Kathy Hilton Launches Special-Occasion Dress Collection
The Hilton name rings synonymous with the luxury lifestyle and red-carpet events thanks to socialites Paris and Nicky. And now their mother, Kathy Hilton, designer and entrepreneur, has launched a ready-to-wear special-occasion dress collection.
Hilton said it has always been her dream to design a collection. “I’ve always loved beautiful, romantic, feminine cocktail dresses and long [gowns], but I really felt that there was a need for affordable, classic dresses without breaking the bank—especially in this economy right now,” she explained. “I’ve been fortunate to travel and to wear a lot of beautiful designer clothing. So I really wanted to do something that I thought that all women [could wear] from my daughters, my nieces to myself and my friends and women even older. I think there’s something for everybody.”
The 70-piece collection is created for women of all ages and suitable for just about any special occasion—from weddings to cocktail parties and gala events. The collection launched in New York at Coterie for Spring 2012 and has already been picked up by key department stores, including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
This is Hilton’s first foray into design, although it’s not her first experience in business. She owned a specialty retail store called The Staircase for eight years.
The dress collection, however, is being created from a wealth of fashion experience. The Kathy Hilton collection is designed and marketed in collaboration with Mon Cheri, the more than 20-year-old manufacturer of special-occasion dresses. The collection is created under the guidance of Chief Executive Officer Stephen Lang and a team headed by President Evelyn Anastos, who has more than 20 years of experience in this market niche. Anastos, who was formerly president of Marc Bouwer GlamIt!, is working with Hilton on merchandising as well as overseeing sales and production to ensure quality and fit. According to Anastos, buyers have responded well to the collection.“[There is] such a wide audience, and we do many times tell the accounts that it’s not only for Kathy, but there also things for her daughters, and everybody relates to that, and we’ve been able to sell it globally because of this,” she explained.
In addition to department stores, specialty stores from Saudi Arabia, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Norway, Egypt and Japan have all picked up the collection. Dresses are wholesale priced from $150 to $225 for cocktail dresses and $190 to $295 for gowns. Inspiration comes from the classic chic style of fashion/screen icons such as Audrey Hepburn but keeps a feminine, classic modern style in mind. Hilton is also inspired by her personal vintage collection and designers such as Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Calvin Klein. Her taste ranges from couture to upcoming designers she has discovered on her travels in places such as London’s King’s Road. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be something expensive that I love,” Hilton said. “I love to match and pair things. I can get inspiration literally from walking into a museum and seeing the lace on a dress from the 18th century or a frame,” she said.
#8232;Dresses are made in a variety of fabrics including chiffon, silk charmeuse, jersey, crinkled silk and satin. Many are made with unusual combinations such as leather with lace but with a sophisticated, ladylike twist. The palette of cream, yellow, blush, fuchsia, turquoise, gold, silver and black is inspired by the colors in Hilton’s home as well as her travels.
Hilton’s celeb daughters haven’t worn the collection yet, but with the Spring launch, rest assured they will soon. Hilton said her daughters have already made their wish list. For more information, contact (212) 391-7816 —N. Jayne Seward
