THE SUBSTANCE OF STYLE BY Kara Mann

THE SUBSTANCE OF STYLE BY Kara Mann

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THE SUBSTANCE OF STYLE

Take cues from your closet to cultivate your design aesthetic

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If there’s one thing to know about Kara Mann, it’s that she’s genuinely, innately cool, from her signature subversive design work to her sartorial choices. Her aesthetic is unmistakable, whether putting together an outfit or a new collection for CB2. There’s always a little something, a detail or a twist, that feels surprising and interesting and never compromises on style.


 

When designing her second collection for CB2, Mann zeroed in on specific details and sophisticated materials. “I wanted to bring in refined fabrics and finishes that feel incredibly high-end but not fussy,” she says. “It’s about finding beautiful, quality pieces that serve both in form and function.” That approach is evident in the slub cotton sateen upholstery and honed marbles of the collection—but it’s just as applicable to wardrobe choices, too. A high/low mix of quality materials that work for every day, the theme of livable luxury running throughout.
“To me, livable luxury means you don’t have to compromise because of life’s chaos,” Mann says. “Things can be durable and beautiful, practical and unexpected.” Bold moves, whether an all-black sectional in your home or a killer monochromatic outfit in your closet, don’t have to be standoffish or unapproachable.


Livable luxury means you don’t have to compromise because of life’s chaos.

It’s that blend that’s so distinctly Kara Mann. High-end materials, fabrics and finishes and an unmatched attention to detail that somehow feels totally approachable. “My style is definitely grounded but elevated,” Mann continues. “Literally. Jeans but with killer heeled boots. I love luxury design, but you want your home to feel lived in. No one wants to live in a gallery where you can’t touch anything.”

 

Style is about confidence. 

Cultivating a personal aesthetic that translates from wardrobe to home and back again is a gradual process. Take it from Mann, who pulled from years’ worth of style references when developing this collection. The references aren’t strictly from the world of interiors, either. “Expose yourself to as many different art forms as possible,” Mann advises. Fine art, design, film, music, fashion, pop culture—all of it. “It’s how you find what resonates with you.”

 

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