One To Watch: Kevork Kiledjian

For even some of the most knowledgeable fashionistas, the name Kevork Kiledjian  draws blank stares and puzzled expressions. The man isn’t even mentioned on Wikipedia, the home of unreliable factual information on…well…everything! However, his debut show at the recent New York Fashion week was one of the most eagerly anticipated of the entire season. With a host of celebrity devotees such as DJ Leigh Lezark and model du jour, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, it is only a matter of time before this French designer becomes a much more recognisable name, albeit a decidedly difficult one to pronounce.

Kiledjian was previously better known as the founder and designer of the highly successful yet short lived label Guilty Brotherhood, one cherished by IT girls everywhere for whom money is not the most pressing object – jealous, me? Never! However it is fair to say that the words Kiledjian and cheap do not even occupy the same breathing space – but that’s not to say we cant covet his utterly fabulous New York fashion week collection from the safety of our laptops.

Indeed, while the rock-n-roll inspired collection is nothing truly groundbreaking with its collage of leather jackets and strapless minidresses, its careful construction is what makes it stand out. This collection is interspersed with beautiful tailoring and intricate embellishment, for example the tassel detailing seen intermittently throughout the range as well as the perfectly form fitting nature of the body hugging jersey dresses. Even though the collection does have a decidedly risqué feel to it, Kiledjian manages to never cross the line between sexy and Jersey Shore’s version of chic. Definitely a name to bear in mind for the future.