“Not long after I opened, I put some of Shan’s garments in the shop to test-market on a Thursday and by Tuesday they were gone,” said NV Showroom Boutique owner Nikole Perkins. “And I’m closed on Sunday and Monday,”
Designer Shan Keith caught Perkins’ eye back in 2003 when she worked with Flipside Magazine. He had just started creating clothing and she asked him to do a show. Her dream of owning a boutique had yet to be realized. But she had a feeling they would work together to become contributors to the field of fashion.
On Friday (Oct. 28), Perkins and Keith will kick off their new and improved partnership with Merge – a fashion show that includes Keith’s first-ever full men and women’s fall line.
“Shan’s pieces are timeless and they are just ready to wear,” Perkins said. “His stuff is so well tailored and he doesn’t just follow trends – he does what he wants to do. The minute you see one of his pieces you can automatically see it at Bloomingdale’s or Neiman’s.”
He is self-taught and works without patterns. Keith says his ability to make clothes is a generational gift from God that he shares with his mother and grandmother.
“I’m glad to see that he is moving forward with actually having his stuff at a location,” Perkins said. “It also makes me feel good for him to be at NV so we can continue to be a platform for emerging designers.”
The thrill in teaming up is mutual.
“She’s trustworthy, loyal and has always had my best interest at heart,” he said.
When the models emerged dressed and ready for the photo shoot, the looks were so pulled together and pristinely seamed, there appeared to be a blend of Keith’s designs with off-the-rack items.
“Where did you get that mustard coat from?” I couldn’t help but ask as Wiley Price prepared to shoot. “It’s fantastic … did you see it in a 2X?”
“I can make one for you if you really want me to,” Keith said laughing.
The flawless and tightly framed drape and bunch embellishments on the sleeves of the cropped coat were Shan Keith Designs originals as well.
“I stick with my feelings,” Keith said about his creative process. “If I lay it out and feel like I have to do something to set myself apart, I will flip a sleeve or add a pleat.”
At the Merge show, guests will see him step outside of his women’s clothing comfort zone and debut his first-ever full men’s line.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking when you are doing men’s clothes,” Keith admitted. “With women’s garments you can be so creative and go beyond the normal. But with a blazer or a coat, you can’t do so much – and it has to be on point!”
As he anxiously pulled together 35-plus looks for the show, he said he visualizes a reality and wants to give a glimpse of that to guests.
“The clothes make them feel better about themselves. I want everybody have that feeling,” Keith said. “I want them to get a whole new perspective on fashion – to see how changing up your look can change your confidence level too and enhance how you feel about yourself.”
Perkins believes the show and her boutique can have a hand in making Keith’s dreams for fashion come true.
“We want to let everybody know the type of partnership we have going,” Perkins said. “And I want them to feel that they can come and shop at NV and get something different and stand out from the crowd – and do it within their budget.”
The Merge Fashion Preview will take place at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Fri., Oct. 28) at 3965 Park Ave. For more information, visit http://themergefashionshow.eventbrite.com/. A sample sale featuring Shan Keith Designs will take place on Sat., Oct. 29 from noon – 6 p.m. at NV Showroom Boutique (1308A Washington). For more information, call 314-621-0029 or visit www.nvshowroomboutique.com.
