California Apparel News

Meredith Fisher launched her first dress line at the age of 17. Her newest collection, Charles Henry, launched for Fall/Holiday with a more sophisticated yet edgy look. The new collection has already been picked up by Harvey Nichols Hong Kong as well as Madison, Intermix and Switch in Los Angeles.

The Louisville, Ky., native moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. During a summer internship with designer Jennifer Nicholson, she began selling one-of-a-kind designs at Satine under the label WAYF. Stylist Rachel Zoe and celebs such as the Olsen twins were fans.

After finishing college, the designer decided to launch the new label, which was affectionately named after her grandfather. “I decided to relaunch under a new name because I felt like it was the right time to start from scratch and give it a new life,” Fisher explained. Her grandfather, a ready-to-wear clothing manufacturer, was one of her early supporters.

The design ingeacute;nue, although still young, has a clear focus on style for the Charles Henry girl. “She’s smart, she’s fashion-conscious, she knows what’s going on in fashion, but she’s not trendy,” Fisher said. Her style is on point, but it’s not fleeting. Think classic sophistication with practicality in mind. “She wants pieces that she can easily incorporate into her wardrobe. She can throw it on with the jeans that she already owns or with a skirt, really easy, wearable pieces,” she said.

While WAYF was mostly a small line of dresses with a few blouses and bottoms, Charles Henry is a complete collection. “It’s not as piecey; there’s a bottom, there’s a shirt, a jacket—really a complete look,” she explained. Strong silhouettes and draping (versus superfluous details) are key to the collection. Fisher utilizes smart design details—whether created through the sewing technique, trim or drape of the fabric. “I really try to make sure that every piece has some sort of special detail—whether it’s a fringe or a tassel or a little tuck or a pleat somewhere unexpected,” she said.

The Fall collection features custom-print silk-burnout blouses with asymmetrical fringe trim, skirts are draped for a sexy, sophisticated fit, and clever cutouts add interest to tops and dresses. For Spring, Fisher channeled the sunny mood of California into the collection to create a fresh, feminine aesthetic. Lighthearted prints; easy silhouettes; and a palette of salmon, blue and beige characterize the collection. A white lace dress is classic and chic, a black jumpsuit belts at the waist, and dresses and tanks have flirty ruffle trims. Fabrics include a variety of silks, silk/cotton blends and silk/cotton twills. Fisher also introduced lace, sequins and worked knits into the collection to pair back with bottoms.

Fisher’s goal is to keep prices below $500 at retail, and the majority fall between $300 and $400. Wholesale prices are $100 to $120 for blouses, $130 to $170 for dresses and $180 for jackets.

For more information about Charles Henry, contact the Denise Williamson Showroom at (213) 627-3001.—N. Jayne Seward