BRITTANY WESTBROOK
KANSAS CITY FASHION WEEK
F|w 19
This collection all began with a trip.
Seattle, a wonderful metropolis perfectly situated in the shadow of a
mountain with the darkness of the forest and the lightness of the sea
creeping in from every angle. It was during this trip to the great Pacific
Northwest I found my inspiration for Kansas City Fashion Week. Here
was this city, its own enigma of gorgeous modern buildings, housing
some of the biggest tech giants in the world, and yet a half hour drive
will get you into the dense forest. As someone from the Midwest, I’ve
never seen so much green in my life. I found myself obsessed with the
large ferns and the moss encroaching on the limbs of fallen trees. The
great evergreens, which could overwhelm with their size, seemed more
likely to embrace you into their shadow, and what may be hidden in their
mysterious forest.
For my materials, I based the collection around a beautiful wool Black Watch tartan, with the perfect weight and drape to share between an overcoat and a structured dress. To compliment, I brought in rich shades of emerald green and navy crepe, perfect for adding a bit of structure and texture. And to round it off and keep the collection within a moody color palette, I added black knitwear and crepe pieces throughout the collection.
I featured structured panels and beautiful twists, inspired by the harsh city lines and the softness of the tree limbs. Pleats were used to bring depth and fullness to the shapes, and detailed black buttons were used throughout to represent the intricate construction found throughout the area.
