Daughters of the Revolution: The Magic of Malibu
Growing up in Malibu, Calif., with a pair of freespirited parents gave designer Emily Cadenhead a unique perspective on affluent hippie-chic style. “It was a great place to grow up, magical. I had a great childhood, and I draw inspiration from it,” Cadenhead said. After earning her bachelor’s degree in fine art, Cadenhead turned her focus to creating beautiful, easy-to-wear dresses. “I think coming from an art background and studying painting, graphic design [and] figure drawing gives me a unique perspective as a designer,” she said. “When I create a garment, I have the movement, motion and form of the human body in mind. After years of drawing the figure, it is second nature to me to think about how fabric flows over it.”
For Daughters of the Revolution, Cadenhead’s new collection of contemporary bohemian dresses, she combined her art background and breezy lifestyle. “It is all about being comfortable in beautiful, classic dresses,” she said. Made of nearly weightless silk cotton voile and chiffon decked with vintageinspired prints or dipped in chemical-free vegetable dyes, Daughters of the Revolution’s pieces are feminine and versatile. “Almost everything is adjustable— so you can wear every piece even if your body changes. If you’re feeling creative, you can experiment with the ties and fit,” Cadenhead said.
A simple sack dress features an asymmetrical neckline and an oversize double ruffle. A maxi-length dress features a sexy halter-top bodice and fishtail train. A Mexican peasant top is updated into a thigh-grazing dress in a mixed print. Random, hand-sewn embellishments add depth to the classic prints. “It is all very Malibu beach–inspired, so it has this great sunny, casual sensibility, but the fabrics and the details feel very rich,” Cadenhead said.
Launched with 15 pieces for Spring 2007, Cadenhead’s Spring 2008 collection has doubled in size. For Fall 2008, all of Daughters of the Revolution’s prints will be hand-drawn and exclusive to the line. The collection, which wholesales from $90 for a pleated trapeze top up to $165 for a lined chiffon gown, made its retail debut at Planet Blue, the iconic Malibu boutique. Now sold at top Los Angeles boutiques, including Kate, Madison and Intermix as well as Santa Barbara, Calif.’s Blue Bee, Cadenhead’s upscale-hippie sensibility seems to be catching on. “It is the kind of stuff girls love to wear. Who doesn’t want to feel effortlessly beautiful?” Cadenhead said.
For more information, visit the Movement showroom at 860 S. Los Angeles St., suite 525, or call (213) 489-0727. —Erin Barajas
