Awhile back, when I first heard the name, Christy Lynn–local designer, what first came to mind for me, was the gal who does the great printed masks! For me, that had honestly not been gracing many of the retail doors at that time due to COVID. I had maintained my close partnership with Tootsies online and had done many masking digital round-ups and was always sent Christy Lynn’s newest printed mask version from Tootsies. However, as time progressed, I became much more aware of this “talented lady who was driven by prints” and eagerly attended her April 1 Spring Fashion Presentation at La Colombe d’Or, her home and studio. It was then that she and I had a real connect, first because I fell in love with her style, her use of rich textiles, her attention to detail and fine craftsmanship but also because I then realized that this “local designer” was a New York City Fashion Industry Veteran of 12 years where she worked and developed her signature style of mostly silk prints. What made our bond even stronger was that in chatting I realized that her NYC training was with three designer/business owners that I knew not only professionally but personally and had respected tremendously in the forefront of contemporary sportswear……Nanette Lepore, Catherine Malandrino and Ellie Tahari! We also connected, again, as I learned that she had attended a design school that I had visited with my then-interested daughter, Rhode Island School of Design, RISD as it is affectionately known in all art & design circles. All of this happened before moving to Houston with her hubby and starting her own company here in 2019, making her a Houston/New York designer collection. (design and sales in Houston, production in Brooklyn, NY)
I couldn’t wait to view the product and lots of product she had, from the Spring/Summer collection I had viewed earlier in the month to the Pre-Fall and Fall items that were in progress and ready to show in her Trunk Show with Tootsies, this coming week…..May 13 and 14.
Some of my pics from the many styles that Christy Lynn will be bringing to Tootsies…..
Here are some of my pics from the many styles that Christy Lynn will be bringing to Tootsies next week. The designer, who creates four collections a year, takes her inspiration from the many beautifully designed prints that she so carefully selects. Some of the special pieces to look for are her famous Dresses…….in this very strong Dress season, she has some of the best! Other silhouettes that she excels in are skirts, novelty tops like the placard front very simple solid white and also black geometric style top (yes, if it looks as good on me it could be a two-fer to add to my very neglected closet!). A category that is exploding for her is shorts and she has some great ones. I personally didn’t pick too many, love the denim ones and belted but I’m not a shorts girl as a rule. However, I am definitely in the minority this season. So many cute shorts in the line and online. Look for the Tiger Prints that I loved and of course, you won’t have to look far to find her Bardot dress, a fan favorite, that looks extra special this season in dots!
Take a sneak peak below, lots more at Tootsies and Online….
Lastly, about the designer and her journey to success…
Christy, a Chicago-native, is rooted in a very artistic family. Her Mom paints, her sister who she grew up making collages with, is a student of Parsons Design in NYC. She is an illustrator and draws many fine art inspired florals that are used by Christy for her textile print selections. Just to show her determination to “make it” in the industry, after RISD Christy moved to NYC where she took many different creative jobs in the fashion world, all with the sole purpose of achieving the knowledge necessary to achieve her goals. She was hired instantly by Nanette Lepore a leader in the Contemporary Sportswear World, where she was taken in and taught much that prepared her for the casual styling, that was at the base of all Nanette stood for. Then it was on to Catherine Malandrino, another Contemporary Sportswear Visionary that broadened Christy’s talents from the Lepore Bo-Ho approach to Malandrino’s more structured, disciplined approach…….doing it the French way! Lastly Tahari, which was a more classic approach to modern sportswear. So all-in-all, her well-rounded and very determined approach to building her career is what shows up today in all Christy takes on. She has a great attitude with her team of always looking for new ways to merchandise their line (and they do merchandise the line down to the fixture detail…….totally warmed my heart!)
Contact info…. Instagram: @CHRISTYLYNNCOLLECTION or Website: WWW.CHRISTYLYNN.COM