The Unsung History of Designer Patrick Kelly
A new exhibition at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco pays homage to Kelly, whose garments were favored by the likes of Grace Jones and Pat Cleveland.
by Colony Little
As a child, my Saturday morning rituals consisted of cartoons, hot combs, laundry, and Soul Train; somewhere amid the chaos of chores and the requisite entertainment required to sustain the work, I would catch glimpses of Style with Elsa Klensch. In hopes of emulating my own chic mother’s fashion sense, I’d study the designers and models featured on CNN’s weekly show. This is where I first saw the American fashion designer Patrick Kelly. I was initially struck by his runway shows, which actually looked fun—the models sashayed, skipped, and twirled in his clothing, turning the catwalk into a party. Most importantly,…
