The Kate Stoltz Fluted Gown in Emporio, Greece
The best light I have ever worked with was in the charming village of Emporio in Santorini, Greece. Photographer Matt Licari and Sissi Petropolou joined me in Santorini for the lifestyle/brand photoshoot. The afternoon light combined with the white walls and beautiful Greek architecture were worth the trip. In the process, we as a team created images that not only display the work that I do, but also the very mood and essence of the world that inspire me to continue designing.
The pieces from the Kate Stoltz collection that were used were created specifically for the trip to Santorini, Greece. However, my three weeks traveling to different areas in Greece gave me a solid understanding of what makes Greece so special. I can't wait to work on new pieces, and use photos from Santorini, Mykonos and Crete on my mood and color boards!
Kate Stoltz walking in the charming village of Emporio, Greece
The Abstract Fluted Gown by Kate Stoltz was created by hand sewing bias strips onto the bodice, which is complete with a bustier. The light silk skirt offsets the detailed bodice, giving body and freedom to the flow of the dress.
Kate Stoltz Fluted Gown
To order a made to measure piece for yourself, visit www.katestoltz.com. Select your size, then include your current bust, waist, hip and height measurements in the comment form. Since this garment is made to order, please allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. XOXO, Kate Stoltz
Photographer: Matt Licari
Makeup Artist: Sissi Petropolou
Designer, Stylist and Model: 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.
Kate Stoltz featured in New York City fashion designer Victor Luna's campaign. Editorial photography by Brij.
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
How many pieces of fabric are used to make a dress? It highly depends on the design of the dress. The Kate Stoltz NYC Mermaid Dress has 92 pieces of fabric plus the zipper. The paneled dress is made to hug the figure, using custom measurements to tailor the dress. Fully lined with 100% silk, the Kate Stoltz NYC black lace dress has two layers of silk. One layer for the lining, and another to back the black lace exterior. Each seam is finished with a French seam to finish the dress, and to prevent fraying. The Kate Stoltz NYC dress takes approximately a week to create, starting with the pattern. Each seam is pressed and trimmed as the dress is sewn to achieve a polished look. Finally, the dress is finished by a hand sewn hem and label. All this work is done in New York City in the design studio of Kate Stoltz NYC.
The Kate Stoltz NYC distressed shirt has been created to match the beach mood. I used a light and cool pastel fabric that can be worn on a hot day, or layered with a tank top on a cooler beach night. First I stitched the ends of the fabric with a tiny stitch to secure the fibers that I wanted to keep. I then removed the loose end fibers to create a frayed look. The ends of the two-tiered shirt, and the front detail on the shirt are finished with the resulting bespoke fringe. However, not all the ends are 'coming undone'. As I do with all Kate Stoltz NYC garments, I carefully finished the inside seams, this time using a 1/4 inch French seam.
For an hour after sunrise, and an hour after sunset, windows in the distance glisten like gold. The waves shimmer and capture the golden light that is beginning to flood the sea, turning the waves into liquid gold. The breeze cools the earth, and the world is quieter. Natural light isn't too harsh, but there's enough light to see. It's relaxing, peaceful, and beautiful. There's a reason why this hour is called 'the magic hour'.
Sunrise on the beach in Southampton is especially beautiful- The caps of the waves glisten in the sunlight, and the beach settles the restless souls of the overworked humans that visit. I wanted to capture the feeling I had, leading to the design and relaxed fit of the Kate Stoltz NYC gold silk kimono dress.
The Kate Stoltz NYC gold silk kimono sleeve dress is as comfortable as silk pajamas, but can be worn during the day or the evening. I finished the simple look with a pair of metallic sandals for a daytime look. Layer it with a longer sweater and lace up black patent leather shoes, and you'll have a trendy fall outfit that can be worn to work....
Kate Stoltz NYC Gold Silk Dress Details
Sandals: Vince Camuto
Kate Stoltz NYC gold silk dress
Bows have been seen a lot lately on the Resort 2016 runways, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I love the feminine silhouette. The many different ways designers have been incorporating them into dresses, shirts and pants is adorable without being overwhelming. -(Anyway many of the looks I have been seeing.) An easy way to 'bow down to the bow trend' is to tie a light scarf in a bow around your neck.. Neck scarves are chic, and trendsetters such as Kendall Jenner and fashion bloggers everywhere have been seen wearing cute neck scarves lately. Scarves are my favorite way to complete an outfit. They add color, movement, and can be used in a variety of ways to spice up an outfit. While some people think of scarves as something to wear to keep warm, there are many lighter options that won't make you break a sweat. Light organza, lace, cotton or silk scarves are all wearable in the summertime. I designed a matching pastel organza scarf to the latest Kate Stoltz NYC summer crop top instead of attaching it to the crop top pattern. The removable scarf can be worn around the neck, or tied around a handbag handle as a cute accessory. While I love the bow trend, trends have a tendency to disappear within a couple of weeks or months. Because of that, I wanted to create a top that can be changed based on the Kate Stoltz NYC customer's mood.
The look was inspired by my last visit to the Hamptons, in early July. I saw a couple of breathtaking sunsets. One tinted the ocean water almost the same color as the organza used in the crop top. The whitecaps of the waves, the breezes and calm serenity relaxed me and I wanted to create something that reflected that mood and scene <3
To shop or browse the look, click on the links:
Kate Stoltz NYC white lace skirt
Kate Stoltz Nyc CROP TOP WITH MATCHING SCARF
XOXO, Kate Stoltz
Kate Stoltz NYC crop top, scarf and skirt
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.
