LVR is excited to feature Australian designer, Kym Ellery for our series of at-home features. Kym is a trailblazer, formerly an editor at RUSSH magazine and now running her namesake brand Ellery, that perfectly mixes elegance with the perfect touch of avant-garde. The designer takes a moment to discuss with us how her quarantine is going in Paris, where she’d rather be, what’s on her playlist and her inspiration for her Resort21 collection. Take a minute to catch up with Kym.
Where are you currently?
I am currently in Paris, in the 11th arrondissements. It’s one of my favourite cities and I feel really lucky to live here, especially during the recent global events. Paris really feels like home to me, and I have so many good friends here that I now consider my family.
Where would you rather be?
*laughs* well… if I did have the option to go somewhere else, I must say it’s always really nice to go home to Australia, especially at this time of the year because it’s summer there and everyone is having barbecues at the beach…so I do get a little bit homesick and would never turn down a trip back down to Australia.
What are you currently listening to?
Ooo what am I currently listening to.. Well. I love music, it’s such an important part of my creative process. Right now, I’m listening to Fat White Family, Tame Impala, Tierra Whack, Blood Orange (Dev Hynes), Nu Guinea, and The Space Lady.
You can actually follow my Spotify playlist which is called ‘MOLTO BENE . KYM ELLERY’S STAY HOME WITH ELLERY PLAYLIST’ and it’s pretty molto bene *laughs*.
I love italian pop-music from the 70s and 80s. I really love Loredana Betré, and Paolo Conte. *plays* Via con me*.
Top 10 quarantines essentials?
Well my number one quarantine essential is a quarantini buddy. I was lucky to do the first quarantine with my friend and colleague Emily, and there were many, many essentials being used during that period. *Leans over to Emily* What’s the foot thing we did? Ah that’s right, milky foot which is a foot mask that makes your feet fresh and smooth like a baby.
I love my Ellery sweaters and earrings, my Art books, favourite fragrances and my favourite snacks during quarantine times are vegan chocolate and nut seed loaf, which are two recipes that I have mastered in the last year as well as Okanyaki pancakes – yum.
I also can’t live without my cameras. I have so many different types that shoot on 35 and 55mm that I collect at the markets in Paris, as well as online and different auction houses.
I also love doing a very thorough beauty regime of masks, facials, and exfoliates. My favourite products are Biologique Recherche P50, Cosmedix and everything that they make – I adore their active products and their eye cream, Valmont Renewing Pack cream, I also love their eye balm. It’s so creamy and hydrating.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when this passes?
Go on a yoga retreat. My favourite place to go is Yoga Rosa in Ibiza. I love the daily yoga and meditation rituals with Rosa and I really love her pet pigs, one who roams the property and thinks he’s a dog *laughs* he even wags his tail like a puppy.
What are your favourite pieces from your latest collection?
Oo I love the “I can tell” tailored cady pants and the Margaret faux leather mini dress. I adore wearing black.
What was the inspiration for your new pieces?
My inspiration for the latest collection Resort 21 is all about diving into the ELLERY archive and DNA to build a new super wardrobe, made up of essential pieces that encapsulates what I feel everyone needs in their modern wardrobe. I especially love the “Over the top ” Twill black draped scarf shirt and the somewhat twisted crepe asymmetrical top.
How will you be different after this experience? Is there anything that you realized that you took for granted?
I feel incredibly grateful throughout this whole experience and have been so lucky. I have really appreciated the health of my family, friends and myself more than ever before. I think the sense of community that has risen up during this period is so important and it is also a great moment to reflect and then act on making change for the future, especially in the world of fashion. There were so many positive changes we can make together.
I look forward to making more positive changes in the fashion community and through my own personal actions I hope to influence the actions of others.
How are you spending your quarantine?
During the quarantine periods I spent a lot of time at home, cooking, making fires in the fireplace, reading books I’ve always wanted to read, watching films that I’ve never seen before and trying to do yoga and meditation as much as possible. I’d be lying if I said that I’m doing it every day because I am definitely not but hopefully soon *laughs*
My boyfriend has become obsessed with his weight and weights himself three times a day *laughs*. I’m the opposite. I just want to eat cakes and ramen.
Favourite work from home looks?
Even though I’m working from home I still like to get dressed in the morning. I love to wear tailoring, leather and if it’s cold outside I’ll snuggle up in my pink wool coat.
My go to look in the morning is an oversized leather shirt paired back with a soft crepe skirt and then if it is cold I add an oversized blazer. I also love to wear a three pieces suit with a soft corset layered over the top of a jacket and some tailored pants. I love to wear my white Margiela “Tabi” boots, which, because I wear them so much are now more a shade cream.. but I love fashion so regardless if I am staying home or going out I will always want to explore new fashion territory – even better at home to try new things out before taking them to the public on the glittery streets of Paris.
A special thank you to Kym Ellery.
