Amy Johnson creates KayOss in CWE

After I told a friend a little bit about Amy Johnson yesterday, she said, "There are just so many creative people around here!" And finding these artisans, and then introducing them to you, is one of the reasons I love writing this blog.

The first floor of Amy Johnson's home in the CWE has been converted into a studio/showroom. It's there that she creates her designs from the fabrics–such as those shown above–she finds on shopping trips to New York, L.A., and most recently to Italy. It was, in fact, a month in Italy years ago that changed her life forever.

Amy earned her degree in Environmental Engineering and worked in the field for years before realizing she just wasn't really happy. At the time she had bought a house in the CWE so she could be closer to her family in Highland, IL. Amy enjoyed the art classes she took in college, and after she discovered a month-long Fashion Design program in Florence, Italy, she decided to sign up. It was on her first day in the program, when the Swiss instructor had the class feel fabrics all day long, that she knew becoming a fashion designer was her calling.

Amy is wearing one of her creations in the photo above. It's made of a woven silk knit and has a big collar that can be worn a few different ways, $189. It is also available as a top, $139.

The sketchbook on display, above, is from her Fashion Design class in Florence. All the fledgling designers had to come up with a name for their "business" by the end of the program. Amy, the Engineer, came up with "KayOss" based on the engineering principle that out of chaos comes order. After she returned home to her engineering job, she was told by her minister's (Wally Shearburn at the former Methodist Church on Kingshighway) mother, Vivian Shearburn, that now she needed to learn how to sew! In her spare time (the class in Florence did not include sewing lessons) the late Mrs. Shearburn, who was 92 at the time, taught Amy how to cut patterns out of newspaper and how to assemble a garment.

The first time Amy wore one of her creations out for the evening, she had twenty people ask her where she got it. She sold her first one to an engineering client. This was the confirmation she needed to follow her dream, for as Amy said, "the hardest part is believing in yourself." Amen!

Amy has been in business since the Fall of 2008. Her clients range in age from 5 and 8 year-old sisters who love KayOss's ruffled skirts made out of a butterfly fabric, to an 80-year-old who loves fashion. When you visit her showroom you can shop the racks of eye-catching silk and jersey dresses, skirts and tops, or pick a style and fabric to create your own custom design.

All the garments are sewn by local seamstresses. Amy said there is a story behind each garment made by these ladies, all of whom are special to her. I was there the day one of her seamstresses, who also lives in the neighborhood, arrived with skirts she had just finished. I loved the energy between the two women, and also the fact that a job of this type has been created by KayOss. 

The pink dress in the photo above is called the "Goddess" dress. It's a rayon jersey and can be worn 5 different and very clever ways. The dress comes in a short, $149, and long version, $189. Or the Goddess can be made into a top, $109.

A gauzy shruggie, $85, which has Amy's signature Paris ruffle on the sleeves, can be worn for casual or dressy occasions, and is perfect to bring along in case the evening turns chilly.

Amy's beautiful skirts can be worn for dressy occasions, or worn with a t-shirt (Amy has one that says "just be nice!") and flip-flops, $129 to $220, depending on fabric.

Jewel-toned silk charmeuse-blend halter tops are reversible, $139. If one of these color combinations doesn't strike you, you can choose another.  Any article of clothing that Amy designs can be made longer or shorter, and custom-fitted.

10denza on Maryland Plaza (see post here) carries some KayOss pieces, and is how I first learned of KayOss. To set up an appointment to visit Amy's studio, call (314) 398-9098, or contact her at [email protected]. Amy loves to do trunk shows. The day I visited her showroom she had just held a trunk show for a client and some friends on Westminster Place. This is another CWEnder I know you will love discovering yourself. And now you can stop by Amy's KayOss pop-up shop at 234 N. Euclid starting Wednesday