Contemporary Womenswear · Los Angeles

C/CHRST

A contemporary women's ready-to-wear collection developed with an atelier mindset — designed for the woman who expresses herself through craft but refuses to perform for the industry.

Overview

Stocked by Colette, Barneys, and United Arrows, C/CHRST focused on novelty pieces rooted in refined fabrication, experimental texture, and bold color stories.

Created in Los Angeles and produced in limited quantities, the collection drew from Italian silks, heritage brush flannels, mohair outerwear, specialty leathers, and repurposed vintage materials. Every piece offered a balance of sophistication and nonchalance — effortless elegance without pretense.

The Story

A Tribute Born from Purpose

C/CHRST was born in 2014 during a turning point in Courtney Ogilvie's career. After years of carrying the weight of other designers' visions as a developer and manufacturer, she realized she needed something of her own — a project driven by purpose rather than productivity, expression rather than obligation.

The brand became a tribute to her mother, Christine Chrst, whose strength, elegance, and quiet androgyny embodied the spirit Courtney wanted to create. The red emblem and floral prints that appeared throughout the collection came from the red gardens her mother left behind.

Designing C/CHRST allowed Courtney to reclaim the creativity she felt slipping away. It brought her full circle — back to the emotional center of why she began designing in the first place.

Aesthetic Code

Icons of Counterculture

C/CHRST drew heavily from the counterculture era and the icons who defined it: Jane Birkin, Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, Bianca Jagger. The collection explored 70s nostalgia through a modern lens, blending romance with restraint, softness with tailoring, and femininity with masculine structure.

Handcrafted silk pleating

Oversized bodices and elongated silhouettes

Moto jackets with feminine proportioning

Staple tees elevated through fabrication and fit

Vintage repurposed materials and military textiles

Italian silks, mohair, wool, and specialty leathers

Courtney at This Time

The Catalyst for Creation

Before creating C/CHRST, Courtney spent years shaping other brands from behind the scenes. Through Fit & Supply and LA Makers, she produced high-profile collections for Fear of God, Johnny Cupcakes, The Well, Wil Fry, Barney's private label, and Kanye West-backed projects, including the Adidas FW15 ready-to-wear season.

But as she put it: "I had to do something with extreme purpose… something that fulfilled me outside of building others' visions."

C/CHRST became that purpose — a private declaration of identity, a creative return to self, and, in her own words, her "most prolific fuck you."

In Her Words

Courtney on C/CHRST

Hear Courtney speak about the inspiration, intention, and personal significance behind creating C/CHRST — a collection that marked her return to designing for herself.

Craft & Production

Built, Not Just Designed

C/CHRST was made entirely in Los Angeles with a level of craftsmanship rarely applied to contemporary womenswear. The collection was never mass-produced; every garment was handled as a specialty item, designed to feel personal rather than commercial.

Materials were sourced with intention, often incorporating limited-run or repurposed textiles. Silhouettes were cut to flatter through structure and ease. Every step of development, from sketch to final trim, happened under Courtney's supervision.

Legacy

Stepping Out from Behind the Scenes

C/CHRST represents the moment Courtney stepped out from behind the scenes to create work that belonged solely to her. It was emotional, technical, rebellious, nostalgic, and deeply personal.

It stands as evidence of her ability to originate a narrative-driven collection rooted in identity, craftsmanship, and intention — a foundation that continues to influence her work today.