Spork Fashion

Designer Karen LaPorte has been crafty since childhood, but it was the discovery of fashion magazines as a teenager that made her realize this was what she wanted to do with her life. “It was a way to express myself and my horizons expanded,” Karen says. “It was like traveling.” This Maine native did end up traveling - from New York to Europe and back again. After working with designers such as Cynthia Rowley and Rebecca Taylor, she returned to Brooklyn and her own label, Ouvrez La Porte (French for “open the door”).

“My tastes are very eclectic. I’m retro, classic, rock n’ roll, glamorous, but practical all in one,” Karen says of her personal style. This comes through easily in her designs - no piece is easily categorized. Feminine, tough, classic, modern… all can describe Karen’s line. Currently, Karen is looking towards film noir and classic 1940s styling for inspiration.

I fell in love with this silk raglan dress the moment I spotted it. The slinky silk is sexy and feminine, while the raglan sleeves give it a playful feel. The chocolate brown accents are a refreshing change from the black that one would expected to be used as a silver contrast. And I love that it can go day or night. So of course, I needed to know the story behind it: “[The silk raglan dress] was inspired by The Aviator,” Karen told me via email. “The clothing in that movie was fantastic, but I was really inspired by the airplanes that were made of chrome and wood. I loved that color combination when I saw it. So I based my collection on those two colors together. The 40’s is a huge inspiration for me so the Raglan dress has that feel to it, very retro inspired, especially with the focus on the shoulders.”

Karen describes her designs as “feminine, but not girlie.” It’s like fate, as this is the way I describe my style. “I love dressy clothes that are comfortable. And that is the focus of my designing. Classy, dressy, glamorous but not fussy!” That quote could be coming from my own mouth, not Karen’s (well, except for the designing part). Karen’s own style should be reflected in her pieces - she is involved in every aspect of their construction, from concept to pattern to actual sewing. “I am my own sweatshop!”

I wore this dress to a wrap party and got tons of compliments - women I didn’t know were telling me they loved my dress. I felt so comfortable in it - the silk just floats and glides on the body. I didn’t have to worry about keeping it in place, tugging it this way or that. It is lined in silk, so it never bunches against the skin, and doesn’t leave me worrying about being overexposed. Which, of course, leaves me more time to simply enjoy the party - oh, and know that I looked better than most of the girls there.

“I like to be comfortable in my clothes and with myself when I am dressed up,” Karen says. “I hope that message is well conveyed in the items themselves!” It certainly is.

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