Emily Shalant is a fast-growing collection of evening separates and dresses designed to blend glamour with comfort and versatility.
Shalant, a veteran of J.S. Collection and Aidan Mattox, focuses on classic silhouettes in luxurious fabrications that pair for special occasions but can also be worn with casual separates.
“You buy an evening dress and you wear it once,” Shalant said. “This is supposed to be an investment in pieces that you can wear a million different ways.”
Princess Marie of Denmark donned a black jersey T with a jeweled mock turtleneck and an ice blue pleated taffeta skirt from Shalant’s first collection for Queen Margrethe II’s Golden Jubilee in 2022.
Retailing for $285, the tea-length skirt remains a bestseller in seasonal solid hues. Other standouts are a pearl beaded sleeveless mock-neck knit top and a pavé sequined, embroidered and beaded knit T — each at $680 — and crystalized-sequin pants for $875.
“All of our items are handmade in India, and we have two patents pending on beading design with stretch,” Shalant noted.
Her fall collection introduces sporty references, including collegiate sweaters, Breton stripes and plaids rendered in sequins and beads.
Shalant and business partner Evelyn Anastos worked together for years at J.S. Group, where the designer was creative director of J.S. Collection and Anastos was president of Theia. Having started their label after being laid off during the pandemic, they now count 175 specialty store accounts in about 15 countries.
The pair share an unusual history: both lost their husbands to glioblastoma. Said Shalant, “Life is very short and you have to enjoy your moments, and I feel like this is our moment. There is nothing that is going to stop us.”
