When
I first laid eyes on Megyn Florence's collection, I was very taken aback
by a number of things. Every piece of her collection is mended to perfection
from hem to finish, she really knows the quality of a good stitch. What
I love most about her clothes is that she provides a youthful, yet sophisticated
look. She is what I look for in designer clothes without looking pretentious.
She has the ability to make her clothing look comfortable yet neo-classic....sexy
yet youthful...sleek with character.
Megyn Florence is indeed an American fashion designer who we should be seeing more of in the future. Her ideas are innovative and creative and having a background in sculpture, Florence really understands how to make her clothing a moving artform. She is bringing a sense of haute couture to the American audience and she does so with a casual and approachable sense. Megyn isn't one to bullshit and her cuteness might fool one that she doesn't understand the market, but I will tell you first hand, this lady knows her stuff. She creates a personable approach to high fashion and that, right there, will indeed sell me every time. Her clothes truly speak for themselves and each detail is distinct in it's nature just as Megyn herself.
When I entered Megyn Florence's residence/studio, I felt I had entered
another time. The 
vintage
artifacts which surround her abode provide a world of antiquity and you
get the feeling your are in some sort of museum. There are pieces of material,
swatch boards, trinkets, and her VERY cluttered desk where her computer
sits below her loft. When she sleeps is beyond me because it looks as
though she works most of the time. It's dark and quiet there and when
I meet her she is this petite form with a strong sense of character. She
is adorned in her own creations which consists of some pieces I wanted
for myself. She is friendly and gets very excited when talking about fashion
and art. I like her immediately.
Florence shows once per season and shows once in Paris. Because of the outrageous fees for entering shows (currently 10,000 EU) for a small white box, funds are hard to come by just to show. It is very difficult for a designer to get financial backing on their own so for Megyn she only has her shows and her personal clientele as a source of income. She also shows at Geoffery B. Small's AREA show which fights to maintain the independent spirit of design. She is, in fact, the only designer from Brooklyn to show there. The show features a group of non-corporate designers such as Megyn who are striving to keep fashion in it's true artform. "...Not everyone can have Prada backing them or it's not like P. Diddy buying half the company."
Megyn
very much emits the independent spirit and isn't afraid to take her passion
for fashion into the street. Her "Nesting" collection for 2007
incorporated bird's nests, twigs, and eggs and although a bit avant garde,
still very wearable and very chic. She uses only natural fibers such as
silks, Italian jersey, and believe it or not, cork. She very much believes
in putting art into the actual fashion "show" and would like
to start doing more gallery shows. Her understanding of sculpture and
having that artistic background gives her an edge that isn't usually seen
in American fashion. She enjoys huge installations and visual eye captivating
pieces and would like to encompass that element into her upcoming collections.
Her collections have a sense of old world antiquity to them. It resembles
something of "The Fifth Element" meets "Breakfast at Tiffany's".
In response to how she feels about celebrity "designers" she states, "It hurts, it hurts at home, but not internationally....you go out of the country and it doesn't matter. It is unfortunate and all media driven and it's what people are told they want. The music industry has been doing it for years." Megyn doesn't let this affect her as she is confident it will be like all other trends and break at some point.
"Every morning was a production," says Florence of her earlier
days dressing up. Her claim 
to
fame on dressing celebs is "the most famous woman in China"
who appeared on her own postage stamp. I still don't know who that woman
is, but when I asked her who she would most like to see her clothes on
she responded with, "Bjork". Perfect choice if you ask me. She
remains mysterious about her next collection and hints there will be some
non-textile materials. I didn't push too much for much more because I
like the element of surprise! I was witness to an incredible jacket that
was adorned with skeleton keys and keyholes as buttons and holes....incredible
details and in fact she uses the keyhole as her signature mark. She also
mentions she has her very own rivets...what woman can say she has her
own rivets!
Megyn
Florence is charming, sharp, and personable and so are her clothes. She
creates beautiful lines and her clothing drapes ever so beautifully on
the female form. She is newfangled in her design and her influence is
felt within the industry and her clients. She creates clothing for the
individual who wants to be designer fashionable, but is artistic, modern,
and has an independent flare. She very much believes in her work and it
is apparent in the result. Due to her multitalented mixed media background,
Megyn will continue to provide her audience with ground breaking creations
and eye enticing silhouettes. Although she has worked with designers such
as Zac Posen and Geoffery B. Small, Megyn Florence stands on her own.
Her company is called Against the Grain and is fitting for who she is
and what she does. I hope to see her be as successful as her predecessors
because I think she has a lot to offer American fashion design....she
definitely does not bore and isn't afraid to take a risk with her work....just
like a good designer should.
If you are interested in owning some Megyn Florence originals, she is happy to oblige. If you contact her she will respond with a warm welcome to her studio and a friendly encounter of stylish ensembles. She is also high fashion without a hefty cost. I recommend her highly for any creative venture you'd like to take in the world of fashion and statement.
If you are interested in owning some Megyn Florence originals, she is happy to oblige. If you contact her she will respond with a warm welcome to her studio and a friendly encounter of stylish ensembles. She is also high fashion without a hefty cost. I recommend her highly for any creative venture you'd like to take in the world of fashion and statement.
Please visit Megyn at her website and feel free to say hello on her MySpace.