PHOTOS BY RUVAN
The Texas-bred, runway groomed designer, Mandy Coon, has brought her unconventional inspirations to her razor-sharp, eponymous line. The designer recently accepted a distinguished award, presented by, Erin Fetherston at the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation donning flawless NARS makeup. She’s made it. In her words “it’s real.” Coon’s fledgling line launched with a stunning Spring/Summer collection in 2010. This year, she landed one of the coveted tents at New York Fashion Week, showing amongst the fashion elite. The show had everyone talking about Coon’s intricate and immaculately constructed clothing and her unlikely inspiration the colloid-like, sea creature – the jellyfish. The quirky, alabaster skinned designer with a penchant for black, she recently tweeted, “I’m wearing color” as it rarely happens, is no stranger to the fashion world. Mandy was catapulted into the New York fashion industry when a scout approached her in a Houston, Texas shopping mall. Starring in a few local fashion shows, the newbie model bought a ticket to New York to live, like most models, in a cramped SoHo apartment. Her modeling stint ignited her true passion in the art of clothing design. She honed her skills in haute couture sewing and tailoring at FIT and, subsequently, an apprenticeship with designer Camilla Staerk. Staerk gave Coon her proverbial wings and she flitted off to create her now sought after collection. In short, the fruition of her training has had astounding results. Her structurally captivating, dark, undeniably sexy pieces are for the contemporary lady of the moors. In her off time, you will probably find Mandy mixing it up as part of the DJ duo 2 Mandy, finding inspiration in cinematography, or striking a chord in her band. If all else fails, you may track Coon’s musings via Twitter @MandyCoon. The Spring/Summer 2011 line of this truly multifaceted designer are available at Opening Ceremony. (Parice Grant)
See complete collection here.