Get acquainted with fashion's bright new stars to add to your closet ASAP.
While growing up together in Copenhagen, Cathrine Saks and Barbara Potts quickly realized that the most important investment in a woman's wardrobe is a beautiful coat. Since founded their namesake brand in 2014, Saks Potts has become the fashion girl's go-to for statement outerwear. The brand has risen to popularity for its unique and unusual aesthetic, from tie-dye puffer jackets to their infamous, responsibly sourced fur-lined "Foxy" coat, which has been seen on the likes of Cardi B and Kendall Jenner.
From brand maven Jessie Andrews, Jeu Illimité is keeping French girl style alive and well. Jeu Illimité, which means unlimited game, was launched earlier last year alongside Andrews' slew of other Insta-famous brands like Bagatiba and Basic Swim. The line offers a range of elevated basics for the effortless cool girl - graphic tees, knit tops, slip dresses, and more all under a $300 price range. Her latest release, the Cherie Mini Bag, has taken social media by storm and is definitely not the last item from the line we'll be lusting after in 2019.
Egyptian-inspired label SemSem is a reflection of the life experiences of its founder and creative director Abeer Al Otaiba. Otaiba, who is the wife of Yousef Al Otaiba, the Emirati Ambassador to the United States, combines her Middle Eastern influence and degree in civil engineering to create glamorous yet functional, resort-ready designs that have been worn by Tiffany Haddish, Blake Lively, and Kourtney Kardashian. In 2018, SemSem announced Albino Riganello, formerly the head designer at Givenchy, the new head of design of the mother-daughter brand.
Stevie Dance, famed stylist, fashion director of POP Magazine, and consultant to Virgil Abloh's Off-White, is now adding designer to her resume. Earlier this year she launched Feel Studio, also known as FEEL, a denim brand based out of Los Angeles. The brand aims to give all the best qualities of denim in their one style, the Genuine jean, which comes in a classic denim wash and black as well as two lengths. FEEL focuses on fit and comfort for all with an extensive fit guide and testimonials so that you're guaranteed to find the perfect pair.
Korean-born, London-based designer Rejina Pyo made a splash in September 2017 with her first SS18 runway show as an advocate for diversity within the fashion industry, casting women of all races and ages. Since then, she's received a nomination at the 2018 British Fashion Awards for British Emerging Talent Womenswear Award and was also placed on WWD's 40 of Tomorrow list. Pyo designs with the modern woman in mind, creating feminine and classic collections at an affordable price point.
Christopher John Rogers debuted his first collection at New York Fashion Week in September 2018 while also managing his full-time day job as an associate designer at Diane von Furstenberg. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design's fashion program, Rogers moved to New York City in 2016 and has been named a "designer to watch" by Vogue, WWD, and The New York Times. His eclectic designs have been seen on celebrities like SZA, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Tessa Thompson.
Staud's Shirley bag was one of the most Instagrammed bags of 2018, so it's no surprise its founder Sarah Staudinger landed herself on Forbes' 2019 30 under 30 List for Art & Style. The Los Angeles-based designer and her co-founder George Augusto have built Staud to a $10 million business, selling timeless garments and unique bags like the Moreau, a leather bucket bag covered in netting.
Fine jewelry brand Alison Lou, founded by Alison Chemla, made its name by creating fun, emoji-inspired jewelry. In the Spring of 2018, the New York-based brand launched LOUCITE, a collection of hoop earrings made of lucite in a wide variety of colors and sizes which debuted with Emily Ratajkowski as the face of the campaign, and was later seen on celebrities like Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Saorise Ronan, and more.
Amina Muaddi is a formidable force in the footwear industry. She's studied at the European Institute of Design in Milan, co-founded footwear brand Oscar Tiye, designed for Alexandre Vauthier footwear, and now launched her first ever self-titled collection. The collection released to massive success, receiving Footwear New Achievement Award for Launch of the Year for 2018. Designed in Paris and produced in Italy, her shoes feature classic embellishments and martini-shaped heels that almost immediately sold out and grabbed the attention of retailers like Net-a-Porter and FWRD by Elyse Walker.
The latest streetwear brand out of New York City combines fashion and activism to inspire the next generation. Debuting in December 2018, KROST partnered with March for Our Lives organization to stress fashion's responsibility to give back and create a community around their brand motto, "support your friends." Designed and produced in Los Angeles, KROST is led by founder Samuel Krost (formerly of Onia and Helmut Lang) alongside designer Scott Camaran. The brand launched with their "First Semester" collection of high-end hoodies, tees, pants, and leather goods, and a school-inspired concept shop in Soho.
Since its launch in 2016, By Far has created lust-worthy accessories for its cult following of celebrities and influencers. Founders Valentina Bezuhanova, Sabina Gyosheva, and Denitsa Bumbarova, who live between Australia and Europe, bring their love for the '90's into their designs with low-heeled mules, slingbacks, pumps, and boots perfect for every day. In 2018, the brand debuted their first handbag collection also inspired by the '90's with a baguette inspired by Friends' Rachel Green.
Debuting at Copenhagen Fashion Week just last fall, ROTATE is the latest Danish brand to captivate the fashion industry. The brand is a collaboration between concept shop Birger Christensen and influencers Thora Valdimars and Jeanette Friis Madsen, who aimed to create pieces that were unique but also special enough to keep in your closet forever. The collection features ultra-feminine pieces, from a hot pink dress with puffy shoulders to an embellished blazer dress, that are guaranteed to stand out anywhere.
Sami Miro has been shuffling through vintage stores since she was 14 years old. The San Francisco native's enviable style is coveted by her 200,000 Instagram followers, where she can be seen wearing her unique, re-worked designs created at her atelier in Los Angeles. In 2016, she launched her self-titled brand of one-of-a-kind pieces adored by celebrities from Hailey Baldwin to Kylie Jenner. Her first ready-to-wear collection, titled EcoTerror after the radical environmentalist movement from the 1960’s, features recycled, cut and sew pieces aimed at encouraging the fashion industry to take part in the conversation on climate change.