Are you tired of wearing the same outfits over and over again? Afraid of being seen on social media more than once in the same dress? Local fashionistas Denise and Clare Cirillo have created their own clothing line called OverLay that features sheer products, designed to be worn over your own clothing — giving new life to your existing closet.
Denise had a background in marketing and advertising and her daughter Clare is a fashion model, having worked on campaigns for Maybelline and Becca Cosmetics. The two from Katonah created OverLay in the spring of last year, beginning with sketches and designs.
Mother-daughter team Denise and Clare are the Katonah creators behind OverLay.
“The ah-ha moment came when I saw a picture of Clare on the runway during New York Fashion Week in a long sheer skirt with a slip attachment underneath. I adore sheer fabric in a design but never liked the underlay they all came with. I thought Wow — light bulb, that’s it! Let’s create a collection of beautiful all sheer designs and let women choose what they put underneath,” says Denise.
“I think what really sets us apart is the concept. There are so many fashion lines out there — but what sets OverLay apart from other brands is that you wear them with pieces you already have in your closet. Because our first collection is all sheer, we want people to be able to throw them over your classic little black dress, denim shorts, leggings, skirts, etc. They are also so versatile! I wear them completely differently than my Mom,” says Clare.
The two officially launched their first collection this past October. The eight-piece collection includes seven skirts and one dress, all for under $50. “We are, and always have been drawn to the 70s/80s era — hence the name of our first collection, “Dreams,” which is our favorite song by Fleetwood Mac. All of our pieces in the collection are named after our favorite songs. My mom would always call me an “old soul,” and my style is very inspired by that time frame. When we created the brand, we envisioned it to portray a vintage vibe,” says Clare.
Clare and Denise have added a special surprise for their first launch – Willy Wonka style. “For our launch, we are running our ‘Strike Gold’ contest. If you receive your OverLay piece in a golden bag, you will win a free OverLay design,” explains Denise.
The pair hope to eventually offer their products at Westchester boutiques and are proud that their line is county-based. Denise says, “I was raised in Katonah, NY and have very deep roots here as both my parents were raised in Westchester as well. I wanted my children to grow up in the same community and attend the same schools as I did.” Clare explains: “I don’t think I appreciated where I grew up until I moved to the city. I absolutely love Manhattan but coming back to Westchester always feels like home.”
They are currently in the process of creating a second collection — continuing with sheer products. They plan to incorporate more fabrics, more dresses, and add tops. OverLay is currently available exclusively online (www.overlayfashion.com). Additionally, their products will be at a trunk show on December 6 at Bijou in Katonah.
