Travel Diary Inspired By Travel: On the Road with KAELEN
Sure, Kaelen Haworth may describe her clothing brand, KAELEN, as minimalist and restrained, but the Canadian-born fashion designer revels in spontaneity. After being selected by the Council of Fashion Designers of America to be in the CFDA {FASHION INCUBATOR} class of 2013, Kaelen chose to explore the textures, colors, and stories of the American South for her W Hotels Inspiration Trip alongside the lens of The Coveteur.
New Orleans, Louisiana
A deep cultural bassline bumps through the soul of New Orleans, making every balcony, alley way, and jazz club a portal for creative inspiration. From the feathers and flair of a Mardi Gras costume shop to the strong architecture and history of the crypts and mausoleums, Kaelen found inspiration in the non-stop party of The Big Easy and a much-needed moment of relaxation in the serene courtyard of W New Orleans – French Quarter.
Austin, Texas
From swamp land to desert city, the road trip led Kaelen to Austin, Texas–the land of great food, funky fashion, and cultural quirks that make the Southern metropolis delightfully weird. Retro colors and vintage threads of city shopping during the day contrast the flashing lights and romantic cavernous digs of the W Austin at night. With a pit stop in Marfa at the fake Prada store art installation on the way out of town, the road to Dallas couldn’t be any brighter.
Dallas, Texas
They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and Dallas ain’t afraid to go big and go decadent. Everything from the food to the fashion is indulgent, coaxing inspiration from the city’s extravagance. In the beautiful high rise of W Dallas – Victory, Kaelen enjoyed her Inspiration dinner with some of Dallas’ fashion elite, sharing her unique brand vision and free-spirited personality. Her week-long road trip may have come to a close, but those sights, sounds, and flavors she gathered along the way are just beginning to inspire her next innovative collection.
