Seven Minutes in Heaven With Fashion Designer Kris Harring

For me, style is more than clothes—it’s about attitude and confidence.

Welcome to “Seven Minutes in Heaven” GO Magazine’s brand new interview series that profiles a different queer lady each day, by asking her seven custom (sometimes random) questions. Get to know the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of the groundbreaking, fierce forces-of-nature in the queer community.


Kris HarringPhoto by Darryl Williams @the_illmind

Kris Harring describes herself as androgynous and she always felt like she didn’t want to wear either mens or womenswear. So she made her own gender-neutral fashion line. No big deal! The clothes you can expect from Harring bring together femininity and masculinity in a beautiful way that will have you feeling empowered walking down the street.

This Fall, you can catch Harring launching her 2017 line at New York Fashion Week with dapperQ. This woman is on the move and creating beautiful garments along the way—we can’t wait to see the full line and keep an eye on Harring for fashion inspiration in the future!

Without further ado, we present our “Seven Minutes in Heaven” with the incomparable Kris Harring.

GO Magazine: In your words. Who are you and what do you do?

Kris Harring: My name is Kris—I am, by profession, an apparel designer and creative consultant. I’m also a former athlete with a competitive streak, a weekend stoop sale enthusiast and craigslist bargain hunter.

GO: Where do you go for inspiration when you’re feeling discouraged or depleted?

KH: I’ve started to reach out more to friends and family for support and an ear instead of keeping everything inside. It’s good to back to home base, wherever that is, where you can feel supported and loved. I also find inspiration in music, I was raised a southern girl so I enjoy listening to old school gospel music and house. I also find inspiration traveling, whether its taking a trip somewhere far or just walking around the block. I try to be present in those moments. I people watch, I’m inspired by the way people interact with each other, especially folks who are in love or people who seem to be enjoying each others company and being in the moment. Those simple things really brings me back to center and re-energize when I’m feeling down.

Kris HarringPhoto by Darryl Williams @the_illmind

GO: Who are your biggest queer lady style icons?

KH: For me, style is more than clothes—it’s about attitude and confidence. The clothes are an accessory. For me, I’d say my ultimate queer lady style icons that immediately come to mind are Bessie Smith & Josephine Baker—the swag oozes through photographs, I can only dream of how fly they were in person.

I’d also say pretty much every Black queer woman living in BedStuy/Clinton Hill circa 2005-2010—I moved to NYC  in 2006 but decided I was moving specifically to Brooklyn the year prior, non negotiable. Those first few years as a “baby gay” I spent most of the time in awe. The way in which women dressed, they were so fly to me and it inspired me to be more confident in my personal style, so I’ll call them all my personal icons.

GO: Describe your style in three words.

KH: Sleek, Relaxed, Clean.

GO: What advice would you give your younger self?

KH: I would tell my younger self that you’re in no rush. Where you are in that moment is preparing you for what is coming in your future. Take every opportunity as an advantage to learn and grow and don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can’t do and what you won’t achieve.

Kris Harring’s wedding linePhoto by Diane Stredicke/Hudson River Photographer

GO: How would you describe genderless fashion, specifically for queer weddings?

KH: Literally clothing that is not attached to anything besides the individual thinking it’s cute, trying it on and taking it home. Ideally that is what fashion should be. For queer weddings in particular, genderless fashion is really about finding what fits your personality, what you feel comfortable and confident in and that it does not have to be the traditional formal look (unless thats what you desire). As a designer who really enjoys merging the worlds of mens and womenswear with my use of fabrics and silhouettes, what attracted me to specifically focus on evening-wear was the common question from friends and also from myself, what would we wear to our weddings? My goal right now is to start giving people answers.

GO: Where can people find you and your work?

KH: You can find me online; my website is www.krisharring.com.

IG: krisharringofficial

Twitter: krisharring

I will also be showing my first capsule collection during NYFW with a presentation on September 6th. The presentation is invite-only but I invite you all the after party at 8pm at Bedvyne Brew with DJ Rimarkable.

I will also be showing the collection for the first time on the runway at the dapperQ Fashion Show on September 14th!


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