Who said rock n’ roll was dead? Go shopping and chances are you’ll find some form-fitting clothing with fun and funky detailing that will have even the most devoted groupie jealous! Designer KahriAnne Kerr embraces her inner rock star goddess when designing her clothing line…Kahri by KahriAnne Kerr. And with a motto like Be Rebellious, you know this style maven’s designs are anything but boring. In fact, her looks have caught the eyes of stars like Paris Hilton and Aubrey O’Day.

Check out our interview with KahriAnne below. Also be sure to check out her Web site, Kahri.com, and her blog,BeRebellious.com to read up on her latest and greatest clothing collections. Now go on and be rebellious! And tell KahriAnne that the sisters sent you!

You used to be a gymnast and a cheerleader. So did the Celebutante Sisters.

Cool. I still love gymnastics, but it’s been 10 years since I quit, so I’m pretty bad now.

Where did your rocker-chic inspiration come from? We love it!

Well, it’s pretty random, my style, since I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere Iowa. But I’ve always loved music, especially rock, so it comes from there.

How did you come up with the motto “Be Rebellious”?

I can’t remember when I thought of that, but I guess I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, much to my parents delight. Just kidding, my parents are super conservative. I think being rebellious relates to all aspects of life, not just fashion. I think just being yourself and doing whatever you want and wearing whatever you want, despite what anyone says is being rebellious. I say just grab your life by the balls and go for it and don’t be a conformist.

How have your designs evolved over the years?

As I’ve grown up and moved from small town Iowa to big ass NYC my style has definitely grown. I didn’t know much about fashion or the fashion industry when I was 19 and started my biz, but now almost 6 years after I moved to NYC, I know too much about it. The quality of my clothing construction and materials is definitely much much better than when I first started, which is reflected in the prices now. I used to sell my stuff for next to nothing, but once you go silk, you can’t go back to polyester. Oh, and I used to get my fabrics at Jo-Ann’s and Wal-Mart back in Iowa, so luckily there is a much better fabric selection in NY. My designs are more sophisticated and complex now. It takes a lot longer to make pieces now, but french seams are worth it.

Your Spring 2009 Collection is called Baby Love. Tell us about it. Where did the inspiration for the line come from?

I was listening to a lot of early-mid 60’s songs, especially girl groups like the Supremes and the Shangri-Las, when I was designing the collection. I was raised by 60’s kids so I listened to a lot of that when I was growing up, but only recently gotten into that again. I made screenprint designs of a 60’s motorcylce inspired by the Shangri-Las “Leader of the Pack”, that I printed on some of the linings in the collection. I also made a LOVE design printed on linings, inspired by the decade of love children.

How does it feel knowing that celebs like Aubrey O’Day and Paris Hilton donning your designs?

It’s cool when famous people wear my clothes, but it’s even cooler to see regular people you don’t even know wearing your stuff on the streets. I think I scared a girl one day when I saw her in my stuff and I’m like “nice dress, I made it!”. Although if Gwen Stefani wore my clothes, I’d probably pee my pants, she so rocks.

What are your hopes for the future?

Lots of hope for the future. Once this recession gets out of the way, big plans. Eventually, I’d like to have a business that is as fun and successful as Betsey Johnson (Love Betsey. Her cartwheels are better than mine) or Anna Sui. I want to be 65 and still rocking the runway.

You can buy KahriAnne Kerr’s designs online by clicking here . You can also search this site for a store near you that carries her clothing.

About KahriAnne Kerr

Growing up on a farm outside the hamlet of Tripoli in northeast Iowa, where fashion is of little concern, KahriAnne Kerr broke the mold. From an early age, KahriAnne loved all things creative and artistic. From “making the walls pretty” with crayons, to writing, illustrating, and publishing a book titled Picasso and Me in 2nd grade, to insisting on putting together her own outfits (that always included a matching hat), since before she could talk, KahriAnne has always been a determined individualist. This determination allowed KahriAnne to follow her heart and her dreams, from being a competitive gymnast, a painter, a writer, a cheerleader, a singer, and a dancer in humble Iowa, to become a successful independent fashion designer in the capital of dreams realized or shattered, New York City.

Growing tired of generic mall clothes, KahriAnne started to make her own clothing in High School. Having no previous fashion/sewing experience KahriAnne taught herself how to sew and design. It was in the spring of 2002 (KahriAnne’s freshman year at BYU-Idaho) that Kahri clothing was first showcased on the runway. KahriAnne presented her first women’s collection to great success. The fashion design department at BYU-Idaho named KahriAnne the “Best Fashion Designer” and the “Most Promising Designer” for 2001-2002.

Next, KahriAnne moved back to Iowa to set up her first mini store. Kreations by Kahri was born in the summer of 2002. KahriAnne sold her funky women’s clothing, artwork, and quilts in a 10’x10’ space in Waverly, IA. Then KahriAnne moved to Ames, IA to attend Iowa State University, so the Kreations by Kahri store had to go. Luckily, Zushy, a local boutique picked up Kahri and soon KahriAnne became a local celebrity, with her designs quickly selling out. KahriAnne also received recognition from the fashion department at Iowa State University. A pair of hand-painted pants and a hand-beaded top were chosen to be displayed at the Iowa State Fashion Showcase in October 2002. In Spring 2003, KahriAnne entered two women’s collections in the Iowa State Annual Fashion Show (the only sophomore to do so). Both collections were accepted and displayed on the runway.

KahriAnne headed out to NYC in August 2003 to attend the fashion design program at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology. KahriAnne then began to sell her collection in NYC stores and e-boutiques. Kahri also set up a temporary mini-store in SoHo, as a part of the designer collective, Burrow, in Spring 2005. After FIT, KahriAnne focused on designing and selling her collection, as well as working various design jobs in the fashion industry.

The line grew and evolved over the years. Now the hip, funky, rocker chic women’s contemporary clothing line Kahri by KahriAnne Kerr is sold at over 20 boutiques across the US, England, Scotland, and Israel, as well as 30 online boutiques. Kahri has also been featured in many fashion shows with celebrity hosts and performers, such as Kanye West, MTV’s Quddus, BET’s Melissa Ford, Keenyah Hill and Naima More from America’s Next Top Model, on TV programs, such as Fuse TV, 99% Fashion, and BPM TV, as well as many magazines, such as Interview, React, US Weekly, Rockpile, The Ave, Shut Up, Exactly, Venuszine, and more. Recording artists such as Fergie, Aubrey from Danity Kane, Brandi Carlisle, and Paris Hilton have also rocked Kahri gear on and off of their video shoots.