HOLST + LEE: A Love Letter to Bold, Unapologetic Glamour
LEE
Unapologetic Glamour
for beige."
Natalie Holst and Rochelle Lee didn't just move to New York — they stormed it. Hailing from the American South, the duo bonded in the city's electric nightlife scene, where their shared obsession with art, texture, and unbridled creativity sparked a collaboration as dynamic as their personalities.
"We don't do 'quiet luxury.' We do loud."
Where did HOLST + LEE come from?
Before launching HOLST + LEE, Natalie trained with Proenza Schouler and Marc Jacobs by day, and by night she worked in the hub of New York's nightlife scene, where she witnessed the best in outrageous cutting-edge fashion. Craving a fusion of art, texture and fresh design in accessories that she couldn't find anywhere else, she started making her own jewellery — which captured the attention of everyone she came in contact with. The brand grew from there. Born from friendship, a mutual love of cool things, and the desire to craft accessories that feel more like wearable art than mere adornments.
Describe the HOLST + LEE woman.
She's a walking gallery opening. "Why blend in when you can vibrate?" She's a nightlife deity — the reason the party starts at midnight. She's a bride who ditched tradition and wore our headpiece with a leather jacket. She defines luxury by her freedom. My pieces are for women who want to feel powerful and effortless at once.
"We want our pieces to do something. Like a great song or a killer outfit — they should make you feel alive."
Tell us about the aesthetic — what is HOLST + LEE made of?
Colour as emotion — pieces that dare you to look away. Neon suede, metallic fringe, hand-beaded explosions. Texture as narrative — crinkled leather, hammered brass, silk cords that beg to be touched. Statement-making silhouettes — headpieces for brides who refuse to wear veils, cuffs for women who mean business. We treat every clutch like a canvas.
No rules, just vibes. Every piece is handmade, with materials sourced for drama and durability. A middle finger to minimalism — for those who believe accessories should be as unforgettable as the women who wear them.
What inspires the work right now?
The woman in a neon turban on the subway? That's our mood board. Art school nostalgia. Nowness.com — for visual crack. Lots of snakes for Fall — we're pulling so much inspiration from Javier Pinon's prints. His work is extraordinary. And Iris Apfel, always. The OG maximalist. She's 98 and still out-dressing everyone.
"She's 98 and still out-dressing everyone. The original proof that more is always more."
Mara Hoffman's husband. His prints are the Fall 2026 mood board — lots of snakes. Lush, maximalist, deeply strange in the best way.
"Quirky meets sleek — like a modern Edie Sedgwick."
"Unexpected? Maybe. Iconic? Absolutely." The muse you didn't see coming is always the best one.
"The woman in a neon turban? That's our inspiration. The city is our studio."
"We approach design like painting in three dimensions. Every clutch is a canvas. Every cuff is a sculpture."
The brand now appears in over 275 retailers worldwide, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Anthropologie. Natalie Holst continues as creative director and primary designer. Rochelle Lee Hardman has pursued other artistic endeavors and currently resides in Oklahoma. The brand moved from its original Brooklyn base to Charleston, South Carolina, where it maintains a flagship store, and launched a second location in Charlotte, NC, in 2025. Both stores feature "charm bars" where customers can build custom, hand-crafted pieces on-site. Worn by Bella Thorne, Solange Knowles, Mary J. Blige, and Dr. Jill Biden.
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