Get Shorty
This season’s trends have gifted us with 80’s inspired neons that electrify our senses and sweats that fuse style and comfort. Both have been wildly adopted by fashion-lovers alike, so we turned our sights on Shorty Clothing, an up-and-coming Chicago label that included both looks—among others—in its fall collection.
Shorty Clothing is for fervent trendsetters with a vivacious wild side. From a “Canary” metallic satin skirt (shown left) to “Worn-in Black” sweatpants with gold embellishments (shown below), the designs are not for the fashionably meek. While having an obvious focus on fearless fashion with lux details, the designers also pride themselves on creating pieces that fit real women with various body types. Their client is one who is effortlessly chic by day and glamorously sexy by night, and—more importantly—one who refuses to look like any other woman on the street. “The Shorty Clothing woman is confident, bold, sexy, glamorous, and can rock anything she’s wearing,” says Catherine Hudon, the label’s CEO. “It’s all about an attitude.”
The fall ‘09 collection, “Rock Meets Rococo,” encapsulates that attitude, with its vibrant display of bright hues, metallic fabrics, short hems and curve-hugging silhouettes. The collection includes stretch satin dresses and jackets, a metallic satin skirt and dress, jacquard coats, a silk cotton tank and blouse, a bamboo knit dress, and French fleece sweatpants and jumper. Having launched in fall 2008 and debuted that year at Gen Art’s Fresh Faces runway show, this is the label’s second collection.
Behind this label is a team of four women, all working to grow the Shorty Clothing brand. In addition to Catherine, who manages the business side, the other three partners include: Janna Boyd, a designer who lends an “urban and sexy” design approach to the label; Sophie Lin, a second designer with a “romantic and classic” aesthetic; and Chalcea Park, an entertainment lawyer in LA and the label’s first investor. When some might think that’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen, the four find balance and inspiration in each other’s creativity and motivation. “This marriage is really special, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without all of us,” says Catherine.
Top image: “The Misfit” blouse in “Green Kelly” ($195), “The Petite Pouf” skirt in “Canary” ($185), Cleobella “Danielle” Ikat and fringe handbag ($207), and Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent “Luella” wedge ($414). Second image: “The Marquise” in “Hot Fuschia” ($245), Carolina Amato leather gloves ($44), and Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent snake print grocery bag ($267); ”The New Wave” sweatpants in “Worn-in Black” ($95), Cynthia Vincent pale pink handbag ($348). All accessories available at Fix Boutique (1101 W Fulton Street).
As this label continues to grow both creatively and as a business, Catherine, Janna and Sophie—who all call Chicago home—remain dedicated to the city’s fashion community. “Our goal is to highlight Chicago fashion as competitive and relevant to the industry,” says Janna. “We want to continue to produce and manufacture locally and support the retail industry in the Midwest.”
“It’s been an amazing first two years here in Chicago,” says Catherine. But I think we’ve just tipped the iceberg.”
To see more of Shorty Clothing’s designs, visit shortyclothing.com
By Meghan Turner
Photographer: Ace Ujimori
Creative Director: Meghan Turner
Model: Katie Liberatore
Makeup: Jennifer Schulze
Special thanks to: Kaitlyn Groth and Fix Boutique
Tags: Carolina Amato, Chicago Designers, Chicago Fashion, Chicago Shopping, Cleobella, Fix Boutique, Shorty Clothing, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent
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January 27, 2010 | 2 Comments
