The K/LLER Girls Play Favorites

The two designers choose their most-loved things from each other’s lives.

The camaraderie between Katie deGuzman and Michael Miller started with a bracelet: Katie bought one from Michael to hide a tattoo from her mom. Their shared aesthetic—this affection for things that are equal parts badass and beautiful—is what drives the jewelry line K/LLER COLLECTION that they launched since. From helmets to gold-plated wolf teeth, they show off how that vibe plays out elsewhere and what they’re itching to swipe from one another. —carlye wisel

Katie’s Favorite Things of Michael’s:


Handmade leather belt by Geoffrey Young: “Geoff gave this belt to Michael—he is an amazing designer and a good friend. The hardware is all sterling silver, and I love that the keep is made of wire and chain. The construction of it is just really beautiful and different.” (geoffreyyoungdesign.com)


Black porcelain wolf head with gold enameled teeth: “This is just about the coolest sculpture ever! Michael’s best friend Sarah Cihat created this masterpiece and gave it to her as a housewarming gift. Love, love, love the gold teeth—well, anything gold for that matter!” (sarahcihat.com)


Wedge boots from OAK: “Michael has this amazing pair of boots I totally covet. They’re from OAK, which is one of our favorite stores in New York, and they’re these great platform boots that zip up the back and make any outfit look amazing, no matter what you’re wearing. We’re really big shoe girls—we definitely spend the money on the shoes. You got your jewelry and your shoes, and that’s all that matters!” (oaknyc.com)

Michael’s Favorite Things of Katie’s:


Skull collection (from left to right): “The skull in the way back is a squirrel skull—it was the first present Katie’s husband ever gave her when the were dating. Then there’s a monkey skull, the big guy is a turtle skull Katie found on a deserted beach in Brazil, and the last is a skull of a feral cat from Hawaii that a friend found and gave as a wedding gift.”


Custom-made gold-leaf helmet from Joe King Speedshop: “The helmet was given to Katie by Paulo De Tarso Amaral of Joe King Speedshop in São Paulo when she and her husband were visiting Brazil. It’s covered in gold leaf and then shellacked over that. GODSPEED 45/06 refers to Katie’s husband photo project on choppers.” (joeking.com.br)


Rivet, the French bulldog puppy: “I’m also a dog lover, and I had a dog for 12 years who died last February. She was a member of our studio when we got together, and then we both went through her death. But now we have a new puppy in our lives.”

Get ready to make K/LLER’s edition one of your favorite things: Their porcupine necklace is something really special.

Of a Kind

Though I have no affection for skull motifs, the black diamond eyes on this Iwona Ludyga ring really do it for me. —erica

Of a Kind

This amazing little piece of optical overload—skulls and daisies, silver and gold, five connected rings!—is brought to you by Seattle jewelry designer Kimberly Baker. —erica

Four Things Fueling Mandy’s Creativity Now

Sure, she’s a little dark, but she has a soft spot for furry things.

Walking into Mandy Coon’s Lower East Side studio, you’d probably notice the skulls first—a hodgepodge of tough relics that the designer says she’s collected only accidentally. But there are a lot of other influences to be found scattered throughout, too. Here, a visual tour of the designer’s current inspirations, one of which involves both a bunny and Frank Sinatra.

ANATOMY

Clockwise from top left / model Jamie Bochert in the Irm Cage top—a ribcage-like harness that’s part of Mandy’s fall collection; the human shoulder; a skeleton moonlighting as a business-card holder; intricate Leonardo di Vinci drawings; the Night Flight to Venus jacket, inspired by the human form; x-rays hung from the ceiling in a dimly lit section of Mandy’s studio.

SHIRLEY MACLAINE’S STUFFED BUNNY PURSE IN SOME CAME RUNNING

Clockwise from top left / sketches of Mandy’s bunny bags (complete with ear dimensions); Shirley MacLaine freshening up while clutching her ratty bag in the 1958 movie, which also stars Frank Sinatra; Mandy’s design for Of a Kind; the original black leather version from the designer’s fall collection, splayed across her desk with her keys and sketches.

That little tweed guy above? Mandy made 30 of them just for us, and you can buy one here.

THE WORK OF PAMELA SUNDAY

Clockwise from top left / Blastoid sculpture; the Future Ghosts coat from Fall, an avant-garde but cozy piece with contrasting textures; more amazing ceramic pieces by the Brooklyn artist, whose forms are all inspired by nature.

JELLYFISH

Clockwise from top left / an image by Portland-based photographer Camille Solyagua (one of Mandy’s favorites); Technicolor pictures tacked up in the designer’s offices; the gauzy white Calling Out of Context dress from the spring collection, with plenty of filmy layers; another high-impact photo by Solyagua; the Every Man Has a Woman dress for spring with tentacle-like accents.

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