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Melissa Fleis's latest collection is full of white. WHITE! After Labor Day. So it's not surprising that she named the collection Defiant. "I don't think there should be any rules. For me, white is purity. I also think it's the greatest accent color because I always wear black. White, to me, is defiant. It's defiant of trends and it allows you to be you and stand out. Get it dirty. Who cares? Wear it whenever you want."
Melissa isn't just bucking seasonal norms. The designer, who's known for her leather jackets, is defying expectations by focusing on knits and wovens in her latest range. The result is a collection of red, black, and white, mix-and-match layering pieces that are both polished and cozy.
"It was all about looking back to move forward. I looked at key elements or pieces I had designed before or wanted to wear. The whole concept is about comfort, ease, while still looking great on the street. There's only one leather jacket in my collection this season."
But Melissa hasn't given up on jackets. "I'm geting into working with denim more because it has a similar hand to leather for me," Melissa tells us. Clearly, she's as skilled with denim as she is with leather. Our favorite piece, the Avia bomber ($595), is a waxed denim that should be on every cool girl's wish list.
Melissa sells pieces at Olivia in Los Altos, NWBLK in the Mission, and —starting later this month— Dish in Hayes Valley. Shop the full collection through her website or schedule an appointment to drop by her studio.
· Melissa Fleis [Official Site]
· Project Runway's Melissa Fleis Is Taking Leather Jacket Orders [Racked]