Fashion designer Catherine Gee opens a new location for her boutique
“Having a beautiful, preeminent place downtown on State Street is a dream,” said
Santa Barbara fashion designer Catherine Gee, who celebrated the opening of her boutique’s new location on Friday. It is located in La Arcada Square.
Fashion designer Catherine Gee celebrated the opening of her eponymous brand’s new boutique, located at 1114 State St., Suite 24, La Arcada Plaza.
Catherine Gee Boutique’s grand opening celebration was held Friday night at the Santa Barbara store.
“We started in a small 1,000 square foot store on Haley Street,” Ms Gee told The News-Press. “Having a beautiful, preeminent place downtown on State Street is a dream.
“For any fashion designer, opening a physical store is the best thing,” the Santa Barbara fashion designer continued. “I think for any dream you have to put in the work. I have had the brand for seven years. I go to 13 shows a year. You are so engrossed in the journey that you realize it’s time to move on to the next phase.
“That’s where I ended up last year. It’s a beautiful 2,400 square foot loft. It’s welcoming and like a home,” she said. like going to work every day.
Launching her fashion line in 2015 as an all-silk collection, Ms Gee became known for her slip dress style. She has since transformed the brand into full ready-to-wear with a continued focus on silk: blouses and dresses printed with luxurious velvets, high-quality cottons and bold, eye-catching jacquards.
Ms. Gee holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Art History from Sewanee: The University of the South, located in Sewanee, Tennessee.
The News-Press asked Ms Gee about the origin of her fashion line.
“To begin with, I’m an artist,” she explained. “My father is a career painter. I learned to illustrate from an early age. I have worked in museums and art galleries. I was a curator and wrote grants.
“I became adept at running a small business. I wanted to be a fashion designer since I was 10 or 11 years old. I always knew I wanted a silk line and started working on it.
She said the Catherine Gee brand includes “everything from denim and cotton twill pants, to signature silk blouses, high quality pima cotton t-shirts, jackets, jumpsuits and some accessories, including: handbags, shoes, sunglasses, perfume and even candles.
Ms Gee said prints are what make her designs unique.
“I am a trained artist. I create my prints from ideas, visions, street art, Paris and more,” she explained. “The prints are very different. I’ve applied my prints to my silk on timeless classic silhouettes, and it works and sells very well. Over the years, I realized my job was a wardrobe builder. The goal is to create timeless, high-quality pieces that women will find season after season in 10 or 20 years.
“I don’t follow trends,” she says. “I try to create pieces that women can wear at 30 and 20 years later at 50.”
Ms. Gee received industry recognition when she became the winner of the WWD and Galeries Lafayette (Paris) Crème de la Crème Emerging Designer competition in 2016.
Over the years, her designs have attracted a flattering list of smart and beautiful personalities, including Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts, Mila Kunis, Kate Bosworth, Olivia Wilde, Alessandra Ambrosio, Debra Messing, Jessica Alba and Rebecca Gayheart.
“The brand was born in Santa Barbara, and we’re sold in over 200 retail stores nationwide,” Ms. Gee said. “I design classic collections for all four seasons and a resort collection every year.”
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Catherine Gee Boutique is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 1114 State St., Suite 24, La Arcada Plaza in Santa Barbara.
For more information, visit catherinegee.com or follow on Instagram @CatherineGee.
