Erin Kleinberg isn’t a newcomer. In fact, you’ve probably already heard her name or seen her photo or browsed her addictive site The Coveteur, the blog-turned-business in which Kleinberg and cofounder Stephanie Mark photograph the closets and homes of international style influencers. But long before she reached global blogger fame, Kleinberg was an on-the-rise designer. (Her first collection launched back in 2008.) With a focus on easy silhouettes and luxe fabrics, Kleinberg quickly built up a client list that included Barneys, Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom, and Harvey Nichols. But in 2011, in order to focus on The Coveteur, she took a break from designing. However, turning her attention toward the industry’s best wardrobes turned out to be a brilliant strategy. “After exploring more than 400 tastemakers’ closets, I feel like I have conducted some real market research. I’ve seen it all,” Kleinberg told. “My takeaway is that women want to live an edited life. Maybe their closet is stocked, but there’s a rack in their bedroom with their edits. That’s where I want to be—designing the staples you can’t live without.”
So, after a few years’ hiatus, Kleinberg is back in the saddle with a Fall ’14 collection made up of just that: chic, understated, everyday staples. A first look at the lineup debuts exclusively here. “When we’re shooting for The Coveteur, I always find that women are so proud of their designer purchases, but at the end of the day they can’t wait to put on their favorite sweater or loose cardigan. I love that,” Kleinberg said. She refers to her polished, fuss-free collection as “comfort meets luxe.” She kept shapes and patterns minimal, instead focusing on fabrics and other little details: perfect fits, French seams, and zippers. One look plays with proportions, pairing an oversize cardigan with a mini dress and thigh-highs. Elsewhere, Kleinberg layered long, loose tees over midi skirts or tucked silky tanks into distressed jeans. The main pop of color came from a red and black buffalo-check coat.
“I feel like the inside of my head looks like the world of Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele or Iris Apfel, but what I wear exudes a more calm and easygoing vibe,” Kleinberg said. “The Erin Kleinberg girl isn’t a fashion obsessive; she cares about culture and art, she doesn’t wear much makeup. She’s kind of a mix between a Parisian cool girl and a downtown New Yorker.” Word on the street is that a few key retailers have already picked up the line—and we can’t say we’re surprised. After all, who wouldn’t want to look like Kleinberg’s nonchalant Fall chick?
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