Under the direction of newly-appointed President and Chief Creative Officer Kristen Cole, luxury retailer Forty Five Ten has announced the launch of a new private label collection. Created as part of the brand’s 4510/SIX initiative, Cole invited artist and designer Katie Stout to create a series of garments, now available online and in stores at Forty Five Ten’s New York and Dallas locations.
Inspired by an all-mesh picnic experience Stout once encountered with a friend, the artist designed a series of four tops, two dresses, and a sweater, each embodying the ease, delight and slightly uncomfortable nature of picnics.
The collection employs transparent materials and details like holes and small—small but noticeable details, like a pebble in a shoe—which creates a sense of vulnerability to the wearer. Pieces like an all-sheer drop waist dress with pockets, and a tunic with striped details were imagined in a palette that incorporates sunny yellow and a warm red, reminding us of the perfect summer day for dining al fresco.
In her artistic practice, Stout creates pop-style caricaturized furniture pieces, juxtaposing dark irony and joyful celebration, meant to subvert the usual serious nature of design and household décor. She is best known for projects like a furniture collaboration with Bjarne Melgaard and her exhibition “Bedroom Curio,” featured at Design Miami/ in 2015.