Cissy Jones and Emily Cook understand how frustrating it is to be caught with your fashion pants down, figuratively speaking. If you’ve ever sashayed into a cocktail party feeling utterly chic only to be stunned by a woman across the room wearing the same exact blouse or carrying an identical bag, then their small Dallas-based clothing line is worth exploring.
Jones and Cook launched Six1Five and its e-commerce site almost two years ago, but their spring 2014 collection is a step in a new, perhaps more playful, direction. “Inspiration for this season was all about mixing textures and combining fun leathers with cotton,” says Jones, who does the design work while Cook handles the business side of things.
What’s extraordinary about the collection is the ability to customize everything — from straps and sleeves to handles and fabric panels.
The highly wearable sleeveless blouses, short-sleeved tops and fitted shorts focus on a very basic black and white foundation, and they are paired alongside sky blue and smoke gray with optional metallic details. The line’s coordinating collection of handbags are all similarly two-toned and made of European leather and lined with vintage silk.
Clean lines and simple color blocking make for modern apparel that’s still everyday-appropriate — somewhere between 3.1 Phillip Lim’s more understated yet tough pieces and the minimalist tendencies of Helmut Lang.
But what’s extraordinary about the collection is the ability to customize everything — from straps and sleeves to handles and fabric panels. So whether you prefer your perforated lamb in black, white, silver, cream or gold, you’ll have an easy time making each garment your own. The resulting effect is an profoundly clean look: natural and neutral with an athletic lean.
“I wanted to use the perforated leather on the apparel to create a sporty vibe,” Jones notes.
It’s fitting with the arrival of spring, when we’re all more active and craving what’s stylish but ultimately comfortable to wear. And Six1Five is an investment in your fashion future. Pieces run from a $225 top to a $650 handbag, with a small pouch for $175 if you want an affordable introduction to pebbled leather.
Beginning Thursday, April 24, the spring line takes up residence for a few weeks in the newly opened Bee Street Studio on Cedar Springs Road; to celebrate, Six1Five is participating in a happy hour that first day, alongside other Bee Street vendors. It’s a rare chance to go beyond the glow of online shopping to see the goods in person. And you still don’t risk buying the same piece as countless other women.
Six1Five two-toned handbags are made of European leather and lined with vintage silk.
Miranda Lambert, right, with rodeo queens onstage at the 45th Cowgirl Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon at Dickies Arena. Photo by Ashley Gongora 