I discovered A-Morir at the beginning of the year. The Patricia Field Boutique in NYC is a veritable treasure trove of all things colorful, shiny & over-the-top, but even among their choicest pieces, something stood out: a pair of Swarovski crystal-encrusted glasses. The frames were square & oversized, & the crystals were gleaming gunmetal. They made me think of what the World Spelling Bee champion would wear if they’d had a huge (albeit underaged) win in Las Vegas.
You’ve seen A-Morir too– you just don’t know it yet. A-Morir is an accessory line, but customized eyewear is what they’re known for. A-Morir glasses have been donned on The Hills, the red carpet & in a variety of music videos. They’ve adorned the faces of a slew of true modern icons like Cassie, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey & Jazmine Sullivan. A-Morir also counts Rihanna as one of its most enthusiastic supporters, meaning it’s really only a matter of time until this one-girl operation is no longer a top-end secret.
I got cozy with Kerin Rose, the flame-haired vixen at the helm of the bedazzling, to get a view of the girl behind the glasses.
Who are you and what do you do?
Kerin Rose: My name is Kerin Rose & I am the woman behind everything that is A-Morir. I have an accessory line that is comprised of Mickey Mouse ears made out of buckram & vintage lace, giant fingerless fringe gloves & 30″ long fringe necklaces, but my primary “thing” is super-detailed custom eyewear.
Who and what are you currently inspired by?
Kerin Rose: You know, you caught me on a really good day. I had this ridiculously awesome day that involved meeting a super talented jewelry designer, Amanda Assad Mounser, who makes mind-blowing pieces (www.assadmounser.com), & spent the day with Rihanna who is not only one of the nicest, most down women I know, but is a supporter of my work in ways that nobody else I know is. After a few days of being in a weird rut, seeing other people’s hustles & being surrounded by such positive energy is unbelievably inspiring.
When you’re designing, who do you imagine wearing your pieces?
Kerin Rose: You know, I don’t really imagine anyone in my pieces when I make them. It’s nice to make something without having a face on it, because it gets a different life every time a new style sensibility tries it on.
What can’t you get enough of wearing right now?
Kerin Rose: You mean aside from A-Morir? Now, I say this as a girl who has 6” platform black wedges to run errands in: I CANNOT get enough of my low-top Cuban heeled flats. They’re so Bernardo-a-la-The-Sharks-circa-West-Side-Story & I wear them with EVERYTHING. Genie pants, garters, dresses, leggings. You name it.
What’s your ultimate style tip?
Kerin Rose: “Do you” & “Go big or go home”. Stay true to your tastes & don’t feed into trends you don’t like. But when you get dressed, get DRESSED. Life is as exciting as you make it.
Where’s your favorite place to relax?
Kerin Rose: Oh man. Relaxing. New York City is my lifeblood; circumstantially I rarely leave. But I have always taken great refuge in both Central Park & the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. & I love to take in a good symphony or opera. They’re like therapy.
Who are your style icons?
Kerin Rose: The shortlist: Miss Piggy. Cher. Bowie. Iris Apfel. Cycle Sluts From Hell. Anyone that Bob Mackie or Thierry Mugler have ever outfitted. Joan Crawford. Joey Ramone. Henry Rollins. The gorgeous ladies of wrestling. The Blonds. I think that covers it…
What do you love to splurge on?
Kerin Rose: Good, healthy food. There is nothing more gratifying than treating myself to some really fresh sushi or a fresh pressed spinach/ginger/cucumber/apple concoction. Sure, looking good on the outside is great, but if you don’t feel good enough to enjoy it it doesn’t matter.
Where can we find your pieces?
Kerin Rose: Everything I’ve got is available on my site – www.a-morir.com. In America I also sell some of my collection at the infamous and delicious Patricia Field… hopefully that list gets a bit longer this year!
What’s your next big thing?
Kerin Rose: I would love to have the demand to turn this into a more proper business, with a studio/showroom & employees. I would LOVE to design my own eyewear frames. & I would love to be commissioned to do more elaborate pieces for major tours or artists series for brands I already admire. You know — steps 2-5 in “world takeover”.
Words by Gala Darling
