“Did you know the only people who wear Uggs in Australia are redneck boys?”

~ Kerin Rose

By Catzie Vilayphonh  |  Send to Friend

I met Kerin last year on a trip to NYC to photograph a friend of hers. It wasn't anything special of a shoot, just a small apartment in BK. But once her friends got with my friends, and found out I was a Fashion Director and her a Designer/Stylist, we decided to be friends and made more friends in between (shout out to Yoshi and Nikki Jean!) Kerin's no longer working her admin day job (thank goodness), so she's got a lot of time on her hands to express and share all that creative talent thats been bottling up in that jazzy charismatic red hair of hers. Plus, we just got added on as new Fatlace Blog girls. Hollerrrrrrrr.

Catzie: So what the hell do you do? I don’t know your official day job title but whatever the hell you do for a living, on the side, fulfilling your pipedream, etc, just spill it all.

Kerin: I am the HBIC for A-Morir by kerin.rose (www.a-morir.com). I am an accessory designer who hand-encrusts glasses with 600 Swarovski crystals. I make Mickey Mouse ears out of buckram, giant hair bows, and feather headbands and necklaces. And that's just season one. I also am the girl Friday/clothing designer for The Savant Guard + (http://www.thesavantguard.org) - a Brooklyn based record label with a slew of great releases for '09. My sister and I co-founded a non-profit called We Love Your Guts (http://www.weloveyourguts.org) and a few days a week I turn looks at Patricia Field, where I also sell my goods. A-Morir is my lifeblood and a longtime dream that I’m finally turning into a reality.

Catzie: What’s A-Morir? Where did that name come from and what does it stand for?

Kerin: The name A-Morir comes from a black and white triptych video of 100 wooden tops spinning to the death by Argentinean artist Miguel Angel Rios. I saw it in Madrid in 2005 and was struck. A-Morir literally means '”til death," which is a phrase I often find applicable to my life and shit. My accessories are so fly you'll love 'em 'til death. Seriously.

Catzie: What projects are you working on now and where can we expect to see you in the near future?

Kerin: I’m working on taking my line to the next level, have a few collabs in the pipeline that I’ll tell you about once they're finalized, and I’m working on becoming a professional be-dazzler. During bodybuilding season I usually do a few competition suits, and I just bedazzled a derby hat for Ugly Betty's costume department.

Catzie: Where are you living now? Are you originally from NYC area?

Kerin: I grew up on Long Island, but Manhattan has been my dream home forever, and my real home since 2001.

Catzie: Name some designers/artists/creative people who you feel heavily influenced by and why you like them so much.

Kerin: If I have even 1/1000 of the creativity and success of Thierry Mugler or Philip Tracy I can die happy. I’m inspired by Simon Doonan, the creative team and beautiful love story that is Ruben and Isobel Toledo. I’m inspired by women like Cher, Rupaul, Jessica Rabbit, Joan Crawford, Joan Jett, Lita ford, Dita Von Teese, the badass bitches in Cycle Sluts From Hell, the Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling, and Lucille Ball. I’m also perpetually blown away by my friend Jes Tong, g.rice army founder, and brilliant designer who does everything I do better than I ever could without trying. And if saying I want Pink to be my homegirl is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Catzie: Are there any brands that you’re feeling lately?

Kerin:  Looking towards accessories, Cubannie rosaries and g-rice army chains are my jam. I’m feeling rago (an undergarment company specializing in modern-day girdles), and I wear their black underwear with attached garters as high-wasted shorts. As far as streetwear goes, I think the scene is very tired, and I’m stoked brands like Hellz have made it and brands like MadeMe are on the come up. So long as Westwood, McQueen, and Galliano are alive, however, I’ll have all the inspiration I’ll ever need.

Catzie: I’m really not a “dos” and “don’ts" kinda girl when it comes to fashion and styling tips, actually I’m more of a "please don’t ever do that again" type. What are your thoughts on telling people what to wear?

Kerin: I don't ever tell people what to wear, I don't think everyone should wear khakis, OR Westwood. Wear what makes you comfortable, and what's authentically you. Just make sure it's polished. As for serious don'ts? The other day I was at a Psychobilly show and a cute punky greaser dude was wearing black nail polish. It was a MAJOR vagina-fail (tm). Obvious name brands have always been a 'don't' in my book, it's sooooooo boring and obnoxious. Unless you're an Arab a keffiyeh is a giant don't. And did you know the only people who wear Uggs in Australia are redneck boys? Girls: UGGS ARE A HUGE DON'T. 

Catzie: Lets talk about your hair. How do you decided what color shape and style its gonna be?

Kerin: I’ve literally had every color ever in my hair at some point. I had ass-length hair until I was 24 and cut it on a moment-of-Zen whim. Big-ass mistake. Since then it's been blonde, and now that it's a bit longer, orange-red. I’m bout to get waist-length clip-on extensions that will give Beyonce a run for her money. As for style, I’m currently into the all over crimp, and pin-up style pin curls. My hair is naturally cut into a rocker shag, my perpetual lazy-ass default.