Australia’s hottest export Kym Ellery, designer of world renowned fashion label Ellery, popped back to Sydney from her new home in Paris to celebrate her second eyewear collection with Specsavers.
And what do you ask when you get five minutes with one of the country’s best fashion designers to date? How to dress well, of course.
Pen and paper at the ready…
Fashion wise, what do you think are the staple pieces that every woman should own?
Black ankle boots, a cashmere sweater, a three quarter crop flare and a well-cut blazer, maybe with a point of difference such as interesting button detail or sleeve detail.
What is your tip for a woman wanting to look effortlessly stylish?
Keep it simple and wear a cool pair of glasses.
Do you have any celebrity style inspirations?
Rei Kawakubo (founder and designer of Comme des Garçons), more as a creative inspiration but also as a woman of extreme talent and success in her lifetime.
What’s your favourite thing you own?
It’s hard to say one thing but probably my music collection – my vinyl, Spotify and iTunes collections.
What’s been your career highlight so far?
Many in the recent years – showing on schedule as part of Paris fashion week and being named as part of the BOF 500 people influencing the global fashion industry were both amazing moments. Also, winning earlier this year the Emerging Brand of the Year at the ELLE UK Style Awards, because I had no idea that we were big in England.
You wear spectacles quite a lot, what shapes and frames are you drawn to?
I love an aviator – whether it’s acetate, like what I’m wearing tonight (pictured below), inspired by an aviator shape, or a wire frame. And I also love a square cats-eye, something that’s a bit modern but almost with a ’90s twist.
Do you find designing spectates a lot different to designing fashion?
Different in some ways and similar in many others. It was easy thanks to the team at Specsavers, who are incredible at their job. Their technical prowess is amazing – you tell them an idea and they all come back with this amazing technical drawing, so for me it was a really interesting learning experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
What are your favourite frames from this new collection?
I love the ones I’m wearing, they’re inspired by a young Annie Lee Ritz. I also love the ELLERY 06 sunglasses.
Where did you draw inspiration from for these new frames?
I was inspired by the iconic cultural and artistic figures that had a unique persona of their own, such as Jerry Garcia, Truman Capote, Peggy Guggenheim and Haris Abdul.
I love how they’re all inspired by famous creatives, the first range as well, right?
Yes, so that one was looking into famous characters and this one is looking into real people who have really influenced their area of work.
The Ellery x Specsavers collection is on sale now.
