Friday, July 29, 2011

Ali Kay’s Keep Me Designs: The Clothes on Celebrities’ Backs

In just five short years, Ali Kay’s Keep Me brand had gone from just being a little loungewear shop in Malibu to being the world’s most sought-after brand in downtime clothing. Together with co-founder Anne des Barres, Ali has steered Keep Me to international prominence.

From Ali Kay Photos

From Ali Kay Photos

Because of the quality and ultra softness of every Keep Me product, even celebrities are dying to wear them. Stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe is a fan, describing Keep Me as a “fashion forward” line with “exquisitely comfortable yet sexy and classy” pieces that will “forever change your life behind closed doors.” High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens was also spotted purchasing the modal and spandex mini-short Betty romper, and the Tatiana Henley with bracelet length sleeves at CLOUT in Malibu.

From Ali Kay Photos

From Ali Kay Photos

Other celebrity fans of the Ali Kay-designed pieces include Reese Witherspoon who was caught on camera by paparazzi sporting the bestselling Dori V-neck tee in black, model and actress Molly Sims who wore a black Anne Marie chemise on the red carpet during a Hollywood premiere of the movie Julie & Julia, as well as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, and Courtney Cox.

With its ingenious designs, Keep Me earned first place in the Lingerie/Intimates category in the International Design Awards in 2008. Thanks to its flattering prints, smooth cuts, and fabric as soft as “an infant’s tush with a generous layer of French butter on top,” as Glamour Magazine puts it, Keep Me had gained the hearts and invaded the closets of women all over the world.

From Ali Kay Photos


Learn more about Ali Kay’s work with Keep Me at www.keepme.com.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Behind the Names: The Style Icons that Inspired Pieces for Ali Kay’s Keep Me Collection

From Ali Kay Photos

Here’s a little trivia for every Keep Me girl out there. The creative pieces from Ali Kay and Anne des Barres’ loungewear collection are named after equally stylish females. Below is the list of people who have inspired the creation of some Keep Me pieces:

• Diane von Furstenberg. Ali and Anne have previously worked for the fashion designer before the birth of Keep Me. The creation of the Didi pants was inspired by Diane von Furstenberg who referred to Ali as someone she can relate to, saying “I see myself in her.”

From Ali Kay Photos

• Tatiana von Furstenberg. Being close to the von Furstenberg family, Ali named a Keep Me Henley top after Diane’s daughter, Tatiana. The Henley top was designed after an old-school nightshirt that Ali Kay had when she was a child, hence the shorter length of the sleeves. She created it with a Henley placket and amazing fabric to update the look.

From Ali Kay Photos

• Lindsey Lucibella. The American fashion model was the inspiration for the best-selling Bella top, a modal-spandex asymmetrical top that is cropped in front, but longer in the back.

From Ali Kay Photos

• Andrea Rosen. The Drea bralette, another piece in the Keep Me collection, was named after writer, comedian, and actress Andrea Rosen who is most notable for her work with comedy troupes Stella and Variety Shac.

From Ali Kay Photos

• Anne Marie Kortright. Another supermodel whose name was used for a Keep Me piece is Anne Marie, a Puerto Rican fashion model. She inspired the creation of the famous Anne Marie chemise known for its sexy open back.

From Ali Kay Photos

For more information about Keep Me, visit KeepMe.com.

From Ali Kay Photos

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Supporting Young Aspiring Artists: Ali Kay for The Art of Elysium

Award-winning designer Ali Kay, together with Anne de Barres, founders of Keep Me, the sexiest and most comfortable brand of loungewear, believe in helping fellow artists learn more about their craft.

From Ali Kay Photos

As an artist herself, Ali supports The Art of Elysium, an organization encouraging working actors, artists, and musicians to voluntarily dedicate time and talent to children fighting serious medical conditions. By dedicating her time to this cause, the organization is able to conduct artistic workshops for acting, art, comedy, fashion, radio, music, creative writing, and songwriting for the children.

From Ali Kay Photos

The dynamic designer duo writes to The Art of Elysium, “Our personal lives are more complete and fulfilling when we know we are dedicating a substantial amount of time to helping others. It also helps us keep things in a healthier perspective.”

From Ali Kay Photos

Ali Kay encourages others to volunteer. “If you have the time, resources, and flexibility to volunteer – and to have a positive impact on the lives of people in need – then it’s one of the most rewarding ways to benefit both you and those with whom you are working. It helps you appreciate all the beautiful things in life.” Ali adds that she and Anne formerly never offered any items with graphics before, but their work with The Art of Elysium has inspired them to introduce graphic collections.

From Ali Kay Photos

The Art of Elysium is committed to enrich the lives of artists and critically ill children. More information on how to help the organization with its mission in helping young minds is available at www.theartofelysium.org.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Famous Malibu Fashion Photographer Shoots for Ali Kay’s Keep Me Loungewear Brand

Malibu-based editorial photographer John Hildebrand spearheaded a photo shoot for Keep Me, the brainchild of Ali Kay and Anne des Barres and the leading provider of the sexiest and most comfortable brand of loungewear.

From Ali Kay Photos

Keep Me is included in the long list of clients of the famed photographer whose photography style reflects a “young modern look that makes it extremely relevant in today’s market.” With Keep Me’s target market of young women who want to feel as sexy lounging indoors as wearing gowns in social events, Hildebrand’s perspective on the art of photography perfectly suits the style aesthetics of Keep Me.

The whole-day photo shoot consisted of 15 different looks from the LA-based loungewear brand which were modeled by Ford model Chelsea Salmon. Some photographs from the shoot are posted on Keep Me’s website’s style preview page.

From Ali Kay Photos

From Ali Kay Photos

Co-founding Keep Me with Anne des Barres, Ali Kay has pushed the brand to international fame with her clothes’ chic designs and high quality. Awarded with the coveted International Design Award in 2008, the fabulous duo’s designs have garnered attention and positive remarks from its wide clientele and from fashion designers alike. Now with new business ventures to look forward to, including private label manufacturing, bridal services, and small business consulting, Keep Me has pushed the limits and has gone beyond just distributing widely-adored loungewear items in over 100 retailers worldwide.

John Hildebrand posted a time lapse video of the memorable photo shoot that consisted of over 1,300 images. The video can be viewed here.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Ali Kay and Anne des Barres on the Eco-Chic Elegance of Keep Me

From Ali Kay Photos


Ali Kay and Anne des Barres co-founded Keep Me to fill a void in the apparel industry. “Neither Anne nor I could find supremely comfortable items to wear around the house that were simple or stylish enough. There were outdoor sportswear companies that had nice silhouettes which weren’t cozy enough to lounge around in and pajama companies that were cozy but boxy and full of prints. We wanted style, simplicity and comfort all in one,” says Kay. The pair launched the loungewear line in 2006 while Kay was majoring in Political Science at Columbia University and des Barres was interning at Diane von Furstenberg’s New York offices.

From Ali Kay Photos


For Ali Kay, the blend of fashion and function is what sets the brand apart. “We basically take silhouettes that you would buy to wear outside of the house, even out at night, and make luxuriously soft, loungewear versions of them. Therefore, Keep Me puts both style and comfort first, simultaneously.”

From Ali Kay Photos





Playing a major role in the luxury aspect of Keep Me’s pieces, is the designers’ chief fabric of choice, eco-friendly marvel modal. A 100% organic cellulose fiber derived from the pure wooden chips of the Beech tree, modal is resembles cotton in softness and dye retention, but holds 50% more water than cotton, and doesn’t age or pile up as much. Originally marketed as “artificial silk,” modal is soft, smooth, and breathes well. It is crease and shrinkage-resistant, and stays soft and smooth after repeated washings.

From Ali Kay Photos


Because its manufacturers maintain a sustainability policy in their production, modal is completely recyclable and biodegradable. Modal’s incredible environmental potential adds points to loungewear brand’s arsenal of pros – all at once, Keep Me is stylish, comfortable, and sustainable.

Follow Ali Kay on Twitter and Facebook.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Keep Me Loungewear’s Ali Kay and Anne des Barres: Style Suggestions for Transitional Weather

As icy weather melts into spring, designers Ali Kay and Anne Des Barres stress the importance of comfort in a woman’s everyday style. With the weather in transition, dressing to hit both boxes for both comfort and style can be tricky. While heavy coats, earmuffs, scarves, and mittens seem too much, skipping coverage altogether is still out of the question. Furthermore, winter garments, usually made of wool or rayon, are not suitable for spring as they cannot absorb the sweat or moisture that rising temperatures and higher humidity levels are likely to create.


From Ali Kay Photos


To keep up with the Joneses of the fashion industry, Keep Me designers Anne des Barres and Ali Kay suggest layering using a mix of synthetic materials and natural fabrics. Their line of luxury loungewear, 2008 International Design Awards winner for the Best Lingerie/Intimates category, is a collection of figure flattering wardrobe basics, elegant intimates, and sultry pieces.


From Ali Kay Photos


A fully-lined shrunken schoolboy blazer over the Keep Me classic Dori V-Neck Tee, dark skinny jeans, and closed-toe pumps is an ensemble that works, day or night. With a blazer shielding the wearer in case of a draft, the perfectly cut, wedge-bottom Dori V-Neck lets the skin breathe.


From Ali Kay Photos


Keep Me’s form-fitting Tracy mini dress with bracelet-length sleeves looks great when worn with a cropped leather biker jacket, opaque tights, and chunky heels. While it hugs the curves, the mini dress is made of 100% absorbent modal that feels soft and wonderful.


From Ali Kay Photos


Pair a super soft, modal-made Tatiana henley from Keep me with a protective, oversized army jacket, worn open and belted for a defined waist. Skinny jeans and knee length platform boots give height, elongate the legs, and balance out the silhouette.


Ali Kay and Anne des Barres’ exciting Keep Me Spring 2011 Collection can be seen at www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Me.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Ali Kay and Anne des Barres Channeling Off-Duty Style with Keep Me

In 2006, Ali Kay and Anne des Barres forged a pact to fill a void in the fashion market. “Neither Anne nor I could find supremely comfortable items to wear around the house that were simple or stylish enough. There were outdoor sportswear companies that had nice silhouettes which weren’t cozy enough to lounge around in and pajama companies that were cozy but boxy and full of prints,” explained Ali. Soon after, the pair launched loungewear label Keep Me, a collection consisting of nighties, nightshirts, tanks, tees, bralettes, undies, pants, leggings, and cardigans cut in silhouettes that made the wearer look gorgeous and draped in fabrics that made the skin feel loved.


From Ali Kay Photos


From Ali Kay Photos


Of the effortless, casual elegance of the pieces, Ali Kay says Keep Me’s super soft cotton, modal, rayon, and spandex-blended separates are perfect for “when you get home from the office and you cannot wait to change out of your work clothing, when you’re ready to curl up in bed with a good book, to head to the gym or yoga studio, or even to run out for coffee.” Within weeks of its 2008 debut, stocks from the collection flew off the shelves, and Ali and Anne’s creations started turning up on the likes of Molly Sims, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Alba. The brand won first place in the Lingerie and Intimates Category of the International Design Awards of the same year.


From Ali Kay Photos


From Ali Kay Photos


Years into the industry, the label’s indoor-leisure style remains coveted by many. Bestsellers range from the subtle seduction of the tie-back Anne Marie nightie and the versatility of the Dori V-Neck Tee, to the easy glamour of the ankle-grazing, wide-legged Kate pant, and the inert sensuality of the tunic-length Tatiana Henley.


From Ali Kay Photos


From Ali Kay Photos


The complete Keep Me loungewear collection can be found at www.keepme.com.


From Ali Kay Photos