CITYist

When you think of a typical Texan woman, you generally have certain notions about her appearance. Deep tan. Big cowboy hat. And underneath it, far bigger hair. But up-and-coming designer and blogger Kelly Framel is hardly what you’d imagine.

As she strides into Burgers and Cupcakes in Hell’s Kitchen, Framel looks more like a blonde Louise Brooks than a typical Texan. And her oversized sunglasses and funky jewelry seem transplanted straight out of 1970s France. However, Framel is quick to note that growing up in Austin had a huge influence on her style, saying, “People there are very willing to take risks, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been raised in that environment.”

It was there, when working at a mall in high school, that Framel was encouraged by her boss to consider a career in fashion. Inspired, she promptly enrolled in the fashion program at The University of Texas at Austin. She attended the school around the same time as Jenna Bush—but our former president’s daughter was hardly as controversial a figure as our designer. For one project, Framel created a piece called “Roxy Monoxide is a Guttersnipe Bitch.” Shocked, perhaps? The administration most certainly was, and a small uproar ensued over the wording.

“I was told by the school that I couldn’t use it,” she says. “They kind of tried to strong-arm me — the bureaucracy of the school was up in arms over it. I didn’t mean to be a proponent of foul language, but I defended my right to use the reference.”

Fortunately, the judges of the contest weren’t so narrow-minded, and gave her the Judge’s Award for Visionary Excellence. Framel noted that the furor worked out in her favor in the end.

“It was interesting because it became a sort of platform,” she says. “Many people took a great interest in me and were very supportive. It ended up that I got a lot of sweet words, and I think everyone realized that I didn’t have anti-societal urges.”

Her designs may have ignited controversy at school, but they fit New York like a custom made glove. Soon after graduating and moving to Manhattan, Framel began embroidering for various fashion houses, before ultimately settling on working exclusively for Naeem Khan. Khan, whose A-list fans include Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Noor of Jordan, and Eva Longoria Parker, is known for his gowns’ incredible embellishments. Indeed, the beadwork is sometimes so intricate that it requires surgical needles to create. Framel’s background and skills have proven indispensable.

Working at such a renowned design house can be a weighty pressure, but Framel maintains a light-hearted, playful approach to fashion. She finds that she naturally gravitates toward a mix of 1920’s and 1970’s styles and loves a garçon look, as well as caftans, chiffons, and vibrant prints.
“I definitely take a whimsical approach,” she says. “I like the idea of using clothes as a costume.”

Much of her inspiration comes from the legendary Iris Barrel Apfel. This bespectacled fashion icon is known for her ability to mix and match high and low end items, always in exciting and irreverent manners.
“[Apfel] has been really supportive of so many different designers; she’s collected everything from tribal pieces to couture!” Framel says. “And she combines things in such an ingenious way — she has the most whimsical textured approach to fashion.”

Of course, Apfel isn’t the only designer inspiring Framel, who marvels over some of the people she has had the opportunity to work with. She also mentioned Julia von Boehm, a talented stylist for French Vogue and onetime assistant to Carine Roitfeld, and Bergdorf Goodman’s Linda Fargo, noting that her “personality and vision are equally inspiring.”

Today, Framel is imparting her distinct design vision to others on her sartorially savvy website, theglamourai.blogspot.com.

“I was reading a lot of other peoples’ blogs and taking so much inspiration from the blog world — maybe more so than from magazines or the streets,” she says. “I wanted to be where fashion was happening, and that’s on the internet as much as anyplace. It’s a dialogue I really wanted to be a part of.”

However, unlike the average fashion blog, Framel’s site is so much more than a collection of stylish snapshots. In addition to her own musings, Framel has contests, provides links to her other favorite sites, and also provides her readers with do-it-yourself projects, and has been delighted at the response from her viewers. She says her readership is, “a niche audience that can participate.”

“I get so many e-mails from readers saying, ‘Oh I’m doing that,’ and I’m so impressed by how their versions turned out!” she says. “Someone called the other day to say her mom is a huge fan of the blog and they made one of the jewelry projects together. Her grandmother used to be a jeweler so they used [those resources]. When I hear that kind of stuff it makes me feel like I’m on the right track.”

And where does that track lead?
“I definitely see [the blog] as a platform for other projects,” she says. “I love to write. That’s one of the reasons I started it; it’s been good practice. I’d love to do a book on personal style one day. Sort of what I do on the blog but going a lot further — revamp your wardrobe without buying new things.”

She is also fascinated by costume design, a career that would certainly allow her to utilize her knowledge of vintage fashions. She probably won’t be moving back to Texas any time soon, though she might be tempted away from Manhattan to Los Angeles or Paris. For now she’s enjoying her life in the city, and constantly exploring new projects.

Framel recalled a meeting with Oscar de la Renta where he commented that “all the most beautiful girls come from Texas.” If Kelly Framel is any indication, certainly some of the most stylish ones do, too.