By Angela  Cabotaji

The modern world is a cultural melting pot, with people continually inspiring and drawing ideas from one another. At fashion studio Anar Couture, that sentiment is on full display. Iranian-born designer Rana Ghezelayagh fuses her collections with Persian culture and sensibilities from other parts of the globe. Ghezelayagh trained at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Seattle, and she approaches fashion with the idea that women can dress themselves to feel feminine and confident without revealing too much.
Last year, she showcased her ready-to-wear collections of stylish trench coats and jackets at Seattle Fashion Week and Portland Fashion Week. And in early 2011, she debuted her new accessories line, Chic with Silk. The collection features scarves, belts, wraps, capes and ponchos that are fashion forward yet functional and draw not only from the Middle East but from Japan as well. Ghezelayagh re-imagines a traditional ankle-length kimono into a contemporary top ($129), and she reinterprets the customary obi into a trendy double-sided belt ($49). Made from luxurious silk, cozy wool and soft suede, pieces are fully reversible and can be worn with anything­—from a sophisticated pencil skirt to laid-back jeans—to go easily from daytime business meetings to evening get-togethers out on the town. When it comes to fashion, Anar Couture has apparently caught on to the global trend.  Chic with Silk by Anar Couture is available at AnarCoutureFashion.etsy.com. For more about Anar Couture, visit anar-couture.com.

Photo (c) Anar Couture, anar-couture.com.