Karen Walker (NZ, OZ, HK)
I cannot reiterate enough how much I, or New Zealanders for that matter, adore Karen Walker, whose refreshing take on fashion has been immensely celebrated by fellow fashionistas all around the world since 2000. Her clothing line is mainly about looking subtle and chic, without missing that dose of fun in styling. It's gonna be a picture-heavy post for there are simply too many amazing numbers in the Karen Walker world that I would love to share with you fashion-loving souls, so consider yourself warned!
She's Cracked 09/10
Karen Walker (left) and the brand's quirky signature logo - The Runaway Girl (right)
She's Cracked 09/10
She never fails to infuse a couple of entirely different styles and incorporating them into her garments - like macho and girlish, structured and casual, lavish and understated, dark and endearing - in a singular way that only Karen can pull it off. One ought to love how her clothing often gives the wearers both the options of dressing up and down.
She's Cracked 09/10
Karen acquires her design inspirations from an eclectic and some say most unexpected mix of outsiders, such as Ally Sheedyís, the heavy fringed weirdo in The Breakfast Club and orphan Annie, a prom queen who also happens to be involved in a teenage delinquency of escaping through the window after curfew only to run with the bad crowd - a true embodiment of The Runaway Girl.
She's Cracked 09/10
Karen's magic fingers and imagination somehow managed to translate this anti elite culture she pays great homage to into something completely down-to-earth, unpretentious yet sophisticated at the same time.
She's Cracked 09/10
She has established several brands under her label over the years, namely Karen Walker Womenswear, Karen Walker Jewellery, Karen Walker Eyewear and Karen Walker Paints.
The Believers 09
Her designs have been featured in prime fashion magazines from around the globe including Nylon, Elle, Teen Vogue, Vogue, Shop Till You Drop, Lucky, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire and Cosmo Girl just to name a few.
The Believers 09
And with celebrity followers like Ashley Olsen, Claudia Schiffer, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Kimberly Stewart, Madonna, Mandy Moore, Maria Sharapova, Sienna Miller, M.I.A and Tyra Banks; it goes to show that KW clothing is modish and flexible enough to cater to women of very different backgrounds and styles!
The Believers 09
Below are more pictures from her Angels & Lucky collection from '08:
Which is your favourite collection so far?
Stockists
Karen Walker is stocked across 20 countries throughout the world: US, Europe, Australasia, and Asia (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan).
For those of you who are in Hong Kong or Taiwan, you can drop by any of her boutiques to check out Karen Walker's latest collection. All prices range from NZD 85 to NZD 735 which is around RM200 to RM1,770.
KW flagship stores in Auckland (top) and Wellington (bottom)
Hong Kong
Harvey Nichols - Stocks Karen Walker clothing
The Landmark, 15 Queens Rd Central
+852 3695 3388
On Pedder - Stocks Karen Walker Eyewear
20 Pedder Street, Central
+852 2118 3489
On Pedder - Stocks Karen Walker Eyewear
Shop G317, Ground Floor, Gateway Arcade
+852 2118 3470
On Pedder - Stocks Karen Walker Eyewear
Harbour City, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon
+852 2265 7473
Ztampz - Stocks Karen Walker Eyewear
Unit 1701, Level 17, Tower 1, Metroplaza, 223 Hing Fong Rd, Kwai Fong
+85235717189
Taiwan
Karen Walker - Stocks Karen Walker Clothing, Eyewear, Jewellery
Eslite Xin Yi Store 1st Floor, No. 11, Song Kao Road, Taipei
+886 2 8789 3388 ext 1133
Online Store
Fret not overseas shoppers, Karen Walker also provides the convenience of online shopping. Click here for your fix.
Contact
Karen Walker Head Office
PO BOX 6694 Wellesley Street
Level 2, 14-16 Maidstone Street
Ponsonby
Auckland
New Zealand
Tel: +649 361 0780
Fax: +649 361 0790
Email: alethea@karenwalker.com
Website: karenwalker.com
Image from Karen Walker.
Check out my previous post on Cybèle :)
