’ve got her style in a nutshell. There were lots of retro high-waisted garments accentuated by oversized belts and even scarves worn as turbans (which sounds silly but looks so chic when she does it!) that added an exotic boho feel to the garments. The color palette was mostly neutral (think nude and khaki) accessorized with the designer’s favorite colors of mustard or cobalt blue.

The result? The epitome of extremely wearable downtown chick cool.

We’re especially loving the unexpected combination of sailor stripes with the jewel button mustard colored skirt and olive green turban…

And also the 90s high waisted shorts with the too-cool-for-school trench coat and nude heels.

We would also like to emphasize the fact that we would wear every single item in her line. Why not? It’s the true essence of Catherine as a designer, evident by the fact that she doesn’t follow trends, and her favorite colors are mustard yellow, navy and beige plush tones. Her collections have always been translated from something she really likes and are definitely not copies of somebody else’s sold out line.

Catherine Holstein Spring 2008 Ready to Wear, which is more bohemian free-spirit than downtown cool, is simply chic and wearable.

Catherine Holstein Fall 2008 Ready to Wear is more quirky and edgy and pushes the envelope. (Think slightly gothic Lou Dillon meets geeky librarian girl.)

Where to get these covetable garments? We’ve searched high and low on the internet, but due to the fact that Ms Holstein’s clothes are so covetable and she is still an elusive up-and-coming designer, all we can do is hope that some big fashion house snaps her up soon to make her garments readily available to the hungry crowd. (Even Style.com does not feature her S/S09 collection. Sacrilegious.)

Her clothes are rumored to have made appearances in the past at Satine, I {heart} NYC, and DesKohan, so do keep an eye out on behalf of all of us!

In the meantime, copy her effortless style at online boutiques like creaturesofcomfort. We’ve provided you with a head start, do snap up these adorable sailor inspired tops and dresses (on sale!) if you have the spare cash on hand.

Left. Beckerman Kristen Bib Flapper Dress, now $187.50 (DOWN FROM $625.00!)
Right, Beckerman Kristen BIb Top, now $151.50 (DOWN FROM $ 505.00!)

If you’re not into online shopping and would rather snap up something upon trying it on, we’ve done some high street scouting so you can emulate the iconic S/S 09 Holstein looks at the lowest cost.

You definitely need an awesome leather buckle belt for those high waisted pants and trench coats:

Wide Buckle Belt from Forever 21.

Patent Elastic Belt from Forever 21.

Tan Waisted Leather Belt by TopShop

Some high waisted trousers and shorts…

High Waisted Wide Leg Trousers from TopShop.

High Waisted Panel Shorts from Topshop

Wide legged shorts that almost look like skirts…

Tweed Bermuda Shorts by Forever 21

Some plain scarfs to act as turbans or slouchy hats for that artsy vibe…and may we suggest a lightweight knit in tropical countries.

People Tree Knitted Beret from TopShop

People Tree Cable Knit Scarf by Topshop

A classic trench coat…

Full Skirted Trench Coat by Topshop

Safari Trench Coat by Forever 21

A pleated skirt…

Knife Pleat Ra Ra Skirt by Topshop

And don’t forget to throw in a striped basic!

Striped Oversized Vest by Topshop

Images courtesy of: refinery-29.com, fashionindie.com, nitrolicious.com, elle.com, papermag.com,
creaturesofcomfort.com, forever21.com, topshop.com

trench coat.jpg

Stockists:

Topshop

Indonesia

SENYAN CITY (PARENT)
Topshop, Unit 1-00, Senayan City Level 1, Jl. Asia Afrika Lot 19, Jakarta, Indonesia, 10270
SENYAN CITY LEATHER (CHILD)
Seyan City, Senayan City, 1st Floor, Jl. Asia Afrika Lot 19, Jakarta, Indonesia, 10270
DISCOVERY MALL
Topshop, Discovery Shopping Mall, Jl. Kartika Plaza, Tuban, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, 80361
Telephone 00 62 361 769557
GRAND INDONESIA
Topshop, Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Skybridge Unit Sb 06-09, Jl.mh Thmarin No1, Jakarta, Indonesia, 10310
Telephone 00 62 21 235 80180

Malaysia

SUNWAY PYRAMID
Topshop – C/o Sunway Pyramid Sdn Bhd, Lot 1.25 Ground Floor, Jalan Pjs 11/15, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 46150
Telephone 60374922435
MID VALLEY
Topshop – C/o Mid Valley Megamall, Lot G71-g72 Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 59200
Telephone 0060322879301/2
KLCC
Topshop, C52/53 & C54 Concourse Floor, Suria Klcc, Kuala Lumpur City Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 50088
Telephone 60323824056
LOT 10
Topshop, Lot F-19 & F20, First Floor, Lot 10 Shopping Center, 50, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 50250
Telephone 60321423761
1 UTAMA
Topshop, Lot F308 And 309 Utama Shopping Center, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 47800
Telephone 60377275691
JOHORE BAHRU
Topshop, Lot G 57 & 58, Jusco Tebrau City, 1 Jalan Desa Tebrau, Taman Desa Tebrau, Johore Bahru, Malaysia, 81100
QUEENSBAY
Topshop, Queensbay Mall, Lot Gf 77-78, 100 Persiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia, 11900
Telephone 00 604 641 1275
PAVILLION
Topshop, Pavilion Kl, Lot 3.07, 3.08 & 4.08, 4.09, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 55100
Telephone 00 603 2141 4293

Philippines

GALLERIA ROBINSONS
Topshop, Level 2, Robinsons Galleria Mall, Edsa Cor. Ortigas Ave, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, 1110
Telephone 6326352853
SHANGRI-LA MALL
Topshop, 2nd Level, Rustan’s Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Edsa Cor. Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines, 1550
Telephone 6.32544E+13
ALABANG AYALA
Topshop, 2nd Level, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Manila, Philippines, 1770
PODIUM SM
Topshop, Level 3, The Podium, 18 Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines, 1550
POWER PLANT 2
Topshop, Level 2, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Amapola Corner Estrella Street, Makati City, Manila, Philippines, 1224
Telephone 6328952042
MALL OF ASIA
Topshop, 2nd Floor Of Main Mall, Sm Mall Of Asia, Sm Central Business Park, Bay City, Manila, Philippines
TRINOMA ROBINSONS
Topshop, Level M3, Trinoma Mall, Triangle North Of Makati, Edsa Corner North Ave, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, 1105
Telephone (632) 901-3661
ERMITA
Topshop, Robinsons Place Ermita (midtown), Pedro Gil Corner Adriatico St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines, 1000
CEBU
Topshop, Level 1, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, 6000
BONIFACIO
Topshop, Unit 1g06, Quadrant 7, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio City Center, Taguig City, Bonifacio, Philippines, 1634
GREENBELT
Topshop, Level 1, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City, Manila, Philippines, 1228

Singapore

WISMA ATTRIA
Topshop, #02-18 Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore, 238877
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200
SEIYU BUGIS JUNCTION
Topshop, 230 Victoria Street, No.01-25/26/30/31/32, Seiyu Bugis Junction, Singapore, 188024
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200
ISETAN SCOTTS
Topshop, Isetan Scotts, 350 Orchard Road, # 03-00 Shaw House, Singapore, 238868
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200
MARINA SQUARE
Topshop, #02-109/111/113/114, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore, 39594
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200
PARKWAY
Topshop, 80 Marine Parade Road, #01-33, Singapore, 449269
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200
VIVO CITY MALL
Topshop, 1 Harbourfront Walk #01- 72, Vivo City, Singapore, 98585
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200
SUNTEC CITY
Topshop, 3 Temasek Boulevard, 01-039a/041/043, Suntec City Mall, Singapore, 38983
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200
RAFFLES CITY
Topshop, 252, North Bridge Road, #02-39, Raffles City, Singapore, 179101
Telephone 00 65 6309 1200