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.

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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.