A light winter snowstorm has once again transformed the outdoors into a glittering, shimmering wonderland. I took a walk this morning before the snow and ice melted from the trees and the outdoors returned to brown and grey again. My dog, Victoria, joined me on the excursion. It was too cold for her to walk on the snow for long, but we both enjoyed the fresh air.
Valentine's Day is coming up fast. While most people think of it as a romantic holiday, I think it is a great day to celebrate friends as well. Have a single friend that always dreads the holiday because it makes her feel alone? Or want to show the friend that has been there for you through thick and thin how much you appreciate her? Remind her by sending her some flowers, chocolates, or something longer lasting, like a silk scarf that will remind her of you whenever she wear it!
The
Kate Stoltz 2018 Spring/Summer Collection was designed for urban women living in an environment where square space is as coveted as privacy. Black quickly became the primary color for the collection. Every piece was designed to be easy to style, but with precisely placed details that carried out the inspiration and ideas that tied the pieces together.
While the images that inspired the collection came from a recent trip to Greece, the current events in the world also impacted the decisions made in textiles, style lines, silhouettes and color. Political tensions in the United States and the sobering reality that 'Me too' was more common among women than I had ever imagined prompted a more somber approach. The 'Me Too' movement prompted me to think about women's clothing differently and focus on strength rather than sexuality. A tailored wool dress with a pick stitch, tailored merino wool flare dress pants were designed to celebrate the women stepping forward and taking over industries and defying boundaries in their careers and personal lives. Darker colors, long sleeves, midi skirts and suiting was influenced by the typical well dressed male wardrobe that focuses on presentation and tailoring rather than sexual attraction.
The
Abstract Heart Blouse was created with a desire of seeing some love and understanding in the midst of the chaos stemming from the political circumstances. The bright red, an expression of wanting to break away from the heaviness I felt in the midst of an angry protest, or when seeing two sides resort to name calling to defend their point instead of having productive conversations. It's a request for people to see other people's opinions and traditions with an open heart, willing to listen to why they feel the way they do, then making decisions based on facts and the good of humanity. To work together and focus on love instead of hatred.
Maggie Duckworth, a stylist in New York City reached out to me with a request to borrow a couple pieces from the collection for an editorial project with NYC fashion photographer Emmanuel Faure. Together with her style team, Maggie paired the
Abstract Heart Blouse with the
Feathery Pillar Skirt, a red beret and red shoes. The large team worked together to produce an image that gave the pieces life. It's projects like these that assure me that humans can work together to create something beautiful if we have the patience to openly listen to each other's ideas.
Thank you:
Style Team
Erin Galligan
Ofry Beladona
Saray Franco Lvi
Emma Gorelik
Lee-Ann Laville
Make-up Artist: Gil Aldrin
Model: Stephanie Santiago
Photographer's Assistant: Max McGerry
Pieces used in the editorial:
To see the entire Spring/ Summer 2018 Kate Stoltz collection, visit:
XOXO, Kate Stoltz
Kate Stoltz NYC Black Lace Appliqué Chiffon Blouse
Kate Stoltz Black Lace Appliqué Blouse with the embroidered wool skirt
The Kate Stoltz NYC black lace appliqué chiffon blouse photographed in Santorini, Greece. The black chiffon blouse has hand sewn black rose flower and petal appliqués on the front and back of the blouse, and at the cuff of the 3/4 sleeve. The neck and sleeves are also finished by hand, with the inside seams finished with a small French seam.
The lace applique blouse was paired with the Kate Stoltz NYC Embroidered Wool Pencil Skirt. The skirt's belt is embroidered by hand with thick black embroidery thread. The skirt gently sloped up at the hem in the front, and down in the back of the hem.
Both the hand embroidered wool skirt and black lace applique blouse can be ordered on www.katestoltz.com. Because of the delicate fabrics used for the blouse, it is recommended that you include your measurements, or your correct size. When in doubt, purchase a size larger (not smaller) so that you are comfortable wearing the piece.
I am beyond grateful for my small but fantastic team for traveling all the way to Santorini, Greece for the photoshoot. Matt Licari, a photographer from New York City, did a great job as always scouting the locations. Sissi Petropoulou, the makeup artist, is a rare gem that traveled from Athens, Greece and gave me an unforgettable facial massage that relaxed my facial muscles and prepared my skin for the photoshoot, then proceeded to make me look younger and healthier by applying minimal makeup...
I had the pleasure of attending a friend's wedding in New Jersey at an old mansion that looked like a castle. The gardens on the estate were the highlight of the place, featuring a beautiful lily pond with colorful koi swimming about. The wedding was beautiful, both because of the beautiful setting and the occasion that brought everyone there.
To meet the fairy tale theme of the wedding, I wore my favorite Kate Stoltz NYC gown. The gown has hundreds of bias strips hand sewn onto the bodice in an abstract design. The bias strips were applied in a painterly fashion, starting at the front of the bodice and branching out, eventually covering the entire bodice.
The gown is available for purchase at www.katestoltz.com . Contact Kate Stoltz with questions about the process.
The hem, neckline and seams are all hand finished on the Kate Stoltz Hand Sewn Shimmery Blouse. The gold and black braid trim adorning the center front of the blouse is hand sewn, with each stitch going precisely into the ends of the braid. The blouse was made in New York City, using imported materials.
Packaged in white paper to avoid excessive wrinkling during shipment, the shimmery blouse is then put into a sturdy Kate Stoltz NYC cardboard box.
When the blouse arrives, it is ready to wear and style however you please. I wore mine to the Hamptons on the weekend, since the colors went well with the beach, as you can see below.
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
Living in New York City with limited closet space has taught me the importance of quality versus quantity, and purchasing clothing that I will actually wear and like. In addition, an increased awareness of the impact that changing fashion trends has on the earth has instilled a desire in me to decrease my own clothing waste. As a result, the clothing that does make it into my closet is there because it's a necessity, or because I have respect for the craftsmanship that went into making the garment.
Decreasing the amount of clothing that I go through has changed the way I think while designing ready to wear clothing for Kate Stoltz NYC, or create custom Kate Stoltz pieces for clients. As a fashion designer living in Manhattan, I am in one of the world's fashion hubs. I do love keeping up with fashion trends. However, what I wear is much more personal than following the wide variety of trends that disappear before you can adequately wear out a high quality garment. My personal experiences with clothing greatly influences the choices I make while choosing textiles and producing clothing for clients that order custom pieces, along with the ready to wear collections on my website.
I recently created a custom dress with a removable black lace collar, embellished with Swarovski crystals, for a client. The dress can be worn with or without the black lace collar. The removable collar can be worn with the dress it came with, or with any of her other pieces that are already in her closet. The collar edge was finished with a tiny baby hem. It was then attached to a carefully pleated satin ribbon, sculpted to fit the natural curve around the neck. I then attached the crystals by hand, finishing the collar with a crystal on each ribbon end. The collar itself can be purchased here: Kate Stoltz Black Lace Collar .
Creating individual pieces for clients allows me to work with my hands, and allows me to control the quality and quantity that I produce. My goal is not to design and create large quantities of products, but rather, carefully crafted pieces that individual clients can enjoy.
XO, Kate Stoltz
One of my first modeling test shoots I did was with the lovely
Lena Shkoda. Her tireless guidance to a fresh face in the modeling world resulted in the accompanying black and white photographs.
The snapshots remind me of first arriving in the Manhattan and being overwhelmed by the limitless possibilities and opportunities that the city presented to me. The steaming asphalt and summer heat that overtakes the Manhattan streets during the long, hot summer days will always bring back the feeling of youth and freedom. Especially youth, since the feeling of youth quickly becomes rare and out of reach as we become more responsible and invested in careers, which ultimately shortens the time we have left to experience that feeling.
As I ventured about in a city trying to figure out where I was going, I was completely free to be me and not someone else's idea of what I should be. The tough city molded me into a more liberated and cynical, but wiser human. I will forever be grateful to all the photographers, makeup artists, hairstylists, wardrobe stylists, directors and accompanying models that devoted and are devoting their time to working with me. I am still, and will always be, a 'work in progress', but looking at work from a couple years ago is a good reminder of how I got to my current place in life. I still have a lot to learn, but I believe that as soon as learning ends, joy in life ends. For that reason, I never want to stop learning.
XO, Kate Stoltz
Kate Stoltz Photographed by Lena Shkoda in New York City
Valentine's Day is known as a day to show our loved ones, especially our significant others, how much we love them. It's also known for rosy pink and red colors, cupid's arrows and hearts. This year, Kate Stoltz NYC is running a pre-Valentine's Day sale to help women prepare for the special day. The selected products were carefully chosen based on color, design and occasion.
In the meantime, remember what the holiday is meant to bring out of people: love and compassion. Show love to people you meet, people you pass on the street and don't forget to show love to people online. As more of our interactions with strangers and friends happen behind computer screens, some people forget that the online interactions are just as important as the ones in person...
To see the full list of selected Valentine's Day items, click HERE. Take care and stay warm!
XO, Kate Stoltz
Featured Kate Stoltz NYC Valentine's Day Sale Items:
Sale is subject to dates and specifics set by Kate Stoltz NYC. Contact with any questions or concerns.
I had the pleasure of attending a friend's wedding in New Jersey at an old mansion that looked like a castle. The gardens on the estate were the highlight of the place, featuring a beautiful lily pond with colorful koi swimming about. The wedding was beautiful, both because of the beautiful setting and the occasion that brought everyone there.
I recently created a custom dress with a removable black lace collar, embellished with Swarovski crystals, for a client. The dress can be worn with or without the black lace collar. The removable collar can be worn with the dress it came with, or with any of her other pieces that are already in her closet. The collar edge was finished with a tiny baby hem. It was then attached to a carefully pleated satin ribbon, sculpted to fit the natural curve around the neck. I then attached the crystals by hand, finishing the collar with a crystal on each ribbon end. The collar itself can be purchased here: Kate Stoltz Black Lace Collar .
Valentine's Day is known as a day to show our loved ones, especially our significant others, how much we love them. It's also known for rosy pink and red colors, cupid's arrows and hearts. This year, Kate Stoltz NYC is running a pre-Valentine's Day sale to help women prepare for the special day. The selected products were carefully chosen based on color, design and occasion. 
