Cynthia Rowley has just released her Limited Edition for Holiday collection and, boy oh boy, do I think it’s clever. Each piece features laser-cut silhouettes in leather and silk gazar. It is quite interesting to see how these silhouettes soften the look of the dress whereas they seem very structured and strong against bare skin when incorporated into gloves. Can you hear Dick Clark’s voice in the background while sipping champagne in your New Years Eve cocktail party dress? If I’m not mistaken, Cynthia Rowley was wearing one of her holiday pieces when she was a judge on the Project Runway “Transformation” episode.

I appreciate when designers reveal their inspiration, particularly when it’s from such an influential artist like Kara Walker. This Californian-born contemporary artist is known for her black paper silhouettes that explore race, gender, and sexuality, often in regards to slavery. I have yet to see her work in person but have heard that Walker’s installations are very theatrical and powerful. Read more about Kara Walker here or keep yourself in the loop by reading about Cynthia Rowley’s inspiration for upcoming collections here.

Image credits: Cynthia Rowley, Bravotv.com, Tang, Walker Art Center, Blog Critics, and Overstock.com