Johnathan Kayne Shines Bright at the 57th CMA Awards

The 57th CMA Awards dazzled with glitz, glamour, and a touch of unparalleled elegance, and one name stood out among the rest—Johnathan Kayne. Renowned for his impeccable designs that seamlessly blend sophistication with a hint of edginess, Kayne was the most represented at CMA Awards this year. From Wynonna Judd to Hallie Ray Light McCollum, Tanya Tucker, Colbie Caillat, Kelly Sutton, Lindsay Ell, and Bella Hudson, the red carpet was adorned with his stunning creations. As the stars descended upon the red carpet, the air was thick with excitement, and all eyes were on the fabulous ensembles crafted by Johnathan Kayne. Hallie Ray Light McCollum, wife to Parker McCollum, graced the event in a custom jaw-dropping gown that seamlessly combined modern allure with classic charm. Wynonna Judd, a country music icon, chose custom Johnathan Kayne for the evening, and her choice was nothing short of spectacular. The custom jacket, a testament to Kayne’s ability to capture the essence of individual style, was a harmonious blend of glamour and sophistication. Tanya Tucker, with her timeless beauty, radiated confidence in a jumpsuit piece that accentuated her every move, truly embodying the spirit of the country music celebration. Colbie Caillat, known for her soulful voice and cross-genre appeal, made a statement on the CMA red carpet in Johnathan Kayne Style 2555. Media Personality Kelly Sutton, a staple at major country music events, embraced the evening in show-stopping Style 2901 that perfectly complemented her vibrant personality. Lindsay Ell, the rising star in the country music scene, also joined the lineup of Kayne’s muses, donning Style 2523 reflecting her bold style. Bella Hudson, a fresh face in the country music scene, made heads turn in Style 2639, a youthful and trendy ensemble designed by Johnathan Kayne. As the curtain fell on the 57th CMA Awards, one couldn’t help but marvel at the array of stunning looks that graced performances and the red carpet. In a night filled with music, talent, and celebration, Johnathan Kayne’s creations shone as bright as the stars who wore them, leaving an indelible mark on the 57th Country Music Association Awards.  

Red Hot

The theme of episode 5 was red–and lots of it! Mentor Christian Siriano hand-selected the single bolt of fabric that all the designers were required to use. The catch was that all of the 11 remaining designers had to use the same bolt and decide themselves how all 110 yards of fabric would be divided between the All Stars. This left each designer with roughly 10 yards of fabric after being divided. This challenge was a true test of each designer’s ability to stand out from the crowd and channel their distinct design aesthetics. This was an interesting challenge, as it not only saved the designers from the stress of a Mood shopping run, but it was also purely a design challenge since they couldn’t rely on fabric choice or patterns to to distinguish their looks. It was all about the artistry of fashion design. Kayne created a stunning gown using his signature draping technique with a plunging neckline. The dress was elegant, but also sexy — what more could you ask for? The material created a beautiful flowing effect on the runway, stealing all of our attention. It’s safe to say Kayne’s look was RED HOT!  

Fit for a Queen

This week on Project Runway All Stars, the designers were tasked with creating a look that was fit for royalty, but with a fresh and modern spin. The challenge took place shortly after the coronation of King Charles III, which was the main inspiration for this team challenge. In this challenge, Kayne was not designing alone and was paired up at random with his fellow All Star, Viktor Luna. The designers were given a budget of only $1,000 to create a look fit for modern royalty, but this was enough for Kayne and his partner to execute their vision. They wanted to create a look that was fit for a modern queen, such as Beyoncé, or Queen Bey as she’s lovingly known. The pair had a strong creative direction, which resulted in the creation of a bold and regal gown, complete with a corset over the bodice. The two of them managed to create a look that was not only strong and powerful, but also soft and feminine. The material of the gown had a beautiful flowing effect on the runway, all while keeping the powerful aura of a queen. The deep color of the gown’s fabric embodied coronation couture! These two definitely created a look fit for a queen.

PANDAMONIUM

In Episode 3, designers faced the “most feared” challenge – the unconventional materials challenge. This week designers had to make whimsical looks out of toys from one of the most iconic toy store, FAO Schwarz. With $2,000 to spend, each designer goes crazy grabbing materials to make their vision come to life. Kayne spent his money and time at FAO Schwarz grabbing stuffed panda bears, umbrellas, floor pianos, and more as his unconventional materials. Kayne’s unconventional materials challenge outfit on Project Runway was a hit with the judges and viewers alike. Using the toys from FAO Schwarz, Kayne created a whimsical yet stunning ensemble that transformed from a baby-blue poncho into a smoking-hot mermaid gown. The bleeding panda-bear boa accessory added to the delight and uniqueness of the design, earning Kayne the well-deserved recognition from the judges placing him in the top for this week’s challenge.

Redemption Served!

Project Runway All Stars kicked off Season 20 on Thursday, June 15th on Bravo. In the first challenge of the season, Kayne had a chance for redemption by redesigning a past look that previously sent him home. Although he struggled with missing horsehair that was the whole structure of his skirt, he created an incredible look with the other materials that he had. The look was both modern and elegant, with a silk gazar skirt and flowing train that created a dramatic runway walk. The look was subtle enough to remain elegant, but incorporated a flare of modern trendiness. Kayne was not left “clueless” in this challenge as his newly designed look won the judges over & redemption was served!

NEW Johnathan Kayne Runway Collection

We are so excited to announce the launch of the NEW Johnathan Kayne Ready-To-Wear & Merch!

Johnathan Kayne is now offering ready-to-wear pieces, accessories, and home accents. We love helping you feel beautiful for life’s special events like your prom, pageant, and wedding, but wanted to offer collections that would empower you in your everyday life.

The new ready-to-wear collection features high-quality fabrics that are soft to touch and comfortable to wear. Wrap yourself in modernized, classic silhouettes that are a must have staple in your wardrobe. This timeless runway collection, consisting of tops, bodysuits, and jumpsuits, has been designed in all black for maximum versatility. Whether you are looking for a new outfit for work, a night on the town, or just fashionable everyday wear, this new collection has something for everyone!

With the launch of this new collection, we hope to inspire and empower fashion lovers everywhere to express themselves through their style, and most importantly, #FeelBeautiful.

Be sure to check out the collection and get your hands on these pieces today!

Shop Collection Now        

Kayne Returns To Project Runway Allstars 20

FASHION LOVERS – we have exciting news to share! Kayne is returning to Project Runway All Stars Season 20! In this season, he will go head to head with 14 returning all-star contestants. Kayne is eager to show his glamorous aesthetic and skillful construction in all types of garments. We are excited for this opportunity for Kayne to showcase his talent and creativity, and we cannot wait to see what new ideas he comes up with next. The competition begins on June 15, 2023 on Bravo TV. There is no question where we will be at 8 PM EST on June 15!

Visit Madame Tussauds-Nashville this Holiday Season

This Holiday season we are excited to partner with Madame Tussauds – Opry Mill to join in on a Country Christmas. We were honored to dress a select few of their celebrity figures, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, and Carrie Underwood, in festive holiday gowns. Be sure to visit Madame Tussauds this Holiday season to get the perfect backdrop for holiday cards! Photos courtesy of Nathan Zucker.

Gabby Barrett Opens the ACMS 2022 in Custom Johnathan Kayne

Working in fashion here in Nashville has allowed me to collaborate with the hottest artists in country, and I couldn’t be more proud to help some of country music’s strongest women feel beautiful!

    Most recently I had the opportunity to create something truly one of a kind for the ACM Best New Female Artist of the Year, Gabby Barrett. The hot, young singer’s amazing stylist reached out to me prior to this years ACMs. Stylist Tiffany Gifford new that this years ACM wardrobe needed to be next level cool to stand side-by-side with co-hosts Dolly Parton and Jimmie Allen. The country stars were set to take the stage in Las Vegas, so the look had to have a little bit of rock and roll and a little bit of Nashville flair!   I wanted to share with you all the journey we took to achieve this sexy dramatic jumpsuit!   Knowing the fabulous Dolly would be shining as always, I knew we needed to bring the sparkle to the stage. Celebrity stylist Tiffany Gifford was not afraid to collaborate with me on what her client needed to sparkle under the lights. During this design process we explored a few options and ways to drape this magic fabric.         You can see from the initial sketch that this piece came along way from start to finish.   The original sketch had included an overskirt/ruffle that covered the leather pant. The draping of the fabric was fun to explore in a sketch, but it wasn’t until the fabric hit the form when the design began to come to life.   For this piece we used a very chic metal mesh fabric. This shiny, and heavy, fabric hangs and drapes quite beautifully. When I was able to get the fabric up on the form it became clear what shapes and lines were going to flatter the body, and give Gabby her best ‘feel beautiful’ moment. With a fabric like this you achieve a more beautiful outcome when you work with the flow of the fabric, instead of fighting it’s free and flowy nature.   While waiting for this unique black mesh to arrive, the draping was started in a silver mesh. This helped to explore shapes, style lines before jumping into the final edition. See the designs below:                         Can you spot the design that made it on the ACM stage? ^^^^^

Lights, Camera, Fashion Show for St. Jude

Supporting St. Jude has been important to myself and the JK Team for years. My sweet friends at My Best Friend Jenna offer the best opportunity each year to raise money for this great cause, and help support young women in finding confidence and feeling beautiful! I am so blessed to have been a part of this event for the past few years, and to have seen these amazing young women radiate their confidence on and off the stage! Today I am reflecting on the magic of last night, and all the hard work that went into creating this beautiful event! Here’s a peak at LCF 2022, and I hope this shows y’all that you NEED to be there to support next year!     The LCF Fashion Show is hosted by My Best Friend Jenna at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. This space was the perfect space to welcome the sold out charity fashion show. That’s right, these young women helped to make this a SOLD OUT event! How incredible is that? I was truly inspired by the young women involved in the show. The night began with live entertainment, and the energy of the girls backstage was unmatched! It was truly a blessing to see each of these girls buzzing to get on stage to share what they’ve done in the past year for St. Jude!     The event began with a spectacular show by the models. They had prepared an opening number dance and worked so hard to learn the steps, and the style! Let me tell y’all, they brought it with the confidence. The stage lit up for these bright, young, individuals as they prepared to make their introductions.         I had the honor co-emceeing this event! It was truly a pleasure to introduce the special guests and event hosts. Y’all know I love to get the chance to talk about beautiful women and beautiful dresses, so these events are always my favorites. Being on stage for such a great cause, and with a great community like the one built by My Best Friend Jenna is a highlight of my year.   This years panel of judges was packed with some of Nashville’s Favorites! Models, chefs, authors, designers. These judges were STARS!   The show has begun and these beautiful ladies one by one introduced themselves to the panel of judges, and the audience. They all shared their inspiring goals and their favorite ways to raise money for St. Jude. Some of these lovely young ladies also shared their personal motivators, and their families connections to the St. Jude Hospital.   Each model was escorted down the runway, and headed off back stage to get ready for the fashion show! The girls were encouraged to share there personality, and their special differences, on the runway and in their introductions. The judges at this event are looking for confidence, personality, and eagerness to give back!     If you have been following our social media you might know about a special young lady who was being honored at last nights LCF event. Miss Grace is a Senior in High School here in Tennessee and a current patient at St. Jude.  Her story is one of thriving through difficulties, and continuing to be a positive force in the world. Grace was diagnosed with a rare cancer that has caused multiple tumors to form in her body. Grace’s story was inspiring to me before I had the opportunity to meet her, but once I was blessed with that chance I knew she was special. Grace’s positivity is unmatched, and her sweet and gentle soul is infectious! I am honored to have had the chance to meet this wonderful young woman, and I know she is going to continue to bring greatness into the world. Grace’s name is truly matched with her graceful spirit.   Before this event my team and I wanted to do something special this year, we fundraised more than ever before selling signed posters, and collecting donations, but our special project was creating a custom prom dress for Miss Grace. With her favorite colors in mind, we customized our fan favorite prom style, to give her a special moment that she truly deserved.   Creating this gown for Grace was absolutely a memory that will last me a lifetime! In our first and only fitting Grace spoke about wanting to be involved in the LCF show, but that her cancer had prevented her from being able to audition. When My Best Friend Jenna reached out about highlighting her as an honoree she was overjoyed by the opportunity to get dressed up, and to have the chance to feel beautiful. I am humbled to have been able to create a gown that gave Grace the confidence to let her beautiful self shine!   Grace’s runway walk blew me away. Her emotional reaction to how she felt; getting to see her family, and best friend, supporting her in the crowd was so special. Grace is so truly kind that she felt she could not enjoy this night without sharing it with her best friend and fellow St. Jude patient. Her passion in sharing the confident feeling and beautiful moment made me love this young woman even more. My team and I will forever be grateful to have taken a part in Grace’s night.     The night continued to be special as the girls walked the runway and showcased their own style and Confidence.   Each model had the opportunity to work with me to select a runway look that was 100% them! Helping these girls show their style was such a joy, and it all pays off to see them work it on the runway. From customization to brand new styles and colors, the girls selections last night were on FIRE!   I must say the competition on stage was tight, and the judges had to make some difficult calls to select the top 12 models for the night!                                     These girls brought the sass, style, and stunning personalities. Each one having spent the last year planning special fundraisers, and accepting donations from friends and family. Every girl who walked the runway had 100 reasons to be so proud of themselves and their fellow models.   The strong character of these young woman was showcased by their supportive nature. All of these participants we’re there to support each other, and the positivity they held towards the winners was inspiring for a group of so many young woman. I see bright futures ahead for each and every participant of this great event.   When the judges took their moment to deliberate, and narrow from the top 12 to the final winners, the backstage crew was hustling to count last minute donations to determine the crowd favorite. Waiting for results was so exciting as each girl deserved congratulations!     After the winners received their congratulations they were welcomed to walk down the runway in an epic celebration! I want to personally say my congratulations to last nights winners, and to all the participants.   To wrap up the show Daniel Diamond, who was a judge for the evening, presented the nights Top Model with a new Daniel X Diamond jacket so she could be in style! Complete in JK and Daniel X Diamond the winner was joined on stage by all participants and families for pictures.         To end the night with family and friends on stage was the perfect way to finish off this positive, community building event. My Best Friend Jenna does an absolutely incredible job bringing this event to life, and she has managed to grow this event into something impactful and incredible. Thank you to you and your family for allowing me to join you, and for sharing your passion for St. Jude with me, and with everyone! Congratulations to all participants for raising over $200,000 for St. Jude during this years efforts! I can’t wait to see what you can accomplish next year!   For more information about the LCF Fashion Show, and for how you can get involved visit My Best Friend Jenna’s Website and Follow them on social media for updates throughout the year!   p.s. A special thanks to Grace for allowing me to ask her about her story, giving her trust in me to create a one-of-a-kind custom, and for being open about her experiences. I wish all the best to you, and I look forward to watching you conquer the future.