Columbus' own Kelley Plas On Faux Pas, Who She'd Love to Dress & More
As Fashion Week Columbus nears, we'll be sharing our conversations with Finale Runway Show designers each week. Here's our chat with Columbus designer Kelley Plas.
Age: 22
Hometown: Westerville
Background: I am a December graduate of Ursuline College in Cleveland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in fashion design with a minor in business administration. With the desire to study couture in Europe, I was accepted to the July 2014 program at Paris American Academy, where I studied French couture under the instruction of former Madame Grés couturiers. The PAA program also allowed me to work backstage at Paris Couture Fashion Week for several designers as both dresser and greeter. My experiences at Paris Fashion Week have encouraged me to focus my creative efforts on creating beautiful gowns with couture details.
Approach to fashion: When designing a collection, I like to think in terms of opposites attracting. In this way, I approach fashion as including both hard and soft elements; both simple and complex elements; both bold and whimsical elements. These combinations are what make my designs fashion-forward and unique.
Style is … a form of artistic expression in which an individual is able to communicate their lifestyle, mood and personality. No two closets are the same and, therefore, every person is able to express their originality through their clothing and accessories.
Most looking forward to … the moments that follow any fashion show are the greatest part of the entire process. After that final model walks the runway, a wave of accomplishment and pride falls over me and, in this moment, I am able to relax and enjoy all the effort and time that was poured into my looks.
My Fashion Week Columbus collection in five words or less: Unexpected, innovative, bold, artistic chic
The celebrity I'd most like to dress: Taylor Swift
The Columbusite I'd most like to dress: Karen Waldbillig Kasich
The worst fashion faux pas: Ill-fitting clothing; it is amazing how a little tailoring can better an outfit.
I never leave home without … my phone and some chapstick; but, truthfully, I also always have a needle and thread in my purse in case of a sewing emergency.
My favorite boutique: Evereve
My hope for Columbus fashion: My hope for Columbus Fashion is that it continues to grow! If the community is able to communicate and share the passion of local artists on a national level, the better the response will be to local designers and Columbus fashion as a whole. A long-term goal is for Columbus to be recognized not only as the capital of Ohio, but also as one of the country's major fashion capitals.