Crochet Couture
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 

When designer Charmaine Louise Shelton was recuperating from a fall and lounging around home in a leg cast, she yearned to dump the androgynous sweatpants and to express her sexiness and femininity. To occupy her time, she taught herself the fine art of crochet. We hate to see anyone suffering from such pain, but when one says "break a leg", one look at Charmaine's effortlessly chic, intricate styles make us really happy she had time to pick up such a craft which she she has an amazing gift with. The CharmaineLouise collection is inspired by the sylph swans and buxom bombshells of the past and present. She created the collection for the sophisticate: hence, the line names Diana, Lena, Ginger, and Jackie. Her high-end items are hand-crocheted by skilled artisans in the most sumptuous Mongolian cashmere and silk hand-dyed yarns. You can buy them online, or if you're in Manhattan, stop by and feel it in person at her first brick & mortar store which just opened at Shecky's in SoHo. Her hand-crochet Atelier will even custom create a piece that will inevitably be a showcase in your wardrobe. Whether you get to touch it, buy it, or simply view it, each piece is an utter privilege just to look at.

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