Atea Oceanie Is the Affordable, Minimalist Label Inspired By Carolyn Bessette & Loved By A-Listers

Juicy Couture may once have been the luxe-casual catnip for the Hollywood set, but Atea Oceanie, already a firm A-lister favorite in its mere two years of existence, has introduced a distinctly more minimalist take on the game. With its focus on modern, clean-cut and considered constructions and fabrications, the fledgling label has drawn comparisons to The Row while carving out its own mid-level (i.e. wallet-friendly) positioning.

The feeling is easy, with an emphasis on pared down ‘90s-inspired silhouettes with, among signatures, slip dresses, shirt-dresses and oversized menswear-inspired tailoring with a cool, nonchalant vibe. Founder and Creative Director Laura Myers set out to create versatile wardrobe essentials “to come back to again and again,” with her mantra: “Everything with everything.”

It’s an attitude that’s resonated with a slew of silver-screen tastemakers from Kristen Stewart, Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Olsen to Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson and Dakota Fanning. (In the fashion camp, Kendall Jenner, Alexa Chung and Chanel Iman have also been spotted in the label.)

Myers’ muses range from the late Carolyn Bessette to Lucie de la Falaise and Sofia Coppola, with the style spirits of the last two driving her Fall/Winter 2015 collection. “Each season we explore a new mood but always through a ‘90s minimalist lens, with ‘90s Calvin Klein and American sportswear among influences down to the detailing such as elasticated waistbands and suited joggers,” she says.

If the label’s name (which translates as ‘distant and remote’ in Polynesian languages) rings a tad far-flung and outdoorsy, it makes sense. Myers is based in London but comes from New Zealand. The Auckland-born designer attributes her creative streak to her mother, former fashion model Stephanie Overton. But it’s her father, billionaire beer baron Sir Douglas Myers who instilled her with a professional drive and appreciation of the simple luxuries in life such as the family’s farm and beach house where they spent their weekends during her childhood.

Myers studied sociology at Brown University and dabbled in advertising, post-graduation but was always drawn to fashion. She felt the pull during her university years. She enrolled in summer school at Parsons and interned at Louis Vuitton and Ralph Rucci, later going on to work for New Zealand designer Trelise Cooper for three years before moving to London in 2010. She attributes her young label’s meteoric success partly to the beautiful imagery that “helped bring the brand’s vision to life” with close collaborators including stylist Cathy Kasterine and top-name photographers Ben Weller and Boo George. “We then started getting great press and it snowballed from there,” says Myers who also works with an agency in Los Angeles. Yahoo Style caught up with the slightly jet-lagged designer (just returned to London from New Zealand) to find out more about what makes her tick.

Yahoo Style: Most young designers aspire to a life of runways and red carpets but you’ve taken a rather grounded approach with your label, focusing on wearable wardrobe essentials and your website.

Laura Myers: I think that because I didn’t train as a designer my point of view was creating a collection that fulfills needs that I had in my own wardrobe. I was traveling a lot. It wasn’t really about having something with my name on it, rather creating clothing that I wanted to wear that, hopefully other women would resonate with in the same way.

Which celebrity have you most enjoyed seeing your creations on?

One of our biggest hits was Kristen Stewart wearing our track pants and shirt this time last year. She’s also just worn one of our silk suits. She nails the aesthetic in a really cool, effortless way, she’s boyish but elegant and refined.

On the subject of cool, when it comes to accessorizing your looks, you’ve got a thing about sneakers…

I’m always thinking about ease and comfort, which often aren’t things associated with high fashion. I love the idea of wearing a beautiful slip dress with sneakers, super relaxed and versatile. A friend of mine just got married in Queenstown in the south of New Zealand and I wore a slip dress with heels but I was so happy as the night wore on to put on my sneakers and feel the outfit still worked.

Do you have a big sneaker collection?

I have quite a few pairs from Céline, Saint Laurent and Common Projects. One of my favorites is a super-old pair of Kitsuné plimsolls with gold eyelets which I haven’t seen anywhere else.

You’re all about pared-down luxury, but do you also like to dress up? Are there two sides to your sartorial life?

I dress up for black tie events. It’s fun to do that, but I always feel so much more comfortable wearing something that feels easy and isn’t too theatrical. I guess it comes back to that feeling, which is very much part of the brand, the idea of always wanting to look like yourself.

Does it come back to being a Kiwi?

Being a New Zealander, I think it’s very much the idea of wanting to be real and relaxed and part of the outdoors. That’s how we grew up, leaving the city at the weekends for our beach house and the easiness of it. And not taking things too seriously. They talk about this irreverent Kiwi humor, you know, a bit of a Flight of the Conchords vibe.

How has London influenced you?

I spent some time in France before coming to London and worked with a woman who’d been at Hermès for many years. Seeing that sort of total refinement was incredible. Every day she was so elegant, tonal down to her bag and her gloves, whatever color it was. To me it’s the mix of relaxed Kiwi with super-refined elegance - the French approach to dressing - that gave birth to the brand aesthetic.

What are some of your top picks from the new Atea Oceanie collection?

There’s this long-sleeved shirt dress with a high slit on the side - quite covered up but still sexy - and a suit in striped silk Jacquard with wide leg pants, and a single-breasted blazer. There’s also a red suit that I’ve been wearing a lot with boot-cut pants, and a single-breasted jacket in a shape that’s been really successful for us. Leandra [Medine] is a big fan and keeps wearing hers over and over.

Carolyn Bessette figures among your style heroes…

I think she embodies that super-elegant but super-easy look. When I started there was this idea of what would she be wearing today if she were still alive, what wardrobe essentials would she have and what would her move be on the slip dresses and three-quarter-length skirts and jeans she used to wear?

Do women want ease?

I think they want a sense of easiness - a little of the feeling of uniform dressing, pieces that can work in lots of situations and that can be dressed up and down. That’s what I notice with a lot of my friends and my sister…

Everything with everything!

Yes, I always want to look ‘put together’ but I really admire women who feel quite effortless.

How did you come up with the label’s name?

I didn’t want to have my name on the brand, rather, something that reflected my background and where I come from. New Zealand is a really great part of what shaped my aesthetic.

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