[IMG:L]Good Golly! The beloved Scandinavian line Odd Molly has made it to the U.S. all the way from Sweden and has made the odd ball stand out in a crowd.
At least that’s the goal of the designers, Karin Jimfelt-Ghatan and Per Holknekt, who got a little inspiration from one particular Odd Molly of his past.
During his heyday as a professional skateboarder, Holknekt was constantly surrounded by the typical high maintenance groupies, but one named Molly wasn’t like all the other girls. A little more quiet and subdued, Molly stood out in the chaotic scene of the skateboarding world. And now the girl that was once known as a plain Jane has her name on the clothing line’s Spring/Summer ’08 collection–and ever since the label’s inception five years ago.
Known for its casual, hippie chic, yet comfortable elegance, Odd Molly has garnered the attention of some of Hollywood’s most fashionable–and green-friendly–celebs. Daryl Hannah, House‘s Olivia Wilde, Desperate Housewives‘ Andrea Bowen and model (and Paris Hilton party pal) Caroline D‘Amore–call themselves fans and showed their support at its first L.A. fashion show Aug. 12 at Skybar on the world famous Sunset Strip.
“One, it’s super cute and comfortable and it’s all hand sewn,” said Hannah, who hosted the evening’s cocktail party. “Two, the fabrics and everything are all sustainably sourced, and it’s also made of the highest ethical standards. You don’t want clothes that are made by slaves, you know, even they are organic. People don’t realize that concern for the environment and concern for other human welfare and animal welfare are one in the same. You can’t really have one without the other.”
A newfound fan of the Odd Molly line, Hannah first bought a shirt when she was at the Cannes Film Festival in the spring.
[IMG:R]”I thought, ‘This is cute,’ and then when they asked me to help welcome them to the States I was like, ‘Whew, that’s awesome,” she said, later adding that when it comes to organic clothing, it’s hard to find something that doesn’t looks like a potato sack.
And while on stage, Hannah had an introduction all her own to welcome the new designers.
“They said when I came up here I could say whatever I wanted, I could do cartwheels on the stage, I could read a poem. I can’t do a cartwheel ‘cause I’m wearing a dress, but I did decide to read a poem,” said Hannah to the cheers of the audience. And the poem–from her favorite poet, Pablo Neruda, appropriately called “Ode to my Suit.”
Always one to infuse multi-cultural influences into the collections, the Spring/Summer ’08 line takes its cue from China and the mountain people who inhabit the country, according to Jimfelt-Ghatan. Although she hasn’t visited the country personally, her inspiration came from her own research and dreams, designing quilt patterned long sundresses, silk boxer shorts, slip tanks and tunics in midnight blues, pinks, greens and tie dye colors.
“We mix it all together with our feelings,” said Jimfelt-Ghatan.
But one element that has always remained consistent is the humane nature in which the clothes are made.
[IMG:L]”It’s very, very important. We are quite a new brand and we’ve only been around for five years, and we are growing a lot. We are very careful about what factories we are using and we go to the factories so we know how they work and what they use,” added Jimfelt-Ghatan.
And others have taken notice.
“I’m like a Malibu girl; I grew up on the beach, I drive my Prius hybrid and I’m very kind of protective of the earth. You know, I just love it. It’s like a chic Raggedy Anne,” said D‘Amore, who came wearing an Odd Molly dress. “You definitely stand out because it looks like I pulled it off a doll. It looks like I pulled it off a doll, but made it for today.”
She said she gets inspiration for her own clothing line from watching others like Holknekt and Jimfelt-Ghatan at work. D‘Amore, who came with her sister Bonnie, sat in the front row to cheer on her friend walking the runway. Having just launched a bikini line of her own, D‘Amore said she’s also working on launching an accessory piece made from all earthly products (but kept details hush-hush). Going hemp may also be in the future for her fashion line.
On or off the runway, D‘Amore is still keeping busy with a newly-opened pizza restaurant (her dad owns D’Amore’s Pizza), acting and a new fiancé, writer-director Matthew Ross, who got down on one knee and popped the question just over a week ago.
[IMG:R]”Are you kidding? I couldn’t speak for like a minute and a half. He started going, ‘Well, if it’s no, then I understand. We’ll wait.’ Then I was like, ‘No, no, yes, yes, yes, I was just nervous,'” she said, laughing.
But at only 23, she said they’re going to wait a while to get hitched.
“We already know that we’re fine, it’s not like we have anything to prove and so many relationships in Hollywood are just trying to prove something so I’m going to go the opposite,” she said, donning the 80-year-old antique engagement ring that once belonged to Ross‘s grandmother.
“It’s so gorgeous,” she said of the gold and diamond ring. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
And speaking of Rosses, even The Tonight Show‘s infamous Ross “The Intern” Mathews, although not quite the right gender for Odd Molly, is definitely the right fit. After shedding 50 pounds on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club, he is taking his new model-like frame to the catwalk–in the dressing room, that is.
[IMG:L]”Oh, my god, shopping now…It used to be that I would go and see all these cute things and then I’d have to try to find it in an extra large and it wasn’t fun and it was just sort of like ‘Uhhgg, I guess this looks okay.’ But now as soon as I put something on and I’m like, ‘Holy crap, that kinda looks good.’ Well, it’s a brand new relationship with clothing and I’ll take it,” said Mathews, who in a fit of chivalry offered his front row seat to Andrea Bowen’s mom, but was able to relocate to the front row on the other side of the pool/catwalk. (But no worries, he said he much preferred to be as close to the bar as possible.)
And at the young age of 17, Bowen has already has a fine eye for fine clothes.
“It’s simple, but it’s not like plain, you know. And it’s all about comfort and being just who you are and being able to just throw something on and look adorable and that’s my favorite thing in the world,” she gushed about Odd Molly.
After picking out a few frocks of her own right off the runway, Bowen admitted she now might have a few style tips up her sleeve for her very fashionable co-stars.
“Maybe I’ll mention something to my designers [on the show] and be like, ‘This is what I like’…I can be like ‘Hey, Eva [Longoria], hey Teri [Hatcher], look at me,'” she said, laughing.
[IMG:R]Olivia Wilde, one of the newest cast members of TV’s House, has had to don scrubs seven days a week and was excited to put on an Odd Molly satin dress for the occasion.
“What a great thing to learn about a designer as they’re just entering the U.S. and making their big debut and that’s why I’m here. I’m excited,” she said. “They’re just funky, comfortable and unique. They’re completely one of a kind. They’re sort of retro, but still of the times now.”
Odd Molly is sold at Fred Segal and Anthropologie. For more information, visit oddmolly.com.
